Small town,big heart! ~ ¡Pueblo chico, corazóngrande!
147 Fourth Street · PO Box 647, Gonzales, CA 93926· Phone: (831) 675-5000· Fax: (831) 675-2644 https://gonzalesca.gov/
City of Gonzales
Council Member Scott Funk, Council Member Lorraine Worthy, Council MemberMaria Orozco Mayor Jose L. Rios, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Silva City Manager Carmen Gil MayScott Funk
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Gonzales will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 6:00pm in the City Council Chambers, 117 Fourth Street, Gonzales, CA to consider adoption of 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.
Ordinance No. 2026-156, will authorize the purchase of an “Unmanned Aerial System,” more commonly known as a drone, for use by the Gonzales Police Department. The equipment in question is considered “military equipment” by relevant authority and policy and as such, the purchase of such equipment must be in compliance with Gonzales Police Department Policy Manual Policy 709-Military Equipment, which was adopted by the City Council by Ordinance 2022-131 in 2022. The drone will be used by the Department for law enforcement purposes such as indoor flights securing a building or a residence during search warrant service or during active-shooter type situations at schools or businesses. The equipment will only be operated by licensed personnel, pursuant to Gonzales Police Department Policy Manual Policy 609, and will be subject to the annual reporting requirements for all military equipment set forth in Police Manual Policy 609. The estimated cost of the drone and related equipment is $2,772.04, with the majority of funding provided by a grant.
Ordinance No. 2026-156 was introduced and read by title only at the Council meeting on January 20, 2026 and is scheduled for consideration of adoption and second reading on February 2, 2026. A public hearing will be held at the February 2, 2026 meeting prior to Council action. A copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance is available in the office of the City Clerk.
Further information is available for review at City Hall, 147 Fourth Street, Gonzales, CA between 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Interested parties are invited to attend the public hearing and express opinions or submit evidence for or against the above action. Written comments may be submitted to Carmen Gil, City Manager/City Clerk, City of Gonzales, PO Box 647 / 147 Fourth Street, Gonzales, CA 93926 or by email at [email protected] prior to the date and time of the hearing. For further information, please call (831) 675-5000.
If you challenge this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearings regarding the projects described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the appropriate authority at or before these hearings.
Dated at Gonzales, California, this 23rd day of January 2026. /s/ Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk
En caso que usted necesite ayuda en leer o en entender este aviso de Audiencia Pública, usted puede ponerse en contacto con la oficina del Edificio Municipal en 147 Fourth Street o llamar al número 675-5000, y el aviso será traducido para usted.