MINUTES OF MENDOTA
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Regular Meeting March 26,2024
Meeting called to order by Mayor Martinez at 6 =11 PM
Roll Cal!
Council Members Present: Mayor Victor Martinez, M?yor Pro Tem Libertad "Liberty" Lopez, Gouncil Members Jose Alonso,
Joseph Riofrio and Oscar Rosales
Council Members Absent None
Flag salute led by Mayor Martinez
Council Member Rosales wished Gouncil Member Riofrio a happy birthday. lnvocation Ied by Police Chaplain Ophelia Lugo
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez shared some words in honor of Mendota resident, Deserie Alvarez, who recently passed away, and a moment of silence was observed.
FINALIZE THE AGENDA
1. Adjustments to Agenda.
2. Adoption of final Agenda.
A motion was made by Council Member Rosales to adopt the agenda, seconded by Council Member Riofrio; unanimously approved (5 ayes).
PRESENTATION
City Council to recognize the Mendota Junior High School Wrestling team for winning 1st Place at the 2024 Westside Athletic League Wrestling Championships. 1 Minutes of City Council [/eeting 1 l\flarch 26,2024
The City Council recognized the Mendota Junior High School ("MJHS") Wrestling team for winning 1st Place at the 2024 Westside Athletic League Wrestling Championships and presented them with certificates of recognition.
Joseph Riofrio Jr. thanked the Council for the recognition and shared his experience working with the MJHS Wrestling team.
Anthony Gamez thanked the Council for the recognition and shared his experience working with the MJHS Wrestling team.
At 6:36 p.m. the Counciltook a recess and reconvened in open session at 6:56 p.m
CITIZENS ORAL AND WRITTEN PRESENTATIONS
Kevin Romero thanked the community for supporting his campaign for the California Democratic Party Central Committee District 1 seat and provided an update on local high school sports.
Council Member Riofio left the Council Chambers at 6:58 p.m. and retumed at 6:59 p.m Carlos A. Quintanar provided an update on an upcoming youth wrestling camp taking place at Mendota High Schoo!.
Discussion was held on the update provided by Mr. Quintanar.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND NOTICE OF WAIVING OF READING
1. Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 27, 2024 2 Notice of waiving of the reading of all resolutions and/or ordinances introduced and/or adopted under this agenda.
A motion was made by Council Member Rosales to approve items 1 and 2, seconded by Council Member Riofrio, unanimously approved (5 ayes).
CONSENT CALENDAR
MARCH 12,2024 THROUGH MARCH 15,2024
WARRANT LIST CHECK NOS. 54581 THROUGH 54626
TOTAL FOR COUNCIL APPROVAI- = $701,865.30
A motion was made by Council Member Rosales to approve item 1 of the Consent Calendar, seconded by Council Member Riofrio; unanimously approved (5 ayes). 1 Minutes of City Council Meeting 2 March 26,2024
1 BUSINESS
Council discussion and consideration of the proposed design of the Mendota Community Center and providing direction to staff on how to proceed.
Mayor Martinez introduced the item and City Manager Gonzalez provided the report.
Charles Dellinger with RRM Design provided information on the proposed design of the Mendota Community Center (the "Center").
Discussion was held on the information shared by Mr. Dellinger; the proposed layout of the Center; and the total cost for ensuring that the project is "shovel ready." Mayor Martinez opened the public comment period.
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez left the Council Chambers at 7:19 p.m. and returned at 7:21 p.m.
Albert Escobedo inquired into whether the Center will have an area for seniors to gather Discussion was held on the inquiry made by Mr. Escobedo.
Sergio Valdez inquired into whether additional public input was provided regarding the layout of the Center and commented on the proposed layout of the Center.
Discussion was held on the inquiry made by Mr. Valdez, including allowing for additional public input on the proposed Iayout of the Center.
Joseph Amador shared his experience serving on the City Council; stated he is proud of the work that is being done in the City; and thanked staff for their work.
Discussion was held on the need to include an area for seniors to gather in the Center, and the layout of the Center.
Mayor lr/lartinez closed the public comment period.
A motion was made by Council Member Rosales to proceed with contracting an architect to finalize the design of the Center and develop plans for the project to ensure that the project is ready for construction, and ensuring that the public is able to provide their input during the process, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lopez; unanimously approved (5 ayes).
2. Council discussion and consideration of the draft facility use policy Mayor Martinez introduced the item and City Clerk Cabrera-Garcia provided the report.
Discussion was held on the report provided by City Clerk Cabrera-Garcia; the length of time that applicants can be approved for the use of a City facility in a given year; the need for Minutes of City Council Meeting 3 March 26,2024
the Mendota Unified School District ("MUSD") to open up their basketball facilities to the public; the need to adequately maintain City facilities; the misuse of City facilities by community members, including using fields when they should be closed; and the need to close City facilities for more days during the week to allow for maintenance.
Mayor Martinez opened the public comment period at 7:41 p.m.
Sergio Valdez commented on his work with local youth baseball leagues; community members not properly maintaining City facilities; the amount of days City facilities should be closed in order to be able to properly maintain them; the adult soccer league that Mendota Youth Recreation ("MYR") previously had rotating use of MUSD's soccer fields to ensure for proper maintenance; and individuals from other cities using City facilities.
Discussion was held on the comments made by Mr. Valdez; the possibility of MUSD opening their basketball courts for community use; and community members drinking and smoking at City facilities.
Jose Pineda commented on the overuse and poor condition of the Danny Trejo Soccer Field to due to a lack of access to more than one field, and on the rotation that MYR's adult soccer league had for MUSD soccer fields to allow for maintenance.
Discussion was held on the comments made by Mr. Pineda; the need for proper maintenance of the Danny Trejo Soccer Field; allowing all community members to use the Danny Trejo Soccer Field, but implementing additional facility use regulations; and the costs of maintaining the Danny Trejo Soccer Field.
Mayor Martinez closed the public comment period at 8:00 p.m A motion was made by Mayor Martinez to table the draft facility use policy to the next regular City Council meeting for further discussion and consideration, seconded by Council Member Rosales; unanimously approved (5 ayes).
DEPARTMENT REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Animal Control, Code Enforcement, and Police Department a) February Monthly Logs
Chief of Police Smith provided the update for the Code Enforcement Department including their work on the William Robert Johnston Municipal Airport ("Airport") basin encampment eviction process.
Discussion was held on the report provided by Chief Smith; the need to speed up the homeless eviction process at the Airport; addressing issues that were shared by residents of Lolita Street at a previous meeting; a boat that is illegally parked in the City; and the possibility of repairing a fence near the Airport once the Airport basin encampment eviction process is complete.
Minutes of City Council Meeting 4 March 26,2024
1 Chief Smith provided the report for the Animal Control Department including monthly statistics, and commented on the possibility of continuing to fund two Community Service Officer positions once funding from Proposition 64: The Adult Use of Marijuana Act ends at the end of April.
Discussion held on the update provided by Chief Smith; the status of the animal control facility improvements; and on the Pool Park Rehabilitation Project.
Chief Smith provided the update for the Mendota Police Department, including the recent passing of a community member, and on the recent FederalAdvocacy Trip to Washington, D.C.
Discussion held on the update provided by Chief Smith.
2. City Attorney
Assistant City Attorney Castro had nothing to report.
3. City Manager
City Manager Gonzalez provided an update on the FederalAdvocacy Trip to Washington, D.C.; on the California Department of Transportation ("Caltrans") Clean California Grant, including painting murals on electrical cabinets at the intersections of gth and Oller Streets and Belmont Avenue and State Highway 33; and on a proposed conceptual design for the William Robert Johnston Municipal Airport.
Discussion was held on the update provided by City Manager Gonzalez; the repainting of basketball courts at Rojas-Pierce Park; the need to properly maintain curbs in the City; the need to move fonrard with the Pool Park Rehabilitation Project; the status of the state funding that was championed by Assemblywoman Soria for the Community Center Project, including Townsend Public Affair's work in advocating for the City to receive the funding; federal funding that was championed by Congressman John Duarte for road repairs in the City; the City's relationship with Caltrans; a proposed new location for the United Security Bank; the timeline for the opening of the new Mendota Police Department and City Council Chambers; and the status of the proposed roundabout project at the intersection of State Highways 33 and 180 and McCabe Avenue.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Council Member(s)
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez provided an update on the Federal Advocacy Trip in Washington, D.C.; commended Ben Goldeen with Townsend Public Affairs for his help with the Federal Advocacy Trip; commented on Congressman Duarte presenting a ceremonial check to the City on April 23rd for federal funding that he championed for; the Community Center Project; Minutes of City Council Meeting 5 March 26,2024
a business owner in Firebaugh possibly being interested in possibly developing a business in the City;the need to educate community members on crime prevention efforts in the City; the need to have a strong law enforcement team, including finding ways to maintain adequate Mendota Police Department staffing levels; the possibility of separating the roles of City Manager and City Building lnspector; the community member who had recently passed away; the possibility of receiving a detailed update on the Pool Park Rehabilitation Project; the workload of the Public Work's Department, and thanked staff for their work.
Discussion held on the update provided by Mayor Pro Tem Lopez; the City's competitive bidding process; the workload for the Public Works Department, including the possibility of involving the Public Utilities Department in more projects; the impacts that accessory dwelling unit laws have in the City; and whether the City can limit how many people live in homes.
Mayor Pro Tem Lopez left the Council Chambers at 8:44 p.m. and retumed at 8:45 p.m Council Member Alonso commented on the need for Townsend Public Affairs to improve their work performance; the increase in litter in the City; the need to discuss the road repair projects that will be funding by the federal funding that Congressman Duarte championed for; and shared his support for the proposed airport conceptual land use plan.
Council Member Riofrio commented on the community member who had recently passed away and on the passing of community member Alice Rojas.
Discussion was held on the update provided by Council Member Riofrio and on the need to inform businesses not to sell alcohol to intoxicated individuals.
Mayor Marti nez thanked everyone for their work.
CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code sections 54954.5, subdivision (f), 54957.6 a. Agency Designated Representative: Cristian Gonzalez, City Manager b. Employee Organization: Mendota Police Officers Association
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8
Property: 1758 7th Street, Mendota, CA 93640
Agency Negotiator: Cristian Gonzalez, City Manager
Negotiating Party: Gabriel Guillen
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
3. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8
Property: APN 0 1 3-222-02
Minutes of City Council Meeting 6
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March 26,2024
Agency Negotiator: Cristian Gonzalez, City Manager
Negotiating Party. Jorge Rebollo and Saturnino Rebollo
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL _ ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
!nitiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Government Code section 54956.9 (one potential case).
At 8:51 p.m. the City Council moved into closed session At 9:16 p.m. the City Council reconvened in open session (without Council Member Rosales) and Assistant City Attorney Castro stated that in regard to items 1 through 4 of the closed session there were no reportable actions.
ADJOURNMENT
With no more business to be brought before the Counci!, a motion for adjournment was made at 9:16 p.m. by Council Member Alonso, seconded by Council Member Riofrio; unanimously approved (4 ayes, absent: Rosales).
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Minutes of City Council Meeting 7 March 26,2024
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