ORANGE COVE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
August 26, 2026
The Regular Meeting of the Orange Cove City Council was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Ortiz at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Orange Cove Senior Center, 699 6th Street, Orange Cove, California.
Claude AI and Otter Notes were used to prepare these minutes.
1. CALL TO ORDER / WELCOME
ROLL CALL
Council Member Rodriguez, Del Bosque, Casillas, Mayor Pro Tem Ortiz.
ABSENT
Mayor Garcia.
INVOCATION
Mayor Pro Tem Ortiz.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Casillas.
2. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
No changes to the agenda.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
Several members of the public spoke.
Estela Juarez commented that in reviewing the agenda packet and candidate filings, she recognized a name appearing on both a City board and a potential candidacy for Council and raised a concern about a possible conflict of interest, asking that the City look into the matter and, if applicable, that the individual resign from one position.
Charlotte Palavko announced two upcoming library events in partnership with the Orange Cove Lions Club: a school-supply giveaway on Saturday, September 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., funded by a California Lions grant, and a historical film screening about Orange Cove on Thursday, September 17, at 6:00 p.m.
Leticia Mendoza,
Spanish portion:
Buenas noches. Da gusto ver a tantas personas aquí esta noche, y en realidad no sé si es porque son parte de la comunidad de aquí del centro para las personas mayores, o si es porque sé que hay algo en la agenda sobre el bingo y por eso están aquí para apoyar eso, o si es porque la mayoría de ustedes están aquí por el tema del agua. No sé cuántos, pero los que estén aquí por el agua, favor de levantar la mano.
English portion:
Because I know the majority here are older, but this is something I have been saying for a long time. If you remember, I said this would affect our seniors, and this is a huge jump. I do not know the gentleman, but if someone is on a fixed income and then must pay this much more, that is a big chunk out of their income. And by the way, this can also be put in the minutes as I would like this to be revisited, to see what we can do so that it's either fixed, or — like I said, when you did the two-edged sword and took away the 10,000 gallons and the senior discount.
The other comment I have is that, unfortunately, I know the majority — and again, nothing against Sam, because, like I said, I consider him my friend, and other cities, it's true, Sam definitely deserves the pay — but only when we have that kind of money coming in. When we do not have that kind of money coming in, we can't pay for it. So, the salary — definitely, I was in a meeting with Tourism, and I know there are officers we need; there are also city workers we need, and that big of a raise, that money could have gone toward hiring one of those instead. So again, I don't know who's making these contracts, but they need to change going forward, so that money could be used elsewhere. So that's another thing I would like you to reconsider — if we say we do not have money, then we need to stop spending it like we do have money.
Erika Gutierrez and several other residents addressed the Council in Spanish and spoke regarding recent water rate increases and billing concerns, including Horacio Bravo, who described a substantial increase in his monthly water bill and questioned the accuracy of his water meter reading. City Manager Escobar and other staff assisted with translation and preliminarily responded that the increase reflects a per-gallon rate rather than the prior flat rate structure. Additional speakers described water bills increasing to approximately $200 and $300 per month, expressed concern about affordability for seniors, farm workers, and residents on fixed incomes, and questioned whether the City could revisit the rate structure.
Having reached the 15-minute limit on the water rate topic, the Mayor Pro Tem asked whether any additional public comment remained on other topics; none was offered, and public comment was closed.
CONSENT CALENDAR
4. Approval of Minutes of Regular Meeting of Orange Cove City Council on August 12, 2026.
5. Warrant Register for July 2026.
Action: Motion was made by Council Member Rodriguez to approve the Consent Calendar and seconded by Council Member Casillas. The motion carried as follows:
AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Rodriguez, Casillas, Del Bosque, Ortiz NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN:0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Garcia
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS – INFORMATIONAL ONLY
6. Recreation Department – Sports Coordinator Jimenez
Coordinator Jimenez reported that the summer baseball, softball, and t-ball programs served about 160 youth (110 from Orange Cove and 50 from neighboring communities), with help from about 25 volunteer coaches. Soccer registration is currently underway, with practices beginning September 21.
7. Building Department – Inspector Herrera
Community Development Director Patlan reported on Inspector Herrera's behalf. Several residential construction permits are active (models ranging from approximately 1,100 to over 2,000 square feet), with street paving anticipated within a few weeks. Code enforcement updates included preparation of a public nuisance property matter for future Council presentation and coordination with Fresno County on relocating individuals from encampments on City property. Staff congratulated Inspector Herrera on completing three code enforcement training modules in preparation for state certification.
8. City Engineer – Orfil Muniz
The City Engineer reported that staff continues to pursue outside grant funding for water, street, and beautification infrastructure projects.
9. Community Development – Director Patlan
Staff reported on the status of several development projects, including continued coordination with the buyer of the industrial park property (in partnership with Raven Homes) regarding a single-family or affordable apartment development, plan check progress on the Track No. 46444 subdivision on Orange Avenue, notices being sent to other surplus lot purchasers regarding construction deadlines, and an appeal to the City Council of a Planning Commission denial of a conditional use permit for a recycling facility at 825 Anchorage Street, to be brought to Council at a future meeting.
10. Fire Protection District – Chief Hernandez
The Fire Chief reported 36 fire responses in the past month amid an active fire season, two arson-related arrests, and personnel deployed to the Timber Fire in Monterey County as well as out-of-state strike teams in Oregon and Washington, in addition to ongoing coverage assistance with Cal Fire/Kings County stations.
11. Police Department – Chief Pena
The Police Chief reported current staffing of 10 sworn officers, two below full staffing, with three reserve applicants in various stages of the hiring process and a long-term goal of reaching 14 sworn officers. Due to current staffing, patrol operations remain primarily reactive. The department's new patrol unit, funded through a CHP cannabis grant, is expected within two to three weeks; several officers have completed or are scheduled for specialized impaireddriving training (FST, ARIDE, and DRE courses) funded under the same grant. City Manager Escobar added that staff is exploring a locally sponsored police academy program to help recruit and retain reserve officers.
12. Public Works Department – Director Estrada
City Manager Escobar reported on Director Estrada's behalf. The Public Works department has completed street striping near local schools, performed street patching throughout the City, and received assistance from the Fresno County Adult Offender Work Program. Since June, Public Works has received 79 Civicly service requests with an approximately 86 percent completion rate. Staff is preparing for a scheduled canal shutdown in October (approximately two weeks) for maintenance, during which the City's ponding basins will supply water. Staff reminded residents of the State's mandatory water conservation schedule and noted ongoing upgrades to water meters and the treatment plant's clarifier system.
13. Senior Center – Senior Center Coordinator Castro
Coordinator Castro, the Senior Center Coordinator, reported daily participation has grown from approximately 9–10 to 20–25 seniors, a $1,000 community donation, a new television donated by Best Buy employees, sponsorship of the monthly birthday club by R&E Insurance, new chair yoga and fitness classes, free monthly haircuts for approximately 10 seniors, a planned partnership with Animal Control, and continued growth of the Center's social media following. Future senior trips are also being planned.
REGULAR BUSINESS
Legal Counsel – City Attorney Crouch
14. SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 406, Amending Municipal Code Chapter 5.28 Related to Bingo.
Legal counsel presented the proposed ordinance to allow licensed nonprofit organizations, including the Senior Center, to host cash-prize bingo, noting the ordinance would need a technical correction to a definition referencing the City Clerk of Kingsburg (the model ordinance's source jurisdiction) and would return for a public hearing and second reading before adoption.
Public Comment: Estela Juarez raised concerns regarding gambling-related risk to seniors, cash-handling transparency, and requested the Council table the item for further study. Legal counsel clarified that only licensed nonprofit organizations may obtain a permit, that state law caps prizes and cash paid out per game at $250, and that licensees must retain detailed records for at least three years. Dan Hope, a resident and senior, asked about the cost to participate. Senior Center Coordinator Castro explained the current lotería/bingo format (10 cents per card), noted plans to hold bingo more regularly if there is interest, and stated the program is resident-driven. City Manager Escobar added that seniors who attend the Center drive the program, not staff or Council.
Action: Motion was made by Council Member Del Bosque to accept the First Reading of Ordinance No. 406 and seconded by Council Member Casillas. The motion carried as follows:
AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Del Bosque, Casillas, Rodriguez Ortiz NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN:0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Garcia
REGULAR BUSINESS
Engineering Department – City Engineer Muniz
15. SUBJECT: Review of Park Boulevard Urban Cooling & Greening Project Concept Layouts (Concepts 1, 2, and 3) and Direction on the Preferred Concept for a California Urban Greening Grant Program Application.
The City Engineer presented three concept layouts for the Park Boulevard corridor prepared for a California Urban Greening Grant Program application, which requires no local funding match. Staff recommended a blended concept combining elements of Concepts 2 and 3, noting that the Downtown Business and Tourism Advisory Committee had favored Concept 3 while social media feedback favored Concept 2.
Council discussion raised support for additional shade trees and no-cost grant funding, along with concerns regarding the center-median parking design in Concepts 3, including pedestrian safety, ADA and senior accessibility, and liability. Public comment included questions on funding source and impact to water bills, sidewalk width, Planning Commission review, and pedestrian safety, to which City Manager Escobar and the City Engineer responded, noting the project's drought-tolerant, drip-irrigated landscaping and its intended benefit to downtown walkability and business activity.
Action: Motion was made by Council Member Casillas to proceed with Concept 2 and seconded by Council Member Rodriguez. The motion carried as follows
AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Casillas, Rodriguez, Del Bosque, Ortiz NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN:0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Garcia
16. SUBJECT: Community Facilities District No. 2026-1 (Public Facilities Maintenance District No. 1) – Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-32 (Local Goals and Policies) and Resolution No. 2026-33 (Intention); Tract No. 6289 (Macias Subdivision); Setting a Public Hearing.
