KINGSBURG CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
March 1, 2023
Invocation was given by Police Chaplain Cathleen Lawler, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Vince Palomar.
6 P.M. REGULAR SESSION MEETING:
Call to Order and Roll Call: Mayor Vince Palomar called the regular meeting of the Kingsburg City Council to order at 6:03 pm.
Council Members Present: David M. Silva. Staci Smith, Laura North, Brandon Pursell, Jr., and Mayor Vince Palomar.
Council Members Absent: None.
Approve Agenda: A motion was made by Council Member Pursell, Jr., seconded by Council Member North, to approve the agenda with 6.3 moving to 6.1. The motion carried by an unanimous voice vote.
Public Comments:
Mark Pratter, reporter, introduced his newspaper.
Consent Calendar: Mayor North pulled 5.4. She asked about the Fire Department, and if they approved of the street closure. Community Services Director Adam Castaneda said yes, they will approve it once Council does since they are a City entity. A motion was made by Council Member Pursell. Jr., seconded by Council Member Silva, to approve 5.1 through 5.3 appearing on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. A motion was made by Mayor North, seconded by Council Member Smith, to approve 5.4 appearing on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote.
5.1 Approval of City Council Minutes: Approve the minutes from the February 15, 2023 Regular Council Meeting as prepared by City Clerk Abigail Palsgaard.
Sponsor: City Clerk’s Office
5.2 Check Register: Ratify/approve payment of bills listed on the check register for the period February 7, 2023 through February 20, 2023 as prepared by Accounts Payable Clerk Marsha Alves.
Sponsor: Finance Department
5.3 Public Safety Sales Tax (Measure E) Appointment- Accept Mayor Palomar’s appointment of Pilo Chavez to the Public Safety Sales Tax (Measure E) Committee to a term that is set to expire November 2027.
Sponsor: City Clerk’s Office
5.4 Approve the Requested Closure of Marion Street for Uptown Sprouts Event 4/8/2023 & 5/5/2023- Staff Report prepared by Community Services Director Adam Castaneda.
Sponsor: Community Services Department
Regular Calendar
Solar Options - Wells 13 and 16, Police Department & Public Works Yard- Staff Report by Public Works Director Daniel Galvez.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
March 1, 2023
Sponsor: Public Works Department
Public Works Director Daniel Galvez presented how the City has made becoming energy efficient as a priority. Solar energy falls within this priority. With solar, there are issues with space. Most wells, which use the most energy, are landlocked where we do not own the land around them. Tonight we are asking for council approving the just the LOA, not necessarily the locations.
Jessica Ritter, Facility Solutions Specialist, Sitelogiq, presented her PowerPoint. With solar at Well Site 16, the City will see an annual $85,000 savings in energy costs. Other options that have been reviewed are Well Site 13, the Police Department and Public Works. Council Member North asked if we can offset Well 16 from the solar generated at Public Works. Ms. Ritter said if it is offsite you get less than 50% value, so you can, but at a lower saving. The City will get $1,100,000 back from the Federal Government after the project is over in about one year.
Council asked what the Service Agreement costs and what it covers. Eddie Jordan, Sitelogiq, said it covers 24/7 monitoring, cloud based platform with data, maintenance, cleaning of the panels, at a cost of $20,000 a year.
Public comment:
Josh Mettee, resident, would not like it at Erling Park. Council Member Pursell, Jr. asked if he would be open to a different design, he said yes. Council Member North asked if kids practice there for sports. Josh said yes.
Kelli Rosales, resident, would not like it at Erling Park. An industrial location would be better. Council Member Pursell, Jr. asked if she would be open to a different design. Kelli said she has been against putting anything in the park that would no longer make it a neighborhood park.
Lydia Crest, resident, would not like it at Erling Park. Council Member Pursell, Jr. asked if she would be open to a different design, she said no.
