MINUTES OF
REGULAR MEETING
June 18, 2024
CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pro Tem Ford called the meeting to order at 6:31 P.M. and conducted the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Council Members: Giles - Marsigli – Bonta – Mayor Pro Tem Ford Staff present: City Manager Soknirorn Than, Associate Attorney Kyler Rayden, Recreation Manager Tiffany Vitorino, Acting Police Chief Sammy Joseph, Finance Director Jenny Morrison, Public Works Director Gary Ingram, Economic & Community Development Director Jami Westervelt and Administrative Services Director Melanie Correa
Mayor Nagy 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 Nagy absent.
DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Council member Giles advised of his abstention from the warrant in his name.
Council member Marsigli advised of her abstention from the warrant in her name.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Abby Pendleton, on behalf of Assembly Member Juan Alanis, provided a legislative update on bills passed by the Committee.
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?
1. Minutes of the June 4, 2024 Regular Meeting
Recommendation: Review and approve
2. Minute of the June 4, 2024 Special Meeting
Recommendation: Review and approve
3. Warrants
Recommendation: Review and ratify
4. Treasurer’s Report – May 2024
Recommendation: Review and file
5. Approve Resolution Establishing Appropriations Limit and Certifying the Population Estimate for FY 2024/2025
Recommendation: Review and approve resolution
6. Approve Resolution Confirming the 2.5% User Utility Tax for FY 2024/2025 Recommendation: Review and approve resolution
Mayor Pro Tem Ford introduced the consent calendar.
There was no public comment.
Council member Marsigli advised of a revision to consent calendar item #1 referencing that payroll expenses are to be removed from the UUT transfer.
Council member Marsigli made a motion to approve the consent calendar, as amended.
The motion was seconded by Council member Giles and carried 4-0, with Mayor Nagy absent and Council members Marsigli and Giles abstaining from their respective warrants.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
7. Consider Resolution Authorizing City Manager to Enter Into Separate Agreements with Three Firms for Contract On-Call Planning Services
1. Receive Staff Report
2. Receive public comment
3. Consider a motion to approve resolution
Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt presented the staff report, and introduced Kelsey George, Senior Planner, 4Creeks.
There was no public comment.
Council member Marsigli inquired the amount for each agreement, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised each firm submitted their rates, which will be included and memorialized in each agreement.
Council member Bonta inquired whether there was any potential downfall with having agreements with three firms, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised there wasn’t any anticipated downfall, as in the event one firm is unable to provide services these agreements give the City flexibility to work with one of the other firms.
City Manager Than advised of additional language in the agreements limiting each contract to a $200K maximum per year.
Council member Marsigli inquired whether 4Creeks has experience with small towns, to which Ms. George affirmed and provided an overview of her experience.
Ms. George expressed excitement to start with the City.
Council member Bonta made a motion to authorize City Manager to enter into separate agreements with three firms for contract On-Call Planning Services.
The motion was seconded by Council member Giles and carried 4-0, with Mayor Nagy absent.
8. PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Adoption of City’s Financial Budget for FY 2024/2025
1. Receive Staff Report
2. Open the public hearing
3. Receive the public comment
4. Close the public hearing
5. Consider a motion to adopt the City’s 2024/2025 Financial Budget Finance Director Morrison presented the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford opened the public hearing at 6:51 P.M.
There was no public comment.
The public hearing was closed at 6:52 P.M.
Council member Marsigli thanked City Manager Than and staff for going over the budget with her on Monday.
She provided an overview of her conversation with City Manager Than in regards to payroll coming out of the UUT fund.
City Manager Than advised historically the UUT fund covered salary expenses in the Pool, Recreation and Goman Center funds.
Council member Marsigli inquired the amount for the Police SUV’s, to which City Manager Than advised the vehicles were $80K including outfitting expenses.
Council member Marsigli inquired the amount going to General Fund reserve, to which Finance Director Morrison advised 5% ($136K) is budgeted towards reserves.
Council member Marsigli inquired whether the new positions are going to be contracted or union, to which City Manager Than advised there will be a mix of both.
Council member Marsigli expressed confusion on why the UUT summary shows a budget of $6K, to which City Manager Than advised it is showing an expenditure of $324K for the transfer out to the General Fund.
Council member Bonta made a motion to adopt the City’s 2024/2025 financial budget.
The motion was seconded by Council member Giles and carried 4-0, with Mayor Nagy absent.
CITY DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Acting Police Chief Joseph updated on the department’s attendance at the graduation ceremonies last week. He advised of the department’s preparation for the 4th of July celebration and GPS Festa. He further advised of ongoing training and work with City Manager Than and Administrative Services Director Correa on upcoming recruitments. He reported on a burglary at Tip Top Farms. He provided details on traffic enforcement on the truck route and advised of including additional signage for the truck detour.
There was further conversation in regards to the signage for the truck detour.
Public Works Director Ingram advised Henry Miller Park sprinkler system has been automated. He advised of the department’s assistance to the CalTrans sidewalk project to encourage expedited continuance. He relayed the departments work in picking up fallen tree limbs throughout the City.
Council member Bonta commented on the appearance of the walking path and asked for assistance from the department in addressing the issue.
Public Works Director Ingram advised the automated sprinklers will free up time for the department to focus on other areas in need of assistance.
Council member Marsigli inquired when the egrets will leave, to which Public Works Director Ingram advised they leave between September and October and further advised the tree limbs will be removed once the egrets are gone.
Council member Bonta suggested researching netting the park trees as a deterrence.
Recreation Manager Vitorino updated on the onboarding of the Lifeguards. She informed Council that 4th of July week will be a light week in regards to swim lessons to accommodate Lifeguard intensive training. She advised the memorial trees have been ordered and should be installed this week. She informed Council the Color Run event has been postponed to the fall due to the shortage in sponsorships. She advised of the upcoming Movie Night event on Thursday and a Pop-Up Pool event on Sunday June 30th. She advised preparations for the 4th of July celebration are ongoing and updated on vendors that will be in attendance. She relayed Gustine 4-H will be attending Newman Farmer’s Market to solicit firework show donations. She reminded everyone of the Westside Auto Club Linguica Run on July 13th.
Council member Bonta inquired the process in painting the bottom of the pool, to which Recreation Manager Vitorino advised it is actually the exterior curb that will be painted not the bottom of the pool.
She informed Council of the changes to the 4th of July Parade route.
Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt thanked Council for approving the on-call planning services contracts.
She advised environmental clearance for the congressional directed funding broadband project has been granted and a contract from USDA should be received in the coming weeks. She advised the Katakis Subdivision project is progressing. She informed everyone the Multi-Jurisdictional Housing Element comment period has closed and advised the City Council and Planning Commission will have a special joint meeting on June 26th to review the comments.
Council member Giles inquired whether Comcast or Unwired is targeting sections of the City, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised Comcast is looking into to have a phased in approach to which Unwired, per agreement, requires them to do the entire City.
Council member Bonta inquired if the Gustine Unified School District project is planned in tandem with the City’s broadband project, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised the district’s project has already started.
Council member Bonta commented on communication issues with the broadband projects.
City Manager Than advised of the encroachment permit requirements for the contractor to contact every impacted property owners five working days before the work begins. He further advised notifications should be in-person or by door hanger if no one is home.
Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt encouraged residents and businesses to contact the City with any issues.
Finance Director Morrison thanked Council for adopting the 2024/2025 financial budget.
Administrative Services Director Correa advised of the abundance of public records requests received by the City Clerks department. She advised of the open Police Officer recruitment and stated other recruitments will be rolled out be end of week. She informed Council of the upcoming County-wide City Clerks meeting next week to discuss the election process. She advised next week City Manager Than or herself will be attending the Risk Management Authority Board meeting in Fresno.
Council member Giles inquired the timeline mandates for records requests, to which Administrative Services Director Correa advised initial response is due within 10 calendar days and from there the City can request additional deadlines dependent on the details of the request.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
Associate Attorney Rayden expressed pleasure to be in attendance and advised of the Professional Service Agreements he is currently working on for the City.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Than reiterated thanks to Council for adopting the 2024/2025 financial budget. He advised the next steps will be to implement the budget and the continued collaboration between departments. He informed Council staff will bring a mid-year budget to Council in December or January. He expressed appreciation to Mayor Nagy for outreach to City of Merced for the sweeper. He advised process improvements are forthcoming and stated the importance of updating City systems. City Manager Than further advised the City will attend the first County-wide Roundtable Quarterly meeting to look at Economic Development on Friday.
Council member Marsigli advised City Manager Than will be providing a breakdown of sales tax generation from each business, to which City Manager Than advised the City will have to go to a third party to obtain the information.
Council member Bonta asked for the City to make sure Westside is represented appropriately in quarterly Economic Development meetings.
Council member Bonta inquired whether funds have been received from the newspaper, to which City Manager Than advised information will come to Council at a future meeting.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Council member Giles advised that he had nothing to report.
Council member Marsigli thanked staff for collaboration and transparency.
Council member Bonta advised that he had nothing to report.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford inquired an update on firework donations, to which Recreation Manager Vitorino advised she will provide an update at the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tem Ford adjourned the meeting at 7:39 P.M.