Kingsburg City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2025
Invocation was given by Police Chaplain Cathleen Lawler, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Brandon Pursell.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mayor Pro Tem Palomar called the regular meeting of the Kingsburg City Council to order at 6:04pm.
Council Members Present: Laura North, Staci Smith, David Silva and Mayor Pro Tem Vince Palomar,
Council Members Absent: Mayor Brandon Pursell.
APPROVE AGENDA – A motion was made by Council Member North, seconded by Council Member Smith, to approve the agenda, as published. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
Swearing in of Fire Chief Rodnie Roberts - Presentation by City Manager Alexander Henderson PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR: A motion was made by Council Member Silva, seconded by Council Member Smith, to approve the items appearing on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
1. Approval of City Council Minutes: Approve the minutes from the December 4, 2024, and December 18, 2024 Regular Council Meetings as prepared by City Clerk Abigail Palsgaard.
Sponsor: City Clerk’s Office
2. Check Register: Ratify/approve payment of bills listed on the check register for the period December 10, 2024, through January 6, 2025, as prepared by Accounts Payable Clerk Marsha Alves.
Sponsor: Finance Department
3. Adopt Resolution 2025-001 A resolution stating the designation of the city’s agents for nonstate agencies for FEMA/Cal OES funding – Staff Report by Assistant City Manager Christina Windover
Sponsor: Assistant City Manager’s Office
REGULAR CALENDAR
PUBLIC HEARING – POTENTIAL PREZONE AND ANNEXATION (2024-02) FOR 4 PARCELS ON 42.52 ACRES ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MENDOCINO AND
CARUTHERS AVENUES IN KINGSBURG, AND REVIEW OF THE KINGSBURG PLANNING COMMISSION’S APPROVAL OF PUD 2024-01 FOR A 97 LOT Kingsburg City Council Minutes
January 15, 2025
SUBDIVISION ON 33.27 ACRES – Presentation by Community Development Director Holly Owen
Sponsor: Community Development Department
Open Public Hearing: 6:17 PM.
Community Development Director Holly Owens presented the application from West Star Construction, where they are seeking approval for several planning applications. Director Owens reviewed the applications highlighting that the property is within the sphere of influence. West Star Construction has already been rewarded the housing allocations.
Council Discussion: 6:25PM.
Council Member North asked for clarification on what the circulation of the study was. Did it include notes on doors? Director Owens clarified the requirement is for studies to have public review, where it’s posted on our website, front counter, even the library. It’s available for the public to read and go through.
Council Member Smith asked what is on the other 10 acres showing on the map. Director Owens said it is not owned by the project developers; it is currently not developed.
Mayor Pro Tem Palomar wanted to know if it was a residentially zoned area. It was clarified as a pre-zoned area and with the pre-zone, it will be a residential zoned area. Council Member North wanted to know if there has been communication with houses in those areas, that they will be moved from County to City. City Manager Henderson helped with the clarification on the area that would be the annexation.
Open Public Comment: 6:30 PM.
Cameron Hayes, Kingsburg resident, family lives by the property, is against the annexation.
Dave Crinklaw, West Star Construction, spoke about the positives of this housing development.
Council Member North asked for clarification of what an adaptive park is. Mr. Crinklaw says it allows for accessibility for handicapped children.
Council Member Smith asked if there will be homes will be facing 18th or if there will be a block wall. Mr. Crinklaw said with the North Kingsburg Specific Plan’s regulations there will be a block wall with a walking path facing 18th. The development will have large lots.
Council Member Smith asked about garages facing the alley. Mr. Crinklaw said yes to rear access, but not everyone wants it.
Council Member Silva asked about traffic coming into town from Mountain View. He is concerned about the speed of traffic and the people who will be crossing 18th to go to the park. Mr. Crinklaw said crossing without a crosswalk on a four-lane road is dangerous.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
January 15, 2025
Council Member Silva drove through the other West Star developments andnoted they have done a good job with the parks.
Cameron Hayes, residents, would the development to be a smaller parcel shown on the map.
Closed Public Comment: 6:47 PM.
Continued Council Discussion: 6:47 PM.
Council Member Silva appreciates Mr. Hayes’ comments regarding the annexation. If his development wasn’t built in the 1990’s, he wouldn’t be here. He is glad there is a well thought-out growth pattern. He is ok with the annexation as long as the City continues with a well-thought outgrowth.
Council Member North has similar thoughts. She appreciates Mr. Hayes’ comments. In the last eight years the appearance of growth can seem high. The City follows the growth management ordinance voted in by the people. Due to the housing market and the great recession, buildings haven’t occurred for years and the allocations have stacked up. This is a generational community, and the only way to do that is with slow, managed growth. These homes are great products. We are not dealing with a developer who is one and done, West Star Construction is invested in this community.
Council Member Smith appreciates Mr. Hayes coming. She agrees with the other council members. She was born and raised here and loves our town. She appreciates Mr. Crinklaw, he understands what we want in Kingsburg.
Council Member North clarified with Mr. Crinklaw that the land to the north is not theirs, and they are not planning on building on it. It is just that LAFco is mandating this.
City Attorney Michael Noland said yes,- they are requiring the annexation of the north parcel.
Mayor Pro Tem Palomar said growth is going to happen. He does understand where Mr.
Hayes is coming from.
Close Public Hearing: 7:10 PM.
