City Council Minutes
October 8, 2024
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 8, 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 Martinez and Tipton ABSENT: Councilmember Ortiz
STAFF: City Manager Wood, Chief Mixer, Community Development Director Mugan, Captain Paredes, City Engineer Pike, City Attorney Thompson, IT Director Espinosa, City Clerk Rathbun
GUESTS: Gail Stewart-White, Cynthia Zavala, Stephanie Garcia, Bob Urquides, Miguel Ramirez, Angelica Sanchez, Roberto Ramirez, Gail Stewart-White, Belen Garcia, Maria Ayde Garcia, Benito Sanchez
EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER ABSENCES
A MOTION by Councilmember Tipton, seconded by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez to excuse Councilmember Ortiz. AYES: Councilmember Tipton, Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez and Mayor White, NOES:
Councilmember Martinez. Motion carried.
INVOCATION
Invocation by Pastor Ines Lugo.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA REVIEW
No changes.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Victor Torres stated that he was a member of the Future Leaders of Change and stated they were cohosting an open candidate forum for the November 2024 election and invited everyone to attend.
Cynthia Zavala announced the First Annual Day of Thanks event that would be held on November 24th at the Memorial Hall and stated that they were searching for donations for the event. She thanked Rancho San Miguel and Rite Aide for their support.
Benito Sanchez stated that he was the owner of the platform called Nerdy. He stated that it was an application for translation services and he explained the product. 19 City Council Minutes
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Beatriz Diaz stated that Jamba Juice was opened, and that Chester Chicken and Pizza Hut were having trouble opening because of PG&E. She also announced that the Candidate Forum was October 10th.
She asked why Councilmember Tipton was still on the dais when he couldn’t even vote on anything.
COMMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Tipton stated that Jamba Juice was now opened. He reminded everyone of the Candidate Forum on October 10th. He reminded everyone not to wear dark clothing at night and that stop signs and traffic lights were not optional. He stated that there were commercial vehicles being parked in the residential area as well as cars blocking sidewalks and corner cuts for the wheelchair ramps.
He also would like an update on the interim parking pilot program. He asked regarding the animal control and the complaints regarding dogs running loose. He asked that people keep watch on the elderly, kids and pets during the hot weather. He announced that there would be a community flu clinic in Gonzales free to the public. He said he was glad that the police log was back online.
Councilmember Martinez thanked Chief Mixer for answering all her questions and suggested that there be a restorative justice workshop so that the public and school staff was aware of their services.
She announced the Candidate Forum and encouraged residents to meet the candidates. She stated that she would be attending the League of California Cities Conference next week.
Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez stated that she would like to have an update on the pilot program as well. She also stated that she was glad that the police log was back on line and stated that it was her understanding that the log would be retroactive for transparency. She stated that the Council received an email stating that Councilmember Tipton would not be recusing himself during closed session. She stated that he had recused himself previously due to a conflict of interest and stated that she did not know why the conflict of interest had disappeared. She asked the City Attorney for her opinion regarding the conflict of interest as to whether Councilmember Tipton did not recuse himself and if there were any possible repercussions of any kind for unethical behavior. City Attorney Thompson stated that the City Attorney does not provide conflict of interest advice to any councilmember and stated that it was their personal conflict and so any repercussion would be their own. City Attorney Thompson explained that potential repercussions could come from the district attorney, grand jury or the Fair Political Practices Commission; however, the FPPC usually dealt with financial conflicts of interests. Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez asked that Councilmember Tipton recuse himself and asked that the other members also ask that he recuse himself.
Mayor White announced that the Monterey Bay Aquarium was free to all Monterey County residents the whole month of October; Day of Thanks would be on November 24th at the Greenfield Memorial Hall; Harvest Festival would be on October 19-20th; Greenfield Rotary would be hosting a Community Yard Sale at the Greenfield Memorial Hall on November 23rd; Greenfield Movie Night would be on October 28th at the Greenfield Memorial Hall and the Candidate Forum would be October 10th at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
CONSENT ITEMS
A MOTION by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Martinez to approve the consent items including Warrants #322682 through #322812 and Bank Drafts #6240 through #6261 in the amount of $830,673.38, approve Minutes of the September 24, 2024 City Council Meeting and Deny Claim Against the City – Margarita Garcia. All in favor. Motion carried.
MAYOR’S PRESENTATION, PROCLAMATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS PROCLAMATION – PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 2024 AS NATIONAL BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH
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Mayor White read the proclamation proclaiming October 2024 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
PRESENTATION – TOM ROGERS VISITORS CENTER UPDATE
Community Development Director Mugan gave an update on the Tom Rogers Visitors Center
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
RECEIVE AND FILE 2021-2022 FINANCIAL AUDIT
City Manager Wood reviewed the 2021-2022 Financial Audit.
ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD ADOPTING A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,000 FOR THE ARROYO SECO GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY AGENCY (GSA) FOR GENERAL MANAGER CONSULTING SERVICES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025
RESOLUTION #2024-123
Staff report was given by City Manager Wood.
A MOTION by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Tipton to adopt Resolution #2024-123, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Adopting a Budget Adjustment in the Amount of $36,000 for the Arroyo Seco Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for General Manager Consulting Services for Fiscal Year 2024-2025”. All in favor. Motion carried.
ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD ACCEPTING STREET, DRAINAGE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS ON 12TH STREET BETWEEN OAK
AVENUE AND ELM AVENUE, COMPLETED BY MONTEREY PENINSULA ENGINEERING RESOLUTION #2024-124
Staff report was given by City Engineer Pike.
Stephanie Garcia asked when the one-year warranty began. City Engineer Pike stated that it started today; however, would be checking the area prior to the year so that staff could let the contractor know if there were any issues. Councilmember Tipton suggested that the area be inspected on a quarterly basis for any issues.
A MOTION by Councilmember Tipton, seconded by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez to adopt Resolution #2024-124,” A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Accepting Street, Drainage and Pedestrian Improvements on 12th Street Between Oak Avenue and Elm Avenue, Completed by Monterey Peninsula Engineering”. All in favor. Motion carried.
ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD ACCEPTING THE
APPLE AVENUE WATER SYSTEM CONSOLIDATION PROJECT, COMPLETED BY ANDERSON PACIFIC ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION, INC., WHICH INCLUDES WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS ON APPLE AVENUE FROM VICTORIAN CIRCLE TO APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET WEST OF 13TH STREET, AND ON 13TH STREET FROM APPLE AVENUE TO APPROXIMATELY 700
FEET SOUTH OF APPLE AVENUE
RESOLUTION #2024-125
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Staff report was given by City Engineer Pike.
A MOTION by Councilmember Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Tipton to adopt Resolution #2024-125, ”A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Accepting the Apple Avenue Water System Consolidation Project, Completed by Anderson Pacific Engineering Construction, Inc., Which Includes Water System Improvements on Apple Avenue from Victorian Circle to Approximately 600 Feet West of 13th Street, and on 13th Street from Apple Avenue to Approximately 700 Feet South of Apple Avenue’”. All in favor. Motion carried.
ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD TO ENTER INTO
A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF GREENFIELD AND THE
COUNTY OF MONTEREY TO IMPLEMENT THE GREENFIELD SITE PROJECT RADIO TOWER RESOLUTION #2024-126
Staff report was given by Chief Mixer.
A MOTION by Councilmember Tipton, seconded by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez to adopt Resolution #2024-126, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Greenfield and the County of Monterey to Implement the Greenfield Site Project Radio Tower”. All in favor. Motion carried.
ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD AWARDING A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO CALIFORNIA STRATEGIES, LLC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $90,000
RESOLUTION #2024-127
Staff report was given by City Manager Wood.
A MOTION by Councilmember Tipton, seconded by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez to adopt Resolution #2024-127, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Greenfield Awarding a Professional Services Agreement to California Strategies, LLC in an Amount Not to Exceed $90,000”. All in favor. Motion carried.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
CLOSED SESSION – GOVERNMENT CODE SESSION 54956.9 (d)(1) Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Andrew Sandoval vs. City of Greenfield
There were no comments.
Meeting adjourned to closed session at 7:10 p.m.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Meeting reconvened at 7:42 p.m.
City Attorney Thompson reported that the City Council voted in closed session not to appeal the Andrew Sandoval versus City of Greenfield case. The vote was Mayor White, Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez and Councilmember Martinez in favor of not appealing and Councilmember Tipton abstaining.
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CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
None.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
_________________________
Mayor of the City of Greenfield
____________________________
City Clerk of the City of Greenfield
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A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GREENFIELD CANCELLING THE NOVEMBER 26, 2024 AND DECEMBER 24, 2024 CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING AND
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Greenfield meet the second and fourth Tuesday of every month; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to have at least three Councilmembers present at each meeting in order to have a quorum to conduct City business; and WHEREAS, Councilmembers wish to cancel the November 26, 2024 and December 24, 2024 City Council meetings due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Greenfield declares the cancellation of the November 26, 2024 and December 24, 2024 City Council Meetings.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Greenfield at a regularly scheduled meeting duly held on the 22nd day of October 2024, by the following vote:
AYES, and in favor thereof, Councilmembers
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
_______________________________
Robert White, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________
Ann F. Rathbun, City Clerk
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