KINGSBURG CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
October 18, 2023
1401 Draper Street, Kingsburg, CA 93631 (559) 897-5821 www.cityofkingsburg-ca.gov Invocation was given by John Palms, Kingsburg Task Force, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Vince Palomar.
6 P.M. REGULAR SESSION MEETING:
Call to Order and Roll Call: Mayor Palomar called the regular meeting of the Kingsburg City Council to order at 6:01pm.
Council Members Present: David Silva, Brandon Pursell Jr., Laura North, Staci Smith, and Mayor Vince Palomar.
Council Member Absent: None.
Approve Agenda: A motion was made by Council Member Pursell, Jr., seconded by Council Member North, to approve the items appearing on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by an unanimous voice vote.
Presentations:
Fall 2023 Public Service Award – Building Official AJ O’Connell Sponsor: City Manager’s Office
Mayor Palomar presented the award to Building Official AJ O’Connell.
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 October 4, 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 September 26, 2023, through October 9, 2023 as prepared by Accounts Payable Clerk Marsha Alves.
Sponsor: Finance Department
5.3 Award the Madsen Avenue Rehabilitation Project to Avenue Rehabilitation Project to Don Berry Construction in the amount of $597,758.00. - Staff Report prepared by City Engineer Dave Peters
Sponsor: City Engineer’s Office
5.4 Accept 10th Avenue and Draper Street Intersections Improvements Project completed by ARES General Engineering and authorize the City Engineer to file the Notice of Completion. - Staff Report prepared by City Engineer Dave Peters Sponsor: City Engineer’s Office
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
October 18, 2023
5.5 September 2023 Crime Stats. - Accept and file the Police Department’s September 2023 Crime Stats.
Sponsor: Police Department
5.6 Public Safety Committee Appointment- Accept Mayor Palomar’s appointment of Barbara Taylor to the Public Safety Committee to a term that is set to expire November 2027.
Sponsor: City Clerk’s Office
Regular Calendar
Fiber Optic Broadband Update - Staff Report prepared by City Manager Alexander Henderson Sponsor: City Manager’s Office
Reggie Gierke, President, Kingsburg Media Foundation (“KBMF”), presented an update. Almost all the underground is complete other than a portion of Sierra, they are waiting on the Caltrans permit. Phase 3 only has 4 locations left to complete. Mr. Gierke also reviewed the number of clients for residential and business, explained that a competitor told customers that KBMF are going out of business, and they have lost some customers as a result. Council Member Pursell Jr. asked how KBMF will avoid this happening with future customers. Mr. Gierke explained that a plan for existing customers will have to talk to them before cancelling and they will reach out to existing customers to let them know the rumor is not true.
New customers will be placed on a contract to avoid this kind of situation again.
Council Member Silva asked if they have had outreach with new home builders. Mr. Gierke answered yes and added that they have signed a contract with Fresno Housing Authority.
Council Member Smith asked when the project will be completed. Mr. Gierk explained barring the Caltrans issues, the actual fiber will be done this month. They discussed the timeline of getting people up and going.
Informational - No Action Deemed Necessary.
Growth Management System Rolling Allocation Discussion- Staff Report by Community Development Director Holly Owen
Sponsor: Community Development Department
Director Holly Owens continued the discussion about the 3-year rolling allocation section of the growth management coordinates. Chapter 16.09 of Title 16 of the Kingsburg Municipal Code implements the Growth Management Amendment to the City Charter passed by the voters of the City of Kingsburg in the election of November 2, 2004. Chapter 16.09 establishes a Growth Management System to limit the rate of residential growth in the City to a level compatible with the size, financial limitations, resource constraints and service capabilities of the City and the service providers within the City.
The ordinance requires that applications for allocations must be filed with the City Planning and Development Department on or before 4:00 p.m. on September 30, 2023. As that 2023 date fell on a weekend, the closing date for allocations was October 2nd. One application for allocations was received by the date required, and staff is reviewing the application. Per direction of the ordinance, the results of the rating and ranking will be presented to Planning Commission on their first meeting in November, with a recommendation to Council as the outcome of their consideration.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
October 18, 2023
Dave Crinklaw, Weststar Construction, is for the rolling the allocations. It helps the completion of a project instead of having to have long pauses that could include unfinished infrastructure. The North Kingsburg Specific Plan is wonderful.
Council Member Pursell, Jr. said the number one thing he hears from constituents is that they do not want any more growth. He would like to review the ordinance; it is 10 years old. He is not against growth, he would like it done in the way that it is good for Kingsburg. An educational workshop could be helpful. He does not want to do anything until the housing element is approved.
Council Member North gave the history on the intent of the ordinance. She wants to keep the Kingsburg experience. She thinks the spirit of this worked, no growth for over a decade. She doesn’t think there is a growth problem, she does think there is an educational issue. We have only added 1,002 people in 10 years.
Council Member Smith agreed, she hears about the growth from constituents. Our growth has been kept pretty minimal; it has been below 3% annually. She would like to solicit feedback and input with the community.
Council Member Silva said we want Kingsburg to stay Kingsburg. He would also like education and outreach to citizens.
Mayor Palomar also hears about growth from residents. He would like to see a workshop on this to get the public’s input.
City Manager Henderson said we can look at phasing for developers. Also, we can look at rolling over allocations in the future and not allowing the use housing allocations that were not used in the past.
Community Development Director Owen said we are the only ones in the central valley with a growth management ordinance that has stood the test of time and review by the State.
Informational - No Action Deemed Necessary.
Strategic Plan Update – Staff Report by Assistant City Manager Christina Windover Sponsor: Assistant City Manager’s Office
Assistant City Manager Christina Windover gave an update from our two-day work sessions. The City of Kingsburg’s Strategic Plan helps prioritize the City’s efforts to achieve a shared Vision, Mission, and Strategic Goals that reflect the community priorities and needs. City staff is asking Council to approve the Mission and Vision statements as well as the 5 identified goals so they can start incorporating them into city communications, documents, and branding.
Council Member Pursell Jr., wanted to make sure citizens understood the time and effort that was put into this project. It is more than a motivational poster; these ideas embody the City of Kingsburg.
A motion was made by Council Member North, seconded by Council Member Smith, to approve the Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and the Strategic Goals. The motion carried by an unanimous voice vote.
Caltrans Grant Award for Heritage Park Announcement - Staff Report by Community Services Director Adam Castaneda
Sponsor: Community Services Department
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
October 18, 2023
Community Services Director Adam Castaneda announced the City of Kingsburg has been selected as a recipient of the Clean California Local Grant Program. Out of 230 applications received by Caltrans, our project, the Heritage Park Shade & Play Project, was among the outstanding 42 initiatives chosen in this cycle. The City of Kingsburg secured a grant of $168,975 for a shade structure and pour and play flooring at Heritage Park.
Director Castaneda clarified to council that the shade structure will cover the entire space, trees will not be pulled out, and hopes the project will be completed by Spring of 2024.
Council thanked Townsend and Mr. Castaneda.
Informational- No Action Needed.
Council Reports and Staff Communications
Community Services Commission- Have not met.
Public Safety Committee- Will meet early in November.
Chamber of Commerce – Halloween day Chamber is working with local businesses to have our downtown trick or treating for local elementary schools.
Economic Development – Have not met. But there has been positive economic development. Such as, progress at Bank of America building, the Kuik Korner is in the planning phase, and Stone Plaza now has occupancy upstairs. Restaurants are still being in progress of being built.
Finance Committee- Hoping to meet October 23, 2023.
Planning Commission- Met October 12, 2023. Director Holly Owens gave an economic development update, legislature update, and discussed site plan review.
South Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency Joint Powers Authority (SKGSA) – Have not met.
Downtown Business Improvement District - Have not met.
Council of Governments - Have not met.
Quarterly Council Update of All Intergovernmental Committees and Boards- None.
Council Member Reports- Council Member Silva details how Kingsburg Health Care District adjusted how they pay grants. A little bit of issues with it being a reimbursement grant.
Council Member North attended a Kingsburg taskforce meeting, great meeting of people who care about our town. Meeting is every 1
st Thursday of the month with rotating meeting locations. Mayor Palomar attended a ribbon cutting and check presentation at Athwal for the bathrooms. The grant from T-Mobile for $50,000. Mayor Palomar expressed that T-Mobile does a lot for our community and the economy.
Also attended a Chamber Mixer last night at West Star.
City Manager’s Report – To follow up from last meeting, solar financing did close successfully. The 18th and 12th sidewalk project will be starting soon. Notices will be sent out to the residents before they begin. October 27, 2023 Kingsburg High School’s annual beat Selma rally will be happening downtown.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
October 18, 2023
Future Agenda Items:
None.
Adjourn Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting. At 7:17 P. M. Mayor Palomar adjourned the meeting.
Submitted by:
____________________________________
Abigail Palsgaard, City Clerk