MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 23/04-03
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: April 3, 2023/6:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Mayor Perez at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Pro Tem Elsa Lopez
Council Member Silvia Renteria
Council Member Brady Jenkins
ABSENT: Mayor Felipe Pérez, Council Member Freddy Valdez OTHERS: City Attorney James McCann; Deputy Clerk, Rita Lozano; Public Works Director, Michael Molina; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Fire Chief John Borboa; City Engineer, Mario Gouveia; Chris Gonzalez & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Fresno County Sheriff J. Zanoni led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Renteria, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
PRESENTATION
PUBLIC COMMENT
Fire Chief John Borboa, stated in reading the minutes from the last city council meeting, Council Member Valdez’s statement is incorrect regarding the Fire Department and its members from 1920’s. Rather, the first firefighters for the City of Firebaugh Fire Department consist of twelve members, the Fire Department has the original picture of the twelve members, with the first original fire truck and fire station, which has been passed on from generation to generation and is up at the Fire Station.
Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni, introduced himself, and Sheriff Ubaldo Berber a Firebaugh native, who offered to attend the council meeting. Sheriff Zanoni was elected as the successor for Sheriff Margaret Mimms when she retired. The Fresno County Sheriff’s office has worked with the surrounding agencies and communities, so everyone is used working with Sheriff Mimms, Sheriff Zanoni wants to continue the same relationships. The Sheriff’s office is willing to be of assistance when possible, including with the flood issues. With everyone working together and all willing to help each other in addressing problems, more will and can be accomplished. There have been a lot of changes since Sheriff Mimms left office, several staff changes, many individuals were promoted, two new Captains, including Adam Maldonado, also a Firebaugh native, others promoted from Sheriff to Lieutenants, with Sheriff Zanoni being lucky to build the new team. Fresno County Sheriffs are having the same problems as most law enforcements organizations, in recruiting new members, there is several vacancies, about forty members are on some kind of leave, seven dispatcher vacancies, and 80 correctional officers are needed.
Laurie Zaninovich of Mid-Valley Disposal presented an award to Blue Flame for food recycling.
Susan Ramirez, thanked the Police Department for doing a great job, we’ve been fortunate to avoid flooding by Ramirez Trailer Park, but we are starting see seepage now in the backyard, so I want to ask if there is a plan, so we can be proactive on what to do, or a place where we get information on the levels, where can the public access information and updates. Chief Raygoza replied he will contact Fresno County to assess the seepage, the department is monitoring the river regularly for updates on the water levels.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on March 20, 2023.
Motion to approve consent calendar by Council Member Jenkins, second Council Member Renteria; motion passed by 3-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2023
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
2. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER USE OF THE A.F. COMMUNITY
CENTER AND WAIVER OF RENTAL FEES BY FIREBAUGH PARENTS, FOR A BINGO FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT THE CLASS OF 2023 SOBER GRAD EVENT ON MAY 2, 2023.
Motion to waives rental fees, except for $25 application fee, cleaning deposit and required Insurance policy by Council Member Jenkins, second Council Member Lopez; motion passed by 2-1 vote. Renteria – no.
3. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL
CITY REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS (ICSC) CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS, NV, MAY 21ST THRU MAY 23RD , 2023.
Motion to approve the attendance of Council Member Renteria to the ICSC Conference by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 23-12 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
DIRECTING THE FILING OF THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1 IN THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH.
Motion to approve Res. No. 23-12 by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Renteria, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 23-13 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
AUTHORIZING SITELOGIQ AND CITY MANAGER TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS AND APPLICATION FOR THE CEC ECAA LOAN PROGRAM AND FINDING THE ACTIVITY FUNDED BY SUCH LOAN TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
Motion to approve Res. No. 23-13 by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Renteria, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
6. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SELECTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES.
Motion to review submitted RFP by Council Member Renteria, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 3- 0 vote.
STAFF REPORTS
Fire Chief, John Borboa – nothing to report.
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – it’s slowing down with the water issues, but not sure where the city will be in May and June as the snow melts. Working on the annual crime report to present to council, the flooding issues has been time consuming, dept has seen homeless people come into town, the last contact with an individual was from LA, but he was not sure how he got here. We offer them choices and informed them the city does not have services town to help them. Council Member Lopez added, she has been informed that some homeless are staying at the Senior Center complex, because some of the senior citizens have offer them a place to stay but other seniors living in the complex are not comfortable with the strangers staying there.
Public Works Director, Michael Molina – 4200 cubic ft. go down the river, it should stay leveled, there is some seepage in some areas, staff is monitoring, we closed the community garden, disc the airport, We estimate the parks will be full for easter, the street sweeper is in the shop, it doesn’t look like it will be able to be repaired, because it looks like the transmission is out, but are working with Mario to seek grants to purchase a new one.
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2023
City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – the wet weather is delaying some projects. City Attorney, James McCann – nothing to report.
Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – nothing to report.
Finance Director, Pio Martin – working on the budget, anything items you wish to include in the budget should be submitted via email, if told verbally to me, I might forget. Council Member Renteria - Thanked the Sheriff for coming to our small community, it is nice to meet you, and it means a lot to us that you came to our small town. Stated her concern about the parks, which will be busy for easter and the water levels at the river being so high, to avoid any hazards, recommended extra patrol or fenced off areas.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Motion to table close session by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passes by a 3-0 vote.
CLOSED SESSION
7. 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.
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 6:56 pm by Council Member Lopez, second by Council Member Renteria, motion passes by a 3-0 vote.