MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 23/11-06
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: November 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
ABSENT: Council Member Silvia Renteria, Council Member Brady Jenkins
OTHERS: City Attorney Christina Di Filippo; City Manager, Ben Gallegos, Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano; Public Works Director, Michael Molina; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Battalion Chief, Hector Marin; Gouveia Engineering, Roberto Orozco, Gene Johnson, Candi Rangel, Steve Vega, Chris Gutierrez, & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Valdez led pledge of Allegiance.
INVOCATION Given by Chris Guitierrez
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 3-0 vote.
PRESENTATION None
PUBLIC COMMENT
Amanda Flemming I’ve invited and brought some members from the Merced Republican Party, Gene Johnson with the Merced County Republican Assembly, Vicky, and Glenda, I’ve previously spoke about our ready preparedness for the city, ever since we’ve experiences COVID, we enforced things that we wouldn’t normally, we injected ourselves forcefully without information or testing things properly. The other day I spoke about our emergency plan, I spoke to Sal about it a few minutes ago and it’s 15 years out of date. I think, living through our experiences, we’ve learned the County doesn’t have Firebaugh’s best interest, they’re not thinking about us, our families, or our businesses, that’s why we closed businesses, and we’re actually discriminating against certain businesses, and nobody cared. I’m not saying you didn’t care, but we allowed it to happen, and that’s the reason why I started all of this. It wasn’t fair to me that my family got to stay in business and my family was a priority, as an essential business. I didn’t feel that was fair, I felt that was discrimination. I haven’t heard you guys speak of an emergency situation or at least not on the agenda, how do we prepare. I know a car accident knocked out all of our city’s power, if something bigger happens, we’d be up the creek, and we all know this. It’s my push and kind of my life’s work right now, to see that we are prepared as a town, if something were to happen, we know that any business that had something to offer wouldn’t be there. It’s very possible and bringing outsiders to assist, we need the whole community, resources, our management, because there’s certain things that we don’t know in town. A resident reported their water went up and they were charged double for their water bill, spoke with Felipe, and I don’t understand why. I what to know why and what you can do about it. If I’m going to be reimbursed any payment I made, because there’s no leak at my house. Gene Johnson with the Merced County Republican Assembly, weather are borders are close or not, millions of people have infiltrated our country, coming across the borders without papers, which is illegal. My mother came from EL Salvador, and came across the border, like they are doing now, so I don’t want you thinking that I’m racist or discriminating. You really can’t do anything unless our Chief Officer of the country upholds the law. Unless some attorney or district attorney depends on arresting the President for not upholding the law. Letting the various immigrants come into the country, then the question is to Dos Palos or Fresno County, are you ready to respond to a terrorist event. Dos Palos, Fresno County, Merced County we are under attack with Fentanyl. Merced County is working to stop that, I hope Fresno County is doing the same. Is the water supply secure from poison, or is Fresno County secure from a bioterror attack, are the schools protected. Are you doing anything to protect your citizens?
City Council Minutes
November 6, 2023
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on October 23, 2023.
Motion to accept consent calendar by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Lopez; motion passed by 3-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
2. ORDINANCE NO. 23-02 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AMENDING SECTION 4-2.6.1 OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ITINERANT BUSINESSES – TABLED TO DECEMBER 18, 2023.
NEW BUSINESS
3. RESOLUTION NO. 23-46 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH SUPPORTING AB 1012 A STATE LAW TO SECURE THE EFFICIENCY OF TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING AND IMPLEMENTING A TIMELY USE OF THE FEDERAL/STATE FUNDING UNDER THE
FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT FOR THE PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO FRESNO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE 2023 CALL FOR PROJECTS.
Motion to approve Res. No. 23-46 by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Lopez; motion passed by 3-0 vote.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 23-47 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
ACCEPTING A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO TONY BOREN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FOR HIS 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE FRESNO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
Motion to approve Res. No. 23-47 by Council Member Lopez, second Council Member Valdez; motion passed by 3-0 vote.
5. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS AN UPDATE OF THE BUSINESS LICENSE.
Council Members recommended the following changes: remove the yearly rate for Itinerant Business, require gross receipts, proposed a $500 yearly rate, reduce quarterly LOCAL Only rate to $300 or $350 and amend ordinance to state, “fess shall be set by resolution”.
6. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS AN UPDATE OF THE AIRPORT - COST AND FEES.
The item was tabled at the next council meeting.
7. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER A TIME AMENDMENT FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2023, TO 5:30 P.M. FOR A JOINT MEETING WITH THE FIREBAUGH LASDELTAS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Motion to approve a joint meeting with the school district for November 20, 2023, at 5:30 pm, by consensus of the council.
STAFF REPORTS
Finance Director, Pio Martin – the new recording system is installed, microphones are very sensitive, and can record from the back of the room.
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – possible moving to the new police station on date of December 12, 2023, the sheriff’s office will dispatch for one week, while the department relocate. Received a $50,000 grant for reinforcement, looking DUI drivers, recently the department has seen a lot of DUI accidents and citations DUI drivers. Additional information will be in my next staff report.
City Council Minutes
November 6, 2023
Battalion Chief, Hector Marin – I heard a resident asking about a helicopter accident, there was no helicopter accident, but that it did catch fire owing to a technical fault prior to the test flight The department has had 94 total calls, we have a successful Red Ribbon week, kids were asking who’s better, the Fire or Police department. Public Works Director, Michael Molina – we finally received our Boom Truck, after a two year wait, so the department will start repairing the city’s streetlights. Soap Dispensers have been ordered for the park restrooms, paint has been ordered to start stripping the street, and maintenance is going to begin on the wells, since Toma Tek has finished their season.
City Manager, Ben Gallegos – the city did budget for the repairs to the wells, working with Jackie and Jennifer of EDC on the shop local program, there’s a fee to purchase the cards and the cards can only be used in local businesses. Will attend a flood meeting between 5:00 to & 7:00 to November 15th, so I’ll be leaving the office at 3:30 pm. Through COG the One Voice trip is coming up, I recommend a Council Member attend the Ove Voice trip to seek funding for the city.
The Ribbon Cutting at Valley Health Team is November 9, 2023, at 10:00 am, the City Manager and some staff members will be attending. City Hall will be closed November 10th in observation of Veteran’s Day. EDC is hosting an event in Kerman on the 14th, I would like to have one or two council members attend to sell the city to the developers.
Utility Late Notices went out to residents regarding late fees to give everyone two months’ notice before enforcing the collection of the fees. Working with a state agency that is looking for office space, they provide services related to flooding. Council Member Valdez suggested the City Manager goes to the One Voice event in Washington, believe it’s time the city shows face.
Gouveia Engineering Office, Roberto Orozco – been working with Ben and Michael on a few projects that will be going out to bid, one of them will be Q St and & 7th St will replace the waterline and pave the road. Another project is Dunkle Park Improvement Project, will get rid of the dance area and place a new basketball court and equipment has been ordered for the new playground, project is grant funded. Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – attended a records and retention training on Friday, our retention plan needs to be updated, there’s several new laws, I’ve been working on the grants and closing out the filing. The City’s received several Public Request Act (PRA) over the past few months, there potential litigation that may require the city to reply within 30 days of the PRA and working on the daily operations. City Attorney, Christina Di Filippo – nothing to report. Council Member Lopez – nothing to report.
Council Member, Jenkins – nothing to report.
Council Member Valdez – Nothing to report.
Council Member Perez - would like to invite you to an event, on November 9th, beginning at 4:30 pm, after 6:00 pm food and wine will be provided.
PUBLIC COMMENT
CLOSED SESSION
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 7:05 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passes by a 3-0 vote.