Ripon City Council Minutes
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2025 – 6:00 PM
REGULAR MEETING
CLOSED SESSION AT 5:30 PM
CLOSED SESSION: The closed session meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON CLOSED SESSION MATTERS: No one from the public wished to speak at this time.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Leo Zuber, Michael Restuccia, Dean Uecker, Vice Mayor Gary Barton, Mayor Daniel de Graaf.
OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra, City Clerk Lisa Roos.
IN THE MATTER OF:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION pursuant to Section 54956.9(d)(1) of the California Government Code. (a) Liberty Self Storage, L.P. v. City of Ripon; Ripon Consolidated Fire District Case #: STK-CV-UWM-2025-0007527
(b) City of Ripon v. David Hegarty
Case #: STK-CV-UED-2025-7194
(c) California Sportfishing Protection Alliance v. Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Authority
Case #: CV-20-001720
Return to open session.
City Attorney Terpstra said Council met in closed session to approve invoices for the litigation matters listed in the agenda. No other reportable action was taken.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM with Mayor de Graaf leading in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
INVOCATION:
Pastor Glenn Gerdes gave the invocation.
City Council Page 2 September 9, 2025
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Daniel de Graaf Mayor Present
Gary Barton Vice Mayor Present
Dean Uecker Council Member Present
Michael Restuccia Council Member Present
Leo Zuber Council Member Present
OTHERS PRESENT:
City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra Jr., Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, Recreation Director Kye Stevens, Director of Public Works James Pease, Police Chief Daniel Sauer, City Clerk Lisa Roos, Deputy City Clerk Jane Kilgore, Information Systems Technician Alex Arias, Information Systems Technician Elizabeth Farnam, Glenn Gerdes.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
No one from the public wished to speak at this time.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Ripon City Council Meeting of August 12, 2025.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
SECONDER: Gary Barton, Vice Mayor
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
1. CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING - AUG 12, 2025 6:00 PM APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS POSTED (OR AMENDED):
Council Member Zuber requested Items 1.2A and 1.2H be pulled from the Consent Calendar for discussion.
Motion to approve the agenda as amended.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
City Council Page 3 September 9, 2025
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar as amended.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
SECONDER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
1.1. Income
A. STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Sales Tax
(August 2024 $593,076.62)
FY 2025-26 YTD: $811,648
FY 2024-25 YTD: $938,722
Highway Users Tax
(July 2024 $44,894.50)
FY 2025-26 YTD: $41,127
FY 2024-25 YTD: $44,895
SB1 Street & Road Tax
(August 2024 $38,597.65)
FY 2025-26 YTD: $76,885
FY 2024-25 YTD: $71,855
$430,635.04
$41,127.25
$40,318.20
TOTAL $512,080.49
B. CCATT HOLDINGS
Monthly Acacia Avenue Cell Tower Lease Payment
August 2025 $1,336.34
C. CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS
Quarterly Franchise Fee Payment – June 2025 $19,624.86
D. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Monthly Franchise Fee Payment - July 2025 $6,012.70
1.2. Bills, Invoices, Payments
A. ITEM A WAS MOVED TO ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
B. US BANK
California Statewide Community Development Authority
Water and Wastewater Revenue Bonds Series 2006C $436,050.00 C. US BANK
California Statewide Community Development Authority
Water Revenue Refunding Bonds Series 2012 $262,603.13
City Council Page 4 September 9, 2025
D. BASECAMP ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.
Environmental Review for Lawson Drayage
(Reimbursed by Developer)
Progress Payment – Invoice #52878 $1,293.75
E. CALIFORNIA CAD SOLUTIONS, INC.
Progress Payment FY 2025-2026
Invoice #701850 $1,618.75
F. PRICE PAIGE & COMPANY
Audit Services
Progress Payment – Invoice #36570 $21,055.00
G. LAW OFFICE OF THOMAS H. TERPSTRA, JR.
General Matters
Police Department
Private Development
$10,112.75
$3,038.50
$5,885.00
TOTAL $19,036.25
H. ITEM H WAS MOVED TO ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
I. KNIFE RIVER CONSTRUCTION
Ripona Resurface Project
Progress Payment – Invoice #2 $959,140.90
J. SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT
Blossom Express Driver
August 2025 Invoice #AR038071 $2,249.87
K. SIEGFRIED ENGINEERING, INC.
Civil Design for the N. Ripon Rd./River Rd. Intersection Project Progress Payment – Invoice #50350 $14,819.50
L. MCR ENGINEERING
Inspection Services for the Meadowood Subdivision Project Progress Payment - Invoice #21346
Progress Payment - Invoice #21354
$11,100.00
$8,700.00
TOTAL $19,800.00
M. SKW & ASSOCIATES
Design Services for the Senior Center Retrofit Project
Progress Payment – Invoice #207609 $8,195.00
N. CORONA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING, LLC
General Consulting Services
Progress Payment – Invoice #U-9206 $625.00
City Council Page 5 September 9, 2025
1.3. Miscellaneous Items
A. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
J D E engineering, inc. Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Professional Services
Agreement with J D E engineering, inc.
to provide construction management and
inspection services for various projects
in the not to exceed amount of $30,000
(funding source: varies by construction
project).
