MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 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
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 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. Introduction of New Public Works Maintenance Worker and Public Works Supervisor Public Works Director Dobbins introduced Public Works Supervisor Martin Diaz who lives in town and came over from the School District.
Public Works Supervisor Diaz said he was happy to be here and looked forward to great years ahead.
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 three minutes on any subject not on the Agenda. The Council will listen to all communications, but may take no action.
Henry Martinez Jr. (via zoom) talked about a call he received from his nephew about being chased down by a parent in his car; a scene that broke out in front of the gym about disputing sidewalks; upholding some people to code; and officers dealing with his lawyer about a 30 day notice.
Henry Martinez Sr., 112 Tenth Street, explained what transpired at the boxing gym property and the issues with the cops and the owner of that property.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva corrected Mr. Martinez about her last name. She clarified her last name was Silva, not Silvia.
Sara Martinez spoke about her son having ADHD and being chased by an adult while he was hanging out with a girl. He elaborated on the incident that happened at the boxing gym that involved the girl’s father who called the police. She believed it wasn’t right for the boxing place to be disrespectful and unprofessional and for her son being kicked out of there due to her dad Henry Martinez Sr.’s actions.
Pepper commented about speaking a few weeks ago to folks regarding the incident on the Fourth of July with Gonzales PD, and wanted to clear the record that she was not in attendance, and her concern for what was going on was based on her years in law enforcement. She didn’t know why there was a continued witch hunt with people who weren’t there, and she felt that should be dealt with appropriately.
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Approve the Joint City Council & Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - October 20, 2025 Minutes
5. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #52850-52929
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0] Item 5
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco RECUSED: Jose L. Rios
6. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-75, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Adopting the City Council Meetings Schedule for 2026
7. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-76, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Awarding the 2025 Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation Contract to Don Chapin Company, Rejecting Any Other Submitted Bids, and Authorizing and Directing City Staff to Execute a Contract with Don Chapin Company in the Amount of $125,000 which Includes a $10,999 Contingency for Unforeseen Field Conditions
8. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-77, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing Execution of Task Order No. 5 Under a Master Service Agreement with MNS Engineers to Continue their Program Management Services on the Wastewater Program in the Amount of $158,738
9. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-78, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Rescheduling the City Council Meeting of December 1, 2025 to December 8, 2025
10. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-79, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving a Contract with Maggiora Brothers Drilling to Perform Work at Well #4 for the Not-to-Exceed Amount of $74,800, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Same on Behalf of the City.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva pulled Item 8 for clarification. She didn't think MNS was going to ask for additional funds for this project and thought that was going to be it when it came before the Council two months ago. She felt they were nickel and diming us.
Public Works Director Dobbins responded that this was for their program management efforts, which was different from their construction management services on the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility. He elaborated on the timeline and services. He informed Construction Manager Megan Panofsky from MSN Engineers, was attending the meeting via zoom if there were any additional questions for them.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva mentioned at first she didn't understand there were two different parts, the construction and the management services, and thanked him for the explanation and clarification.
Council Member Orozco asked for clarification, since there was an invoice for Mayor Rios under the warrants, if he had to recuse himself.
Mayor Rios said yes. He recused himself from the warrants, Item 5.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva appreciated the detail on the credit cards and said she has figured it out.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Agenda Items 4, and 6 - 10 MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Scott Funk, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
REGULAR AGENDA
11. Introduce, Waive Reading, and Read by Title Only Ordinance No. 2025-153, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Updating Chapter 10.16 Sewer Use of the Gonzales Municipal Code
Staff Report: Public Works Director Dobbins presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Andrew Brown suggested using social media pages for public service announcements and investing into a snake to rent to the community.
Council Discussion: There was discussion about the possibility of educating property owners about knowing what kind of sewer line they have and to know what they can do to fix a problem from happening, and this ordinance was shared with the industrial folks users to provide feedback but staff didn’t receive any comments back.
Council Member Funk abstained from Item 11.
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco ABSTAIN: Scott Funk
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
12. Oral Communications
Youth Commissioners Rodriguez reported on the Community Center tour and discussion on the visions and ideas on the different programming with organizations; homecoming and celebration of Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos; High School Interact Club conference on November 8th; last football home game November 7th; Hartnell Field Day November 7th for students to develop skills and leadership and career opportunities; and the next GYC meeting scheduled on November 13th.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
13. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Rios reported on the future funding for Highway 68; Traffic Lights technology; Highway 101 corridor from Gonzales to Salinas where they would be closing off all the left hand turns; Chualar overpass; Pajaro's train stop study; and new site for TAMC office. b. Mayor Selection Committee
Mayor Rios mentioned the last meeting was cancelled and the next one is this Friday in Marina.
c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced the interviews for the new General Manager scheduled for November 14th and announced the Executive meeting this Thursday. She reminded everyone to reach out and thank a veteran on Veteran's Day, November 11th. She announced the Hometown Heroes event at Central Park this Friday at 11:00am.
14. Oral Communications
Council Member Orozco thanked staff for their work on the Trunk or Treat event which was very successful, and the Grand Opening for Amor de Café which was also a great event. She appreciated staff‘s hard work on doing these events for our community.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva elaborated on a heart-breaking accident she saw on social media regarding two students in the Salinas Union High School District riding many bikes on Main Street in Salinas and didn’t follow the road rules, they hit a car and burst into flames. She shared her concern about some individuals here in town that use electric or motorized scooters and bicycles and wanted to remind them to please follow the rules of the road, stop when there's a stop sign, and wear their helmets. She also asked parents to educate their children for everyone’s safety.
Council Member Worthy asked how much longer we were going to allow people to communicate via zoom or if that was something that was a continuing thing.
City Attorney Rodriquez responded this would be continuing since the Brown Act has been amended again and staff would be bringing to the Council the changes regarding meeting procedures that apply to remote participation by the Council Members and City citizens, but it would not take effect until June of 2026.
Council Member Worthy elaborated on a phone call she made to the Air Quality Control District where the representative told her she was the only person that had called regarding the odor in town, which she thought was odd. She shared the community’s complaints with her and encouraged residents to make calls to the Air District about it. She suggested to staff to perhaps include the phone number on the next utility bill to encourage residents to call. She also thanked everyone who has stepped up to help the community during the tragedies that happened in the last couple of weeks.
Mayor Rios informed that Constellation Winery was purchased, as well as Del Monte Foods which was purchased by the Church Brothers, so they were both under new management.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
15. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil thanked everyone for helping with the Trunk or Treat event including staff and everyone who donated candy. She announced the Hometown Heroes event which Mayor Pro Tem Silva elaborated on earlier, scheduled for this Friday at 11:00am; and the Holiday Lights event on December 5th. She also informed on a potential effort to fund the flock camera system which some Cities have, and there was some interest from Supervisor Lopez to support the South County communities in ensuring that we all have a flock system in place.
Public Works Director Dobbins informed that PG&E Representative Jazmine Venegas, would be making a presentation at the next Council meeting and will also provide an update on the reconductoring project.
Fire Chief Muscio reported on the new engine being in service.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rios asked to close the meeting with a moment of silence for two community members that passed. One was the wife of Jonathan Bohorquez, a member of the Measure K Committee and past member of the Planning Commission. The other one was Chris De La Rosa, an active member in the American Legion and the community.
A moment of silence was observed by all present.
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 The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk