City Council Meeting
May 14, 2024
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Regular Meeting called to order at 6:00pm by Mayor LeBarre.
2. ROLL CALL:
City Council: Mayor Mike LeBarre, Council member Carlos DeLeon, Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Victoria, Council member Rob Cullen, Council members Oscar Avalos.
City Staff: Police Chief James Hunt; City Attorney Roy Santos; City Clerk, Erica Sonne.
3. FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Mayor LeBarre.
4. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS:
None
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
A. National Public Works Week Proclamation excepted by Gerardo Vasquez on behalf on the entire King City Public Works department from Mayor LeBarre.
6. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS:
Griselda Torres, N. Mildred St. is upset that MST put a bus stop in front of her house. She and her neighbor were never informed and given the opportunity to say no. They have no parking; they have to deal with people hanging around as it stops every ½ hour to pick up and drop off. There are two other places for buses to stop in less than a ½ a mile on either side of this one that people could use. She would like something to be done.
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
Mayor LeBarre stated we received some great news last Friday when we found out that arrests had been made for the murders that occurred in March. He thanked our officers with special thanks to Seg./Det.
Partida and Officer Gurley and all law enforcement that was involved. Every law enforcement came to help us catch these criminals. He is very proud. Congresswomen Lofgren presented the City with a check for $600,000 for a downtown electric charging station project. He thanked Mayor Pro Tem for making sure that the money was secure for our area from AMBAG. There was a nice spread put out by Veronica our HR manager. Congresswomen Lofgren enjoys this area.
Council Member Cullen stated the Solid Waste Authority meeting highlights are in the packet. He attended Mo. Co. Business Council Gala a couple of awards were given. Rancho Ceilo was honored as high school competing against college schools. 6 - 1st place awards and 2- 2nd place awards were won by them. He wished everyone luck at the Fair.
Mayor Pro Tem Victoria stated he was happy of the news of the arrest with special thanks to Det. Partida and Officer Gurley. He also wanted to mention with the fair coming up that to help keep us all safe "if you see something say something" , if you see something suspicious say something. We are all responsible to keep our community safe.
Council Member Avalos stated that Thursday - Sunday is the Fair. On Saturday there was a grand reopening of the Expo building at the fairgrounds and it was named in honor of Nate Holaday who was a great supporter of the Salinas Valley Fair.
Council Member DeLeon stated he wanted to add on to what the Mayor said about the press conference last week. It just goes to show you what happens when you invest into the City. If we wouldn't have invested in the technology and camera system we wouldn't have been able to crack this case. This tags on to what we are going to discuss later, about how important it is to invest in our town. When we pool our resources and stick together good things happen. He hasn't seen any bad happen yet when we invest properly and if we can include all aspects of the City and not just the Police Department its going to be an even better town. He thanked the Chief again.
8. CITY STAFF REPORTS AND COMMENTS:
Chief Hunt stated he appreciates all the support coming from the community and City Council. He said good comes out of everyone working together. It is still an open and active investigation. He couldn't be prouder of his staff.
City Attorney Santos had nothing to report tonight.
9. CONSENT
A. Consideration: Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2024, Council Meeting B. Consideration: City of King Check Register April 16, through April 30, 2024 Consideration: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7.26 of Title 7 of the King City Municipal Code Regarding Public Parks Regulations
D. Consideration: King City Police Department Annual Report on Military Weapons for Reporting Period March 10, 2023, Through May 14, 2024
E. Consideration: Amendment to the Master Fee Schedule
F. Consideration: City of King KCCP Payments for the Month of April 2024 Action: Motion to approve consent agenda items A -F by Victoria seconded by Avalos.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Victoria, Cullen, Avalos NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Consideration: Unfunded Priority Needs Plan
Police Chief Hunt introduced the Unfunded Priority Needs Plan with a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor LeBarre opened the hearing
Karen Jernigan, N. Mildred, she has long said that sales tax is a fair tax and she encourages City Council on moving forward with this idea.
