Ripon City Council Minutes
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2026 – 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 Daniel de Graaf, Leo Zuber, Michael Restuccia, Vice Mayor Dean Uecker, Mayor Gary Barton.
OTHERS PRESENT: City Administrator Kevin Werner, City Attorney Tom Terpstra Jr., 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
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Labor negotiations pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the California Government Code. a. Police Officers Association
b. Ripon Sergeants Association
c. Public Works Employees
d. Unrepresented Employees
Return to open session.
City Attorney Terpstra said Council met in closed session and no reportable action was taken.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM with Chief Sauer leading in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
INVOCATION:
Pastor Matt Riddle gave the invocation.
City Council Page 2 January 13, 2026
ROLL CALL:
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Gary Barton Mayor Present
Dean Uecker Vice Mayor Present
Michael Restuccia Council Member Present
Leo Zuber Council Member Present
Daniel de Graaf 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 Elizabeth Farnam, Civil Engineer Tech Mitchell Ulrich.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
Emil Guillermo, Ripon Poet Laureate, said he had written three short poems about Ripon and proceeded to read them.
Dale Hessler, Ripon VFW Post 1051 asked when the flag holders would be put on the light posts. Public Works Director Pease said in the next week or two.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Ripon City Council meeting of December 9, 2025 and the Special City Council Meeting of December 23, 2025.
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber, de Graaf
1. CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING - DEC 9, 2025 6:00 PM
2. CITY COUNCIL - SPECIAL MEETING - DEC 23, 2025 10:30 AM APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS POSTED (OR AMENDED):
City Attorney Terpstra requested Item 1.3A 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: Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber, de Graaf
City Council Page 3 January 13, 2026
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar as amended.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Daniel de Graaf, Council Member
SECONDER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber, de Graaf
1.1. Income
A. STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Sales Tax
(December 2024 $263,371.00)
FY 2025-26 YTD: $2,262,939
FY 2024-25 YTD: $2,249,963
Highway Users Tax
(November 2024 $41,639.36)
FY 2025-26 YTD: $199,071
FY 2024-25 YTD: $210,045
SB1 Street & Road Tax
(December 2024 $31,726.64)
FY 2025-26 YTD: $223,805
FY 2024-25 YTD: $217,599
$239,468.37
$39,713.64
$30,718.58
TOTAL $309,900.59
B. CCATT HOLDINGS
Monthly Acacia Avenue Cell Tower Lease Payment
December 2025 $1,336.34
C. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Monthly Franchise Fee Payment - November 2025 $1,897.39
1.2. Bills, Invoices, Payments
A. STANTEC
Well 9 Evaluation and Condition Assessment
Progress Payment – Invoice #2488150
Progress Payment – Invoice #2500238
$13,450.10
$548.00
TOTAL $13,998.10
B. FEHR & PEERS
Traffic Engineering for the N. Ripon Rd./River Rd. Intersection Project Progress Payment – Invoice #190185
Progress Payment – Invoice #191662
$10,588.50
$579.80
TOTAL $11,168.30
C. SAN JOAQUIN REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT
City Council Page 4 January 13, 2026
Blossom Express Driver
December 2025 Invoice #AR038249 $2,312.50
D. SIEGFRIED ENGINEERING, INC.
Civil Design for the N. Ripon Rd./River Rd. Intersection Project Progress Payment – Invoice #51088 $6,195.50
E. PRICE PAIGE & COMPANY
Audit Services
Progress Payment – Invoice #37368 $214.00
F. CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY 2025-2026 3rd Quarter Deposits
Workers’ Compensation Program
Liability Program
$170,646.00
$136,509.00
TOTAL $307,155.00
G. PAVLETIC CONSULTING, LLC
Five-Year Utility Rates Plan (2026 - 2030)
Progress Payment – Invoice #202502-02 $9,840.00
H. JOHN ANDOH
Transit Consulting Services
Progress Payment – Invoice #25-05 $3,925.00
I. PROVOST & PRITCHARD CONSULTING GROUP
Water Loss Audit Validation (FY24/25)
Progress Payment – Invoice #124917 $1,100.00
J. LAW OFFICE OF THOMAS H. TERPSTRA, JR.
General Matters
Police Department
Private Development
$6,289.40
$1,386.50
$646.50
TOTAL $8,322.40
K. BASECAMP ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.
Environmental Review for Lawson Drayage
(Reimbursed by Developer)
Progress Payment – Invoice #52954 $4,144.30
1.3. Resolutions
A. ITEM A WAS MOVED TO ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
City Council Page 5 January 13, 2026
B. RESOLUTION NO. 26-1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
ACCEPTING THE CITY OF RIPON
TRANSPORTATION
DEVELOPMENT ACT FUND, THE
MEASURE K FUND, AND THE
TRANSIT ENTERPRISE FUND
AUDIT REPORT FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025
This resolution accepts the City of Ripon
Transportation Development Act Fund,
the Measure K Fund and the Transit
Enterprise Fund Audit Report for June
30, 2025, prepared by LSL, CPAs.
C. RESOLUTION NO. 26-2
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER
TO PREPARE ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY OF RIPON THE ENGINEER'S
REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
2026-2027 PERTAINING TO THE
ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE
CITY OF RIPON'S TEN
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
DISTRICTS LOCATED IN THE
COUNTY OF SAN JOAQUIN,
CALIFORNIA
This resolution directs the City Engineer
to prepare the annual report for the City
of Ripon’s ten Landscape Maintenance
Districts.
D. RESOLUTION NO. 26-3
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
DIRECTING THE CITY ENGINEER
TO PREPARE ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY OF RIPON THE ENGINEER'S
REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
2026-2027 PERTAINING TO THE
ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS FOR
ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 05-1,
CITY OF RIPON, COUNTY OF SAN
JOAQUIN CALIFORNIA,
COMMONLY KNOWN AS CITY OF
RIPON LIGHTING DISTRICT
This resolution directs the City Engineer
to prepare the annual report for the City
of Ripon Lighting District.
City Council Page 6 January 13, 2026
E. RESOLUTION NO. 26-4
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
APPROVING CITY COUNCIL
MEMBER APPOINTMENTS TO
VARIOUS BOARDS,
COMMISSIONS, TASK FORCES,
AND COMMITTEES
This resolution approves the City Council
Member appointments as recommended
by the Mayor to local and regional
Boards, Commissions, Task Forces, and
City Council Committees for 2026.
1.4. Miscellaneous Items
A. SENIOR CENTER RETROFIT PROJECT
Estate Design and Construction
Change Order No. 2
Approve Change Order No. 2 in the not
to exceed amount of $65,843.85 for the
fabrication and installation of an
electronic programmable sign at the
Senior Center (funding source:
Community Development Block Grant).
B. CLAIM
CSAA Insurance as administrative
services for Salvador Guzman
Accept the subrogation claim filed by
CSAA Insurance as administrative
services for Salvador Guzman.
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
1.3A : RESOLUTION NO. 26-5
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
ACCEPTING A GRANT DEED OF
CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY TO THE
CITY OF RIPON
This Resolution accepts a Grant Deed by
Calvary Reformed Church of Ripon, a
California religious non-profit corporation,
for certain real property to complete the
expansion of Fulton Avenue between the
Meadowood Subdivision Project’s northern
limits and the Colony Roundabout and
authorize the Mayor to sign and execute
any and all documents necessary to
complete the aforementioned transaction.
City Attorney Terpstra Jr. said the resolution that was included in the agenda packet needed to be updated to reflect that Calvary Reformed Church has not yet executed the grant deed.
He said staff anticipates that will happen later this week. He said Council has a redline version of the resolution with the amendments delegating authority to the Mayor to accept the deed once it is tendered to the City.
City Council Page 7 January 13, 2026
Motion to approve Resolution 26-5 accepting a grant deed of certain real property to the City of Ripon with the revisions from legal counsel incorporated to delegate authority to accept the deed to the Mayor once it is tendered.
RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER: Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber, de Graaf
**END OF CONSENT CALENDAR**
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Council will take action on the following items at the conclusion of each Public Hearing.
A. WATER, SEWER, AND GARBAGE UTILITY RATES FOR 2026-2030 This is a public hearing to take written and
oral comments and consider all Protest
Ballots opposing the proposed water,
sewer, and garbage utility rate increases
for 2026-2030.
All protest ballots must be received
prior to the close of the public hearing
to be considered valid.
City Administrator Werner said this is a process the City goes through every five years to ensure our three enterprise funds for water, sewer, and garbage are receiving sufficient revenue. He said the City hired a consultant to prepare a report and that report was presented at a workshop on October 30, 2025. Werner said that following that discussion, the report was updated and the rates were sent out in the notification to the City customers.
Werner said on November 10th, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution 25-36 in accordance with Proposition 218 to increase the water, sewer, and garbage rates as of February 1, 2026 over the next five years. He said even with the rate increases approved for the 2026 year, our rates are 11% lower than those other cities around us that were surveyed. He said Resolution 25-36 set the public hearing for tonight.
Werner said in accordance with the Proposition 218 process written notices were sent to property owners. This included the proposed rates, the date of the public hearing and instructions regarding protest ballots. He said anyone who would like to submit a ballot needs to do so prior to the close of the public hearing tonight. Werner said the Proposition 218 process requires a 50% + 1 majority protest to oppose the proposed rate increases.
City Council Page 8 January 13, 2026
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED
No one from the public wished to speak at this time.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
City Clerk Roos said at this time in order to oppose the rate changes there would need to be 2,697 protest ballots. At this time there are under 100. Therefore, a majority protest is not present. Because there is not a majority protest present, the new rates for 2026-2030 will be implemented per Resolution 25-36.
3. ORDINANCES
Second Reading and Adoption
A. ORDINANCE NO. 933
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIPON
REZONING CERTAIN REAL
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1408 AND
1444 W. MAIN STREET (APNS 259-090-
28 AND 259-090-27) IN THE CITY OF
RIPON
This ordinance rezones properties located
at 1408 and 1444 W. Main Street (APNs
259-090-28 and 259-090-27) from PO
(Professional Office) to C2 (Community
Commercial).
Vice Mayor Uecker left the meeting
Planning Director Zuidervaart said this is the second reading and adoption of Ordinance 933 rezoning properties located at 1408 and 1444 W. Main Street (APNs 259-090-28 and 259- 090-27) from PO (Professional Office) to C2 (Community Commercial).
Motion to waive the second reading and adopt Ordinance 933 rezoning properties located at 1408 and 1444 W. Main Street (APNs 259-090-28 and 259-090-27) from PO (Professional Office) to C2 (Community Commercial).
Uecker returned to the meeting.
RESULT: ADOPTED [3 TO 1]
MOVER: Daniel de Graaf, Council Member
SECONDER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
AYES: Barton, Zuber, de Graaf
NAYS: Restuccia
ABSTAIN: Uecker
City Council Page 9 January 13, 2026
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC STUDY
Discussion/No Action Staff to present findings and
recommendations from the 2025
Engineering and Traffic Survey.
City Administrator Werner introduced Civil Engineer Tech Ulrich, who completed the 2025 Engineering and Traffic Study.
Ulrich said the purpose of the Engineering and Traffic Survey is to establish reasonable and safe operating speeds within specific sections of roadway. He explained that 25 miles per hour (mph) is the legal default speed limit in residential, business, and school zones, and that any change to this limit requires completion of an Engineering and Traffic Survey. He added that once a speed zone is established or modified, a new survey must be conducted every five years, unless an extension is permitted under certain conditions.
He noted that without a valid survey, the posted speed limit becomes unenforceable and may be considered a speed trap.
Ulrich said the survey process requires three major elements, beginning with prevailing speeds, which are determined by measuring a minimum of 100 free-flowing vehicles using radar from an unmarked vehicle. He explained that the 85th percentile speed, based on the Solomon Curve, is used as a key benchmark. He added that collision history and traffic and roadside conditions are also evaluated, including adjacent land uses, roadway configuration, striping, visibility issues, and pedestrian and bicyclist safety considerations.
Ulrich said data was collected for 41 separate roadways in both directions, and that once collection was complete, the raw data was compiled along with updated collision histories and notable roadway conditions. He explained that under the California Vehicle Code, this information allows local jurisdictions to set speed limits at the 85th percentile, adjust the limit up or down to the nearest five-mile-per-hour increment without justification, or further reduce the speed limit based on documented factors such as collision history, roadway geometry, and pedestrian or cyclist safety. He added that the City also considered speed limit continuity along corridors when evaluating recommended changes.
Ulrich said that based on the results of the Engineering and Traffic Survey, changes to posted speed limits are recommended for five roadway segments including: Fourth St from S. Stockton Ave to Dead End, raise from 25 mph to 30 mph, Garrison Way from Maple Ave to Kamps Way, raise from 25 mph to 30 mph, Hoff Dr from Colony Rd to Santos Ave, raise from 25 mph to 35 mph, Parallel Ave from Reynolds Ave to E. Main St, raise from 25 mph to 30 mph and Santos Ave from Hoff Dr to Frontage Rd, raise from 25 mph to 35 mph.
Council Member Restuccia asked if Chief Sauer was okay with this. Sauer said yes, he was part of several conversations with staff.
City Council Page 10 January 13, 2026
Restuccia asked how many signs will need to be replaced. Ulrich said he was not sure but it will be a minimal cost.
Mayor Barton said regarding the proposed increase on Hoff, it seems like 30 mph might be a better speed than 35.
Council Member Zuber said he was impressed that out of all the streets that were observed, only five streets had speed limits that needed to changed.
REPORTS
Department Heads:
Planning Director Zuidervaart said there will not be a Planning Commission meeting in January.
Public Works Director Pease said he wanted to address the issue of Chromium-6 related to Well
19. He explained that as a municipal drinking water system, the City operates under Federal and State regulatory requirements established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Drinking Water. He said the City is currently meeting all applicable requirements and remains committed to full regulatory compliance through routine monitoring and sampling.
He noted that a notice was issued last week regarding the detection of Chromium-6 at Well 19, adding that the City has been monitoring this condition for some time and is required to eliminate any exceedances by October 2027. He stated that staff fully anticipates meeting that deadline and is developing a compliance plan for submittal to the State for approval. Pease said the City has received several public inquiries and that residents have been directed to the City’s website for additional information. He added that staff is preparing an additional fact sheet to address common questions. He said the City is required to sample Well 19 on a quarterly basis and that results are expected to remain consistent, as compliance is based on an annual average.
He explained that if quarterly sampling results exceed the threshold for the annual average, another public notification will be issued.
Council Member de Graaf asked if brush pick-up could be extended by one more week in the future. Pease said the date is set by ordinance, but staff will look into it.
City Council:
de Graaf said he wanted to thank everyone who attended the meeting.
Council Member Restuccia said he wanted to wish everyone a happy new year.
Mayor Barton said he wanted to thank everyone for attending the meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:41 PM. (Signed) Gary Barton
Mayor
ATTEST:
(Signed) Lisa Roos
City Clerk