Staff presented background on the proposed Community Facilities District No. 2026-1, which would fund ongoing maintenance of landscaping, lighting, streets, storm drain facilities, and other public improvements associated with Tract No. 6289 (Macias Subdivision – 41 lots on 19.5 acres, including 39 single-family lots, a 4.85-acre multifamily lot, and a 3.52-acre commercial lot) through a special tax levied on properties within the district, at no cost to the City's General Fund or existing residents. Staff noted the property owner, Efrain Yanez Construction Inc., owns all property within the proposed district and has petitioned to form it, and that the resolution of intention designates a future annexation area so that subsequent subdivisions can be added without additional formation proceedings. City Manager Escobar summarized that the district would become the City's standard maintenance funding mechanism for future development.
Action: Motion was made by Council Member Del Bosque to approve Resolution No. 2026-32, adopting Local Goals and Policies for Community Facilities Districts, and Resolution No. 2026-33 (Intention); Tract No. 6289 (Macias Subdivision); Setting a Public Hearing, and seconded by Council Member Rodriguez. The motion carried as follows:
AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Del Bosque, Rodriguez, Casillas, Ortiz NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN:0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Garcia
REGULAR BUSINESS
Administration Department – City Manager Escobar
17. SUBJECT: Appointment of Members to the Orange Cove Downtown Business and Tourism Advisory Committee.
City Manager Escobar presented recommended appointees, including business representatives Kristal Neise (Krisamz’s Kitchen), Francisco Figueroa (O.C. Pizza), Alex Garcia, and Yolanda Guerra (Studio 316), and resident representatives Isaiah Lopez, Erika Gutierrez, Milton Alvarado, and Gail Dahl. Staff noted that Estela Juarez asked to be removed from consideration for this Committee to focus on the newly formed Arts Council.
Action: Motion was made by Council Member Rodriguez to appoint the recommended members to the Orange Cove Downtown Business and Tourism Advisory Committee and seconded by Council Member Casillas. The motion carried as follows:
AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Rodriguez, Casillas, Del Bosque, Ortiz NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN:0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBER: Garcia
18. SUBJECT: Approval of the Establishment of the Arts Council and Appointment of Members.
City Manager Escobar presented Resolution No. 2026-31 to establish the Arts Council and appoint seven inaugural members: Nancy Villegas, Kaycie Hernandez, Milton Alvarado, Gilbert Mendoza Munoz, Destiny Fierro, Eliana Saucedo, and Estela Juarez.
Public Comment: Lauren Nickel, Executive Director of the Fresno Arts Council, spoke in support of the new Arts Council, offering partnership resources and fiscal sponsorship as the group works toward independent nonprofit status.
Action: Motion was made by Council Member Del Bosque to adopt Resolution No. 2026-31, establishing the Arts Council and appointing its members, and seconded by Council Member Casillas. The motion carried as follows AYES: 4 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Del Bosque, Casillas, Rodriguez, Ortiz NOES: 0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN:0 COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 1 COUNCIL MEMBER: Garcia
19. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Escobar reported on a planned partnership with Mid Valley Disposal to incorporate trash and recycling service requests into the City's Civicly work-order tracking system. He also provided an extended update on the City's water rate study process, including ongoing efforts to audit water meters that had not been reporting usage data to City software (in some cases since as early as 2016), the relationship between high water bills and over-irrigation or undetected leaks, the City's new “Eye on the Water” usage-tracking app, and pending state grant applications, including approximately $8–9 million in water infrastructure funding.
Public Comment: A member of the public asked about the orange survey stakes recently placed along City streets.
20. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
City Attorney Crouch reported that this would likely be her last meeting until October because of her upcoming child's birth, and that she would email interim contact information to staff and Council.
21. CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Council Member Del Bosque thanked residents for attending and engaging at the meeting.
Council Member Casillas thanked the community in attendance; all meetings should be attended like this one.
Mayor Pro Tem Ortiz thanked the public for their comments and announced the City of Orange Cove Halloween Trunk-or-Treat & Haunted House event on Saturday, October 31, 2026, requesting community volunteers to decorate trunks and donate candy.
22. CLOSED SESSION
The Council recessed to Closed Session at 8:26 p.m. to discuss the following matter:
Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation; significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(b): 1 case.
The City Council reconvened the Open Session at 8:54 p.m. There was no reportable action.
23. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________ _________________________
Cynthia Cisneros, City Clerk Cassy Ortiz, Mayor Pro Tem
ORANGE COVE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
August 31, 2026
The Special Meeting of the Orange Cove City Council was called to order by Mayor Garcia at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2026, via Zoom Webinar and at the City of Orange Cove Council Chambers at 633 6th Street, Orange Cove, California.
1. CALL TO ORDER / WELCOME
COUNCIL MEMBERS’ PRESENT
Rodriguez, Del Bosque, Casillas, Mayor Pro Tem Ortiz, and Mayor Garcia.
ABSENT
None.
INVOCATION
Council Member Ortiz.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Del Bosque.
2. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
No changes to the agenda.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public in attendance or online addressed the Council.
REGULAR BUSINESS
Engineering Department – City Engineer Muniz
4. SUBJECT: Urban Greening Grant Program Full Proposal – Orange Cove Urban Cooling & Greening Project (Park Boulevard).
City Manager Escobar presented the item, noting that the City Council had approved the design concept at the prior meeting and that the resolution was not finalized in time to be included with the agenda. He requested Council approval of Resolution No. 2026-34, approving the application for Climate Bond grant funds under the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Grant Program and authorizing submittal of the Full Proposal for the Orange Cove Urban Cooling & Greening Project – Park Boulevard.
Public Comment: None.
Action: Motion was made by Council Member Del Bosque to approve Resolution No. 2026-34 as presented and seconded by Council Member Ortiz. The motion carried unanimously.
5. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________ ____________________________ Cynthia Cisneros, City Clerk Gilbert Garcia, Mayor
For the Meeting of September 9, 2026
CITY OF ORANGE COVE
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO: Orange Cove City Council
FROM: Orfil Muniz, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Amending Section 7 of Resolution No. 2026-33 to Reset the Public Hearing on the Establishment of Community Facilities District No. 2026-1 (Public Facilities Maintenance District No. 1) to October 14, 2026, and Directing Republication of Notice.
ATTACHMENTS: Resolution No. 2026-36 Amending Section 7 of Resolution No. 2026-33 RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-36, amending Section 7 of Resolution No. 2026-33 to reset the public hearing on the establishment of Community Facilities District No. 2026-1 (Public Facilities Maintenance District No. 1) to October 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., and directing the City Clerk to republish notice of the hearing as reset in accordance with Government Code Section 53322.
BACKGROUND:
On August 26, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-33 (the "Resolution of Intention"), declaring its intention to establish Community Facilities District No. 2026-1 (Public Facilities Maintenance District No. 1) of the City of Orange Cove pursuant to the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 (Government Code Section 53311 et seq.), and setting a public hearing on the establishment of the CFD for September 9, 2026.
Government Code Section 53325 requires that the public hearing on the establishment of a community facilities district be held not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days after adoption of the resolution of intention. The hearing date set in Section 7 of Resolution No. 2026-33 falls fewer than thirty (30) days after its adoption and therefore does not meet this statutory requirement.
To correct this, staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution amending Section 7 of Resolution No. 2026-33 to reset the public hearing to October 14, 2026, a date that falls within the statutory 30-to-90-day window. No public hearing on the establishment of the CFD has been held and no testimony has been taken, so resetting the hearing date works no prejudice to any person. All other provisions of Resolution No. 2026-33 — including the description of services, the rate and method of apportionment, the boundary map, and the future annexation area — remain unchanged.
Upon adoption, the City Clerk will publish notice of the public hearing, as reset, one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of the proposed CFD, at least seven (7) days before October 14, 2026, in accordance with Government Code Section 53322, and may provide additional notice by first-class mail pursuant to Government Code Section 53322.4.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adoption of this resolution. Costs associated with republishing the notice of public hearing are minor and can be absorbed within the City Clerk's existing budget.
Prepared by: Cynthia Cisneros, City Clerk Approved by: Samuel A. Escobar REVIEW: Samuel A. Escobar Finance: ________ City Attorney: ______ TYPE OF ITEM: COUNCIL ACTION: ☐ APPROVED ☐ DENIED ☐ NO ACTION ___ Consent
___ Info Item
_X_ Action Item
___ Department Report
___ Redevelopment Agency
___ Public Hearing
___ Matter Initiated by a Council Member
___ Other
___ Continued to: __________
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-36
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ORANGE COVE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 7 OF RESOLUTION NO. 2026-33 TO RESET THE DATE
OF THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2026-1 (PUBLIC FACILITIES MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1) OF THE CITY OF ORANGE COVE, AND DIRECTING
REPUBLICATION OF NOTICE
WHEREAS, on August 26, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-33 (the "Resolution of Intention"), declaring its intention to establish Community Facilities District No. 2026-1 (Public Facilities Maintenance District No. 1) of the City of Orange Cove (the "CFD") pursuant to the Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982, Government Code Section 53311 et seq. (the "Act"), and setting a public hearing on the establishment of the CFD for September 9, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Section 53325 of the Act requires that the public hearing on the establishment of a community facilities district be held not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days after the adoption of the resolution of intention, and the hearing date set forth in Section 7 of the Resolution of Intention falls fewer than thirty (30) days after its adoption; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to reset the public hearing to October 14, 2026 — a date not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days after the adoption of the Resolution of Intention — and to direct that notice of the hearing as reset be published in the manner required by Section 53322 of the Act; and
WHEREAS, no public hearing on the establishment of the CFD has been held, no testimony has been taken, and the resetting of the hearing date works no prejudice to any person; and all other provisions of the Resolution of Intention, including the description of services, the rate and method of apportionment, the boundary map, and the future annexation area, remain unchanged.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Orange Cove City Council as follows:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 2. Amendment of Hearing Date. Section 7 of Resolution No. 2026-33 is hereby amended to read in full as follows: "SECTION 7. Public Hearing. A public hearing on the establishment of the CFD, the extent of the CFD, the Future Annexation Area, the furnishing of the Services, and the levy of the special tax shall be held on October 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as practicable, in the City Council Chambers, 633 6th Street, Orange Cove, California." SECTION 3. Republication of Notice. The City Clerk is directed to publish notice of the public hearing, as reset by this Resolution, one time in a newspaper of general circulation published in the area of the proposed CFD, such publication to be completed at least seven (7) days before October 14, 2026, pursuant to Government Code Section 53322, and may give additional notice by first-class mail pursuant to Government Code Section 53322.4.
