MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM by Mayor Jose L. Rios.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The flag salute was recited by all present.
1. ROLL CALL
City Council
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
Planning Commission
Attendee Name Title Status
Gloria Velasquez Chair Present
Ernesto Mancera Chair Pro Tem Present
Adrian Paco Commissioner Present
Tencia Vargas Commissioner Present
Alex Ramirez Commissioner Present
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, Community Development Director Taven Kinson Brown, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Consultant Brent Slama, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, Administrative Assistant II Esthela Palmerin.
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/81637045290 or call 1 (669) 900-6833 and use Meeting ID: 816 3704 5290. 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/Planning Commission 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/Commission for a period not to exceed three minutes on any subject not on the Agenda.
The Council/Commission will listen to all communications, but may take no action.
There was none.
JOINT WORKSHOP
3. Vista Lucia Specific Plan Annexation & Tentative Map Project Staff Report: City Manager Gil explained this meeting was more of a listening session, and introduced Consultant Brent Slama who would present the project updates.
Consultant Slama explained what the new development housing project consisted of, State requirements, acreage, location, affordability, and the affordable housing plan.
Community Development Director Kinson Brown continued with other points of the presentation explaining the roads, walking pathways and commercial site plans.
Mayor Rios said he would like to hear from the developer’s point of view.
Glenn Pace, Pembrook Development, mentioned the benefits of this project were a positive turnaround for the donation of 16 acres to the City and regardless of being a big project for such a small community, the project was planned for many years. He mentioned that the point of the project was to have more housing available for the public, and having smaller homes in smaller lots would be less expensive in the 35th percentile category. He added CHISPA would be working on the first 10 acres for 211 units.
Public Comment: Ofelia Leon asked about the CHISPA housing and other homes, and how they would come up with the price.
Consultant Slama responded there would be a low-income table that would regulate prices.
Alec Mana, CHISPA’s Project Manager, mentioned being around other housing projects with other Cities and explained the similarities with the East Garison project.
Consultant Slama mentioned the regulatory process and explained that prices would be determined later.
Planning Commissioner Vargas asked about the designation of three schools as the original plan included one high school.
Consultant Slama explained the demographics had changed.
Commissioner Vargas asked for clarification on the new Fire Station.
Chair Velasquez asked about the water usage turn around and an explanation on the sweat equity and the lower prices.
Commissioner Ramirez asked about the traffic circles and the double lanes to continue at some point, and the flooding freeway underground storage units. He also asked if the wells would be interchangeable with the rest of Gonzales, and when would law or fire enforcement would be added.
Community Development Director Kinson Brown addressed the underground storage and mentioned to the commissioners he would have to bring it back to Planning Commission.
Commissioner Paco asked what the State’s requirement on low density was, and if the City would incorporate this to the plan.
Community Development Director Kinson Brown responded it was one of the State’s requirements and the developer would be coming up with a plan on density.
Chair Pro Tem Mancera asked if there would be any chain stores or others added to the plan.
Council Member Orozco remembered the sweat equity program that CHISPA provided in the last housing projects Gonzales had. She mentioned how some people were prepared to apply for housing with the help of CHISPA and the past workshops the City had.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk thanked staff for supporting the City all these years. He remembered when the project initiated with the Planning Commission. He asked about the natural gas being a State requirement.
Council Member Worthy asked if the state mandated electrical appliances instead of gas.
Council Member Silva asked about the road expansion. She expressed her excitement about the project. She also said how excited she was about the MOU with CHISPA and asked the City to encourage PG&E to provide the energy needed for the City.
Mayor Rios asked about the requirement to have a solar system and not enough storage room for the excess of solar power. He expressed his promise to try his best for the growth of the City to be approved as soon as possible but was unable to speed things up. He also talked about the amount of space in park land available. He expressed his idea on sunk in parks to prevent floods from rain. He also mentioned the roundabouts available in Marina and other Cities. He asked to look at the State mandating the issue about natural gas.
ADJOURN TO CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
The meeting was adjourned to Council Business.
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.
4. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) to confer with its attorney- significant potential litigation.
The Council conferred with its Attorney and provided direction. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM.
ATTEST:
______________________________
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk