MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 24-05-06
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: May 6, 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
ABSENT Council Member Felipe Pérez
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, Mario Gouveia; Raquel Tabarez, Claudia Gutierrez, Guillermo Gutierrez, May Gutierrez, Gloria Diaz, Melanie Martinez, Paige Domanski,, Josefina Mora, Hillary Linares, Vero Saavedra, Celeste Cave, Bobby Hogue, Jose M Baes, Kathy Yergat, Jante Yergat, Barragan, Danny Barragan, Wanda Breshears, Lisa Patlan, Nicole Molina, Jose Sandoval, Fidel Availa & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Renteria led pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 4-0 vote.
PRESENTATION
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The City Council regular meeting on April 15, 2024.
Motion to approve consent calendar by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 4-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
None
NEW BUSINESS
2. RESOLUTION NO. 24-16 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH CALLING FOR A
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO SUBMIT TO THE VOTERS A LOCAL BALLOT MEASURE
TRANSITIONING THE OFFICE OF THE CITY TREASURER FROM AN ELECTED POSITION TO AN APPOINTED POSITION.
Motion to approve Res. No., 24-16 by Council Member Jenkins, second Council Member Valdez; motion passed by 4-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
May 6, 2024
3. RESOLUTION NO. 24-17 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH CALLING FOR A
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO SUBMITTO THE VOTERS TO A LOCAL BALLOT MEASURE
TRANSITIONING THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK FROM AN ELECTED POSITION TO AN APPOINTED POSITION.
Motion to approve Res. No., 24-17 by Council Member Jenkins, second Council Member Valdez; motion passed by 4-0 vote.
4. RESOLUTION NO. 24-18 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
OF INTENT TO LEVY AND COLLECT THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING (Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972.
Motion to approve Res. No., 24-18 by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Jenkins; motion passed by 4-0 vote.
5. RESOLUTION NO. 24-19 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN SAID CITY ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2024, FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN
OFFICERS OF SAID CITY AND REQUESTING THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF
FRESNO TO CONSOLIDATE AND CANVASS THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024 WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THAT DATE PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10400 ET SEQ.; TO PERMIT THE
COUNTY CLERK/REGISTRAR OF VOTERS OF THE COUNTY OF FRESNO TO RENDER SPECIFIED
SERVICES TO THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF SAID GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10002; AND AUTHORIZING REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS TO PAY FOR SAID SERVICES.
Motion to approve Res. No., 24-19 by Council Member Valdez, second Council Member Renteria; motion passed by 4-0 vote.
6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: FY 2024/25 PRELIMINARY OPERATING AND EXPENSE BUDGET REPORT.
Informational Item Only.
7. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH ANIMAL SHELTER UPDATE AND DISCUSSION.
Informational Item only. Request a review and update in July 2024.
8. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR SPARKLETTS WATER DELIVERY SERVICE.
Council Member Valdez recommended keeping the water service the same and adding the senior center bill to be included in the city bill.
STAFF REPORTS
City Manager, Ben Gallegos – working on a new grant app with Paul Ashby for the 3rd phase of Maldonado Park, it’s a 3.2 million dollar grant to fund a soccer field, tennis court and an all-weather track. The city may have to remove one of the basketball courts to accommodate for the proposed new facilities. The city will use the impact fees to design the plans, because the city must have design plans to apply for the grant. Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – Please confirm your attendance for the May 20th meeting, since two of the council members and the city manager won’t be able to attend, I need to know if we will have a quorum. Public Works Director, Michael Molina – nothing to report.
City Council Minutes
May 6, 2024
Police Chief Sal Raygoza – Nothing to report.
Battalion Chief, Hector Marin – had 77 total calls between both the county and local calls, the majority were city calls.
City Attorney, Christina Di Filippo – will not be attending the May 20th meeting, but have another Attorney available to fill in and attend in my absence.
Council Member Renteria – spoke with Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria about assistance for our dog pound, I asked her to consider the new laws and how it affects the small towns that don’t have funds to comply with the new laws. We discussed the city’s hope to build a new dog pound and city hall, as well as other possible projects. It was a great meeting.
Council Member Valdez - participated in a zoom meeting that provided a lot of information for businesses. April 27 was the Autism Awareness Walk and Firebaugh Community Resource Fair at Dunkle Park, served about 300 hotdog lunches, great event.
Council Member Jenkins – some council members have attended a lot of meetings/conferences, I think it should be opened to other council members. I can’t go all the time as a single parent. Council Member Renteria replied the information is sent and received to all council members via email, if anyone is interested in attending, they should ask the finance director and city manager if the funds are available, that’s what she does before signing up, and added she too is a single parent with two jobs. Council Member Lopez - request hanging some Josh Allen posters in town.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AGENDA ITEMS
• The council would like to discuss the new procedure at the next council meeting on June 3, 2024.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEM ONLY
Motion to enter close session @ 7:36 pm by Council Member Jenkins, second by Council Member Valdez, motion passes by a 4-0 vote.
CLOSED SESSION
9. EXISTING LITIGATION GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – one case
Motion to enter open session @ 8:06 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Renteria, motion passes by a 4-0 vote.
ANNOUNCEMENT AFTER CLOSED SESSION
No announcement.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn @ 8:08 pm by Council Member Valdez, second by Council Member Jenkins, motion passes by a 4-0 vote.