MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026
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 Present
Liz Silva Mayor Pro Tem Present
Scott Funk Council Member Excused
Lorraine Worthy Council Member Excused
Maria Orozco Council Member Present
YOUTH COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Ricardo Rodriguez.
STAFF PRESENT
City Manager Carmen Gil, City Attorney Michael F. Rodriquez (via zoom), 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 Yoanna Meza, 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. Certificates of Recognition to the Gonzales Knights Mighty Mite Division Development Services Technician Ponce read the certificates and Mayor Rios presented them to the players and coaches.
Coach Alex Landeros thanked the City for the certificates and elaborated on the team’s growth and success.
3. Wastewater Treatment Facility Update
Megan Panofsky, MNS Engineers, provided an update on the influent flow rate, effluent management, actions taken, next steps, water quality, and financial update.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC
4. 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.
Andrew Brown wished Council Member Worthy a speedy recovery and thanked City Manager Gil for getting funds for the website. He asked the Mayor for additional three minutes on the condition that the undesirable people who like to take a lot of time are not behind him. He commented about the new intern and suggested detailed social media content for infrastructure; the SVSWA social media award; and the majority onboarding and hiring of rec workers were females, and less males.
Mayor Rios stated that he would not be able to give him additional minutes because we had to abide by the two-minute public comment rule. He hoped Mr. Brown understood the rules were limited to two minutes.
CONSENT AGENDA
5. Approve the Joint City Council and Successor Agency - Regular Meeting - January 12, 2026 Minutes
6. City Manager’s Report
7. Community Development Department Activity Report
8. Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report *
9. Fire Department Activity Report
10. Police Department Activity Report
11. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
12. Consider Approval of Resolution No.2026-02, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Approving an Amendment to the City of Gonzales Classification Plan for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] Consent Agenda Items 5-12
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Maria Orozco
EXCUSED: Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy
REGULAR AGENDA
13. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2026-01, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Easement to Enable PG&E to Serve Power to a Freeway-Oriented Billboard on City Property APN: 020-201-022-000 Staff Report: Community Development Director Kinison Brown presented the staff report and showed images of the billboard installation progress.
Public Comment: There was none.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown informed that he omitted the CEQA determination that this was an exempt project for existing facilities. He mentioned that it had the environmental review twice with the use permit and lease language, but this action of a new easement needed the CEQA determination, and will update the resolution to reflect that addition.
Mayor Rios mentioned this was a PG&E project that required an easement and asked if he had to recuse himself.
City Manager Gil clarified the Mayor didn't have to recuse himself.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
SECONDER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Maria Orozco
EXCUSED: Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy
14. Introduce, Waive Reading, and Ready by Title Only Ordinance No. 2026-156, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the Purchase and Use of an Unmanned Aerial System (Drone) and Making Findings in Compliance with Gonzales Police Department Policy Manual 709-Military Equipment
Staff Report: City Attorney Rodriquez presented the staff report.
Public Comment: Andrew Brown commented about letting the public know about stuff like surveillance, facial recognition, people's properties. He thought it was already documented somewhere and part of the yearly audit, but he wanted the public to be educated about it.
Council Discussion: Police Chief Wise informed that per policy, staff has all that available for viewing anytime online on the City's website, under military equipment, as well as the Drone Policy 609. He said the Department holds to all the requirements to legally fly the drone which also includes FAA certification.
City Attorney Rodriquez reiterated that both the City's ordinance regarding military equipment, as well as the annual report that is generated on a yearly basis, are easily accessible and available on the City's website on the Police Department's page, which contains a wealth of information about all the equipment, including the drone, and how it's used.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Maria Orozco
EXCUSED: Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy
GONZALES YOUTH COUNCIL UPDATES
15. Oral Communications
Commissioner Rodriguez reported on the meeting the GYC with Greenfield Youth Council, needing community project volunteers, and high school activities. He also mentioned the Gonzales Youth Council really wanted this year’s Youth Summit to be held at the new Community Center.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
16. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
No report.
c. Monterey Salinas Transit
No report.
17. Oral Communications
Mayor Pro Tem Silva wished Council Member Worthy a speedy recovery. She congratulated the Knights Mighty Mites and hoped they would keep up that enthusiasm throughout school. She reminded everyone when pruning their trees, to call City Hall to pick up the tree trimmings.
Mayor Rios elaborated on a call he had regarding the wastewater treatment facility from an adjacent property owner who was very interested in offering the City some property. He hoped staff, working together with our Engineer, look at that since we have a very willing landowner who was more than happy to work with the City.
City Manager Gil added that staff has talked to the Water Board about additional sites and they are also more open to us using the landfill as a spraying site, so there are conversations happening about what we would need to do to acquire other properties or add additional basis to our permit.
Mayor Rios asked for an update on the Fifth Street signage and how long before the Chief can start handing out tickets.
City Manager Gil responded they would start putting up the signs next week, and as soon as they’re up, enforcement could happen. She added there are some exceptions and staff has talked to businesses and would be sending notices also.
Police Chief clarified that just because there's a big rig on Fifth Street, doesn't mean it’s an illegal off-truck route vehicle, and it could be sited. He mentioned we have a City ordinance and anyone that's doing deliveries has right to be in that area to make the delivery. He added there are exemptions for garbage trucks and buses, etc. but the Police will be diligent, as much they can, to identify those who are not exempt. He hoped the industrial plant sign would be moved from the exit since it looks like an indicator for trucks to go down that road to get to the industrial site.
Mayor Rios thanked them and said it was a good point.
Community Development Director Kinison Brown announced the Planning Commission meeting on January 26th where they will discuss the EIR for the Puente del Monte Specific Plan.
Mayor Rios complimented staff for all their work this past Saturday on the celebration of the Community Center, which is a very well-received project, and it looks beautiful. He hoped people would keep supporting our projects now that they have seen this and next time we put a half-cent measure to finish it, people will be happy to support it.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
18. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil informed there were a very limited number of pavers left, so information will go out tomorrow and if anyone is interested in purchasing one, they can contact City Hall as soon as possible. She announced that two of our projects, the Conveyance for the sewer plant pipeline and the Community Center, were selected as award winners for the American Public Works Association, Monterey Chapter, which will be presented to the City at a ceremony on February 4 th
at Hartnell College at 5:15pm.
Mayor Rios asked to adjourn the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of one of our past Mayors Dave Garibay, as well as Teresa Enecias, and Vicky Blanco, who passed recently, A moment of silence was observed by all present.
ADJOURNMENT
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Maria Orozco, Council Member
SECONDER: Liz Silva, Mayor Pro Tem
AYES: Jose L. Rios, Liz Silva, Maria Orozco
EXCUSED: Scott Funk, Lorraine Worthy
The meeting was adjourned at 7:06 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk