MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 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 Present
Liz Silva Mayor Pro Tem Present
Scott Funk Council Member Excused
Lorraine Worthy Council Member Present
Maria Orozco Council Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Orlando and Ricardo Rodriguez.
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, Development Services Technician/Administrative Analyst Alejandrina Ponce, 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]
PRESENTATIONS
2. Salinas Valley Health
Dr. Allen Radner, Salinas Valley Health President/Chief Executive Officer, provided an update on the local healthcare district, informed of the different clinics throughout the area, Taylor Farms Health and Wellness Center medical staff and services, challenges, increased number of uninsured, mobile clinic, Taylor Farms Center free yoga and zumba classes, Community Health Day on October 25th, PrimeCare Urgent Care extended hours, orthopedic urgent care, telehealth after hours care, and Blue Zones Project.
3. Certificate of Recognition - American Legion Auxiliary Girl State Program Mayor Pro Tem Silva read and presented the certificate of recognition to Daniela Arreola Ambriz.
Carissa McCann, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 81-Gonzales, elaborated on the American Legion Auxiliary Girl State Program and how it empowered the next generation of women leaders through an immersive hands on experience in civic engagement and government.
4. Community Center Complex Progress Report
Harris and Associates Construction Manager Luis Flores and Otto Construction Assistant Project Manager Tyler Verdun provided an update with photos on the site improvements, building exterior, building interior, fly-through video, schedule forecast, recent and upcoming milestones, and potential challenges and risks.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
5. 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 Jr. commented being glad about the investigation moving forward and his private investigators making their rounds along with his attorney with the lawsuit against the City. He commented about bringing a special guest who wanted to speak but was afraid due to some of his friends being arrested and that he was here to back him up in case anything happened.
Antonio Alvarez, 753 Holstein Way, said he was here to represent himself regarding the events that took place on the Fourth of July and he was the individual who recorded the event and promoted it on his Instagram account. He felt the way officers handled the situation was unacceptable and thought the officers would retaliate if he intervened. He said it caused him, and the ones involved in the event, emotional distress.
Henry Martinez III commented about that incident and had to step inside his parents house to not escalate anything when the officers came in with guns drawn. He spoke about hearing a click on a gun pointing straight at his mother and he had to save her by tackling her and he was now part of a lawsuit because the Chief was a dick about it. He apologized for the language saying it was anger. He also elaborated on being afraid for his friends because of the police officers. He said he was protecting his family now and was wearing body armor and said the City was going to pay for what they did, that he didn't come back for nothing, and they have his ID on hold for a year.
Henry Martinez Sr. commented about riding his bikes all over town and having a medical note saying his tricycle was an electric scooter and told the officers he can use his bike going the wrong way on the sidewalks. He also elaborated on a paper he took to the Chief and he hadn’t read it but he gave it to staff, and said it was regarding the California Ordinance 387 that gave him the right to have a certain person arrested for a felony, which he requested on the Fourth of July last year that the Sergeant be arrested for assault. He said he was waiting for the Chief to call him in the office to have the officer arrested. He said whether the Chief wanted to follow the request or not, any other officer has to do what Mr. Martinez says since nobody has the right to deny his citizen right to arrest a person that committed a felony in this town.
Andrew Brown, via zoom, shared his concern about public comments he submitted for the August 18th meeting that was not only not read, but not submitted to the record, and he didn't get a response until today so he went in person to ask and was told the reason was because he put satire under it and he did not believe that constituted disruption or disorder. He requested for it to be submitted on the record because the only way it could be excluded is if it’s conducted disorderly.
CONSENT AGENDA
6. Approve the Joint City Council & Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - September 15, 2025 Minutes
7. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #52637-52782
8. Consider Closure of City Offices for the Winter Holidays RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Scott Funk
REGULAR AGENDA
9. Presentation on City Property Appraisals
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report via powerpoint presentation explaining each of the City properties that included the Canyon Creek Park Phase 2, Venice Way Park (Cipriani Subdivision), MAOF Child Care Facility, Old Medical Building and
Marchetti Property. He also explained selling City-owned property entailed complying with the State Surplus Land Act and the City must follow a specific process with the California Department of Housing and Community Development overseeing the effort.
Public Comment: There was none.
Council Discussion: City Attorney Rodriquez explained the Surplus Land Act. City Manager Gil gave staff's recommendations. Mayor Jose Rios did not want to sell the medical building as the City was growing and the space was needed for more staff as developments happened.
Council Member Orozco mentioned about the original plan which was to remodel it and move City Hall staff into that building as it was bigger. There was discussion on the parks, properties values, and the lot on C Street.
It was the Council's consensus to leave the old medical building and childcare facility, and to proceed with the selling of the Canyon Creek Park Phase 2, the Venice Way Park, the Alta Street property, and adding the C Street lot.
10. Updates on Wastewater System Projects
Item 10 was discussed and considered before Item 9.
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Megan Panofsky, Wastewater System Program and Construction Manager, presented information via powerpoint presentation. She explained the milestones for this year, the industrial wastewater conveyance project completion, bid results and contract award, SRF loan extension, construction of the industrial wastewater treatment facility progress, planning grant awarded, emergency infiltration work, work plan for 2025-2026, industrial wastewater and municipal wastewater, and updated sewer ordinance with pretreatment program.
Public Comment: There was none.
The Council received the report. No action required.
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
11. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioners Rodriguez reported on their first Community Project which would be the beautification of Gonzales; collaboration with the Interact Club and other organizations, as well as Public Works to provide feedback on other additional improvements or changes around the City; Youth Council Meet and Greet in Greenfield; GYC meeting on October 9th; and their meeting with Senator Laird scheduled on October 16th.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
12. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Council Member Worthy reported on Highway 1 opening in March of 2026, presentation from Caltrans regarding the gas tax, Highway 101 design build process; and discussion of safe schools.
b. Mayor Selection Committee
No report. Meeting was cancelled.
c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced the next meeting on October 16th at 6:00pm and reported on the process of recruiting a new General Manager since Patrick will be retiring in December. She mentioned Mary provided a copy of the meeting highlights to each member.
She also reported on the preparation of the landfill module eight. d. Measure K Oversight Committee
City Manager Gil announced the next meeting on October 28th. They will also be giving out the Community Grants Program again since after we received the funds from TAMC, the Council wanted to consider continuing with the grants program.
13. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy reported on the Listening Session with Supervisor Lopez she attended which was really informative and the majority of discussion was relating to our youth and mental health, which is a big issue in our community. She believed we needed to have a conversation because our community has always been safe but it was scary to hear the issues and the information about it from Maria’s daughter, Araceli. She thanked Supervisor Lopez for having these listening sessions and encouraged the community to come to these sessions to find out information. She encouraged people to do their research to figure out why the special election was happening and vote on November 4th and there was a ballot drop off box at City Hall.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced National 4-H Week starting tomorrow and they were celebrating its 100 Anniversary and there will be an event coming up, and people may get approached by a 4-H Student to hand them a green clover. She announced the Adventure Seeking Seniors Luncheon on October 16th at 11:00am at St. Theodore’s Parish Hall. She reminded everyone to cast their ballot even if it was one thing and there was a box at City Hall 24 hours a day. She also said the air stench in town is bothersome and she hoped that is being addressed by the proper people at the Air Quality Control Agency.
Council Member Orozco thanked the community for supporting St. Theodore’s Church Festival last Sunday which was a great event and community gathering. She informed of the Rotary Project which is continuing with the Central Park benches, tables, and finished the small barbecue pits and thanked all those who helped. She shared her concern about the comments from the public who said their public comments were not recorded or made part of the minutes. She said in looking at the minutes the comments were in the minutes. She wanted clarification, when folks make public comments online, if they are they allowed to make more than one or two comments, as opposed to when they come in person they're only allowed to make and come up to the podium and make one public comment. She asked for clarification because she looked at the minutes and those comments were there. She also felt a little concerned about being approached by a private investigator on issues that are coming up so she asked if maybe they can get a report in closed session or an email.
Mayor Rios was under the impression that written email comments were limited to 250 words.
City Attorney Rodriquez indicated it could be multiple comments for different items. He mentioned that the City has carried over from its Covid era where we allowed people to make comments by way of email, and we allow people to make comments by way of zoom or email, which was not actually required at this point in time by the Brown Act, but in most cases we've read the comment into the record sometimes that we don't have enough time, we'll indicate that
we receive comments. He said the case with this particular individual, he wanted his full comment made part of the record, and that's what we've asked the City Clerk to do, to add that to the minutes. And since it was referenced in the minutes, there was no need to amend the minutes.
But usually we'll either read the comment correctly into the record, or we will reference the fact that we received a comment from so and so, and on this issue we made it a part of the record then appended to the minutes.
Council Member Worthy said the Council read those comments.
Mayor Rios thanked the Youth Council and the great things they will be doing especially the beautification since he got some comments about the amount of trash along Alta Street and along Fifth Street. He didn’t know if it was staff or property owner who needed to take care of the bushes in front of the Lamplighter hotel since they are overgrown coming into the street.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
14. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil announced the Circuit Training for seniors starting Tuesday at 10:00am at Central Park which one of our interns from CSUMB was putting together; the Truck or Treat event on October 25th at Centennial Park at 3:00pm and staff was taking candy donations from the public. She also announced the Veteran signs registration was open and the last day to register for that is October 10th.
City Attorney Rodriquez mentioned that we don't make comments on public comment, but we did receive a comment today that there was something pending for the Chief of Police to act upon with respect to a citizen's arrest, but he wanted the let the Council know that was not the case, and that issue was addressed back in 2024 by way of written notice, so there's no pending action for the Chief to be taking on a so called citizens arrest.
City Manager Gil elaborated on the listening session where she brought up to Supervisor Lopez about the bad stench in town, and he said he had been working with the owner to see if they could relocate somewhere else and they were conducting some wind studies to see what location would be feasible for them. She encouraged folks to continue calling the Air Quality Control Board if they were still bothered by it as she understood there might be a petition going around.
Mayor Rios stated he would be reaching out to Supervisor Lopez since he had an opportunity to meet with Carlos and George Amaral who owned about 110 acres up at fat City and they said they got enough property up there and were willing to offer a spot.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown reported staff received an acknowledgment that the State Housing Community Development approved our 6th Cycle Housing Element. He announced there were two new businesses in town, Amor de Café with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony scheduled on October 24th, and the other business with Susana Guijarro who provides insurance and other services at 411 Center Street next door to City Hall. Staff would follow up with a grand opening date in a couple of weeks.
Public Works Director Dobbins reported on the timeline for the slurry seal and the work on Fourth Street, and on Catherine Street and the half of Canyon Creek Subdivision on October 16th and 17th. He also announced Public Works Supervisor Twisselmann was moving on and her last day would be October 16th. He added that the City went out for recruitment and hired Martin Diaz who started last Monday to get a couple of weeks of overlap.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Scott Funk
The meeting was adjourned at 8:11pm.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk