City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
March 7, 2023 7:00 PM
Council Chambers
400 N. Douty St.
4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER STUDY SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Paden called the study session and closed session to order at 4:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK:
Present: Absent:
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Diane Sharp
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Study Sessions are considered Special Meetings under the Brown Act. Accordingly, comments from the public are limited to items listed on the agenda (GC 54954.3a). Public Comment will be accepted during each agenda item. A maximum of three minutes is allowed for each speaker. Please begin your comments by stating your name and providing your city of residence.
Study Session Item B:
Bob Ramos suggested allocating funds for a senior center.
STUDY SESSION:
A. Parks and Community Services: Presentation to Council on the status of funding in the Various Landscape Assessment Districts (LAD's); levels of service options for the LAD's; other types of funding mechanisms for subdivision improvements; and the ability and process for residents to request additional amenities or improvements.
Parks and Community Services Director Brad Albert and Wildan Financial Senior Project Manager, Jim McGuire discussed funding in the various LAD, levels of service options and other types of funding mechanisms for improvements.
Dir. Albert also discussed community outreach and the strategies moving forward. Mr. McGuire, Dir. Albert and City Manager Cifuentez answered questions from the Council. The presentation was for informational purposes only. No action was taken.
B. Community Development: Council review and Discussion of the proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Activity Funding for the 2023-2024 CDBG Cycle and Provide Direction to Staff to Prepare the Annual Action Plan for HUD Housing Analyst Sandra Lerma presented an overview of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Activity Funding for the Council's review and direction. Ms. Lerma also discussed priority needs, recommended preliminary allocations and the next steps and timeline in the process. Deputy City Manger Waters and City Manager Cifuentez discussed a potential navigation center project. Staff answered questions from the Council and after much discussion, the Council directed staff to move forward with the presented recommendations.
The Council adjourned to closed session at 5:57 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF THE FOLLOWING:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (GC 54956.9 (d)(2)):
2 Workers Compensation Claims
B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION (GC 54956.9)(d)(1)):
Ortiz v. City of Hanford
Kings County Superior Court 21C0396
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION:
Mayor Paden called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Absent:
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Diane Sharp
INVOCATION:
The invocation was led by Chief Sever.
FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Council Member Sharp.
RECOGNITION:
Oath of Office and Badge Pinning Ceremony for Officer Robert Parker, Officer Wayne Shoemake, and Officer Manuel Pasillas; Presentation of Life Saving Medals to Officer Fabian Avalos and Officer Idalis Rubalcava City Clerk Natalie Corral administered the oath to Police Officers Robert Parker, Wayne Shoemake, and Mauel Pasillas. Chief Server presented Life Saving Medals to Officers Fabian Avalos and Idalis Chandler.
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).
The Council discussed the meetings and events they attended. The Mayor and Vice Mayor provided an overview of the community meeting held on March 28, 2023 in the City Hall training room.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
This is the time for citizens to comment on subject matters 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. State law does not allow the Council to discuss or take action on issues not on the agenda, except that members of the Council or staff may briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by persons exercising their public testimony rights (Gov. Code sec. 54954.2). A maximum of three minutes is allowed for each speaker. Please begin your comments by stating your name and providing your city of residence.
Noor Memon commented on the Bastille, he knows people who are interested in buying the property.
William Ochoa spoke in opposition to the traffic circle project. He also commented on a news article.
Susan Davis commented on the traffic circle project, and spoke in opposition.
Bob Ramos stated he was disappointed in Council Member Morrow's comments regarding the traffic circle project.
He also commented on the meeting held on Tuesday March 28, 2023.
Brian Yoosh expressed his concerns about the traffic circle project and pedestrian safety.
Jim Nelson expressed his concerns about Council Member Morrow's comments on social media about the traffic circle project.
Onan Champi commented on Annextion 160, part 4, and provided a background of the expansion of his business.
Anna Brookeshire suggested using the traffic circle project funds for storm drains.
