MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 23/12-04
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: December 4, 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 Christina Di Filippo; City Manager, Ben Gallegos, Acct. Tech. II Olga Flores; Public Works Director, Michael Molina; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Battalion Chief, Hector Marin; Gouveia Engineering, Mario Gouveia, Ramiro Ramirez, Ruben Rangel, Candi Rangel, Chris Gutierrez, & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Valdez led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda with removal of agenda item # 8 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATION
PUBLIC COMMENT
G. Leib hosted breakfast with Santa and bingo and would like to request the use of the A.F. Community Center for next year’s event.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council special joint meeting on November 20, 2023.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting October 1 and ending on October 31, 2023.
October 2023 General Warrants #45005 - #45118 $ 805,353.91 Payroll Warrants #72125 - #72148 $ 234,709.22
TOTAL $ 1,040,063.13
Motion to accept consent calendar by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
3. 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.
Item is tabled for the next council meeting.
City Council Minutes
December 4, 2023
4. RESOLUTION 23-49 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING TENTATIVE SUBDIVISION MAP 2023-01 (HABITAT FOR HUMANITY).
Motion to approve Res. No. 23-49 by Council Member Lopez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
NEW BUSINESS
5. PROPOSAL AND CONSIDERATION OF A WATER/WASTEWATER RATE STUDY COMPLETED BY TUCKFIELD & ASSOCIATES.
Council Members Valdez and Renteria asked for the survey to include Mendota and Dos Palos. Ben will provide a copy of the CIP information with proposed projects. Council Member Valdez requested to see 3 years of information/expenses to show chemical increase over the past years. The Public Works Director is to bring back information on the cost or estimated cost of future operations.
Informational item only.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 23-50 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FIREBAUGH APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES, LLC.
Motion to approve Res. No. 23-50 by Council Member Lopez, second Council Member Valdez; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
7. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE ELEMENT 7.
Motion to table the item was tabled by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
8. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER CHANGING FROM ONE TO TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS A MONTH.
Motion to removal of agenda item # 8 by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 5-0 vote.
9. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER A PROCLAMATION OF DECEMBER 1ST AS MELANIE RIOS CAMACHO DAY.
Council Member Valdez read a copy of the proposed Proclamation; Police Chief Raygoza suggested every year there should be a moment of silence when lighting the tree. Council Member Valdez stated he will amend the resolution to add the recommended suggestion.
Motion to approve proclamation by Council Member Jenkins, second Council Member Lopez; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
10. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE AIRPORT - COST AND FEES.
Informational item only.
11. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE DUNKLE PARK - RESTROOMS.
Informational item only.
City Council Minutes
December 4, 2023
12. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE DUNKLE PARK - SNACK BAR.
Informational item only.
13. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE DUNKLE PARK - FRONT AND BACK PARKING LOTS.
Informational item only.
14. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE DUNKLE PARK - BUILDINGS UP FRONT.
Informational item only.
15. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE COUNCIL MEMBERS’ STIPEND.
Informational item only.
16. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER A JOSH ALLEN
Informational item only.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – moving December 12, 2023, the sheriff’s office will dispatch for one week from December 5th through next Tuesday.
Public Works Director, Michael Molina – Finished with the Christmas parade, maintenance on water sites, planning on the shutting down Maldonado Park to fix the field. Battalion Chief, Hector Marin – fire truck was decorated by a few of the fire fighters for the Christmas parade. City Manager, Ben Gallegos – staff did an awesome job, had a great time there. Glad to see the Fire Department is using the equipment, seeking grant funding for Maldonado Park, hoping to get awarded this time. Attending a press conference December 12, 2023, at the County of records office. Hopefully, we won’t see any more illegal labs like the one found in Reedley. Would like to request you to change the city employee lunch date scheduled for the 7th, I’m not available to attend that day.
Finance Director, Pio Martin – working with It regarding the system issues that keep causing our system to go down, starting to work on the audit.
Council Member Renteria – Thanked the Police Chief for taking the lead with Melanie Camacho vigil. Thanked Isable and Olge for their work on the Christmas Parade, as well as Thanking Public Works Director Molina and his staff for setting up for the event, everyone did an awesome gob. Council approved; Council Member Renteria requested the lunch be before Christmas.
Council Member Valdez – stated that all the city events have been phenomenal and thanked the staff for their hard work.
Council Member Lopez – said thank you to all the employees, it was a very nice event. Council Member, Jenkins – echoed what Council Member Renteria said, it was a really good thing to have a vigil for Melanie Camcho. The Fire Department did a really good job. Council Member Perez – Congrats to everyone, everyone was very excited about it.
City Council Minutes
December 4, 2023
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
Motion to enter closed session at 8:16 pm by Council Member Valdez, Second by Council Member Jenkins; vote pass by 5-0 vote.
CLOSED SESSION
17. Government Code Section 54957
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION: City Manager.
Motion to enter open session by Council Member Perez, Second by Council Member Lopez; vote pass by 5-0 vote.
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
City Manager received a positive evaluation by the consensus of the council members.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Lopez, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.