LINDSAY CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
City Hall, 251 E. Honolulu St., Lindsay, CA 93247
Notice is hereby given that the Lindsay City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on March 12, 2024, at 6:00 PM in person and via webinar. The webinar address for members of the public is https://zoom.us/j/99279557087. Those who would like to make a public comment during the public comment portion of the agenda may do so by utilizing the raise hand feature or indicating they would like to make a comment in the chat.
Persons with disabilities who may need assistance should contact the Deputy City Clerk prior to the meeting at (559) 562-7102 ext. 8035 or via email at [email protected].
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Present Mayor Caudillo
Council Member Flores
Mayor Pro Tem Serna
Council Member Cerros
Council Member Sanchez
3. PLEDGE
Led by Council Member CERROS.
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion to Approve Agenda
1st 2nd Result Caudillo Flores Serna Cerros Sanchez
CAUDILLO SANCHEZ 5-0 AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE
5. PUBLIC COMMENT
The public is invited to comment on any subject under the jurisdiction of the Lindsay City Council. Please note that speakers that wish to comment on a Regular Item or Public Hearing on tonight’s agenda will have an opportunity to speak when public comment for that item is requested by the Mayor. Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes per person, with thirty (30) minutes for the total comment period, unless 2 of 3
otherwise indicated by the Mayor. The public may also choose to submit a comment before the meeting via email. Public comments received via email will be distributed to the Council prior to the start of the meeting and incorporated into the official minutes; however, they will not be read aloud. Under state law, matters presented under public comment cannot be acted upon by the Council at this time. • Leonor Serna addressed Item 12.2 for the amendment of the city charter. She expressed that she was one of the thirteen community members that created the Citizen’s Charter back in 1996. She described the disadvantages of a strong-mayor-city-charter. She stated that the most common form of local government is the one currently in place at Lindsay. • Mercy Herrera agreed with Leonor Serna’s comment. She also directed a comment to Tulare County Supervisor Larry Micari regarding the road on Lindmore Street. • Belinda McKenney said she just found out about item 12.2 amending city charter. She expressed concern over the change of power.
• Mary Jane, Vice Chair of the Orange Blossom Festival Committee extended an invitation to the 94th Orange Blossom Festival on the 13th of April 2024. She said the carnival was on its way and that it is the main fundraiser. Sacred Heart Catholic Church is sponsoring the Orange Blossom Festival Queen and Court, and they need a location.
6. COUNCIL REPORT
• Council Member Sanchez said she was happy to see familiar faces from Tulare County. 1 • Council Member Cerros had no report.
• Mayor Pro Tem Serna attended an art museum with art from one local artist. He also attended the Lindsay Community Coalition and the Fresno Red Cross.
• Council Member Flores had no report.
• Mayor Caudillo attended Lindsay Community Coalition and Central Valley Heroes Awards with American Red Cross with Mayor Pro Tem Serna. She also attended the East Kaweah Ground Water Sustainability Agency special meeting in February.
7. CITY MANAGER REPORT
• Lindsay was notified on February 13th that City of Porterville would cancel their animal control contract with City of Lindsay and City of Woodlake. The City has 180 days to find an alternative. • LUSD met with PD officials to exercise the option of not renewing the contract of the currently vacant school resource officer. The school would then have one resource officer instead of two.
The vehicle that belongs to the school district will be returned to them. • Maintenance Supervisor Marshall Chairez and Interim City Manager Armando visited the skate park on the morning of March 12th to assess safety.
8. RECOGNITION ITEMS
8.1 Proclamation in Honor of Tulare County District Supervisor Presented by Mayor Caudillo
Presented to Larry Micari, Tulare County District Supervisor • Proclamation was presented by Mayor Pro Tem Serna
1 Council Member Sanchez added to her Council Report during Item 14 Request for Future Items that she attended the Friday Night Market.
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• Larry Micari addressed Mercy Herrera’s comments on Lindmore St. and said work is meant to begin around March.
9. PRESENTATIONS
9.1 Lindsay High School Associated Student Body (ASB) Representative Update Presented by Daisy Lemus, Lindsay High School ASB Representative • Daisy Lemus was not present.
9.2 Department of Recreation Services Update
Presented by Armando da Silva, Director of Recreation Services and Acting City Manager • Stephanie Orozco from Recreation Services presented this item.
The meeting entered a recess at 6:40 PM and returned at 6:43 PM.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
Routine items approved in one motion unless an item is pulled for discussion.
10.1 Minutes from February 13, 2024 Regular Meeting
10.2 Warrant List for February 04, 2024, through March 03, 2024
10.3 Treasurer’s Report for February 2024
10.4 Consider the Authorization of the Trade-In of City-Owned Vehicle, 2022 Honda Accord, and Utilize Proceeds to Purchase a Light Pick-Up Truck
10.5 Consider the Approval of Water Transfer from the City of Lindsay to the Pixley Irrigation District
10.6 Consider the Authorization to Re-Bid Olive Bowl/Kaku Park Project Motion to Approve Consent Calendar
1st 2nd Result Caudillo Flores Serna Cerros Sanchez
CAUDILLO SERNA 5-0 AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE
11. ACTION ITEMS
11.1 Consider the Approval of Resolution No. 24-07, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with the County of Tulare for the Purpose of the 2024 Slurry Seal Program Presented by Edna Hubbard, Engineer Technician
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• Edna Hubbard addressed Mercy Herrera’s comment on Lindmore St. and explained that the project may start in a few weeks once the weather is 55°F or higher. Coordination with packinghouses is also needed prior to commencing work.
Motion to Approve Action Item 11.1
1st 2nd Result Caudillo Flores Serna Cerros Sanchez
SERNA CAUDILLO 5-0 AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE
11.2 Consider Council Member Representative Re-Appointment for Boards and Committees Item Requested by Council Member Cerros
Presented by Araceli Mejia, Deputy City Clerk
Motion to Approve Action Item 11.2
1st 2nd Result Caudillo Flores Serna Cerros Sanchez
SERNA CAUDILLO 5-0 AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE
11.3 Special Event Permit (SEP) No. 24-01
A. Consider Application for the Special Event Permit (SEP) No. 24-01 for the Orange Blossom Festivities at Various Locations in Lindsay on April 06, 2024, through April 14, 2024
• Interim City Manager Armando da Silva noted that the car show and skating competition would be excluded from the Orange Blossom Festivities.
Motion to Approve Action Item 11.3a
1st 2nd Result Caudillo Flores Serna Cerros Sanchez
CERROS SERNA 5-0 AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE
B. Consider Fee Waiver for Special Event Permit (SEP) No. 24-01 for the Orange Blossom Festivities at Various Locations in Lindsay on April 06, 2024, through April 14, 2024 Presented by Araceli Mejia, Assistant City Planner
Motion to Approve Action Item 11.3b
1st 2nd Result Caudillo Flores Serna Cerros Sanchez
SERNA CERROS 5-0 AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE
12. DISCUSSION ITEMS
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12.1 Downtown Food Trucks on City-Owned Lots
Presented by Armando da Silva, Director of Recreation Services and Acting City Manager
12.2 Amending City Charter
Presented by Megan Crouch, City Attorney
• The City Council gave the direction to create a finance committee to oversee city financial issues.
Other suggestions from the City Council were to highlight whistleblower protection in employee handbooks and to regularly hold evaluations for City Managers from department heads. • Public comment: Jorge Espinoza expressed agreement with oversight committee suggestion. He also said he believes the issue of management is dependent on leadership and culture among staff set by the city manager.
• Public comment: Merci Herrera asked if there was an existing finance oversight committee. • Public comment: Leonor Serna said she found the topic of protection of staff and whistleblowers interesting when Item 13.2 is a litigation item.
Executive Closed Session began at 7:42 PM.
13. EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSION
13.1 Threat to Public Services or Facilities Pursuant to Cal Gov. Code § 54957 Consultation with:
Acting City Manager, Armando Da Silva, City Attorney, Megan Crouch
13.2 Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation (§ 54956.9) Name of Case: Salvador Guzman v. City of Lindsay, Government Claim for Damages Meeting returned from Executive Closed Session at 8:17 PM. • City Council rejected the claim for damages from Salvador Guzman.
14. REQUEST FOR FUTURE ITEMS
• Jon Peel brought to City Council’s attention that the City has a viable commodity. He expressed that if the City sold 3 ounce bags of dates from the date palms located around the City for $1.25, the City would get $60,937.05. He also said the Mariposa Tree Service has not held up to their agreements in the contract for reporting of damages.
• Merci Herrera agreed with the suggestion for an oversight committee in reference to Item 12.2. • Jorge Espinoza is concerned about the political risk of the funds for the Olive Bowl Park.
Expressed support for the re-bidding of the project.
• Council member Sanchez said she had attended the Friday Night Market. • City Manager reminded everyone about the First Friday Coffee Talk on April 5th, 2024 at Starbucks from 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM. He also announced the Easter Egg Contest held on social media platforms.
• City Manager requested for interested parties for the vacant city-owned lots downtown to have a presentation at the next City.
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15. ADJOURNMENT
Lindsay City Council meetings are held in the City Council Chambers at 251 E. Honolulu Street in Lindsay, California beginning at 6:00 P.M. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month unless otherwise noticed. Materials related to an Agenda item submitted to the legislative body after distribution of the Agenda Packet are available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk during normal business hours. Complete agenda is available at www.lindsay.ca.us. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act & Ralph M. Brown Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, or to be able to access this agenda and documents in the agenda packet, please contact the office of the Deputy City Clerk at (559) 562-7102 x 8034. Notification prior to the meeting will enable the City to ensure accessibility to this meeting and/or provision of an alternative format of the agenda and documents in the agenda packet.
• The meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.