Item: B-1
Minutes for: 03/04/2026
Adopted: 03/18/2026
The city of
MADERA
VALLEY CENTRAL
Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Madera City Council Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Council Chambers
City Hall
6:00 p.m.
The Madera City Council meetings are open to the public. The meeting was available for public viewing and participation through Zoom. Members of the public were able to observe the live-streamed meeting on the City's website and were able to comment on agenda items at the meeting, remotely through an electronic meeting via phone, via email and by regular mail.
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mayor Cece Gallegos
Mayor Pro Tem Rohi Zacharia, District 1
Councilmember Steve Montes, District 3 (Arrived at 6:05 p.m.) Councilmember Elsa Mejia, District 5
Councilmember Artemio Villegas, District 6
Absent: Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, District 2
Councilmember Anita Evans, District 4
Others present were City Manager Arnoldo Rodriguez, City Clerk Alicia Gonzales, City Attorney Shannon L. Chaffin, City Engineer Keith Helmuth, Division Fire Chief Larry Pendarvis, Fire Battalion Chief Anthony Garcia, Grants Administrator Marcela Zuniga, Director of Human Resources Wendy Silva, Director of Information Technology Gary Price, Director of Parks and Community Services Joseph Hebert, Planning Manager David Bretic, Chief of Police Giachino Chiaramonte, Public Works Director Harpiar Gandhi and Communication Specialist Joseph Carrello.
INVOCATION: Pastor Mike Souza, Harvest Community Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tem Zachariah
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
ON MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM ZACHARIA AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VILLEGAS, THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 5/0 VOTE. ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS RODRIGUEZ AND EVANS.
PRESENTATIONS:
1. Proclamation Recognizing the Retirement of Scott Farrell, Fire Apparatus Engineer
2. Proclamation Recognizing Women's History Month
3. Proclamation Recognizing Red Cross Month
PUBLIC COMMENT:
The first 15 minutes of the meeting are reserved for members of the public to address the Council on items which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council. The Council is prohibited by law from taking any action on matters discussed that are not on the agenda, and no adverse conclusions should be drawn if the Council does not respond to public comment at this time.
Harlon Rippetoe, the founder of the Big Valley Horseshoe League, advised that he has been informed that the City has planned additional courts at Rotary Park. He mentioned that he is extremely grateful and thanked Council.
No further Public Comment was presented. Public Comment was closed.
A. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A-1 Reallocation of Community Development Block Grant COVID (CDBG-CV) Program Funds from the Program Year 2020/21
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution to:
1. Reallocate $256,050.21 to the Construction of a Basketball Court at Rotary Gateway Park; and
2. Approve the Amendment of the 2020/21 CDBG Annual Action Plan to Update the CDBG CV Scope of Work and Funding Activity (Report by Michael Lima)
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MONTES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VILLEGAS, ITEM A-1 WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 5/0 VOTE. ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS RODRIGUEZ AND EVANS.
RES 26-25 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA,
CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE REALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT-COVID 19 (CDBG-CV) FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $256,050.21 TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BASKETBALL COURT AT ROTARY PARK AND THE AMENDMENT OF THE PY 2020/21
CDBG ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
B. CONSENT CALENDAR:
Matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion and one vote.
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MONTES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VILLEGAS, THE CONSENT CALENDAR WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 5/0 VOTE. ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS RODRIGUEZ AND EVANS.
