KINGSBURG CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
May 3, 2023
Council Chamber, 1401 Draper Street, Kingsburg, CA 93631 Invocation was given by Pastor Clayton Paull, Hope Church, 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 6:01 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, as published. The motion carried by an unanimous voice vote.
Presentations:
Spring 2023 Organizational Improvement Award – Jeff Lloyd, Fire Fighter/Paramedic/Engineer Sponsor: City Manager’s Office
Mayor Palomar congratulated Mr. Lloyd on behalf of the Council.
Public Comments: None.
Consent Calendar: A motion was made by Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Silva, to approve the items appearing on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by an unanimous voice vote.
5.1 Approval of City Council Minutes: Approve the minutes from the April 19, 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 April 11, 2023 through April 24, 2023 as prepared by Accounts Payable Clerk Marsha Alves.
Sponsor: Finance Department
5.3 Adopt Resolution 2023-021 Celebrating the Month of May as Building Safety MonthSponsor: Community Development Department
5.4 Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Employ America for Community Inclusion Services- Staff Report prepared Public Works Director Daniel Galvez
Sponsor: Public Works Department
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
May 3, 2023
5.5 Public Safety Sales Tax (Measure E) Oversight Committee Appointment- Accept Mayor Palomar’s appointment of Blake Nino to the Public Safety Sales Tax (Measure E) Oversight Committee to a term that is set to expire November 2027.
Sponsor: City Clerk’s Office
Regular Calendar
2023/2024 DRAFT Capital Improvement Plan and FY 23 and FY 24 Streets Update- Staff Report prepared by City Manager Alexander Henderson
Sponsor: City Manager’s Office
City Manager Alexander Henderson presented the draft 2023/2024 Capital Improvement Plan and FY 23 and FY 24 Streets Update. This is the time for the public or Council to give their input. Council Member Smith asked if the discarded pavement from the reconstructing of roads will be added to the alleys to improve them? City Manager Henderson said it has been used that way in the past, he will look into it.
Informational - No Action Deemed Necessary
Traffic Policies – Speed Humps and Stop Signs- Staff Report prepared by City Engineer Dave Peters
Sponsor: City Engineer’s Office
City Engineer Dave Peters presented the proposed Traffic Polices for Speed Humps and Stop Signs.
Council Member Silva asked if people outside the city limits can request improvement, or just residences? Mr. Peters said anyone in the zip code. Council Member North asked who is on the committee. Mr. Peters said Lt. Stephens, Public Works Director Galvez, himself and Chief Perkins.
Council Member Smith asked if he got input from the chiefs directly? Mr. Peters said we did discuss this at the Traffic Committee. Council discussed home values. Mr. Peters doesn’t know of any home values going down. Council Member Smith asked if any other cities nearby are installing these? Mr.
Peters said they are cautiously being installed in neighboring communities. Council Member Pursell, Jr. said he is opposed to speed humps. The Police Chief and Fire Chief both stated that the speed humps would cause a much slower response time. Council Member Pursell, Jr. said it doesn’t make fiscal or public safety sense. Speed humps slow down first responders.
Mayor Palomar asked for cost of the speed humps. Mr. Peters said $7,500. Mayor Palomar said he is also opposed to speed humps. Council Member North asked what prompted this? Mr. Peter said staff wanted to explore this, we get requests from time to time. The Traffic Committee wanted to get a policy to show the public how we are making the decision. City Manager Henderson said the public may not understand the procedure, this is transparent. Council Member Pursell, Jr. said he doesn’t want to waste staff time. Mr. Peters said there are other ways to attack it, like a speed trailer. Council Member North said recently pedestrians who have been hit have been on nonresidential streets, this wouldn’t help that but it would slow down first responders. Council Member Silva said he has a different opinion, there is speeding on Lindquist. He believes having something is better than having nothing. Council discussed other options to slow down speeders including enforcement, lighting, bump outs and the speed trailer. Mr. Peters said we added bike lanes on Tulare Street and it has slowed people down. Council Member Pursell, Jr. said he doesn’t want to slow down first responders.
Chief Perkins has been in front of Council showing us how each second matters. Council Member North asked how the Stop Sign Policy is different than what we already use. Mr. Peters said it is not different, we are just spelling it out. Council Member Pursell, Jr. asked what department heads think.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
May 3, 2023
Public Works Director Galvez said most requests we get do not qualify. Having a process will help show the resident why it doesn’t qualify.
Chief Dadian was not in favor of them or necessarily having a policy. We have done other things to slow people down. One successful option has been signs that say kids at play, slow down. Not sure if the policy is needed for the common complaint.
Chief Perkins said it slows response time. Rigs are heavy, it will increases maintenance costs. It is hard on the brakes with starting and stopping. Seconds matter when it comes to brain cells (saving lives) and fires. He does believe people need a vehicle to voice their opinion, but maybe not a policy.
Other options can be cones and signs; the fire department can run those over if needed. Council Member North would like the chiefs to sign off on any approvals. Council Member Smith would like Fire Captains and Lieutenants to sign off also. Mr. Peters said there is a part in the policy that says it can’t be an emergency response route. Council Member Pursell, Jr. said wouldn’t want to see anything to go forward without the police department, fire department and public works signing off on it. Mr.
Peters also said if speed humps are installed, it could increase traffic on neighboring streets. The initial screening must receive sign off of all members of the Traffic Committee. Council Member North said she would like the people who would be directly in front of the speed humps to have to sign off.
Mayor Palomar asked can you add language that it comes to Council after the traffic safety committee approves the application. Mr. Henderson said staff will bring back the speed hump policy with the changes from the direction from Council.
Council Member North motioned, seconded by Council Member Silva, to adopt the proposed traffic policy for requested installation of stop signs. The motion passed unanimously with a voice vote.
Council Reports and Staff Communications
Community Services Commission- They met last week, gave an update on the dog park. Discussed the new turf at the parks, senior recourse fair on Friday- open to all seniors in Fresno County. It is from 9am-2pm.
Public Safety Committee- They meet next week.
Chamber of Commerce- They meet next week.
Economic Development- They haven’t met.
Finance Committee- They discussed the Athwal Park bathroom, a credit card policy and the general plan RFP review. Athwal is over budget.
Planning Commission- There is a joint workshop on housing element 5/11 at 6pm.
South Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Joint Powers Authority (SKGSA)- They meet next week.
Downtown Business Improvement District- They met yesterday morning- 6/2 Summer Kickoff Event.
Council of Governments- There is nothing to report.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
May 3, 2023
Quarterly Council Update of All Intergovernmental Committees and Boards- 5 Cities meets Monday.
Council Member Reports- Council Member Silva reported on the Chamber of Commerce mixer at Print Theory. Andrew Vorhes, KHS alumni, played at USC, got a contract with the NFL team Baltimore Ravens. Council Member North spoke at the Tuesday Club.
City Manager’s Report- City Manager Henderson reported on the fiber project. Phase 2 will begin after the Swedish fest. Phase 2 & 3 may happen at the same time. Business journal is going to do a story on the fiber project. He gave a quick history of the Community Planners that came to Kingsburg.
The City has received an award for the Stone Plaza project in regards to the Community Planners, we will bring it to the next meeting. The Property owner will give an update at the next meeting regarding the progress of Stone Plaza.
Future Agenda Items: None.
Adjourn Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting. At 7:08pm Mayor Palomar adjourned the meeting.
Submitted by:
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Abigail Palsgaard, City Clerk