SECTION 4. Boundary Map. The City Council confirms the direction in Section 3 of Resolution No. 2026-33 that the Boundary Map be recorded with the Fresno County Recorder within fifteen (15) days of the adoption of the Resolution of Intention, and finds that such recording will occur not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the public hearing as reset herein (Sts. & Hwys. Code §§ 3110–3111).
SECTION 5. Remainder Unchanged. Except as expressly amended by this Resolution, Resolution No. 2026-33 remains in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City of Orange Cove City Council, on the 9th day of September 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
APPROVED:
___________________________
Gilbert Garcia, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Cynthia Cisneros, City Clerk
C I T Y O F O R A N G E C O V E · C I T Y C O U N C I L · I N F O R M AT I O N I T E M Statewide Park Program (SPP) Round 5 — Request for Community Input on Park Amenities
MEETING
TO
FROM
SUBJECT
ACTION
September 9, 2026
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Orfil Muniz, P.E. — City Engineer, A&M Consulting Engineers Community outreach for a Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program application, due December 17, 2026
Information only. No Council action is required at this time.
PURPOSE
To inform the Council that the City is preparing an application to the State's largest park-funding program, and to begin a community outreach process that asks Orange Cove residents what recreation amenities they want built. Amenities the City is presently evaluating include a community pool or aquatic center, baseball fields, soccer fields, and other sports fields and courts. The purpose of the outreach is to let residents identify these and any other amenities in their own words, and to document that input as required by the grant.
THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Program: Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP), Round 5, administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS).
Funding source and amount: $188.5 million statewide from Proposition 4, the 2024 Climate Bond.
Grant range: $200,000 minimum to $8,500,000 maximum per project. No local match is required — the grant may fund up to 100% of total project cost. Pre-construction costs are limited to 25% of the grant.
Eligible projects: acquisition and development of new parks, and renovation or expansion of existing parks, in critically underserved and climate-vulnerable communities.
Deadline: December 17, 2026, 11:59 p.m. OGALS application workshops are being held September through October 2026, including virtual sessions on September 22 and October 13.
WHY ORANGE COVE COMPETES WELL
Roughly a third of the 100-point scoring rubric is fixed by demographic and park-access data that the City cannot change — and in Orange Cove those numbers are close to the strongest a California applicant can present. Data below is from the OGALS Community FactFinder and CalEnviroScreen 5.0.
Park scarcity: 1.17 park acres per 1,000 residents citywide — well under the State's 3.0-acre benchmark. Several candidate neighborhoods register 0.00 acres, meaning no park lies within a half mile.
Income and poverty: median household income of $41,891, about 43.5% of the statewide average; 1,596 of 4,060 residents in the study area live in poverty.
Climate vulnerability: high-rank designations for extreme heat, wildfire, drought, and flooding — four of the four measures scored.
Environmental burden: CalEnviroScreen percentile of 91.7–91.8, a severely disadvantaged designation.
Access: 181 households have no vehicle, making walkable neighborhood recreation a practical necessity rather than an amenity.
SITES SCREENED TO DATE
A&M has run preliminary scoring assessments on four site and amenity concepts. These are engineering screening estimates prepared to support a go/no-go decision, not official scores; OGALS performs the actual scoring, and a meaningful share of every score below depends on the community outreach described in the next section.
SITE CONCEPT PARK
AC./1,000
MEDIAN HH
INCOME
EST.
SCORE
Anchor & Adams
1293 Adams Ave
New sports park — playing fields, walking paths, playgrounds, restrooms, field lighting
0.00 $45,339 ~90
Community Center
1705 Anchor Ave
Aquatic center — competition pool, zero-depth wading pool, therapy pool (renovation of existing park)
1.61 $42,416 ~76–85
Center St & South Ave
APN 378-022-05,
9.67 ac.