B-1 Minutes - February 18, 2026
Recommendation: Approve the City Council Minutes of February 18, 2026 (Report by Alicia Gonzales)
B-2 Informational Report on Register of Audited Demands Recommendation: Review Register of Audited Demands Report for January 24 to February 20, 2026 (Report by Michael Lima)
City of Madera City Council Minutes
205 W. 4* Street March 4, 2026
Madera. CA 93637 Page 2 of 7
B-3 Informational Report on Personnel Activity
Recommendation: This report is submitted for informational purposes only and there is no action requested from the City Council (Report by Wendy Silva) B-4 Temporary Authority for the City Manager to Offer Higher than C-step for Certain Classifications
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Providing the City Manager Temporary Authority to Offer Candidates Considered for Public Safety Dispatcher and Police Officer Positions Higher than C-step on the Assigned Salary Range for the Classifications (Report by Wendy Silva)
RES 26-26 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA
PROVIDING THE CITY MANAGER TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO OFFER
PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER AND POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATES HIGHER
THAN C-STEP ON THE ASSIGNED SALARY RANGE
B-5 Designation of Applicant's Agents for Federal Disaster Assistance and Grant Assistance Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Designating the City Manager, Director of Financial Services, Director of Human Resources, and Administrative Analyst (Human Resources) to act as Applicant's Agents on behalf of the City of Madera with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and California Governor's Office of Emergency Services for a period of three years beginning April 5, 2026 (Report by Wendy Silva)
RES 26-27 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA,
CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING APPLICANT'S AGENTS TO ACT ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF MADERA WITH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY AND CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES
B-6 Certificate of Recognition Honoring State Senator Anna Caballero Recommendation: Adopt a Minute Order Approving a Certificate of Recognition Honoring State Senator Anna Caballero for Her Efforts in Securing $500,000 in Funding for Improvements at Town & Country Park (Report by Alicia Gonzales)
B-7 Certificate of Recognition Recognizing Assemblywoman Emeralda Soria Recommendation: Adopt a Minute Order Approving a Certificate of Recognition Honoring Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria for Her Efforts in Securing $1,100,000 in Funding for Improvements at Town & Country Park (Report by Alicia Gonzales)
B-8 Certificate of Recognition Recognizing Tosted Asphalt Recommendation: Adopt a Minute Order Approving a Certificate of Recognition Honoring Fosted Asphalt, Inc. for Improvements at Town & Country Park an ompletion of the Lions Town & Country Park Trail Improvements Projec (Report by Alicia Gonzales)
City of Madera City Council Minutes
205 W. 4" Street March 4, 2026
Madera, CA 93637 Page 3 of 7
B-9 Event Exhibitor Guidelines, Release, and Indemnification Agreement with Clovis Community College
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Agreements for the City's Participation in Clovis Community College Job Fairs (Report by Wendy Silva)
RES 26-28 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE NO-FEE EXHIBITOR
GUIDELINES, RELEASE, AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS WITH
CLOVIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
B-10 Caltrans Drainage Agreement 06-1833
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Approving Caltrans Drainage Agreement 06-1833 (Report by Keith Helmuth)
RES 26-29 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA, APPROVING CALTRANS DRAINAGE AGREEMENT 06-1833
B-11 Clinton Street Sewer and Water Main Project, City Project R-97 Recommendation: Adopt a Minute Order Approving:
1. Acceptance of the Clinton Street Sewer and Water Main Project, City Project R-97; and
2. Recording of Notice of Completion; and
3. Release of retention 35 days after the recording of the Notice of Completion (Report by Keith Helmuth)
B-12 Olive Avenue Widening and Reconstruction - Gateway Drive to Knox Street, Phase 2 Utility Undergrounding, City Project No. R-000010
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Increasing the Allowable Project Contingencies for the Olive Avenue Widening and Reconstruction - Gateway Drive to Knox Street Phase 2, Utility Undergrounding City Project No. R-000010 (Report by Keith Helmuth)
RES 26-30 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA, CALIFORNIA
AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT
CONTINGENCIES FOR THE CONTRACT WITH MID CAL PIPELINE AND UTILITIES, INC. FOR THE OLIVE AVENUE WIDENING AND
RECONSTRUCTION - GATEWAY DRIVE TO KNOX STREET PHASE 2, UTILITY UNDERGROUNDING CITY PROJECT NO. R-000010
B-13 Amendment to the Applications for Transportation Development Act (TDA) - Local Transportation Funds (LTF) and State Transit Assistance (STA) Funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Amendment to the Applications for TDA - STA Funds for FY 2025/26 and Authorizing the Director of Financial Services to Execute and Submit the Applications to the Madera County Transportation Commission (MCT) (Report by Michael Lima) RES 26-31 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA,
CALIFORNIA APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE APPLICATION FOR City of Madera City Council Minutes
205 W. 4th Street March 4, 2026
Madera, CA 93637 Page 4 of 7
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT (TDA) - STATE TRANSIT
ASSISTANCE (STA) FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025/26 AND
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES TO EXECUTE AND
SUBMIT THE APPLICATIONS TO MADERA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
COMMISSION (MCTC)
B-14 Sale Agreement for a Manufactured Home at 1218 East Cleveland Avenue, Space 19 Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution:
Madera, Californi
2. Approving the Sale Agreement for $40,000 (Report by Michael Lima) RES 26-32 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA
APPROVING STAFF SALE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE
MANUFACTURED HOME LOCATED AT 1218 EAST CLEVELAND AVENUE, SPACE 19, MADERA, CA FOR $40,000
C. WORKSHOP: None
PETITIONS, BIDS, RESOLUTIONS, ORDINANCES, AND AGREEMENTS:
D-1 2026 Fourth of July Celebration
Recommendation Adopt Resolutions:
$60,497 (Report by Joseph Hebert)
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MONTES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VILLEGAS, ITEM D-1 WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 5/0 VOTE. ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS RODRIGUEZ AND EVANS.
RES 26-33 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE 2026 FOURTH
OF JULY COMMUNITY EVENT AND ASSOCIATED FINDING OF CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES SECTION 15378 (NO
PROJECT) AND 15323 (NORMAL OPERATIONS OF FACILITIES FOR PUBLIC
GATHERINGS)
RES 26-34 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA, CALIFORNIA AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 BUDGET, APPROVING RELATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE RELATED TO THE 2026 FOURTH
OF JULY CELEBRATION
City of Madera City Council Minutes
205 W. 4'h Street March 4, 2026
Madera, CA 93637 Page 5 of 7
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
E-1 Selecting Recipients for April Proclamation
Recommendation: Request for Council's Selection of Recipients for the Proclamation Recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month and a Proclamation Recognizing National Volunteer Day (Report by Alicia Gonzales) Councilmembers nominated CAPMC as the recipient of the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation and nominated Juan Jaramillo and the Police Department Chaplains as the recipients of the National Volunteer Day Proclamation.
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER MONTES AND SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM ZACHARIA, ITEM E-1 AS DISCUSSED WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 5/0 VOTE. ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS RODRIGUEZ AND EVANS.
F. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
This portion of the meeting is reserved for the Mayor and Councilmembers (i) to make brief reports on boards, committees, and other public agencies, and at public events, (ii) to request updates, (iii) to initiate future agenda items, and (iv) to take action on matters initiated under this section of the agenda.
Mayor Pro Tem Zacharia had nothing to report.
Councilmember Montes had nothing to report.
Councilmember Mejia had nothing to report.
Councilmember Villegas had nothing to report.
Mayor Gallegos reminded her colleagues to submit their nomination for Woman of the Year by Friday, 5:00 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION:
G-1 Conference with Labor Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 Agency Designated Representatives: Arnoldo Rodriguez, Wendy Silva, and Michael Lima Employee Organizations: Madera Affiliated City Employees' Association, Madera Police Officers' Association, Mid Management
Employee Group, and Law Enforcement Mid
Management Employee Group
G-2 Conference with Labor Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 Agency Designated Representative: Arnoldo Rodriguez, Wendy Silva, and Mike Lima Unrepresented Positions: City Engineer and Public Works Operations Director Councilmember Rodriguez joined Closed Session via Zoom by means of "Just Cause" due to travel while on official business of the legislative body or another state/local agency.
City Attorney Shannon Chaffin made the closed session announcement at 6:58 p.m. Mr.
Chaffin and Council returned from Closed Session at 8:11 p.m. Mr. Chaffin stated there was no reportable action.
City of Madera City Council Minutes
205W. W.4th Street March 4, 2026
Madera, CA 93637 Page 6 of 7
FUTURE MEETING DATES:
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
• Wednesday, April 15, 2026
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Avonzas
ALICIA GONZALES, City Clerk CECELIA K. GALLEGOS, Mayor ( Belda Geon
MINUTES PREPARED BY
ZELDA LEÓN, Deputy City Clerk
CORPORATE
*
* : March 27, 1907
CALIFORNIA
City of Madera City Council Minutes
205 W. 4th Street March 4, 2026
Madera, CA 93637 Page 7 of 7