MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 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 Valeria Tinoco.
STAFF PRESENT
Acting City Manager Patrick Dobbins, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinison Brown, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, and Administrative Assistant II Miranda Uribe.
* 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/89513488498 or call 1 (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 895 1348 8498. 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, September 19th to the City Clerk at [email protected]
PRESENTATIONS
2. Introduction of New Building Official
Community Development Director Kinison Brown introduced new Building Official Jose Martinez.
Building Official Martinez said he was happy to be here and lived here at one point, but has relatives living here and shared memories he had while living here. He also shared his prior experience as public servant and current duties. He thanked Taven and Patrick for the opportunity of working here in Gonzales.
3. League of California Cities Helen Putnam Award
Mayor Rios mentioned the TV in front of them was flashing.
Acting City Manager Dobbins told them we were having video issues with all of the TVs and asked him if we can take a pause after this presentation and restart the video equipment.
Mayor Rios asked him to restart it now and we can come back to this item after that.
Michelle Slade, Youth Council Advisor and Leadership Coach, announced that the Gonzales Youth Council was recently awarded the Helen Putnam Award at the League of California Cities and Mayor Pro Tem Funk and Acting City Manager Dobbins were able to be there on their behalf and accept the award. She said tonight they were formally recognizing the Youth Council for this award regarding the Mental Health Action Project.
Youth Commissioners Flores and Tinoco received the award and thanked the Council for this honor and for also providing a shared social worker at the school. They gave an update on this project which was a great project by previous and current Youth Councils. They showed a youtube video created by the League of California Cities highlighting the youth’s outreach and engagement in the community.
A picture was taken with the Council and Youth Commissioners.
4. Monterey County Blue Zones Project
Kendra Howell, Senior Policy Lead, Blue Zones Project Monterey County, elaborated on the Blue Zones Project that started in Salinas in 2019, which is a health and wellness initiative that is county wide and it's sponsored by Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, Taylor Farms and Montage Health. She said they expanded their efforts into the City of Gonzales as well as King City, and they had the official kickoff here in the community of Gonzalez that was held at Central Park and was a huge success. She mentioned that Jean Salcido was the leader of this event.
Jean Salcido, Gonzales Resident, said she was honored and thankful to be serving in the community and this was an amazing event that teaches how to eat healthier, live longer, and to exercise, and thanked Blue Zones for this honor to be serving in our community.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
5. 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.
Denise Velasquez, Sun Street Centers, thanked the Council for adopting the proclamation at the last meeting celebrating September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
Alex Ramirez, 1419 Rhone Way, talked about suggestions such as ADA requirements for curb ramps at pedestrian crossings, RV storage, motor homes, speeding in residential areas, and parking permits.
CONSENT AGENDA
6. Approve the Joint City Council, Successor Agency, Successor Housing Agency, Electric Authority, and Municipal Electric Utility Boards - Regular Meeting - September 6, 2022 Minutes
7. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #47525-47594
8. Approve Successor Agency Warrants #1670-1672
9. Community Development Department Activity Report
10. Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships Activity Report
11. Fire Department Activity Report
12. Police Department Activity Report
13. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
14. Recreation Department Activity Report
15. Consider Closure of City Offices from December 23, 2022 through January 2, 2023
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-69, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Declaring Canvass of Returns and Results of the Special Mail Ballot Election Held on August 30, 2022
17. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-59, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with American Ramp Company to Install Phase 2 of the Skate Park for a Not-To-Exceed Fee of $214,755, And Authorizing the Use of the City’s In-Lieu Purchase Exception; and Amend the FY 2022-2023 City Budget by Increasing the Public Facilities Impact Fund (Fund 241) Capital Outlay - Improvements (Object Code 6530) by $36,000
Council Member Worthy pulled item 15 for discussion.
Council Member Silva pulled items 10 and 17 for discussion.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk asked if we were recording the meeting because he received a message that we're not being seen live right now.
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Acting City Manager Dobbins responded yes, that they were seeing what we're seeing on the TVs. He elaborated on work being done last week and everything should be working. He asked if they were considering on continuing the meeting.
City Attorney Rodriquez suggested to carry on with the meeting since the audio was working and there were other means of participation like in person. So, notwithstanding the fact that this may not be working perfectly, or at all, he said we can still move forward.
With regards to item 10, Council Member Silva asked if this was the part where we provide rental assistance to our residents. She said one of the community grants was coming up and also addressed rental assistance, so she asked if records are being maintained so that nobody is double dipping.
Acting City Manager Dobbins responded yes.
With regards to item 17, Council Member Silva asked if the quote of $214,755 was set in stone or if there was a possibility that they would come back and ask for more.
Acting City Manager Dobbins said no. They have been having conversations with American Ramp Company and this is a firm quote.
Council Member Silva said that with regards to one of the enhancements to the park, it looks like an empty swimming pool, or an empty ashtray. She did not see anything at the bottom for drainage for water and she wouldn't want that to become the area with standing water. She asked if that is going to be addressed.
Acting City Manager Dobbins responded yes, that has been noted.
With regards to item 15, Council Member Worthy asked if it was possible to put who the contact person and number are in the utility bills so people know who to contact if there is an emergency.
Acting City Manager Dobbins responded yes, staff will do a bill stuffer reminding them that City Hall will be closed during that period and who to contact in case of an emergency.
Council Member Worthy also said that she contacted Salinas and the South County Cities and we are the only City that is closed during the lunch hour, and she was wondering if staff can stagger their lunches to keep it open since sometimes residents have to do something with the City during their lunch hour.
Acting City Manager Dobbins said yes, will do.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 6-17
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Paul Miller, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller
REGULAR AGENDA
18. Update on the Funding and Delivery of the Community Center Complex Project Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report via a powerpoint presentation.
Greg Armendariz, Swinerton, discussed the phasing approach.
Eric Scriven, NHA Advisors, went over the project funding.
Public Comments: Sonia Jaramillo, 124 Sixth Street, asked for a review presentation because the numbers are critical and have changed drastically. She wondered what’s going to happen if the proposed measure doesn’t go through. She likes the Library and Teen Center but she was concerned with the lack of funds. She said we need a community center and wondered if the approach is going to be different because the last one was quiet and the Gen X were the ones that voted no. She requested the Council to take a different approach to reach out to the community because the youth are feeling a disconnect and don’t feel part of the process. She asked for more involvement in the community, outreach and communication to engage the community.
Council Discussion: Mayor Rios believed that Swinerton and a lot of other folks were out there in the community presenting the plan.
Acting City Manager Dobbins added that as we went through extensive engagement during the preparation of the design criteria and came before the Council, there was input received by the public.
Mayor Rios said he was sure we did quite a bit of outreach whether at the churches, covid clinics, starbucks, the gym, and at a number of festivities so he believed we did more than an effort to reach out to the community, and the community chose not to come and we can only present the information. He said you lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.
Council Member Worthy mentioned we have problems with inflation right now and supply chain, and no one has a crystal ball, but asked if we see an option when things might flatten where things may not cost as much down the road. She said every day it costs more but she sees that it will flatten at some point and maybe not cost as much to do these bills.
Greg Armendariz, Swinerton, said this is a question from other clients as well. He said they come to the hard decision that labor costs have built in rate increases and that will continue to go up, the pipeline supply is an issue that can be fixed in the future, but the problem is that we are still about a year out, but the reality is that drops will not be significant enough to make a big dent and not to drive a decision to put the project on a hold and wait. He said the decision of other clients are moving in a phased approach for construction.
Council Member Silva liked the idea of the career days at the high school and need people to go into the different trades, like electricity, plumbing, etc. and hopes it comes to fruition and she will help introduced them to the school district. She agreed with the Mayor about the community being engaged in the pop ups around town trying to get everyone’s attention of what they wanted to see. She said she has asked that we put some sort of visual at the property because people know that’s the future home of a community center but they also need to see where they’re at as far as funding, and believed this was very important. She also said she got some calls from our residents regarding the failure of Measure D and they told her they heard the City was going to have low income housing, and wasn’t sure where they were getting that information. It was clear to the residents that this project is moving forward and we are working as hard as we can. She reminded people are always welcome to come to the meetings or join via zoom, to be part of the process they need to come and be part of the process. She thanked the consultants for the information.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk thanked them for the information and to bring us up to date. He said it was unfortunate learning about Measure D not passing and agreed with regards to the outreach, and the Council was not allowed to project their favor. He didn’t know what happened to the group of people who didn’t vote since the turnout was 504 and the signatures were over a thousand people
that were for it. He said there is an opportunity to reach out that needs to happen for the Measure X in November which is extending the term. He doesn’t like the idea of extending it but he understands the need and helps us get another step, the first phase. He thanked staff and consultants for their efforts as we move forward.
Council Member Miller agreed with everyone and liked the phasing part of it because it gets us going. He said he’s always a little leery that we’re basing our payments off of a sales tax measure and if the economy changes and if we don’t get the annual amount, we’ll have to find it somewhere else to make those payments and we have a small budget and small staff. He was sad only five hundred people came out to vote. He said he would love to go out and preach for the passing of the measure but we have to remember the fact that as Elected Officials, we have to watch what we do. He appreciates the fact we’re going to try to phase it even thought it will take a long time but that’s how these projects and requirements are.
Mayor Rios said we passed the initial Measure X but had he been in the Council then, he would have asked if the half cent would get us what we need for this project, and how do we determine $20 million? He said that’s why you should always budget for more rather than not enough and we would not have been having this discussion now if we had gone for more. He said Measure D was a good idea which won by numbers but unfortunately it needed a super majority and heard a lot of the ballots were in the recycling bin, which is sad that we take the freedoms we have for granted. He agreed with the phasing approach. He gave an idea. He said we have phases 1 and 2 that kind of go together. Phase 1 is the library and teen innovation center which we have the money for; and Phases 2 and 3 kind of go together because it’s the big hall with the stage, and phase 4 is the gym. He said if we did the gym, it can also double as a hall, and we can purchase a pop up stage. He said there is work around there and phases 2 and 3 cost us $13 million, and phase 4 cost us $8 million. He mentioned that looking at funding, his thought is that the gym could be more multi-purpose than the community center. He believed the gym would be used more than a community center.
Council Member Silva said she remembers that the flooring that’s required for a gym is different for the community center.
Mayor Rios said he was just looking at the cost and the multi-purpose use of a gym versus the community center and it’s something we should look at because we are looking at $5 million less to build a gym that can be multi-purpose, and the other one is basically a shell. It was just a thought. He asked since our Police Department is a butler building, why not think of this building like that.
Acting City Manager Dobbins mentioned that it is very comparable to the joint use gym in size and cost, and the Joint Use Gym is not a butler building, but this stand alone gym is a butler building.
Mayor Rios asked if that was feasible to do phase 4 before phases 2 and 3.
Acting City Manager Dobbins responded it was feasible.
Mayor Rios said he was just thinking of that because if we are not successful and we need to extend Measure X, he hopes Ms. Jaramillo advocates for that since this measure is to finish the community center which she wants, and he wants it too but he can’t advocate as an elected leader even though he thinks it’s a great idea. He asked if it was feasible to do the gym as phase 2.
Acting City Manager Dobbins responded it is feasible, it would leave a hole in the middle of the project, but it is feasible.
Council Member Worthy asked if the Youth Council can advocate for Measure X since this will bring them a teen center and the library.
City Attorney Rodriquez mentioned that the issue with elected officials is they can’t advocate because of use of City funds and the Youth Council would have the same constraints if they receive funding from the City. He said in the past, there have been committees that support measures comprised of citizens, and the Council can be part of those committees, they just can’t use City funds.
Council Member Worthy felt Measure D happened so quick and maybe people didn’t know about it and she was concerned it may happen again but the Council can’t advocate.
City Attorney Rodriquez mentioned the Council can present something at a meeting, information such as this is what will happen if the measure passes, how funds will be used in the term and consequences if the measure does not pass, which are both sides of the issues. He shared an example in the City of Salinas where they presented information sort of the positive and the negative to having the measure pass or not pass.
It was the Council’s consensus to direct staff to continue with the phasing approach.
Acting City Manager Dobbins concluded that staff liked the idea of phasing because we think it would attract subsequent grants and we want to continue to focus on grant funding in addition to the capital campaign and other efforts, which have been very successful.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
19. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
Mayor Pro Tem Funk reported he attended the conference, along with Acting City Manager Dobbins, which was very well attended, and had a lot of great sessions. The City of Gonzales was one of 12 cities acknowledged for the Helen Putnam Award. b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Mayor Pro Tem Funk reported on the regional housing numbers process where they held the public hearing and is due for adoption in October; the grants program that Gonzales can pursue; and transportation plan.
c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy reported on the approval of the capital improvement program for 2023-2026; discussions of shelters at Meyer Park; and MST Van Pool Program. d. City & School Joint Steering Committee
Acting City Manager Dobbins reported on the meeting with staff and the School Superintendent, Chief Business Officer and Legal Counsel a couple of weeks ago where staff presented what's coming, and will meet again this week to talk about the elementary school site of the Vista Lucia project.
e. Economic Development Committee
No report.
20. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioner Flores reported they’re having the first GYC meeting this upcoming Thursday; and hoped to bring the full Youth Council at the next Council meeting so they can present themselves. She thanked the Council for always supporting the GYC.
Youth Commissioner Tinoco updated on the recruitment interviews, selection and orientation for the GYC.
Council Member Worthy reminded everyone about the October 15th event, which is the City’s 75th Anniversary event from 4pm - 8pm downtown Fourth Street, and there will be lots of food from different ethnicities, and several activities. She also announced the Homecoming game the day before.
Council Member Silva asked if the parklets were going to continue indefinitely or they will come down soon. She didn’t know if there were any parking issues downtown, but would imagine so.
Acting City Manager Dobbins mentioned staff hasn’t heard of any issues and a couple of months back, there was a conversation around staff approaching Rinconcito of what we can do regarding that, and also hoping the hotel coming to that site would improve the streetscape.
Council Member Silva said she didn’t know if it was still necessary because we’re out of the COVID protocol and people having parking problems.
Acting City Manager Dobbins said staff will approach the restaurant and ask them about the use of those tables.
Council Member Silva asked if the delay of the water bills will be fixed because there are some citizens that worry if they don’t get their bill by a specific time.
Acting City Manager Dobbins responded he will check with Finance Director Howard and let her know.
Council Member Silva mentioned in regards to page 7 in the packet, that she has seen before, sometimes when the Council has discussion about items, some of them want to go back and remember what they say about a particular presentation. She said it says general discussion took place but it doesn’t say who said what. She asked if staff can have that information especially on those topics because she would like to go back sometimes and see what she or others said. She asked if the recorded meetings were in the archives in a separate area because she couldn’t find anything today.
Acting City Manager Dobbins acknowledged her comments.
Council Member Silva hoped to see a lot of the community supporting our youth at the home games, and at the October 15th event.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
21. Oral Communications
Acting City Manager Dobbins reported the slurry seal project wrapped up and went well; bid opening this Thursday; Meyer Park bus stop brought up by Mrs. Rodriguez; and gave a shoutout to Nayeli Gomez for helping us at City Hall and wish her the best on her 4th year at UC Davis.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown thanked the Mayor for the information on the Salinas ADU information and said staff is working on that.
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.
Sonia Jaramillo, 124 Sixth Street, said she was here representing the community and there is a request to involve and engage the community in the process of recruiting and employing the new City Manager; wanting the Council, City and School Board be inclusive of all races, Council and Mayor to hold more open community forums, more meetings since they want to see elected officials out there; youth leaders involved in the community with presentations; rethink the approach and see this as a good opportunity post the failure; and she told the Mayor she wants a community center but she also wants to see changes, and the community engaged, and to find a better analogy than horses. She said our citizens are not horses and we have people in the community wanting to participate but want to feel they’re part of the process. She asked for ways to involve the community and she will be more than happy to be part of that process.
22. The City Council will recess to closed session to consider personnel matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)- City Manager -Employment/Recruitment.
The Council discussed various recruitment issues and provided direction to the City Attorney.
No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk