MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 22/12-05
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: December 5, 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 6:51 pm
Council Member Elsa Lopez
Council Member Freddy Valdez
Council Member Marcia Sablan
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Felipe Pérez
OTHERS: City Attorney James McCann; City Manager Ben Gallegos; Deputy Clerk, Rita Lozano; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Public Works Director, Michael Molina; City Engineer, Mario Gouveia; Gouveia; City Planner Karl Schoettler, Marc Benjamin – Supervisor’s Office of Brian Pacheco; Bethany Matos, Associate Dean of West Hills College-North District Center; Silvia Renteria, Raquel Tabares Ryan Gonzalez, Linda Espinoza, Victor Marin, Andrea Allison, Robert Allison, Jose Sierra, Matthew Garcia, Amanda Fleming Speakes,& others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Valdez led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Amanda Fleming congratulated the elected officials Felipe Perez & Silvia Renteria. Fleming contacted the elections office and asked about the City of Firebaugh vacant Treasurers person, council can appoint a person to the position, and stated she was very disappointed about the Christmas Parade being cancelled., many people look forward to it and many were disappointed. Ryan Gonzalez, read and submitted his public comment see attached document. Linda Espinoza asked about the cancelation of the Christmas Parade, stating it is the kickoff of the season and people were really disappointed, can it be rescheduled. We don’t want conflict with the committee, that decided to cancel, but if we could possibly reschedule the parade and have the tree lighting, without the vendors. Martha Verdugo works with the Boys & Girls Club and had a sponsor to help fund the construction of the float, so the club was really disappointed, the club was asked to take the float to Mendota, which is no problem, but the club would really like to share it with our community.
PRESENTATION
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on November 21, 2022.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
December 5, 2022
PUBLIC HEARING
2. ORDINANCE NO. 22-04 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO RECENT UPDATES IN STATE BUILDING AND HOUSING CODES, AND ADDING SECTIONS 8-19, 8-20, AND 8-21 RELATING TO
SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS, SAFETY ASSESSMENT PLACARDS, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS, RESPECTIVELY – SECOND READING.
Open hearing at 6:29 pm – no comment given – Close hearing at 6:10 pm, Re-open hearing at 6:30 pm Motion to approve Ord. 22-04 by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
3. ORDINANCE NO. 22-05 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AMENDING SUBSECTION 25-15.3 (R-1 ZONE (PERMITTED USES), SUBSECTION 25-17.3 (R-1 (TN) ZONE (PERMITTED USES)), SUBSECTION 25-19.3 (R-2 AND R-3 ZONES (PERMITTED USES)), AND 25-41.9 (SPECIAL USES (SECOND RESIDENTIAL UNITS)) OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS – FIRST READING.
Open hearing at 6:32 pm – Amanda Fleming asked for clarification for single family homes and ADU’s, City Planner Schoettler replied to the question – Close hearing at 6:33 pm Motion to waive the first reading of Ord 22-05 by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Sablan, motion passed by 3-0.
Mayor Jenkins entered the meeting via Webex at 6:51 pm
NEW BUSINESS
4. RESOLUTION NO. 22-56 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING THE CITY’S SPENDING PLAN AND APPROPRIATION FOR THE ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT CORONAVIRUS AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 22-56 by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 3-0 vote. Mayor Jenkins had no audio.
STAFF REPORTS
City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – nothing to report.
City Attorney, James McCann – nothing to report.
Finance Director, Pio Martin – nothing to report.
Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – nothing to report.
Public Works Director, Michael Molina – will be on vacation Wednesday through next Wednesday but will available via cell phone if anyone needs anything.
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 Council Minutes
December 5, 2022
Council Member Lopez – Thanked staff and appreciate the hard work on Saturday for the Christmas gift give away and help with the breakfast with Santa, it wasn’t under the best circumstances and people were disappointed, maybe we can talk about it at the next meeting, should we try to reschedule the parade. City Manager Gallegos stated the committee is having a meeting tomorrow to decide or discuss that matter, and added He works carefully with Stephanie to the make the breakfast with Santa every year, contrary the comments that were made earlier. Council Member Sablan – nothing to report.
Council Member Valdez – residents think and are saying the parade was cancelled by myself and Brady, but there’s a committee the makes the decisions for the event, so I wanted to clarify that I’m not on the committee and had no vote or say on that cancellation of the parade.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Motion to enter closed session at 6:59 pm by Council Member Sablan, Second by Council Member Lopez; vote pass by 3-0 vote
CLOSED SESSION
5.Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) - Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation In Re: Arbitration No. 22-1115 (Confidential Arbitration) Motion to enter open session at 7:49 pm by Council Member Sablan, Second by Council Member Lopez; vote pass by 3-0 vote
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
No action taken
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 7:50 pm by Council Member Sablan, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passes by a 3-0 vote.