MINUTES OF
REGULAR MEETING
April 2, 2024
CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Nagy called the meeting to order at 6:31 P.M. and conducted the pledge of allegiance
ROLL CALL
Council Members: Giles - Marsigli - Bonta - Mayor Nagy
Staff present: City Manager Soknirorn Than, Administrative Services Director Melanie Correa, Recreation Manager Tiffany Vitorino, Acting Police Chief Sammy Joseph, Finance Director Jenny Morrison, Fire Chief Pat Borrelli, Public Works Director Gary Ingram, Economic & Community Development Director Jami Westervelt and City Attorney Ann Siprelle (virtually)
Mayor Pro Tem Ford was absent.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council member Bonta made a motion to approve the agenda.
The motion was seconded by Council member Marsigli and carried 4-0, with Mayor Pro Tem Ford absent.
DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Council member Marsigli advised of her abstention from the warrant in her name and advised she would recuse herself from administrative agenda item #7.
Council member Bonta recused himself from consent calender item #3 due to his absence at that meeting.
Council member Giles advised of his abstention from the warrant in his name.
PRESENTATIONS
1. SR – 140/33 Sidewalk and ADA Curb Ramp Project Update Brian Hooker, Public Information Officer, CalTrans District 10 Corey Casey, Project Manager, CalTrans District 10
Corey Casey, Project Manager, CalTrans District 10, provided a presentation on the SR – 140/33 Sidewalk and ADA Curb Ramp project update.
Council member Giles inquired if a crosswalk will be added at Linden Avenue, to which Mr. Casey advised he will look into it but did not recall seeing that addition.
2. California Business Roundtable Update
Stephen Qualls, Regional Public Affairs Manager, Central Valley Division, Cal Cities Stephen Qualls, CalCities Regional Public Affairs Manager, provided an overview and update on the California Business Roundtable Ballot Measure.
Council member Marsigli inquired polling status of the ballot measure, to which Mr.
Qualls advised his priority is to present this overview and educate people on the real effects of this measure.
Mr. Qualls expressed appreciation for the City’s support of CalCities stance of this measure and for allowing him to present at the Council meeting.
Mayor Nagy provided further information on the detriment this measure would cause to local agencies statewide.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Zachery Ramos, 1080 Elm Avenue, invited Council to the Build a Bear Foundation event on April 18th at Romero Elementary School, Gustine Elementary School and Our Lady of Miracles Catholic School. He updated on the Lions Park zen garden project and informed Council the weeds are being taken care of. He expressed appreciation for the assistance with the cleanup from Whichcraft Taproom as well as community members. He informed Council of the receipt of grant funding to obtain solar lights. He advised he is grateful to partner with the City. He thanked the Council and staff for their assistance.
CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and may be approved by one action of the City Council, unless any member of the City Council wishes to remove an item for separate consideration.
Are there any items on the consent calendar that any member of the public would like to comment on?
3. Minutes of the March 19, 2024 Regular Meeting
Recommendation: Review and approve
4. Warrants
Recommendation: Review and ratify
5. Approve Resolution Naming and Confirming Signatories on the City’s Banking Accounts
Recommendation: Review and approve
6. Approve Resolution Directing the Filing of Annual Reports for the City’s Assessment Districts
Recommendation: Review and approve
Mayor Nagy introduced the consent calendar.
There was no public comment.
Council member Bonta made a motion to approve the consent calendar.
The motion was seconded by Council member Marsigli and carried 4-0, with Council member Bonta abstaining from consent calendar item #3, Council members Marsigli and Giles abstaining from their respective warrants and Mayor Pro Tem Ford absent.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
7. DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION: North Avenue Sidewalk Drainage
1. Receive Staff Report
2. Receive public comment
3. Hold discussion and provide direction
Council member Marsigli recused herself from the Chambers at 6:58 P.M.
City Manager Than presented the staff report.
During public comment, Craig Christenson provided input on his preference to remove the trees and fix the curb and gutter.
Council member Giles inquired if there would be further flooding down West Ave, to which City Manager Than confirmed and advised the issue wouldn’t be exasperated.
He further advised the $26K cost would cover tree removal and replanting, and curb and gutter replacement.
Mayor Nagy inquired how far down West is the next inlet, to which City Manager Than advised it is located at Henry Miller Park.
Mayor Nagy inquired on the inlets on the east side of West Ave, to which City Manager Than advised there are none on that side.
Mayor Nagy provided his preference in choosing option 2, considering the condition of trees, to which City Manager Than advised this option gives the City the opportunity to replant less invasive trees.
