MEETING MINUTES
The City Council/Successor Agency of the City of Firebaugh Vol. No. 25-11-17
Location of Meeting: Andrew Firebaugh Community Center
1655 13th Street, Firebaugh, CA 93622
Date/Time: November 17, 2025/5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order by Mayor Valdez at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL Mayor Freddy Valdez
Mayor Pro Temp Silvia Renteria
Council Member Brady Jenkins
Council Member Felipe Perez
Council Member Elsa Lopez
ABSENT
OTHERS: City Attorney Christina Smith; City Manager, Ben Gallegos; Finance Director, Pio Martin; Interim Police Chief, Magda Martinez; Public Works Director, Micheal Molina; Battalion Chief, Hector Marin; City Engineer, Mario Gouveia; Stephanie Gonzales, Steve Gonzalez, John Patlan, Claudia Guttierrez, Guillermo Guttierrez, Karina Chileno, Oscar Nevarez, Sahar Espinoza, Bill Davis & others.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council Member Valdez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to approve the agenda by Council Member Jenkins, seconded by Council Member Perez, motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
PRESENTATION
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Meeting Minutes from November 3, 2025.
2. WARRANT REGISTER – Period Starting October 01, ending October 31, 2025.
October 2025 General Warrants #48369 - #48527 $ 2,159,157.22 Payroll Warrants #72663 - #72686 $ 183,151.62
Total Warrants $ 2,342,308.84
Motion to approve the minutes by Council Member Jenkins, seconded by Council Member Perez, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
PUBLIC HEARING
3. ORDINANCE NO. 25-03 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2-3.7 OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE-FIRST READING.
The public hearing opened at 5:33 pm – No public comments given - The hearing closed at 5:34 pm.
Motion to waive the first reading of Ord. No. 25-03 by Council Member Jenkins, seconded by Council Member Perez, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
City Council Minutes
November 17, 2025
4. RESOLUTION NO. 25-36 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
ESTABLISHING A POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THE SELECTION OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE BY CITY COUNCIL.
Agenda item was tabled.
NEW BUSINESS
5. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER THE REQUEST FROM THE
FIREBAUGH BAND BOOSTERS OF A WAIVER OF RENTAL FEES FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR A BINGO FUNDRAISER ON DECEMBER 10, 2025.
Motion to approve waiver of fees, with renter required to pay cleaning fee deposit and provide insurance by Council Member Jenkins, seconded by Council Member Lopez, the motion passed by a 4-1 vote. Council Member Renteria – no.
6. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER THE REQUEST FROM JANET YERGAT TO DISCUSS THE FIREBAUGH ANIMAL SHELTER MATTERS.
Janet Yergat provided a presentation regarding the current, previous, and proposed donations for a new animal shelter.
She expressed her disappointment and embarrassment with the process of this project and the lack of communication she felt she received from the City Manager and staff, which she believes led to the donor withdrawing his $300,000 donation. Janet requested that the City Manager call the donor to apologize, attempt to persuade him to reconsider proceeding with the project, or use the funds the City allocated for the project to purchase a smaller structure from Horizon Structure. Karina expressed the need for an animal shelter and stated she has not seen much change in the City, other than improvements to the roads and a coffee shop, finally. Other members of the public also expressed support for the project and agreed there is a community need for a new facility.
The City Manager explained the challenges of the project, including the differences between a city-led project and a privately led project; an additional challenge was obtaining the organization’s plot/site plan for the purpose of the inspector’s review and approval, as well as installing required utilities and determine their appropriate locations caused delay of the project from moving forward; and finally, the increasing cost of the project for additional items, which had not been originally budgeted for. The City Manager also stated that he and the Mayor had participated in meetings and calls with the organization to move the project forward.
Council suggested that the City Manager contact both the manufacturer and the donor, and work with the City Attorney to establish a contract between the City and the Friends of Firebaugh Animal Shelter, should the project continue. The City Manager requested assistance from the Mayor to participate with this project process.
7. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO ORDINANCE NO. 25-04 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 16.5 OF THE FIREBAUGH MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING PUBLIC NUISANCE ABATEMENT.
Informational Item only, Council directed staff to bring back the ordinance with and without redline amendments.
8. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH TO CONSIDER FORMING A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
Informational Item only.
9. RESOLUTION NO. 25-37 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH
ESTABLISHING A POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THE SELECTION OF THE MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEMPORE BY CITY COUNCIL.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 25-37, with additional language of a 2-year term limit by Council Member Perez, seconded by Council Member Valdez, the motion passed by a 4-1 vote. Renteria – No.
City Council Minutes
November 17, 2025
10. RESOLUTION NO. 25-38 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBAUGH,
CALIFORNIA, ELECTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE DISABILITY INSURANCE (SDI) PROGRAM.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 25-38 by Council Member Jenkins, seconded by Council Member Perez, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
11. RESOLUTION NO. 25-39 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FIREBUGH
AWARDING A BID FOR ROOF REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR WORK AT THE SENIOR CENTER TO
ECI MARANATHA ENTERPRISES COMPANY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 25-39 by Council Member Lopez, seconded by Council Member Jenkins, the motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
STAFF REPORTS
➢ Interim Police Chief Magda Martinez – will start with the OTS Grant. ➢ Battalion Chief, Hector Marin – Nothing to report.
➢ Public Works Director/Fire Chief – survived the first storm; sandbags are available at the park. ➢ City Manager, Ben Gallegos – been following up with emails and phone calls for info with the grant due to the government shutdown, waiting to do the remainder of Q St., and will most likely do both sides of the sidewalks. ➢ Deputy City Clerk, Rita Lozano – Nothing to report.
➢ Finance Director, Pio Martin – Nothing to report.
➢ City Attorney, Christina Smith – Nothing to report.
➢ Council Member, Lopez – Thanked everyone for everything that they do. ➢ Council Member, Perez – Thanked everyone and asked about an update on the lakes. City Manager stated the contractor is tracking the water and reported an issue with PG&E. ➢ Council Member, Jenkins – inquired about the water park repairs and stated concern about calcium buildup, and hours of the Senior Center.
➢ Council Member, Renteria – Thanked everyone for the hard work, thanked Public Works, noticed the department working out in the rain. Thanked Hector for the training of the cadets, and stated, “I didn’t know how much went into it, until my kid started doing it.” Thanked Rita for the summary of the new SB Laws in her staff report. Things got intense earlier, but I want to report that the city is working diligently to address the pet population problem. ➢ Council Member Valdez – I echo what the Mayor Pro Tem said, it’s unfortunate the project didn’t work out, but I’m optimistic, the city is trying to put things in place to place us in the driver’s seat and get things back on track, but I hope everyone understands, it just takes time. We don’t want to upset any of our donors, that’s not our intent, we will do are best to reconnect, and hopefully we can go from there.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AGENDA ITEMS
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ONLY Motion to adjourn at 8:28 pm by Council Member Jenkins and seconded by Council Member Perez. Motion passed by a 5-0 vote.