MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 24-03-04
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: March 4, 2024/5:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Mayor Perez at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Elsa Lopez
Mayor Pro Tem Freddy Valdez
Council Member Brady Jenkins
Council Member Silvia Renteria
Council Member Felipe Pérez
ABSENT
OTHERS: City Attorney Christina Di Filippo; City Manager, Ben Gallegos, Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Public Works Director, Michael Molina; Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Battalion Chief, Hector Marin, City Engineer, Mario Gouveia City Engineer, Noe Marquez & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Valdez 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 None
PUBLIC COMMENT
Wendy Ozburn proposed initiative as a bi-annual community clean-up event lead by churches located within the effected areas. These evets will bring together volunteers from different congregations and other community leaders to clean up public spaces. The goal is not to just clean up the community but work in unity, have a sense of pride. Amanda Speakes stated, “I’m here to speak on the business license fees and I have circulated a letter to business owners and reiterate what I’ve stated at the last few meetings. If the City is seeking funds, you need to keep in mind the business that have been giving money for years and years and years, and it’s not Element 7. I know element & also gives back to the community, but I don’t think waiving their distribution fee/tax, if we’re looking for money then sticking it the business owners is the way to do it. I have recommended business owners to attend meetings because they have not been presenting themselves.
Really glad to hear you guys are on a different level with corruption in this city. I think it’s been long needed, and needed to be revised. Especially since we have a formal council member that had been serving for 37 years and didn’t live in the district for over 20. I’m wondering if there’s going to be done there, since that was of concern in my situation, I really hoping certain things are addressed in past.”
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on February 5, 2024.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting January 1 and ending on January 31, 2024.
January 2024 General Warrants #45378 - #45514 $ 943,285.89 Payroll Warrants #72191 - #72212 $ 235,285.48
TOTAL $ 1,178,571.37
Motion to approve consent calendar by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
March 4, 2024
PUBLIC HEARING
3. ORDINANCE NO. 24-01 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH AMENDING SECTION 2-2.10 OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO SALRIES OF COUNCILMEMBERS – SECOND READING.
Public Hearing open at 5:09 pm – no comment given - close hearing at 5:10 pm.
Motion to accept Ord. No. 24-01, by Council Member Jenkins, second Council Member Valdez; motion passed by 4-1vote. Lopez – Abstain.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 24-09 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ESTABLISHING RATE INCREASES FOR WATER SERVICES.
Deputy Clerk reported no protest was submitted or received.
Motion to approve Res. No. 24-09 by Council Member Renteria, second Council Member Lopez; motion failed by 2-3 vote. Perez, Jenkins, Valdez – no.
NEW BUSINESS
5. RESOLUTION NO. 24-07 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
APPROVING THE FIRST AMENDED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY
OF FIREBAUGH GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY AND THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER
EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY WITH RESPECT TO
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT IN A PORTION OF THE DELTA-MENDOTA SUBBASIN.
Motion to approve Res. No. 24-07 by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
6. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF
AGREEMENT AMONG THE DELTA-MENDOTA SUBBASIN GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY AGENCIES.
Motion to approve MOA by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
7. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING THE SAN LUIS & DELTAMENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY SUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT ACT (SGMA) DEVELOPMENT OF A SINGLE GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FOR THE DELTAMENDOTA SUBBASIN SPECIAL PROJECT AGREEMENT.
Motion to approve cost share agreement by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
8. RESOLUTION NO. 24-08 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
APPROVING A COST SHARING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS) AND THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH RELATED TO ELECTICAL FACILITES ALONG STATE ROUTE 33.
Motion to approve Res. No. 24-08 by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
March 4, 2024
9. FIREBAUGH POLICE DEPARTMENT 2022 ANNUAL REPORT.
Informational.
10. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS DIAZ STREET.
Informational.
11. 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 19th THRU MAY 21st, 2024.
Motion to select Renteria and Jenkins by the consensus of the Council, passed by 5-0 vote.
12. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE TIME CHANGE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
Motion to consider time change to 5:30 pm at next council meeting by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Lopez; motion passed by 3-0 vote. Perez, Renteria – abstained.
STAFF REPORTS
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – nothing to report.
Battalion Chief, Hector Marin – nothing to report.
City Manager, Ben Gallegos – attended a meeting to place a unit at St. Joseph’s Church, trailer will be stored on Marquez property for 6 months only, should be moved by June 2024. Applied for grant, girl scouts raised funds to purchase outdoor exercise equipment, which will be placed along the path near the river. Finance Director, Pio Martin – nothing to report.
City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – two projects, 1) Q ST & 7th St waterline, 2) Dunkle Park – basketball rehab. Public Works Director, Michael Molina – received the generator for the PD & Fire Dept. a shutdown is scheduled to install.
City Attorney, Christina Di Filippo – nothing to report. Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – nothing to report.
Council Member Renteria – “I’m very passionate about the city, and it comes across as you can tell. When you voted for me, you voted because you know I have a voice and I’m going to use and use it for the residents. If it comes out passionate, I’m sorry that’s just my personality” Thanked Sal, for his presentation, it was great information. To the Fire Department I really want to thank you for recognizing George Conklin (passing). If there’s anything we can do in our small town, is to give recognition to those individuals who have worked so hard to the city and give condolences to his family and Fire Department. Thank you for everything you guys do. Council Member Valdez – wanted to just reiterate to you guys, coming to the meeting means a lot to us. So, we hope to continue to see people coming, and each one of you brings someone else. Again, we are here making decisions, and hopefully educated decisions and that goes with getting public comment by you and we take value in what you say. You make not think it’s always the best decision, but we listen to what you’re saying and your presence at a meeting is important so thank you.
City Council Minutes
March 4, 2024
Council Member Perez – Thank you so much. Friday, March 1st, I attended UC Merced as a panelist with a lot of science and they asked me about carbon capture and what I think about it. It was a lot of information, and they want to do a lot of different kinds of factories, like ethanoyl, hydrogen and similar kinds of things because they’re going to repurpose over 300,000 acres over Westland Water District. I’m very worried about the people that are going to lose their jobs, Spanish speaking (90%), what will we do with these families. These people don’t only have one kind, they have about three to five kids, what will we do with them. I told them about the impact to the community, we’re going to try to fight against it The County has always left us (rural areas) in the back, they don’t give us enough share to us.
If we do get any funds, what are we going to do with it and how are we going to train them, since the only speak Spanish. Working with a group that is going to provide a workshop about Air Quality at the Senior Center this Saturday, from 9 am to 3 pm for kids ages 8 to 14. Thank you for being here, you are part of a family, we are neighbors.
Council Member, Jenkins – Thank you all for coming. Chief that was great job, Michael, Hector thank you for reports. Ben, I spoke with Carlos Duarte on Friday, he reached out to me today. He’ll be sending me an email that I’ll be forwarding to you as soon as I get the information. I asked about some funding, federal tax money to do some little roads. He directed me an application, he just secured 3.3 million for City of Mendota for street repairs. He said if we need something, we need to ask for 2 to 3 million.
Council Member Lopez – attended the Farmworkers event Friday in Mendota, learned about the services offered to them by State, local and Federal agencies.
Motion to enter closed session at 7:16 pm by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM ONLY
CLOSED SESSION
13. Government Code Sec.54957 - Public Employee Evaluation; City Manager.
14. Government Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(2)- Conference With legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation - 1 Case.
Motion to enter open session at 8:07 pm by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Perez; motion passed by 4-0 vote.
Council Member Jenkins left the meeting at 7:58 pm.
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION – Nothing to Report
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn@ 8:08 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Perez, motion passes by a 4-0 vote.