Council directed staff to move forward with option 2.
Council member Marsigli rejoined the meeting at 7:12 P.M.
CITY DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt updated on the recent Planning Commission meeting and thanked Administrative Services Director Correa and Best, Best & Kreiger for setting up the Brown Act presentation. She advised the Planning Commission provided recommendation on an item that will come to Council at the next meeting. She updated on the Broadband projects. She informed Council the Gustine Unified School District also has a broadband project. Mrs. Westervelt updated on a Business License application for a Café at 475 5th Street. She advised of a recent inspection at the airport by CalTrans Aeronautical. She updated on the Multijurisdictional Housing Element and advised staff is currently reviewing the safety and environmental justice elements for the 6th Cycle Housing Element, and advised the draft will be released for public comment on April 29th. She further advised of her conversation with Ron Katakis in regards to his Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map and stated he will be bringing a request to extend the map timeline to Council at a future meeting.
Council member Bonta inquired whether the airport runway lights were operational, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised the lights are still down and further advised of the process and expense to repair the lights.
Acting Police Chief Joseph advised of a recent volunteer training regarding crime scene assistance. He updated on the solar array accident that occurred earlier at Schmidt Park. He advised he is working with Administrative Services Director Correa for Reserve Police Officer recruitment and testing and to reestablish the Reserve program.
He informed Council Officer Hollis will complete his Field Training by Friday and advised Officer Gonzalez is in phase 2 of Field Training. He advised of future enforcement on probation searches.
Fire Chief Borrelli advised of his recent meeting with Cal Fire Chiefs Felix, Pimentel and Van Lobensels and City Manager Than in regards to 2.0 staffing. He informed Council the three radios granted through CalFire will be received soon and stated the SCBAs are also forthcoming. He advised of his recent inspection at Gustine High School. He informed Council of the upcoming NDA on May 25th. He advised of department’s attendance at Gustine Elementary School and Gustine High School Career Days.
Public Works Director Ingram advised of ongoing routine maintenance. He informed Council the department is trying to improve process control at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Mayor Nagy praised the department for their hard work.
Council member Bonta inquired on the status of the microbes, to which Public Works Director Ingram advised they are effective. He further advised the ponds need more aerators.
Finance Director Morrison advised she had nothing to report.
Recreation Manager Vitorino updated on the success of Paint Night and the Easter Egg Hunt. She thanked the Public Works department for maintaining Schmidt Park for the event. She advised Miss Gustine raised $1200 from the raffle tickets and Easter Egg Hunt vendors. She thanked Public Works, CalTrans, Merced County Association of Governments, and City staff for their assistance with the SR -140/33 Roundabout Groundbreaking Ceremony that took place earlier. She updated on the Aquatics Center Resurfacing project. She informed Council she is working with a new vendor that will take over the kid’s zone at the 4th of July in the Park event. She further advised the new vendor is donating a dunk tank for the lifeguard fundraiser.
Administrative Services Director Correa thanked Recreation Manager Vitorino for her efforts and hard work with the SR 33/140 Roundabout Groundbreaking Ceremony.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
There was no City Attorney report.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Than reiterated thanks to Recreation Manager Vitorino for her hard work.
He further thanked Public Works for their upkeep of the City and for their commitment to responding to the community. He informed Council budget season is approaching and he is working to become familiar with the budget process. He advised of an upcoming meeting with Capital Advocacy Group and further advised they will present in front of Council in a future meeting. He advised City staff is looking into long-term processes and policies one being the Housing Element. He thanked Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt for her work on the 6th Cycle Housing Element. He advised of his work in making sure the City has a longer term Capital Improvement Plan.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Council member Marsigli sent condolences to Greg Houser and Janny Kirchner’s family.
She expressed appreciation that the contractor will be going door to door providing information in regards to the SR-140/33 Roundabout project. She informed everyone that tax days are coming up from April 10th – 15th. She encouraged Council and the community to vote diligently.
Council member Giles advised that he had nothing to report.
Council member Bonta gave kudos to City staff on the SR-140/33 Roundabout Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Mayor Nagy reiterated condolences to Greg Houser and Janny Kirchner’s family. He commended the success of the SR-140/33 Roundabout Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Mayor Nagy advised of the kind gesture from Wolfsen’s Meat and Sausage to offer sandwiches and sausages samples to groundbreaking ceremony attendees. He read aloud a letter from Judi Gandy thanking Council for thinking of Mike Gandy.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Nagy adjourned the meeting at 7:38 P.M.