MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
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.
1 . 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
Maria Orozco Council Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Excused absence: Luke Naegle and Aliyah Castillo.
STAFF PRESENT
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 Marisol Gomez, Administrative Assistant II Esthela Palmerin, Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins, Finance Director Mike Howard, and Police Chief Keith Wise. * 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/88437363691 or call 1 (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 884 3736 3691. 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]
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.
Ivan Olsen, 48 C Street, thanked Council Member Orozco and Community Development Director Kinison Brown for helping him gain knowledge about the Swiss building on Alta Street, and commented about talking to the Alliance for Monterey Area Preservation who suggested that he ask the City to take a look at its historical value and reference to the CEQA Historical American Buildings Survey. He also suggested selling it to avoid the cost of the demolition.
CONSENT AGENDA
3. Approve the Joint City Council, Successor Agency, and Planning Commission - Regular Meeting – August 21, 2023 Minutes
4. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #49059-49106
5. Consider Approval of, and Allow the City Manager to Accept a New Grant from the Community Foundation for Monterey County and the County’s VIDA Program in the Amount of $55,000 for the Community Health Worker aspect of the Gonzales Cares Program RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Jose L. Rios
REGULAR AGENDA
6. Follow-up Report on the Community Center Complex Project Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Mitch Fine, WRNS Studio, went over the current plan and occupancy of the community hall and other options including number of seats, built in stage, and portable stage.
Public Comment: Rosa Rodriguez, 307 Ayrshire Way, spoke in support of a permanent stage and elaborated on the St. Theodore Church Hall layout that includes a patio when it’s rented. *
Roman Barba, 123 Second Street, spoke in support of the fitness center and wondered how the stage would be.
Emily Rios, 231 Third Street, thanked everyone for having her involved in this process and inviting her to the different meetings. She urged the Council to consider making the community hall a larger size than it currently is since the City is going to be expanding in the future. She thought 200 seemed a little bit small, and it would be nice to have a bigger space, especially since people look somewhere else to have big events like weddings and quinceañeras.
Council Discussion: City Manager Gil shared the comments that were given to her from the meeting he had with the Mayor since he was absent today. He informed her that he would be okay with taking out the permanent stage and having a portable stage in order to accommodate more capacity. There was discussion by the Council and consultants about the types of stage and square footage, possibility of accommodating at least 300 people, auditorium capacity, and awareness of construction costs for changes, furnishings, and maintaining the project.
It was the Council’s consensus to move forward with Option 1 which has the fitness center and portable stage on page 27 of the agenda packet. The Council also directed staff to work with the consultant and look at what the cost would be to expand the hall’s square footage in the future to accommodate 300-350 people.
7. Introduce, Waive Reading and Read by Title only Ordinance No. 2023-140, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Amending Title 11-Building Regulations of the Gonzales City Code by the Addition of New Chapter 11.56 Streamlined Permitting Process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Staff Report: Community Development Director Kinison Brown presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Rosa Rodriguez, 307 Ayrshire Way, suggested hiring someone to update the website with all the current codes.
Council Discussion: There was none.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Jose L. Rios
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
8. Oral Communication
There were no updates.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
9. Consider Appointment of Voting Delegate for the League of California Cities Conference
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] to Appoint Council Member Orozco as the Voting Delegate
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Jose L. Rios
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
10. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Pro Tem Funk mentioned Mayor Rios sent his committees’ update to staff. City Manager Gil read his report regarding $10 million from TAMC awarded to King City, Soledad and Salinas, and the County.
b. Mayor Selection Committee
City Manager Gil read the Mayor's report about having Supervisor Alejo presentation on the homeless situation in Monterey County which has gone down by 16%, but as a result we have lost $1.5 million from the State. He felt like we've been penalized for doing a good job.
His report also mentioned about the Nacimiento damn water release. c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Council Member Silva announced the next meeting September 21st here in the Chambers and she reported at the last meeting that Salinas Valley Recycles had their employee recognition dinner on August 18th at the Crazy Horse Golf Course and she heard it was fun. d. Measure K Oversight Committee
Council Member Worthy reported on the last meeting regarding the overview of the grants and the application for this new fiscal year being open, but will close soon. e. South Salinas Valley Broadband Authority
No report.
10. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy asked if anyone knew why Gonzales didn't apply for the TAMC grants.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk mentioned that was based on transportation projects and Gonzales doesn't have any transportation projects on the 101 corridor.
Council Member Worthy thanked Public Works Director Dobbins for working with her and MST regarding the new bus stops, and also thanked Community Development Director Kinison Brown regarding the different locations around town. She asked the residents if they have a concern that they want to take care of and want it addressed, they can file a formal complaint with the City, and if it's an issue with the Police Department, they can also file a complaint with the Police Department and staff can follow up on that. She thought it was important for all of us to work together because there's a lot of things going on in our community and it's a concern to many if a neighbor is doing something they're not supposed to be doing, they need to say something and they can remain anonymous.
Council Member Silva agreed with Council Member Worthy about saying something if they see something. She mentioned things can't be remedied overnight and it takes time so she asked everyone to be understanding of that. She asked the residents if they hear gossip around town, they need to ignore it and bring it to the attention of the people who might be able to look into things.
Council Member Orozco reported on the Monterey County Housing Authority meeting she attended and invited the new Director to come to Gonzales and take a look at some of our projects that we have, and if there's a plan to maybe renovate some of these homes and expand additional housing units. She also reported on the meeting she had with the Red Cross who will be distributing new smoke detectors to residents that live in apartments, the trailer camp on Belden Street, Alpine Camp, and Corda Camp. She also said Grupos Unidos received a grant to do CPR classes for training for students.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk thanked staff for all their efforts keeping everything moving.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
11. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil reported on getting two CSUMB Computer Science Interns who will be helping with the website and social media design. She also mentioned that staff was trialing another website and were going through the lengthy process before changing it. She also announced a Trunk or Treat event on October 28th on Fourth Street, and more details to come.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown announced a City-wide yard sale on October 14th and 15th, and the following week, Tri-Cities is having their big clean up day.
Mayor Orozco suggested maybe in the future having a yard sale at the park for those residents who live in apartments and don't have space.
Public Works Director Dobbins reported on the pool heater options which will be coming later on to the Council.
Police Chief Wise announced a Dog License and Vaccination Clinic with the SPCA on September 30th at the Police Department, and it is by appointment only.
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.
12. 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: Madera v. City of Gonzales et al.
Council conferred with legal counsel. No other reportable action was taken.
13. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 to confer with and give instructions to its real property negotiator concerning the lease of property located at/on the City’s Water Tower located adjacent to 5th Street and U.S. Highway 101.
Council conferred with its real property negotiator and provided direction. No other reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Jose L. Rios
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk