CITY OF PATTERSON
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 15, 2026
Present:
Councilmember Roque
Councilmember Hernandez
Councilmember Mora
Councilmember Jack
Absent:
Mayor Clauzel
City Staff:
City Manager Ulloa
Assistant City Manager Willett
City Attorney Pritchard
Finance Director Williams
Acting Recreation & Community Services Director Hernandez Fire Chief Hakola
Deputy Director of Public Works Barrera
IT Manager Marty
Police Chief Casey
Director of Engineering Rodriguez
City Clerk Alegre
Call to Order
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Patterson of September 15, 2026 was called to order in the City of Patterson at 7:15 p.m. by Mayor Pro Tem Roque.
Pledge of Allegiance
Statements of Conflict
1. 2.
3. None.
Proclamation
Proclamation-World Suicide Prevention Month (Mayor Clauzel) Mayor Pro Tem Roque presented the proclamation to Lindsay Neal and Shivaugn Alves.
Items from the Public
Danielle Morgart, representing the Office of Assemblymember Juan Alanis, provided a legislative update regarding bills authored by Assemblymember Alanis.
Tim Benefield, representing the Patterson Irrigator and Westside Community Action Network, announced that the newspaper would publish a special page in recognition of Suicide Prevention Month allowing community members to memorialize loved ones lost to suicide.
Amy Petrali, representing AFSCME Local 10, expressed concerns on behalf of represented City employees regarding alleged interactions between employees and an elected official. She requested that the City move the pending censure process forward and emphasized professional boundaries between elected officials and City employees.
Dominic Farinha commented regarding public trust, the Council-Manager form of government, appropriate boundaries between elected officials and staff, and accountability in public office.
Lila Ayala, Patterson High School student and ASB Activities Coordinator, requested Council consideration regarding fees associated with the Patterson High School Homecoming Parade and spoke regarding the parade's importance to students and the community.
Yolanda Magana, provided updates regarding the Broomsticks and Bubbling event, the Christmas Festival, and community events.
Kat Ritchie expressed concerns regarding treatment of City employees and boundaries between elected officials and City staff. City Manager Ulloa responded that Councilmembers should not direct staff and stated his preference that communications involving staff be directed through the City Manager's Office.
Councilmember Hernandez temporarily stepped away from the dais at 7:36 p.m. and returned at 7:40 p.m.
Martha Flemming expressed concerns regarding accessibility and roadway conditions for persons using wheelchairs and power chairs and also raised concerns regarding water quality.
4. 4.1
5.
Kandace Weyharuch, participating remotely, expressed concerns regarding the treatment of City employees and requested that the Council continue the censure process.
The City Attorney provided an update regarding the censure process and stated that staff intended to complete the process during the month, with a Rules Committee meeting being scheduled before the matter returned publicly to the Council.
Councilmember Hernandez thanked City employees and members of the public who spoke and commented on the importance of accountability, transparency, and respectful treatment of employees.
Consent Calendar
Items 6.2, 6.4, and 6.6 were removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion. At 7:53 p.m. public comment period was opened. There being no public comment on the remaining Consent Calendar items, the Council considered Items 6.1, 6.3, and 6.5.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar Items 6.1 6.3, and 6.5 was made by Councilmember Jack and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. The motion carried 4-0.
ACTION: The City Council approved Consent Calendar Items 6.1, 6.3, and 6.5.
6.2 Approve the Closed Session, Regular Meeting, and Special Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2026, August 13, 2026, August 18, 2026, August 21, 2026.
Kat Ritchie raised concerns about a combined infrastructure project, the 9th Street Improvements and Area 6B Water Main Replacement, appearing in the minutes, questioning whether City Council had formally authorized the consolidation of the two projects and whether a public presentation had been made prior to the item being placed on the Consent Calendar.
The City Attorney clarified that the minutes are a record of actions taken at prior meetings and that no specific error in the minutes had been identified. The City Attorney further noted that concerns regarding the project authorization process should be addressed separately, and that staff could be directed to provide a clarification. Mayor Pro Tem Roque requested that staff schedule a meeting to address the matter. Councilmember Mora confirmed approval of the minutes was appropriate, contingent on follow-up on the substantive concern.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar Item 6.2 was made by Councilmember Jack and seconded by Councilmember Mora. The motion carried 4-0.
ACTION: The City Council approved Consent Calendar Item 6.2
6.
6.4 Approve City Commission Reports for the Month of August 2026 (Parks, Recreation & Beautification Commission and Senior Commission)
Councilmember Hernandez requested that the process for monthly reporting by the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission and Senior Commission be reviewed at a future Council meeting.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar Item 6.4 was made by Councilmember Hernandez and seconded by Councilmember Mora. The motion carried 4-0.
ACTION: The City Council approved Consent Calendar Item 6.4
6.6 Approve Street Closures of W. Las Palmas Ave, 7th Street and Plaza Circle for Patterson High School Homecoming Parade, Downtown on Friday, October 16, 2026 Councilmember Mora pulled the item to discuss the fees associated with the Patterson High School Homecoming Parade and opportunities for greater collaboration between the City and Patterson Joint Unified School District. Staff explained that the charges reflected the City's adopted cost-recovery practices and actual costs, including staff labor and administrative costs.
Council expressed support for preserving the longstanding community tradition while also maintaining an equitable process for City costs and fee waivers. The City Attorney advised that Council could approve the requested road closure as presented while directing staff to work with the School District regarding possible coordination, fee reduction, waiver, or reimbursement.
Patterson High School students and members of the public spoke in support of the Homecoming Parade and requested that the City consider reducing or waiving the associated fees, emphasizing the parade's longstanding community-wide benefit.
Staff also advised that a broader sponsorship and fee-waiver policy was being developed for future Council consideration.
Motion to approve Consent Calendar Item 6.6 as presented, with direction to staff to immediately explore a collaborative fee arrangement with the Patterson Unified School District, was made by Councilmember Mora and seconded by Councilmember Jack. The motion carried 4-0.
ACTION: The City Council approved Consent Calendar Item 6.6 Motion to Waive Readings – All Reading of Ordinances and Resolutions, Except by Title are hereby waived.
6.1
Approve the Closed Session, Regular Meeting, and Special Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2026, August 13, 2026, August 18, 2026, August 21, 2026.
Approve City Department Reports for the Month of August 2026 (Engineering, Finance, Fire, Public Works, and Recreation and Community Services).
Approve City Commission Reports for the Month of August 2026 (Parks, Recreation and Beautification Commission and Senior Commission).
Approve Street Closure on 9th St between W. Las Palmas Ave. and Ward Ave. for the Walk for Childhood Cancer Awareness & Support event on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Approve Street Closures on W. Las Palmas Ave, 7th Street and Plaza Circle for Patterson High School Homecoming Parade, Downtown on Friday, October 16, 2026.
Presentation/Action
Approve the Fire Department Organizational Realignment of Eliminating the Fire Prevention Inspector Position, Authorizing the Addition of One Assistant Fire Chief, Incorporating a Community Risk Reduction Division, and Approving the Assistant Fire Chief Job Description and Salary Range, and Revised Job Descriptions for Fire Marshal, Fire Administrative Manager, Code Enforcement Supervisor, Code Enforcement I and II, and Graffiti Abatement Technician, which includes a Title Change.
Fire Chief Hakola reviewed his his report and presentation.
Council discussed staffing, funding, code enforcement operations, graffiti abatement, proactive enforcement, and future fire inspection needs.
At 8:49 p.m. Item 7.1 was opened for public comment.
Public comment was received in support of the realignment, with community members raising questions regarding the placement of code enforcement under the Fire Department, vehicle abatement practices, and the proactive versus complaint-driven nature of code enforcement. Fire Chief Hakola and Police Chief Hill's representative affirmed close interagency collaboration. No council objections were raised.
At 9:05 p.m. public comment was closed.
6.2 6.3
6.4 6.5
6.6 7.
7.1
Motion to approve the Fire Department Organizational Realignment, including elimination of the Fire Prevention Inspector position, creation of one Assistant Fire Chief position, formation of the Community Risk Reduction Division, and approval of all associated revised job descriptions and salary ranges was made by Councilmember Jack and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. The motion carried 4-0.
Discussion and direction regarding the data center study and possible action regarding public participation in the study process.
Community Development Director Stice and the City Attorney's office presented an overview of the City's current regulatory posture on data centers and the scope of work undertaken since the moratorium was adopted.
Community Development Director Bryan Stice and the City Attorney presented an overview of the City’s current data center regulations and study efforts under the moratorium. Staff reported that Patterson currently permits data centers by right in industrial districts with limited standards, while comparable California regulations remain limited. Six key study areas were identified: water and wastewater, energy and infrastructure, public safety, environmental and health, land use and design, and community and fiscal effects.
The City Attorney advised that any future regulatory approach or ban must be supported by legally sufficient studies. Staff also noted that outside parties have expressed interest in submitting data center applications, though the moratorium currently bars them.
Council and public comment generally opposed data centers and supported strong public involvement. The Council favored an intensive public participation process, including a Citizen Advisory Committee and public workshops, and directed the staff to return with options for the committee’s structure, composition, and eligibility.
Direction was given to staff; no formal motion was required.
Public Hearing
Receive Update Regarding Proposed Liens for Unpaid Mistletoe Abatement and Determine that No further Action is Required.
Finance Director Williams reported that both property owners subject to proposed liens for unpaid mistletoe abatement costs had paid their outstanding balances in full since the public hearing notice was published. No further action was required.
7.2 8.
8.1
At 10:35 p.m. Item 8.1 was opened for public comment. No public comment was received.
The Council received the update and took no further action.
City Council Items
Councilmember Hernandez
9.1.A Stanislaus Homeless Alliance (Councilmember Mora alternate)
9.1 B Stanislaus County Hazerdous Waste Advisory Committee (Councilmember Mora alternate)
No updates.
Councilmember Jack
9.2.A San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (Mayor Pro Tem Roque alternate) No updates.
Councilmember Mora
9.3.A Workforce Development Board (Mayor Pro Tem Roque alternate) No updates.
Mayor Pro Tem Roque
9.4.A (EDAC) Stanislaus County Economic Development Action Committee No updates.
Mayor Clauzel
Other Matters
Mayor Pro Tem Roque thanked those in attendance for their patience during the meeting and announced an upcoming community movie night in District D, on Ashwood Lane, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. He thanked City staff, community members, and Councilmembers who assisted with the event.
Adjournment
9. 9.1
9.2 9.3
9.4 9.5
10. 11.
There being no further business, the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Patterson of September 15, 2026 was adjourned at 10:38 p.m.
Approved by the Patterson City Council on October 6, 2026.