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
1.2A : SAN JOAQUIN PARTNERSHIP
Annual Membership Fee - Invoice #11233 $5,000.00
Council Member Zuber questioned the value of the San Joaquin Partnership and suggested inviting them to the next City Council meeting to explain how they benefit the City. City Administrator Werner said staff will reach out to the Partnership.
Vice Mayor Barton said that, in his experience, the meetings were not a good use of time and recommended waiting to pay the invoice until Council hears from the Partnership.
Council Member Restuccia said he previously served on the Partnership Board but stopped attending because the focus was mainly on Stockton and Tracy.
Zuber clarified he is not opposed to membership or paying the fee and that inviting the Partnership would be a good reminder that Ripon is part of the organization and an opportunity for the Partnership to highlight what they are doing for the City.
Barton said he would like to postpone payment of the San Joaquin County Partnership Invoice until the Council hears from a representative of the Partnership and at that time, the Council will make a decision on whether or not to approve the invoice.
Mayor de Graaf asked if there is a late payment penalty. City Administrator Werner confirmed there is not, as staff had just recently received the invoice.
Zuber said he does not want to see a long delay. He said he does not want to send a message saying something that we regret later. Barton agreed and said that if Council does not hear from the Partnership for six months, that is a message received.
City Council Page 6 September 9, 2025
Motion to postpone payment of Item 1.2A San Joaquin County Partnership Invoice until Council hears from a representative of the Partnership and at that time, the Council will make a decision on whether or not to approve the invoice.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Gary Barton, Vice Mayor
SECONDER: Dean Uecker, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
1.2H : GROVER LANDSCAPE SERVICES, INC.
Landscape Repair Project
Progress Payment – Invoice #5 $96,927.17
Council Member Zuber said that the City had required developers to install landscaping and over time, much of it had fallen into disrepair. He said the recent improvements are beginning to achieve the effect Council intended when the landscaping project was approved. Zuber said that the City works hard to ensure that as Ripon grows, it remains a community people want to be in rather than simply functional.
Council Member Restuccia agreed with Zuber and said much of the credit goes to the staff for following up and ensuring the work was completed.
Motion to approve Item 1.2H Grover Landscape Services, Inc. Invoice.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
**END OF CONSENT CALENDAR**
2. RESOLUTIONS
A. RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
DESIGNATING THE VOTING
DELEGATE TO THE LEAGUE OF
CALIFORNIA CITIES ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
Determine if any Council Member(s) will
be attending the annual conference in Long
Beach from October 8-10, 2025.
Mayor de Graaf asked if anyone was interested in attending. Council declined to attend.
No action taken.
City Council Page 7 September 9, 2025
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Council will take action on the following items at the conclusion of each Public Hearing.
A. RESOLUTION APPROVING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT PERMIT FEE
SCHEDULE
RESOLUTION NO. 25-29
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
APPROVING THE BUILDING
DEPARTMENT PERMIT FEE
SCHEDULE WITH ANNUAL
INDEXING
This is public hearing to consider adoption
of a resolution approving the Building
Department Permit Fee schedule.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council
adopt the resolution approving the Building
Department Fee Schedule and the indexing
of those fees, beginning January 1, 2027.
Planning Director Zuidervaart said this is a public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution approving the Building Department Permit Fee schedule. He explained that the Building Department safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of the community by reviewing and approving building plans, conducting inspections, and enforcing state and local building standards.
Zuidervaart said that the City does not currently maintain a formally published fee schedule.
Instead, fees are based on the 1994 Uniform Administrative Code, adopted by the City in 1996, and have not been updated since. He said rising labor costs, overhead, and regulatory requirements have increased expenses, and current fees now recover only 57% of the Department’s actual costs.
Zuidervaart said the proposed fee schedule is designed to reach a 90% cost recovery rate, which is consistent with best practices across California. Zuidervaart said this adjustment will help the Department maintain adequate staffing, meet community needs efficiently, and continue to provide responsive customer service.
Zuidervaart said that the new structure is based on nationally recognized valuation data from the International Code Council. This approach will simplify the fee calculation process, promote fairness, increase transparency for applicants, and ensure Ripon’s fees remain competitive with nearby jurisdictions.
Council Member Restuccia said he is pleased to see that the proposed permit fee schedule covers the cost of the Building Department. He said it is important to maintain the quality of Ripon.
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
On behalf of the public, City Clerk Roos read the following public comment received via email:
Marty Harris shared that he and his wife are Ripon homeowners, joined by five of their children, their spouses, and 21 grandchildren. Citing a July 1, 2025 CalMatters article, he raised concerns about California’s rollback of environmental laws, which exempts certain high-tech and water projects from CEQA.
City Council Page 8 September 9, 2025
Harris questioned what powers the City of Ripon has to assess and manage drainage and environmental impacts under the new law, who decides if CEQA applies, and who is ultimately responsible for downstream impacts: federal, state, local, or private parties. He also asked what new taxes might follow.
Harris said with SGMA mandates, rising housing demands, unstaffed firehouses, and aging infrastructure, he believes the best path forward is shared services and increased local investment by paying higher taxes. He asked otherwise, who will pay and who will take control of Ripon’s water rights.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
Motion to approve Resolution 25-29 approving the Building Department Fee Schedule and the indexing of those fees, beginning January 1, 2027.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. TRASH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Discussion/No Action Staff to discuss the Trash Implementation Plan to be submitted to the State Water
Resources Control Board as required by
the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
Systems permit.
Public Works Director Pease said the State Water Board adopted “Trash Provisions” in 2015 to prevent trash from entering storm drains and waterways, including the Stanislaus River. Cities and counties must fully comply by 2030 through either Track 1 or Track 2 compliance methods. He said the City initially selected Track 1, which involved installing large Full Trash Capture Systems at stormwater outfalls, but the cost was estimated at over $2 million for installation with $80,000 in annual maintenance. He said in 2023, the City hired Stone Creek Environmental to prepare a Trash Implementation Plan and in 2024 notified the State of the decision to switch to Track 2, which is projected to cost less than $200,000 total by 2030.
Pease said Track 2 allows the City to survey trash levels in Priority Land Use areas, which include high density residential, industrial, commercial, mixed urban, and public transportation. He said of the 53 locations surveyed by staff and consultants in both wet and dry seasons, 51 were rated low for trash generation, meaning no further action is required. Only two locations, Santos and Jack Tone near a truck stop, and Frontage and Milgeo near the Highway 99 ramps, were rated at a moderate level.
City Council Page 9 September 9, 2025
Pease said a moderate rating means some trash was visible but not at a level considered high or very high. Under the Plan, these areas must be surveyed three times per year until they achieve a low rating for three consecutive assessments, at which point no further action will be required. He said in the meantime, the City will increase street sweeping and provide outreach to local businesses to address trash accumulation.
Pease said if these measures are not successful by 2028 or 2029, the City may need to install Full Trash Capture Systems at catch basin inlets in those areas before the 2030 deadline. The cost of this work is estimated at $80,000 for installation and $10,000 annually for maintenance. He said the moderate locations together generate about 228 gallons of trash per year, which is the equivalent of 2.5 residential cans. The Plan will be submitted to the State Water Board, and staff will continue to monitor upcoming changes, including a revised stormwater permit expected in 2026.
Vice Mayor Barton said he admired staff’s approach to meeting the State’s requirements and asked if it would be possible to monitor more than three times a year in order to stay proactive. Pease confirmed that staff could do so and noted that City staff participated in the walkthroughs with the consultant to learn what to look for.
Council Member Restuccia said staff’s approach, with an estimated cost of $200,000, is a much better financial choice than the $2 million option.
REPORTS
Department Heads:
Police Chief Sauer said the Department participated in the Saturation Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) on August 19, 2025 along with multiple agencies within San Joaquin County with a total of 12 officers. He said STEP is aimed at reducing collisions by enforcing hazardous moving violations, including red light violations, speeding, distracted driving. He said that there were a total of 131 traffic stops conducted resulting in 117 citations over a period of about 8 hours. Sauer said STEP is a rotating monthly initiative in which law enforcement focuses on different cities throughout the County to improve traffic safety.
Council Member Zuber asked if the Department is still working on the scooter issue. Sauer confirmed. Council Member Zuber said he has noticed more of the kids wearing helmets but he is still receiving complaints about kids acting recklessly. Council Member Restuccia said he has also noticed that more of the kids in his neighborhood are wearing their helmets.
Planning Director Zuidervaart said there will be a Planning Commission meeting on September 15 where the Planning Commission will be considering a parcel map on North Jack Tone Road.
Zuber said he noticed that there was temporary fencing put up around the site near the Angle gas station and asked if that means construction is going to start. Zuidervaart said the contractor pulled a grading permit.
Public Works Director Pease reported that August water usage was down 13.5% compared to 2013 figures, and 1% from last year.
City Council Page 10 September 9, 2025
Pease said that the large item pickup program will continue through September and residents can sign up for a one-time pickup of up to four items through September.
Pease said the annual brush pick-up program will begin October 15 and will run through January
7. Vice Mayor Barton said he wanted to compliment staff on the newsletter that went out, specifically the article regarding how the City implemented the State requirement on trash separation. He said it is a great example of how staff tries to comply with State mandates and to do so at as low a cost as possible.
City Council:
Vice Mayor Barton said that while much of the news today focuses on violent crime in major cities, Ripon is fortunate not to experience that. He encouraged the community to keep the Police Department in their prayers, noting that the officers work hard to ensure Ripon remains a very safe city, something that can be easy to take for granted. He thanked the Chief and the Department for their efforts.
Mayor de Graaf thanked those who attended the meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:37 PM. (Signed) Daniel de Graaf
Mayor
ATTEST:
(Signed) Lisa Roos
City Clerk