MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, JULY 18, 2022
6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Pro Tem Scott Funk.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The flag salute was recited by all present.
ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Jose L. Rios Mayor/Chair Excused
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
Successor Agency Item
STAFF PRESENT
Interim City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinison Brown, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, Administrative Assistant II Anabel Almanza, Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins, Fire Chief Jason Muscio, and Police Chief Keith Wise.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk read the following:
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/84418201553 or call 1 (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 844 1820 1553. 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, July 18th to the City Clerk at [email protected]
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
2. 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.
Sharon Metzer, owner of several rentals in town, talked about her rental on Eighth Street that caught fire on the 4th of July due to illegal fireworks; meeting the Chief of Police and talking to him about the fire; never seeing a Police Officer at the scene; asked if they had proper staffing; suggesting a drone being a part of law enforcement; and asked the City to be proactive and revamping the number of officers and obtaining drones to accommodate the community and keeping it safe. She thanked the Fire Department for their help.
Rosa Rodriguez, 307 Ayrshire Way, commented about the spotter that Salinas has and shared her concern about the fire in town and about illegal firework being a problem. She thanked the Police Department for patrolling the town.
CONSENT AGENDA
3. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - June 20, 2022 Minutes
4. Approve the Joint City Council, Successor Agency, Successor Housing Agency, Electric Authority, and Municipal Electric Utility Boards - Special Meeting - July 12, 2022 Minutes
5. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #47194-47262
6. Community Development Department Activity Report
7. Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships 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. 2022-51, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Measure ‘K’ Oversight Committee’s Recommended List of Services and Programs to be Funded with Tax Proceeds Received from the Measure ‘K’ Transition And Use Tax, During Fiscal Year 2022-2023, Including Funding Allocations
13. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-52, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving Measure X’s Recommendation of Prioritizing the Gonzales Community Center Complex and the Roads and Streets Program as the Initial Projects to Fund with Funding from Measure X
14. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-53, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the Use of Remote Teleconferenced Meetings of the City Council Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Paul Miller, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Jose L. Rios
*
REGULAR AGENDA
15. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-54, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Initiating a Transition to a District-Based Election System Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez presented the staff report.
Public Comments: Rosa Rodriguez, 307 Ayrshire Way, suggested approving this to avoid a lawsuit because we don’t have money to give to anyone; talked about having already representation from all the areas in town; shared her concern about things being overseen in town and wanted the council to go out to the community and talk about issues in the community instead of allowing things to get bad. She thanked Council Members Worthy and Funk, Public Works Director Dobbins and Interim City Manager Gil for working out the issue currently at Meyer Park.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Paul Miller, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Jose L. Rios
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-40, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing Execution of Contract Amendment #2 with Swinerton Management & Consulting for Program Management Services for the Community Center Complex Project During Fiscal Year 2022-2023 in the Amount of $700,000
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comments: Rosa Rodriguez, 307 Ayrshire Way, commented about his son going to Salinas to play sports and what Soledad is doing with their new inclusive park; wondered if they did a groundbreaking for the community center site; and suggested doing what Soledad was doing to inform the public.
Council Discussion: General discussion took place.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Paul Miller, Council Member
AYES: Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller EXCUSED: Jose L. Rios
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
17. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
Mayor Pro Tem Funk thanked Deputy City Clerk for sending information out to the Council about the Annual League Conference and informed it was scheduled for September 7 - 9, 2022 in Long Beach.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Mayor Pro Tem Funk reported July was dark and AMBAG is still evaluating the regional housing numbers.
c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy reported about the implementation of the new bus fare policy taking effect in December of this year; alternative places for maintenance facility; buses equipped with purification system; seven buses available to be given for non-profits; and suggested maybe using one for our youth groups. She asked anyone with the bus license to contact Jean Salcido as she’s looking for someone with that license to operate the donated bus. d. City & School Joint Steering Committee
Interim City Manager Gil reported she will be reaching out to the new Superintendent to get something scheduled.
e. Economic Development Committee
Mayor Pro Tem Funk asked Interim City Manager Gil to restart the committee.
18. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy commented about fear for retaliation regarding fireworks which she also had a fear of, like music too loud, someone screaming, etc. She asked people to learn to be neighbors again. She believed it was important to remind people that we were neighbors and should listen to each other and try to be respectful of that. She felt sad to hear someone saying they had fear for retaliation. On another note, she informed that the library was giving out free covid tests; and there will be food distribution this Friday at 9am at the Community Church.
Council Member Silva asked if the new Youth Council will start at the start of the school year.
Interim City Manager Gil responded she was going to give an update later on under business from City Manager.
Council Member Silva said she could wait for the update. She thanked everyone who came out and made it to the 4th of July celebration, which was a great success including the 75th Anniversary booth. She announced the next event October 15th which will be the finale of the City’s anniversary of incorporation. She also thanked the Rotary Club. She elaborated on a phone call that looked like it came from PG&E but it was a recording regarding paying her electricity bill or they would be disconnecting her service. She let the Police Chief know and contacted PG&E who told her to let everyone know there is a number to call and report this type of calls to 1-800-500- 7226 at any time. She encouraged everyone to not press any numbers. She also announced this was California Rodeo week and she will be volunteering and encouraged the young people to volunteer. She also asked people to come to these meetings and express their interest in being in commissions, Council, etc.
Council Member Miller mentioned he also got a call that with the City Hall number and said “City of Gonzales” but it was spam regarding a car warranty. He thanked everyone for coming out and discussing the fireworks issues. He hoped to bring this back as an agenda item and maybe do some community outreach and try to figure out what we can do about it.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk said the 4th of July event went great including the parade, and everything was wonderful. He said next year they will have to extend the route because there were a lot of participants. He thanked everyone who participated. He asked Interim City Manager Gil to bring back at a future meeting an item about fireworks to discuss what we can do and what type of enforcement we have so we can have an opportunity to get the community’s feedback.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
19. Oral Communications
Police Chief Wise provided an update on fireworks and activity on the 4th of July day regarding the number of calls, resources, response for service.
Fire Chief Muscio reminded everyone about the blood drive on Saturday, August 13th at the Fire House; and announced the new Firefighter who started today, and the department is now fully staffed. He thanked Monica and Lizette for helping him with the parade registration.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown reported on the Agriculture Mitigation Policy/Ordinance and vehicle miles travel policy coming to the Planning Commission and Council in the future; and the joint Planning Commission and City Council meeting on August 1 st
.
Interim City Manager Gil announced a family friendly circus was coming to town August 11th- 18th, and a lot of kids are excited and talking about it. She mentioned that the Community Health Workers tested campers that went with the Salvation Army to a trip and all of them were negative. She also thanked the community for coming out to the 4th of July celebration to include the race and parade participants. She also thanked the Rotary Club. In regard to the Youth Council, she mentioned that five members are currently going thru a City’s summer intensive program where they are going in depth in their learning about professionalism, how the City works and what the departments do on a day-to-day basis, and preparing for the school year. She added that out of those five members, two of the Commissioners will come forth and will start attending the meetings when they start school. She announced that the City hired a new Administrative Assistant who started today, and will be the first face when people walk into the office.
Rosa Rodriguez asked if there was a way they can use a different route for the 4th of July parade as opposed to using Fifth Street.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk mentioned that maybe this could be a good opportunity for us to set up a subcommittee of some sort in the next few months to talk about next year's celebration and have everything in place.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk