City Council Regular Meeting
Minutes
May 5, 2026 7:00 PM
Council Chambers
400 N. Douty St.
4:00 PM CALL TO ORDER STUDY SESSION AND CLOSED SESSION:
Mayor Kairis 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 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.
None.
STUDY SESSION:
A. Receive Update on Senate Bill 707 (Brown Act Amendments) and provide feedback on the Public Meeting Disruption Policy and related Handbook of Rules and Procedures amendments; authorize staff to incorporate the Disruption of Remote Participation Policy into the Handbook; and direct staff to return with a resolution for adoption.
City Attorney Nick Matoian provided an overview of SB 707, and City Clerk Natalie Corral and City Manager Chris Tavarez presented the proposed Remote Participation Disruption Policy and Public Comment Registration Policy for the Council's review and direction. Staff responded to Council questions. By consensus, the Council directed staff to move forward with incorporating the two new policies into the City Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures. Staff will return at a future meeting with the proposed handbook amendments for formal approval.
Mayor Kairis adjourned the study session at 5:15 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF THE FOLLOWING:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS (GC 54956.8) APNs: 012045001, 012045010, 012045004, 012045005, 012046019, 012046005, 012046006, 012046007, 012045001, 012045009, 012045008, 012045007, 012045006, 012045007
Negotiating Party: Solis Martin Vieyra & Araujo Fanny Castro, Miya Farms, PRE 4 LLC,
MCMASTER, WILLIAM T & KATHLEEN S H/W, EBERT JEANNINE, ALANIS, RICHARD &
LINDA TRUST,
Agency Negotiators: Chris Tavarez, Jason Waters, and Nick Matoian B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION (54956.9 (d)(4)) 1 Potential case.
CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION:
Mayor Kairis 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 Pastor Pat Newton.
FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Chief Perkins.
CLOSED SESSION ACTION REPORT:
None.
RECOGNITION:
A. Proclamation for "National Public Works Week", May 17-23, 2026 Mayor Kairis presented the proclamation to Public Works Director Russ Sterling and Refuse Collector, John Anaya.
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.
Daniel Leon commented on an incident that took place in 1996.
Todd Cotta thanked the Council for being a stable city council. He also shared his concerns about e-bikes in the city's parks.
Anna Brookshire questioned two agenda items, and asked for clarification.
Jacob Robinson requested to pull Consent Calendar Item I and stated that the project was going to affect his business.
Barbara Robinson, a downtown resident, spoke about issues she is experiencing with a tenant keeping multiple dogs at her rental property and questioned the City's permitting process.
Samual Robinson commented on the intersection of Reddington Ave and Ivy St. and stated that it needs a stop sign with lights.
Chad Draxler commented on refuse fees. He also commented on a recent event that took place on Seventh Street.
Trek Fareweather, a former City of Hanford employee, expressed his concerns about his workers' comp claim.
Chief Huddleston provided an update on enforcement efforts for E- bikes.
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 B and I were requested to be pulled. 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 Nancy Howze
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. Community Development: Appointment of Regular and Alternate Members to the Planning Commission to Fill Vacancy.
C. Community Development: Approval of the purchase of two (2) 2026 Ford E-Transit High Roof Vans from Keller Chevrolet of Hanford, CA in the amount of $117,727 fully funded by Building Safety Enterprise fund.
D. Public Works: Rejection of bids for the Hanford Municipal Airport Taxiway Reconstruction Project (RFB2026-21) and authorize staff to advertise RFB 2026-26.
E. Public Works: Approve the purchase of one (1) LeeBoy 8500D Paver from Lay Rite Paving from Dixon, CA, for $97,000 from the Measure H Fund.
F. Public Works: Approve the purchase of one (1) front load refuse truck from Haaker Refuse Equipment of Tulare CA in the amount of $512,782.67, approve the appropriation from the Fleet Reserves Fund in the same amount, and declare rear load refuse truck #153 surplus and authorize the sale.
G. Public Works: Approval of a contract change order in the amount of $20,925 to Advanced Roofing & Raingutters of Fresno, CA for additional roof repairs at Fire Station 1, resulting in a total contract amount of $70,340.
H. Utilities and Engineering: Authorize the execution of a Work Order with the City's on-call Architecture and Engineering Consultant, Blackwater Engineering of Fresno, CA in the amount of $757,850 plus 10% contingency in the amount of $75,785 for the engineering and design services of Municipal Water Wells 53 and 54, and approve an additional appropriation of $125,235 from the Water Impact Fees fund to fully fund the project design.
I. Utilities and Engineering: Authorization to execute a Work Order with the City's on-call Architecture and Engineering Consultant, Blackwater Engineering, of Fresno CA, in the amount of $155,643 for the engineering and design services of Municipal Water Storage Tank 6B.
J. Utilities and Engineering: Adoption of Resolution 26-22-R for the acceptance of Carbon Reduction Program Federal Funds in the amount of $161,000 for the preparation of an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategic Plan for the City of Hanford. Amend the budget to recognize the grant funding amount, appropriate $183,000 (including $22,000 of local match) in the Transportation Fund, and authorize the City Manager to execute the grant agreement.
PULLED CONSENT ITEMS:
A. City Attorney: Approval of the Limited Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) Proposal by BSK Associates for Kings County Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 012-046-006, 012-046-007, 012-045-010, 012-045-004, and 012-045-005 owned by Miya Farms, Inc. [Item B]
Both the City Attorney and Council Member Martinez recused themselves.
Motion to Approve.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
Passed
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Nancy Howze
Mark Kairis, Travis Paden, Kimber Regan, Nancy Howze
Lou Martinez
B. Utilities and Engineering: Authorization to execute a Work Order for the Conceptual Design of Garner Avenue and Goleta Way Realignment and Reconstruction Project to Westwood Engineering in the amount of $93,450.00.
[Item I]
Pulled during public comment.
Utilities and Engineering Director Frank Senteno provided a brief overview of the project for the Council's review and approval. After some discussion, the Council asked that staff contact the potentially affected business owners in the project area.
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Passed (UNANIMOUS)
Council Member Travis Paden
Council Member Lou Martinez
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 meetings and events they attended and provided updates.
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) None.
A. Council Future Agenda Items
B. Upcoming Events and Important Dates:
May 8: Badges with Buckets, 8 am - 11 am at Starbucks, 240 N. 12th Ave.
May 12: Special City Council Meeting
May 19: Regular City Council Meeting
May 25: City office will be 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 Kairis adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Natalie Corral
City Clerk