MINUTES
JOINT MEETING OF THE
GONZALES CITY COUNCIL AND
GONZALES SUCCESSOR AGENCY
MONDAY, APRIL 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/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 PRESENT
Orlando 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 Yoanna Meza, Public Works Director/City Engineer Octavio Hurtado, and Police Chief Keith 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. Certificate of Recognition to Izzie Pacheco
Deputy City Clerk Villegas read the certificate and Mayor Rios presented it to Izzie Pacheco.
Izzie Pacheco thanked her coaches.
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 Sr. commented on the reasons why his court case couldn’t be tried, officers in violation, and the officers that were present when he was hit. He told the Council he was here to say the cops and Chief are derelict of their duties and unbecoming officers.
Henry Martinez Jr. (via zoom), said he had been quiet building his case the last couple of weeks, and commented about the videos depicting a lot of issues. He elaborated on what happened in the video his family got, and the Police Department knowing about the PO Boxes on the old side of town and putting home addresses for the warrants.
CONSENT AGENDA
4. Approve the Joint City Council/Successor Agency Regular Meeting - March 16, 2026 Minutes
5. Approve Accounts Payable Warrants #53558-53765
6. City Manager’s Report
7. Community Development Department Activity Report
8. Community Engagement & Recreation Departments Activity Report
9. Police Department Activity Report
10. Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
11. Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2026-14, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Declaring April 19 - 25, 2026 as California Cities Week in the City of Gonzales
12. Annual Housing Element Progress Report for 2025
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
13. Oral Communications
Commissioner Rodriguez reported on the meeting they hosted on March 28th regarding food stability and the community garden; planning process of the upcoming South County Youth Summit in May; action items discussed at their April 16th GYC meeting; speaking and introductions before the Coastal Commission; recognition by Coastal Commissioner Ray Jackson for efficient advocacy and construction of the Community Center; and promoting events and projects. He invited the Council to the May 2nd South County Youth Summit which they were hosting at the Community Center from 9:00am-2:00pm.
BUSINESS FROM CITY COUNCIL
14. City Council Board/Committee Reports
a. League of California Cities Monterey Bay Division
No report.
b. Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
Council Member Funk mentioned that AMBAG went dark this month. c. Monterey Salinas Transit
Council Member Worthy reported on the people who assisted the senior group in Monterey and said it was nice to see how people take care of each other in our County. She announced the next meeting on May 11th.
15. Oral Communications
Council Member Worthy expressed her concerns about young kids riding electric scooters at high speeds and not wearing a helmet. She shared a story about a young boy in Michigan getting brain damage and was in an induced coma due to a scooter accident with no helmet. She encouraged everyone riding to wear helmets and avoid accidents. She thanked Supervisor Lopez for bringing the Coastal Commission here last week where she attended along with other Council Members and staff, and it was nice to see they were impressed with our community. She gave a shutout to our new Public Works Director Hurtado for taking care of an issue on the new EV charging stations.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva encouraged all people who use the e-toys, scooters, or bikes, to follow the rules of the road. She also encouraged the Youth Council to have something like a safety summit to encourage all the young people to wear helmets and not speed down the sidewalks, especially in front of the post office because there are a lot of older citizens out there. She also thanked Supervisor Lopez for bringing the California Coastal Commission to our humble little City and elaborated on what was discussed. She attended the Salinas Valley Fair kickoff this past Saturday in King City and it was well attended. She announced the Salinas Valley Fair will take place May 14 - 17, 2026, and the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25th at 9:00am.
Council Member Orozco thanked Council Member Worthy, on behalf of the Housing Authority, for her comments on the assistance that MST provided for the families affected, which they’re still trying to place some of them. She announced the Children’s Festival this Sunday at Central Park where they will have agencies providing information for families and children, and raffles throughout the day, a free and fun event for families from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. She also announced the Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival the following Sunday at Central Park which includes a parade from 12:00pm - 6:00pm. She said she also attended the Coastal Commission meeting on Friday and it was really interesting to hear the different permits that they have to deal with, and their process for public comments was very organized. She added that Rotary’s July 4th celebration was
around the corner, and they are already discussing plans for the different events. She mentioned the Gonzales Rotary Club will be hosting Valley Nights on April 28th.
Mayor Rios noticed a problem with trash cans blocking the driveways to the alleys and asked Mayor Pro Tem Silva to ask Tri-Cities if we can work on a solution and if not, maybe spreading out trash pickup days. He also asked staff to take a look at the 100 block of Belden Street which has some holes on the sidewalk. He also noticed when going down on Fourth Street the roadway is very rough.
City Manager Gil informed him that was part of Public Works Director Hurtado’s report from his Department.
Mayor Rios also thanked Supervisor Lopez for bringing the Coastal Commissioners here in town and hoped they made it an annual tradition. He also asked Mayor Pro Tem Silva to read a letter he received via certified mail. Mayor Pro Tem Silva read a letter from Danica Madrigal, a resident of this community, to bring attention to a safety concern regarding a red zone located near a stop sign where vehicles frequently park, and the issue was tall palm trees located near the red zone partially blocking visibility when drivers approach the stop sign as well as parked cars. The location is Riesling Place. He asked staff to follow up and maybe repaint that curb and Officers to be more diligent about red zones since that was an easy ticket.
BUSINESS FROM CITY MANAGER
16. Oral Communications
City Manager Gil mentioned there were changes to the Chair Yoga events but dates will be shared when they're available. She shared the issues we were having with the electric scooters and bicycles, and indicated staff will be putting a safety message in the utility bills reminding everyone about the use of helmets and abiding by the safety rules. She encouraged parents in the community to remind folks who were utilizing electric scooters and bikes to abide by the rules to avoid getting hurt and hurting others. She thanked staff for taking care of everything for the Coastal Commission while she was out on vacation. She said she received very good feedback and text messages from folks who attended, as well as from Supervisor Lopez on how proud he was of the youth commissioners for getting up there and speaking in front of the Commission.
She thanked Supervisor Lopez again since it was definitely something to be proud of for our community. She reminded the Council about the May 2nd Youth Council Summit taking place at the Community Center, and announced the Community Center Project was also receiving another award through the Construction Management Association of Northern California, for Project Achievement Award, and it will be part of an evening gala on May 14th in Danville, California.
She stated that Harris & Associates applied for the award, and it was very exciting to hear we got the award because of all the groundwork to make this Center a reality.
Public Works Director Hurtado said it's been busy these last few months with the different projects, and reported on the wastewater treatment plant pond where they’re putting the finishing touches on it; staff working on a City-wide weed Abatement Program; 5th Street Truck Ban Project making headways; submission of an RSTP grant through TAMC for a variety of projects such as the 4th Street Resurfacing Project, Rincon Road and Fifth Street, and a grant to remove the island on Alta Street in front of the car lot; and Bike Line connecting Alta Street and Corda Camp. He added that staff is working on the Day Light Law red curb project and is establishing what the parameters are at each of the subdivisions because they're different. Public Works will start working on the volunteering program.
City Manager Gil added that staff also submitted two different requests to Congresswoman Lofgren's Office and Senator Laird's Office for funds for the Wastewater Treatment Plant totaling about $6 million, and staff feels pretty good about one.
Mayor Rios asked for a moment of silence for another Gonzales resident, Manuel Garcia, that recently passed peacefully at 100 years old.
A moment of silence was observed by all present.
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.
17. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) to confer with its Attorney regarding pending litigation which has been initiated formally and to which the City is a party: Claim of Roman Valdez Jr., a minor, through Maria Medina.
The Council conferred with legal counsel and provided direction. No other reportable action taken.
18. The City Council will recess to closed session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(a) to confer with its Attorney regarding pending litigation which has been initiated formally and to which the City is a party: Duran v. City of Gonzales.
The Council conferred with legal counsel and provided direction. No other reportable action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 PM.
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk