MINUTES OF
REGULAR MEETING
February 17, 2026
CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Nagy called the meeting to order at 6:33 P.M. and conducted the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Council Members: Melville – Giles - Marsigli – Mayor Pro Tem Ford – Mayor Nagy Staff present: City Manager Melanie Correa, Finance Director Jennifer Morrison, Economic & Community Development Director Jami Westervelt, Police Chief Ruben Chavez, City Attorney Olivia Clark (virtual), Recreation Manager Tiffany Vitorino, and Acting Deputy Clerk Desirae Porras
Mayor Pro Tem Ford arrived at 6:34P.M.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Council member Melville made a motion to approve the agenda.
The motion was seconded by Council member Giles and carried 5-0.
DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of conflict of interest.
PRESENTATIONS
1. Ceremonial Swear-In and Badge Pinning
Damir Herman, Reserve Police Officer
Mitchell King, Police Officer
Police Chief Chavez introduced both sworn employees.
Mayor Nagy presented the Oath of Office to Reserve Officer Damir Herman and Police Officer Mitchell King.
Family members pinned their badges.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
2. Minutes of the February 3, 2026 Regular Meeting
Recommendation: Review and approve
3. Warrants
Recommendation: Review and ratify
4. Treasurer’s Report – January 2026
Recommendation: Review and file
5. Approve Request from Motors on Main for Use of City Streets, City Services, Allow Mobile Food Vendors, and Waive Fees for Annual Car Show Event Recommendation: Review and approve
6. Approve Resolution Accepting Completion of Airport Hangar Demolition Project, Authorizing the City Clerk to File a Notice of Completion, and Authorizing City Manager to Make Final Payment of Retention Monies
Recommendation: Review and approve resolution
7. Consider Resolution Approving Employment Agreement for Human Resources Manager/Deputy City Clerk
Recommendation: Review and approve resolution
8. Approve Resolution Authorizing Purchase and Installation of HVAC Unit for Public Works Corporation Yard Office Building and Authorizing City Manager to Issue Purchase Order
Recommendation: Review and approve resolution
Mayor Nagy introduced the consent calendar.
There was no public comment.
Council member Melville made a motion to approve the consent calendar.
The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Ford and carried 5-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
9. DISCUSSION & DIRECTION: Downtown Roundabout Schedule
1. Receive staff report
2. Receive Public Comment
3. Hold discussion and provide staff direction
Danny Reed, Project Manager, presented an overview of the Downtown Roundabout project schedules.
There was no public comment.
Council member Giles inquired whether any funds allocated to the project must be expended by a specific deadline, to which Mr. Reed stated the City is still in the funding window and advised of the option to extend funds for two-years if necessary.
Council member Marsigli inquired whether the project could be done before the Downtown Old Fashioned Christmas event, to which Mr. Reed advised he is unable to commit to that timeframe without a construction schedule.
City Manager Correa further advised of the impacts of each schedule presented and stated the City is looking for the one that will have the least impact on community events.
Mayor Nagy inquired whether construction is a 90-day window, to which Mr. Reed advised it is slated for 60 working days.
There was further discussion regarding the project timeline scenarios.
Mayor Nagy inquired whether Alternate B is Mr. Reed’s recommendation, to which Mr.
Reed advised Alternate B would avoid many City events but he provided no recommendation.
Council directed staff to move forward with Alternate B project timeline.
City Manager Correa advised she will set up another Stakeholder meeting to provide an update and revisit the 90% plans with the group.
Mayor Nagy inquired whether the businesses will have access in and out, to which City Manager Correa affirmed all efforts would work towards ensuring the least impact to access.
10. Consider Resolution Adopting Updated Administrative Fine Schedule and Consider Introduction and Waiver of First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Title 1, Chapter 1, Title 2, Chapter 7, and Title 10, Chapter 3 of the Gustine Municipal Code Related to Administrative Code Enforcement
1. Receive staff report
2. Receive Public Comment
3. Consider a motion to approve the resolution
4. Consider a motion to introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 1, Title 2, Chapter 7, and Title 10, Chapter 3 of the Gustine Municipal Code related to administrative code enforcement Police Chief Chavez presented the staff report.
There was no public comment.
Council member Marsigli commented on the administrative fine for commercial vehicle off truck route, to which Police Chief Chavez advised the City is unable to increase the fine further due to the limitations set forth in Government Code.
Mayor Nagy commented on the fines for junk cars compared to the fines for trash, to which Police Chief Chavez advised he would look at historical data to find the date the fine for trash was raised.
Mayor Nagy inquired whether a resident would be fined daily beginning with the first citation, to which Police Chief Chavez responded that, in past situations, the department has allowed residents up to one week to resolve the issue before issuing additional citations.
Mayor Nagy inquired whether the City is engaging additional contractors to address abatement issues and subsequently charging the associated costs to the resident, to which City Manager Correa responded that the City has not yet implemented this practice, but it is the intention to begin doing so soon.
Council member Marsigli inquired clarification on the current fee structure from Data Ticket, to which Police Chief Chavez advised the monthly minimum fees are $250 for parking citations and $250 for administrative citations.
Police Chief Chavez further advised that collaborating with Data Ticket would relieve the Finance Department of this responsibility, allowing staff to focus on their core duties.
Council member Melville made a motion to approve the resolution adopting updated Administrative Fine Schedule.
The motion was seconded by Council member Marsigli and carried 5-0.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford made a motion to introduce and waive the first reading of an ordinance amending Title 1, Chapter 1, Title 2, Chapter 7, and Title 10, Chapter 3 of the Gustine Municipal Code related to administrative code enforcement.
The motion was seconded by Council member Melville and carried 5-0.
11. INFORMATIONAL: Economic Development Workshop and Survey Results
1. Receive staff report
2. Receive public comment
3. Hold discussion
Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt provided an overview of the workshop and survey results.
There was no public comment.
Council member Melville inquired how the roundabout effects the streetscape design, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised the roundabout would improve accessibility and enhance the overall appearance of the area.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford inquired whether any complaints were made regarding the downtown roundabout, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised no complaints were made through the surveys.
Council Member Marsigli proposed that the City help business owners by seeking out grants or funding opportunities to improve downtown lighting. She further advised of the impact PG&E fees are having on business owners.
Council member Giles recommended setting a standard for the downtown roundabout and enforcing it throughout Main Street.
Council member Marsigli inquired where the survey was posted and whether it was included in the snippets, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt confirmed that it was included in the snippets and stated herself and others helped distribute it to downtown businesses.
Council member Giles inquired clarification on the survey comment for restrictions of zoning, to which Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised it was in regards to conditional use permit requirements.
12. Consider Resolution Approving Mid-Year Budget Adjustment for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026
1. Receive staff report
2. Receive public comment
3. Consider a motion to approve the resolution
Finance Director presented the mid-year budget adjustment for FY 25/26.
There was no public comment.
Council member Marsigli inquired where the PD and Animal Control funds come from, to which Finance Director Morrison advised they are within the General Fund.
Council member Melville made a motion to approve the resolution approving mid-year budget adjustment for FY 25/26.
The motion was seconded by Council member Marsigli and carried 5-0.
CITY DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Police Chief Chavez provided funeral service information for Lupita Ontiveros. He updated on the Pebble Beach event the Explorers attended. Lastly, he advised of the recent Gustine High School student walkout.
Recreation Manager Vitorino updated on the completion of Goman and Ed Peterson gutter replacements. She advised of upcoming events such as Miss Gustine Pageant, Paint Night and the Easter Egg Hunt.
Finance Director Morrison thanked Council for the approval of mid-year budget adjustment.
Economic & Community Development Director Westervelt advised she had nothing to report.
Acting Deputy Clerk Porras thanked the Council for approving the employment agreement and conveyed her excitement about continuing her work and taking the next steps with the City.
CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Correa welcomed Deputy Clerk Porras to the management team. She followed up on last week’s email to the Council and staff with an update on the Caltrans intersection improvement project at the four-way stop and shared that she will be meeting with the City Engineer and Caltrans project manager and design team, regarding implementation of the drainage improvements along with that project. She gave kudos to the Gustine High School Boys Varsity Soccer team on making it to quarterfinal playoffs.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
City Attorney Clark advised she had nothing to report.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Council member Marsigli inquired on a booming noise that occurred on February 6th and 7th, to which Police Chief Chavez advised he would look into it.
Council member Marsigli expressed frustration with the illegal vendors and emphasized that action needs to be taken.
City Manager Correa advised Merced County would like to attend a meeting and present to Council regarding illegal vendors.
Mayor Nagy advised of the task force the County has in place for the illegal vendors and advised of the issues that arise when the vendors are taken down.
Council member Melville commented on the Gustine High School student walkout. He expressed appreciation for the community and their support in the filhos sale at the GPS Hall. He recommended the repainting of the Joe Degregori sign at the baseball field.
Council member Giles congratulated Police Chief Chavez on the new hires.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford inquired whether District 10 will be part of the City’s meeting with Caltrans, to which City Manager Correa advised she has a quarterly meeting via phone at 1P.M. with the District 10 representatives and then the City is on site at 2P.M. to speak to the project design team.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford advised of two crosswalks in town that require attention. He noted an increase in the town’s homeless population, to which Police Chief Chavez advised he would look into.
City Manager Correa advised she would look into resources to address the crosswalk issue.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford advised he will attend the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Ford and Council member Melville advised they will both attend the Livingston City County Relations Dinner in April.
Mayor Nagy advised of the upcoming League of California Cities General Membership meeting on March 12th in Tracy. He updated Council of his meeting with Merced County Supervisor Lloyd Pareira, County CEO Mark Hendrickson, and the City Manager.
He advised of the upcoming State of the County Address on March 20th and stated it will be available online as well. He further advised of his work with Gustine High School and Assistant County Chief to send students to the Fire Academy for a day to spark interest in that career pathway.
City Manager Correa advised of the Passport Mobile Services event that is scheduled for March 27th at the Goman Center parking lot.
Mayor Nagy informed Council and the community that Palafox, in Gustine, assists with DMV renewal and registration.
He thanked Chamber of Commerce for this printed schedule of events. He reminded everyone of the upcoming City events. He advised the city is replacing street signs throughout town.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Nagy adjourned the meeting at 8:24 P.M.