CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER – 128 SOUTH 5TH STREET, FOWLER, CA 93625
MINUTES
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Mejia called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Juan Mejia
Amarjeet Gill
Leonard Hammer
Karnig Kazarian
Daniel Parra
Staff Present: Interim City Manager Gaffery, City Attorney Cross, Fresno County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Dominguez, Recreation Supervisor Hernandez, City Engineer Park, Police Chief Reid, Public Works Director Rocha, and City Clerk Vasquez
6. CEREMONIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Employee of the Quarter - Gary Whisenhunt
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
10. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
City Manager
10A. WORKSHOP to introduce the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget - No action to be taken
i. Budget Overview by Interim City Manager
ii. Police Department
iii. Community & Economic Development Department
iv) Information Technology Department
v) Public Works Department
vi) City Clerk and Human Resources
vii) Senior and Recreation Programs
10B. Actions pertaining to positions authorized in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Adopted Budget:
i. APPROVE Position Authorization Resolution No. 2776
ii. APPROVE Salary Resolution No. 2777
Motion made by Parra, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
Planning
10C. Accept the 2024 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Kazarian.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
11. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
11A. WORKSHOP by the Fresno County Transportation Agency on the Golden State Boulevard Corridor Project
Updates were provided by Interim City Manager Gaffery and City Engineer Park.
12. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Updates were provided by Councilmember Parra, Mayor Pro-Tem Gill, Councilmember Hammer, and Mayor Mejia. Councilmembers recognized and thanked Interim City Manager Gaffery for his contributions to the City of Fowler.
13. CLOSED SESSION
Government Code Section 54957.6
Conference with Labor Negotiator
Agency designated representative: Interim City Manager
Employees: All unrepresented employees
Government Code Section 54956.9
Conference with legal counsel - Anticipated litigation
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subd. (d) of Gov. Code section 54956.9
One potential case
Government Code Section 54957
Public Employee Appointment/Employment
Title: City Manager
Government Code Section 54957.6
Conference with labor negotiators
Agency designated representative: City Attorney
Unrepresented employee: City Manager
The meeting went into closed session at 7:01 p.m.
14. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AND REPORT ACTION
The meeting reconvened into open session at 8:14 p.m.
A motion was made by Councilmember Kazarian, seconded by Mayor Mejia, and approved 5-0, the City Council appointed Michael Reid as Interim City Manager effective Friday, March 21, 2025, upon Thomas Gaffery's departure.
No further action was taken in closed session.
15. ADJOURN
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.