MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 22/06-20
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: June 20, 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
Council Member Marcia Sablan
Council Member Elsa Lopez
ABSENT: Council Member Freddy Valdez
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; Gouveia Engineering; Michael Molina, Marc Benjamin (Brian Pacheco’s Office); Hector, Ryan Gonzalez, Chris Gutierrez, Wanda Breshears, & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Sablan led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT None
PRESENTATION None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on June 6, 2022.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting May 1 and ending on May 31, 2022.
May 2022 General Warrants #42766 - #42879 $ 822,937.68
Payroll Warrants #71774 - #71792 $ 136,594.69
TOTAL $ 959,532.37
3. RESOLUTION NO. 22-28 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AUTHORIZING USE OF EMERGENCY REMOTE TELECONFERENCING PROVISIONS.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
June 20, 2022
PUBLIC HEARING
4. 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” – SECOND READING.
Open hearing at 6:03 pm – no comment – Close hearing at 6:04 pm Motion to approve Ord. No. 22-03 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
NEW BUSINESS
5. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS & AUTHORIZE THE CITY
MANAGER TO RE-NEGOTIATE OR ADJUST THE RATES ON THE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AND THE VFW POST # 7380.
Motion to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and present to council recommendations by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 22-29 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH CONFIRMING THE DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENT OF ANNUAL LEVY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 FOR LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1 (Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972).
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-29 by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
7. RESOLUTION NO. 22-30 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ADOPTING ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS LIMIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-23.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-30 by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5- 0 vote.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 22-31 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH’S BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 – 2023.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-31 by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 22-32 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH,
DESIGNATING VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE(S) FOR THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 7-9, LONG BEACH.
Motion to approve Res. No. 22-32 by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
STAFF REPORTS
City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – 14th Street Rehab update. Fire Chief John Borboa – Fire Dept. renegotiated a new contract increase contract of $25,000 for Mutual Aid with Fresno County.
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – it has been slow these last two weeks, had a couple of complaints about gang activity.
Councilmember Sablan asked if any complaints were about the outdoor market. Chief replied, “No.” Finance Director, Pio Martin – will present the TDA and Measure C resolution in the future, office work is as usual.
City Council Minutes
June 20, 2022
City Attorney, James McCann – nothing to report.
Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – First regular council meeting in July is scheduled for 4th of July, so we won’t have it since it’s a holiday and City Hall will be closed. City Manager added is a meeting is required, it will be a special meeting. City Manager, Ben Gallegos – Council Member Perez filled in at the Senior Center, while Anita Sanchez was out.
Greystone developer is working to split & purchase property via survey, which may be an additional 120 acres for a second development, and about 140 to 150 possible homes. Working with Cen Cal on their project, they need landscape and concrete. Still going after grants have several grants ongoing. Met with Mario to address the flood area in front of the school to find a resolution & we looked at other locations that were brought to our attention. Council Member Lopez - inquired about the need for a new public works director, since he has been doing good job with positions. Council Member Sablan added, she agreed with Councilmember Lopez. Council Member Jenkins and Valdez stated, Ben’s been busy and feel the city needs Ben to be solely the City Manager, he is capable to doing both but if he can work only as the City Manager a 100% of the time, it will allow him to concentrate of business development, other city issues, he hasn’t been able to because of the time restrictions of doing both jobs, & council voted 5-0 when his contract was renewed which stated the intent of hiring a Public Works Director. We have a lot of money saved from Ben holding two positions for the past several years. City Manager Ben stated it is not recommended to suggest the has a lot of money or tell the employees, we have all kinds of money with negotiations coming up. We couldn’t predict COVID or the financial impacts of the past few years.
Council Member Perez – I agree we don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Council Member Sablan – asked the Finance Director, “What would you say about the budget? We will never have enough for everything we need or want for the city.” Finance Director replied, “I agree, the one thing that scares me the most is the PD Station, with $800,000 on our reserves being allocated to the new PD station from our general fund, it is the biggest concern. Water and Sewer funding are doing well, & impact fund is fine.” Council Member Sablan added, if we hire a new Public Works Director and purchase a new vehicle, there’s no turning back. Council Member Valdez – If we have a full-time dedicated City Manager, he can focus on economic development and housing issues, which would bring in additional revenue. Motion to enter closed session at 7:50 pm by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
CLOSED SESSION
10. Government Code Section 54957
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION: City Manager.
Motion to enter open session at 8:30 pm by Council Member Perez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 8:36 pm by Council Member Perez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.