Kingsburg City Council
Regular Meeting Minutes
August 6, 2025
Invocation was given by Pastor Faith Escobedo, Rick Alonzo Ministries, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Brandon Pursell.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mayor Pursell called the regular meeting of the Kingsburg City Council to order at 6:00pm.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: David Silva, Laura North, Vince Palomar and Mayor Pursell.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Staci Smith.
APPROVE AGENDA: A motion was made by Council Member Silva, seconded by Council Member Palomar, to approve the agenda, as published. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those members present.
PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
Public Works Maintenance Worker III David Green Celebration of 25 Years of Service and Retirement
Staff, public and Council thanked David Green for 25 his service to the City of Kingsburg.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR: A motion was made by Council Member North, seconded by Council Member Silva, to approve the items appearing on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those members present.
1. Approval of City Council Minutes: Approve the minutes from the July 16, 2025, Regular Council Meeting 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 July 8, 2025, through July 28, 2025, as prepared by Accounts Payable Clerk Marsha Alves.
Sponsor: Finance Department
3. Designate Mayor Brandon Pursell as the Voting Delegate of the 2025 Annual League of California Cities Conference, Mayor Pro-Tem Vince Palomar as the first Voting Delegate – Alternate and Council Member David M. Silva as the second Voting Delegate-Alternate. – Memo by the League of California Cities.
Sponsor: City Clerk’s Office
4. Adopt Resolution 2025-041 approving amendment to The Joint Powers Agreement of the Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority- Staff report by Assistant City Manager Christina Windover.
Sponsor: Assistant City Manager’s Office
5. Approve the Police Department’s transition from Sig Sauer P320 (9mm) to Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 (9mm) service pistols through a budget amendment and authorize an internal sale Kingsburg City Council Minutes
August 6, 2025
process to allow sworn and retired peace officers the option to purchase a department Sig P320 (9mm) at a fair market value, as determined through industry research and consultation with licensed firearms dealers.- Staff report by Police Chief Neil Dadian.
Sponsor: Police Department
REGULAR CALENDAR
July 3rd Independence Day Event Recap – Staff report by Community Services Director Adam Castaneda
Sponsor: Community Services Department
Community Services Director Adam Castaneda highlighted the success of the July 3rd Independence Day. In May, City Council directed staff to find a non-profit partner for the July 3rd Independence Day Celebration after the Chamber of Commerce withdrew support.
The Kingsburg Seawolves partnered with the City to plan and host the event. The City funded fireworks at $25,500. The event raised $13,347.88 from gate and parking (split between the City and Seawolves) and $1,882.37 in Seawolves concession sales. Feedback was positive, with suggested improvements in traffic control and entertainment. Staff recommend offering the Seawolves right of first refusal for 2026 and is exploring sponsorship.
Amanda Hofer, Seawolves representative, thanked Council for allowing them to host the Independence Day fireworks.
Council discussed with Ms. Hofer the fundraising, future plans and thanked the Seawolves for taking on the event with such short notice.
Mayor Pursell is supportive of it, he would like to keep it a competitive process. Now that he has seen it in person, he thinks it is a good use of taxpayer funds. He would like to revisit to see if it can be funded each year.
Council Member Palomar agrees that it is a great celebration. With sponsorship and a year’s time we can raise more money for the event. He agrees with checking in each year to see if it is financially feasible.
Council Member Silva agrees with their comments. He was a proponent of opening it up to all of the non-profits. He supports allowing the Seawolves to host the event next year. They have earned the right.
Council Member North agrees, since they took it last minute and it would be fair to give them a full year to see how the event can go. As far as paying for the fireworks, I think we should have an amount and stick to it. Sponsorships will make the show bigger.
City Manager Alexander Henderson stated we spent $25,500 on the A Show from the vendor. Mayor Pursell asked about approving up to $30,000 to be paid to the 3rd party vendor. Council Member North asked if sponsorships would go towards this? Mayor Pursell would like to give the City Manager Henderson the authority help replenish the funds and also make it equitable.
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
August 6, 2025
A motion was made by Mayor Pursell, seconded by Council Member Silva, to partner with the Seawolves for the 2026 Independence Day Festival, authorize purchasing a firework show from a 3rd party in the amount up to $30,000, authorize the city manager to negotiate the contract with the Seawolves, and revisit the funding and partnership next year. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
City Manager Henderson wanted clarification that if we have a large sponsor to have naming rights. Council is fine with that.
Safe Routes to School Project Consideration – Staff report by City Engineer Dave Peters Sponsor: Engineering Department
Will Washburn presented the Measure C Safe Routes to School funding opportunity, aimed at improving safety for students walking or biking to school, with a focus on high-risk and disadvantaged areas. The Traffic Safety Committee recommended submitting an application for flashing beacons near Rafer Johnson Junior High and Lindquist Street, and for school zone signage and striping upgrades at five local schools.
Council Member North asked if they we reached out to the schools. It is a COG/Federally funded project. It has been discussed overall with the schools. Staff saw the higher priority is the pedestrian traffic at Rafer and Reagan. Council Member North said when she was at COG they said it was matching funds grant and that could be why the school district did not participate. City Manager Henderson said that could be why they are using Measure C funds to match the federal funds.
A motion was made by Council Member Palomar, seconded by Council Member North, to approve Resolution 2025-042 authorizing staff to submit a Safe Routes to School grant application for the staff recommended projects. The motion carried by a unanimous voice vote of those present.
Q1 & Q2 2025 Code Enforcement Update – Presentation by Building Official AJ O’Connell Sponsor: Community Development Department
Informational – no action deemed necessary
Building Official AJ O’Connell gave his quarterly reports of the first six months of 2025. In the first half of 2025, the Code Enforcement Division opened 390 cases, a 16% increase from 2024, with 78% initiated proactively. Key violations included property maintenance, water use, and parking. Staff conducted 926 inspections and issued 276 Courtesy Notices and 34 Administrative Citations, focusing on gaining compliance rather than collection. Notable efforts included successful weed abatement in vacant lots and participation in the county-wide Point-in-Time homelessness count. The City also adopted an ordinance regulating infectious materials in partnership with Fresno County.
Council discussed some of the challenges that code enforcement has, and thanked Mr. O’Connell and his staff for their hard work.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: None.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Kingsburg City Council Minutes
August 6, 2025
City Manager Henderson reminded Council about the repaving starting the next day. Also, that on August 20, 2025, we will be hearing from BBK, the law firm the city retained to assist us with the Measure E extension effort.
COUNCIL REPORTS/COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Silva gave an update on the business spark sign, the Swedish Mill and the business park. The Kollective has moved to the Mercantile. SKGSA and the Kingsburg Health Care District have meetings on August 13, 2025. He also wanted to report the famers markets have been amazing, thanked the Chamber for putting those on. He attended the Babe Ruth tournament; he wanted to recognize the baseball players for their sportsmanship.
Council Member North reported BID met yesterday. Noted they are still short a member and are looking for another member. BID Committee will meet on September 2, 2025. And Chamber of Commerce is meeting Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
Council Member Palomar reported the Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet August 12, 2025, Planning Commission will meet on August 14, 2025, and SKF will meet on August 21, 2025. He also commented on the new signs at the parks, they look nice. Discussed the Regional teams, commented the Hawaiian team loved Kingsburg and the local restaurants’ hospitality.
Mayor Pursell reported he had Council of Governments last week. The primary issue was Measure C; there is a lot going on that needs to be sorted out. Mayor Pursell is asking citizens to pay attention to the measures, and stated he is fighting to make sure Kingsburg gets the percentage that we deserve.
Fresno County Rural Transit is getting a new director, they appointed Jenell Del Campo. Mayor Pursell was assigned to write her labor contract. Lastly, he and City Manager Henderson met with Congressman Costa. He has always been good to Kingsburg; he has financially pushed for Kingsburg in the Capitol. Kingsburg is still in the running for $1,000,000 the potential city hall build out.
Mayor Pursell adjourned the Regular Kingsburg City Council Meeting at 7:07 PM.
Submitted by:
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Abigail Palsgaard, City Clerk