CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
May 17, 2022 7:00 PM
Council Chambers
400 N. Douty St.
5:30 PM CALL TO ORDER STUDY SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Morrow called the study session and closed session to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK :
Present: Kalish Morrow, Diane Sharp, Francisco, Ramirez, Amanda Saltray, Art Brieno PUBLIC COMMENT:
Comments from the public are limited to items on the agenda (GC 54954.3a). A maximum of three minutes is allowed for each speaker. Please begin your comments by stating your name and providing your city of residence.
Mayor Morrow granted Mark Pratter extra time (5 minutes). Mr. Pratter commented on Hidden Valley Park and expressed his concerns regarding rezoning the park.
Bob Ramos commented on the amended agenda and questioned the item that was removed. City Manager Cifuentez addressed the public comments from Mr. Pratter and Mr. Ramos.
Lou Martinez expressed his concerns regarding the 18 acres adjacent to Hidden Valley Park. He also commented on the City Manager’s place of residence.
Jim Nelson commented on Hidden Valley Park.
STUDY SESSION :
Kings County Voters Choice Presentation
Kings County Registrar of Voters Lupe Villa presented the Voters Choice act with new and more ways to vote.
He also discussed no party voters and voter fraud. Mr. Villa answered questions from the Council.
The Council convened to closed session at 6:05 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF THE FOLLOWING:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-LABOR NEGOTIATIONS (GC 54957.6):
Agency Designated Representatives: Che Johnson, Mario Cifuentez, Sarah Cardoza, Chris Tavar ez, and Brenda Garcia.
Employee Organizations: Hanford Police Officer s Association (POA); Hanford Firefighters; Local 3898 (IAFF); Hanford General Employees Management Association (GEMA); Service Employees International Union Local 521 (SEIU); and Executive Management Employees Association (EMEA).
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION:
Mayor Morrow called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Diane Sharp Vice Mayor Present 5:29 PM
Art Brieno Council Member Present 5:27 PM
Kalish Morrow Mayor Present 5:25 PM
Amanda Saltray Council Member Present 5:28 PM
Francisco Ramirez Council Member Present 5:22 PM
INVOCATION:
The invocation was led by Chaplain Marleny Senn.
FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Mayor Morrow.
RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS:
Proclamation declaring May Community Action Month
Council Member Saltray presented the Community Action Month proclamation to KCAO Community Development Director Savino Perico.
CLOSED SESSION ACTION REPORT:
None.
COUNCIL REPORTS/GENERAL REPORTS:
Brief information -only reports from City Council and/or Staff, including committee reports and reports by City Council related to meetings attended at City expenses (AB1234).
Each of the Council Members discussed the meetings and events they attended.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
This is the time for citizens to comment on subject matters not on the agenda within the jurisdiction of the Hanford City Council. This is also the public’s opportunity to request an item from the Consent Calendar be pulled for discussion purposes or to comment on any item on the agenda. Comments related to Public Hearing items will be heard at the time the item is discussed.
A maximum of three minutes is allowed for each speaker. Please begin your comments by stating your name and providing your city of residence.
Brent Olsen spoke in favor of approving resolution 21-22-R, opposition to Measure F.
Dennis Ham commented on the appropriation for Heroes Park and expresse d his concerns regarding rezoning of Hidden Valley Park.
Bob Ramos commented on Heroes Park and expressed his concerns of the location of the park. He also commented on the Deputy City Manager position.
Travis Paden spoke in support of approving the Hanford Elementary School District SRO agreement.
Emily Burnias commented counsel representation.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion.
There will be no separate discussion of these matters unl ess a request is made and then the item will b e removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion.
Items E was pulled by Mayor Morrow, Item G was pulled by Council Member Sharp and Item H was pulled by Council Member Brieno.
Motion to approve the consent calendar except for the items pulled for separate discussion.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Diane Sharp, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Amanda Saltray, Council Member
AYES: Sharp, Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
A. PROCEDURAL WAIVER: Waive reading in full of resolutions and ordinances and approval and adoption of same by reading title the only.
B. City Clerk: Approval of the Minutes of the November 16, 2021 Meeting C. City Clerk: Approval of the Minutes of the December 7, 2021 Meeting D. City Clerk: Denial of a clai m for damages and authorization for the City Clerk to send out notification of such to Tara Ramirez.
E. Parks and Community Services: Award of a sole-source contract to Valley Security Alarm for the installation of security cameras at seven (7) City parks and facilities and the installation of two (2) solar-powered lights at Earl F. Johnson Park and Appropriation of $191,240 from the General Fund f or the creation of the CIP project to be funded through a $177,952 grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Per Capita Grant Program Pulled Items:
1. Administration: Authorization for the City Manager to execute a Retainer Agreement wit h the Farley Law Firm to provide Conflict Counsel for Council Members Brieno and Ramirez [Item E]
Pulled by Mayor Morrow.
Mayor Morrow pulled the item to give Council Members Ramirez and Brieno the opportunity to recuse themselves. City Attorney Mizote discussed the conflict of interest of Council Members Ramirez and Brieno voting on the item. Council Member Bri eno discussed his attorney consultation. Council Member Ramirez expressed his concerns regarding the lawsuit and the City’s current attorney. Cit y Attorney Mizote answered questions from the Council and discussed the recommendation for separate legal couns el for the Council Members.
Motion to approve.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Diane Sharp, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Amanda Saltray, Council Member
AYES: Sharp, Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
2. Public Works: Adoption of Resolution No. 22 -20-R, thereby identifying the official “Project List” for RMRA gas tax funding for Fiscal Year 2022/23
[Item G]
Pulled by Vice Mayor Sharp.
Vice Mayor Sharp owns property adjacent to a project and she did not want to vote on the item.
Motion to approve.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Francisco Ramirez, Council Member
SECONDER: Amanda Saltray, Council Member
AYES: Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
ABSTAIN: Sharp
3. Police: Approval of an amended 2 -year agreement between the City of Hanford and the Hanford Elementary School District (HESD) to provide School Resource officers for the district.
[Item H]
Pulled by Council Member Brieno.
Police Chief Sever discussed the agreement and invited questions from the Council. Council Member Brieno commented on the positive impact that School Resource Officers (SRO) have on the students.
Motion to approve.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Francisco Ramirez, Council Member
SECONDER: Amanda Saltray, Council Member
AYES: Sharp, Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Public Works: Introduction of Ordinance No. 22 -06 which amends Chapter 13.12 (Solid Waste Collection and Disposal), Chapter 2.48 (Purchasing system), and Chapter 12.08 (Water efficient landscape design and installation) of the Hanford Municipal Code relating to compliance with SB 1383.
Mayor Morrow opened the public hearing at 7:49 p.m. and ca lled for the staff. Public Works Director John Doyel and Deputy Public Works Director Jim Ross presented the staff report and answered questio ns from the Council.
Public Comment:
Mackenzie Ranken questioned the State requirements and the enforcement eff orts. She also commented on the wasted food at schools.
Travis Paden asked how the new ordinance will impact the school districts.
Lynn Nelson questioned penalty fines.
Brent Olsen questioned the business permit process.
Dir. Doyel addressed the questions asked during public comment. Vice Mayor Sharp thanked the staff for well - written ordinance. Deputy Dir. Ross discussed the de minimis waiver that was not included in the sta ff report and answered questions from the Council.
Motion to approve.
Mayor Morrow closed the public hearing at 8:32 p.m.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Francisco Ramirez, Council Member
SECONDER: Amanda Saltray, Council Member
AYES: Sharp, Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
GENERAL BUSINESS:
A. Parks and Community Services: Update to Council on the Heroes Park project and Appropriation of funding to formally create a Capital Improvement Project for the acqui sition and development of the new 40-Acre park
On behalf of Parks and Community Services Director Brad Albert, City Manager Cifuentez discussed the park update. He addressed the questions and concerns expressed during public comment. He also discussed the Prop 68 process, elements and qualifications. Council Member Ramirez spoke in support of the park and commended Dir. Albert. Council Member Brieno expressed his concerns regarding the appropriation. City Manager Cifuentez addressed Council Member Brieno’s concerns.
Motion to approve.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Francisco Ramirez, Council Member
SECONDER: Diane Sharp, Vice Mayor
AYES: Sharp, Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
B. Consideration of the Adoption of Resolution No. 22 -22-R, authorizing t he restructuring of the CalPERS Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) and approving the issuance of of up to $31 million in 2022 Taxable Pension Obligation Bonds
Finance Director Chris Tavarez, Oppenheimer Executive Director Jeff Land, NHA Advisors Eric Scriven and Eric Warziak (teleconference) discu ssed the consideration of the Adoption of Resolution No. 22 -22-R, authorizing the restructuring of the CalPERS Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) and approving the issuance of up to $31 million in 2022 Taxable Pension Obligation Bonds. Staff and the consulta nt team answered questions from the Council.
Motion to approve.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Amanda Saltray, Council Member
SECONDER: Art Brieno, Council Member
AYES: Sharp, Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
C. Council: Adoption of Resolution 22 -21-R, memorializing the City of Hanford's Formal Opposition to Measure F on the June 2022 Ballot of the County of Kings.
Fire Chief Pendergrass discussed the resolution and invited questions for the Council. The Co uncil b riefly discussed the tax measure and spoke in support of the city's formal opposition to Measure F. City Attorney Mizote answered questions from Council Member Brieno regarding the use of city funds for political purposes.
Motion to approve.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Francisco Ramirez, Council Member
SECONDER: Art Brieno, Council Member
AYES: Sharp, Brieno, Morrow, Saltray, Ramirez
COUNCIL COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS:
At this time, any Council Member may ask a question for clarifica tion, make an announcement, or report briefly on their activities. In addition, subject to Council Policies and Procedures, they may request staff to report back to the Council at a subsequent meeting concerning any matter or take action to direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda. (GOV. CODE SEC. 54954.2)
Council Future Agenda Items
Council Member Ramirez suggested meeting with the school districts for future partnerships. Staff will follow up.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Morrow adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie Corral
City Clerk