Mayor LeBarre hearing and seeing no one else come forward, closed the public hearing.
Councilmember DeLeon stated that he is usually not in favor of raising taxes but when it comes to sales tax and unfunded priorities, he is approached with questions of why we can't do what other Cities do with businesses they have coming in and he says this is how they do it sales tax. If we want to be in line with other cities, we have to do what they do and invest. As staff as done research it comes from gas sales. He would greatly in favor of passing this.
Councilmember Cullen supports this as well.
Mayor Pro Tem Victoria stated that if you come to the meetings, you can see the great things that are happening so if you are in favor help us spread the word to why we should raise the sales tax.
Mayor LeBarre stated that deferred maintenance is debt. We are moving towards maintenance which will free up many dollars for other things. Sales tax is the way to go.
Action: Motion to approve the Unfunded Priority Needs Plan and direct staff to prepare a Local Sales Tax Measure for Council to consider placing on the November 2024 ballot by Cullen seconded by Victoria.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Victoria, Cullen, Avalos NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
Consideration: An Ordinance of the City of King Amending Chapter 17.03 of Title 17 of the King City Municipal Code Pertaining to Commercial Cannabis Dispensaries City Attorney Santos introduced the ordinance.
Mayor LeBarre read the ordinance into the record but title only "An Ordinance of the City of King Amending Chapter 17.03 of Title 17 of the King City Municipal Code Pertaining to Commercial Cannabis Activity".
Mayor LeBarre opened the hearing, hearing and seeing no one come forward, Mayor LeBarre closed the public hearing.
Action: Motion to waive first reading of the Ordinance, and approve introduction of the Ordinance by Deleon seconded by Cullen.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Victoria, Cullen, Avalos NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
11. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Consideration: Implementation of AB 413 State Parking Restriction Requirements Recommendation: 1) receive a presentation on the impacts of AB 413 restricting parking adjacent to intersections; 2) consider alternative approaches to responding to the new State requirements; and 3) direct staff to delay any implementation measures until October 2024 and work on efforts to seek amendments to the State legislation.
Public Works Director/City Engineer introduced this item.
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John Jernigan, N. Mildred, feels that our town is already impacted with a lack of parking, however there are a few areas that need attention. He feels that its something else enacted by the state that they don't understand small towns.
Action: Motion to direct staff to delay any implementation measures until October 2024 and work on efforts to seek amendments to the State legislation by DeLeon seconded by Avalos.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Victoria, Cullen, Avalos NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
B. Consideration: Extension of the Interim Temporary Homeless Shelter Program Police Chief Hunt introduced this item.
Action: Motion to 1) approve and authorize the City Manager to amend the lease agreement for the Monarch Inn through February 11, 2025 and increase the number of rooms leased to 20; 2) approve and authorize the City Manager to amend the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Monterey, Coalition of Homeless Services Providers and Step Up for funding for the cost of the program; and 3) authorize the City Manager to execute extension of agreements with Magic Cleaning Services and Benitez Security Services, Inc. for cleaning and security by LeBarre seconded by Victoria.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Victoria, Cullen, Avalos NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
12. CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION
A. Public Employee Performance Evaluation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957:
Title: City Attorney
B. Conference with Legal Counsel - Liability Claims (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.95) Consideration of Claim No. 2023-007 claim alleging a bolt flipped up while weed eating and broke the window.
C. Conference with Legal Counsel - Liability Claims (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.95) Consideration of Claim No. 2024-003 claim alleging severe injuries from an incident where an Amtrack train struck a truck.
D. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9. Cases: 1
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor LeBarre adjourned the meeting at 6:58p.m. to closed session and adjourned the meeting at 7:34p.m.
Approved Signatures:
1 bucaL sonne
Mayor Mike LeBarre City Clerk, Erica Sonne
City of King City of King