CITY OF GALT
MINUTES
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Council Chambers, 380 Civic Drive, Galt, California
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
This meeting of the Galt City Council was conducted in person and by video/teleconference. City Council Members and City staff attended in person in the Council Chambers and the meeting was broadcast on Metro Cable and livestreamed on the City’s website.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. Council Members present: Papineau, Farmer, Vandenburg, and Sandhu.
Staff Members present: Interim City Manager Erias, City Clerk Hubert, Interim City Attorney Splendorio, Interim Community Development Director Mendes, Interim Finance Director Saunders, Human Resources Director Cobey, Information Technology Director Mort, Police Chief Kalinowski, and Public Works Director Griffin.
Absent: Parks and Recreation Director Solis.
OPENING CEREMONIES – Silent prayer was observed, the flag salute was recited and the City Clerk read the replay statement.
NOVEMBER 5, 2024 ELECTION RESULTS:
1. SUBJECT: Certification of November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election Results.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-105 certifying the election results of the November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election.
Hubert gave the report.
ACTION: Upon a motion by Vandenburg, seconded by Farmer, adopting Resolution No. 2024-105 was approved by a unanimous roll call vote.
Sandhu presented a plaque to outgoing Vice Mayor Lozano.
Erias presented a plaque to outgoing Mayor Sandhu.
2. SUBJECT: Oath of Office.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Administer the Oath of Office to the Galt City Council Members Elect.
Hubert administered the oath of office to Council Elect Reed and Pratton.
RECESS: Sandhu called for a 20-minute recess.
RECONVENE: Sandhu reconvened the meeting at 6:37 pm.
ROLL CALL: Council Members present: Pratton, Reed, Farmer, Sandhu.
REORGANIZATION OF THE GALT CITY COUNCIL:
1. SUBJECT: City Council Vacancy.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss and provide direction regarding process of filling city council vacancy via special election or appointment, or possibly make immediate appointment decision and swearing in to fill vacancy.
GALT CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2024
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Hubert gave the report.
ACTION: Upon a motion by Sandhu, seconded by Pratton, appointing Bonnie Rodriguez to the City Council to fill vacant seat ending 2026 was approved by a 4-0 roll call vote.
Hubert administered the oath of office to Rodriguez.
2. SUBJECT: Reorganization of Galt City Council.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1) Election of Mayor; and 2) Election of Vice Mayor.
Splendorio gave the report.
Written public comment received from Bob Balliet expressing his thoughts regarding whom should be voted Mayor and Vice Mayor.
Hubert opened nominations for mayor. Reed nominated Farmer and Farmer nominated Sandhu.
Hearing no further nominations, Hubert closed the nominations.
ACTION: Farmer was elected Mayor by a unanimous roll call vote.
Farmer opened the nominations for Vice Mayor. Farmer nominated Sandhu. Hearing no further nominations, Farmer closed the nominations.
ACTION: Sandhu was elected to Vice Mayor by a unanimous roll call vote.
AGENDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS: None.
PRESENTATION(S): None.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Under Government Code Section 54954.3, members of the public may address the City Council on non-agenda items. The public comments section is for the City Council to receive comments; except for brief responses to questions, no discussion or action may be taken on any item that is not listed on the agenda.
Please limit comments to a maximum of five minutes. Consistent with the City Council Procedural Guidelines, the Mayor reserves the right to shorten the time limit for speakers to ensure the efficient and timely completion of all City business on the agenda.
Lynze Smith, Galt Youth Commission, gave a report on the Commission’s activities.
REPORTS BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON REGIONAL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES: None.
INFORMATION/CONSENT CALENDAR: It is recommended that Items 1 through 6 be acted on simultaneously unless a separate discussion and/or action is requested by a council member.
1. SUBJECT: Receive and File Warrants for period ending December 4, 2024.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive and file warrants for the period ending December 4, 2024.
2. SUBJECT: Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 3, 2024.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept the minutes as submitted.
GALT CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2024
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3. SUBJECT: Receive the Senate Bill 165 Special Tax Accountability Report for Community Facility District 2005-1.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept by motion the Annual Report for the Community Facility District 2005-1 in accordance with the Local Agency Special Tax and Bond Accountability Act for Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2024.
4. SUBJECT: Receive the Assembly Bill 1600 Reports for Development Projects.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept by motion the Development Impact Fee Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024, Annual Report in accordance with Assembly Bill 1600 and California Government Code.
5. SUBJECT: American Rescue Plan Act Interagency Agreements.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive an update of the allocation and utilization of American Rescue Plan Act funding and approve by motion interagency agreements to obligate remaining funds.
6. SUBJECT: Engineering Staff Augmentation Budget.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-106 appropriating $310,000 from the General Fund to execute task orders and amendments per Resolution No. 2024-34 to the Fiscal Year budget.
ACTION: Upon a motion by Reed, seconded by Sandhu, the consent calendar was approved by a unanimous roll call vote.
SCHEDULED MATTERS/NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING:
1. SUBJECT: Required Public Hearing No. 2 to Receive Community Input Regarding the Potential Composition of Election Districts for Transitioning to By-District (District-Based) City Council Member Elections Consistent with Elections Code Section 10010.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive presentation and public input and provide direction from City Council regarding four or five districts and provide the demographers with direction on draft maps for meeting No. 3.
Splendorio gave the report and introduced Paul Mitchell, Redistricting Partners, who gave the presentation.
Farmer opened the public hearing.
Written public comment received from Paul Salinas expressing his thoughts on districts.
Chris Brossman expressed his thoughts on districts.
Hearing no further public comments, Farmer closed the public hearing.
City Council would discuss further at next public hearing.
REGULAR CALENDAR: None.
COMMUNICATION: None.
CITY CLERK’S REPORT: None.
GALT CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 17, 2024
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COMMENTS BY STAFF: Erias welcomed the new council members and wished everyone a happy holiday.
COMMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
VICE MAYOR SANDHU: He thanked staff for the reports and their hard work and he thanked the public for their comments and those who attended the meeting. He congratulated the new council members and Mayor Farmer. He wished everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
COUNCIL MEMBER PRATTON: Nothing.
COUNCIL MEMBER REED: Thanked Sandhu and Farmer for their leadership. He reminded the public of the vacancies on the committees and commissions and he said appointments would be made at the January 21 council meeting. He wished everyone a merry Christmas.
COUNCIL MEMBER RODRIGUEZ: Thanked her colleagues for appointing her. She expressed her thoughts on the districting and she hoped the public would step up and give their input. She wished everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
MAYOR FARMER: Congratulated the new council members. He thanked Sandhu for his tenure as mayor. He reminded everyone of the free community dinner on December 21. He thanked everyone for their work on the Christmas parade and was impressed with the clean-up crew. He thanked Public Works for keeping the C Street Project on track. He wished everyone a safe holiday.
There being no further business to come before City Council, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:19 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Tina Hubert
City Clerk