City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
October 3, 2023 7:00 PM
Council Chambers
400 N. Douty St.
5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER STUDY SESSION:
Mayor Paden called the study session to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK:
Present: Absent:
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Diane Sharp
Council Member Travis Paden
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.
None.
STUDY SESSION:
A. Council review and direction to staff on the proposed goals and policies for Community Facilities Districts for all future subdivisions and authorization for Staff to engage a consultant to establish a program to finance improvements via Community Facilities Districts.
Deputy City Manager Jason Waters discussed the proposed goals and policies for Community Facilities Districts for all future subdivisions. Deputy Waters and City Attorney Mizote answered questions from the Council. After some discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to authorize staff to engage a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of improvement financing, and if feasible, create a program to finance improvements via Community Facilities Districts.
The Mayor adjourned the study session at 5:27 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 Lou Martinez
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Diane Sharp
Council Member Travis Paden
INVOCATION:
The invocation was led by Pastor Mark Curts.
FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Destiny Cruz, Hanford High School Senior Class President.
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. During this time, Vice Mayor Kairis requested the General Business section items be reviewed before the public hearing, with no objections from the Council.
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.
Gordon Teston spoke in opposition to the annexation.
Amy Minor, Player Agent and Registrar for the Hanford Youth Baseball League, commented on the Hanford Field Use Policy and the proposed fees, and spoke in opposition.
Anna Brookshire questioned grant the city received for the "Hanford goes Green Project".
Brian Minor, President of Hanford Youth Baseball League, commented on the partnership the league has with the city and expressed his concerns regarding the proposed field fees.
Lisa Chavarin, President of the Hanford Youth Softball League, expressed concerns regarding the usage of the fields and the proposed field fees.
Bob Ramos questioned the cannabis revenue. He also commented on the Lacey Park water fountain, the broken zipline and the Civic Park restrooms.
Chris Hill thanked the Council for their time, and he read an article from 1976 about the Bob Hill Sports Complex. He also suggested there be more discussion regarding the proposed fees.
Sharon expressed her concerns about the homeless, and asked what the city is doing about it.
Jamie Barela commented on the annexation and expressed her concerns about the police department's response time. She also commented on the People's Bridge project.
Susan Davis commented on the street sweeping schedule.
Judy Mellow expressed her concerns about the water supply for new developments in the city. Deputy Waters responded to her comment.
Jay Rubalcava commented on the annexation of his property.
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.
Item C was pulled by Council Member Martinez, and Items D and E were pulled by Council Member Sharp.
Motion to approve the consent calendar except for the items pulled for separate consideration.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
PASSED (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Diane Sharp
Council Member Mark Kairis
Lou Martinez, Mark Kairis. Kalish Morrow, Diane Sharp,Travis Paden 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 September 19, 2023 Meeting PULLED CONSENT ITEMS:
A. Administration: Approval of an In-Kind contract with the Hanford Chamber of Commerce, consistent with the recommendation of the Council Ad-Hoc subcommittee, that memorializes the services to be offered in exchange for office space in the Courthouse. [Item C]
Pulled by Council Member Martinez.
Council Member's Morrow and Kairis addressed Council Member Martinez's concerns.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
PASSED (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Diane Sharp
Travis Paden, Lou Martinez, Mark Kairis, Diane Sharp, Kalish Morrow B. Administration: Approval of a Facility Lease Agreement with MSI, Inc. for the City property located at 426 W. Lacey Blvd, more commonly referred to as the Former Goodwill building, for an initial rent of $3,600 per month increasing by 5% annually. [Item D]
Pulled by Council Member Sharp to recuse herself from the discussion and vote.
City Attorney Ty Mizote clarified an error in the staff report. The attached lease agreement is accurate.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
PASSED
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Council Member Mark Kairis
Travis Paden. Mark Kairis, Kalish Morrow, Lou Martinez
Diane Sharp
C. Community Development: Authorization for the City Manager to execute documents and enter into a contract with Caltrans for the Kings-Tulare High-Speed Rail Station Transit- Oriented Development and Connectivity Plan and Cross Valley Corridor Rail Service Planning project to be funded through a $650,000 Sustainable Communities grant. [Item E]
Pulled by Council Member Sharp.
This item was pulled by Council Member Sharp to recuse herself from the discussion and vote. Deputy City Manager Water answered questions from the Council.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
PASSED
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Travis Paden, Mark Kairis. Kalish Morrow, Lou Martinez
Diane Sharp
GENERAL BUSINESS:
A. Community Development: Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Hanford and Kings County, pertaining to the annexation of the remaining "substantially surrounded islands" within the City of Hanford.
