MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, MAY 19, 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
Liz Silva Mayor Pro Tem Present
Scott Funk Council Member Present
Lorraine Worthy Council Member Present
Maria Orozco Council Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Absent: Emily Mendez and Valeria Cardenas.
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinison Brown, Finance Director Mike Howard, 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]
Mayor Rios announced he would be going through the presentations and consent agenda items and then hand it over to Mayor Pro Tem Silva to read the rest of the agenda items due to his vision getting worse.
PRESENTATIONS
2. Certificates of Recognition to Fairview Middle School Students Essay Contest Winners Council Member Worthy read and presented the certificates tot the students.
3. Consider Approval of, and Present Resolution No. 2025-24, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Honoring the Gonzales Customs Car Club for Their Collaboration on the City’s Third Annual Show and Shine Car Show of April 5, 2025 RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco Recreation Coordinator Olmedo-Albor read and presented the resolution to the Gonzales Customs Car Club members.
The club members thanked the City and felt honored to receive the resolution and said they were happy to help and continue supporting the youth in the community.
4. Consider Approval of, and Present Resolution No. 2025-25, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Honoring the Street Life Car Club for Their Collaboration on the City’s Third Annual Show and Shine Car Show of April 5, 2025
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco Youth Programs Coordinator Douglas read and presented the resolution to the Street Life Car Club members.
The car club members thanked the City for the resolution and were glad to be part of the event.
5. Consider Approval of, and Present Proclamation No. 2025-03, A Proclamation of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Proclaiming May 18 - 24, 2025 as National Public Works Week RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco Mayor Pro Tem Silva read and presented the proclamation to Public Works Director Dobbins.
Public Works Director Dobbins thanked the City for the proclamation and elaborated on the event at Toro Park for the 65th year.
6. Community Center Complex Progress Report
Luis Flores, Harris & Associates Construction Manager, went over the project milestones completed to date, site improvements update, community engagement and upcoming activities.
Tyler Verdun, Otto Construction Assistant Project Manager, explained progress of the building exterior and interior, showed different photos of the progress, a time lap video, and the upcoming milestones and potential challenges and risks.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
7. 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.
Henry Martinez Sr. commented about having an issue with Melgoza having the worker's comp case, and Gonzales Real News wanted to know if the case happened prior to the 4th of July; and also said he was not ticketing or doing his job at the park during an event.
City Attorney Rodriquez told Mr. Martinez he may have mixed up the individuals, and that the individual he was referring to was not the individual with the worker's comp claim.
Mr. Martinez said he still wanted to bring the cop issue up anyway and continue saying he assaulted him and his son will take care of him later.
Roman Barba commented about not committing a crime when the Police Officers did the search warrant at his house, and elaborated on getting his phone back and the incident and said he filed a lawsuit. He told Chief Wise he “was really bad”.
CONSENT AGENDA
8. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - May 5, 2025 Minutes
9. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #51977-52046
10. City Manager’s Report
*
11. Community Development Department Activity Report
12. Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report
13. Fire Department Activity Report
14. Police Department Activity Report
15. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
16. Consider Approval of 1) Resolution No. 2025-19, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Reimbursement Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and Jackson Family Investments for the Revised Puente Del Monte Specific Plan, and Annexation Proposal Submitted to the City of Gonzales, April 7, 2025; and 2) Resolution No. 2025-27, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Consulting Services Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and Brent Slama Consulting to Provide Project Management and Planning Product Production for the Revised Puente Del Monte Specific Plan and Annexation Proposal Submitted to the City of Gonzales, April 7, 2025
17. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-20, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Reappointment of Gloria Velasquez, Tencia Vargas and Adrian Paco to the Gonzales Planning Commission, and Setting the Term of the Commissioners to Expire Four (4) Years from Their Current Term Ending Date
18. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-21, 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 International Association of Fire Fighters Local 5388 Memorandum of Understanding, for the period covering January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025
19. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-23, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Purchase of a Trailer Mounted Trash Pump for the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Amount of $95,000
RESULT: TABLED [UNANIMOUS] Item 19
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
20. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-26, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Regarding Local Safety Member Industrial Disability Retirement Council Member Silva pulled Item 9 for clarification. She referred to page 30, under National Demographics in the amount of $18,250. She thought we had done that a long time ago.
City Manager Gil responded that at some point this fell off as the invoice was sent to the Attorney's Office and got derailed. She mentioned this was a partnership with Soledad and staff double checked and it was for work that happened a year ago but confirmed it wasn’t paid.
Council Member Worthy also needed more clarification on page 30 on the warrants as well, under US Bank, for credit cards in the amount of $10,224.25. She thought with the new system they would be able to itemize them, and the reason she asked was because it was a high amount.
City Manager Gil responded that was the total of all the credit cards and staff could itemize them but they went into every single detail of everything and it printed about 30 pages just for that. She thought it would create more confusion due to the number of pages but she could definitely send her the itemized details of that warrant.
Council Member Worthy thanked her for doing that.
City Attorney Rodriquez pulled Item 19 and indicated staff would be bringing it back at a subsequent meeting.
City Attorney Rodriquez noted that the Council received a revised Resolution, No. 2025-26, and it was on the dais which was passed out this evening and contained minor ministerial changes.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 8-18, and 20 MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
REGULAR AGENDA
21. Gonzales Police Department's AB 481 Annual Report 2024-2025 Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Henry Martinez Sr. spoke about not trusting the department with military equipment and felt they misused the drone on the 4th of July because they were at his house instead of catching the fireworks in his neighborhood. He also said the department should be using nonlethal weapons and go back to the batons. He elaborated on the time he got arrested.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Council Member
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
22. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-22, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Awarding a Contract to Gateway Pacific Contractors to Construct the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility on the Amount of $23,584,000 Including a Contingency Budget of $1,646,000
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Roman Barba felt the City was probably going to start raising rates on the water and sewer because it was a lot of money for it. He asked if that was going to happen.
Mayor Rios responded that was already done and it was on an agenda a long time ago, and the rates were already set.
Mr. Barba asked when they would go up again.
Public Works Director responded they were done for a five year period and go up January 1st of every year, next one was January 1, 2026 and then it settles down to 7% percent the next two years.
Mr. Barba continued saying Gonzales wasn’t rich to pay for that.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva said we don’t have to answer to public comments.
Council Discussion: Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked staff for clarification about the $6 million amount
being still approved by the board.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded the amendment on the SRF loan had to be approved the State Water Resources Control Board, not the Council.
She appreciated the clarification.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
23. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Audit Financial Statements and Management Report Staff Report: Finance Director Howard presented the staff report.
Public Comment: There was none.
Council Discussion: Council Member Worthy felt we needed to reduce some stuff like Meyer Park, or maybe the pool or some of these programs although she felt our kids were important but feared getting to a point of not being able to pay for the infrastructure of our community, and we needed to come up with a solution. She apologized to Council Member Funk for starting the way she did.
Council Member Funk commended staff for doing a great job to slow down and reduce excess spending, and elaborated on the things that were pointed out which were a very small dollar amount compared to a number of items that were much larger across the board that we could tighten up. He explained that was the reason we had the strategy session, and believed we were on the right path we just needed to make sure to maintain what we were doing to get back to our full reserves. But he said staff had been doing a great job with cutting expenses.
City Manager Gil noted that staff was really tightening their belts and continuously cutting where we could in excess spending, and will continue to do so at the Council’s direction. She also informed staff had been going after additional funding such as grants, and elaborated on what was just awarded. She also said the community needed to start stepping up and help just like some community members recently offered to help fill up holes at Meyer Park.
Council Member Orozco added the Rotary Club was also coming forward to replace the small barbecue grills at Central Park which were small things but made a big difference.
Mayor Rios asked about the TUT tax.
Finance Director Howard responded that the largest portion of sales tax that was softening was fuel and elaborated on the cost and economy, but they were still holding fairly strong.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Council Member
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
24. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioners Mendez and Cardenas announced the upcoming South County Youth Summit, GYC workshops at the High School, last GYC meeting this Thursday, and Captsone Presentation scheduled for the June 2nd Council meeting.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
25. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Council Member Worthy attended as an Alternate and reported on the budget being approved and presentation on the California Rural Energy Network. c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy reported on the cancellation of the Covid workplace policy, Science on Wheels project, measure Q funding event on May 21st, and announced the next meeting on June 9th.
26. Oral Communications
Council Member Orozco congratulated our previous Youth Commissioner Magaly Santos, for graduating from UC Berkley this weekend, and announced the 4th of July barbecue and members had tickets.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva reported on the Vision Zero public input session she attended at the Police Department last Wednesday regarding traffic safety, and encouraged the community to not let go of these opportunities because their opinion mattered. She missed the Stadium Ceremony due to volunteering at the Salinas Valley Fair, but she looked forward to watching some football games on the new field. She reported on the outcome of the Salinas Valley Fair which wrapped up yesterday and thanked everyone who supported the exhibitors. She announced the High School Scholarship Night this Wednesday, Memorial Day Ceremony at 9:00am and American Legion barbecue at 11:00am next Monday, and High School Graduation on June 7th. She was excited to hear the Chair Yoga had been extended through June, and thought it was very advantageous for the community to have the use of our pool, so she looked forward to the opening. She also participated in the Senior Mock Interviews today at the High School which was a great experience.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
27. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil announced the pool opening on June 10th and the ribbon cutting for the Mural this Thursday at 4:00pm.
Fire Chief Muscio informed of a couple of burns at the slough in the mornings of June 3rd and June 4
th
.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Jose L. Rios, Mayor
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk