CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 05, 2025 at 6:00 PM
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER – 128 SOUTH 5TH STREET, FOWLER, CA 93625
MINUTES
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tem Gill called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Amarjeet Gill
Karnig Kazarian
Daniel Parra
Juan Mejia and Leonard Hammer arrived at 6:21 p.m.
Staff Present: City Manager Reid, City Attorney Cross, Community & Economic Development Director Flood, Fire Chief Hail, Recreation Supervisor Hernandez, City Planner Marple, City Engineer Park, Public Works Director Rocha, Battalion Chief Dominguez, City Clerk Vasquez
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 7F was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Kazarian for further discussion.
Councilmember Parra made a motion to Approve Consent Calendar items 7A through 7E and 7G through 7K.
Motion made by: Parra, Seconded by Kazarian.
Voting Yea: Gill, Kazarian, Parra
A. RATIFY Pay Warrants for August 5, 2025
B. APPROVE Minutes of the June 23, 2025 Special City Council Meeting C. APPROVE Minutes of the July 1, 2025 City Council Meeting D. APPROVE the purchase of a 2023 New Holland C345 Compact Track Loader from Garton in the amount of $86,896.70 and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement
E. APPROVE the purchase of a New Cimline M1 150 Gallon Crack Sealer from Haaker Equipment in the amount of $82,255.65 and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement
G. APPROVE an agreement with the Fowler Unified School District (District) to provide fueling services to the City of Fowler’s fleet for the period of August 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement H. APPROVE an Agreement between the City of Fowler and the Fowler Unified School District (District) to provide one sworn police officer, assigned as a School Resource Officer (SRO), on school campuses within the City of Fowler, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement
I. APPROVE a $800 donation to Fowler High School Cheer using Fiscal Year 2025-26 CalRecycle Funds
J. APPROVE a $800 donation to Fowler Boy Scouts Troop 390 using Fiscal Year 2025- 26 CalRecycle Funds
K. APPROVE the purchase of a 2025 Ford F150 Lighting Pro EV Truck from Lithia Ford Lincoln of Fresno in the amount of $58,409.01 and authorize the City Manager to execute the purchase agreement
8. CONTESTED CONSENT CALENDAR
F. APPROVE a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Fowler and Fowler Unified School District (District) for contributions towards the community’s continued use of the District’s recreational facilities in an amount not to exceed $91,812 total for Fiscal Years 2025-2028, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to Approve Consent Calendar item 7F, with section 4 of the MOU amended to clarify the District’s discretion regarding the City’s use of District facilities is as to priority only, and does not provide discretion to deny City use if there is no interference with District’s priority to use its facilities.
Seconded by Parra.
Voting Yea: Gill, Kazarian, Parra
9. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
City Manager
A. APPROVE Resolution No. 2797 approving an exception to the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) 180-day waiting period to hire Greg G.
Gularte as a Retired Annuitant Chief of Police
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Parra.
Voting Yea: Gill, Kazarian, Parra
Councilmember Parra made a motion to hear Items 9B and 9D after 9F. Motion seconded by Councilmember Kazarian. Voting Yea: Gill, Kazarian, Parra.
Public Works
C. Actions pertaining to 4th and 5th Street Improvements Project:
i. ADOPT a Notice of Exemption finding the 4th and 5th Street Improvements Project to be categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15301(c) ii. AWARD the 4th and 5th Street Improvements Project to MAC General Engineering in the amount of $423,884.84 and authorize City Manager to execute the agreement
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Parra.
Voting Yea: Gill, Kazarian, Parra
Planning
E. APPROVE License Agreement for a Monument Sign and Landscaping between the City of Fowler and JGSS Food Service, Inc. at the median island between Manning Avenue and Vineyard Place
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Parra.
Voting Yea: Gill, Kazarian, Parra
Mayor Mejia and Councilmember Hammer joined the meeting at 6:21 p.m.
F. AUTHORIZE the City Manager to enter into an agreement with County of Fresno for the implementation of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for the year 24-25 for the Fowler Panzak Park ADA Improvements Project funds Mayor Mejia recused himself and left the council chambers after announcing that he owns real property within 500 feet of the project site, and did not participate in the discussion or vote on this item.
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Parra.
Voting Yea: Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
Not Present for Voting: Mejia
Councilmember Parra made a motion to hear Item 11 next, before Items 9B, 9D, and 9G. Motion seconded by Mayor Mejia. Voting Yea – Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra.
11. CEREMONIAL
A. Swearing In of Interim Police Chief Greg G. Gularte
9. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Fire
B. Quarterly Update by Chief Dustin Hail, Fresno County Fire Protection District Planning
D. INTRODUCTION of Ordinance No. 2025-05, to Retain the Current Prima Facie Speed Limit for a Section of Roadway Along Adams Avenue.
Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Kazarian.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
G. Actions pertaining to Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map No. 6501:
i. INTRODUCE Ordinance No. 2025-04 to:
a. Find that the Project is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15183.
b. Prezone APN 343-040-26 to the zoning map designation of R-1- 7/PD-3 (Single Family Residential/Planned Development). c. Prezone the easterly adjacent parcel, City Park site (APN 343-040- 92T) to the zoning map designation of O (Open Space).
d. Prezone the easterly adjacent parcel, Fowler Unified School District property (APN 343-040-89T) to the zoning map designation of PF (Public Facilities).
e. Amend section 9.145.040, subd. (B) of the Fowler Zoning Ordinance to include an additional Planned Development Overlay.
Motion made by Parra, Seconded by Kazarian.
Voting Yea: Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
Voting Nay: Mejia
ii. APPROVE Resolution No. 7298 to:
a. Find that the Project is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15183.
b. Approve a Planned Development (PD).
c. Approve Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map No. 6501.
d. Initiate annexation of APN 343-040-26 (Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map No. 6501), APN 343-040-92T (City Park site), and APN 343-040- 89T (Fowler Unified School District property).
Councilmember Parra made a motion to approve with the addition of a condition that states that Well 9 must be online prior to the Final Map being presented to City Council for approval, and that staff present the water pressure test results for Well 9 once available and confirm the results show that Well 9 sufficiently meets the water supply and water pressure requirements, including the maximum daily demand and fire flows, at the time the Final Map is presented to the City Council for approval.
Seconded by Kazarian.
Voting Yea: Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
Voting Nay: Mejia, Gill
10. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Updates were provided by Public Works Director Rocha, Finance Director Banda, Recreation Supervisor Hernandez, and City Engineer Park.
12. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Updates were provided by Councilmember Kazarian, Mayor Pro Tem Gill, Councilmember Hammer, Councilmember Parra, and Mayor Mejia.
13. CLOSED SESSION
Government Code Section 54957
Public Employee Appointment/Employment
Title: City Attorney
The meeting went into closed session at 8:33 p.m.
14. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AND REPORT ACTION
The meeting reconvened into open session at 8:41 p.m. There was no action taken on the closed session item.
15. ADJOURN
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m.