CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024 at 6:00 PM
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER – 128 SOUTH 5TH STREET, FOWLER, CA 93625
MINUTES
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Parra called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Daniel Parra
Juan Mejia
Amarjeet Gill
Karnig Kazarian
ABSENT
Leonard Hammer
STAFF PRESENT: Interim City Manager Gaffery, City Attorney Cross, Deputy City Planner Czeshinski, Fresno County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Dominguez, Fresno County Fire Protection District Battalion Assistant Chief Michaels, Finance Director Moreno, City Engineer Park, Police Chief Reid, Public Works Director Rocha, and City Clerk Vasquez.
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There were two clerical corrections. Item 10D was corrected to read Resolution No. 2753.
Item 10F was corrected to read Resolution No. 2750.
6. CEREMONIAL PRESENTATIONS
6A. Swearing in of Police Officer Bradley Elgin
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
One member of the public spoke.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Approved as amended. Item 8Cvii was amended to read APPOINT Jessica Monique Leal to the Recreation Commission for the full term ending 12/31/26.
Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Mejia.
Voting Yea: Parra, Kazarian
9. CONTESTED CONSENT CALENDAR
No items were pulled from the consent calendar.
10. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Planning
10A. APPROVE Resolution No. 2751
i. FINDING that the City of Fowler Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan is exempt from further environmental analysis pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Subdivision (a);
ii. ADOPTING the City of Fowler Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan.
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Parra, Mejia
10B. PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION on Community Development Block Grant program income funding priorities
Staff were directed to proceed with ADA improvements in and around Panzak Park, and along Merced Street using the entirety of the CDBG program income and county CDBG pool allocation to accomplish this project. 10C. Introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance No. 2024-05, which:
i. FINDS that Zoning Text Amendment No. 24-30 is exempt from further environmental analysis pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061, subdivision (b)(3), and;
ii. APPROVES Zoning Text Amendment No. 24-30 amending the Fowler Zoning Ordinance to include regulations relating to the operation of Food Trucks within the City.
Approved as amended. Staff was directed to add language to subsection B.2. regarding operating adjacent to brick-and-mortar retailers and adding administerial claim review to the CUP.
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Mejia.
Voting Yea: Parra, Gill
10D. APPROVE Resolution No. 2753 Confirming a Special Assessment for Cost for Abatement of Nuisance at 318 S. 8th St., Fowler, CA (APN 343-204-06) Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Parra, Mejia
Finance
10E. APPROVE Budget Resolution No. 2752 allocating the remaining unexpended American Rescue Plan Act funding
Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Mejia.
Voting Yea: Parra, Kazarian
Fire
10F. Actions pertaining to the Fire Station Phase II Improvement Project:
i. APPROVE Budget Amendment Resolution No. 2750 allocating $100,000 in Fire Department Development Impact Fees fund balance, and $300,000 in Utility Users Tax fund balance
ii. AWARD a construction agreement for the Fire Station Phase II Improvement Project to Better Enterprises, Inc. in the amount of $1,588,969 and authorize Interim City Manager to execute the agreement.
One member of the public spoke.
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Parra, Mejia
10G. WORKSHOP on the City of Fowler's assigned Insurance Service Organization's (ISO) Public Protection Classification (PPC) score
Assistant Chief Michaels presented this item. Councilmember questions were answered.
No direction was given to staff.
No members of the public spoke.
Public Works
10H. Actions pertaining to the Landscape and Storm Drainage Facilities Maintenance District No. 1 Annexation of Tracts 6381 and 6405:
i. APPROVE Resolution No. 2754, for Annexation of Tract 6381 into the City’s Landscape and Storm Drainage Facilities Maintenance District No. 1 One ballot was issued. One ballot was received in favor of the annexation. No ballots were received in opposition of the annexation.
Motion made by Mejia, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Parra, Kazarian
ii. APPROVE Resolution No. 2755, for Annexation of Tract 6405 into the City’s Landscape and Storm Drainage Facilities Maintenance District No. 1 One ballot was issued. No ballots were received in favor of the annexation. One ballot was received in opposition of the annexation.
No motion made.
Staff will follow up with the developer and bring this item back at a future meeting as the annexation is required as a condition of approval.
11. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
11A. Police Department Calls for Service Update
Updates were also provided by City Engineer Park, City Clerk Vasquez, and Interim City Manager Gaffery.
12. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Updates were provided by Councilmember Gill, Mayor Pro-Tem Mejia, Councilmember Kazarian, and Mayor Parra.
13. CLOSED SESSION
Government Code Section 54957.6
Conference with labor negotiators
Agency designated representatives: Interim City Manager and City Clerk/Personnel Manager
Employee organization: All unrepresented employees
Government Code Section 54957
Public Employee Performance Evaluation
Title: Interim City Manager
The meeting went into closed session at 7:35 p.m.
16. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AND REPORT ACTION
No reportable action was taken on either of the two closed session items.
17. ADJOURN
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.