MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025
5:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 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, Finance Director Mike Howard, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Deputy City Clerk Mary Villegas, Development Services Technician/Administrative Analyst Alejandrina Ponce, Administrative Assistant II Marisol Gomez, Administrative Assistant II Yoanna Meza, 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]
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.
Council Member Funk recused himself from Item 2.
2. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) to confer with its Attorney- significant potential exposure to litigation.
The Council conferred with legal Counsel. No other reportable action taken.
PRESENTATIONS
3. Certificate of Recognition - Davis Pisoni
Development Services Technician Ponce read the certificate and Mayor Rios presented it to Davis Pisoni.
4. Certificates of Recognition - Gonzales High School Cross Country Development Services Technician Ponce read the certificates and Mayor Rios presented them to the students and coaches.
Coach Daniels thanked the City for the certificates and elaborated on how the season went.
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.
Pete Maturino commented on the traffic control on Del Monte Drive and wanted to make sure this issue didn’t fall through the cracks since Patrick was no longer here and speeding is still a concern.
CONSENT AGENDA
6. Approve the Joint City Council/Successor Agency/Public Financing Authority - Regular Meeting November 17, 2025 Minutes
7. Approve City Accounts Payable Warrants #52995-53072
8. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-84, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Recognizing Patrick Mathews, General Manager and Chief Administrative Officer for the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, for His Service to the Salinas Valley and the Residents of Gonzales
9. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-85, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County for Program Services to be Delivered at the New Taylor Farms Teen Innovation Center
Council Member Worthy inquired about Item 9.
City Manager Gil responded that staff had been tasked with looking at different organizations that could support us with the programming at the Teen Center with low cost services and this was one of them. She mentioned Jose Moran from Boys and Girls Club was present if they had additional questions. She added that Olinga Wings of Knowledge also committed to an additional day free of cost, and staff was still in talks with Hartnell, CSUMB and others, about additional programming days.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Items 6-9
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
REGULAR AGENDA
10. Introduce, Waive Reading, and Read by Title Only Ordinance No. 2025-154, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Repealing Chapter 11.04 of the Gonzales City Code Titled ‘California Building Codes’, and Adopting a New Chapter 11.04 Titled “California Building Codes” and Adopting by Reference the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Codes: ‘California Administrative Code’ (Part 1), ‘California Building Code Volumes 1 and 2 (Part 2), - with Exceptions, and Appendix Chapters H, I and J, ‘California Residential Code’ (Part 2.5) - Appendix Chapters BF and CI’, ‘California Electrical Code’ (Part 3), ‘California Mechanical Code’ (Part 4), ‘California Plumbing Code’ (Part 5), ‘California Energy Code’ (Part 6), ‘California Wildland-Urban Interface Code’ (Part 7), ‘California Historical Building Code’ (Part 8), ‘California Fire Code (Part 9) - with Exceptions and all Appendix Chapters’, ‘California Existing Building Code’ (Part 10), ‘California Green Building Standards Code’ (Part 11), ‘California Referenced Standards Code’, (Part 12), and Adopting the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code and the ‘1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings’
Staff Report: Community Development Director Kinison Brown presented the staff report.
Public Comment: There was none.
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
11. Public Hearing to Introduce, Waive Reading, and Read by Title Only Ordinance No. 2025-155, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales, California, Amending Chapter 12.56 Summary of Zoning Districts and Permitted Uses of Title 12, Part 3 Zoning Districts Staff Report: Community Development Director Kinison Brown presented the staff report.
Mayor Rios opened the public hearing at 6:33pm.
Public Hearing: There was none.
Mayor Rios closed the public hearing at 6:33pm.
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
12. Wastewater Treatment Facility Update Presentation
Staff Report: Megan Panofsky, MNS Engineers Construction Manager, provided an update via powerpoint presentation, explaining the Wastewater Treatment Facility challenges, issues, influent flow rate, effluent management, actions taken and next steps, water quality, postponed projects, and action plan.
Public Comment: There was none.
The Council received the presentation. No action needed.
13. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-86, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Declaring an Emergency Pursuant to Section 22050 of the Public Contract Code and Sections 3.16.050 and 3.16.085 of the Gonzales City Code Authorizing Emergency Work at the City Wastewater Treatment Facility in an Amount not to Exceed $1.5 Million Dollars Staff Report: City Manager Gil presented the staff report.
Public Comment: There was none.
City Attorney Rodriquez noted for the record because this was a resolution that will dispense with the typical bidding process that we have and that allocates fundings, it had to be approved by a four fifths majority of the Council.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Lorraine Worthy, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco
14. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2025-87, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales to Allow the City Manager to Execute Contracts with Waste Haulers to Remove and Transport Effluent from the Gonzales Wastewater Treatment Facility, Ratifying Prior Hauling Expenditures, and Establishing a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $300,000 for Such Services Staff Report: City Manager Gil presented the staff report.
Public Comment: 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
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
15. Oral Communications
Commissioners Rodriguez reported on a new food pantry at the community garden, community action projects and progress, High School activities updates, and announced their next meeting on December 11th.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
16. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. Transportation Agency for Monterey County
Mayor Rios reported on the air traffic federal funding, and sea level rise alleviation cost. b. Mayor Selection Committee
Mayor Rios announced the meeting was moved to December 12th. c. Salinas Valley Recycles
Mayor Pro Tem Silva announced the next meeting on December 18th at 6:00pm. d. Measure K Oversight Committee
City Manager Gil reported the applications deadline for the Community Action Grants was November 21st and the next step was for the Subcommittee to review them.
17. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy announced the MST Trolley in Gonzales on December 12th and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva thanked staff for the great Holiday Lights event downtown, announced the senior luncheon on December 18th at 11:00am at St. Theodore's Hall, and wished everyone Happy Holidays.
Council Member Funk asked if the speeding issue and Mr. Maturino's comments tonight was something that we could bring back to staff.
City Manager Gil responded that staff received quotes of about $50,000 for both sites and were looking to see if they could identify some grants to do at least one for now.
Council Member Orozco thanked staff for a great Holiday Lights event. She mentioned about Supervisor Lopez giving out turkey meals in the community, and announced St. Theodore's Procession on December 12th starting at 5:30am. She wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Mayor Rios commented about the Safe Routes to School Plan and traffic and parking concerns on Fifth Street and asked staff if they could look at painting those corners. He also shared concerns about the electric scooters especially with people wearing no helmets and zooming down on the sidewalks.
City Manager Gil mentioned what other Cities were doing regarding pedestrian and vehicle safety which included scooters. She mentioned that Salinas Mayor Donahue and local South County Cities wanted to partner to do a joint voice in spreading awareness and sending a message regarding this issue, and Salinas has had a lot of these issues and included fatalities.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
18. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil thanked staff for putting on a great Holiday Lights event, which we received again really good comments about it. She wished everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. She reminded everyone about the Grand Opening of the Community Center on January 10th at 10:00am. She hoped to have another groundbreaking hopefully by end of January on the new billboard. She announced the Mexican Consul mobile office will be here this Saturday, December 13th in the Council Chambers, and would share information about times, and appointments once she received it.
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.
19. The City Council will recess to closed session to consider personnel matters pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 (Evaluation- City Manager).
This item was moved to the first meeting in January.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy, Maria Orozco The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk