City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
May 6, 2025 7:00 PM
Council Chambers
400 N. Douty St.
5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER STUDY SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Martinez called the study session and closed session to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL BY THE CITY CLERK:
Present: Absent:
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Kimber Regan
Council Member Nancy Howze
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.
Jack Schwart commented on the city's budget.
STUDY SESSION:
A. Presentation and review of City of Hanford draft Operating Budget for fiscal year 2026 and 2027 for Council consideration and direction from City Council as appropriate.
Finance Director Chris Tavarez, Finance Manager Destiny Borba, and Financial Analyst Aubrey Balbina presented the draft operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026 and 2027 for the Council's review and direction. Staff addressed the Council's questions and concerns. No action was required.
Mayor Martinez adjourned the study session at 5:33 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF THE FOLLOWING:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (GC 54957.6)
Agency designated representatives: Mario Cifuentez and Chris Tavarez Employee Organization(s): EMEA, GEMA, PUMA, and HPOA
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION:
Mayor Martinez called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Absent:
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Lou Martinez
Council Member Kimber Regan
Council Member Nancy Howze
INVOCATION:
The Invocation was led by Captain Roger McCort.
FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Battallion Chief Matt Rowe.
CLOSED SESSION ACTION REPORT:
None.
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.
Carolyn Hudgins commented on the closure of the Hanford Chamber of Commerce.
Paula Massey commented on the closure of the Hanford Chamber of Commerce. She asked for help regarding contacting them.
Michelle Brown spoke in support of approving the murals on the consent calendar.
Jennifer Butts, a local artist and painter, spoke in support of the murals on the consent calendar.
Susan Davis commented on the city's trash cans and suggested a community clean-up.
Bernadette Gomes commented on the failure to appear for her grandson. She also expressed her concerns about the police department.
Bob Ramos commented on the Council's discussion about contracting a new city attorney.
Steven Olivera commented on the feather flags at his business.
Onan Champi commented on Consent Item C and requested that it be pulled for separate discussion. He also commented on the My Hanford App.
A Boys and Girls Club employee, commented on the culture in Hanford, the municipal code for murals, and small businesses.
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.
Items C and F were pulled by the Council. Motion to approve the consent calendar except for the items pulled for separate discussion.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Mark Kairis
Mark Kairis, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez, Kimber Regan, Nancy Howze A. Waive reading in full of resolutions and ordinances and approval and adoption of same by reading the title only.
B. Administration: Approval of a letter of support, on behalf of the City of Hanford, for the proposed Strike Fighter Center of Excellence Pacific for NAS Lemoore.
C. Community Development: Approval of Mural No. 0002-25, a request by the Kings Art Center to finish painting a mural on the exterior walls of an existing building. The property is located at 605 N. Douty Street (APN 010-221-021).
D. Community Development: Approval of Mural No. 0003-25, a request by Main Street Hanford to paint a mural onto the exterior wall of an existing building. The property is located at 114-116 N. Irwin Street (APN 012-055-009).
E. Utilities and Engineering: Approval of an amendment to the purchase order with BSK & Associates, INC. to complete water testing through the end of the current Fiscal Year as mandated by the California State Water Resources Control Board and additional water testing to meet water sampling requirements for the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and approve an appropriation of $48,000 to fund these costs from the Water Fund (0390).
F. Utilities and Engineering: Approval of a purchase order with Telstar Instruments of Hanford, CA. to install the required mechanical, electrical, and program integration services in anticipation of the delivery and installation of the WWTF Headworks Internal Screw in the amount of $74,865 and Authorization of an appropriation of $82,352 from Wastewater Funds to cover the work (CIP #825609).
G. Utilities and Engineering: Approval of the Final Map, Subdivision Agreement, and Acceptance of Easements for San Joaquin Valley Homes, Live Oak East Tract No. 881 Unit 2, located in the area on the Southeast corner of 12th Ave and Hume Ave.
H. Police: Adoption of Resolution No. 25-28-R for Delegation of Authority to the City Manager to Execute various grant agreements.
PULLED CONSENT ITEMS:
A. Administration: Authorization for the City Manager to Establish and Maintain a List of On- Call Appeal Hearing Officers for Code Enforcement Citations, Consistent with Hanford Municipal Code Chapter 17.94.
[Item C]
Pulled during public comment.
The Deputy City Manager, Jason Waters, answered questions from the Council.
Motion to Approve.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
NAYS:
Passed
Council Member Mark Kairis
Council Member Nancy Howze
Mark Kairis, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez, Nancy Howze
Kimber Regan
B. Community Development: Approval of Mural No. 0004-25, a request by City of Hanford, Parks & Community Services Department to paint a mural onto the exterior walls of an existing fence at The Plunge. The property is located at 415 Ford St. (APN 010-253- 004).
[Item F]
Pulled by Vice Mayor Paden for clarification regarding the budget. Parks and Community Services Director Brad Albert answered questions from Vice Mayor Paden. Vice Mayor Paden and Council Member Kairis stated they did not like the presented design. After some discussion, Council Member Howze motioned to approve the project.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
NAYS:
Passed
Council Member Nancy Howze
Council Member Kimber Regan
Lou Martinez, Kimber Regan, Nancy Howze
Travis Paden, Mark Kairis
PUBLIC HEARING:
A. Community Development: Public Hearing to accept comments regarding proposed Modifications to Planned Unit Development (PUD) No. 2005-04: a request to modify the Live Oak Master Plan/Planned Unit Development to delete requirements for decorative lighting for Live Oak East Tracts 865, 881, and 912. Modifications to Vesting Tentative Tract 865, 881, and 912: a request to remove the requirement for decorative lighting from the tentative tract resolutions, consistent with the changes proposed to be made to the Live Oak Master Plan. Location: The project is applicable to Tract 865, 881, and Tentative Tract 912, generally located between Hume and Houston Avenues, east of 12th Avenue (Various APNs between 011-110-0160 and 011-600-053).
Mayor Martinez opened the continued public hearing at 7:46 p.m. and called for the staff report. Deputy City Manager Jason requested to continue the public hearing at the next meeting.
Motion to Continue.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Mark Kairis
Mark Kairis, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez, Kimber Regan, Nancy Howze GENERAL BUSINESS:
A. Finance: Presentation and Council direction on proposed increase to the City of Hanford’s Transient Occupancy Tax.
Finance Manager Destiny Borba discussed raising the City's Transient Occupancy Tax. The Council expressed support for a measure on the upcoming November ballot proposing an increase to the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax from 8% to 12%.
Motion to move forward with adding a measure to the November ballot to increase the City's Transient Occupancy Tax.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Kimber Regan
Council Member Travis Paden
Mark Kairis, Travis Paden, Lou Martinez, Kimber Regan, Nancy Howze 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 events and meetings they attended.
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS:
At this time, any Council Member may ask a question for clarification or may request a matter, which is not otherwise scheduled on a City Council agenda, to be placed on a future agenda. The Council Member referring the item shall provide sufficient information as to the nature of the item. The City Council, by concurrence of a majority, may direct the City Manager to put the item on a future agenda. (GOV. CODE SEC. 54954.2) City Manager Cifuentez provided an update for future agenda items.
A. Council Future Agenda Items
B. Upcoming Events and Important Dates:
May 5-31: The Annual Spring Cleanup More Information
May 20: Regular City Council Meeting
May 21: City County Coordinating Meeting Location & Time: TBD May 26: City offices closed in observance of Memorial Day ADJOURNMENT:
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the City Council after distribution of the agenda packet are available to public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office located at 319 N. Douty Street, Hanford, California 93230, during normal business hours. Such agendas are also available at the city’s website, www.cityofhanfordca.com subject to staff’s ability to post the agenda before the meeting. If you need a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s office, 559-585-2515, 319 N. Douty Street, Hanford, California 93230, at least 2 days prior to the meeting {28 CFR 35.102.35.104 ADA Title II} Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie Corral
City Clerk