New park with community pool on vacant land (site control not yet secured)
0.00 $41,367 ~54–97
Dianne Feinstein Park
8577 S Anchor Ave
Renovation of existing 10-acre park (BMX track, skate park) 3.35 $41,377 ~55–82
WHY COMMUNITY INPUT IS BEING REQUESTED
Criterion 5, Community-Based Planning, is worth 18 of the 100 points — the largest single block of points the City fully controls, and the difference between a competitive application and an also-ran. Points are earned by documenting a real outreach process, not by describing an intention:
Meetings. Full credit assumes approximately five community meetings, at least two held on evenings or weekends so working residents can attend.
Outreach. Three or more distinct outreach methods (mailers, social media, school and church networks, utility bill inserts, door-to-door), with documented participation across ages and neighborhoods. Bilingual outreach is essential in a project area that ranks at the 90th percentile statewide for linguistic isolation.
Resident authorship. The highest tier requires that residents arrive at the amenity concepts themselves, in response to open-ended questions — not by choosing from a menu of options the City presents. Each resident-suggested design element must be recorded and identified in the application as one the City will implement.
Practical implication. The pool, ball fields, and sports fields listed above are the City's working hypotheses for planning and site screening. At the community meetings themselves, staff should ask residents what they want and record what they say, rather than presenting the four concepts for a vote. If residents independently name the same amenities, that record is worth substantially more points than the same amenities selected off a City-prepared list — and if they name something different, the City learns that before committing $8.5 million to the wrong project.
OTHER DECISIONS THAT CARRY POINTS
Fees and hours (Criterion 9). A facility must be open at least 3 hours per day, 7 days per week, or the entire application is ineligible. Full points require 8+ hours per day, 7 days per week, and a lowest-cost access option priced at $3 per month or less, or free.
Partnerships (Criterion 7). Points come from partners committing volunteer hours, materials, or funding — documented in the application narrative and on the Funding Sources Form. OGALS does not accept letters of support.
Volunteer and workforce (Criterion 6). A pre-construction community cleanup with 20+ participants, plus a consultation with a certified California Conservation Corps that produces a written scope of work.
Long-term operations (Criterion 10). The City must show a credible 30-year operations and maintenance funding source. This matters most for a pool: lifeguard staffing, chemicals, water treatment, and heating make an aquatic facility materially more expensive to operate than a field-and-turf park. Naming a specific funding mechanism scores better than a general fund reference.
FISCAL IMPACT
None from this item. No local match is required, and grant funds may cover up to 100% of project cost. The City's financial exposure is the long-term operations and maintenance obligation described above, which is a 30-year commitment and a scored element of the application.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
DATE MILESTONE
Sept – Oct 2026 OGALS application workshops (virtual sessions Sept. 22 and Oct. 13); outreach materials prepared in English and Spanish Oct – Nov 2026 Five community meetings, including evening and weekend sessions; Conservation Corps consultation; partner commitments secured Nov 2026 Council selects the preferred site and amenity package; Council adopts the resolution authorizing the application Dec 17, 2026 Application deadline
2027 OGALS scoring and award announcements
REQUESTED FROM COUNCIL
No formal action. Staff requests the Council's concurrence to proceed with community outreach as described, and asks Councilmembers to help publicize the meetings and to identify community organizations, leagues, schools, and employers that may be willing to commit volunteer hours, materials, or funding toward the project.
Attachments: (1) Sports Park — Anchor & Adams, proposal assessment; (2) Aquatic Center — 1705 Anchor Ave, proposal assessment; (3) Community Pool — Center St. & South Ave. vacant site, proposal assessment; (4) Dianne Feinstein Park renovation, proposal assessment; (5) OGALS Community FactFinder report.
Sources: California State Parks OGALS, Statewide Park Program Round 5 Application Guide and program page (parks.ca.gov/spp); California Grants Portal listing for SPP Round 5 (Prop 4); OGALS Community FactFinder; CalEnviroScreen 5.0. Scoring figures are A&M internal estimates prepared for planning purposes and are not official OGALS scores.
C I T Y O F O R A N G E C O V E · PA R K S & R E C R E AT I O N G R A N T We can build a new park.
You tell us what goes in it.
Orange Cove is applying for a State grant of up to $8.5 million to build parks and recreation facilities. It costs the City nothing to apply, and no local match is required. Before we decide what to build, we want to hear from the people who will use it.
WHY ORANGE COVE HAS A REAL SHOT
1.17 park acres per 1,000 residents
— the State's standard is 3.0
0 parks within a half-mile walk of
several Orange Cove
neighborhoods
4 of 4
climate risks the State scores —
extreme heat, wildfire, drought,
flooding
34.6%
of Orange Cove residents are
under 18 — more than a third
This grant is built for communities exactly like ours: places with the least park space, the greatest need, and the fewest options for kids and families. The data makes our case for us. What we still need is your voice — and that is not a formality. The State scores applications on whether residents shaped the project, and it is worth 18 of the 100 points. A park the community designed scores higher than a park City Hall designed.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU
If the City could build one thing for your neighborhood, what would it be? What is missing in Orange Cove right now — for your kids, for you, for older residents? Where should it go? What part of town needs it most?
