MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 21, 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
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
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez, Community Development Director Taven Kinison Brown, 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 two 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 asked to start the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of the LA County Sheriff’s Office individuals who lost their lives in the bomb explosion, and the Oakland Probation Officer who also lost his life.
A moment of silence was observed by all present.
PRESENTATIONS
2. Community Center Progress Report
Harris and Associates Construction Manager Luis Flores and Otto Construction Project Manager Kim Siason presented an update on the Community Center Complex project milestones, schedule, construction progress, schedule, project team, teen innovation center post construction programming, and showed photos, as well as a time lapse video of the construction.
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 two (2) minutes on any subject not on the Agenda. The Council will listen to all communications, but may take no action.
Henry Martinez Jr. talked about the video of what happened on the Fourth of July going viral and that he had nothing to do what happened at his house. He told the officers to take it out to the street because everyone was there for his event and got arrested for violating probation but people paid to get him out. He also mentioned it involved an autistic kid; officers were getting beat; and bad comments from a former Mayor on social media.
April Martinez talked about the Fourth of July incident getting out of hand; officers not being trained right; her husband didn’t have to get arrested; and officers needing to be held accountable because they were not properly trained.
Arturo Uribe commented about the incident that happened at the July 4 th Martinez block party;
witnessing police arriving and trying to give a citation to a minor without a helmet and the situation escalating to a fight and felt this could have been handled differently from both the Martinez family and Police Department.
Henry Martinez Sr. commented about the Fourth of July party and the kid in the minibike being tricked to get a ticket; the incident escalating and the kid almost taking the cop to the ground and not getting a thank you for helping the cop who was getting beat up and getting guns pointed at him. He felt his family shouldn’t have helped and instead should have stood by to let the kid have fun.
Henry Martinez III said he was furious and sick and tired of that incident; and talked about going to jail to save his dad and told the department they were picking on them for no reason; his lawyer was defending him right now and not being able to get jobs because all the charges he has on his record now. He also shared he was furious for his friend getting arrested; people around the world witnessing the incident; and tackling his mom to save her.
Roman Barba said he wasn’t at the party but he knew the police went to Mr. Martinez’s property. He disagreed with Mr. Gourley’s social media comment; and spoke about Police Department needing training and health issues, trucks parked at the alley of Farmer’s Market, and parking issues.
Rosa Rodriguez commented about an irrigation system water leakage on Herold Parkway and in regards to the Community Center, she hoped there would be a possible partnership with the Gonzales Unified School District and Special Kids Connect.
Pepper, via zoom, commented about the Fourth of July incident which she felt it was supposed to represent freedom and unity but it was traumatic for the Martinez family; Police Department approaching an autistic teenage boy and his reaction which led to the escalating of the incident, and felt Mr. Martinez being arrested under false unrelated charges and taxpayers should not be funding trauma. She demanded better training and oversight.
Vanessa Marroquin talked about what happened at her friend's Henry Martinez’s party on July 4th and how it escalated, and said her friend Henry Martinez was trying to help the officer but he ended up being arrested; she felt it was personal and officers were just looking for anything to arrest him.
She said the department needed some training, bringing out guns and tasers in front of kids.
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Budget Meeting – June 16, 2025 Minutes
5. Approve the Joint City Council/Successor Agency/Successor Housing Agency/Gonzales Electric Authority Board/Gonzales Municipal Electric Utility Board - Regular Meeting – June 16, 2025 Minutes
6. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #52184-52329
7. City Manager’s 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 Resolution No. 2025-48, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales accepting the Industrial Wastewater Pipeline Project as complete and directing staff to file a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder
14. Consider Approval of Resolution 2025-49, A resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving the Purchase of Two Trailer Mounted Trash Pumps for the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $100,527 from Thompson Pump through the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program
15. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-50, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing Task Order No. 4 under a Master Service Agreement with Dudek Consulting for Preparation of a Preliminary Design Report for Rehabilitation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $234,959
*
*
City Attorney Rodriquez indicated that Item 14, Resolution No. 2025-49, required a little bit of modification to clearly identify the exemption that we were using from having to go through the bidding process. He told the Council they could go ahead and approve it tonight, but he was noting that there was a reference to the fact that there was an exception from the bidding requirement in the staff report, as well as the resolution, which needed to be articulated in the actual written form.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 4-15
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
REGULAR AGENDA
16. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-54, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Dispensing with Bidding Procedures Pursuant to Gonzales City Code Section 3.16.050 and Authorizing the Purchase of a Type 1 Fire Engine From Fire Apparatus Solutions for an Amount Not to Exceed $750,000
Staff Report: Fire Chief Muscio presented the staff report and acknowledge Captain Rizo and Firefighter Miller who were in attendance.
Public Comment: Rosa Rodriguez shared she was very grateful to the Fire Department for assisting her sister Marissa Perez since they were always out there for her with her diabetes complications before she passed away. She hoped the Council approved this because the department deserved it and they were our first line of defense before the other emergency personnel arrived to the scenes.
Council Discussion: There was none.
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
17. AB 481 Annual Report Public Hearing
City Attorney Rodriquez mentioned there was a glitch in the notice regarding the hearing that was scheduled for this evening, and in order to make sure that we had the adequate 30-day notice required by law, staff was asking Council to continue this item to the August 18, 2025 meeting.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] to continue item to the August 18th meeting MOVER: Scott Funk, Council Member
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
18. Traffic Calming Policy
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Rosa Rodriquez suggested having a service request system like City of Salinas.
Andrew Brown shared his concern about the accessibility of filling out forms from the City's website but not like the other forms currently on the website that were not pre-fillable or scanned. He said he sent the clerk videos that demonstrate how to turn a PDF into a pre-fillable form which would be more accessible via mobile for community members.
Roman Barba commented about traffic problems on Alta Street, and also Belden Street which was gravel now and cars were getting hit by rocks.
Council Discussion: The Council discussed possible types of funding from TAMC and concerns from the residents. Public Works Director Dobbins elaborated on the Vision Zero efforts going hand in hand with this. Mr. Maturino responded to Council Member Orozco's question regarding the residents’ concerns who were very thankful this was being done as everyone's concern was the speeding issue. City Manager Gil addressed the funding issue and the pursuing grant opportunities and cautioned about the areas where there were no assessment districts and no funding sources.
Mayor Rios thanked Mr. Maturino for bringing this issue for the City as a whole and to Public Works Director Dobbins for reaching out to Blue Zones and being able to find that funding so that we can do the study so we have an alternative now or at least a process, and acknowledged that the hardest part would be where the money would come from.
The Council received the report.
19. Public Hearing to Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-55, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagrams and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 - California Breeze Benefit Assessment District Nos. 1, 2 and 3; and Resolution No. 2025-56, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagram and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 - California Breeze Parks and Open Spaces Maintenance Assessment District Mayor Rios asked the City Attorney about members from the Council needing to step down when their areas were being discussed. He said Council Member Funk was under the election district and should discuss his district without stepping down. He also wondered why other members had to step down and how their comments would hurt the vote of the decision. He asked if they could all just sit down and move along.
City Attorney Rodriquez said the answer was no. He clarified that they lived within that district and were affected in a different way by the assessment district than the rest of the City, so they had a conflict. He explained Council Member Funk was the only member who was elected by district, and instead of looking at the whole City, he looked at his district only and was no longer conflicted from participating in the California Breeze Assessment District. He said the Council needed to go through members leaving the room when discussing the specifics for the assessment districts in which they either lived in or lived within 500 feet. He indicated that the Industrial Park Assessment Districts were the only ones that had no one with a conflict.
Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez presented the staff report.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 7:15pm.
Public Hearing: No comments came forward.
Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 7:15pm.
Council Discussion: There was none.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Resolution No. 2025-55 and Resolution No. 2025-56
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
20. Public Hearing to Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-57, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagrams and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 - Canyon Creek Benefit Assessment District Nos. 1, 2 and 3; and Resolution No. 2025-58, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagrams and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 - Canyon Creek Parks and Open Spaces Maintenance Assessment District Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Council Members Orozco and Worthy abstained due to conflict of interest.
Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez presented the staff report.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 7:19pm.
Public Hearing: Roman Barba commented the trees on Fanoe Road needed to be looked at, not only sidewalks, because they were the ones raising the sidewalks.
Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 7:20pm.
City Manager clarified that the trees and sidewalks where most of the issues were posed were not in the assessments.
Council Discussion: There was none.
RESULT: APPROVED [3 TO 0] Resolution No. 2025-57 and Resolution No. 2025-58 MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk
ABSTAIN: Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
21. Public Hearing to Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-59, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagrams and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 - Gonzales Industrial Park Benefit Assessment District; and Resolution No. 2025-60, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagram and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 - Gonzales Industrial Park Landscape Maintenance Assessment District Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez presented the staff report.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 7:17pm.
Public Hearing: Andrew Brown said he wasn't a property owner but wanted to comment about the word landscaping which he felt was used loosely for example the one in Central Park.
Mr. Rios told Mr. Brown that Central Park was not part of it, that we were talking about the Industrial Park across the railroad tracks, which was industrial businesses.
Mr. Brown thanked him for correcting him.
Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 7:18pm.
Council Discussion: There was none.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Resolution No. 2025-59 and Resolution No. 2025-60
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
22. Public Hearing to Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-61, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagram and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 - Cipriani Estates Benefit Assessment District; and Resolution No. 2025-62, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Confirming Diagram and Assessments and Levying Annual Assessments Pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 - Cipriani Estates Parks and Open Spaces Maintenance Assessment District Mayor Rios abstained from this item due to conflict of interest.
Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez presented the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva opened the public hearing at 7:22pm Public Hearing: No comments came forward.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva closed the public hearing at 7:22pm.
Council Discussion: There was none.
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0] Resolution No. 2025-61 and Resolution No. 2025-62 MOVER: Scott Funk, Council Member
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco ABSTAINED: Jose L. Rios
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
23. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report from the Mayor.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Council Member Funk reported they went dark in July and the next meeting was August 13th. c. Monterey Salinas Transit.
Council Member Worthy reported on the strategic planning from the previous meeting and they would finish next month. She won't be able to attend that meeting but was advised not to send an alternate to avoid confusion. She also reported on the ridership being up and positive things with the Surf Project and Better Bus Network.
24. Oral Communications
Council Member Orozco thanked everybody who came out to the Rotary’s Fourth of July festivities in the park which was successful. She announced that Rotary's Annual Golf Tournament on August 9th and they would appreciate any donations for their silent auction, since all the proceeds from the tournament and the Fourth of July festivities go towards scholarships for the students. She also informed about the challenging situation regarding housing that there was still a family here who was homeless, and it was very sad because they have not been able to find housing for their large family. She asked if there was anyone that had an apartment or house that they could rent to this family.
Council Member Funk mentioned the Fourth of July event went very well with all the great activities, food and music and thanked the Police, Fire and Public Works Departments, the Rotary Club, and volunteers who helped with this event.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced the St. Theodore’s Annual Reverse Draw this Friday and tickets were still available for purchase, and interested people could see her or Council Member Orozco for tickets. She said the 115th California Rodeo Salinas was in the history books and she had been enjoying the event and friends she had met over the last 40 years as a volunteer. She announced the Annual Swiss Picnic on August 17th at the Rifle Club; and Monterey County Fair August 27th and livestock auction on August 30th. She was happy to see the Water Tower repainted and it looked really great and shiny.
Council Member Worthy thanked Blue Zones and our staff for providing the water aerobics class and the wonderful programs for our seniors like the yoga, art programs, the cooking classes, etc. which was fantastic for our seniors. She gave a shutout to Lucy Stewart for promoting everything we did in the City and for caring about what was going on. She also mentioned she had a friend who was in the audience for a little bit visiting from Hawaii, who said everything in our town was so cute including everyone being nice and how they work together even with our challenges. She announced she was going to be a new grandmother, and gave a shout out to her youngest son Reed, who was going to have a baby.
Mayor Rios asked if we could fill the bump that was on Fifth Street before taking Elko Street which he thought that was from a job for a drain line. He mentioned the cars went dip and then moved up to the stop side. He thanked staff for getting all the street markings just before school starts and said it was great we put our kids before anything else and make sure they get to where they need to get to safely again.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked to close the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of Mr. Tom Fanoe who passed away unexpectedly about a month ago, who worked with Pembrook on the new development and was a native son of Gonzales.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
25. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil reported on the email she sent regarding the Alta Street trees coming back to life and thanked Public Works for helping revive them. She announced the Movie Night at the pool this Friday at 8:00pm. She also wanted to make sure our senior citizens were taking advantage of the classes being offered by Blue Zones and the Alliance on Aging so they could continue to have programming. She announced that the City established a team for Relay for Life this year after a
long hiatus, so we are raising funds for cancer research and anyone who would like to be part of our team, could get more information on our social media pages or by contacting City Hall.
Police Chief Wise announced the National Night Out event on August 5th on Fourth Street in front of the Police Department from 6:00pm - 9:00pm, and invited the community to come out and interact with the Police Department and have some fun.
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 two (2) minutes. Please be brief and to the point.
There was none.
26. The City Council will recess to closed session to consider personnel matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(B)(1) - City Manager Evaluation.
The evaluation was conducted. Direction was provided to the City Attorney. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk