Item:
Minutes for:
Adopted:
HUEY CENTHl
Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Madera City Council Wednesday, July 1, 2026
6:00 p.m.
B-1
07/01/2026
07/15/2026
Council Chambers
City Hall
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 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Mayor Cece Gallegos
Mayor Pro Tern Rohi Zacharia, District 1
Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, District 2
Council member Steve Montes, District 3
Councilmember Anita Evans, District 4
Councilmember Elsa Mejia, District 5
Councilmember Artemio Villegas, District 6
Others present were City Manager Arnoldo Rodriguez, City Clerk Alicia Gonzales, City Attorney Shannon L. Chaffin, City Engineer Keith Helmuth, Community Development Director Will Tackett, Director of Financial Services Michael Lima, Division Fire Chief Larry Pendarvis, 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 Brletic, Chief of Police Giachino Chiaramonte, Public Works Director Harpiar Gandhi and Senior Civil Engineer Steve Bettencourt.
INVOCATION: Pastor Josh Blair, Central Valley Christian Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Boy Scout Troop 116
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MONTES, THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 7/0 VOTE.
PRESENTATIONS: None
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.
Michael Stone of Boy Scouts of America Troop 116 presented Councilmembers with commemorate badges celebrating America's 250th birthday.
No further Public Comment was presented. Public Comment was closed.
A.
A-1
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Consideration of an Ordinance Updating the Madera Municipal Code Regarding Allowable Chicken Livestock
Recommendation: Waive the first reading and introduce by title only an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Madera amending Subsection (A) of Section 5-
1.31 of Chapter 1 of Title V of the Madera Municipal Code regarding allowable chicken livestock and determine the project is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Report by Giachino Chiaramonte)
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER MONTES, ITEM A-1 WAS APPROVED BY A 6/1 VOTE. NOES: COUNCILMEMBER MEJIA.
INTRO ORD AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA AMENDING SUBSECTION (A) OF SECTION 5-1.31 OF CHAPTER 1 OF TITLE
V OF THE MADERA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING ALLOWABLE CHICKEN
LIVESTOCK
B. CONSENT CALENDAR:
Matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion and one vote.
City Clerk Alicia Gonzales announced that the agenda title for Item B-5 included the Mayor in error. The only seats up for election in November 2026 are Council Districts 1, 3 and 5. The staff report and the resolution correctly identify the district seats up for election.
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER EVANS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VILLEGAS, CONSENT CALENDAR WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 7 /0 VOTE.
B-1 Minutes - June 17, 2026, June 24, 2026
Recommendation: Approve the City Council Minutes of June 17, 2026 and June 24, 2026 (Report by Alicia Gonzales)
B-2 Informational Report on Register of Audited Demands Recommendation: Review Register of Audited Demands Report for June 6 to June 19, 2026 (Report by Michael Lima)
B-3 Adoption of Updated District Boundary to Include Property Annexed into the City (Adell-D Street Annexation)
Recommendation:
ORD 1023 C.S.
City of Madera
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
Waive the full reading and adopt an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Madera amending Subsection C (3) of Section 2-1.08 of the City Municipal Code to adopt revised district boundaries by title only, including CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) determination (Report by Alicia Gonzales)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA
AMENDING SUBSECTION (C)(3) OF SECTION 2-1.08 OF CHAPTER 1 OF City Council Minutes
July 1, 2026
TITLE II OF THE MADERA MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING REVISED
DISTRICT VOTING BOUNDARIES
B-4 Budget Amendment for Annual Weed Abatement
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution approving a budget amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget to appropriate General Fund balance funds for weed abatement services (Report by Giachino Chiaramonte) RES 26-119 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA
AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF
MADERA FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027 BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE GENERAL
FUNDS FOR THE COST OF WEED ABATEMENT SERVICES
B-5 General Election for Council Districts 1, 3, and 5
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution calling for and requesting consolidation of the City's General Municipal Election with the General Election on November 3, 2026, for the election of City Council elected to serve as Mayor and Council Districts 1, 3, and 5; and requesting that the Madera County Clerk render election services relating to the conduct of the election (Report by Alicia Gonzales)
During adoption of the Consent Calendar, City Clerk Alicia Gonzales announced that the agenda title for Item B-5 included the Mayor in error. The only seats up for election in November 2026 are Council Districts 1, 3 and 5. The staff report and the resolution correctly identify the district seats up for election.
RES 26-120
C. WORKSHOP: None
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA,
CALIFORNIA, CALLING FOR AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE HOLDING OF A
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION FOR THE ELECTION OF CERTAIN
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF MADERA FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS OF DISTRICTS 1, 3, AND 5, AND FOR THE ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF MADERA ON NOVEMBER 3, 2026 AS REQUIRED BY THE
PROVISIONS OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELATING TO GENERAL LAW CITIES; REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION THEREOF WITH THE STATEWIDE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE; AND
REQUESTING THAT THE MADERA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AUTHORIZE THE MADERA COUNTY CLERK TO RENDER SPECIFIED
SERVICES TO THE CITY OF MADERA RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
D. PETITIONS, BIDS, RESOLUTIONS. ORDINANCES, AND AGREEMENTS:
D-1 Schnoor Avenue Sidewalk Construction, City Project R-58, CMAQ 5157 (123) Recommendation:
City of Madera
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
Adopt a Resolution Approving the Contract Award for the Schnoor Avenue Sidewalk Construction, City Project R-58, CMAQ 5157(123) in the amount of $445,731.80 to Pacific Coast Construction and Land Co. and adopting a CEQA Class I (Existing Facilities) categorical exemption for the project (Report by Keith Helmuth)
City Council Minutes
July 1, 2026
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER EVANS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER VILLEGAS, ITEM D-1 WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY A 7 /0 VOTE.
RES 26-121 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADERA,
CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE CONTRACT AWARD FOR SCHNOOR
AVENUE SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION, CITY PROJECT R-58, CMAQ CML 5157 (123), IN THE AMOUNT OF $445,731.80 TO PACIFIC COAST CONSTRUCTION AND LAND CO. AND AUTHORIZING CONTINGENCIES
RELATED TO THE CONTRACT
E. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
E-1 Community Development Block Grant Program Application Notification Process Recommendation: No recommendations are presented with this report (Report by Michael Lima)
E-2 Annual Residential Curbside Cleanup Summary
Recommendation: This item is informational only; therefore, no Council action is required (Report by Harpiar Gandhi)
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.
Councilmember Villegas had nothing to report.
Councilmember Rodriguez mentioned he along with Mayor Gallegos and Mayor Pro Tern Zacharia attended the Heartland Opportunity Center grand opening.
Councilmember Mejia mentioned she had a wonderful time during the Juneteenth celebration at Courthouse Park. She looks forward to the 4th of July event and celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country.
Councilmember Evans thanked her colleagues, staff, Black Saints United and everyone else who participated in the Juneteenth celebration.
Mayor Pro Tern Zacharia invited everyone to the 4th of July event. He thanked the Parks Department for their work on that event.
Councilmember Montes asked everyone to stay safe during the 4th of July holiday.
Mayor Gallegos thanked staff for attending/overseeing the recent Council District 1 Neighborhood Watch gathering. She mentioned that staff prioritized public safety this past weekend, increasing enforcement on pedestrian right-of-way and e-bike usage. She thanked staff who will be working on the 4th of July and acknowledged that working over the holiday and being away from their family is not easy.
G. CLOSED SESSION: None
FUTURE MEETING DATES:
• Wednesday, July 15, 2026
• Wednesday, August 5, 2026
City of Madera
205 W. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
City Council Minutes
July 1, 2026
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
U TES PREPARED BY
ZELDA LEON, Deputy City Clerk
City of Madera
205 w. 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
City Council Minutes
July 1, 2026