MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 23/03-20
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: March 20, 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; Hector Marin, Fernando Campa, & 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 Valdez, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATION
• Busters Paw Prints Organization
• Fresno EDC
• Audit Report
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chris DeFrancesco expressed his concern on the importance of the flooding situation and stated he will forward a video to all Council Members to view regarding the Kings County Board of Supervisors, the local farmers and the impact if could have on the City of Firebaugh due an agreement to divert the overflow towards Firebaugh. Many citizens may not have flood insurance and the city needs to take the flooding issue seriously, and have the matter supersede all other city business.
Mr. Gonzalez, stated, he and others , including working with 559, would like to have a car show on “O” St, between 9th St. through 13th St.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on March 6, 2023.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting February 1 and ending on February 28, 2023.
February 2023 General Warrants #43933 - #44066 $ 1,116,934.31 Payroll Warrants #71956 - #71977 $ 149,840.02
TOTAL $ 1,266,774.33
Motion to approve consent calendar by council member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
March 20, 2023
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
3. RESOLUTION NO. 23-11 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING A LETTER OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AND SITELOGIQ, INC.
FOR DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES AT THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND VFW HALL.
Motion to approve Res. No. 23-11 by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 4-1 vote. Valdez – no.
4. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER AND DISCUSS A DEDICATION PLAQUE TO BE PLACED AT THE FIREBAUGH FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HONOR THE BORBOA FAMILY.
Council Member Renteria requested to have a plaque placed at the new fire station to honor the Borboa Family for the different generations of volunteer Firefighters & years of service over the past several decades to the City of Firebaugh Fire Department. Council Member Lopez agreed and supported the recommendation. One resident opposed honoring one person, John Borboa, stating he should not be the only recognized firefighter, and recommended all volunteer firefighters be honored for their volunteer service by placing their names on a plaque, too. Another resident supported honoring the Borboa Family, adding it’s not about just one family member, but the Borboa Family, because of the different generations of Borboa family members that have served as volunteer firefighters, as far back as the early 1920s, and the years of service to the fire department as volunteer firefighters, but agreed, all volunteers should be recognized. Council Member Valdez mentioned a photo taken in 1922 of the original five firefighters & suggested this photo with the names of the Firefighters be placed at the fire station to honor them. Council Member Renteria, stated, “No other person or family has served on the Firebaugh Fire Department longer than the Borboa Family Members, which is why, she requested this item be placed on the agenda for consideration,” Then, asked City Manager Gallegos, “If anyone else submit or requested anything else for consideration?” City Manager Gallegos replied, “No.”
Motion to table item by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 4-1 vote. Lopez – no.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – provided an update on the flooding issue, & stated emails were sent to Council for review. Public Works Director, Michael Molina – working on the same issue, flooding concerns, sweeper should be working again by the end of this week. Thanked public works staff for the overtime they have been doing , including working on the weekends to help with the flooding concerns, & want them to know their hard work has not gone unnoticed. City Manager, Ben Gallegos – I agree with Molina, Public Works and Police Departments have helped tremendously, our Elected Officials Senators, House Representatives have all called to offer help if we need it, so I just want to thank everyone.
A new project has been proposed, so council need to consider if they want to complete the Maldonado Park expansion or allow an apartment complex to be built on the undeveloped area. Thanked Pio, we have been in meetings all day on the flood issues, we do not take our decisions lightly, the water flows are going to continue to rise so we will continue monitoring them. Michael & I attended the Public Works Conference but did not get to stay because of the floods. At the conference we learned about funding for streets, and the pros and cons of subcommittees. City Manager will not be attending the next council meeting April 3, 2023, will be out on vacation. Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – nothing to report.
Finance Director, Pio Martin – glad the audit is over, will be working on the budget for the next fiscal year, please submit items if you wish to include in the budget, staff is pushing for residents to use the “TextMyGov” app, so city has a better way to communicate with everyone, about various matters, including information on the flood. end of January. I would like to take a different staff member for training.
City Council Minutes
March 20, 2023
City Attorney, James McCann – nothing to report.
Council Member Renteria - Thanked everyone and staff that is out there working on the flood, at all hours of the day. Council Member Valdez – echoed the same as Council Member Renteria, on the great leadership, hard work and dedication staff has showed.
Council Member Lopez – was involved in the 97 floods, I know how stressful it can be, thanked staff for the dedication, a lot of people start to worry, but if staff exercises good communication, & has an open-door policy, the community will find comfort in that, we don’t want them to panic.
Council Member Jenkins – nothing to report.
Council Member Perez – staff is doing important work, and council is here to support the staff and community, so thank you very much. Asked about the streetsweeper update and reported issues of sitting water at Fr. Craig and the next two streets.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Motion to enter close session at 7:27 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.
CLOSED SESSION
5. Government Code Section 54957.6.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS: ALL REPRESENTED & UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES City Negotiator: Ben Gallegos
Employee Organizations: Police & Public Works bargaining units and all unrepresented positions. Motion to enter open session at 8:31 pm by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 8:32 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.