Senior Planner Gabrielle Myers presented the project for the Council's review and approval. Staff answered questions from the Council. City Attorney Mizote clarified the designations. Staff clarified that this is not a request to approve an annexation. Staff recommended approving the MOU as amended. Mayor Paden suggested tabling the item and excluding Island 10 from the agreement. Council Members Sharp and Morrow spoke in support of staff's recommendations. Deputy City Manager Waters and City Attorney Mizote provided clarification of LAFCO's legal authority to annex the remaining islands in the City of Hanford. After much discussion, Vice Mayor Kairis made the motion to approve the item as presented.
Motion to Approve
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
NAYS:
Passed
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Diane Sharp
Diane Sharp, Mark Kairis, Kalish Morrow
Travis Paden, Lou Martinez
B. Parks and Community Services: Presentation regarding the Council-supported formation of the Field Sports Advisory Committee and Approval of the Field Permitting Process and Adoption of the City of Hanford Athletic Field Use Policy and associated permit fees.
During the presentation, Council Member Morrow motioned to extend the meeting to 10:20 p.m. Seconded by Council Member Martinez. Motion passed 5-0.
Parks and Community Services Director Brad Albert presented the Council-supported formation of the Field Sports Advisory Committee and the Field Permitting Process for the Council's review and approval. Dir. Albert also provided an overview of the operating expenses for the YAC, Soc Com & Softball complex fields and shared a fee analysis of 12 local cities. Vice Mayor Kairis questioned the fee schedule and the cost for maintenance. Dir. Albert answered questions from the Council. Mayor Paden and Vice Mayor Kairis expressed their concerns regarding the fee structure and the input from the entire advisory committee. Mayor Paden stated that he was not in favor of making a decision tonight. Council Member Sharp spoke in support of the item and made the motion to approve and amend the fees. Mayor Paden made a substitute motion for a flat fee per player based on the amount of participation. Vice Mayor Kairis motioned to table the item, with a second by Mayor Paden.
Motion to Table
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
NAY:
Passed
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Travis Paden
Travis Paden, Kalish Morrow, Lou Martinez, Mark Kairis
Diane Sharp
PUBLIC HEARING:
A. Community Development: Annexation 162: A request to annex 12.17 acres into the City of Hanford from the Kings County jurisdiction and cancel the Williamson Act Contract for the property. Prezone No. 0001-23: A request to prezone the land proposed to be annexed as R-L-5 Low-Density Residential, in accordance with the General Plan designation for the territory, Low-Density Residential. Tentative Tract 940 (Stonehaven):
A request, by D.R. Horton, to subdivide the 12.17 acres proposed to be prezoned R-L-5 Low-Density Residential into 82 single-family residential lots. Planned Unit Development No. 13-23: A request to deviate from the standards of the Hanford Municipal Code, in order to utilize the small lot provisions of Section 17.10.100 to allow:
1. Reduced lot sizes between 3,600 – 4,999 square feet
2. Reduced lot widths
3. Reduced lot depths
4. Reduced setbacks
5. Exception: No limitation on the width of the garage (standard regulation limits garage width to no more than 50% of the residence’s frontage) The Project is located south of Hanford Armona Road, between 12th and 13th Avenues (APN011-040-030) Mayor Paden opened the public hearing at 10:17 p.m. and called for the staff report. Senior Planner Gabrielle Myers presented the staff report and invited questions from the Council. During the public hearing, Council Member Morrow motioned to extend the time of the meeting to 10:35 p.m. Seconded by Council Member Sharp. Motion passed 5-0.
Public Comment:
IN-FAVOR:
Mathew Chavez, D.R. Horton Forward Planner, spoke in favor of the annexation.
OPPOSSED:
Judy Mellow questioned the land usage.
Senior Planner Gabrielle Myers addressed the public comments and answered questions from the Council. After a brief discussion, Vice Mayor Kairis motioned to approve all 5 recommended motions as presented.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Kalish Morrow
Travis Paden, Kalish Morrow, Lou Martinez, Mark Kairis, Diane Sharp The Mayor closed the public hearing at 10:20 p.m.
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)
Announcements
A. Council Future Agenda Items
None.
B. Upcoming Events and Important Dates:
October 3: HPD 2023 National Night Out 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. in Civic Park October 7&8: Renaissance Fair 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. in Civic Park October 14: Oktoberfest 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. in Civic Park-Benefit For the Hanford Police K9 Foundation: Get tickets here
October 17: Regular City Council Meeting
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Paden adjourned the meeting at 10:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Natalie Corral
City Clerk