CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 03, 2026 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
Daniel Parra
ABSENT
Karnig Kazarian
City Staff Present: City Manager Reid, City Attorney Santos, Fire Battalion Chief Dominguez, Community & Economic Development Director Flood, Police Chief Gularte, City Planner Marple, Accountant Meza, City Engineer Park, Public Works Director Rocha, Records Technician Turney, City Clerk Vasquez
Councilmember Kazarian arrived at 6:02 P.M.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
One member of the public spoke.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 7C was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Mayor Mejia for further discussion.
Councilmember Kazarian made a motion to Approve Consent Calendar items 7A and 7B.
Seconded by Councilmember Parra.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
A. RATIFY Pay Warrants for March 3, 2026
B. APPROVE Minutes of the February 17, 2026 City Council Meeting
8. CONTESTED CONSENT CALENDAR
7C. CONSIDERATION of the appointment of an Assistant City Manager and the conversion of the part-time Code Enforcement Assistant position to a full-time Code Enforcement Officer I.
i. CONSIDER Resolution No. 2827, approving the number of full-time positions and certain temporary/ part-time positions authorized in the City for Fiscal Year 2025/2026. Staff Recommendation: Approve Resolution No. 2827.
Mayor Mejia made a motion to bring the item back at the March 17, 2026 Council meeting with accompanying budget-related fiscal impact data.
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Gill.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
9. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
City Clerk
A. PRESENTATION - City Communications update
One member of the public spoke.
City Manager
B. CONSIDERATION: Second Reading of Ordinance No. 2026-02 to amend Title 2, Administration Chapter 1, City Council, Article 2, Salaries, of the Fowler Municipal Code. Staff Recommendation: It is recommended the City Council conduct the second reading, by title only, of Ordinance amending provisions of Title 2, Administration Chapter 1, City Council, Article 2, Salaries, of the Fowler Municipal Code, open the public hearing, allow for public testimony, close the public hearing, and approve the Ordinance.
Public hearing opened at 6:34 P.M. The second reading, by title only, of Ordinance No. 2026-02 was conducted.
One member of the public spoke.
Public hearing closed at 6:37 P.M.
Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Hammer.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer
Voting Nay: Kazarian, Parra
Planning
C. CONSIDERATION: Introduction of Ordinance No. 2026-03 to amend Title 5 (Public Welfare), Chapter 2 (Advertising Matter) of the Fowler Municipal Code. Staff Recommendation: It is recommended the City Council introduce, to be read by title only, an Ordinance amending the provisions of Title 5 (Public Welfare), Chapter 2 (Advertising Matter), of the Fowler Municipal Code, open the public hearing, allow for public testimony, close the public hearing, waive the first reading of the Ordinance by title only, and approve the introduction of the Ordinance.
Public hearing opened at 6:38 P.M. Ordinance No. 2026-03 was introduced and the first reading was waived.
Two members of the public spoke.
Public hearing closed at 7:02 P.M.
Mayor Pro Tem Gill made a motion to table the item to an upcoming Council meeting to allow staff to conduct a workshop and present further information on the proposed ordinance revisions.
Seconded by Mayor Mejia.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
Public Works
D. Actions Pertaining to the Fresno Reconstruction Project:
i. CONSIDER adoption of a Notice of Exemption finding the Fresno Reconstruction Project to be categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15301(c). Staff Recommendation: Adopt the Notice of Exemption. ii. CONSIDER awarding the Fresno Street Reconstruction to Don Berry Construction, Inc in the amount of $1,032,052.57. Staff Recommendation:
Authorize City Manager to Execute the Agreement.
iii. CONSIDER authorizing a 10% contingency in the amount of $103,205.26 to address any unforeseen conditions encountered during construction.
One member of the public spoke.
Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Kazarian.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
10. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Updates were given by Public Works Director Rocha, Accountant Meza, Community & Economic Development Director Flood, City Clerk Vasquez, City Engineer Park, and Police Chief Gularte.
11. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Updates were given by Councilmember Parra, Mayor Pro Tem Gill, Councilmember Hammer, and Mayor Mejia.
12. CLOSED SESSION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(a)
Threat to public services or facilities
Consultation with: Michael Reid, City Manager
The meeting went into closed session at 7:23 PM.
13. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AND REPORT ACTION
The meeting reconvened into open session at 7:32 P.M.
There was no reportable action taken on the item.
14. ADJOURN
Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:32 P.M.