Council Member Silva asked regarding the maintenance service. If panels are damaged, do you replace them? Mr. Jordan said if they are broken with baseballs, it would not be covered. Theft and damage are not covered. Panels with defects are covered. Ms. Ritter said this is just conceptual, that Council and Daniel have said they will have a community workshop. Council discussed savings without Well 16 and the cost on the project.
Council Member North asked about the treatment facility on Avenue 396. City Manager Henderson said we have looked in to it, but it is a size issue. Mr. Galvez said Well 16 is our primary well, it runs almost 24/7. Council Member Pursell asked if we slow down Well 16. Can we turn up Well 13? Mr. Galvez said it is a system that runs on demand. Council Member Pursell, Jr. asked if we apply for a certain size, can we make it smaller? Ms. Ritter said only at a 10% difference but can pull it completely. Council Member Smith asked if you can put two applications in for difference sizes? Mr. Jordan said I wish. They will need the numbers in the next 2 weeks. Mayor Palomar asked Sitelogiq how long they have been in business? Mr. Jordan said since 1989, but the name has changed. City Manager Henderson said it is the same company that KESD uses.
The reason everything is rushed is the CPUC decided in December to set a date in April to move from NEMS 2.0 to NEMS 3.0. Council Member North would like to see the what type of savings we could get at the Avenue 396 parking lot. She doesn’t like the idea of Erling Park. Council Member North asked if Kingsburg City Council Minutes
March 1, 2023
the citizens will see the savings. Mr. Galvez said yes, we can maintain the rate as the electricity rate goes up.
Council Member Pursell, Jr. explained how we got here. Council has directed staff to explore all options to save money. When CPU made their timeline, it put us all under a time crunch. Our job is to save money and if it doesn’t make sense for the town, we do not have to move forward. He would like to see a compromise with a re-design at Erling Park that would fit in to the aesthetics and to add more panels in other locations. It would be irresponsible to not have the amount of savings, but also to not put all of it on the back of the residents around Erling Park. Council discussed having a workshop for residents.
Council Member Pursell, Jr. motioned, seconded by Council Member North, to move forward with the LOA and have staff determine the quantity of sites and the ability of staff to add or remove site. Council Member North asked to make sure citizens will be notified of the workshop. The motion passed with an unanimous voice vote.
Kingsburg Tri-County Health Care District 2023 Grant Cycle- Staff Report by Community Services Director Adam Castaneda.
Sponsor: Community Services
Community Services Director Adam Castaneda presented applying for a grant for Public Health & Playground Safety Updates poured-in-place rubber surfacing at Memorial and Downtown Parks in the amount of: $72,623.00; a grant for Public Service Vehicle & Officer First Aid Kits in the amount of: $19,740.00; a grant for a Fire Department Utility Terrain Vehicle & Associated Training and Equipment in the amount of: $200,000.00; Fire Department 50% of 6 Full Time EMS employees in the amount of: $384,987.00; and a grant for a Paramedic EKG/ Heart Monitor Upgrade in the total amount of: $180,000.00.
Council Member Smith asked if the 6 EMS are new or current. Staff responded that they are current.
Council Member Pursell, Jr. asked about the $200,000 for the ATV. Mr. Castaneda said it is the atv, training, equipment and the trailer. Council Member Smith clarified what has gone in front the Tri-County and what hasn’t. Council Member Silva asked if there is a certain target number that the city applies for.
Mr. Castaneda said no, we know how much they may have but it is for the full area. Council Member North said the Tri-County Hospital District has been really good to our Fire Department, she would like to not move forward with the ATV, thinks the 6 positions are more important. Council Member Pursell, Jr. would like a council liaison with Tri-county. Council Member North motioned, seconded by Council Member Smith, to direct staff to apply for the playground grant, first aid grant, EMS grant and the EKG grant. The motion passed with an unanimous voice vote.
Award of the 2023 Downtown Parking Lots Project to R.J. Berry Jr, Inc. in the amount of $393,412.00- Staff Report by City Engineer Dave Peters.
Sponsor: City Engineer’s Office
City Engineer Dave Peters presented the bid for the 2023 Downton Parking Lots Project.
Council Member Pursell, Jr. asked what is the timeframe the parking lots will be closed? Mr. Peters said the whole project is 30 days. Will discuss with the contractor that the lots are accessible for Car Show and Swedish Festival. Council Member Smith asked about the communications with the businesses. Mr. Peters said once we have a timeline we will notify the businesses. Council Member Smith asked about notifying all businesses downtown. City Manager Henderson said we can do a radius. Council Member Silva said he is glad there will be extra parking stalls with the existing space.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
March 1, 2023
Council asked about light poles and if it is enough light for safety. Mr. Peters said yes, we think it is enough.
Council Member Silva motioned, seconded by Council Member Smith, to the award of the 2023 Downtown Parking Lots Project to R.J. Berry Jr, Inc. in the amount of $393,412.00. The motion passed with an unanimous voice vote.
Major Revenue Fund Update- Staff Report by City Manager Alexander Henderson.
Sponsor: City Manager & Finance Department
City Manager Alexander Henderson presented the major fund update. Taxes are trending positively.
Council Member North asked about the projected dip in 3Q. Mr. Henderson said economists are predicting a recession. Council Member Smith asked if there is a sunset for the TOT increase. Mr.
Henderson responded that there is not a sunset.
2022/2023 Capital Improvement Plan Update - Staff Report by City Manager Alexander Henderson.
Sponsor: City Manager & Finance Department
City Manager Alexander Henderson reviewed the capital improvement projects. Mayor Palomar asked about the slats in the pool fence. City Manager Henderson said they are mandatory by the health and safety code.
Clean California Local Grant Program Discussion- Staff Report by Public Works Director Daniel Galvez.
Sponsor: Public Works Department
Public Works Director Daniel Galvez said this is the 2
nd time we are applying for the grant. Most projects
went to disadvantaged communities. Council Member North asked what they include in our demographics? We have surrounding communities that may qualify. Mr. Galvez said they use census tracts. Council Member Silva asked about Heritage Park soft play and shade. Council Member North would like to resubmit the grant just for Heritage Park as a standalone and not with the other parks.
Council Reports and Staff Communications
Community Services Commission- They are getting close to having a rendering of the dog park.
Discussed items on the grants.
Public Safety Committee- They have not met.
Chamber of Commerce- They have not met.
Economic Development Committee- They have not met.
Finance Committee- The Committee went through the solar program and budget adjustments. The Police Department discussed the of possibly adding school resource officers with the school districts.
Planning Commission- May meet next Thursday.
South Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Joint Powers Authority (SKGSA)- Have not met.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
March 1, 2023
Downtown Business Improvement District- Will meet next Tuesday.
Council of Governments- FCTRA approved the microgrid funding for the City.
Council Quarterly Reports on all other boards/committees- None.
Council Member Reports- Council Member Silva said the Roadhouse ribbon cutting was great event.
Council Member North said Street Eats will be this Friday. She also shared Kingsburg reads one book.
City Manager’s Report- none.
Future Agenda Items:
Council Member Pursell, Jr. would like to add an Council Liaison and Alternate to the Kingsburg TriCounty Health Care District to the next agenda. There was consensus from Council.
The Kingsburg City Council adjourned out of the Regular Calendar into Closed Session at 8:14pm:
9.1 CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR
Government Code Section 54956.8
Property: APN 396-09-01
Agency Negotiator: City Manager Alexander Henderson
City Council Adjourned out of Close Session into Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting and report out of Closed Session at 8:30pm.
City Attorney Mike Noland said there was no report.
Adjourn Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting. At 8:30 P. M. Mayor Palomar adjourned the meeting.
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Abigail Palsgaard, City Clerk