1 MINUTES OF THE FOWLER CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday February 1, 2022
Mayor Cardenas called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Councilmembers Present: Cardenas, Rodriquez, Kazarian (via teleconference), Mejia (via teleconference), Parra
City Staff Present: City Manager Quan, City Attorney Cross, Police Chief Alcaraz, Public Works Director Dominguez, Community Development
Director Gaffery, Recreation Coordinator Hernandez, Fire Chief Lopez, City Planner Marple, Finance Director Moreno, City Engineer Peters
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jose Ramirez addressed the Council.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Parra made a motion to approve the consent calendar, seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Rodriquez. The motion carried by roll call vote:
Ayes: Parra, Rodriquez, Cardenas, Kazarian, Mejia.
7. CONTESTED CONSENT CALENDAR
N/A
8. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
8-A. FINANCE
i. ACCEPT Credit Card Usage Report for July 1 through December 31, 2021
Pursuant to Council Resolution 2363, Finance Director Moreno presented the biannual Credit Card Usage Report for July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. She indicated credit card expenses are submitted monthly by each department head and are approved by herself and City Manager Quan.
Mayor Pro-Tem Rodriquez made a motion to ACCEPT Credit Card Usage Report for July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, 2 seconded by Councilmember Parra. The motion carried by roll call vote: Ayes: Rodriquez, Parra, Cardenas, Kazarian, Mejia. ii. Actions pertaining to the fiscal year 2021-22 mid-year budget report and budget amendments:
• ACCEPT the fiscal year 2021-22 mid-year budget report. • ADOPT Resolution No. 2538 approving fiscal year 2021-22 proposed budget amendments.
Finance Director Moreno presented the City’s fiscal mid-year budget report on revenue and expenses through December 31, 2021, and presented Staff’s recommended budget adjustments and the reasoning for those adjustments. Finance Director Moreno responded to questions from various Councilmembers and explained she would include more detail in her 3rd quarter budget review which will be presented to Council in April.
Mayor Pro-Tem Rodriquez made a motion to ACCEPT the fiscal year 2021-22 mid-year budget report and ADOPT Resolution No. 2538 approving fiscal year 2021-22 proposed budget amendments, seconded by Councilmember Kazarian. The motion carried by roll call vote: Rodriquez, Kazarian, Cardenas, Mejia, Parra. 8-B. PLANNING
i. APPROVE a contract with Dewberry Architects, Inc. in the amount of $530,376 for police department, community center, and training center design and planning services; authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute agreement.
Community Development Director Gaffery provided an overview of the request for qualifications process, scope of work, and selection process. Based on this process, staff recommend Dewberry Architects, Inc.
Community Development Director Gaffery reported the scope of work will be from initial project scoping, to community engagement, conceptual design, construction documents, and construction administration. He also highlighted the community outreach component of the scope of work.
Police Chief Alcaraz discussed law enforcement needs of the facility.
Mayor Pro-Tem Rodriquez inquired if the community would have the 3 opportunity for input of the facilities. City Manager Quan stated there would be various community engagement opportunities during the process, including workshops. Councilmember Kazarian inquired about the cost of the facility. City Manager Quan reported she anticipates the cost will be between 8 and 9 million dollars contingent on a number of factors during the scoping and design process.
Councilmember Parra indicated that it should be called “Senior Center” and not “Community Center” and requested an ad-hoc committee with two Councilmembers to work in conjunction with this group. City Manager Quan noted the importance for involvement of the entire City Council with this project.
Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to APPROVE a contract with Dewberry Architects, Inc. in the amount of $530,376 for police department, community center, and training center design and planning services; authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute agreement, and to call it a Senior Center, not a Community Center, seconded by Councilmember Mejia. The motion carried by roll call vote: Kazarian, Mejia, Cardenas, Parra, Rodriquez. ii. CONSIDER naming of the park in Tract 6188
City Planner Marple provided an overview of the City’s procedures for park naming. She stated a request was received to name the park within Tract 6188 “Shirakawa Park” and provided an overview of the Shirakawa family’s connection with the park site.
Members of the Shirakawa family addressed the Council.
Councilmembers expressed their pleasure with the park naming and thanked the Shirakawa family for their presence.
Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to APPROVE naming of the park in Tract 6188 Shirakawa Park, seconded by Mayor ProTem Rodriquez. The motion carried by roll call vote: Kazarian, Rodriquez, Cardenas, Mejia, Parra.
iii. APPROVE a cooperative agreement with the Fresno Council of Governments for the Fresno County Sixth Cycle Multijurisdictional Housing Element
City Planner Marple stated California Housing Element law requires every jurisdiction to prepare and adopt a Housing Element as part of their General Plans. She stated staff evaluated whether to purse a 4 housing element independently or participate in Fresno COG’s regional housing element with other cities. She reported that based on cost, complexity, and the nature of regional housing elements, staff recommend to proceed with the Fresno COG regional housing element.
Community Development Director stated Fresno COG has yet to select a consultant to perform the work, but that he will be on the selection committee. He also stated that once costs of the consultant are known, an item would come back to City Council to give final approval.
Various Councilmembers asked questions about, and discussed, regional housing elements, and housing element costs.
Mayor Pro-Tem Rodriquez made a motion to APPROVE THE
Cooperative Agreement with the Fresno Council of Governments for the Fresno County Sixth Cycle Multijurisdictional Housing Element, seconded by Councilmember Parra. The motion carried by roll call vote: Rodriquez, Parra, Cardenas, Kazarian, Mejia. 8-C. PUBLIC WORKS
i. APPROVE a contract with DTA Finance in the amount of $68,500 for a water rate study and formation of a City-wide community facilities district; authorize the City Manager to execute agreement.
Public Works Director Dominguez reported the City solicited a request for proposals for qualified firms to conduct a water rate study and study the formation of a City-wide community facilities district. One proposal was received from DTA Finance. He stated staff interviewed DTA Finance and determined the firm to be experienced in similar projects across the State, well-qualified to perform the scope of work, and has previously performed successful work for the City of Fowler.
Councilmember Parra made a motion to APPROVE the contract with DTA Finance in the amount of $68,500 for a water rate study and formation of a City-wide community facilities district; authorize the City Manager to execute agreement, seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Rodriquez. The motion carried by roll call vote:
Rodriquez, Parra, Cardenas, Kazarian, Mejia.
ii. RECEIVE report on the City’s water model and provide staff direction
5 City Manager Quan informed the Council that this is the workshop they requested in a January Council meeting. City Engineer Peters provided a brief overview of the City’s water model. He introduced John Ennis from Ennis Consulting who prepared the City’s recent Hydraulic Water Model. Mr. Ennis discussed the present conditions of City wells and water flows. Staff responded to questions from various
Councilmembers regarding residential build-out, water pressure, fire flows, and the need for an additional well in the future. 8-D. CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
i. COVID-19 Update
City Manager Quan reported the Fresno County Department of Public Health’s data shows Fowler’s vaccination rate is 75%. She reminded Council the Blossom Trail Opening Ceremony is Friday at Fowler Packing.
9. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS – (CITY MANAGER)
9-A. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Public Works Director Dominguez updated Council on the energy conservation project.
9-B. POLICE DEPARTMENT
Police Chief Alcaraz distributed DOJ crime statistics for the month of December 2021.
9-C. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Community Developer Gaffery reported staff applied for a Cal Recycle Grant for twenty thousand dollars to help offset code enforcement costs related to organic waste compliance. He also provided an update on the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.
9-D. PLANNING DEPARTMENT
City Planner Marple reported staff applied for a Clean California Grant for 1.4 million dollars to improve lighting and streetscape amenities at Donny Wright Park and along Merced Street.
6 9-E. FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Finance Director Moreno provided a CBDG loan status update and sales tax update.
10. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Councilmember Parra announced he will be running for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.
Councilmember Kazarian reported he, Mayor Cardenas, and staff met with Assemblymember Arambula. He also announced longtime resident Arpie Dick passed away January 20, 2022 and shared funeral information. Councilmember Kazarian requested to close the evening’s Council meeting in Arpie Dicks honor.
Mayor Cardenas announced Senator Anna Caballero’s mother passed away and former Fowler Police Officer Gonzales passed away.
11. CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action was taken on the item.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Having no further business, Councilmember Parra made a motion to adjourn, Councilmember Mejia seconded. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.