CITY OF LOS BANOS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 16, 2022
ACTION MINUTES – These minutes are prepared to depict action taken for agenda items presented to the City Council. For detail of this meeting refer to the electronic media (CD and/or audio) kept as a permanent record.
SPECIAL NOTE: This meeting was held by teleconference due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and in accordance with Assembly Bill 361.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Faria called the City Council Meeting to order at the hour of 6:08 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Police Chief Brizzee led the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL – MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT: Council Members Brett Jones, Kenneth Lambert, Deborah Lewis, Mayor Manuel Thomas Faria III; ABSENT:
Refugio LLamas.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: City Manager Pinheiro, City Attorney Vaughn, City Clerk/Human Resources Director Mallonee, Finance Director Williams, Community & Economic Development Director Elms, Police Chief Brizzee, Fire Chief Hurley, Public Works Director/City Engineer Than.
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Lambert, seconded by Jones to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Jones, Lambert, Lewis, Mayor Faria; NOES: None; ABSENT: LLamas.
PRESENTATIONS.
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING FOUR CHAPLAINS SUNDAY. Mayor Faria read and presented the proclamation, for which Rick Jurado was in attendance to accept.the recognition and thanked the City Council for the recognition.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION – LIONS CLUB SPEECH COMPETITION:
ZANDRYA AFFONSO-STIERS, SENIOR – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – FIRST PLACE; SAGE AREIAS, JUNIOR – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL; ALANA WATKINS, SENIOR – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL; ISABELLA FARIA, SOPHOMORE – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL; BROCKTON BORELLI, FRESHMAN – CONNECTING WATERS CHARTER SCHOOL. Mayor Faria read and presented the certificates of recognition.
CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION – MERCED/MARIPOSA SECTION FFA PROJECT COMPETITION: EMMA VAN LOBEN SELS, SENIOR – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – GOLD AWARD & THE AWARD OF MERIT; OWEN BAFFUNNO, FRESHMAN – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – GOLD AWARD & THE AWARD OF MERIT; EMMA BAKER, JUNIOR – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – GOLD AWARD; LANEY ROCHA, JUNIOR – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – GOLD AWARD; LARRY BORELLI, SOPHOMORE – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – GOLD AWARD; BROOKLYN SILVA, SOPHOMORE – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – GOLD AWARD; KOLTON KANEMOTO, FRESHMAN – LOS BANOS HIGH SCHOOL – SILVER AWARD. Mayor Faria read and presented the certificates of recognition.
PUBLIC FORUM: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS ON ANY ITEM OF PUBLIC INTEREST THAT IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY; INCLUDES AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO A FIVE (5) MINUTE PRESENTATION. DETAILED GUIDELINES ARE POSTED ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBER INFORMATIONAL TABLE. Mayor Faria opened the public forum and asked those participating in the meeting if they would like to speak: KATHY BALLARD, Los Banos, asked that the City Council Meetings be open and in person and how it would be nice to present the proclamations and certificates in person, how she likes coming to the in person meetings, and noted that she will be coming be attending the online meetings requesting so until it happens. Mayor Faria then asked City Clerk Mallonee if she had received any comments, for which City Clerk Mallonee stated that she received no comments to be read into the record. No one else came forward to speak and the public forum was closed.
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA. Council Member Lewis requested that item 7D – City Council Resolution No. 6464 – Amending the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget by Increasing Appropriations in the General Fund for Recreation in Electricity and Gas in the Amount of $53,000 and to Direct Staff to Investigate Solar Options at the Community Center be removed for discussion
Council Member Lewis wanted to find out if there are concerns with the other two community buildings and should we be looking at those also, for which Parks & Recreation Manager Heim responded that there are no concerns with the other buildings, just the community center and how the transformer was wired incorrectly.
Motion by Lewis seconded by Lambert to approve the consent agenda as follows: Check Register for #23082 – #231067 in the Amount of $571,966.07; City Council Resolution No. 6462 – Reauthorizing Remote Teleconference Meetings of the Legislative Bodies of the City of Los Banos Pursuant to the Provisions of AB 361; City Council Resolution No. 6463 – Amending the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget by Increasing Appropriations in Expenditures for Landscape and Light district #9 (Jo Lin Manor/Rancho De Amigos in the Amount of $6,877.31; City Council Resolution No. 6464 – Amending the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget by Increasing Appropriations in the General Fund for Recreation in Electricity and Gas in the Amount of $53,000 and to Direct Staff to Investigate Solar Options at the Community Center.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Jones, Lambert, Lewis, Mayor Faria; NOES: None; ABSENT: LLamas.
ADVISEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICES. (No Report)
CITY MANAGER REPORT; REPORT PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(C)(3) EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION: PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER. City Manager Pinheiro introduced Nirorn Than,, the City’s new Public Works Director/City Engineer, who was in attendance at the meeting and spoke briefly thanking the City Manager and City Council for the opportunity and looks forward to working with everyone. City Manager Pinheiro stated that based upon the Employment Agreement executed by the City Manager, the Public Works Director/City Engineer’s salary will be $13,667 monthly ($164,000 annually) effective February 16, 2022.
REPORT/UPDATE ON MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (MCAG), PENINSULA CLEAN ENERGY (PCE), AND MEASURE V COMMITTEE. Mayor Faria stated that PCE will be holding workshops in English and Spanish and in-person and online simultaneously to explain the PCE Services beginning April 2022; MCAG Meeting February 17, 2022 with topics to be discussed the Joint Powers Agreement, spoke regarding the CalTrans plans to upgrade the rest areas near Los Banos, 11th Street signal light and other improvements along Highways 152 and 165.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS.
REFUGIO LLAMAS: Absent
BRETT JONES: No report
KENNETH LAMBERT: Welcomed the new Public Works Director/City Engineer to Nirorn Than and he looks forward to working with him.
DEBORAH LEWIS: Welcomed the new Public Works Director/City Engineer to Nirorn Than and she looks forward to working with him, congratulated former Police Commander Jason Hedden on his recent swearing in at Turlock’s Police Chief, and requested that when looking into solar at the Community Center to also consider City Hall and other city buildings to also have solar for cost-saving measures.
MAYOR TOM FARIA: No report.
MAYOR’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS. Mayor Faria gave his State of the City Address.
ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Lewis, seconded by Lambert, the meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m. The motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Jones, Lambert, Lewis, Mayor Faria; NOES: None; ABSENT: LLamas.
APPROVED:
/s/ Manuel Thomas Faria III____
Manuel Thomas Faria III, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ Lucille L. Mallonee_________
Lucille L. Mallonee, City Clerk