MINUTES OF THE
CANTALOUPE CENTEN
OF THE WORLD SPECIAL JOINT-MEETING OF THE
MENDOTA CITY COUNCIL AND THE
MENDOTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Special Meeting April 8, 2026
Meeting called to order by Mayor Martinez at 6:01 p.m.
Roll Call
Council Members Present: Mayor Victor Martinez, Mayor Pro Tem Jose Alonso, and Council Members Libertad "Liberty" Lopez (at
6:40 p.m.), Jesus "Jesse Mendoza and Joseph R.
Riofrio
Council Members Absent: None
MUSD Board of Trustees conducted roll call and established a quorum.
Flag salute led by Mendota Unified School District Board President Sherry Charles
FINALIZE THE AGENDA
Adjustments to Agenda.
Adoption of final Agenda.
City Manager Gonzalez requested that Consent Calendar item 5 be tabled to a future meeting agenda
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Alonso to adopt the modified agenda as requested by staff, seconded by Council Member Riofrio; unanimously approved (4 ayes, absent:
Lopez).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Maritza and Justin Silva requested that the Mendota Unified School District ("MUSD") Board of Trustees support Westside Youth, Inc's decision to change their youth football and cheer teams from Mendota Cobras to Mendota Aztecs and to allow use of the MUSD logo.
Discussion was held on the comments made by Mr. and Mrs. Silva.
Minutes of Special City Council Meeting 1 April 8, 2026 Irene Barajas with the Mendota High School ("MHS") Sober Grad Committee stated that security is required for the MHS Senior Sober Grad event and requested that the City Council consider assisting with security coverage.
Discussion was held on the comments made by Ms. Barajas.
Vanessa Ortiz thanked the City Council and MUSD Board of Trustees for their support of the Sober Grad event.
Ofelia Ochoa provided an update on the Granja de Favian.
Discussion was held on the comments shared by Ms. Ochoa and on a planned meeting that Mayor Martinez will have with Valley Children's Hospital.
NOTICE OF WAIVING OF READING
1. Notice of waiving of the reading of all resolutions and/or ordinances introduced and/or adopted under this agenda.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Alonso to approve items 1 and 2, seconded by Council Member Riofrio; unanimously approved (4 ayes, absent: Lopez).
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. MARCH 11, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 26, 2026
a. WARRANT LIST CHECK NOS. 57751 THROUGH 57814
b. TOTAL FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL = $923,757.61
Proposed ratification of a letter of support for continued funding of Fresno County Neighborhood Resource Centers.
3. Proposed ratification of a letter of support for Assembly Bill 2010 (Soria): The Spay/Neuter Improvement for Pets (SNIP) Act.
Proposed ratifications of a letter of support for Assembly Bill 2276 (Soria): The Stop Super Speeders Act.
5. Proposed adoption of Resolution No. 26-05, updating the City of Mendota's Facility Use Policy
Consent Calendar item 5 was tabled to a future meeting agenda.
Proposed adoption of Resolution No. 26-17, awarding the construction contract for the Divisadero & Inez Street Reconstruction to Asphalt Design by Juan Gomez in the amount of $426,200.00.
Minutes of Special City Council Meeting 2 April 8, 2026 Proposed adoption_of Resolution No. 26-18, approving a Reimbursement Agreement with the Firebaugh Canal Water District for the use of Well Number 3.
Proposed adoption of Resolution No. 26-19, approving the Proposal and Consultant Services Agreement from Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group for environmental planning services for the National Environmental Policy Act Part 58 compliance for the Mendota Community Center project.
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Alonso to approve items 1 through 4 and 6 through 8 of the Consent Calendar, seconded by Council Member Mendoza; unanimously approved (4 ayes, absent: Lopez).
JOINT DISCUSSION ITEMS - CITY COUNCIL & MUSD BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Mendota City Council and MUSD Board of Trustees will discuss and consider the following items:
a. Discussion regarding any current or future plans for development of a Dialysis Center in Mendota
Mayor Martinez introduced the item and commented on a meeting that the City had with Arya Medical Group regarding the possibility of developing a Dialysis Center.
Discussion was held on the comments shared by Mayor Martinez. b. Possible Safe Routes to School Grant Opportunities
Mayor Martinez introduced the item and provided an update on a Fresno County Transportation Authority meeting that he attended in which grant funding was approved for the City for implementation of the Safe Routes to School Master Plan.
City Manager Gonzalez provided information on the Safe Routes to School Master Plan.
Mayor Martinez provided information on the Moving Forward Together transportation initiative and the status of Measure C.
i. Inspection of beacons on Belmont Avenue & Bass Avenue Dr. Lopez inquired on the possibility of the City inspecting the beacons on Belmont Avenue and Bass Avenue and potentially repairing or replacing the beacons.
Discussion was held on the inquiry made by Dr. Lopez.
ii. Sidewalk repairs surrounding school sites
ili. McCabe Elementary School sidewalk improvements, including consideration of replacing rubber chips with artificial turf or concrete Minutes of Special City Council Meeting 3 April 8, 2026 iv. Consideration of speed bumps behind Washington Elementary School v. Consideration of speed bumps on Bass Avenue near the stop sign at Mendota Elementary School
Dr. Lopez commented on sidewalks surrounding school sites that are in need of repairs and inquired on the possibility of the City repairing the sidewalks.
Discussion was held on the inquiry made by Dr. Lopez and the possibility of utilizing grant funding to repair sidewalks.
Dr. Lopez inquired on the possibility of replacing the rubber chips surrounding McCabe Elementary School with artificial turf or concrete.
Discussion was held on the inquiry made by Dr. Lopez; the installation of speed bumps behind Washington Elementary School and on Bass Avenue following requests from the MUSD Board of Trustees; and the Safe Routes to Schools grants that MUSD and the City can apply for, as well as the issue of rubber mulch transferring onto the McCabe Elementary School sports field, including the possibility of binding the rubber mulch to keep it in place.
At 6:40 p.m. Council Member Lopez entered the Council Chambers. c. New Housing Developments/Status updates on current or upcoming City and MUSD projects
Mayor Martinez introduced the item and City Manager Gonzalez provided an update on two housing development projects that are currently in the planning process.
Discussion was held on the item.
Dr. Lopez provided an update on MUSD projects.
Discussion was held on the update provided by Dr. Lopez; the State's desire to increase solar energy projects, including how this could benefit the Westside of Fresno County; a Westside Fresno County Economic Development meeting that will be held on April 17th. the impact that solar projects have on communities; the Bureau of Reclamation potentially assisting with bringing cottage industries to the City; and MUSD looking into ways to expand Mendota Elementary School, Mendota Junior High School and Mendota High School.
Mayor Martinez provided an update on grants that have been awarded to the City and ongoing and upcoming projects.
d. Community Center Project/Progress update on the new community center Mayor Martinez introduced the item and provided an update on the Community Center Project.
Minutes of Special City Council Meeting 4 April 8, 2026 Discussion was held on the status of the Community Center; upcoming road repair projects; the Westside Water Tank and Booster Pump project; and the Citywide Railroad Improvement project.
e. City Sports Fields/Update on development, maintenance, and availability Mayor Martinez introduced the item and commented on the grand opening of the soccer fields at Rojas-Pierce Park.
Discussion was held on the comments shared by Mayor Martinez. f. Road Infrastructure (Amador Avenue)/Discussion regarding any current or future plans for a road connection to Highway 33 behind the housing development
Discussion was held on the extension of Amador Avenue to Smoot Street and the possibility of extending Amador Avenue to Belmont Avenue, including possibly widening Belmont Avenue; the Naples Street Reconstruction; the Eastside Alley Paving project; and the 7th Street Rehabilitation project.
g. Highway 180/Discussion regarding any current or future plans for a railroad overpass
Discussion was held on the item.
h. Update on the School Resource Officer Program
Mayor Martinez introduced the item and Dr. Lopez provided an update on the School Resource Officer ('SRO") Program.
Discussion was held on the SRO Program.
Chief Renteria provided an update on the Mendota Police Department and commented on the SRO Program.
Council Member Lopez requested that MUSD provide information to parents about the MHS Senior Sober Grad event during the MHS graduation to encourage participation.
Discussion was held on the request made by Council Member Lopez and the possibility of having SROs at the Sober Grad event.
Council Member Riofrio thanked MUSD and the Board of Trustees for attending the meeting; thanked staff for their work; and commented on addressing the vaping issue amongst students.
Council Member Mendoza thanked everyone for attending.
Minutes of Special City Council Meeting 5 April 8, 2026 Mayor Pro Tem Alonso thanked everyone for attending; commented on the Community Center Project; and the proposed park at the former airport.
The MUSD Board of Trustees thanked the City for their work and commented on continuing to work together to improve the community.
Discussion was held on continuing to work together to improve the community.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m. based on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Alonso, seconded by Council Member Lopez, and unanimously approved (5 ayes).
Martinez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Celeste Cabrera-Garcia, Cy 01đh942
ALIFORNIA
Minutes of Special City Council Meeting 6 April 8, 2026