City Council Minutes
February 27, 2024
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2024
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor White, Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, Councilmembers Ortiz and Tipton ABSENT: Councilmembers Martinez
STAFF: City Manager Wood, IT Director Espinosa, Community Engagement Manager Lopez, City Attorney Thompson, City Clerk Rathbun
GUESTS: Gail Stewart-White, Pastor Diana Salinas, Jose Vazquez, Richard Villarreal, Teresa Villarreal, Aurora Benavides
A MOTION by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, seconded by Mayor White to excuse Councilmember Martinez.
ROLL CALL VOTE: Councilmember Tipton – No, Councilmember Ortiz – No, Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez – Yes and Mayor White – Yes. Motion died.
INVOCATION
Invocation by Pastor Diana Salinas.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA REVIEW
City Manager Wood asked that Item J-1 be pulled. He stated that staff was working on having a workshop regarding this item next week. City Council concurred to have a special meeting workshop.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Gabriella Serrato stated that she was very disappointed with the Council for allowing Councilmember Martinez to be on a committee, especially Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem. She stated that Councilmember Martinez has shown no remorse for what she did to her mother. She also stated that at the last meeting Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez stated that she supported and empathized for the survivors; however, someone could not support a survivor and support a child rapist as Councilmember Martinez clearly had.
She asked in what world would it be okay to write a letter of character for an adult that had raped a child.
She stated that if this was Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez’s child how would she feel if Councilmember Martinez had written that letter. She stated that it was time for the Council to stand up and let everyone know that this would not be tolerated. She also stated that she wanted to make it clear that Councilmember Martinez and she had the same ideology that they wanted to end the school to prison pipeline; however, the difference was integrity to those ideologies. She stated that she would never defend or interfere to lessen the sentence of a child sex offender regardless of personal relations. 21 City Council Minutes
February 27, 2024
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COMMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Tipton thanked everyone that was involved with the Norcan distribution. He stated that the Jolon transfer station was making a lot of improvements. He asked that everyone drive careful because it was supposed to rain this weekend. He also reminded everyone walking at night not to wear dark clothing. He also stated that SNUG.com was available for people to check on the elderly and their pets. He reminded everyone to spay and neuter their pets and if anyone wanted a pet to adopt it from a shelter. He stated that Capital Rivers would be at the ICSC in Monterey and asked that there be a public education session for Greenfield residents within the next month or so. He stated that he would like to follow up on the street sweeping parking ordinance and the rental registration ordinance. He reminded everyone not to park across sidewalks or near ramps.
Councilmember Ortiz stated that phase II of the Magnolia Place was almost ready and they had a list of people for the apartments. She stated that the apartments were for people over 55 and based on their income. She asked where in the process was staff with the high school for the banners and asked about banners for the Veterans since Memorial Day was coming up. She stated that currently there were no banners up. She stated that in April she was having a district gathering and would notify everyone of the date once it was set. She stated that there were a lot of sporting events happening in Greenfield with the Greenfield Recreation and Avila Boxing. She asked that everyone support the Sober Grad. She also stated that she would like the rental registration to come to Council for consideration. She wanted to clarify that the Council does not get paid $100,000 per year and stated that they get roughly $153 every two weeks and she got a stipend of $50 per TAMC meeting plus mileage.
Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez stated that with the latest violence going on she asked if someone sees something that they say something. She addressed the unexcused vote for Councilmember Martinez and stated that it was a medical emergency. She stated that she would like to know if she was out due to an emergency that she would be excused by her fellow Councilmembers. She stated that the Council had stated that they would like to display unity among the Council; however, she stated that action needed to be behind those words.
Mayor White announced that the Rotary would be hosting a Women’s Empowerment session on May 18th; Job Fair would be on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.; Easter Event would be on Marh 23rd at Patriot Park from 3-6 p.m.; and the Market would be starting up again on March 16th. He asked that everyone support Sober Grand and donate if possible. He also stated that he was happy to see the work progress on 12th Street.
Councilmember Ortiz stated that she had no problem excusing someone that was sick or had a family member that was sick; however, the video that she saw before the meeting indicated that was not the case. She stated that family should always come first.
CONSENT ITEMS
A MOTION by Councilmember Ortiz, seconded by Councilmember Tipton to approve the consent items including Warrants #320722 through #320835 and Bank Drafts #5880 through #5903 in the amount of $1,105,018.69, approve Minutes of the February 13, 2024 City Council Meeting, adopt Resolution #2024-18, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Supplmentally Appropriating a Total of $37,000 for 1) $12,000 for MNS Engineers to Provide Grant Support for the new Community Center and 2) Start Up Costs of $25,000 for the Selected Architect to Commence Full Design Plans” and adopt Resolution #2024-19, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield to Transfer SLESF Grant Funds in the Amount of $7,148.56 from the SLESF Revenue Fund to FLESF Other Training Fund”. All in favor. Motion carried. 22 City Council Minutes
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MAYOR’S PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS.
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – JOSE VAZQUEZ – PLANNING COMMISSIONER Mayor White read the Certificate of Recognition and presented Jose Vazquez with the certificate.
Jose Vazquez thanked the City Council for the recognition.
PRESENTATION – COLLABORATIVE ART PROJECT – PAINTED BY SENIOR RESIDENTS OF
GREENFIELD
Community Engagement Manager Lopez gave a power point presentation of the art project. She revealed the mural to the City Council and public.
Jose Vazquez thanked the City for all the programs and thanked Ms. Lopez for supporting all the senior citizens.
UPDATE – WELCOME TO GREENFIELD SIGNS
Public Works Director Tugel gave a update on the Greenfield Signs.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
CONSIDER – CITY OF GREENFIELD COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT AND COUNCIL RULES OF
ORDER AND PROTOCOLS REVISION
Staff report was given by City Attorney Thompson.
Mayor White suggested that a workshop be held instead of appointing an AdHoc committee so that everyone on Council could express their opinions. Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez stated that she agreed with Mayor White.
It was the consensus of the City Council to schedule a special meeting for a workshop to discuss the Council’s Code of Conduct and Rules of Order.
BRIEF REPORTS ON CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, AND MEETINGS ATTENDED BY MAYOR AND
CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Ortiz stated that they would be discussing roundabouts on Highway 68 at the TAMC meeting.
Mayor White reported that the annual financial report was discussed at the AMBAG meeting.
Councilmember Tipton reported on the SVSWA meeting. He stated that they discussed the budget and rate increases as well as making changes to the Jolon Transfer Station. He stated that they were looking at opening the Crazy Horse site as a transfer station.
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February 27, 2024
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Mayor White reported on the Salinas Valley Managers/Mayors meeting. He stated that they discussed broadband and ag mitigation. City Manager Wood stated that they also discussed tourist tax and marketing for south county.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
None.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Wood stated that he would be reaching out to the Council regarding a date for the wastewater treatment plant workshop.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
_________________________
Mayor of the City of Greenfield
____________________________
City Clerk of the City of Greenfield
24 A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING MARCH 2024
AS RED CROSS MONTH
During American Red Cross Month in March, we recognize the compassion of people in Greenfield and reaffirm our commitment to care for one another in times of crisis.
This generous spirit is woven into the fabric of our community and advances the humanitarian legacy of American Red Cross founder Clara Barton — one of the most honored women in our country’s history — who nobly dedicated herself to alleviating suffering.
The contributions of local Red Cross volunteers (134 in the county) give hope to the most vulnerable in their darkest hours. Last year in Monterey County, volunteers helped 53 households affected by 39 home fires by addressing their urgent needs like food and lodging, as well as providing recovery support. In addition, they installed 783 smoke alarms, collected 1,560 blood donations, provided first aid and CPR training to 3,243 residents, helped the families of 1,355 students prepare for disasters through our Pillowcase Project, and assisted 272 families of our armed forces.
We hereby recognize this month of March in honor of all those who lead with their hearts to serve people in need, and we ask everyone to join in this commitment to strengthen our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert White, Mayor of Greenfield, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of Greenfield and California, do hereby proclaim March 2024 as Red Cross Month. I encourage all citizens of Greenfield to reach out and support its humanitarian mission.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of March, in the year two thousand twentyfour, in Greenfield, California. _________________________
Robert White
Mayor of the City of Greenfield
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