MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025
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 Present
Scott Funk Mayor Pro Tem Present
Liz Silva Council Member Present
Lorraine Worthy Council Member Present
Maria Orozco Council Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Valeria Cardenas and Emily Mendez.
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinson Brown, Finance Director Mike Howard, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, Administrative Assistant II Marisol Gomez, Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins, 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]
PRESENTATIONS
2. Certificate of Recognition to Gonzales High School Cross Country Participant Giovanni Ochoa Deputy City Clerk Villegas read the certificates, and Mayor Rios presented them to Giovanni Ochoa, Coach Margie Daniels, and Assistant Coach Mike Ramirez.
Coach Daniels and Assistant Coach Ramirez talked about all the achievements of Giovanni Ochoa.
Giovanni Ochoa thanked the City for the recognition and elaborated on the reasons he decided to run in High School.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
3. 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.
There was none.
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Approve the Joint City Council & Planning Commission - Special Meeting - November 12, 2024 Minutes
5. Approve the Joint City Council & Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - December 2, 2024 Minutes
6. Approve the City Council - Special Meeting - December 11, 2024 Minutes 7 Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #51131-51367
8. Consider Approval of Resolution No. SA-2025-01, A Resolution of the Successor Agency to the Former Gonzales Redevelopment Agency Approving the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule 2025-2026 for the Period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026
9. Consider Approval of Documents Supporting the City’s Reimbursement Claim For the 2023 Winter Storm Expenses Submitted to FEMA/CalOES
10. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-01, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing an Amendment to Task Order No. 1 Under a Master Service Agreement with Dudek to Continue Providing Design Services on the Industrial Wastewater System in the Amount of $59,805
*
*
11. Consider Approval of a) Resolution No. 2025-02, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Gonzales and the Gonzales Police Officers Association, for the Period Covering January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and b) Resolution No. 2025-03, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Gonzales and the Gonzales Police Supervision Association, for the Period Covering January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025
12. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-04, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving Amendment #1 to the City of Gonzales Classification Plan for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025
Council Member Worthy pulled Item 7. She asked what number staff used to identify what the warrant was.
Finance Director Howard responded they had vendor numbers as well as vendor names next to them.
Council Member Worthy was referring to the Armanasco Public Relations for December 9th, and said she wanted to know exactly what they did during that time or in a month since the cost was $5,000 a month due to the fact that we're getting ready to begin talking about the budget.
City Manager Gil mentioned she would get her that information.
Finance Director Howard pulled Item 11. He thanked and acknowledged the meetings participants which were the representatives for both associations, Officer Perez and Corporal Castillo as well as Craig McDonald who was the Union Negotiator. He said they were extremely professional during very tough negotiations where they presented themselves with decorum with the financial situation and the state of the City.
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
13. Oaths of Allegiance by City Clerk
a) Jose L. Rios
b) Scott Funk
Deputy City Clerk Villegas administered the Oaths of Allegiance to Mayor Jose Rios and Mayor Pro Tem Scott Funk.
Mayor Rios thanked the public for their trust in both him and Mayor Pro Tem Funk. He shared that as a 7-year-old that came from Mexico, never did he ever think that he would be at a place like this and he was deeply honored the community had faith in him, and appreciated their votes.
Mayor Pro Tem Funk thanked all those who voted for him although it was different this time with the district elections, and he appreciated the community for voting for him once again. He said he looked forward to another great four years.
14. Reorganization of City Council - Election of Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair/Vice President Mayor Rios said since he had only done this once, he thought he could just appoint someone.
City Attorney Rodriquez reminded him that he had to ask for nominations and then take the vote.
Mayor Rios nominated Council Member Silva as the Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Chair and asked her if she would accept the nomination.
Council Member Silva responded that as she said to him when he asked, she would be honored.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Jose L. Rios, Mayor
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco Mayor Rios shared he had his 14th eye operation and lost more of his sight but with the hope that at least he would get some of it back, he asked everyone to be happy where they were in their life because things could get worse. He mentioned that due to being unable to read a lot, he asked staff to read the item they were presenting.
15. Public Hearing to Consider Waiver of Second Reading, Adoption, and Reading by Title Only Ordinance No. 2024-147, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Amending Chapter 1.20- City Council of Title 1- “Administration” of the Gonzales City Code to Allow Time Allocated to Public Speakers to be Established by Resolution Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez read the item and presented the staff report.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 6:27pm.
Public Hearing: No comments came forward.
Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 6:27pm.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
16. Update on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency - New Disposal Pond Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins read the item and presented the staff report.
Public Comments: There was none.
The Council received the report. No action required.
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
17. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioner Cardenas announced the GYC's first meeting this Thursday and their regular meetings would be the last Thursday of the month; and reported on the data and research
for the current project; meeting with the new Superintendent this week; and the what they would be working on regarding the Community Center.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
18. Consider Council Appointments to Boards and Committees Mayor Rios mentioned that unless a Council Member had a desire to do something different than what they were currently doing, he said we had a long-standing commitment to the Boards and Committees and would like to keep the list as is.
City Attorney Rodriquez noted that we needed to make a change to the ABAG Power Pool for the City Manager Carmen Gil to be the appointee since the list had the previous City Manager's name.
The Council concurred and the list was approved as follows:
BOARD/COMMITTEE APPOINTEE ALTERNATE
League of CA Cities Monterey Bay Division
Meet 2nd Monday of every other month at 6:00pm
Maria Orozco Liz Silva
Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG)
Meet 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:00pm
Scott Funk Lorraine Worthy
Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC)
Meet 4th Wednesday of each month at 9:00am
Jose Rios Lorraine Worthy
Mayors Selection Committee/Mayors Association
Meet 1st Friday of each month at 12:00pm
Jose Rios None Permitted
Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District
(MBUAPCD)
As needed
Appointed by Mayors Association
Association of California Cities Allied with Public Safety (ACCAPS)
As needed
Jose Rios Scott Funk
Salinas Valley Recycles
Meet 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00pm
Liz Silva Scott Funk
Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST)
Meet 2nd Monday of each month at 10:00am
Lorraine Worthy Maria Orozco
*ABAG Power Pool
As needed
Carmen Gil Patrick Dobbins
City & School Joint Steering Committee
As needed
Jose Rios & Scott Funk
Measure K Oversight Committee
Meet 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm
Lorraine Worthy & Scott Funk
Economic Development Committee
Meet 2nd Tuesday of each month at 4:00pm
Liz Silva & Lorraine Worthy, and
Community Business Rep.
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) Policy Board
Meet 1st Wednesday (Quarterly) at 9:00am
Jose Rios
SV Basin Groundwater Sustainability Board
Meet 2nd Thursday of each month at 3:00pm
Soledad Gonzales
S.O.S. US 101 Traffic Safety Alliance
As needed
Liz Silva & Maria Orozco
Council Member Funk mentioned he didn’t have a problem keeping the list as is and wanted to give the Council heads up since he was part of a couple of other committees, and due to travel, he would be missing about three AMBAG meetings throughout the year, so he would be asking his Alternate, Council Member Worthy, to attend these meetings more frequently.
19. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Rios reported on the year end discussions on pending projects. b. Mayor Selection Committee
Mayor Rios reported on long discussions about representing, and Mayor Donohue would be the representative on LAFCO.
c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced the next meeting on January 23rd at 6:00pm in the Chambers where they will have the election of officers due to changes in the election; and she would be the new Chair for the Executive Committee; she reported on the consideration of a fire suppression system for the Jolon Transfer Station.
20. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy informed MST received a $20 million from the Federal Transportation Agency which would go towards the Surf Project. She rode the circulator from Fanoe Vista through town but no one else did. She urged everyone to take advantage of this service and said MST was going to be monitoring this service. She noticed Public Works crews were mowing and cleaning Meyer Park, she called Public Works Director Dobbins and had a discussion with him regarding the issue. She said the Council had to discuss this because our Public Works crew should not be out there cleaning up since the people living there were not paying their assessments to where they needed to be. She believed we needed to decide what direction we were going to go with that situation. She asked to have a strategic planning meeting as a Council with Department Heads to talk about direction and budget for the FY 2025-2026. Since our community was in trouble financially, we didn't have money, Measure S didn't pass, the Meyer Park assessments were not paid, and we may need to eliminate some things. She had several residents call her about curb painting and had people who volunteered to do that if Public Works could guide them. She told Chief Wise about a personal incident she had with the kids riding their bikes doing tricks which had been a problem, and it was getting scary. She asked if the Police Department could do something like citing them or anything else that could be done before someone got hurt.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva reiterated what Council Member Worthy mentioned about the new law taking effect January 1
st regarding parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk. She urged all the residents to read the inserts in this month’s water bill which was in English and Spanish and was explained to the point. She also had people who could volunteer to paint the curbs. She wished everyone a Happy New Year. She shared her experience with the Yoga program at Taylor Clinic and urged everyone to take advantage of this program or the cooking or painting classes, that way they don’t take that someplace else. She also announced Farm Day for 3rd grade students on January 23rd in King City. She asked for a date of the next milestone of the Community Center.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded the date had not been set but it was expected to be mid-February and this was discussed every week with the construction team and he brought it up at their meeting last Thursday. He said he would share it once he got the date.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva said she was still taking progress pictures and noticed other people were stopping and following the project’s progress as well.
Council Member Funk asked if the Daylighting Bill was an unfunded mandate.
City Manager Gil responded that was correct.
Council Member Funk said it would be good to reach out to different community groups such as 4-H Club, Scouts Groups, since they had done various projects in the past. With regards to the conversation about Meyer Park services, he wanted to note that Meyer Park residents did pay assessments, they just didn’t increase them, and no one had an option not to pay, so everyone had to pay. He wished everyone a Happy New Year and looked forward to a great year.
Council Member Orozco wished everyone a Happy New Year and looked forward to the completion of great projects. She had people asking if there would be any fundraising events and of course she told them yes. She suggested saving some time at the strategic session to discuss possible fundraising efforts at the local level since there were a lot of community events coming up. She said folks were getting more excited about the Community Center since they were seeing the progress. She echoed Council Member Worthy’s comments about the issue of the kids riding bikes which continued to be a problem since they had almost bumped into people and the fear residents had. She shared an incident that happened to her. She also shared a concern with speeding in neighborhoods which was a continuing issue. She asked if it was possible to put a crosswalk in the corner of Fifth and Belden Streets since there had been a lot of close calls and people just crossed through with no crosswalk.
Mayor Rios commented about a call that he received from Mr. Fanoe and what the previous City Manager told the Council that staff would be going to LAFCO sometime in April and that was long since passed. He said we were at our first meeting now and there was nothing mentioned about the housing project. He asked staff to give him a realistic date, not an optimistic date since he had been telling folks for the last four years that it was coming. He understood from Mr. Fanoe that he had some financial commitments by September in order for this project to move forward, and told staff we had to get this project done. On another note, he said he had asked several times to get the trucking ban signs on the ramps to get those trucks off Fifth Street because we were going to pay more to repave Fifth Street. He asked what it would take to get those signs up, and he wanted realistic dates.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
21. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil informed she had information on the items they discussed that she was planning to share. She mentioned she was working on a presentation regarding the Daylighting Bill AB 413 that she would be presenting at next Tuesday's meeting on what the City efforts would be, and volunteer efforts as she had also heard from folks who were willing to volunteer to paint the curbs. She reported on the meeting she had with new Superintendent Joey Adame who just started his job and would be coming before the Council at some point to share what the school would be embarking on and the Board's vision for this year. She shared a proposed date for the strategic planning session which was February 22nd from 9:00am-12:00pm and Deputy City Clerk Villegas would be polling the Council. On another note, she informed that she was trying to get the Safe Routes to School folks to allow us to use some of the $250,000 for the trucking ban signs and she was denied due to not being able to use that money for that, so staff would have to find other revenue sources. She stated this would be another topic we would need to discuss at the session so we can see where we can pull the $75,000 from. She reported that staff was in the tail end of the conversations regarding the Visa Lucia project, and could not give a date yet due to legal staff from Pembrook Development and the City going back and forth negotiating on the final aspects of the agreement, but we were pretty close.
City Attorney Rodriquez added that it was hard to give a date but staff was hopeful it would be soon. He said staff had been working hard and meeting on this twice a week exchanging documents and ideas to get this done and take it to the Planning Commission, then to the Council.
City Manager Gil also reported that staff had staff reports drafted and ready to go, so as soon as the agreement was finalized and both legal teams felt good with it, staff would be ready to schedule those meetings.
Public Works Director Dobbins reported on the treatment facility progress and awarding bids in March. On a personal note, he shared a milestone which was 10 years with the City of Gonzales, four years as Contracted City Engineer and six years as a City employee.
A moment of silence was observed per Council Member Worthy’s request regarding the fires in Southern California.
Mayor asked everyone to sing Happy Birthday to Mayor Pro Tem Silva.
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.
22. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) to confer with its attorney- significant potential exposure to litigation.
Council conferred with its legal counsel. No other reportable action taken.
23. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a)(d)(1) to confer with its attorney regarding pending litigation which has been initiated formally and to which the City is a party- Claim of Thompson.
Council considered and approved the claim of Thompson and provided direction to its City Manager and Legal Counsel. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Council Member
SECONDER: Jose L. Rios, Mayor
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 7:17 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk