MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 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/Chair Present
Liz Silva Mayor Pro Tem /Vice Chair Present
Scott Funk Council/Agency Member Present
Lorraine Worthy Council/Agency Member Present
Maria Orozco Council/Agency Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Youth Commissioners Emily Mendez and Valeria Cardenas.
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinson Brown, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, Administrative Assistant II Esthela Palmerin, Fire Chief Jason Muscio, Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins, 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. Wastewater Program Update
Public Works Director Dobbins and MNS Engineers Program Manager Megan Panofsky, presented updates on the Wastewater Treatment Plant project timeline via powerpoint. Program Manager Panofsky reported that 35% of the project had been completed with 6200 linear feet of pipeline installed, 6 manholes, and the project would be completed in May 2025 as scheduled.
She also notified the Council about the Emergency Infiltration Basin project which was completed, and was awarded Project of the Year from by the American Public Works Association.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
3. Business from the Public not on the Agenda; any member of the Public may address the Council/Agency for a period not to exceed three minutes on any subject not on the Agenda. The Council/Agency will listen to all communications but may take no action.
Anna Gazo expressed her concerns regarding the residents. She commented that the City of Soledad held a meeting regarding immigration and had a few lawyers answering immigration questions. She also mentioned the Gonzales School District was going to have an informative meeting with an immigration attorney but was unaware of the City having anything for the community regarding immigration.
Roberta Camacho extended an invitation to Mayor Rios and the Council Members to a meeting at the Gonzales High School this Friday, February 7th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm regarding immigration status, and she also asked Police Chief Wise to attend. She shared the concerns the residents were having about the immigration situation, especially the children being afraid to go to school because they might not see their parents come back from work. She hoped the meeting here in Gonzales would have the same turnout as Soledad’s.
Rosa Rodriguez commented about working in the past as a counselor helping a lot of kids, and suggested that Gonzales High School kids talk to their counselors if they needed any counseling.
She expressed her dislike that some people were not following the rules and needed to deal with the consequences.
Monica Rico, via zoom, mentioned working with many organizations and expressed her disappointment with the City of Gonzales for not giving direction on support for the immigrant community within Gonzales.
Deputy City Clerk Villegas read a comment received via email from Sandy Gomez on February 3, 2025 at 12:15pm. The email read as follows: “It is a disappointment the lack of empathy our Gonzales City Leadership lacks toward our community members documentmented and/or undocumented. Our Gonzales constituents account for a diverse background and not all undocumented persons are or have been of Mexico/Latino decent. However, the current political climate has set a tone in targeting point-blank a specific demographic of people. If you haven't already noticed the Gonzales has a large number of Mexican/Latino community. Who are either immigrant, 1st, 2nd and so on generations. Yet, no announcement or stance of solidarity in ensuring our communities safety and peace of mind has been issued on the cities behalf for the community members being affected. Which leads me to think that the current Gonzales Leadership is either privileged or racist or both and only cares when they or their specific person/race is affected by a political order. May, I remind us- unless one is Native American we are all immigrants or a colonizer on in the United States.”
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Approve the Joint City Council & Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - January 21, 2025 Minutes 5 Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #51368-51469
Mayor Pro Tem Silva questioned what payment #2804 to the Monterey County Sherrif’s Department was for.
Police Chief Wise responded it was for the DOJ livescans the Department did for the month of September. He added the County invoiced them quarterly for the services provided.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked about the payment to US Bank for credit card use if it was a payment for one invoice or if it was for different invoices.
City Manager Gil clarified the payment was for several invoices.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 4-5
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
REGULAR AGENDA
6. California Breeze Assessment Districts
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report via powerpoint presentation. He explained the areas in the City that needed maintenance, with the focus on Mayer Park. He presented a list of items to reduce costs to be able to keep the park open.
Mayor Rios questioned if Council Member Funk needed to be excused for this item due to him living in that area and it could be conflict of interest.
Council Member Funk disagreed. He felt he represented the area and needed to be present and it was an item for discussion and no action required.
City Attorney Rodriquez confirmed Council Member Funk did not need to be dismissed because this item did not involve any financial benefit to him. *
Public Comment: Rosa Rodriguez asked why other assessment districts didn’t increase their tax rates for the maintenance to not be paid by the general fund. She disagreed with closing the park since the youth used that park constantly and there were not many activities for the youth in Gonzales. She also mentioned the need to trim the trees around that area.
Council Discussion: Council Member Worthy asked for clarification on the recommendations because she didn’t see them.
City Manager Gil responded the recommendations given by staff were on the powerpoint presentation and she showed them again.
Council Member Worthy mentioned the public’s confusion about the assessment was due to how it was presented to the public and asked if there was another way to change the amounts mentioned previously in the suggested assessment.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded that was the amount presented and was unable to change them since the rates had already been spread apart.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva disagreed with the closing of the park and opposed reducing the cost of street maintenance.
Council Member Orozco asked if the soundwall maintenance could be reduced and what the purpose of it was.
Public Works Director Dobbins explained that the City was responsible for any repairs if any accidents occurred in the 101-freeway damaging the wall.
Mayor Rios asked for more options to maintain the City and comparing other cities being creative with assessments.
Council Member Funk asked what funds paid for the maintenance of other parks.
Council Member Orozco asked if there were any volunteers to help with the maintenance of the park, including tree trimming.
Council Member Worthy clarified that she was against closing the park.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva was also against closing the park and she would like to see what other solutions the staff had.
Mayor Rios also clarified that he was against closing the park, and asked the Public Works Director to come up with another plan for a new assessment. He also thanked staff for their efforts to come up with a plan to keep the park open.
City Attorney Rodriquez asked the Council if they would want to bring the item back with a new plan.
City Manager Gil mentioned staff were already working and looking for a different plan to reduce maintenance costs.
It was the Council consensus to direct staff to review the plan and bring it back to the Council.
7. Sidewalk and Street Tree Policy
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: There was none.
Council Discussion: Mayor Pro Tem Silva suggested looking for more options on trees now that people would prefer a tree that provided shade instead of looking like a bush. She also asked if people needed to get a permit to remove and plant a new tree, and inform the residents of the cost of replacing the sidewalk.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded staff would bring back a new list for the Council to review.
Council Member Worthy suggested a birch tree be part of the list as she had no issues with the roots.
She also asked if an individual was parked next to a tree and a tree branch were to fall on the car, who would be responsible.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded that the owner of the car would be at fault.
Mayor Rios suggested another type of tree since he had a good experience with his at home and asked if the tree policies would be affected.
Community Development Director Kinson Brown mentioned the tree policies referred to the design of the street and suggested taking a look at other cities’ policies and bring any updates to the Council.
Mayor Rios asked if it was possible to pay to maintain old oak trees instead of removing them and getting fined.
Public Works Director Dobbins mentioned staff would bring back the item with some suggestions.
City Attorney Rodriquez suggested taking the list of ordinances and updating it every 10 years.
It was the Council consensus to direct staff to review the tree list and bring it back to the Council.
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
8. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioner Mendez suggested having the High School students help with the maintenance of Mayer Park as part of their community hours.
Youth Commissioner Pacheco informed the Council of their upcoming meeting at the Community Center on Thursday, February 6th.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
9. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Rios announced the meeting on February 7th.
b. Mayor Selection Committee
Mayor Rios reported on the awards given during the meeting including an award to the City of Gonzales.
c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Mayor Pro Tem Silva reported about the committee awarding non-profit organizations.
She also mentioned the next meeting would be on February 20th at 6:00pm.
10. Oral Communications
Mayor Pro Tem Silva was disappointed hearing the comments received during public comments and how the community felt about the City.
Council Member Orozco shared the objective of the meeting on Friday, February 7th at Gonzales High School and explained who was going to be attending the meeting and who the co-sponsors were. She extended the invitation to everyone. She also asked for this Council meeting to be adjourned with a moment of silence in memory of Sandy who worked at the Post Office, and Jesus Valdez de Leon who worked at RC Farms for many years.
Mayor Rios mentioned the Gonzales Ball being in bad condition and the previous comments received from the public.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded that there was a long-term contract to clean and inspect the Gonzales Ball once a year. He added the City paid the invoice in advance for those services and for this year, they were due in May of 2025.
Mayor Rios mentioned Blue Zones recognized the senior members and suggested the City to create a resolution recognizing those residents.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
11. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil reported on a grant the City received from Blue Zones to paint a mural, and mentioned there would be a survey going out to ask the public what they would like to see painted in the mural.
Police Chief Wise informed that the Department put a statement out regarding the immigration community and ICE. He stated that the Police Department would not get involved in any ICE activities and the Police Department did not ask for immigration status nor kept records of residents’ immigration status.
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 54956.8 to give instructions to the City’s negotiator concerning the exchange/lease/acquisition of property located at Assessor Parcel Number 020-041-016-000. Instructions will include price and terms of payment.
The Council provided direction to its real property negotiator (City Manager) concerning the property located at APN 020-041-016-000. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk