MINUTES
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023
6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:02 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
Maria Orozco Council Member Present
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Trevin W. Barber, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez (via zoom), Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, and Administrative Assistant II Marisol Gomez.
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/89725842684 or call 1-1669-900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 897 2584 2684. 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 the day of the meeting to the City Clerk at [email protected]
Mayor Rios announced this was a special meeting but he wanted to allow the opportunity if someone had something and they would like to comment, to come up to the podium, and state their name and address for the record.
Rosa Rodriguez, 307 Ayrshire Way, commented she was here for the park, and she is in favor of redistricting, but the issue with Meyer Park is that the community had to get together in order to request maintenance to Meyer Park. She said they are paying assessments and there should be a schedule of maintenance for each park instead of having to wait until the community comes together and requests that. She elaborated on the soccer field being really bad and they brought it up in October and a lot hasn't been done yet.
REGULAR AGENDA
2. Transition to District-Based Elections for Councilmembers – Proposed District Maps – Public Hearing #3
Douglas Johnson, National Demographics Corporation, provided information via powerpoint presentation. He updated where we were in the process, and explained the first two hearings were informational and educational hearings, the maps were posted to the City website, and this is the first of two hearings to discuss the draft maps. He said a final decision doesn't need to be made this evening. He added this is the first reaction to and consideration of the maps and if they want to request more or request changes in the maps as they wish this evening, we'll come back at the next hearing to focus on choosing a map. He explained the rules for how the maps get drawn, redistricting rules and goals, and went over the three different maps: Maroon, Orange, and Tan.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 6:14pm.
Public Hearing: Henry Martinez Sr., 112 Tenth Street, said the only map he agreed with is the Maroon map. He commented about why he didn’t like the other maps; people contacting him to tell him what the cops are doing and what the City is not doing; the north side never having a voice; wanting that side by itself; wanting to give someone else the chance to run to represent the northside; and said the green, blue and the pink is the way to go, but the purple has to have Alta Street.
Roman Barba liked the map but asked how many voters were in the different sections and wanted to know if there was a breakdown.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk told him that information was in the back of the maps.
Mr. Barba apologized because he didn’t see them. He commented on not liking how Rincon Rad and Del Monte were connected with the pink; and wanted them connected with the purple because of where he and his family live in case he runs for Council that will benefit him and his family members.
Rosa Rodriquez, 307 Ayrshire Way, commented about her and her children attending schools here; liking the Maroon map; Rincon Road being a really bad street; huge discrepancy of some areas in town which are better than others; frustrated about people coming to her; and said everywhere should be fixed equally.
Alberto Jaramillo, 124 Sixth Street, assumed the way that the maps are drawn were the current City limits; and asked how future growth is going to be accounted into all of this. He didn’t have a preference on the maps until he had more information.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk clarified that this was based on the 2020 Census data.
Mayor Rios added that will change when the census changes. He said future growth was on the east and wouldn’t be shocked if the old side of town becomes one district and the older side of the freeway becomes the other three districts because of the potential growth out there.
Justin LeBlanc, Soledad Resident, was here tonight because of a joint consultation with the consultant on the matter and because he frequents Gonzales quite a bit to shop and visit friends.
He commented about the consideration in both towns being the people's needs; hoped each member of the Council considers all of the constituents of their City, not just their district; and make sure those needing affordable housing have sufficient representation, and transportation getting to work.
Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 6:26pm.
Council Member Worthy shared her comments about interested in what everyone had to say and she will not be running in 2026 so there will be no conflict on her end.
Council Member Silva commented about remaining in District 3 and not knowing what Mr.
Martinez was referring to about including the Alta Street area to the purple map because nothing was cut off on Alta Street, that was the railroad track line. She asked about our official numbers and contiguous areas. She reassured she was here for everyone in this community, not just her District.
Mr. Johnson responded this is the official California redistricting data, and the freeway is not considered a major visible boundary, and the non- contiguous references here are like the wastewater plants and a couple of pieces.
Council Member Orozco asked if there was a reason why Venice Way and Amore Court would not be able to be in the green portion, in section three of the Maroon map. And if that would be the same on area four which crosses over to Fifth Street. She expressed she was in favor of the Maroon map.
Mr. Johnson responded it was due to the population counts.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk clarified the Council was not here because they wanted to do redistricting, this was something that was pressed upon us by an outside entity outside of Gonzales, and has not heard of a single person who is in favor of going through this. He said he grew up here and went to schools here as well as his children, and was here for the whole community. In terms of the maps, he concurred with the Maroon map. He added that based on voter registration and voter turnout, this map is pretty even.
Mr. Johnson added in response to question for the 2030 year, if the City annexes territory, they don’t have to redraw the lines, they simply add that territory neighboring district. The only time they redraw lines is the annexed populated territory, which if increases City population by 25%.
Mayor Rios said we're kind of forced into this, and as a small community as we are, the voter turnout was 25%. He thought with district elections, he would not be shocked or surprised if someone wins by 100 votes. His preference would be going citywide because at least everyone
here would hear everybody's voices across the City, not just in a particular district. He believed we’re going to lose a lot of connections that we've had over the years, because we were required to go Citywide. And since this is what we have to do, he is in favor of the Maroon map.
Mr. Johnson encouraged the residents to go to the City’s website where there's a link for district elections that includes an interactive review map so they can zoom in and see specific addresses, parks, and get into the details.
On another note, Mayor Rios brought up an issue from a concerned parent regarding a leak at the Little League Park and it's pretty saturated on the outfield and didn’t want a child tripping and hurting themselves, so he asked staff if they can take a look at that.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 6:47 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk