MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 24-04-15
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: April 15, 2024/5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order by Mayor Lopez at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Elsa Lopez
Mayor Pro-Temp Freddy Valdez,
Council Member Silvia Renteria
Council Member Brady Jenkins
Council Member Felipe Pérez
ABSENT
OTHERS: City Attorney Christina Di Filippo; City Manager, Ben Gallegos, Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Police Chief, Sal Raygoza; Battalion Chief, Hector Marin, City Engineer Rep., Roberto Orozco, Raquel Tabarez, Claudia Gutierrez, Guillermo Gutierrez, Melanie Martinez, Paige Domanski, Leslie Rodriguez, Hillary Linares, Cristhian Sansores, Celeste Cave, Bob Hogue, Jose M Baes, John Yergat, Jante Yergat, Gloria Diaz, Amanda Ortega, Terris Barragan, Danny Barragan, Wanda Breshears & 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
• Ellery Ellis, Transportation Engineer at Caltrans provided information regarding the Highway 33 Project, expected to be a 160-day project, estimated to be complete project by December 2024.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on April 1, 2024.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period starting March 1 and ending on March 31, 2024.
March 2024 General Warrants #45654 - #45789 $ 857,187.73 Payroll Warrants #72225 - #72246 $ 174,692.48
TOTAL $ 1,031,880.21
Motion to conduct a closed session at a future council meeting regarding checks 45719 and 45755, since it is part of a current case and approve consent calendar by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
April 15, 2024
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
3. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH APPROVING MR. FRANK WILLIAMS AS THE
CITY OF FIREBAUGH REPRESENTATIVE ON THE FRESNO WESTSIDE MOSQUITO ABATEMENT DISTRICT BOARD.
Motion to appoint Mr. Frank Williams as the City Representative for the Fresno Westside Mosquito Abatement Board by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Lopez; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
4. RESOLUTION 24-15 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ACCEPTING BID AND AWARDING CONTRACT TO HENSLEY’S PAVING & GENERAL ENGINEERING, INC. FOR SB1/MEASURE C PAVEMENT REHABILITATION AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.
Motion to approve Res. No. 24-15 by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Perez; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
5. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH PROPOSED SALARY BUDGET REPORT.
Information item only, presented by Finance Director P. Martin.
6. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ANIMAL SHELTER UPDATE AND DISCUSSION.
Janet Yergat provided a presentation and reported on the condition of the shelter, stating it is a health hazard for employees and volunteers, and a breeding ground for diseases. She has been in contact with a donor that is willing to donate a Prefabricated Dog Kennel, but the city would need to make the following repairs: remove beehives, install new sewage line, destroy old facility, and place a new foundation for the new kennel.
Motion to direct the City Manager to provide a cost analysis to include the sewage line and slab which is necessary to house the new facility by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Perez; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
7. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS SPARKLETTS WATER DELIVERY SERVICE.
Motion to direct the City Manager to provide three options to the council at the next council meeting by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Perez; motion passed by 5-0 vote.
STAFF REPORTS
Public Works Director, Michael Molina – nothing to report. Police Chief Sal Raygoza – Thanked the dispatcher for the service and if you see them, tell them Happy Telecommunication Week.
Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – nothing to report.
City Engineer Rep., Roberto Orozco – nothing to report. Finance Director, Pio Martin – is available to answer any questions regarding the budget.
City Council Minutes
April 15, 2024
Council Member Lopez – good job on the Fireman’s dinner dance. City Manager, Ben Gallegos – reported to council, city manager reached out to Olam, they stated they are stopping production for one year but will re-open in 2026 because they have too much product on the floor, they will begin with layoffs and will be completely shut down by December 2024. City Attorney, Christina Di Filippo – nothing to report. Council Member Renteria – thanked Michael Molina and Hector Marin for providing procession at George Conklin’s funeral services, I know it difficult to get other agencies to cover us, so you guys can be out there for him and his family.
Council Member Valdez – Thanked you, I’d like to echo what Council Member Renteria stated, and I like to report April 27 will be the Autism Awareness Walk as well as the Firebaugh Community Resource Fair at Dunkle Park, until 1:00 pm.
Council Member Jenkins – asked what is being built at Toma-Tek, City Manager replied some kind of evaporators.
Council Member Jenkins asked if it went to the Planning Commission? The City Manager stated it went to planning and was reviewed by CSG.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM ONLY
CLOSED SESSION
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn@ 7:26 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Perez, motion passes by a 5-0 vote.