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11/18/2025 8:30:00 AM
MODESTO CITY COUNCIL
www.modestogov.com
MINUTES
City of Modesto
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
City Council Workshop Regarding Team Building,
Goals and Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 26/27
Pistache and Gingko Rooms, Centre Plaza
1001 K Street
Modesto, California
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Roll Call – Present: Councilmembers Alvarez (arrived at 8:34 A.M.), Bavaro, Escutia-Braaton, Ricci, Williams, Wright, Mayor Zwahlen
Absent: None
Declaration of Conflicts of Interest: Councilmember Williams will be recusing himself on the portion that pertains to the soccer stadium.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Dean Richardson, a lifelong Modesto resident and member of Urban Forest Modesto, urges the City Council to continue supporting the Forestry Division. He highlights past neglect of city street trees due to budget limits, acknowledges recent funding improvements from Measure H, and emphasizes that restoring the urban forest is a longterm effort. He asks the Council to uphold its goals for beautification, reforestation, and ordinance updates to help create a healthy, well-maintained urban forest for the community.
Amanda Rodriguez raises concerns about student safety and traffic issues around Orchard Elementary. She describes years of difficulty getting effective responses from the City regarding dangerous traffic, inadequate signage, and poorly maintained trees that block visibility. She reports near-miss accidents, limited help from school and city departments, - 2 -
11/18/2025 8:30:00 AM
and frustration with inconsistent enforcement and communication. She also expresses concern about student safety related to a nearby registered sex offender and limited communication allowed between parents.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Break Recess 9:34 A.M. Resumed 9:40 A.M.
Break Recess 9:55 A.M. Resumed 10:05 A.M.
Lunch Recess 11:16 A.M. Resumed 11:46 A.M.
Break Recess 12:37 P.M. Resumed 12:51 P.M.
Councilmember Ricci left 1:28 P.M., returned 1:41 P.M.
1. City Council Workshop Regarding Team Building, Goals and Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 26/27. (Funding Source: Not Applicable)
City Council Workshop Regarding Team Building, Goals and Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 26/27.
CITY COUNCIL; Sue Zwahlen, 209-571-5597, [email protected] ACTION: No reportable action.
MATTERS TOO LATE FOR THE AGENDA
None.
ADJOURNMENT
This meeting adjourned at 2:12 P.M.
Attest:____________________________
Diane Nayares-Perez, City Clerk