City Council Minutes
May 12, 2026
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MEETING OF MAY 12, 2026
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, Moreno-Mares and Garcia
ABSENT: None
STAFF: City Manager Wood, Chief Mixer, Captain Paredes, IT Director Espinosa, Science Workshop Director Sanchez, Recreation Director Perez, Community Engagement Manager Lopez, Asst. Administrative Services Director Mullen, Executive Assistant Aguayo, Public Works Operations Manager Ayala, Utilities Division Manager Twisselmann, City Attorney Thompson, City Clerk Rathbun GUESTS: Gail Stewart White, Ernest Gallardo, Milred Villarreal, Armando Vasquez, Maria Elena Vasquez, Dr. Lourdes Villarreal, Pastor Diana Salinas
INVOCATION BY PASTOR DIANA SALINAS
Invocation by Pastor Diana Salinas.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA REVIEW
None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE REGARDING ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Ernie Gallardo addressed his concerns regarding electric scooters. He stated that he was a member of the TAMC bicycle committee and this was an ongoing situation. He stated that he had met with the Chief and stated that the kids that were on these scooters needed to be cited and not warned anymore. He stated that the City needed to be proactive and make everyone aware that they would be cited. He stated that something needed to be done before someone got hurt.
Dr. Lourdes Villarreal stated that she wanted to thank Maria from Public Works because she explained the water bill to her. She stated that she had asked previously for the Council to place the discussion of the leash law and requirement of vaccination for pets on the agenda and it still had not been placed on the agenda. She suggested that the code enforcement officers get out of their truck and walk around because they couldn’t see certain things from their truck as well as providing information with their water bills regarding the leash law and pet vaccination requirements. 19 City Council Minutes
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Ellen Martin, Executive Director – First Night Monterey, stated that she was here to express her support for the art programs. She stated that they have been providing art programs since 2010 and would be starting their summer program in July and hoped the City would continue to support their program.
Maria Tinajero, First Night Monterey, stated that she had worked with the summer art programs for five years and stated that the programs were free to kids, parents and grandparents. She stated that she was excited for summer programs to start and asked that the City continue to support them.
Richie Sayvong asked for the Council’s support for the AB1785, SB876 and AB1680 bills and stated that he was available to do a legislative update at a City Council meeting if the Council was interested.
COMMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Garcia wished the Greenfield 4-H and FFA members luck at the Salinas Valley Fair. .
Councilmember Ortiz stated that there were 12- and 13-year-olds riding e-bikes and e-scooters without helmets and it needed to get addressed.
Mayor White stated that he and his wife attended the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Breakfast on May 6th sponsored by First 5. He announced that the City was awarded a $6 million dollar park grant to assist the City with building the new community center and that the City was moving closer to building the center. He also stated that Alliance on Aging was looking for a member of the public to serve on their Advisory Committee.
CONSENT ITEMS
A MOTION by Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez, seconded by Councilmember Ortiz to approve the consent items including Warrants #327056 through #327155 and Bank Drafts #7231 through #7269 in the amount of $488,496.27, approve Minutes of the April 28, 2026 City Council Meeting, and Receive and File Monthly Departmental Reports – Finance, and adopt Ordinance #578, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Greenfield, California to Adopt the 2025 California Building and Construction Codes and California Fire Codes”. All in favor. Motion carried.
MAYOR’S PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS PROCLAMATION – A PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY 2026 AS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH Mayor White read the proclamation declaring May 2026 as Mental Health Month and stated that the proclamation would be mailed.
PROCLAMATION – A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, MAY 17-23, 2026 “ROOTED IN SERVICES, POWERED BY COMMUNITY” Mayor White read the proclamation proclaiming National Public Works Week, May 17-23, 2026. He presented the proclamation to Utilities Division Manager Twisselmann, Public Works Operation Manager Ayala, Public Works Maintenance Worker Trujillo and Asst. Engineer Gil-Mares. 20 City Council Minutes
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PRESENTATION – CITY OF GREENFIELD FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET PLAN
Power Point presentation was given by the following: Community Engagement Manager Lopez, Chief Mixer, Recreation Director Perez, Science Workshop Director Sanchez, City Manager Wood, Public Works Operations Manager Ayala, Utilities Division Manager Twisselmann, Asst. Administrative Services Director Mullen, Executive Assistant Aguayo and IT Director Espinosa.
City Council recessed for a break at 7:37 p.m.
City Council reconvened at 7:50 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
DISCUSSION REGARDING THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, BOAT AND TRAILER PARKING PILOT
PROGRAM
Staff report was given by Chief Mixer.
Jose Villarreal stated that he did not see an issue with residents parking their trailers on their own property and stated that the police department had bigger problems to deal with instead of focusing on trailers.
Dr. Lourdes Villarreal stated that she did not see this as being a problem anymore unless they were parked on the street. She asked for clarification of how far the car/trailer would have to be moved and would like it to be more than just a few feet.
Council and staff discussed the parking of trailer/boats on private property. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to move forward with permanently changing the ordinance to reflect the pilot program.
DISCUSSION ON CITY EVENTS
Staff report was given by Administrative Assistant Chavez.
Ellen Martin stated that she believed in these kinds of events because they strengthened the community and it was very important for everyone in Greenfield and hoped that the City would continue these events.
Councilmember Ortiz stated that the City should not be taking on all these events and other people or non-profits should do these events. She stated; however, that she would like the City to collect all funds and set prices for the events. She stated that City staff needed to work not put these types of events and the City should try to look at alternatives.
Councilmember Garcia stated that the City needed to work on the branding of the events because it should match the event. She stated that staff needed to look at why bigger cities were cancelling these types of events and stated that she believed it was for financial reasons.
Mayor Pro-tem Rodriguez stated that she agreed that there were branding issues with the community events. She stated that the City hired additional staff for the community engagement department for these types of events. She stated that the Council supported the additional positions so why would the City pull back if there were additional staff. She stated that she agreed that all payments should go through the City and that there should be a standard and written policy for the events. 21 City Council Minutes
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There was additional discussion regarding the events.
City Manager Wood stated that they have received the following direction: City collecting all funds; making events the way that they sound; elevating the quality of the event and vendors; and focusing on the overall quality of the event. He stated that staff would then come back to Council with recommendations.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
CLOSED SESSION - GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6 CONFERENCE
WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
AGENCY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE: CITY MANAGER PAUL WOOD EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS: SERVICE EMPLOYEE’S INTERNATIONAL UNION LOCAL 521, GREENFIELD POLICE SERGEANTS’ ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS – LOCAL 4656
No comments were received.
Meeting adjourned to closed session at 9:06 p.m.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Meeting reconvened to open session at 9:35 p.m.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
No report.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
No report.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:26 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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