MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
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.
1. 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
Maria Orozco Council/Agency Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Luke Naegle.
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins, City Attorney Michael F.
Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinson Brown (Via Zoom), Administrative Assistant II Marisol Gomez, Administrative Assistant II Esthela Palmerin, Fire Chief Jason Muscio, 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/87020263943 or call 1 (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 870 2026 3943. 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.
Henry Martinez Jr. expressed his disappointment with the report he received from the Police Department. He requested for the Police Officer in the school to be removed from the school areas and if nothing gets done, he will do it himself.
May Martinez mentioned the situation in the restroom at Central Park that involved her and Officer Perez. She expressed her confusion at the police looking for her when there was no court order to pick her. She expressed her disappointment on the results against her and her family, and believed the Council and Police Department were against her family.
April Martinez, 116 Tenth Street, mentioned the misfortune of having her kids removed from home. She also mentioned past incidents involving the Police Department. She added she will be submitting complaints in regards to the situation with the police and her daughter.
Henry Martinez III, 116 Tenth Street, announced his union to the US Army. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with his grandfather receiving a traffic ticket.
Henry Martinez Sr. complained about the Police Department. He commented about a past incident that involved the Police Department and expressed his disagreement with the traffic ticket he received.
CONSENT AGENDA
3. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - March 4, 2024, Minutes
4. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #49933-49983
5. City Manager’s Report
6. Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report
7. Fire Department Activity Report
8. Police Department Activity Report
9. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
10. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2024-08, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Appointment of a Public Citizen to the Measure K Oversight Committee Filling a Current Vacancy and Replacing a Member Whose Two-Year Term Ended, and Setting the Terms to Expire Two Years from the Effective Date of this Resolution
11. Consider Approval of, and Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment #4 to the Consulting Services Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and EMC Planning Group for Preparation of the Vista Lucia Specific Plan EIR - Final Push to Final Environmental Impact Review and Public Hearings
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
REGULAR AGENDA
12. Authorize Execution of a Non-Exclusive Master Services Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and MNS Engineers and Approve Execution of Task Order 1 for Program Management Services in the amount of $200,000; and Authorize Execution of a Non-Exclusive Master Services Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and Psomas and Approve Execution of Task Order 1 for Technical Services in the Amount of $50,000 to Support the Expansion of the Wastewater System
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Henry Martinez Jr. asked if there will be contamination during the process of the project, and who will be responsible for the funding of the project.
Henry Martinez Sr. expressed being a long-time resident of the City and paying for past expansions and past projects of the City. He suggested being prepared for the next election due to the City being divided into districts for this election year.
Council Discussion: Council Member Silva asked if the repairs would be concurrent with the planned expansion of the City.
Public Works Director Dobbins confirmed the repairs being part of the expansion of the City and meeting the requirements of the plans.
Mayor Rios questioned if staff had an agreement ready to cross over land during the project due to the project involving tractors being driven through the agriculture fields to start work.
Public Works Director Dobbins confirmed that work was getting done on an agreement, but it had not been presented to the owner of the land, and staff will follow up once the presentation of the agreement is completed within the next 30 days.
City Manager Gil mentioned the contracts in the works are to get ahead of the game and to be prepared when the project is approved and ready to start.
Mayor Rios replied to Mr. Martinez’s comment about the cost of living and following code enforcement in the City. He also congratulated Mr. Martinez’s Grandson on his decision to join the Army.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
13. Introduce, Waive First Reading, and Read by Title Only Ordinance No. 2024-142, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales, California, Amending Chapter 4.56 Taxicabs of Title 4 Business and License Regulations of the Gonzales City Code Staff Report: Community Development Director Taven Kinson Brown presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Henry Martinez Jr. questioned if the resolution was involved with the Uber companies.
Henry Martinez Sr. expressed gratitude for the addition of the services to add to the City besides taxi transportation, and also asked about train transportation.
Council Discussion: Council Member Worthy mentioned the partnership in this project with MST as MST had been looking for different ways of transportation for the public in South County.
Council Member Orozco echoed Council Member Worthy’s comment and mentioned about the trouble the seniors go through to be able to get a ride to a doctor’s appointment.
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco, Liz Silva
GONZALES YOUTH COUCIL UPDATES
14. Oral Communication
Commissioner Naegle reported on the GYC meeting with Administrative Analyst Flores regarding housing; the meeting with Dr. Lavelle regarding their Mental Health Project; meeting with Monica Rico and invitation to participate on hosting the 5k run this year. He also reported about the GYC’s participation on Saturday, March 23rd, at the Gonzales High School Mental Health Conference.
Council Member Orozco asked him about the time and location of the conference.
Commissioner Naegle responded it would be at the Gonzales High School from 10am to 2pm.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
15. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
No Report
c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy informed about MST acquiring 19 bus stop shelters and Gonzales getting one by Meyer Park; the approval of 15% of bus passes for seniors and working to ask for an extra discount from TAMC.
16. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy announced the programs the Auxiliary had with the schools in Gonzales around a writing contest. She also expressed her gratitude to the people who participated in the community garden.
Council Member Silva echoed Council Member Worthy’s comment about the community garden, thanking everyone in the community for their participation including Public Works, Wings of Knowledge, Blue Zone, CSUMB, and CADRE by the Workforce Development Board. She mentioned going back to the garden after the event and noted that there were some plants that were drying and noticed the need of a connection for a hose to water other plants around the walkway. She also mentioned her participation in the event of Read Around the World for La Gloria Elementary School, where she had the opportunity to read to some of the students in Kindergarten and Transitional Kinder. She reminded the public about the Adventure Seeking Senior lunch on Thursday, March 21st, with the help of Jean Salcedo and her organization. She mentioned Spring break was coming to be cautious on the road due to the kids out playing.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk mentioned passing by the Community Garden and expressed gratitude for everyone who helped.
Council Member Orozco asked Council Member Worthy about the essay contest mentioned earlier and asked if there was a possibility to have the students recite it as one of the activities for the 4th of July. She announced the last Lenten dinner at St. Theodore’s Church on Friday, March 22nd, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm; and the Reverse Draw coming up soon. She and Council Member Silva had tickets for anyone interested. She also asked about the hours of operation of the restrooms at the parks and requested to look into the matter.
Mayor Rios requested an update on the truck ban. He said he and his son helped in the community garden. He also shared about he and his wife donating to the Community Center Project and asked the Council Members if they were interested in donating as well.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
17. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil thanked everyone who contributed to the Community Garden Project and asked the public to help maintain the garden. She announced the April events which were the Car Show on April 20th, the Community Center Groundbreaking on April 27th, and the Wine Festival on June 1st.
Mayor Rios inquired about the cost.
City Manager Gil answered it was $40 for early registration, and $50 on the day of the event.
Chief Wise updated the Council on the activities with the SPCA that occurred during the weekend which was a successful day providing vaccinations to 100 animals. And staff is also working on planning another event with the SPCA to offer spayed and neutered services in the future.
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 7:01PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk