MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 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 Excused
Maria Orozco Council/Agency Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
Shelby Anderson 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, Administrative Assistant II Marisol Gomez, Public Works Director/City Engineer Patrick Dobbins, Fire Chief Jason Muscio, and Police Chief 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 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.
Roman Barba talked about the ticket he got for riding his bike, a picture of an officer flipping someone off, and the bad streets signs and conditions. He told the Mayor he should know the streets conditions because they both walked the streets when he was elected.
Henry Martinez, 112 Tenth Street, commented about a fellow compadre of his in Long Island filing a lawsuit about the two minutes, the Mayor and the Chief. He also said he was waiting for him and his lawyers to win that case so he can bring that information back here.
Henry Martinez Jr., (via zoom), talked about Officer Bowen and the complaints and said he should not be provoking him and his family. He added the Department couldn’t do their jobs right and something needed to be done. He said it was time to replace the Chief just like he did with the last one.
CONSENT AGENDA
3. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - October 6, 2025 Minutes
4. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #52783-52849
5. City Manager’s Report
6. Community Development Department Activity Report
7. Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report
8. Fire Department Activity Report
9. Police Department Activity Report
10. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
11. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-72, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing Award of a Contract with Specialized Utility Service Program for Chief Plant Operator Services of the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant
12. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-73, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Declaring Certain City-Owned Properties as Surplus Land and Authorizing the City Manager to Proceed with the Surplus Lands Act Process for Site Disposition RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 3-12
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Lorraine Worthy
REGULAR AGENDA
13. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-74, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Amending the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Vista Lucia Project to Confirm Compliance with the Monterey County Local Area Formation Commission’s (“LAFCo”) Resolution No. 24-03 Amending LAFCo’s Policy for Preservation of Open Space and Agricultural Lands by Adding Policy Implementation Guidelines Regarding Agricultural Mitigation Actions for City Annexations of Farmland, and Related Policy Refinements Staff Report: Community Development Director Kinison Brown presented the staff report.
Public Comment: There was none.
Council Discussion: Mayor Pro Tem Silva commented about reassurance about the timeline of this project going to LAFCo and the widening of Fanoe Road first. Community Development Director Kinison Brown provided an explanation of the process which included LAFCo’s request for a pre-meeting before making the formal application, and LAFCo’s work with their concurrent timelines on the agreements. City Manager Gil elaborated on LAFCo’s expected timeline and the work they still need to do, and she said the road construction would be addressed first. Mayor Rios shared his thoughts on roundabouts and flat parks instead of retention ponds.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Lorraine Worthy
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
14. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioners Anderson and Rodriguez reported on the outcome of their GYC meeting and their meeting with Senator Laird. They announced the next GYC meeting on October 23rd.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked the Commissioners to give the Council updates maybe once a month on what was happening around the school.
Youth Commissioner Anderson elaborated on the different activities for Homecoming Week.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
15. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
The Board was dark this month.
c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Mayor Pro Tem Silva mentioned Deputy City Clerk Villegas provided the highlights to each Council Member per Council Member Worthy’s request and City Manager Gil read them.
16. Oral Communications
Mayor Pro Tem Silva reminded all those who were able to vote, to vote, and there was a box in front City Hall where they could drop off the ballots 24/7. She felt it was advantageous for our community voters to express their thoughts and their opinions through this means, and even though it's kind of in between all elections, their vote will count. She announced Homecoming was Thursday and encouraged people to wear black and orange.
Mayor Rios reported on the meeting he and City Manager Gil had with the Consul General of Mexico who was looking for a date and space in Gonzales for their staff members to provide services, so people didn't have to travel to San Jose, and he toured the Council Chambers which he thought was ideal.
Council Member Orozco suggested the High School Cafeteria since some times the lines got long especially if people come from out of town, unless they limit it to some appointments.
City Manager Gil mentioned that the Consul General said it would be by appointment only and it would possibly take place on January 10th. He also wanted the community to know that they wouldn't turn anyone away and would take care of everyone if they traveled from South County to San Jose, and people just need to mention that they were coming from outside the area so his office would stay open until everybody was taken care of. He also wanted people to know his office had an Attorney on Thursdays providing free legal assistance on immigration cases.
Mayor Rios suggested to Council Member Orozco since she had 850 followers on Facebook to create a sign up list of people who want to come back to Gonzales and buy a house.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown informed that there was a list already at City Hall of about 310 people and they have been notified of Planning Commission, City Council and LAFCo meetings regarding this project, and anyone interested could call City Hall to get added to the email distribution list.
Council Member Orozco mentioned she had been approached by several people about the project, and she has been referring them to City Hall so they could be added to the list.
Mayor Rios elaborated on a conversation he had with his friends that were in law enforcement who talked to him about Penal Code 415 and how they couldn't cite people for loud music. He asked the City Attorney about a noise disturbance ordinance since there were all sorts of loud music going on his side of the community, and he had received several complaints about it.
City Attorney Rodriquez responded he would look into that.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
17. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil reported on the celebration of Veterans day and date is to be determined as staff is hoping to partner with the school and the American Legion. She announced the Trunk or Treat event and movie night on Saturday and mentioned they were still taking candy donations. She also announced the Grand Opening of Amor de Cafe on Friday, October 24th at 3:30pm; and encouraged everyone to support small businesses. She informed that the Grand Opening for the Janice and Dennis Caprara Community Center Complex would be held on January 10, 2026.
Police Chief Wise noted for the record that the former Police Chief retired honorably on his own accord and it had nothing to do with the Martinez family whatsoever as it was mentioned earlier.
He also stated that he would let the City know whenever he was ready to retire, and it certainly wouldn’t be at the hands of the Martinez family. In regards to the loud music, he asked the Mayor if he was referring to loud music from vehicles.
Mayor Rios responded yes.
Police Chief Wise mentioned there was a vehicle section pertaining to vehicles and if people call in, the Officers will respond. He elaborated on Penal Code 415 code, the City ordinance, and enforcement procedures.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: ADJOURNED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Scott Funk, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Maria Orozco EXCUSED: Lorraine Worthy
The meeting was adjourned at 7:43PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk