City Council Minutes
February 23, 2022
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 23, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Walker called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
STAFF:
GUESTS:
Mayor Walker, Mayor Pro-tem Martinez, Councilmembers Untalon, Tipton and White
None
City Manager Wood, IT Director Espinosa, City Attorney Cochran, City Clerk Rathbun
Stephanie Garcia, Bea Diaz, Monica, Silvia Mendez Herrera
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA REVIEW
No changes were made.
PUBLIC HEARING – FIRST PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED COMPOSITION OF BYTRUSTEE AREA MAPS, PURSUANT TO ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 10010, SUBDIVISION (A) (2) Power point presentation was given by Dr. Daniel Phillips.
Councilmember Tipton asked if the EAH project had been taken into account because it was about 200 units as well as the other development, Walnut Grove apartments, phase two.
Mayor Walker asked about recalls. City Attorney Cochran stated that the recalls would be specific to the district itself.
Mayor Walker opened the public hearing at 6:54 p.m.
Stephanie Garcia thanked staff for all the information that was provided in both in English and Spanish.
She stated that the City was being forced to do the districts by an organization from Salinas. She stated that she was against this; however, if she had to pick she would go with 5 districts, Map 501. She stated that if Council voted for 4 district she would pick Map 401 with the Mayor directly elected.
Mayor Walker stated that he would like five districts; however, if everyone wanted 4 districts, he would like map 401.
Councilmember Tipton stated that he felt that the City was rushing into this and would like more time. 26 City Council Minutes
February 23, 2022
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Mayor Pro-tem Untalon and Councilmember Martinez agreed that more input was needed as well as more community involvement.
Beatriz Diaz stated that district elections had been proven that there would be more voter turnout. She stated that she would like to elect the Mayor and if there were five districts it would remove their rights to elect the Mayor.
Monica stated that she had some ideas on how to get community input such as getting partners, stakeholders and organizations together to get a more cohesive community.
Mayor Walker asked about the deadline for approval of the districts. City Attorney Cochran stated that everything was due to the Elections Department by April 17th. Mayor Walker stated that he would like to wait for the November 2024 election.
Mayor Pro-tem Untalon stated that she would like to partner with the school districts and send information through Parent Square. She stated that to wait until 2024 was unacceptable.
Councilmember White stated that the City Council needed to keep with the timeline and as elected officials sometimes hard decisions needed to be made. He stated that any of the 4 district maps were okay; however, liked 403 the best.
Councilmember Martinez stated that she had been talking with citizens and members of Lideres Campesinas stated they wanted to get involved in the process. She suggested that the Council meet with the community to share the information.
City Attorney Cochran stated that residents could submit their map until midnight, Monday, March 7th.
Councilmember Martinez asked if residents could have until Tuesday, March 8th.
Silva Mendez Herrera stated that this was going too fast and that 90% of the people were Spanish speakers and the Council needed to do things right and slow down.
Monica shared her ideas about getting the information out such as utube videos explaining the process of districts elections.
Silvia Mendez Herrera asked how the City could inform the community in order to make the best decision and how could the Council help the community in making those decisions.
City Attorney Cochran stated that residents could submit their draft district maps until March 8th at 10 a.m.
Stephanie Garcia asked when the Council would be deciding how many districts there would be, 4 or 5.
City Attorney Cochran stated that the decision should be made at the March 16, 2022 meeting.
Mayor Walker closed the public hearing at 7:37 p.m.
Mayor Pro-tem Untalon asked if there was a limit as to how many maps could be submitted. Dr. Phillips stated that there were not limits.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
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February 23, 2022
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Mayor of the City of Greenfield
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City Clerk of the City of Greenfield
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