A motion was made by Council Member Silva, seconded by Council Member Smith, to adopt Resolution 2025-002, approving the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation Monitoring Program for the Annexation, Pre-zone, and Planned Unit Development. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
A motion was made by Council Member North, seconded by Council Member Silva, to adopt Resolution 2025-003, accepting the Kingsburg Planning Commission’s recommendation to initiate Annexation 2024-02of 42.54 acres from the County of Fresno into the City of Kingsburg and the Selma-Kingsburg-Fowler Sanitation District and detachment of same from the Kings River Conservation District, Fresno County Fire Protection District and the Consolidated Irrigation District and Pre-zone the annexation territory of 42.52 acres from Fresno County’s Kingsburg City Council Minutes
January 15, 2025
AE-20 (Exclusive Agriculture, 20 acre minimum) to Kingsburg’s R-1-7 district and forward to Fresno LAFCo. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member North, to adopt Resolution 2025-004 affirming the Planning Commission approval of planned unit development (PUD 2024-01) for 33.27 acres, which involves single-family residential uses and associated open space features. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
Kingsburg Fire Department Strategic and Master Plan - Staff Report by Interim Fire Chief John Binaski.
Sponsor: Fire Department
Chief Binaski explained the process of the master and strategic plan process, timeline and how it is essential for our organization. Chief Binaski also reviewed ISO, the response times for fire maps and the Kingsburg Fire Department organizational chart.
Council Member Silva asked how much Measure E funds for personnel. Chief Binaski stated almost half of the department is funded by Measure E. They discussed the importance of Measure E, it adds boots on the ground in both departments.
Chief Binaski discussed the ambulance response area in Fresno County, the Fire Department responds to a much larger map than just in Kingsburg. The majority of the calls are medical.
They discussed the increased call volume, response time, and travel time. Chief Binaski touched on how the Fire Department involves education, inspections, and code enforcement. In the future when there is an ask from the fire department, it is because of this study.
Council thanked Interim Chief Binaski for his service to the city.
Amendments to the City of Kingsburg Building, Fire, Existing Building, and Property Maintenance Codes - Staff Report by Fire Chief John Binaski & Building Official AJ O’Connell
Sponsor: Community Development and Fire Department
Building Official AJ O’Connell reviewed the seven (7) proposed amendments to the adopted Building Standards Code in the City of Kingsburg. The main points were Relocatable Buildings; Installation of Fall Protection Devices; Cost Recovery; Fire Sprinkler Systems, Access/Street Width, Addressing Identification and Pet Boarding.
Council Member North asked about addressing and pet boarding. Mr. O’Connell said the addressing is a sliding scale for commercial and multi-housing. They are now being built with a farther set back and it makes it more difficult to see the numbers. Pet boarding been an interest here and he has realized that there is no set standard for this type of business.
Council Member Palomar asked about cost recovery, if there is a violation, what would be the reason to fine business owners? Chief Binaski stepped in to answer, noting that if you are doing illegal activity, we want to be able to recover that cost to the taxpayer.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
January 15, 2025
A motion was made by Council Member Silva, seconded by Council Member Smith, to wave the first reading and introduce Ordinance 2025-01 An Ordinance Amending Various Chapters and Sections Within Said Chapters of Title 15 of the Kingsburg Municipal Code and pass the Ordinance to a second reading and adoption at the City Council meeting on February 7, 2025, with the following recital constituting reading the title of the Ordinance:
“An Ordinance Amending Various Chapters and Sections Within Said Chapters of Title 15 of the Kingsburg Municipal Code”
with the amendments to the text to reflect the correct chapters in the municipal code.
The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
A motion was made by Council Member North, seconded by Council Member Smith, to Adopt Resolution 2025-005 Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Kingsburg Approving And Adopting Express Findings That Modifications Or Changes To The California Building Code, California Mechanical Code, California Fire Code, And California Existing Building Code Are Reasonably Necessary Due To Local Climatic And Geological Conditions. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
Development Impact Fee Report for FY 2023-24 - Staff Report by Finance Director Alma Colado
Sponsor: Finance Department
Finance Director Alma Colado reviewed the public report on development impact fees. The fees are from new developments to help future development. The purpose of this annual report is to show the necessity of continued imposition of development impact fees.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith, seconded by Council Member Silva, to adopt Resolution 2025-006 accepting and receiving the Development Impact Fee Report for FY 2023-
24. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present. 2024 Crime Stats and General Police Update – Presentation by Police Chief Neil Dadian Sponsor: Police Department
Chief Dadian presented that overall, there has been a decline in crime for 2024, but a rise in call for service. Officers are initiating more calls for service compared to citizens calling in calls for service. Chief Dadian spoke about officers being in front of things 24% more than in 2023.
Citizens are calling in 9% less compared to last year. Top part one crimes are property crimes.
He discussed training, equipment and personnel.
Council Member North asked if the domestic violence calls fall under aggravated assault. Chief Dadian said yes. Mayor Pro Tem Palomar asked about the 2nd motorcycle usage. Chief Dadian noted Reserve Officer Gary Beer may be using it in the field.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: None.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
January 15, 2025
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
We have a fire strike crew with the LA fires.
HUD is putting together a homeless count. Kingsburg Police Department will have a couple officers and will be asking KCAPs for volunteers to go along.
COUNCIL REPORTS/COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Silva updated council on the following businesses: Kwik Korner is moving forward, Smash Burger is going into the old Bento to Go, and Swedish Mill is still in progressing.
Council Member North noted that the BID met last week, discussed a digital sign, may come to council.
Council Member Smith reminded the council of upcoming meetings.
Mayor Pro Tem Palomar reminded the council of upcoming meetings.
Mayor Pro Tem Palomar adjourned the Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting into Closed Session at: 817pm
Public Employment: California Government Code Section 54957 Title: City Manager
Mayor Pro Tem Palomar adjourned out of Close Session into Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting at 8:29 PM.
Attorney Michael Noland stated there was nothing to report.
Mayor Pro Tem Palomar adjourned the Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting at 8:29 PM.
Submitted by:
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Abigail Palsgaard, City Clerk
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
January 15, 2025