CITY OF LOS BANOS
ADJOURNED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 8, 2025
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.
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Amabile called the City Council Meeting to order at the hour of 6:01 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Acting Police Chief Melden led the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL – MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT: Council Members Kenneth Lambert – District 1, Deborah Lewis – District 4, Mayor Michael Amabile, District 2 – vacant, District 3 – vacant; ABSENT: None
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Acting Police Chief Melden, City Attorney Vaughn, City Manager Pinheiro, City Clerk/Human Resources Director Mallonee, Community & Economic Development Director Souza Elms, Parks & Recreation Director Heim, Public Works Director/City Engineer Heim, Financial Consultant Kuhn CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Lambert, seconded by Lewis to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all Council Members present.
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 Amabile invited the public to come forward to speak. RAUL GRANILLO, spoke about how Christmas eve his brother called him about his mother who was in the hospital, how refreshing and encouraging to see many doctors speak on how to treat his mom as a team, a group always works better than individually, how the doctors worked together to care for his mom and how encouraging and reassuring it was to see that, how tonight you are going to select new council members to be a part of this team, each person that you select will have different ideas and points of view, look for those who are willing to put others first, look for a better way to lead this community, not my way but that way a way that is better for the whole, remember it is the community at large that you serve and not to be so focused on each district, look for humility, integrity, empathy, selfless love for others, the community is always in need of each other. No one else came forward to speak and the public forum was closed.
CONDUCT INTERVIEWS FOR FILLING THE LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER VACANCIES IN DISTRICTS 2 & 3 AND SELECT ONE APPLICANT TO FILL EACH VACANT CITY COUNCIL SEAT; CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 6866 –
APPROVING AN APPOINTEE TO THE LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL TO SERVE THE REMAINING TERM OF THE DISTRICT 2 SEAT ON THE LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL; CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 6867 – APPROVING AN APPOINTEE TO THE LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL TO SERVE THE REMAINING TERM OF THE DISTRICT 3 SEAT ON THE LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL. Mayor Amabile spoke to the process that the City Council has gone through to get to this interviewing step, the Council really appreciates all those willing to serve and if you aren’t selected remember that there are many vacancies on city commissions and do not get discouraged if you are not selected.
City Attorney Vaughn presented the staff report which explained on the preferred method of voting that was decided on at your last meeting and the process moving forward with the interview process.
Starting with District 2 Interviews. City Clerk Mallonee pulled names to set the order in which the candidates will be interviewed as follows: 1. Refugio LLamas, 2. Cody Camacho, 3. Abel Molina, 4. Evan Sanders.
They each came forward to give their opening statement and responded to the following questions as read by City Clerk Mallonee: 1. What do you feel would be the most important economic catalyst for Los Banos moving forward? 2. How does a strong local business community make Los Banos a better place to live? 3. What are your thoughts on creating a sense of community pride in Los Banos? 4. Why should you be chosen to represent your District and what do you hope to accomplish as a council representative for our District? 5. What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Los Banos, and how do you feel it should be addressed? 6. What od you feel is the best reason someone would want to move to Los Banos and why?
City Clerk Mallonee handed out the first-round ballots for voting and City Attorney Vaughn read the rules to follow: Each Council Member shall vote for their two first place applicants from the full list of applicants, each Council Member must vote for two applicants.
City Clerk Mallonee read the votes aloud: Council Member Lewis voted for Refugio LLamas & Evan Sanders, Mayor Amabile voted for Refugio LLamas & Evan Sanders.
There was a discussion between Council Member Lambert and City Attorney Vaughn as he only wanted to vote for one person. Mr. Lambert wanted to go with the alternative 1 of voting that he chose. Council Member Lambert voted for Abel Molina.
City Clerk Mallonee tallied the votes: Refugio LLamas = 4 votes, Evan Sanders = 4 votes, Abel Molina = 2 votes, Cody Camacho = 0 votes.
The three applicants with votes advanced to the next round.
City Clerk Mallonee handed out the second-round ballots for voting and City Attorney Vaughn read the rules to follow: Each Council Member shall rank by written ballot three (3) applicants in order of preference. Each Council Member must select three (3) different applicants. The applicants will be assigned a point value: 3 points for 1st choice, 2 points for 2nd choice, 1 point for 3rd choice. The applicant who receives the most postings will be selected. Council Member Lambert stated that he will still only vote for one person.
Council Member Lewis stated that we all voted and agreed as to what the process would be, if one Council Member decides to not follow the process his vote should not count.
Council Member Lambert stated that he did not agree with process and wants to stay with the alternative he preferred and will only rank one person. City Attorney Vaughn stated that it skews the voting if you don’t vote for three, at the last meeting it was decided that this was the process and alternative that the Council chose to follow and he should honor that and go forward with the vote. Council Member Lambert wants to stick with the Alternative 1 that he wanted in the beginning. City Attorney Vaughn stated that if Council Member Lambert does not want to participate in the voting process chosen, then it invalidates your vote altogether. Mayor Amabile was concerned that allowing Council Member Lambert to only vote for one will allow a tie vote. City Attorney Vaughn spoke to the voting process and how Council Member Lambert must vote for three or not vote at all. Council Member Lewis agrees with what Mr. Vaughn has stated and Mr. Lambert still wants to only vote for one as it was mentioned that the process could be changed. Mr.
