City Council Meeting
August 25, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Regular Meeting called to order at 6:01pm by Mayor LeBarre.
2. ROLL CALL:
City Council: Mayor Mike LeBarre, Mayor Pro Tem Carlos DeLeon, Council member Rob Cullen, Council member Carlos Victoria, Council members Oscar Avalos.
City Staff: City Manager José Arreola, City Attorney Roy Santos; City Clerk Erica Sonne
3. FLAG SALUTE:
The flag salute was led by Mayor LeBarre.
4. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS:
City Attorney Roy Santos stated that Liability Claims (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.95) No. GHC0100048 Jose Sebastian Chavez Avarado, GHC0100048 Greissy Alvarado has been rejected by City
5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
City Council received Financial Reports for July 2026 from Roberto Moreno. He explained that they will get budget to actual every month at the end of the month for the previous month. He went over the staff report and all the exhibits.
6. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS:
None
7. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
Councilmember Victoria stated on Sunday August 30th there will be a celebration the Day of the Farmworker on Broadway with music and food.
Councilmember Avalos stated he had nothing to report tonight.
Mayor Pro Tem Deleon stated he had nothing to report tonight.
Mayor LeBarre stated that tomorrow at the TAMC meeting they are having a discussion on the impact fees, they are up every 8 years. It is going to be quite jump this year, and he will be voicing his objections to this.
Councilmember Cullen stated that the Solid Waste Authority will have a booth at the Day of the Farmworker. He also spoke on the landfill and discussions that are being had 38 years out to what to do to extend the life of the landfill without it affecting the rate payers. He had his Community Foundation CEO replacement coming soon.
8. CITY STAFF REPORTS AND COMMENTS:
City Manager José Arreola stated Day of the Farmworker event is this Sunday August 30th. September 7h is Labor Day and City Hall will be closed. October 10th is Pinnacles Film Festival. October 11 at 11am - 3pm Ciclovia event. The Pool Fencing project construction should begin early September. Paving operations are scheduled for September 3'd.
Police staffing currently has 4 conditional offers 1 Sergeant and 3 Officers, all lateral. Unfortunately, we had a homicide in our town this weekend, may Omar rest in peace and our deepest condolences to his family. The investigation is being handled by the Monterey County Sheriff's department due to the low staffing at the police department currently.
City Attorney Roy Santos had nothing to report tonight.
9. CONSENT
A. Consideration: Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2026 Council Meeting B. Consideration: Reimbursement of Repair Costs to the Monarch Inn C. Consideration: Road to Success Youth Diversion Program Memorandum of Understanding D. Consideration: Transportation Agency for Monterey County Master Funding Agreement Denise Valsquez and Aaron from Sun Street spoke to item 9(C). Aaron spoke about the program and how it helped him.
Action: Motion to approve consent agenda items A-D by Victoria seconded by Avalos.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Cullen, Victoria, Avalos, NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Consideration: Adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of King Amending Chapter 17.79 of Title 17 of the King City Municipal Code Pertaining to Seasonal Employee Housing City Attorney Roy Santos introduced this item with a PowerPoint presentation.
John Baucke spoke on this item representing Smith Monterey about when Broadway goes through speaking about a wall that would go up and if the city would have some say over what it would look like.
Claude Hoover spoke on this item representing Rava Ranches and mentioned the letter that was sent to the Council. They complied with all the standards as long as they apply to all facilities.
Elise Cossart-Daly spoke on this item representing Rava Ranches and Fresh Foods with William Parken she encourages not passing this ordinance. She also spoke on CEQA.
Jerry Rava, Rava Ranches, is totally discussed, he loves this city that is why he lives here. He loves the people that work in the fields and that is why they deserve a good place to live. He trusted the City's vision. City staff told him that no extension would be allowed. Behind closed doors under the discussion of the settlement agreement the city surrendered to litigation threats and granted an extension. Tonight staff is asking you to gut the seasonal housing ordinance entirely. You force every building standard down to the bare minimum. He urges the council to vote no.
Mayor LeBarre asked if HCD has a issue with our Seasonal Employee Housing ordinance. City Attorney Santos stated yes. Mayor LeBarre stated that they said they wouldn't approve our general plan and City Attorney Santos stated for the Housing Element there are several sections that we have to update. If we don't have an approved Housing Element, then it makes it harder to get projects approved.
Mayor LeBarre stated that without the Housing Element they would have to go through a more substantial CEQA process. Attorney Santos stated correct. City Attorney Santos stated that it could impact the score for the grants as well. Mayor LeBarre stated that without an approved Housing Element it would have an impact on housing. City Attorney Santos stated that it would be affect for multifamily, single family, residential low income, agricultural employee housing, employee housing and market rate. The Housing Element would help with some CEQA analysis.
Mayor LeBarre stated that isn't it generally Zoning and Ordinances are under local governances? City Attorney Santos stated that generally yes. He further stated that HCD is stating that zoning is but not standards in employee housing. Mayor LeBarre disagrees with HCD, he feels that they are overstepping the local jurisdiction.
City Attorney Santos stated that the Downtown Addition Specific Plan is not being altered by this ordinance amendment nor is the Historic Corridor Revitalization Plan because they don't target a specific housing.
Mayor LeBarre acknowledged the letter received from William P Parken attorney for Rava Ranches.
City Attorney Santos stated that copies are available to the public as well as the ordinance and Action: Motion to introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 17.79 of Title 17, of the King City Municipal Code pertaining to seasonal employee housing to be read by title only, open the hearing, allow for the public testimony, close the hearing, waive first reading of the Ordinance and approve the introduction of the Ordinance by LeBarre seconded by Cullen.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Cullen, Victoria, Avalos, NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
11. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Consideration: Fiscal Year 2026-27 Appropriation Limit Roberto Moreno, Finance Consultant went over the appropriation limit what the city can spend in tax money.
Action: Motion to adopt a Resolution approving FY 2026-27 Appropriation limit from tax proceeds by Cullen seconded by Avalos.
AYES: Council Members: LeBarre, DeLeon, Cullen, Victoria, Avalos, NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
12. CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION
None
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor LeBarre adjourned the meeting at 7:19p.m.
Approved Signatures:
Eucati Some
Mayor Mike LeBarre City Clerk, Erica Sonne
City of King City of King