Meeting Minutes
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 25 / 03-17
_____________________________________________________________________________________ Location of Meeting Andrew Firebaugh community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA. 93622
Date / Time March 17, 2025 / 5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro-Tem Renteria at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Pro-Tem Silvia Renteria
Council Member Brady Jenkins left at 6:39 p.m.
Council Member Felipe Perez
Council Member Elsa Lopez
ABSENT: Mayor Freddy Valdez
Others City Attorney Christina Smith, City Manager Ben Gallegos, Acting Deputy Clerk Olga Flores, Public Works Director Michael Molina, Finance Director Pio Martin, Police Chief Sal Raygoza, Planning City Planner Kelsey George.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Mayor Pro-Tem Renteria
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve agenda by Council Member Lopez, seconded by Council Member Jenkins, motion passed by 4-0 vote.
PRESENTATION None
PUBLIC COMMENT
E. Martinez reported the street sweeper time worked really well and can see most of the cars are moved out of the way, he mentioned he would like to talk to the driver because he lives in a corner and the driver misses the front of the house and only gets the driveway when he turns around. He also reported an issue at Maldonado Park basketball court having a big sink hole and he has seen a couple of kids take a fall, there is also another sink hole on Clyde Fannon and “P” Street and kids have been falling there too.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Meeting Minutes March 03, 2025
2. WARRANT REGISTER: Period starting February 01, ending February 28, 2025 February 2025 General Warrants #47211 - #47371 $965,308.53 Payroll Warrants #72453 - #72479 $244,116.57
Total $1,209,425.10
3. RESOLUTION NO. 25-05 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FIREBAUGH AUTHORIZING STAFF TO SUBMIT THE HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE 2024 CALENDAR YEAR
Motion to approve Consent Calendar by Council Member Jenkins, seconded by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 4-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
4. ORDINANCE 25-02 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH INTRODUCING ZONING AMENDMDENT 2025-01 WHICH AMENDS CHAPTER 25 (ZONING) AND CHAPTER 30 (DENSITY BONUS AND HOUSING GOALS) OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT Opening Hearing at 5:43 p.m. – no comment given – Close Hearing at 5:44 p.m.
Motion to approve Ordinance 25-02 by Council Member Lopez, seconded by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 4-0 vote.
NEW BUSINESS
5. RESOLUTION NO. 25-06 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FIREBAUGH DIRECTING THE FILING OF THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRIC NO. 1 IN THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 25-06 by Council Member Lopez, seconded by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 4-0 vote.
6. RESOLUTION NO. 25-07 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH RENEWING ORDINANCE 22-03 AND POLICY 708 OF THE FIREBAUGH
POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY MANUAL AUTHORIZING THE USE MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 7070, ET SEQ.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 25-07 by Council Member Lopez, seconded by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 4-0 vote.
7. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIRBAUGH TO DISCUSS THE REQUEST OF $200,000.00 FOR A TEST WELL ON WELL #12 OUT OF THE RESERVE WATER FUND.
Council gave the City Manager direction to continue with the testing
8. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
City Manager Ben Gallegos and Finance Director Pio Martin advised the Council that the city would need to hire a firm to compile information and form a proposal to advise the city on how to collect the tax and when to include it on an upcoming election ballot.
Council gave the City Manager direction to bring back quotes and pricing from firms, Ben said he would like to bring it back during budget talks so it can be included in the budget. Pio said we would need to send out an RFP and put it in the budget on July 1st.
9. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR VFW HALL.
Motion to approve VFW Fee Schedule with the following amendments by Council Member Jenkins, seconded by Council Member Lopez, motion passed by 4-0 votes. • Application Fee $25.00
• Rental Fee $1,000.00
• Cleaning Deposit $300.00
• Non-Profit Rental Fee $500.00
• Funeral Service Fee $500.00 Monday through Thursday
$1,000.00 Friday through Sunday
• Security Fee $32.60 Per officer per hour
STAFF REPORT – Written and enclosed in the agenda packet. Finance Director, Pio Martin – Nothing to add.
Acting Deputy City Clerk, Olga Flores – Nothing to add. City Engineer, Mario Gouveia – Cal trans will be doing the final when the weather allows it. Three street repair rehab projects are ongoing. City Manager, Ben Gallegos – Kennel building plans have been approved, site plans have not yet been approved.
Public Works Director, Michael Molina – Nothing to add Police Chief Sal Raygoza – An officer has been assigned to MAGIC one day out of the week and has worked with Magic serving 3 warrants 2 in the city of Mendota and one in the city of Firebaugh, which led to the recovery of guns, narcotics, and ammo. District Attorney Lisa Smithcamp took a tour of the department and was very impressed, also have officers going through principal skills and the officer working with MAGIC is going to take the investigators course.
Council Member Perez – Nothing to report.
Council Member Lopez - Nothing to report.
Mayor Pro-Tem Renteria – Nothing to report.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Pro – Tem Renteria is requesting the following:
• Itemized report on what has been spent on the dog pound. • Update on employee negotiations
• Itemized report on how the ARPA money was spent.
• Closed session for City Manager Ben Gallegos’ evaluation on April 07, 2025, meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn at 7:02 p.m. by Council Member Lopez, seconded by Council Member Perez, motion passed by 3-0 vote.