Nick Wagner commented on the Stardust Motel and the transition homes in the County.
Michael Portugal commented on the Exeter roundabouts and expressed his concerns about putting one in Hanford.
He also commented on the annexation.
Chris Jordan commented on the traffic circle project, and the downtown meeting hosted by the Mayor and Vice Mayor. He also expressed his concerns regarding the number of people who are opposed to the traffic circle project.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Consent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these matters unless a request is made and then the item will be removed from the Consent Calendar to be discussed and voted upon by a separate motion.
Council Member Martinez pulled items E and H. Motion to approve the consent calendar except for the item pulled for separate discussion.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Diane Sharp
Council Member Mark Kairis
Diane Sharp, Mark Kairis, Kalish Morrow, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez 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 January 17, 2023 Meeting C. City Clerk: Appointment of Garry Curtis to the vacant Alternate Planning Commissioner seat with an unexpired term ending on 12/31/2025.
D. City Attorney: Approval of a Compromise Agreement and Release with Luis D. Ortiz Alonzo
E. Public Works: Acceptance of the Offers of Dedication for Tract 922, Unit 1, Authorization for the City Manager to execute and the City Clerk to attest and file the Acceptance of Dedication for Tract No. 922, Unit 1 with the Kings County Recorder’s Office.
F. Public Works: Authorization to Award a contract to Aramark Uniform Services (Fresno, CA) to provide uniform and laundry services, initially up to $21,200 annually per specifications of Request for Bid No. 2023-04 for up to three years.
PULLED CONSENT ITEMS:
A. Fire: Authorization to accept a FEMA 2021 Assistance for Firefighters Grant for $45,525 for the purchase of firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) and appropriate an additional $20,078 to the Fire Department's capital outlay in the General Fund to cover the purchase.
[Item H]
Pulled by Council Member Martinez.
Chief Pendergrass presented the item for the Council's review and approval.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Diane Sharp, Mark Kairis, Kalish Morrow, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez B. Community Development: Waive and adopt the 2nd Reading of Ordinance 23-02, approving Prezone No. 2021-09, a request to prezone Annexation 160 Part 4 as a combination of R-L-5 Low-Density Residential and MX-C Corridor Mixed Use, in accordance with the General Plan designation for the area, Low-Density Residential and Corridor Mixed Use. The project is generally located east of 10th Avenue, south of Florinda Street, and north of Lacey Boulevard.
[tem E]
Council Member Sharp pulled the item to recuse herself.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSTAIN:
Passed
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Mark Kairis
Mark Kairis, Kalish Morrow, Travis Paden
Lou Martinez
Diane Sharp
GENERAL BUSINESS:
A. Fire: Presentation to Council for direction regarding the 2022 Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) program, review of the proposal by the Hanford Fire Department to utilize potentially over $2 million in funding to hire more firefighters and reduce the overtime costs to the City's General Fund Fire Chief Steve Pendergrass discussed the SAFER program and the proposal for the Council's review and direction.
Staff answered questions from the Council. After a brief discussion, Council Member Morrow made the motion to approve.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Mark Kairis
Diane Sharp, Mark Kairis, Kalish Morrow, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez COUNCIL COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS::
At this time, any Council Member may ask a question for clarification, 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)
A. Council Future Agenda Items
Vice Mayor Kairis addressed the comments about the traffic circle project and the comments. Council Member Morrow addressed the comments directed at her during public comment. Council Member Martinez commented on the public comment time limit. The Mayor announced that the downtown meeting presentation would be available at the City Clerk's office.
B. Upcoming Events and Important Dates:
March 11: Helping Hands Volunteer Program - Encore Park 465 E. Encore Dr. 8:00 am- Noon Sign up here
March 21: Regular City Council Meeting
April 1: Run Walk & Roll 5k for Autism Awareness Civic Park Register here ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Paden adjourned the meeting at 8:39 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Natalie Corral
Natalie Corral, City Clerk