What would actually get your family to use it — and to keep using it? What would make it feel safe, day and evening?
What would help on a 105-degree summer day?
HOW TO TELL US
Come to a community meeting. Five meetings will be held this fall, including evenings and weekends so people who work can attend. Dates and locations will be announced at City Hall, on the City website, and through the schools.
Or reach us any time. City Hall, 633 Sixth Street, Orange Cove · (559) 626-4488 · Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Every idea gets written down. Ideas the City can build are named directly in the application.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Oct – Nov 2026 Five community meetings. Residents say what they want built.
November 2026 City Council picks the site and the project, based on what residents said.
Dec 17, 2026 Application due to California State Parks. 2027 The State announces awards.
Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program, Round 5. $188.5 million available statewide from Proposition 4, the 2024 Climate Bond. Administered by California State Parks. Grants range from $200,000 to $8,500,000. No local match required.
C I U D A D D E O R A N G E C O V E · S U B V E N C I Ó N PA R A PA R Q U E S Y R E C R E A C I Ó N Podemos construir un parque nuevo.
Usted nos dice qué debe tener.
Orange Cove va a solicitar una subvención estatal de hasta $8.5 millones para construir parques e instalaciones recreativas. Solicitarla no le cuesta nada a la Ciudad y no se requiere aportación local.
Antes de decidir qué construir, queremos escuchar a las personas que lo van a usar.
POR QUÉ ORANGE COVE TIENE UNA OPORTUNIDAD REAL
1.17 acres de parque por cada 1,000
habitantes — la norma estatal
es 3.0
0 parques a media milla
caminando en varios
vecindarios de Orange Cove
4 de 4
riesgos climáticos que el Estado
califica — calor extremo,
incendios, sequía e
inundaciones
34.6%
de los residentes de Orange
Cove son menores de 18 años
Esta subvención fue creada para comunidades como la nuestra: lugares con menos espacio de parque, mayor necesidad y menos opciones para los niños y las familias. Los datos hablan por nosotros. Lo que aún necesitamos es su voz — y no es un trámite. El Estado califica las solicitudes según si los residentes dieron forma al proyecto, y eso vale 18 de los 100 puntos. Un parque diseñado por la comunidad recibe más puntos que uno diseñado por la Ciudad.
LO QUE LE PREGUNTAMOS
Si la Ciudad pudiera construir una sola cosa para su vecindario, ¿qué sería? ¿Qué le hace falta hoy a Orange Cove — para sus hijos, para usted, para los adultos mayores? ¿Dónde debería estar? ¿Qué parte de la ciudad lo necesita más? ¿Qué haría que su familia realmente lo usara — y siguiera usándolo? ¿Qué lo haría sentir seguro, de día y de noche?
¿Qué ayudaría en un día de verano de 105 grados?
CÓMO COMUNICARSE CON NOSOTROS
Venga a una junta comunitaria. Habrá cinco juntas este otoño, incluyendo tardes y fines de semana para que puedan asistir las personas que trabajan. Las fechas y los lugares se anunciarán en el Ayuntamiento, en el sitio web de la Ciudad y a través de las escuelas.
O comuníquese cuando guste. Ayuntamiento, 633 Sixth Street, Orange Cove · (559) 626-4488 · lunes a viernes, 8:00 a.m. a 4:00 p.m.
Cada idea se anota. Las ideas que la Ciudad pueda construir se nombran directamente en la solicitud.
QUÉ SIGUE
Oct – nov 2026 Cinco juntas comunitarias. Los residentes dicen qué quieren que se construya.
Noviembre 2026 El Concejo Municipal elige el sitio y el proyecto, según lo que dijeron los residentes. 17 de dic. 2026 Fecha límite para entregar la solicitud a California State Parks. 2027 El Estado anuncia las adjudicaciones.
Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program, Ronda 5. $188.5 millones disponibles a nivel estatal de la Proposición 4, el Bono Climático de 2024. Administrado por California State Parks. Las subvenciones van de $200,000 a $8,500,000. No se requiere aportación local.
For the Meeting of September 9, 2026
CITY OF ORANGE COVE
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
TO: Orange Cove City Council
FROM: Danny Jimenez, Finance Director
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-35 Approving the Updated City of Orange Cove Master Fee Schedule.
ATTACHMENTS: Master Fee Schedule
Resolution No. 2026-35
RECOMMENDATION:
1). Staff recommends that the City Council hold a public hearing on the proposed Master Fee Schedule.
2) Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. Resolution No. 2026-35, amending the Master Fee Schedule to incorporate these fees.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s Master Fee Schedule establishes the fees charged for various municipal permits, services, and facility uses. The Schedule does not currently include fees for encroachment permits issued by the Public Works Department for work performed within the public right-ofway, nor does it include a current fee schedule for Parks and Recreation Department programs, facility rentals, and services.
The proposed fees are intended to recover the City’s costs of reviewing, issuing, and inspecting encroachment permits, and of administering and maintaining parks and recreation programs and facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the updated Master Fee Schedule is expected to improve the City's ability to recover the cost of providing municipal services where appropriate. Actual revenues will vary depending on service demand.
Prepared by: Danny Jimenez, Finance Director Approved by: Samuel A. Escobar REVIEW: Finance Director______ Finance: _______ City Attorney: ______ TYPE OF ITEM: COUNCIL ACTION: • APPROVED • DENIED • NO ACTION Consent
Info Item
Action Item
Department Report
Redevelopment Agency
X Public Hearing
Matter Initiated by a Council Member
Other
Continued to: _________
Resolution No. 2026-35
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ORANGE COVE
AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE TO ADD
ENCROACHMENT PERMIT FEES AND PARKS AND RECREATION FEES
Master Fee Schedule Amendment – Encroachment Permits and Parks & Recreation Fees WHEREAS, the City of Orange Cove (“City”) maintains a Master Fee Schedule establishing fees charged for various municipal permits, licenses, applications, and services provided by City departments; and
WHEREAS, the City Council may, by resolution, adopt, amend, or update the Master Fee Schedule from time to time to ensure that fees reasonably reflect the City’s costs of providing the associated permits and services; and
WHEREAS, the Master Fee Schedule does not currently include fees for encroachment permits issued by the Public Works Department for work performed within the public right-of-way; and WHEREAS, the Master Fee Schedule does not currently include an updated fee schedule for programs, facility rentals, and services provided by the Parks and Recreation Department; and WHEREAS, City staff has prepared and recommends adoption of the proposed Encroachment Permit Fees, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference, and the proposed Parks and Recreation Fees, attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by reference; and WHEREAS, the fees set forth in Exhibits A and B do not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the services for which the fees are charged; and WHEREAS, notice of consideration of the proposed fees was posted and/or published in accordance with California Government Code Section 66016 and other applicable law, and the City Council held a duly noticed public meeting at which all interested persons were given the opportunity to be heard;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Orange Cove:
1. Finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference; and
2. Amends the Master Fee Schedule to add the Encroachment Permit Fees set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and
3. Amends the Master Fee Schedule to add the Parks and Recreation Fees set forth in Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; and
4. Directs that the fees adopted herein shall become effective sixty (60) days following the date of adoption of this Resolution, in accordance with California Government Code Section 66017; and
5. Authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to make non-substantive administrative corrections to Exhibits A and B as necessary to maintain consistency with City practice, and to take all further actions necessary to implement this Resolution; and
6. Provides that all other fees, charges, and provisions of the Master Fee Schedule not expressly amended by this Resolution shall remain in full force and effect; and
7. Directs the City Clerk to file this Resolution and to make Exhibits A and B available for public inspection.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of August, 2026, at a regular meeting of the Orange Cove City Council by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Approved:
_______________________________
Gilbert Garcia, Mayor
Attest:
_______________________________
Cynthia Cisneros, City Clerk
To:
From:
Subject:
Attachments:
For the Meeting of September 9, 2026
CITY OF ORANGE COVE
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
Orange Cove City Council
Shun Patlan, Community Development Director
Appeal of Planning Commission Decision Denying Conditional Use Permit No, 2026-01 for a Recycling Collection Facility
Copy of Appeal Letter
RECOMMENDATION:
1) City Council to decide whether or not to reconsider the decision of the Planning Commission.
2) City Council to direct staff to proceed with scheduling a public hearing if city council decides to reconsider the Planning Commission's decision.
BACKGROUND:
The applicant Rosa Adriana Rosales has filed an application for a Conditional Use Permit to permit a Recycling Collection Facility at 825 Anchor Avenue. The property is currently zoned as a C-3 District.
Under Section 17.30.030(H) of the Orange Cove Municipal Code permits the Recycling Collection Facility use under an approved Conditional Use Permit.
The proposed site is an existing commercial shopping center approximately 2.04 acres in size and located at the northwest corner of Anchor Avenue and Martinex Street. The applicant proposes to operate a recycling facility which will consist of the collection of CRV aluminum, glass and plastics at the site. The owner proposes to provide a C-train container to store all recyclables collected. The C-train will be placed at the corner of the property close to the intersection. The proposed hours of operations will be Monday through Sunday from 9:30am to 5:00pm.
On August 11, 2026, staff presented the Conditional Use Permit before the Orange Cove Planning Commission for consideration. The Planning Commission decided to deny the Conditional Use Permit for the proposed Recycling Collection Facility. The Planning Commission determined that Finding No. 2 of the required finding(s) could not be made.
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