MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, MAY 16, 2022
5:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by Mayor Jose L. Rios.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Jose L. Rios Mayor/Chair Present
Scott Funk Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair Remote via zoom
Liz Silva Council/Agency Member Present
Lorraine Worthy Council/Agency Member Present
Paul Miller Council/Agency Member Remote via zoom
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Sherlyn Flores.
Excused absence: Autumn Escobedo.
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager René L. Mendez, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinison Brown, 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/81386947892 or call 1 (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 813 8694 7892. 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, May 16th to the City Clerk at [email protected]
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.
2. The City Council will recess to closed session to consider personnel matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)- City Manager -Employment/Recruitment.
Direction provided to legal counsel. No other reportable action taken.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
The City Council reconvened to open session at 6:00pm.
Excused absence: Mayor Pro Tem Scott Funk.
PRESENTATIONS
3. Consider Approval of, and Present, Proclamation No. 2022-03 Proclaiming May 15 – 21, 2022 As National Public Works Week
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Scott Funk
Public Works Director Dobbins read the proclamation.
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 - May 2, 2022 Minutes
6. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #46800-46979
7. Building Department Activity Report
8. Fire Department Activity Report
9. Police Department Activity Report
10. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
11. Recreation Department Activity Report
12. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-21, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Designating Harris and Associates as Engineer of Work for Assessment Districts, and Directing the Filing of Engineer’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Annual Reports Therefore; Designating Jarvis, Fay, & Gibson, LLP as District Counsel for Assessment Districts; and Authorizing Compensation for All Assessment District Work
13. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-22, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Declaring Intention to Confirm Diagrams and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 - California Breeze Benefit Assessment District Nos. 1, 2, and 3
14. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-23, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Providing Preliminary Approval of Engineer’s Report, Stating Intention to Confirm Diagram and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 - California Breeze Parks and Open Spaces Maintenance Assessment District
15. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-24, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales of Intention to Confirm Diagram and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 - Canyon Creek Benefit Assessment District Nos. 1, 2 & 3
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-25, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Providing Preliminary Approval of Engineer’s Report, Stating Intention to Confirm Diagram and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 - Canyon Creek Parks and Open Spaces Maintenance Assessment District Nos. 1, 2 and 3
17. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-26, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales of Intention to Confirm Diagram and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 - Gonzales Industrial Park Benefit Assessment District
18. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-27, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Providing Preliminary Approval of Engineer’s Report, Stating Intention to Confirm Diagram and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 - Gonzales Industrial Park Landscape Maintenance Assessment District
19. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-28, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Declaring Intention to Confirm Diagram and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 - Cipriani Estates Benefit Assessment District
20. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-29, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Providing Preliminary Approval of Engineer’s Report, Stating Intention to Confirm Diagram and to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 - Cipriani Estates Parks and Open Spaces Maintenance Assessment District Council Member Silva asked about one of the warrants to the County of Monterey for $567,409.75 as part of the Gloria Road/Iverson. She asked if that was because we did that in installments.
City Manager Mendez responded that was what the Council approved in the Mid-Year Budget, which was our share for the construction project, and that we hadn’t paid it. *
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Scott Funk
REGULAR AGENDA
21. Consider Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the Hartnell Community College District and the Cities of King City, Greenfield, Soledad, Gonzales, and Salinas for Intermediary Services for the Salinas Valley Five Cities Workforce Development Effort Staff Report: City Manager Mendez presented the staff report.
Public Comment: There was none.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Scott Funk
22. Consider Approval of the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement Creating the South Salinas Valley Broadband Authority
Staff Report: City Manager Mendez presented the staff report.
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, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Scott Funk
23. Consider Informational Letter: New Housing on the Horizon for Gonzales Staff Report: City Manager Mendez presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Adam Pinterits, Monterey County Association of Realtors, thanked and appreciated staff for doing a great job and for considering this matter since housing is desperately needed in this County.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
Informational item. No action required.
24. Public Hearing to Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-30, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Establishing the Cost for Services Fee Schedule for Fiscal Year 2022-2023
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 6:30pm.
Public Hearing: No comments came forward.
Being there no comments from the public, Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 6:30pm.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Paul Miller, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Scott Funk
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
25. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
No report.
c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy reported on the purchase of new buses, and MST College EcoSmart Pass program.
d. City & School Joint Steering Committee
No report.
e. Economic Development Committee
No report.
26. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioner Flores reported on the mental health survey revision and conversation with the school principal about it; as well as survey distribution next week.
Council Member Miller said COVID is still alive and asked people to be careful.
Council Member Worthy announced the food pantry this Friday starting around 9:00am, and an opportunity with businesses here in town. She reminded everyone to be careful regarding COVID because it’s still around.
Council Member Silva congratulated all the exhibitors at the Salinas Valley Fair which was a huge success. She volunteered her time on Saturday and Sunday and everything seemed back to normal.
She congratulated a young man from Gonzales who was very fortunate to sell $500 per pound for his animal in memory of Dennis Caprara. She announced the Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony on May 30th at the cemetery at 9:00am, and the public was invited to attend. She also announced the Chicken Barbecue drive through from 11:00am - 3:00pm at Gonzales Irrigation.
She said she and Council Member Worthy have tickets.
Mayor Rios asked for a moment of silence in memory of Juan Martinez, who passed away. He was a local community member who was a strong advocate for public and civil rights.
A moment of silence was observed by all present.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
27. Oral Communications
Community Development Director Kinison Brown felt privileged to be here and is still trying to sponge everything.
Director of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships Gil gave a covid update and testing times; food distribution this Thursday; and information on the Walking School Bus.
Police Chief Wise announced a free helmet fitting, inspection and distribution at the Police Department on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week from 5:00pm - 7:00pm.
Assistant City Manager Hartunian reported on the development impact fees hearing on June 6th and June 20th.
Fire Chief Muscio reported a Firefighter vacancy.
Public Works Director Dobbins reported on filling the Maintenance Worker position; slurry seal contract; and RFP to redo the City’s website.
Mayor Rios thanked the Public Works Department for taking the phone booths out.
Council Member Worthy asked if there would be something down the road where the residents won’t receive paper billing.
Assistant City Hartunian responded yes.
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.
There was none.
28. The City Council Will Recess to Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(A) to Confer with Its Attorney Regarding Pending Litigation Which Has Been Initiated Formally and to Which the City is a Party: Claim of T. Moreland.
The Council voted unanimously to reject the Claim of Moreland. Direction provided to legal counsel. No other reportable action taken.
29. The City Council Will Recess to Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54056.9(A)(D)(2) to Confer with Its Attorney Regarding Significant Exposure to LitigationAlleged Violation of California Voting Rights Act.
Council conferred with legal counsel. Direction provided to legal counsel and City Manager. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Jose L. Rios, Mayor
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Scott Funk
The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk