City Council Minutes
February 28, 2023
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 28, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor White, Councilmembers Martinez, Ortiz and Rodriguez ABSENT: Mayor Pro-tem Untalon
STAFF: City Manager Wood, Chief Langborg, Public Works Director Tugel, Captain Mixer, IT Director Espinosa, City Attorney Thompson, City Engineer Pike, City Clerk Rathbun
GUESTS: Monica Aguilar, Rigo Avila, Beatriz Diaz, John Huerta, Jr., Gabriela Serrato, Karina Ramirez
A MOTION by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to excuse Mayor Pro-tem Untalon. All in favor. Motion carried.
INVOCATION
There was a moment of silent prayer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA REVIEW
No changes were made.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Monica Aguilar stated that at the last meeting she did not have the opportunity to comment on the Avila Boxing item although other items under that section were opened for public comment. She stated that she supported the program
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Rigo Avila, Avila Boxing, stated that he received concerns that people were not given the opportunity to speak regarding the Avila Boxing item at the last meeting. He stated that they have been waiting for at least a year and a half for the City to make its decision as to whether or not they could help them. He also stated that this was not about him but about the kids.
Beatriz Diaz asked that the City Council look into attorney fees because our attorney’s fees were the highest County-wide. She stated that it was time to start looking for a full-time Chief of Police. She asked if the Mayor and Council reviewed the minutes because it was a very important item. 20 City Council Minutes
February 28, 2023
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Gabby Serrato welcomed Councilmember Rodriguez to the City Council. She stated that she would like to know the next steps for the investigation regarding Councilmember Martinez and hoped that the Council has had the opportunity to review the outcome of the investigation and bring justice to this situation. She stated that she had submitted a formal complaint against Captain Mixer for his involvement in this and stated that he would not be a good Chief.
John Huerta, Jr. stated that the minutes should be corrected regarding his comments for J-2 and stated that he stated that the tri-county area employs thousands of people not the City of Greenfield. He also stated that the City Attorney had made a comment regarding the time limit on the Council meeting and he thought that the Council was going to go into closed session and then adjourn; however, that was not what happened. He stated that he was upset because there were several items that he wanted to participate in.
Karina Ramirez stated that regarding Avila Boxing, she felt like she was not heard or they were not allowed to be heard. She stated that she would like to have Avila Boxing and other recreation programs funded because they were for the youth and were super important. She also stated that everyone involved volunteered their time and stated that she was a little frustrated and would like to be heard.
COMMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Rodriguez expressed her appreciation to the Fire Department for hosting 19 members of her family, mostly children. She stated that the kids were very excited and encouraged the community to go to the station as well. She also stated that on the City side, the fire department had just had a power outage and that there was a generator issue with the fire department. She stated that she would definitely be following up on this because it needed to get resolved.
Councilmember Ortiz thanked the City for the earpieces and stated that she could now hear the meeting much better. She stated that may be in the future they could be available to the public.
Councilmember Martinez wished Beatriz Diaz a great recovery and stated that she was missed at the meetings. She stated that she attended the Senior Social on Thursday and there was about 40 people in attendance and they had a great time. She reported that on 9th Street there was a tree in the way of a light and wanted staff to look into the matter. She also reported that members of the public attending events at the community center were getting overheated because the windows at the community center do not open and asked that staff look into the matter. She announced that on February 24th she attended Career Day at Cesar Chavez school. She also stated that she would not be here on March 6-9, 2023 because she would be in Washington DC speaking regarding climate change and lobbying for the Farm Bill. She asked if the Mayor or any Councilmember could attend the Rose River Memorial Ceremony at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital on March 6th and stated that the ceremony was honoring the people that died from Covid. She also announced the raffle drawing winners of the free books.
Mayor White thanked Fabiola Lopez and her staff and Councilmember Martinez for the Senior Social and stated it was a great event. He stated that he attended the State of the City address in Soledad and stated that Soledad had an app for its residents so that they could report things like potholes and such and would like to look into getting something like this. He stated that he attended the Gonzales Ag Committee meeting regarding protect the agriculture land as well as Career Day at Vista Verde School.
He also apologized on the oversight on no comments on the Avila Boxing item.
CONSENT ITEMS
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February 28, 2023
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A MOTION by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to approve Warrants #317346 through #317586 and Bank Drafts #5253 through #5276 in the amount of $750,518, Receive and File Monthly Reports – Fire Department; and adopt Ordinance #563, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Greenfield adopting by Reference and Amending the 2022 California Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Existing Building, Fire, Historical Building, Energy, Residential, and Green Building Code and Adopting by Reference Certain Appendix Chapters of these Codes and Adopting by Reference and Amending the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and the 2021 International Pool and Spa Safety Code”. All in favor. Motion carried.
MAYOR’S PRESENTATION, PROCLAMATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS PRESENTATION – MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW
City Manager Wood gave a mid-year budget review presentation.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD APPROVING A
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BUDGET AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $115,000 FOR DESIGN OF PROPOSED STREET, DRAINAGE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS ON 12TH STREET BETWEEN OAK AVENUE AND ELM AVENUE RESOLUTION #2023-19
Staff report was given by Public Works Director Tugel.
A MOTION by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Rodriguez to adopt Resolution #2023-19, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Approving a Capital Improvement Project Budget and Appropriation of Funds in the Amount of $115,000 for Design of Proposed Street, Drainage and Pedestrian Improvements on 12th Street Between Oak Avenue and Elm Avenue”. All in favor. Motion carried.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
No report was given.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
No report was given.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor White adjourned in memory of Darlene Acosta
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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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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