City Council Minutes
September 26, 2023
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor White, Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez and Councilmembers Martinez and Ortiz ABSENT: None
STAFF: City Manager Wood, Chief Langborg, Public Works Director Tugel, Community Development Director Mugan, IT Director Espinosa, City Attorney Thompson, Assistant Planner Meza, Management Analyst de la Torre, City Clerk Rathbun GUESTS: Gail Stewart-White, Avelina Torres, Ernest Gallardo, John Huerta, Jr., Beatriz Diaz, Stephanie Garcia, Diana Salinas, Javier Sanchez, Jesus Suarez, Jessica Bautista, Liz Valenzuela, Juergen Smith
INVOCATION BY PASTOR DIANA SALINAS
Invocation was given by Mr. Valenzuela.
.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9
Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of section 54956.9 of the Government Code - 1 case
Meeting adjourned to closed session at 6:03 p.m.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Meeting reconvened to open session at 6:56 p.m.
There was no reportable action.
AGENDA REVIEW
None.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
Attachment 7
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reported on the events that were happening at the parks such as movie night and would like for staff to continue doing these events. He stated that the area near Rancho San Miguel was cleared from the homeless and asked if the people were offered services and what services were offered. She reported that she was happy that a flag was up at Patriot Park. She stated that she would be attending, with Council’s approval, an event with Assemblyman Rivas in Salinas. Council concurred that Councilmember Ortiz would be able to attend the event.
Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez stated that she met with a person today and would be meeting with someone else tomorrow one on one. She stated that she would be happy to do that and asked if anyone would like to meet with her to please contact her. She asked about the Harvest Festival booth fee of $650. She stated that there were local vendors that previously had a booth that were very surprised about how much the fee was. City Manager Wood stated that the fee was more than in previous years and that anyone would be able to call Mr. Victor Garcia to discuss the fee. Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez asked if they could get a report on this matter.
Mayor White announced that clean up day on October 7th and stated that residents could bring their items to the Corporation Yard. She also reminded everyone that Tri-Cities did have a service that they would pick up large items from your home if residents call to schedule an appointment. He stated that on October 9th Supervisor Lopez would be having a listening session at 5:30 p.m. He also announced the Harvest Festival would be on October 15th.
Councilmember Ortiz stated that she had cancelled her District meeting on October 7th.
CONSENT ITEMS
A MOTION by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to approve the consent Items including Warrants #319363 through #319466 and Bank Drafts #5631 through #5649 in the amount of $1,038,519.47; Minutes of the September 12, 2023 City Council Meeting, Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance #567, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Cancelling of the Existing Development Agreement for Cannabis Cultivation and Distribution Facilities for Second Sun, LLC and Golden State Alternative Care Inc. (Developer and Licensee) at 721 and 700 El Camino Real” and Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance #568, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Cancelling of the Existing Development Agreement for Cannabis Cultivation and Distribution Facilities for Dave Bos Detail, LLC and Emerald Mission (Developer and Licensee) at 801 El Camino Real”. AYES: Mayor White Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, Councilmembers Ortiz and Tipton. ABSTAIN: Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried.
Mayor White stepped down at 7:31 p.m. due to a conflict of interest.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD DENYING A DESIGN REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR A PROPOSED THREE-STORY, 36,410-SQ FT BUILDING WITH 24 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS, A 2,700-SQ FT COMMON AREA, AND 8,885 SQ FEET OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON A 1.42-ACRE UNDEVELOPED SITE ON THE EAST SIDE OF 4TH STREET BETWEEN APPLE AND PALM AVENUES
(APN: 024-151-011)
RESOLUTION #2023-120
Staff report was given by Community Development Director Mugan.
Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez opened the public hearing at 7:51 p.m.
David Elliott, representing the applicant, gave a brief description of the project. 95 City Council Minutes
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Christine Kemp, legal counsel for the applicant, explained the development agreement and asked that the Council consider and approve the project.
Laura Mireles stated that this project would be good for the community and businesses like these were needed and not like the cannabis businesses.
Mr. Elliott asked that the Council approve option #2 in order to be able to come back with a reduced number of units and new design.
Councilmember Tipton asked how they were going to ensure that only one family would be living in each unit. Mr. Elliott stated that they would ensure that only one family was in each unit. Councilmember Tipton asked if the laundromat and store were public. Mr. Elliott stated that it would depend on the zoning and that a development agreement would be the best way to go. Councilmember Tipton asked how many commercial units were available. Mr. Elliott stated that the space could be for one to nine tenants depending on how large the tenants were.
Councilmember Ortiz asked what they were charging for the apartments. He stated that he was not sure; however, they would have five units allocated for Greenfield teachers.
Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez closed the public hearing at 8:17 p.m.
Councilmember Martinez stated that a lot of cities were looking at open space land to be utilized for something good and stated that she fully supported this project.
Councilmember Tipton stated that the City Council appointed the Planning Commission and that this project had been denied by the Planning Commission twice.
Councilmember Ortiz stated that she had a lot of concerns with the three story units. She stated that the people in that neighborhood had lived there for 30 years and they would not have the privacy that they have had. She also expressed concern that there was only a chain link fence that was between the apartments and the highway. She stated that these apartments were upscale housing and most people in Greenfield would not be able to afford them. She stated that she believed that this was not good for the City and wanted to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision.
A MOTION by Councilmember Tipton, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to adopt Resolution #2023-120, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Denying a Design Review and Development Agreement for a Proposed Three-Story, 36,410-sq ft Building with 24 Multi-Family Residential Units, a 2,700-sq ft Common Area, and 8,885 sq feet of Commercial Development on a
1.42-acre Undeveloped Site on the East Side of 4th Street between Apple and Palm Avenues (APN:
024-151-011)”. AYES: Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, Councilmember Ortiz and Councilmember Tipton.
NOES: Councilmember Martinez. ABSTAIN: Mayor White. Motion carried.
Mayor White returned to the meeting at 8:28 p.m.
City Council adjourned for a 10 minute recess
City Council reconvened the meeting at 8:38 p.m.
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD APPROVING A DESIGN REVIEW FOR A NEW 20,000-SQ FT PRE-FABRICATED STEEL BUILDING FOR COMMERCIAL CANNABIS CULTIVATION OPERATIONS, A NEW PAVED PARKING LOT WITH 24 PARKING SPACES, AND ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING ON AN EXISTING 3.18-ACRE PARTIALLYDEVELOPED LOT AT 689 EL CAMINO REAL (APN: 109-162-012) RESOLUTION #2023-121
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Staff report was given by City Clerk Rathbun.
A MOTION by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to appoint Councilmember Tipton and adopt Resolution #2023-124, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Making Appointments to the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority (SVSWA)”. All in favor. Motion carried.
BRIEF REPORTS ON CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, AND MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor White reported on the AMBAG meeting and stated that they reviewed the growth predictions.
Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez reported on the MST meeting and stated that the biggest news was that the line between Salinas and Gilroy would be starting up again.
Mayor White reported on the Monterey County Mayors’ Association and stated that Supervisor Alejo was in attendance and gave an update on the water projects and the City of Pajaro.
Mayor White reported on the Salinas Valley Mayors/Managers Group and stated that they discussed ag mitigation. City Manager Wood stated that they were working with all five cities in order to have all cities on the same program.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
City Attorney Thompson stated that the Council could, if they would like, pass an ordinance on how City Council vacancies could be filled in the future. She stated that currently the City followed State Law, however, State Law allowed cites to adopt their own ordinance. She stated that if the Council was interested, she could look into it. She also reported that she attended the League of California Cities conference and stated that she learned that Greenfield was one of 27 cities in the State of California that met its Cycle 5 Housing RHNA numbers.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Wood stated that he attended the League of the California Cities Conference and stated that he would be putting out a report on the sessions that he attended.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor White adjourned the meeting in memory of Juan Salinas.
Meeting adjourned at 9:28 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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