City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
March 21, 2023 7:00 PM
Council Chambers
400 N. Douty St.
4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER STUDY 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 Travis Paden
Council Member Diane Sharp
Council Member Kalish Morrow - LATE
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Mark Kairis
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Study Sessions are considered Special Meetings under the Bown 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 C:
Mark Evans addressed his violation notice he received from the city, and he stated that the concrete in his driveway was permitted to be added and his basketball hoop is not in the right of way.
Dave Duram addressed the violation notice he received from the city. He requested the Council to consider allowing basketball hoops in the right of way.
STUDY SESSION:
A. City Clerk: Recognition of Employees of the Year and Service Award Recipients Chief Parker Server and Payroll Analyst Penny Suphin received a 25-year service award, and Firefighter Tom McKean received a 20-year service award.
B. Finance: Review of the FY 2022-23 Mid-Year Budget and Council Approval of an additional Appropriation of $936,962 in the GF and $5,408,780 across all other funds for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year Budget
Finance Director Chris Tavarez and Finance Manager Destiny Borba presented the Mid- Year budget and additional appropriations for the Council's review and approval. The Council thanked the staff for the presentation and report. Mr.
Tavarez addressed questions and concerns from the Council.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Diane Sharp
Council Member Mark Kairis
Diane Sharp, Mark Kairis, Kalish Morrow, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez C. Community Development: Discussion regarding Title 12 “Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places” of the City’s Municipal code and City Policies for Encroachment and Uses and Obligations of property owners within the City’s Right-of-Way Deputy City Manager Jason Waters discussed Municipal code Title 12 streets, Sidewalks and public places, Right of way violations, for the Council's review. City Attorney Ty Mizote, elaborated on the sidewalk right of way and answered questions from the Council. Code Enforcement Supervisor, Gavino Barrera discussed the violation citation process. Staff addressed the basketball hoop concerns expressed during public comment and answered questions from the Council.
City Attorney Mizote discussed the potential liability to the city for permitting basketball hoops in the streets. After much discussion, the Council directed staff to bring back future discussion regarding a possible permitting system, or other solutions.
The Mayor adjourned the study and closed the session at 5:28 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION:
Mayor Paden called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Absent:
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Diane Sharp
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Mark Kairis
INVOCATION:
The invocation was led by Pastor John Malogi.
FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Officer Mark Carillo.
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).
Chief Parker Server presented Officer Carillo with a 20-year service award.
The Council discussed the meetings and events they attended. Mayor Paden also discussed the notifications he continually receives from city residents, and thanked the staff for their response to those calls and concerns.
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.
Bob Ramos commented on an article regarding visual impaired individuals crossing on roundabouts. He also commented on the Downtown Committee, and questioned the timeline of the traffic circle project.
Michael Cook commented on traffic circles and expressed his concerns regarding blind people crossing a traffic circle. He also commented on the bathrooms at Hidden Valley Park.
Amory Marple requested adding a discussion of creating a subcommittee for the Hanford Chamber of Commerce to a future agenda.
Shelly Barker expressed her concerns about the fee of a citation she received. City Manager Cifuentez responded to her comment.
A man, who did not state his name, expressed his concerns about the homeless people in the parks. He also commented on the safety of blind people crossing traffic circles.
Lavarse Carter commented on the warming centers and expressed his concerns regarding the safety of homeless people, and he asked, what is the Council doing to help the homeless people.
Michelle Brown commented on the Main Street Hanford contract. She also listed the events and services they provide to the community.
Craig Johnson provided the Council with a handout and commented on the Main Street Hanford Events. He also commented on his experience diving on roundabouts.
Micheal Quinn commented on his drive around the city and questioned the plans for the vacant lots in the city. He also commented on the traffic circle project.
Kimber Regan commented on the traffic circle project. She also expressed her concerns about the businesses that will be affected by the construction of the traffic circle. She also commented on the homeless people downtown.
Kristy Kairis expressed her dissatisfaction with the amount of opposition associated with 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.
Motion to approve.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Diane Sharp
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 30, 2023 Special Meeting C. City Clerk: Approval of the Minutes of the January 31, 2023 Special Meeting D. City Clerk: Appointment of James Nelson to the Parking and Traffic Commissioner Alternate seat with a term ending on 12/31/2026, Sheldon Blackwell to the Parks and Recreation Commissioner seat with an unexpired term ending on 12/31/2024, and Judy Scott to the Parks and Recreation Commission Alternate Commissioner seat with a term ending on12/31/2026.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
A. Administration: Council review of the Central Parking and Business Improvement District, the Municipal Code related to the formation and oversight of the District, the transaction history for the restricted fund (025) and direction to staff regarding the renewal of the Agreement with Main Street Hanford for the delivery of services with proceeds from Downtown Assessments.
City Manager Cifuentez provided the background of the contract with Main Street Hanford. He also provided an overview of the Central Parking and Business Improvement Area, which is referred to as the Business Improvement District (BID).
Mr. Cifuentez recommended creating a sub committee. After a brief discussion, Vice Mayor Kairis recommended appointing Council members Martinez and Morrow to serve on the sub-committee.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Diane Sharp
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
Council Member Sharp discussed some of her concerns about the downtown BID. She also addressed Amory's request for a subcommittee committee for Hanford Chamber of Commerce to potentially explore a new arrangement. After a brief discussion, the Council directed staff to bring back a future agenda item.
Mr. Kairs discussed the city's ARPA funds and addressed the comments made regarding the traffic circle project.
B. Upcoming Events and Important Dates:
March 22: Special City Council Meeting in the City Hall Training Room 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
March 25: Free Fitness Court classes (Every Saturday from 9-10 am, Hidden Valley Park)
March 30: City Employee Appreciation Luncheon in Civic Park 11:00 am -2:00 pm April 1: Run Walk & Roll 5k for Autism Awareness Civic Park Register here April 1: Food Truck Take Over in Civic Park 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm April 4: Regular City Council Meeting
April 15: Walk with a Doc (third Saturday of each month, 9-10 am, rotating between Freedom and Centennial parks)
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Paden adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Natalie Corral
Natalie Corral, City Clerk