Vaughn stated that he finds it unacceptable that you are not following the agreed upon voting process and calls into mind the validity of the vote and he should conform to what was agreed to by the group. Mayor Amabile suggested each Council Member vote for 1 person and Council Member Lewis disagreed that we are giving into 1 person not complying with the process, either they comply or they don’t get vote. Mr. Lambert feels that the citizens should be allowed to make the decision. Mayor Amabile would like to find a way to allow Mr. Lambert to vote for. Council Member Lewis stated that there were a few things that didn’t happen the way she voted for and doesn’t want to give in because Council Member Lambert wants his way, this is why city government doesn’t work well when people don’t want to follow the rules, its not fair to the Council or the citizens, we agreed on a process and we need to move forward with it. Council Member Lambert reminded everyone that he did not agree with this option last week but went with it because it was what you guys wanted.
City Clerk Mallonee read the votes aloud: Council Member Lewis voted for Refugio LLamas – 3 points, Evan Sanders – 2 points and Abel Molina – 1 point; Mayor Amabile voted for Evan Sanders – 3 points, Refugio LLamas – 2 points, Abel Molina – 1 point, Council Member Lambert voted Refugio LLamas – 1 point, Evan Sanders – 2 points, Abel Molina – 3 points.
City Clerk Mallonee tallied the votes: Refugio LLamas = 6 points, Evan Sanders = 7 points, Abel Molina = 5 points. Evan Sanders is declared the applicant to fill the vacancy in District 2.
Continuing with District 3 Interviews. City Clerk Mallonee pulled names to set the order in which the candidates will be interviewed as follows: 1. Miguel Alejandre, 2. Steven Nunes, 3. Marcus Chavez, 4. Erasmo Viveros, 5. Sybil Halloran.
They each came forward to give their opening statement and responded to the following questions as read by City Clerk Mallonee: 1. What do you feel would be the most important economic catalyst for Los Banos moving forward? 2. How does a strong local business community make Los Banos a better place to live? 3. What are your thoughts on creating a sense of community pride in Los Banos? 4. Why should you be chosen to represent your District and what do you hope to accomplish as a council representative for our District? 5. What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing Los Banos, and how do you feel it should be addressed? 6. What do you feel is the best reason someone would want to move to Los Banos and why?
City Clerk Mallonee handed out the first-round ballots for voting and City Attorney Vaughn read the rules to follow: Each Council Member shall vote for their two first place applicants from the full list of applicants, each Council Member must vote for two applicants.
City Clerk Mallonee read the votes aloud: Council Member Lewis voted for Erasmo Viveros & Marcus Chavez, Mayor Amabile voted for Marcus Chavez & Sybil Halloran, Council Member Lambert voted for Steven Nunes & Sybil Halloran.
City Clerk Mallonee tallied the votes: Erasmo Viveros = 2 votes, Marcus Chavez = 4 votes, Steven Nunes = 2 votes, Miguel Alejandre – 0 votes, Sybil Halloran – 4 votes.
Four applicants with votes advanced to the next round.
City Clerk Mallonee handed out the second-round ballots for voting and City Attorney Vaughn read the rules to follow: Each Council Member shall rank by written ballot three (3) applicants in order of preference. Each Council Member must select three (3) different applicants. The applicants will be assigned a point value: 3 points for 1st choice, 2 points for 2nd choice, 1 point for 3rd choice. The applicant who receives the most points will be selected.
City Clerk Mallonee read the votes aloud: Council Member Lewis voted for Marcus Chavez – 3 points, Sybil Halloran – 2 points and Erasmo Viveros – 1 point; Mayor Amabile voted for Marcus Chavez – 3 points, Sybil Halloran – 2 points, Erasmo Viveros – 1 point, Council Member Lambert voted Steven Nunes – 3 point, Sybil Halloran – 2 points, Marcus Chavez – 1 point.
City Clerk Mallonee tallied the votes: Erasmo Viveros = 2 points, Marcus Chavez = 7 points, Seven Nunes = 3 points, Sybil Halloran = 6 points. Marcus Chavez is declared the candidate to fill the vacancy in District 3.
Mayor Amabile thanked all the applicants again and reminded them that there are vacancies on different city commissions and to consider applying for those.
Motion by Lewis, seconded by Lambert to adopt City Council Resolution No. 6866 – Approving an Appointee [EVAN SANDERS] to the Los Banos City Council to Serve the Remaining Term of the District 2 Seat on the Los Banos City Council. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all Council Members present.
Motion by Lewis, seconded by Lambert to adopt City Council Resolution No. 6867 – Approving an Appointee [MARCUS CHAVEZ] to the Los Banos City Council to Serve the Remaining Term of the District 3 Seat on the Los Banos City Council. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all Council Members present.
ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS OF OFFICE TO NEWLY APPOINTED COUNCIL MEMBERS IN DISTRICTS 2 & 3; COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SANDERS – DISTRICT 2; COUNCIL MEMBER MARCUS CHAVEZ – DISTRICT 3. City Clerk Mallonee administered the Oaths of Office to Evan Sanders, Council Member – District 2 and then to Marcus Chavez, Council Member – District 3.
ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.
APPROVED:
__/s/ Michael S. Amabile________
Michael S. Amabile, Mayor
ATTEST:
__/s/ Lucille L. Mallonee___________
Lucille L. Mallonee, City Clerk