1 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE FOWLER CITY COUNCIL AND
THE FOWLER PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY
Tuesday June 7, 2022
Deputy City Clerk Angela Vasquez called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Councilmembers Present: Kazarian, Mejia, Parra, Rodriquez (via teleconference at 6:17 p.m.)
City Staff Present: City Manager Tucker, 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, Deputy City Clerk Vasquez
City Attorney Cross informed Council and staff that in the absence of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, the Fowler Municipal Code governs who is to preside at the meeting and the City Clerk shall call the meeting to order and a temporary presiding officer shall be elected by the council present to serve until the arrival of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem, or until adjournment.
Councilmember Mejia made a motion for Councilmember Parra to preside over the council meeting, seconded by Councilmember Kazarian. The motion carried by roll call vote: Ayes: Mejia, Kazarian, Parra.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
N/A
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to approve items 6A-6K of the consent calendar and pull item 6-L to be reviewed after Item 8-Bi, seconded by Councilmember Mejia. The motion carried by roll call vote: Ayes: Kazarian, Mejia, Parra.
7. CONTESTED CONSENT CALENDAR
6-L. Actions pertaining to Adoption of Fiscal Year 2022/2023 (Finance) (Discussion
took place after Item 8-Bi)
This item was pulled by Councilmember Kazarian.
2 Councilmember Kazarian inquired if adopting the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget could be delayed until after the Fire Station workshop. City Manager Tucker and Finance Director Moreno both stated that there could be a budget amendment to amend the adopted budget to reflect any changes associated with the Fire Department.
Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to ADOPT Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget with the understanding a budget amendment could amend the adopted budget to reflect any changes necessary to fund the Fire Department decision before Council, seconded by Councilmember Mejia. The motion carried by roll call vote: Ayes:
Kazarian, Mejia, Parra, Rodriquez.
8. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
8-A. Public Works
i. APPROVE a contract with Pacific Solar Inc., in the amount of $155,020.52 for the Fire Station Solar Project and authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute the agreement (Item to be continued to June 21, 2022 City Council meeting)
City Manager Tucker requested this item to be continued to the June 21, 2022 City Council meeting.
Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to continue APPROVE a contract with Pacific Solar Inc. to the June 21, 2022 City Council meeting, seconded by Councilmember Mejia. The motion carried by a roll call vote: Ayes: Kazarian, Mejia Parra.
ii. APPROVE a contract with Advanced Lighting Services Inc., in the amount of $101,527.23 for Lighting (LED) Project Phase 1 and authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute the agreement (Due to On Bill Financing there is no cost to the City) Public Works Director Dominguez reported the city received a proposal from Advanced Lighting Services Inc. to provide lighting upgrades to various City buildings as part of Phase I of the project. He provided an overview on funding, contract terms, energy savings, and project timeline.
Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to APPROVE a contract with Advanced Lighting Services Inc., in the amount of
$101,527.23 for Lighting (LED) Project Phase 1 and authorize the 3 City Manager or her designee to execute the agreement, seconded by Councilmember Mejia. The motion carried by a roll call vote:
Ayes: Kazarian, Mejia, Parra.
iii. Public Hearing to APPROVE Resolution No. 2566, a Resolution Confirming Diagram and Assessment of Annual Levy – 2022/23 for Landscaping and Storm Drainage Facilities Management District No. 1 (Item to be continued to July 19, 2022 City Council Meeting) Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to continue APPROVE Resolution No. 2566 to the June 21, 2022 City Council meeting, seconded by Councilmember Mejia. The motion carried by a roll call vote: Ayes: Kazarian, Mejia, Parra.
8-B. CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
i. APPROVE an Agreement for Fire Protection Services with Fresno County Fire Protection District
City Manager Tucker provided an overview of the proposed agreement with Fresno County Fire Protection District. She introduced Chief Michael Despain of M.E.D. Enterprises, Inc. Chief Despain provided an overview of the Fowler Fire Department’s exposure to risk and potential liability due to the Department’s inability to meet state regulations, minimum standards for safety, or in some cases, the provision of basic services. He provided data of failed responses from January 2015 through October 2021 and indicated so far in 2022 there are 18 failed responses. Chief Despain explained that a failed response is when Fowler firefighters were unable to respond to a 9-1-1 call.
Chief Despain introduced Chief Dustin Hale. Chief Hale provided an overview of Cal Fire and Fresno County Fire. He stated that Fresno County Fire and the Fowler Fire Department have had a longstanding relationship. Chief Hale also shared how Fresno County Fire is involved with the communities they serve.
Councilmember Kazarian expressed his opposition to a contract with Fresno County Fire prior to the item becoming public. He also introduced a 3-year budget which he developed outlining his estimated costs to transition to a full-time fire department.
Mayor Pro Tem Rodriquez expressed his concerns on the liability, cost of the fire station building, and missed calls.
4 Councilmember Mejia thanked staff for examining the data. He stated his viewpoint has always been to have a full-time Fowler Fire Department in the future after making the necessary changes to the fire station building. Councilmember Mejia also stated he would need more time to review Councilmember Kazarian’s proposal.
Councilmember Parra proposed a half-cent sales tax initiative be brought before the Council at the next meeting and for staff to review Councilmember Kazarian’s proposal to validate the numbers in comparison with the city’s.
City Manager Tucker asked Chief Despain to address Councilmember Kazarian’s year-one numbers associated with his proposal and the need to further address the risk, liability, and missed calls. Chief Despain stated that if the city retains volunteer staff, the volunteer staff will need be doubled and those volunteers will need to make a commitment to obtain 240 hours of training per year and any solution moving forward, the volunteer liability will need to be addressed.
Fire Chief Lopez addressed the Council.
Eighteen members of the public addressed the Council.
Mayor Pro Tem Rodriquez made a motion to APPROVE an
Agreement for Fire Protection Services with Fresno County Fire Protection District and provide staff direction to develop a training program for the current volunteer firefighters. Motion not seconded; motion failed.
9. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS – (CITY MANAGER)
Community Development Director Gaffery provided an update on the Code Enforcement Officer recruitment.
Public Works Director Dominguez provided an update on the State Route 99 project and the recent insect infestation in the Kensington Estates area.
Police Chief Alcaraz provided personnel updates.
10. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
No reports or comments.
5 11. CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action was taken on the two items.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:53 p.m.