MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 23/02-06
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: February 6, 2023/6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Mayor Perez at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Felipe Pérez
Mayor Pro Tem Elsa Lopez
Council Member Freddy Valdez
Council Member Silvia Renteria
Council Member Brady Jenkins
ABSENT:
OTHERS: City Attorney James McCann; City Manager Ben Gallegos; Deputy Clerk, Rita Lozano; Public Works Director, Michael Molina; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Fire Chief John Borboa; City Clerk, Amanda Fleming; City Engineer, Mario Gouveia; Fernando Campa, Chris Gutierrez & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Lopez led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATION
• Syserco Energy Solutions, Inc.
• SitelogIQ’s Central Valley Local Government Energy Team
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on December 19, 2022.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting December 1 and ending on December 31, 2022.
December 2022 General Warrants #43649 - #43829 $ 1,326,409.03 Payroll Warrants #71925 - #71937 $ 145,376.81
TOTAL $ 1,471,785.84
3. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting January 1 and ending on January 31, 2023.
January 2023 General Warrants #43830 - #43932 $ 920,014.19 Payroll Warrants #71938 - #71955 $ 143,396.15
TOTAL $ 1,063,410.34
Motion to approve Consent Calendar with the following checks pulled: #43710-43730, #43805, #43873, #43889, #43894, by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
February 6, 2023
Motion to approve the following checks pulled: #43710-43730 – ARPA funds approved by Res. 22-56, #43805 – Petty Cash for Dog Pound food supplies, #43873 – Supersaver portable table for Maldonado Park, #43889 – Senior Citizens Lunch paid from their funding, which the city manages , #43894 – Donaghy Beer Purchase bill from the 2022 carnival, by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING - None
NEW BUSINESS
4. RESOLUTION NO. 23-01 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING CONTRACT TO EMMETT VALLEY CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR THE J STREET AND 10TH STREET IMPROVEMENTS, FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NO. CML-5224(027) AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 23-01 by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 23-02 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH OF ADOPTING AND RECERTIFYING THE UPDATED SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN (SSMP).
Motion to approve Resolution No. 23-02 by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 23-03 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ACCEPTING COMPLETION OF 22/23 SB1 SLURRY SEALS PROJECT, AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK
TO RECORD A NOTICE OF COMPLETION WITH FRESNO COUNTY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE FINAL PAYMENT OF RETENTION MONIES TO VSS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 23-03 by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
7. RESOLUTION NO. 23-04 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
APPROVING THE DESIGNATION OF PERSONS ON SIGNATURE CARDS OF THE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS USED BY THE CITY WHICH AUTHORIZE SIGNATURE OF CITY WARRANTS & PAYROLL CHECKS.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 23-04, removing “acting” on city manager, removing Marcia Sablan, and adding Elsa Lopez by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Renteria, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 23-05 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
APPROVING A SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF FRESNO AND THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH FOR REPLACEMENT OF LAS DELTAS WATER STORAGE TANK.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 23-05, agreement between County of Fresno & City for the HUD tank replacement by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 23-06 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
SUPPORTING AND URGING THE APPROVAL AND FUNDING OF THE GRANT APPLICATION
SUBMITTED BY THE CITY OF HURON TO THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION FOR A LOCAL AGENCY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT.
Public Utilities Commission for broadband, grant funding of $5,000, no funding available at this time but additional funding maybe allocated.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 23-06 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
February 6, 2023
10. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS THE REQUEST FROM CEN CAL BUILDERS RE: DEL RIO ESTATES HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND DIAZ STREET.
Contractor’s representative requested to be on agenda to ask council to consider amendments to their project from cement wall to wood fence, and to not have to develop Diaz Street. Staff advised the request must go before the Planning Commission for consideration not the City Council. A public hearing announcing the Planning Meeting would be required for the consideration of the requested amendments.
No action taken.
11. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS THE BUSINESS LICENSE FEES.
Recommendation for staff to amend business license fees by categories or types of business, verse gross earnings, present new fees to council for consideration at a future council meeting.
12. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS NAMING THE NEW FIRE STATION.
Council which would read as they originally stated (agenda item did not pass) Motion to name the new fire station the Borboa Fire Station, after the 55 years plus of volunteer Fire Chief service from the Borboa family members by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Renteria, motion fails 2-1-2. Council Member Valdez – no, Council Member Jenkins and Mayor Perez – abstained.
* Vote outcome was clarified at March 6, 2023, meeting based on local rules to reflect that motion passed by a 2-1-2 vote.
See March 6, 2023, minutes for more information and corrected vote below.
Motion to name the new fire station the Borboa Fire Station, after the 55 years plus of volunteer Fire Chief service from the Borboa family members by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Renteria, motion passes 2-1-2.
Council Member Valdez – no, Council Member Jenkins and Mayor Perez – abstained.
13. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS PROCEEDING WITH AN RFQ FOR CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES.
Motion to proceed with the RFP for City Attorney Services by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins; motion passes by 3-2 vote. Council Member Lopez and Council Member Renteria – no.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – working on annual report and the ordinance on trailer parks to provide an update. Fire Chief, John Borboa – nothing to report.
Public Works Director, Michael Molina – nothing to report. City Manager, Ben Gallegos – working with Retail Strategies on recruiting new businesses, they stated the city has been doing everything that they would recommend in succeeding on getting new businesses to our town. City Engineer Mario Gouveia – alley project on 8th through 9th Street is stalled due to the weather. HWY 33 beautification permit is moving forward and is scheduled to go out in April. Caltrans is potholing on Morris to Lyon on Hwy 33 to prepare for the project, they’re also working with the railroad company to start work there later this year. Council Member Lopez asked what we are doing with Cen Cal, Cen Cal must meet the city standards, any amendments request must go be the planning commission for consideration.
Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – please submit your Form 700 before the deadline to avoid fines, members that have served on COG committees, need to complete a Form 700 for each committee served, I will be on vacation all next week.
City Council Minutes
February 6, 2023
Finance Director, Pio Martin – hoping they have the audit report to present soon. City Attorney, James McCann – nothing to report.
Council Member Lopez – suggested a Josh Allen Memorial that was requested by Council Member Jenkins, be placed at 13th St, place on a future agenda for consideration.
Council Member Renteria – attended the League of Cities Conference, learned how many rules we do/can break, we should all go to training as a refresher course to avoid bigger issues. Council Member Valdez – Saturday, attended meeting with State Assembly woman Esmeralda Soria held for the westside communities to discuss the issues of our towns, still seeking Prop 68 funding for parks, as well as funding to hire kids. Council Member Perez – attended the last COG meeting, the Director said we have a city app to provide information, city should get a charger for Tesla vehicles, their brining an agency from LA, I informed them we are a community of low income, we should hir locally, instead of bring agency from big cities like LA. Requested the lines on Clyde Fannon be painted, since there hard to see, and address the truck parking issue in that area too. City Manager replied, he attended a meeting on the grid, and believes they want to place a charging station at the park on 16th.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Motion to enter close session at 8:25 pm by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.
CLOSED SESSION
14. Government Code Section 54957
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION: City Manager.
Motion to enter open session at 9:18 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
No action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 9:19 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.