MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 22/05-02
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 11 OF EXECUTIVE ORDER N-25-20,
EXECUTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA ON MARCH 12, 2020 City Council Meeting held via teleconferencing
*Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953 (b) (2), all action taken during this teleconferenced meeting shall be by roll call vote.
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: May 2, 2022/6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Mayor Jenkins at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Brady Jenkins
Mayor Pro Tem Felipe Pérez 6:03 pm
Council Member Freddy Valdez
Council Member Marcia Sablan 6:04 pm
Council Member Elsa Lopez
ABSENT:
OTHERS: City Attorney James McCann; City Manager/Acting Public Works Director, Ben Gallegos; Deputy Clerk, Rita Lozano; Finance Director, Pio Martin Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Fire Chief, John Borboa; City Engineer, Mario Gouveia; Danny Reed, Gouveia Engineering; Dean of West Hills Community College (WHCC) – North District, Bethany Matos, Marc Benjamin (Brian Pacheco’s Office); BJ Fleming; Chris Gutierrez & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE City Manager Gallegos led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 3-0 vote. Council Member Perez joined the meeting via Webex at 6:03 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Resident stated concern about the recent fire, & dry brush around that area, he recommends a cleanup of weeds around the treatment plant and along the houses. Fire Chief Borboa reported the recent fire was in Madera Co, an arrest was made but released. Staff replied, the area along the river is a historical park, so city can’t clean the area, city in the past tried to trim the bushes, but it was reported to the State, & we had to stop. The property is not city property, it is owned by the Federal Government.
PRESENTATION
Council Member Sablan joined the meeting at 6:04 p.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on April 18, 2022.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
May2, 2022
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
2. ORDINANCE NO. 22-03 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ADDING A NEW SUBSECTION TO SECTION 2-4 OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING POLICE ACQUISITION AND USE OF “MILITARY EQUIPMENT”- FIRST READING.
Motion to waive the first reading by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
3. RESOLUTION NO. 22-19 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING CONTRACT TO AJ EXCAVATION, INC. FOR 14TH STREET REHABILITATION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-19 by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
4. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS HIGHWAY 33 BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT.
It was reported CalTrans stated they have too many projects with a short time frame & can’t complete all of them by the deadline. City Manager Gallegos offered to do some of the work, as a solution to the time frame issue, but was informed city must purchase the right-of-way to be able to any work there. If the City purchases the property to do the work, but doesn’t completion the project by the deadline, the city will not be reimbursed. The city may only get reimbursed if the deadline is met. Therefore, the recommendation is to not proceed with assisting CalTrans on projects.
We have been working on this project for about 10 years, and all of Caltrans districts seem to operate the same.
Council direction is to meet with Senator Caballero and Assemblyman Arambula to seek support with Caltrans.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Esmeralda Murillo – A car was racing; police chased the car, so the car hit the speed bump, lost control & crashed. I would like more speed bumps, so that is the reason for me attending this meeting, to suggest more speed bumps.
Usually, it the kids getting out of school that are racing, & there are potholes in front of Mark Helm’s houses. Another resident reported similar incidents at Indart Street, & asked is possible to add speed bumps there, there has been incidents when cars have ended up in at least at three different homes. A different resident stated he’s requested speed bumps in past but was informed that it makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to respond to emergencies, a child even lost their life due to the dely. Police Chief Raygoza recommend, citizens’ get a license plate number, but must be willing to sign the citation to testify as a witness to the incidents, for the police to issue a citation to individuals that are racing.
STAFF REPORTS
City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – we just awarded A.J. Excavation the contract for 14th Rehab project, & a preconstruction meeting for the Police Dept. project will be later this week. Finance Director, Pio Martin – working on the Enterprise Funds for the next meeting, if there’s anything you would like to add, please submit so it can be included in the budget.
City Council Minutes
May2, 2022
City Manager, Ben Gallegos – sweeper is running, but is burning a lot of oil, hopefully, it’s just a gasket the needs to be replaced. Cleaning started at the area for the bathrooms, working with Danny Reed to connect to the main sewer line, power already there for restroom lights and fans. Don’t have estimated cost to move them, yet, but estimating about $20,000 to $28,000. Will attend a training class on Wednesday and Thursday for pesticide license. Advertisement for the Public Works Director and Utility Maintenance I is out. City Attorney, James McCann – nothing to report.
Bethany Matos, Associate Dean of North District Center – nothing to report. Fire Chief John Borboa – Dinner Dance on Saturday was 100% successful, some people had to be turned away, we may have outgrown the VFW Hall, so we may approach the city for use of the Community Center. Police Chief Sal Raygoza – the drone was used to see the fire & view the damage from the fire on the Madera County side of the river, it was also used to make an arrest. The suspect was taken to Fresno County for booking, but they were released, because the property of the fire was in Madera County. We will try to file charges in Madera County.
Homelessness has been as issue on the Madera County side of the river, which is where the fire was, but it has been a low priority for Madera County, since it’s so far from their city limits and they have issues of higher priority. Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – elections are this year, training to complete form and file are available, working on several Public Request Act we’ve received, RMA cases for liability and worker compensation, recording keeping and processing paperwork for the several grants. Olga & I attended training to be a notary, should receive test results in about three weeks or so.
Council Member Lopez - thanked Pio for helping her set for the meeting. Apologized for not attending in-person but is out of town because she is getting affairs in order since her brother’s passing. Council Member Valdez – nothing to report.
Council Member Jenkins – nothing to report.
Council Member Sablan – nothing to report.
CLOSED SESSION
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 6:45 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passes by a 4-0 vote. Council Member Perez – disconnected earlier.