MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 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 Present
Scott Funk Mayor Pro Tem Present
Liz Silva Council Member Present
Lorraine Worthy Council Member Present
Paul Miller Council Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Sherlyn Flores.
Absent: Luke Naegle.
STAFF PRESENT
Interim City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinison Brown, Administrative Assistant II Anabel Almanza, Administrative Assistant II Miranda Uribe, Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins, and Fire Chief Jason Muscio. * 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/88093508421 or call 1 (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 880 9350 8421. 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, November 21st to the City Clerk at [email protected]
PRESENTATIONS
2. Consider Approval of, and Present Resolution No. 2022-79, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Expressing Appreciation to Patrick Dobbins Mayor Pro Tem Funk read and presented the resolution to Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Paul Miller, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller
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.
Roman Barba, 123 Second Street, commented about the City signs by the winery being in bad shape and said he sent some pictures to Council Members Silva and Worthy; talked about the Gonzales High School Volleyball team winning the Cypress Division; and MST bus hitting the branches on Fifth Street.
Bob Krauth congratulated the three Council members for getting re-elected and asked if it was true about not all the votes being counted yet.
Interim City Manager Gil responded that staff had not received the official certification of votes from the Elections Office yet and said for the most part, most of them have been counted but they have not been certified yet.
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Approve the Joint City Council, Successor Agency, and Public Financing Authority - Regular Meeting- November 7, 2022 Minutes
5. Approve the City Council - Special Meeting - November 15, 2022 Minutes
6. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #47854-47909
7. Community Development Department Activity Report
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 Amendment #4 to the Lease Agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America for Continued Use of a Portion of the Old Medical Building at 133 Fourth Street
14. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-81, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the Interim City Manager or Designee to Execute and Submit a Clean Water State Revolving Fund Financial Assistance Application to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) for the Planning, Design, and Construction of the 1.0 Million Gallons a Day (MGD) Industrial Wastewater System, and Execute SRF Financial Assistance Agreements and Any Amendments with the SWRCB; and Resolution No. 2022-82, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Designating the Amount of the 1.0 Million Gallons a Day (MGD) Industrial Wastewater System Expenditures to be Reimbursed by Proceeds from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Council Member Silva pulled item 6. She noted page 17, the warrant for De Lage Landen Public Finance, she assumed it was different firm than Green's Accounting our accounting firm.
Council Member Silva also wanted the public to understand how much it cost the City when there is a Special Mail Election like we did in August or any other election. She informed the cost to the City for the mail in ballot was $45,167.25 and said it was disappointing because that measure did not pass. She also pointed out on page 18, Tri Cities Disposal drop box services for October was $174,788.89, it seemed pretty high for drop boxes and asked if it was normal.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded this cost is passed along to the individual businesses where these boxes are picked up.
City Attorney Rodriquez responded to Council Member’s Silva question for the warrant #47870, he said he heard from Mike Howard that it was for the solar lease payment.
In regards to item 7, Council Member Silva asked Taven if he had the number of official cases that we are pending right now.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown responded there were about four cases.
Council Member Silva mentioned seeing a lot of violations of either recreational vehicles, boats, or trailers throughout the City and these can cause a blind spot. She didn’t know if they have a Code Enforcement Officer in the Police Department.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown mentioned the Police Department, his office, and the Building Official engage in the issues when there’s a threat to life, health and safety.
Council Member Worthy reiterated this has been a conversation they have been having for four years, about what we are going to do about all these vehicles and the issues she and others have had.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown mentioned he has had conversations with Chief about this, and oftentimes folks move them when they go check.
Council Member Silva felt this was a topic they need to look at a little bit deeper. She knows we don't have a storage facility here in Gonzales but there are some close enough that people can look into.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller
REGULAR AGENDA
15. Presentation by Legacy Signs and City staff to Explore Consideration of a Potential Communications and Revenue Generating Opportunity
Staff Report: Community Development Director Kinison Brown presented the staff report.
Scott Smith, Legacy Signs, presented a powerpoint presentation on the monument style digital welcome sign. He explained the concept, sign structure, provided design samples, proposed sign locations, and shared tourism opportunity, emergency and local business creative examples.
Council Discussion: Council Members Worthy and Silva liked the idea and shared their concerns about the location and lighting, and the valley winds.
Council Member Miller asked about the approval timeframe by Caltrans and felt they should continue with this and see where they get with it.
Mayor Rios asked for information on other Cities that currently have these types of signs so he can have an opportunity to talk to them as to how they’re working for them, and shared his concern with the liability issue.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk agreed with the liability.
Mr. Smith addressed the concerns and questions. City Attorney Rodriquez addressed the liability issue and signs code and will get information to the Council as to what other Cities are doing with these types of signs.
Public Comment: Bob Krauth shared his concern about the size and distraction on one of the locations.
Council Member Worthy suggested looking at it a little more before deciding that we don't want to do it, and said they could see some potential revenue.
City Attorney Rodriquez elaborated on the sign provisions and the advanced technology and said staff can explore it and bring items back to the Council and point out where the code would have to be changed before moving forward with any particular action.
Interim City Manager Gil mentioned that before they wrap this up, she would like to have Mr.
Smith talk about what the revenue would look like since he’s here to give everyone an understanding of it.
Mr. Smith informed of the revenue generation that can be done in one of two ways, either a one-time payment to the City, or monthly quarterly or annual payments, and it depended on how they want to structure the contract.
It was the Council’s consensus to direct staff to explore this more and bring it back.
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2022-80 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing Execution of a Master Services Agreement with Lechowicz & Tseng and Approving Task #1 for Preparation of Water and Sewer Rate Studies for a Not-To-Exceed Fee of $68,000, which Includes a Contingency Budget of $8,410
Staff Report: Public Works Director/City Engineer Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: There was none.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
17. 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 last meeting of the year. c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy couldn't attend but she'll report on this at the next meeting. d. City & School Joint Steering Committee
Interim City Manager Gil reported on a meeting with Superintendent Zamora where they talked about reconvening the joint meeting early in the next year. e. Economic Development Committee
Community Development Director Kinison Brown reported on the status of the meetings.
18. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioner Flores reported on the last GYC meeting with Mayor Rios where they expressed ideas on the ways they can send out information to the public; and the successful trash pickup day.
Council Member Miller congratulated everyone who won the election and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Council Member Silva thanked everyone for voting and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving; reminded everybody about the City’s Holiday Lights event on December 3rd starting at 4pm and asked to support the local nonprofits that will be there that evening.
Council Member Worthy wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. She clarified about the flag retirement which would be on the 25th at 5pm at the American Legion for anyone that would like to bring a flag. She encouraged the Council to attend.
Mayor Rios recommended folks to get the flu shot because the influenza is out there as well as the children’s RSV. He wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. He agreed with the idea of using the marquee sign at the High School, and said it would be good to contact the school district to use it for City programs.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
19. Oral Communications
Interim City Manager Gil reminded everyone about the December 3rd Holiday Lights event which will take place rain or shine; invited the public to the launch of the official Capital Campaign for the Community Center on December 8th at 3pm. The press conference which will be held at the site; gave a shoutout to the Gonzales Youth Council for their work on the mental health assessment they did two years ago, whose work is all over the media right now. She was happy the project continued to put us on the map thanks to the guidance and support of the Council and their investment in our youth.
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.
20. The City Council will recess to closed session to consider personnel matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)- City Manager -Employment/Recruitment Council conferred with the City Attorney and provided direction. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk