MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, MAY 5, 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
Absent: Emily Mendez and Valeria Cardenas.
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Finance Director Mike Howard (Via Zoom), Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, Administrative Assistant II Esthela Palmerin, 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. Consider Approval of, and Present Proclamation No. 2025-02, A Proclamation of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Proclaiming May 2025 as Poppy Month RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Proclamation No. 2025-02
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco Council Member Worthy read the proclamation and presented to Connie Arrellano, chair of the American Legion Auxiliary.
3. Recreation Department Presentation
Recreation Coordinator Jessica Olmedo, Sports & Senior Programs Coordinator Isabel Navarro, and Youth Program Coordinator Julie Douglas presented via PowerPoint, explaining the Recreation Department and Community Department Programs, Department staff, Kid Power, Camps, Sports, Senior Programs, Gonzales Youth Council, Community Engagement Partnerships, and the programs and events coming up. They also shared the total amount of participants in each program, community events held during the year, and the positive feedback staff received from the parents.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva questioned when the pool would be open for adult swim.
Recreation Coordinator Olmedo responded they were hoping to open on the first week of June or the following week. She mentioned they were still working on staffing and other factors to be able to open.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva thanked staff for the presentation and asked who umpired the games that the City organized.
Sports & Senior Programs Coordinator Navarro mentioned that a lot of the umpires were the High School kids that used to play with the City, and depending on who would be playing, the adults would also be officials for some teams.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked what the ages were to register kids for Kid Power and the Camps.
Youth Program Coordinator Douglas responded the afterschool program consisted of Transitional Kinder through Fifth Grade, and the camps from Transitional Kinder to Eighth Grade.
Council Member Worthy thanked the Recreation staff for the presentation.
Council Member Orozco shared her grandkids had benefited from Kid Power Program in previous years.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
4. 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.
Andrew Brown commented that the truck drivers used a program called HERE Map to navigate their routes, and to inform Caltrans to update their data regarding City of Gonzales roads with proper information. He also mentioned there were limited activities for young adults in the City and would like to see more activities in the future.
Roman Barba shared seeing people drinking in public at the 5 de Mayo Festival and disliked the horse poop all over town.
Santiago, 465 Venice Way, commented about living next to the park and having problems due to kids playing and sometimes breaking the windows of his house with either baseball balls or other types of balls. He requested Public Works to put up a net to prevent future breaking of windows or any other incidents. He provided his contact information to staff to talk about this problem.
Henry Martinez Sr. talked about an incident that happened at the 5 de Mayo event where it involved an ice cream vendor who was kicked out for not being authorized to sell ice cream at the park during the event.
CONSENT AGENDA
5. Approve the Joint City Council & Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - April 7, 2025 Minutes
6. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #51839- 51976
7. City Manager Report
8. Community Development Department Activity Report
9. Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report
10. Fire Department Activity Report
11. Police Department Activity Report
12. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
13. Consider Approval of Fireworks Sale Permit Applications Submitted by Shield Bearers and Spartan 300 Club, and Waive Business License Permit Taxes for the Two Non-Profit Groups
14. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-16, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the Execution of Funding Agreements with the State Water Resources Control Board for the Alpine Court Water and Sewer Service Extension Project
15. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-17, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to use Fire Camp Crews for Select Public Works Maintenance Services
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-18, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Delegating Limited Authority to the City Manager to Settle Claims Against the City *
17. Consider Approval of Amendment #5 to the Lease Agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America, a Delaware Corporation, for Continued Use of a Portion of the Old Medical Building Located at 133 Fourth Street
Mayor Pro Tem Silva pulled Item 12. She asked if the City would get reimbursed for water damages caused by residents or any accidents that occurred.
Public Works Director Dobbins answered that the City would submit a refund request but unfortunately, sometimes the City did not get reimbursed due to the person involved in the incident not being insured.
City Manager Gil also explained staff also filed a claim towards the insurance and depended if the driver had any active insurance, the claim could go through.
With regards to Item 13, Council Member Worthy asked if the Fireworks Committee was going to meet again.
City Manager Gil responded that the committee had not met but they had been having discussions with the legal fireworks sales representatives who would be giving a report sometime in June.
With regards to Item 13, Council Member Orozco asked about a letter from the fireworks applicants that had been submitted in the past, but didn’t see them in the packet.
Community Development Director Kinson Brown responded that the waiver request was included as part of the staff report in the agenda packet.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 5-17
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
REGULAR AGENDA
18. Update on the Development of a Traffic Calming Policy Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Andrew Brown shared his dislike on the roads of Fifth Street and commented about the crossing light not working and the kids not looking over to cross the streets.
Alex Rodriguez asked if taking a video of the driver would help enforce the situation at Major Alta Street.
Council Discussion: Council Member Worthy inquired about the Safe Routes to School Project, if it was going to be completed soon, or if it was form part of this project.
Public Works Director Dobbins confirmed the Safe Routes to School Project was added to this current project.
City Manager Gil shared that this involved a policy and staff had applied for a radar and were waiting for a response. She also mentioned that the City was working with the Health Department regarding the roads.
Council Member Worthy asked if the Safe Routes to School Project would be completed by next school year.
City Manager Gil confirmed the completion of the project by this year.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva noticed cars were rushing in the mornings on Alta Street and using the left turn lane as a passing lane. She hoped no accidents would happen by doing that and asked if there was anything to do for the cars not to use that lane as a passing lane without no incidents.
Public Works Director Dobbins mentioned that was an enforcement issue.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva suggested adding speed bumps to that area.
Council Member Orozco shared concerns the residents had mentioned to her b regarding Rincon Road and asked if the streets could be expanded.
Public Works Director Dobbins agreed on the expansion of the street and said staff would be reviewing plans.
Mayor Rios commented about hearing loud car noises from speeding cars near Day Street.
The Council received the report. No action required
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
19. Oral Communications
No Report.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
20. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Rios reported on Measure X and Legislative updates on carbon credits; Vision Zero Program. Public Works Director Dobbins elaborated on that program which focused on zero pedestrian deaths; and said that two other Cities besides the City of Salinas were working on this program that was funded through TAMC, and staff was working on implementing the program here. He also announced a public meeting at the Police Department on May 14th at the Police Department from 5:30pm - 7:30pm, and the flyer was already posted. b. Mayor Selection Committee
Mayor Rios reported on the meeting held in the City of Soledad where they discussed a proposal from Senator Wiener from San Francisco and had the support from Senator Laird regarding transportation agencies and their properties. c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced the meeting next Thursday, May 15th at the Council Chambers at 6:00 pm.
21. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy thanked the Fire Department for the help with an incident she had with her mother.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva mentioned the Ribbon Cutting for the High School’s Stadium had been postponed and would share new date when it is available. She also mentioned Memorial Day would be on May 26th, and she would be helping read the names of the Veterans.
Council Member Orozco thanked the Fire and Police Departments for helping on Day of the Child event. She also shared about the 5 de Mayo event, and thanked the Fire Chief Muscio for helping with the new route for the parade. She also mentioned that someone was hired to clean up the horse poop and they did it after the event was finished. She mentioned that she would be monitoring the concerns with the horses and their owners.
Mayor Rios shared his concerns about the stench in the City. He suggested for the residents to make a petition to the Monterey Air District.
Council Member Worthy asked if the Council Members could share this information with the residents.
City Attorney Rodiquez told the Council sharing information was fine.
Mayor Rios asked for a moment of silence in memory of Camila Camacho.
The Council and staff observed a moment of silence in her honor.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
22. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil elaborated on the planning of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the mural and informed the community was on track to get certified with Blue Zones, and will be updating. She also announced the opening of the Gonzales Youth Council applications for newcomers. She also mentioned the availability of purchasing pavers and interested individuals could go to City Hall for more information.
Public Works Director Dobbins reported on the RFP for signs for Fifth Street which would be done by the end of May; the street repair project to start sometime in November; and the roof repair for the Fire Department would start on May 19th by SSB Construction.
City Manager Gil informed that the County was considering funding for the Fire Department on May 13th at the Board of Supervisors meeting where they would be making their decision.
Mayor Rios suggested having the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the mural at 3:30pm so that residents could attend.
City Manager Gil shared that the mural was almost fully completed and the muralist would notify staff once completed so he could be present.
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.
23. 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 met with its real property negotiator and discussed the exchange and/or sale of the identified property. No other reportable action was taken.
24. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) to confer with its Attorney regarding pending litigation which has been initiated formally and to which the City is a party: WC Claim of Juan Mendoza.
The Council conferred with legal counsel concerning the involved WC Claims and provided direction concerning the same. No final action was taken. No other reportable action was taken.
25. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) to confer with its Attorney regarding pending litigation which has been initiated formally and to which the City is a party: Duran v. City of Gonzales.
The Council conferred with legal counsel concerning the involved litigation and provided direction concerning the same. No other reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk