MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 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
Council Member Orozco led the flag salute.
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
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, 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/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]
PRESENTATIONS
2. Certificates of Recognition to Gonzales High School Girls Soccer Team Mayor Pro Tem Funk read the certificates of recognition and Mayor Rios presented them to the students and Coaches.
Coach Tejeda thanked the Council for always supporting the students.
3. US 101 South of Salinas Project
Todd Muck, TAMC Executive Director, presented via powerpoint, the safety concerns, safety data, total collisions, the issue of the left turns and U-turns, uncontrolled intersections and railroad crossings, the public’s desire for improved safety, long term solution and improvements, stages to delivering projects, and flooding issues.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
4. 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.
Roberta Camacho, Grupos Unidos, invited the Council to the Dia del Niño event on Sunday, April 28th from 1:00pm-5:00pm. She invited the Mayor to say a few words to the community. She also announced the Cinco de Mayo event the following Sunday, where they will have about 20 agencies giving out information. She said they were able to put together the two events thanks to the Measure K Committee.
Roman Barba talked about an issue he had been having at 880 Center Street regarding a structure they have against his fence and damages from the dogs. He wanted to see the letters if the City was sending them to that property owner.
CONSENT AGENDA
5. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - April 1, 2024 Minutes
6. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #50066-50110
7. Approve Successor Agency Accounts Payable Warrants #1686-1687
8. City Manager’s Report
*
*
9. Community Development Department Activity Report
10. Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report
11. Fire Department Activity Report
12. Police Department Activity Report
13. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
REGULAR AGENDA
14. Community Center Complex Project Progress Report
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Henry Martinez Sr., 112 Tenth Street, thanked the City for getting here and he was happy to see it built.
Roman Barba said he had been waiting for this for a long time since the time they were knocking on people's doors. He suggested having the Mayor in the front of all the pictures since he was the one who wanted this, and thanked him for this project.
Mayor Rios told Mr. Barba he was only one vote and if it wasn't for the entire Council, none of this would be possible. He thanked the entire Council for supporting this.
Council Discussion: Council Member Orozco asked about the order of speakers and suggested having a table with information at the upcoming community events with information regarding the Community Center, and giving folks information as to how they can donate and to keep them informed on what's happening.
Mayor Rios suggested moving the lighting structures possibly behind the fire station and the wastewater treatment facility instead of discarding them.
City Manager Gil addressed the questions and mentioned that was not the order of speakers and the final list is still being worked on.
The Council shared their excitement about this project. The Council received the report. No action required.
15. Oral Presentation on the Fireworks Committee Recommendations Staff Report: City Manager Gil presented the staff report via powerpoint presentation. She informed who the Fireworks Committee appointees were; the meetings that were held, and the committee recommendations: update the City Code to include language around illegal fireworks which is to consider establishing in-house administrative fee, establish a 10:30pm curfew time on safe and sane fireworks, only allow use of safe and sane fireworks on the 4th of July, and assess whether we can include a violation for landlord if it can be proven that an illegal firework is
connected to a parcel; establish a messaging campaign to include videos on fireworks effects on animals, veterans and messaging from the Fire and Police Departments, and potentially youth; and continue meeting as a committee through July. She also included an implementation timeline through June. She invited a committee member who was present at the meeting to the podium if he had anything to add.
Ruben Zurita, Committee Member, informed the committee worked hard to come up with these suggestions and everyone was present and active in the committee. He wanted to add that this was a tremendous opportunity to improve the safety of this community because we all knew the fireworks were out of control, and they would like to have the messaging in English and Spanish. He appreciated any help the Council could give.
Public Comment: Henry Maritnez Sr. commented about landlords not having control of the properties they rent and not being able to kick them out if they got in trouble with the cops. He disagreed with putting regulations on landlords, and the curfew due to limited time to pop the fireworks. He elaborated on the fire last year being the owner’s fault because of coating his roof with flammable material, and other parts of town not having major incidents.
Roman Barba commented about having signs and posters at the 4th of July event about illegal fireworks not being welcomed in Gonzales; and the issue with his neighbor about illegal fireworks landing on his property.
Henry Martinez Jr. (via zoom), asked why this committee was never promoted anywhere since he didn’t hear any of this, and he wasn’t invited. He strongly opposed to anything they want to do or are part of this. He disagreed with the curfew and said this is being done only because one house got burned last year, and people should clean their homes to be ready for the holiday. He also opposed any kind of penalties on the homeowners because he’ll pass that on to the tenants and elaborated on the problems this would cause such as penalties on the homeowners when they don’t have actual proof.
Council Discussion: Council Member Orozco suggested having informational flyers at the upcoming events at the park so residents know what’s coming. She liked the idea of the curfew and elaborated on the reasons like being school day the next day as well as people working early, and the effects they caused on kids with special needs.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk thanked the members of the committee, and elaborated this was something the Council talked about for quite some time over several meetings before we had members of the public be appointed, who were people that were for and against fireworks. He shared his frustration when he heard the comment about what side of town the incidents have happened which shouldn’t matter because someone passed away. He talked about the noise ordinance currently in place and agreed with the curfew.
Council Member Silva echoed the Council’s comments and thanked the committee for working together to come up with a solution. She liked the idea of the curfew as well and the informational flyers. She suggested putting together a specific number to report so people don’t use 911. She elaborated on the main focus to try to eliminate or mitigate illegal fireworks due to the losses we’ve had, and this was not to ban people from having a good time on the 4th of July.
Council Member Worthy concurred with the rest of the Council Members and elaborated on the effects the illegal fireworks cause with people who suffer from PTSD like her husband, and also on animals. She agreed with the recommendations and commended the committee for working
together considering it was a mixed group. She also agreed with possibly coming up with a separate phone number to report incidents.
Mayor Rios addressed comments from Mr. Martinez Jr. about not being informed. He stated that we did this at a public meeting where each Council Member got to nominate one person for the committee keeping it to five members, which they thought was more manageable than opening it to the entire public, and we had a pretty even split on the pro fireworks versus getting rid of fireworks all together. He said it was great to know there was collaboration from all of them to come up with a solution. He agreed with the recommendations and putting the flyers in English and Spanish in the water bills.
In regards to a the possibility of a separate phone number, Fire Chief Muscio informed that Gonzales can have a separate number but there is an issue with who will answer the calls. It’s best to call 911 since there is a record of the calls and they’re documented.
City Manager Gil elaborated on the issue of having a separate number not knowing if the call would turn into an actual emergency so calling 911 was the best option.
Council Member Orozco also suggested giving flyers to the students at the school since a lot of people didn't get a water bill if they lived in apartments.
It was the Council's consensus to direct staff to move forward with this.
City Attorney Rodriquez indicated that staff would bring back the introduction of the ordinance.
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2024-11, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Establishing 5:30 P.M. as the New Start Time for Regular City Council Meetings Staff Report: City Manager Gil presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Henry Martinez Sr. expressed his opposition to changing the time.
Roman Barba suggested keeping it at 6:00pm since students were at practices and wouldn't make it to recognitions.
RESULT: After general discussion from each Council Member, the item died due to lack of a motion.
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
17. Oral Communications
Commissioner Castillo reported on the surveys the members distributed regarding the tenants rights, and mental health projects. She announced a meeting with Soledad and Greenfield's Youth Councils collaborating on a Youth Summit, and mentioned the Youth Council members will be present at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Community Center on April 27th.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
18. 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 reported on the discussion of the MST circulators which have been approved and the intention is to be ready by fall. She also reported on the cost of the Surf project going up, and public comments received on the rail project. She shared a story of a 6 year-old girl and the trust with the MST Coach Operators.
19. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy thanked her husband for bringing her cousin who was visiting from Switzerland to tonight's Council meeting so she could see what our City government did.
Council Member Silva thanked everyone who attended the Education Center opening at the Johnson Canyon Landfill on April 6th which was a great success. She also reported on the MCPOA Dinner she attended. She announced the monthly Senior Lunch on April 18th at St.
Theodore’s Hall at 11:00am, the Salinas Valley Fair Kickoff Dinner this Saturday in King City at 5:30pm; and informed the Hartnell School Board will be holding a mail in ballot special election for our district, which are due by June 4th.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk was looking forward to the many community events coming up.
Council Member Orozco thanked Council Member Worthy for serving on the MST Board and the great information she shares, and said that George would probably recall when the City was asked to be on this board, which was the first South County City that took the lead to form the joint authority. She congratulated Officer Macias and Community Services Officer Correa for their recognition at the MPCOA Dinner, which was a great event.
Mayor Rios said he also attended the MPCOA Dinner and was proud to also see Officer Solis from Salinas but wasn’t thrilled about the information he got regarding the amount for their signing bonus. He cleared to Mr. Barba about the Car Show still happening this weekend. He talked about the application of the roundup when Public Works cleaned up areas in town. He asked about the reason why City couldn’t just get a backpack which Green Valley offered, to apply to the weeds versus using the spray container to save time.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded the City used an organic spray, not roundup; and he said he would take a look at what was available through Green Valley Farm Supply.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
20. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil congratulated our Officer of the Year Joshua Macias and Community Services Officer Ivan Correa for their recognition at the Monterey County Peace Officers Association Dinner on Friday night which was a great event. She reminded everyone that the Car Show was still on this Saturday. She mentioned that staff was debating about rescheduling it due to low preregistrations, but the numbers continued to go up, and cars will be showing up as early as 8:00am, and the show starts at 1:00pm.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 7:47 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk