MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, APRIL 4, 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/Vice Chair Present
Liz Silva Council/Agency Member Present
Lorraine Worthy Council/Agency Member Present
Paul Miller Council/Agency Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Sherlyn Flores and Autumn Escobedo (via zoom).
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager René L. Mendez, 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. * Successor Agency Item
PUBLIC NOTICE
This meeting is being conducted consistent with State of California Executive Order N-29-20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The public may participate in person or online via zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87241296989 or call 1-1669-900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 872 4129 6989. If you wish to make either a general public comment or to comment on a specific agenda item, please use the Raise Hand function. You will be allowed three minutes for your comments.
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 limited to 250 words or less by 12:00p.m. on Monday, April 4th to the City Clerk at [email protected]
PRESENTATIONS
2. Swearing in of Fire Department Personnel
Fire Chief Muscio sworn in Fire Lieutenant Kyler Monares, Fire Lieutenant David Vasquez, Fire Lieutenant David Achen, and Firefighters Christian Avina and Alejandro Quiroz, as Disaster Service Workers. He said Firefighter Erik Prader could not be here tonight, but will swear him in at a later date.
The Council thanked all of them for their work and for being active in the community.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
3. 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.
Karina Villa, Dia del Niño Committee Member, invited everyone to the Dia del Niño Celebration on April 24th from 1pm - 4pm at Central Park. She gave staff the contact information for that event.
Maria Orozco, Grupos Unidos Member, congratulated the group for their 15th year Dia del Niño celebration, which is a result of one community member asking about how the City of Gonzales could celebrate our children. She was happy the group has continued this throughout the years and the City for setting the bar to other Cities to celebrate children in their communities. She thanked the City for continuing to support this event and for a great event last Saturday, which was a success and heard positive comments from the local businesses.
Maria Uribe, Pueblos Unidos de Tateposco known as LUDA, invited everyone to the Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 1st at Central Park from 12pm - 6pm. She thanked them for their support.
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - March 21, 2022 Minutes
5. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #46565-46652
*
6. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-16, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing Execution of an Operation & Maintenance Agreement with ENGIE Services in the Amount of $225,000, Which Includes a Contingency Budget of $17,029 for Maintenance of Six City-Owned Solar Arrays for a Five-Year Period RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Paul Miller, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller
REGULAR AGENDA
7. Discussion and Consideration of an Increase of ½ Percent (.5%) Transaction and Use Tax Staff Report: City Manager Mendez presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Maria Orozco, Gonzales Chamber of Commerce Member and Small Business Owner, commented about the Chamber of Commerce process of trying to meet soon and she believed this would be a great opportunity for the City to meet with the Chamber and get the Chamber and local businesses support; and this being a perfect example of how to gather support from the local Chamber and business owners on this proposed measure since they are the ones that charge that extra half cent sales tax.
Marie Villasenor-Talley sent an email to the City Clerk on April 4, 2022. The email was read during the meeting and stated the following: “Good Afternoon, This e-mail serves to express my concern and opposition of Measure K, X and the increase of the transaction and Use Tax Increase of 1/2 percent. I cannot make it to tonight’s meeting; therefore I am submitting a written e-mail outlining my opposition. If I had additional time, I would have provided more reasons for my opposition. The extension of Measure K and X from 2044 to 2064 is nonsensical. This only adds an additional cost to our children and grandchildren. They should be the ones deciding this extension come 2044 or just a couple years before 2044. An additional tax to add to the Community Center project and have a stand alone gym does not make sense to me, my spouse, and some friends of ours; because there are other facilities available such as: 1. TWO basketball courts located at each school (granted one is outside), 2. ONE basketball courts located at Meyer Park, 3. ONE Community Center gym. If scheduling is a problem, then a scheduling system needs to be developed. With Highest Regards, Marie Villasenor-Talley.” Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
It was the Council’s consensus to direct staff to bring this information back to the Council for consideration.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
8. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Rios reported on AB 1638, fuel tax, street funding, and use of the railroads in the peninsula.
b. Mayor Selection Committee
Mayor Rios reported on the candidates running for Assembly District 30. c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Council Member Silva announced the next meeting on April 21st and the plans being on hold for the transfer station.
d. Measure K Oversight Committee
Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships Director Gil announced a meeting next month.
e. Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability
Public Works Director/City Engineer Dobbins reported on the March 21st Committee meeting, and announced the next meeting on April 21st.
f. City's 75th Anniversary Committee
Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships Director Gil thanked everyone who participated in the Car Show which was a great success. Council Members Silva and Worthy commended Carmen and staff for a great event.
9. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioner Escobedo reported on the steps of the action projects and meeting this Thursday to share the plans.
Council Member Worthy thanked staff and everyone that worked in the car show event. She also thanked the people that have reserved the Legion Hall which is booked for the next few months.
Council Member Silva thanked the community and everyone who participated in the successful event. She shared a message she received from a resident about why we allow people to paint the trunk of the trees, like the one at 7th and Alta Street.
Assistant City Manager Hartunian responded that was unpermitted and unsolicited from the City and he went out there and could not contact anyone, but he will go again.
Council Member Silva encouraged everyone who have tattered American flags to put them in a paper bag and the American Legion will properly dispose of them on July 4th at Central Park.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk thanked staff and all the volunteers for their help in the beautiful event.
Council Member Miller said it was a great event and thanked staff, all the volunteers and all those who came out to participate.
Mayor Rios hoped the fundraising booths did well at the event.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
10. Oral Communications
No report.
CLOSED SESSION
Any member of the public may address the Council on a closed session item appearing on the agenda.
Speakers shall have a limited time of three (3) minutes. Please be brief and to the point.
No comments came forward.
11. The City Council will recess to closed session to consider personnel matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(B)(1) - City Manager Evaluation.
The Council engaged in the City Manager evaluation process. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk