MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022
6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Jose L. Rios.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The flag salute was recited by all present.
ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Jose L. Rios Mayor/Chair Present
Scott Funk Mayor Pro Tem/Chair Pro Tem Present
Liz Silva Council/Agency Member Present
Lorraine Worthy Council/Agency Member Present
Paul Miller Council/Agency Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Sherlyn Flores and Autumn Escobedo (via zoom).
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager René L. Mendez, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriguez (via zoom), Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Carmen Gil, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, Administrative Assistant I Noemi Gregorio, Police Chief Keith Wise, Assistant City Manager Mark Hartunian, Fire Chief Jason Muscio, and Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins (via zoom).
* Successor Agency Item
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19
Based on guidance from the California Department of Public Health and the California Governor’s Office, in order to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus, please do the following:
• You are strongly encouraged to observe the live stream of the City Council meetings at <http://cityofgonzales.granicus.com/viewpublisher.php?view%20id=2> or join the meeting via zoom at <https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87023914286> or enter the Zoom ID: 870 2391 4286. • If you choose not to attend the City Council meeting but wish to make a comment on a specific agenda item, please submit your comment via email by 12:00p.m. on Tuesday, February 22nd, prior to the Council meeting. Please submit your comment to the City Clerk at [email protected]. Your comment will be placed into the record at the Council meeting. • If you attend the City Council meeting in person and are not vaccinated, you will be required to maintain appropriate social distancing, ie, maintain a 6-foot distance between yourself and other individuals, and wear a face covering.
• If you are watching the live stream of the Council meeting online and wish to make either a general public comment or to comment on a specific agenda item as it is being heard, please submit your comment, limited to 250 words or less, to the City Clerk at [email protected]. Every effort will be made to read your comment into the record, but some comments may not be read due to time limitations. Comments received after an agenda item will be made part of the record if received prior to the end of the meeting.
• If you are watching via zoom, please use the Raise Hand function. You will be allowed three minutes for your comments.
PRESENTATIONS
2. Certificates of Recognition to the Gonzales High School Cross Country and Volleyball PCAL Santa Lucia Division League Champions, and Girls Tennis PCAL Cypress Division Single League Champion
Mayor Rios presented the certificates of recognition and a Luigi's Pizza voucher to all students. He also presented the certificates of recognition to the Coaches.
3. Certificates of Recognition to the Gonzales High School Students Maintaining a 4.0 (A’s) GPA (Due to the great number of students maintaining an A average at the High School, their names will be read into the record and their Certificates will be forwarded to the school to help us with the distribution)
City Manager Mendez read all the students names into the record.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
4. Business from the Public not on the Agenda; any member of the Public may address the Council for a period not to exceed three minutes on any subject not on the Agenda. The Council will listen to all communications, but may take no action.
There was none.
CONSENT AGENDA
5. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - February 7, 2022 Minutes
6. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #46404-46426
*
7. Approve Successor Agency Warrants #1598-1669
8. Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships Activity Report
9. Fire Department Activity Report
10. Police Department Activity Report
11. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
12. Recreation Department Activity Report
13. Consider Approval of an Agreement Between the City of Gonzales Police Department and the County of Monterey for Donation and Use of Surplus Property to the Police Department for Public Safety Purposes; and Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Agreement
14. Consider Approval of Resolution 2022-17, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Accepting State Grant Funds for the Teen Innovation Center and Authorize the City Manager to Submit the Project Information Package and Grant Documents to the California Natural Resources Agency
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Paul Miller, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller
REGULAR AGENDA
15. Financial Update on the Community Center Complex Project Staff Report: City Manager Mendez presented the staff report.
Eric Scriven and Leslie Bloom, NHA Advisors, presented a powerpoint presentation explaining the project funding sources, options, Measure X funding, assessing the remaining funding gap, potential additional funding sources, and financing process.
Public Comment: There was none.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
It was the Council’s consensus to direct staff to bring back innovative ideas.
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-18, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Design Criteria Documents for the Community Center Complex Project Staff Report: Public Works Director/City Engineer Dobbins presented the staff report.
Dawn Merkes, Group 4 Architects, presented a powerpoint presentation explaining the project schedule, project participation, community outreach, building program recommendation, building program summary, site plan, floor plan, and showed a fly-through video of the complex.
Public Comment: There was none.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Paul Miller, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller *
17. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-15, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Shortlist of Prequalified Design-Build Entities for the Community Center Complex Project and Authorize Staff to Issue the Request for Proposal to the shortlisted Design-Build Entities After Council Approves the Design Criteria Staff Report: Public Works Director/City Engineer Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Kevin McIntosh, Blach Construction/Steinberg Hart, elaborated on the various locations of their offices, employing local people through labor unions, experience with civic design, and local sub-contractors.
Sonia Jaramillo (via zoom), asked why they are selecting this process besides the part that it is legal.
City Manager Mendez elaborated how the process was engaged and local contractors.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place and Greg Armendariz, Swinerton Constulting, answered questions raised.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Paul Miller, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller
18. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-10, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving a Policy for the Outdoor Display of Governmental Flags on City Property Staff Report: City Manager Mendez presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Maria Orozco commented about being a challenge how they would determine individuals accomplishments and contributions to the City and how that would warrant the flag being lowered in their honor.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
Resolution No. 2022-10 died due to lack of a motion.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
19. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Mayor Pro Tem Funk reported on the selection of the new President and Past President. c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy reported on the shortage of drivers due to covid; comprehensive analysis about the need for more transportation; surplus buses; and announced the next meeting on March 14th.
d. City & School Joint Steering Committee
City Manager Mendez reported on the school's accreditation assessment moving in the right direction.
e. Economic Development Committee
City Manager Mendez reported there were several projects in the works and will bring a full report to the Council in April; and restarting the committee.
20. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioners Flores and Escobedo reported on the action projects they will be discussing at their GYC meeting; and meeting with Soledad Youth Council on common projects.
Council Member Worthy announced the food bank distribution this Friday, and painting and cleaning the American Legion Hall. She said we lost many people last week and asked everyone to keep the families of Hope Cotta, Roger Baez, Becky Guzman, Hank Corda, and Mary Jane Vierra in their prayers.
A moment of silence was observed in their honor.
Council Member Silva congratulated all the athletes on the championship title and the students maintaining the 4.0 gpa.
Council Member Miller congratulated the championship teams and the students maintaining the 4.0 gpa.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk also congratulated the students achieving great accomplishments and thanked the Coaches and volunteers. He said it is great to see many activities now and others kicking off.
Mayor Rios said he received a request for a letter of support from Supervisor Alejo for a veterans home in this region. He asked the Council if they were ok with him sending the letter.
The Council concurred.
Mayor Rios asked what we could do to slow down traffic. He said he has seen many times people speeding in town and blowing through stop signs.
City Manager Mendez mentioned that people can give the information to the City with locations. He stated there is a process which the Council approved years ago to review traffic calming. He encouraged residents to email or call the office with the locations and staff will initiate the process and take the steps necessary.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
21. Oral Communications
Mayor Rios asked for a status on the purchase of the Alta Street property.
City Manager Mendez responded that the purchase of the property is complete and staff is now in the process of finalizing the agreement with CHISPA to bring to the Council, and staff is going to fence part of it.
Mayor Rios asked for an update on the property across from subway.
City Manager Mendez responded that was a commercial corner and staff has received a couple of proposals to provide housing but that requires zoning changes, and another proposal for a proposed mixed use project.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Paul Miller, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk