MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 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
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 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]
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
2. Business from the Public not on the Agenda; any member of the Public may address the Council/Agency for a period not to exceed two (2) minutes on any subject not on the Agenda.
The Council/Agency will listen to all communications but may take no action.
Henry Martinez Sr. commented that an individual from the School District was being investigated.
Roman Barba complained about the conditions of the Streets Downtown Gonzales. He compared it to King City and the City of Soledad by mentioning how the two Cities were working on fixing their streets.
Henry Martinez Jr., via zoom, expressed his concerns about racism. He also wanted to let people know about an incident he had with the Police.
CONSENT AGENDA
3. Approve the Joint City Council & Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - July 21, 2025 Minutes
4. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #52330-52438
5. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-63, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales awarding the 2025 Slurry Seal Project to Pavement Coatings Company, Rejecting Other Submitted Bids, And Authorizing and Directing City Staff to Execute a Contract with Pavement Coatings Company in the Amount of $240,000 which Includes a $13,500 Contingency for Unforeseen Field Conditions
6. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-64, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Adopting a Traffic Calming Policy
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 3-6
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco, Scott Funk *
REGULAR AGENDA
7. Public Hearing to Consider Approval of 1) Resolution No. 2025-51, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Determining that the Common Sense Exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Applies to the Proposed 6th Cycle Housing Element, General Plan Land Use Text Amendment and Zoning Ordinance Text/Map Amendments as Supported by The Housing Element Update CEQA Exemption Technical Memorandum Prepared in February of 2025; 2) Resolution No. 2025-52, A Resolution of the City Council of The City of Gonzales Approving General Plan Amendment (GPA) 2025-01, Amending the Land Use Element of The General Plan, And Adopting The 2023-2031 Housing Element Update; and 3) Introduce, Waive First Reading, and Read by Title only Ordinance No. 2025–152, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzale Approving the New 6th Cycle Housing Element Update by Amending Title 12- (Zoning Regulations) with Associated Zoning Map And Zoning Regulation Text Changes, as Follows: Provisions In Chapter 12.08- Definitions, Chapter 12.20-Site Plan Permits, Chapter 12.48-Density Bonus, Chapter 12.56- Summary Of Zoning Districts And Permitted Uses, Chapter 12.68-R-1 Medium Density Residential District, Chapter 12.112-General Applications, and Chapter 12.120-Parking, and the Addition of New Chapter 12.54-Reasonable Accommodations, Chapter 12.110-Aho Affordable Housing Overlay, Chapter 12.154-Local Education Agency Lands, Chapter 12.156-Employee Housing, Chapter 12.158-Licensed Residential Care Facilities, and Chapter 12.160-Transitional and Supportive Housing, and Amending the Zoning Map to Comply with the General Plan Staff Report: Community Development Director Kinison Brown presented the staff report via PowerPoint which consisted of Housing Element Contents, AMBAG RHNA Summary, Capacity to meet the 6th Cycle RHNA, Available Sites, General Plan Land Use Amendment, Rezone to Meet the RHNA (Program HE- 1.1.4) Zoning Text Amendments, Environmental Review- Exemption, Project Schedule, and Recommendation.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 6:39pm.
Public Hearing: Henry Martinez Sr. shared the concerns of building residential homes in industrial areas. He shared how some areas in Salinas had become an issue due to building residential homes in industrial zones.
Roman Barba shared his experience working near a residential area. He said there was always someone getting in trouble or there was something stolen. He did not recommend building homes in a commercial zone.
Henry Martinez Jr. via zoom, agreed with the ability to provide more housing in the City, but to build in the right areas and follow regulations.
Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 6:43pm.
Council Discussion: Council Member Orozco shared she received feedback from the residents regarding the Planning Commission meeting and the residents were pleased to be able to have such information translated. They felt more aware of the building process and how long it took to process permits.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked who policed the Housing Element and asked if there were other agencies that oversaw the reports and statistics.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown explained that he oversaw these types of reports and sent them off to the State.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked how the grading took place and the reports sent to the State.
Council Member Funk explained AMBAG was one of the many agencies to report to the State.
City Manager Gil mentioned this was another way for the State to hold onto funding that the City could be eligible for.
Mayor Rios talked about Alpine Camp. He asked if their sewer failed and if we connect it to our systems, do we get to count them as part of the City.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded there were 19 dwelling units there now and his opinion was that the City wouldn’t get to connect them because this was for new dwelling units, and what we have now is LAFCo’s out of boundary service authorization.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Resolution No. 2025-51
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco Scott Funk RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Resolution No. 2025-52
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco, Scott Funk RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Introduced Ordinance No. 2025-152 MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco, Scott Funk
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
8. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Rios said they went dark in July.
b. Mayor Selection Committee
Mayor Rios mentioned the committee had guest speaker Supervisor Lopez about the tax issue, and the distribution of the checks to the people affected by the tax error would be done in late September.
c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced they went dark in July and announced the next meeting on August 21st at 6:00pm in the Council Chambers. She also mentioned that the General Manager Patrick Mathews announced his retirement by the end of the year. d. Measure K Oversight Committee
Council Member Worthy notified the public of the upcoming meeting on August 26th and mentioned that she wanted to include a youth member to the committee.
9. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy shared that her and Council Member Funk met with the youth commissioners. She also warned everyone about the new school year starting soon and for all to watch the road for students.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva mentioned she visited the new office for Supervisor Lopez in King City and was there for their grand opening. She also mentioned the Salinas Hall of Fame was going to be having a ceremony and the Gonzales Spartans would be recognized in that ceremony. She also announced the Monterey County Fair was going to start soon and Car Week as well.
Council Member Orozco announced the Rotary Golf Tournament was going to take place on Saturday, August 9th.
Mayor Rios mentioned that there was an issue with the residents dumping garbage on other properties’ dumpsters. He asked the Public Works Director to monitor the situation. He also mentioned that PG&E was going to do some work on River Road. He asked the Police Department to be more aware of big trucks passing through town. He shared that Supervisor Lopez was going to fund a sign in the City and asked City Manager Gil and Public Works Director Dobbins to follow up with him. He asked if it was possible to ban plastic bags and water bottles. He asked the Police Department to watch for traffic on August 7th, due to kids going back to school.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
10. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil announced that for the next meeting the City was going to have two visitors, Joe Matthews from Los Angeles and Bruno Kaufmann, from Sweden who were putting a publication together where City of Gonzales will be mentioned. She announced the upcoming Movie Night at the pool on Friday, August 8th.
Public Works Director Dobbins reported on the Fifth Street Truck Ban project, and said we received one bid that was over budget. He also mentioned the City received additional funding from TAMC for the project, and TAMC will present the staff report at the October meeting. He also said that the State visited the Treatment Plant to do an inspection and had good feedback.
He mentioned they were able to recognize the updates done to the plant.
Council Member Worthy asked Public Works Director Dobbins if there were no surprises from us like last year that affected some crops around the area.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded that the contractor would be digging new disposal pits during the next few months to prevent that from occurring.
Police Chief Wise notified about the National Night Out on August 5th, from 6:00pm -8:00pm.
He also mentioned that the trucks were always banned from passing through residential areas and that they cited individuals when they see them pass by, even if there are no signs up.
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.
11. The City Council will recess to closed session to consider personnel matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(B)(1) - City Manager Evaluation.
The Council concluded the City Manager’s evaluation. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco, Scott Funk The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 PM.
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk