MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 22/11-07
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: November 7, 2022/6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Mayor Pro Temp Perez at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Brady Jenkins
Council Member Elsa Lopez
Council Member Freddy Valdez
Mayor Pro Tem Felipe Pérez
ABSENT: Council Member Marcia Sablan
OTHERS: City Attorney James McCann; City Manager Ben Gallegos; Deputy Clerk, Rita Lozano; Finance Director, Pio Martin Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Fire Chief, John Borboa; Public Works Director, Michael Molina; City Engineer, Mario Gouveia; Gouveia; Silvia Renteria, Raquel Tabares; Fernando Campa, Ryan Gonzalez, Linda Espinoza, Chris Gutierrez, Wanda Breashears, & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Lopez led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda with insert of PUBLIC COMMENT to be added before Closed Session by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ryan Gonzalez introduced himself, informed his is running council and told the other candidates, “Good luck, we all have the common goal to run for Council. Polls open at the Senior Center from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.”
PRESENTATION
Sami Khan of EnviroGroup, EG Inc., provide a proposal for the city’s Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant Project, recommending the treatment of the water for re-use is top priority to meet the serious challenge presented by the drought, stating he proposes MBR technology from Suez Water Technologies, formerly GE Water, . With Firebaugh approved grant a new application will not be required to change the old design with a more advanced, cost effective and efficient technology. Through the Suez MBR technology the plant will improve to the Title 22 standard, which is both potable and usable for edible crops. With a Title 22, Westland Water District has confirmed it will purchase the water, water will be delivered via Colombia canal or Delta Mendota canal, and the Water Board has confirmed a permit is possible to install the line, no new permit is needed, city can use the current permit. This proposed plant can operate within 10 months to a year from the award of the contract. City Manager Gallegos advised it will be a long process before the city gets the water to Title 22, city will go out to bid for the project first.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on October 17, 2022.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
November 7, 2022
PUBLIC HEARING
2. RESOLUTION NO. 22-47 - A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STANDARD AGREEMENT FOR THE 2020 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ROUND 2 AND 3 (CDBG-CV2 and CV3) NOFA DATED DECEMBER 18, 2020.
City Manager Gallegos recommended transfer remaining funds of $264,245from the business assistance grant to the Salvation Army for Hot Meals for food distribution. Opening Hearing at 6:22 pm Linda Espinoza asked the amount of the grant and how many businesses were award. City Manager Gallegos replied, city has had personnel in the office to assist business owners with the applications for funding, however, only three businesses applied & received the funding. City must use all the grant funding by the end of December or funding must be returned. Closed hearing at 6:24 pm. Council Member Valdez stated he wants to use funding for business but in other ways that scan benefit them. Staff explained funding grant specific, funding can’t be used for anything other than what the city applied for. Council Member Valdez asked staff to contact the grant office and inquire about modifying the way grants funds can be used. City Manager Gallegos said he will contact them but reminded council the funding must be used by the end of December of 2022.
Motion to table Res. No. 22-47 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 4-1 vote. Lopez – No.
NEW BUSINESS
3. RESOLUTION 22-48 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING CONTRACT TO EMMETT’S EXCAVATION, INC. FOR THE CDBG WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT NO. 18-CDBG-12911 AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 22-48 by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 22-49 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING A 4.4% INCREASE IN BASE ANNUAL SALARY OF CITY MANAGER BENJAMIN GALLEGOS BASED ON 2022 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND APPROVING FIRST AMENDMENT TO
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH BENJAMIN GALLEGOS ADDING ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION PAY.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 22-49 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – graffiti has been a big issue in our community, a generator used to test the new Fire Station was stolen, we looking to locate the stolen generator, and applying for grant funding. Public Works Director, Michael Molina – project on 8th St to 10th St started construction on Wednesday. Fire Chief, John Borboa – nothing to report other than what was submitted in the enclosed staff report. City Manager, Ben Gallegos – offered to answers any questions council might have regarding his staff report, attended a couple meetings, looking for additional funding for the industrial wastewater grant project. City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – nothing to report.
Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – it would be very helpful of the agenda items are submitted early or by the Wednesday noon deadline, so there’s enough time to package and get it out on time.
City Council Minutes
November 7, 2022
Finance Director, Pio Martin – there’s about 101 outstanding accounts on the delinquent list, 65 accounts made payment arrangement plans, & several accounts were paid in full. Attended Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority board meeting October 28, cities were updated on the Pool Liability Program, Worker’s Comp Program and Safety/Risk Control. Started working on the Audit with the Auditors. City Attorney, James McCann – nothing to report.
Council Member Lopez – nothing to report.
Council Member Sablan – nothing to report.
Council Member Valdez – nothing to report.
Marc Benjamin of Supervisor Brain Pacheco’s office – nothing to report. Council Member Perez – started a new job.
Mayor Jenkins – nothing to report.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Motion to enter closed session at 6:52 pm by Council Member Valdez, Second by Council Member Sablan; vote pass by 5-0 vote
CLOSED SESSION
5. Government Code Section 54957(b).
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION: City Attorney.
Motion to enter open session at 7:35 pm by Council Member Valdez, Second by Council Member Sablan; vote pass by 5-0 vote
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
No action taken
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 7:36 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.