CITY COUNCIL / LRA BOARD RIVATE CITY OF RIVERBANK
Mayor/Chair Regular City Council and
Richard D. O'Brien Local Redevelopment Authority
Council/Authority Members:
TY OF ACTION Board Meetings
District 1 -Luis Uribe
District 2- Rachel Hernandez Council Chambers, 6707 Third St 192-
District 3- Leanne Jones Cruz
District 4 -Darlene Barber-Martinez Riverbank, CA 95367 choose civility
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024 - 6:00 P.M.
(THE AGENDA PACKET IS ONLINE AT HTTP://wWW.RIVERBANK.ORG/AGENDACENTER) CALL TO ORDER - Mayor / Chair O'Brien called the meeting to order at 6:00P.M.
2. FLAG SALUTE -Mayor / Chair O'Brien led the pledge of allegiance.
3. INVOCATION - Reverend Randy Richardson provided the invocation.
4. ROLL CALL - City Clerk Hernandez conducted Roll Call.
Members of the City Council / Local Redevelopment Authority Board present:
Council Member / Authority Member District 1 Luis Uribe Council Member/ Authority Member District 2 Rachel Hernandez (ABSENT) Council Member / Authority Member District 4 Darlene Barber-Martinez Vice Mayor / Vice Chair District 3 Leanne Jones Cruz
Mayor / Chair Richard D. O'Brien
5. AGENDA CHANGES
No Agenda Changes.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Any Council/Authority Member or Staff who has a direct this time of Interest on any scheduled agenda item to be considered is to declare their conflict at None Declared
7. PRESENTATIONS (Informational only)
Item 7.1 Presentation - Introduction of School Resource Deputy, Richard Johnson-It is recommended that the City Council receive a presentation
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from Chief Ridenour on the introduction of our new School Resource Deputy, Richard Johnson.
Chief Ridenour introduced School Resource Deputy Johnson to City Council and Community, and stated this position is with the collaboration of the Riverbank Unified School District, Riverbank Police Services and City Council.
Item 7.2 Presentation- Parks and Recreation Board - It is recommended that the City Council receive a presentation from Michael Patton, Parks and Recreation Director.
Director of Parks & Recreation Patton gave a power point presentation on the implementation of a Parks & Recreation Board that includes residents and community members. This board hopes to promote collaboration and involvement between the residents and the Parks & Recreation Department
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS (No action can be taken)
At this time, members of the public may comment on any item not appearing on the agenda, and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council/LRA Board. Individual comments will be limited to a maximum of 3 minutes (or as stated by the presiding Officer) and time cannot be yielded to another person. Under State Law, matters presented during the public comment period cannot be discussed or acted upon.
Mayor O Brien Opened Public Comment at 6:16 P.M.
Olivia Arambula, with the Riverbank Chamber of Commerce, commented on the Chambers' Seventieth anniversary of our Chamber of Commerce. It's celebration we're having on February 23rd. It's going to be here in Riverbank at Antigua. We do have tickets available for sale, and they are going live on our website by tomorrow morning, I believe.
So more to come on that. But tickets are $25. We have VIP tables for $350. We also have sponsorships. We're in very big need of sponsorships. We're trying to make this a big event come out and let's get our Chamber of Commerce growing again. So, we're hoping that everybody from Council will be there. Bring your friends, bring your family. We're looking for sponsorship levels. We have a platinum sponsorship level includes, like a company logo on the event flyer, company logo included on event program, and then has company logo included on the slide show, special name announcement during the event, VIP table for 8. We have a flyer with more details, and then event keepsake. We're hoping that you guys would like to be a platinum sponsor. We would love to have you on our flyers. But that would be just one of the sponsorships. You have a gold sponsorship for $500 a silver sponsorship for $250, a bronze for $150. And I do have information. If you guys or anyone else in the room would like to be a part of that. If you're not a part of the Chamber of Commerce, I do have applications for that as well, and we do need to be strong and grow our business community. And with that we do want to invite everybody to our meetings. They are open. They're at the Riverbank Industrial complex, on Claus Road. We have them every other Tuesday we are fixing it so we make sure that we are having our meetings the same Tuesdays as Council try to keep everything kind of on the same day. Second and fourth week of the month 10 am. At the industrial complex in Riverbank, and then on top of that, too, we were hoping that you guys can add something to our agenda to talk about. You could put this on calendar.
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I'm not sure if the February 13'h will work or not. But, we're hoping to add to the agenda.
The Riverbank Chamber of Commerce would like to go into events and the speculations about the wine festival. We want to get some stuff taken care of there. We want to know the outcome of the meeting with SMA Entertainment that happened. And we want to make sure that we support Riverbank businesses to make sure that they're represented to afford to be attendees at these events representing our town. So, we just want to make sure we are involved.
Councilmember, Rachel Hernandez joined the Dais @ 6:18 P.M.
There being no further public comments, Mayor O'Brien closed the Public Comment period 6:20 P.M
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 9.1 Waive Readings. All Readings of ordinances and resolutions, except by title, are waived.
Item 9.2 Approval of the City Council and Local Redevelopment Authority Board Minutes for January 9, 2024.
Item 9.3 Resolutions 2024-002 & 2024-003 to Consider Approval of the River's Edge - South and River's Edge- North as Phased Maps One and Two to Approved Vesting Tentative Map 02-2023 located at 6612 and 6472 Central Avenue (APN's 062-020-018 and 062-020-031) for the River's Edge Subdivision and McRoy Wilbur Communities, Inc.
Item 9.4 Second Reading by Title Only and Introduction of an Ordinance 2024- 002, Amending Title Ill: Administration, Chapter 30: City Council, Section
30.02: Compensation, of the City of Riverbank Municipal Code There being no public comments, Mayor O'Brien brought the item back to City Council.
ACTION: By motion moved and seconded (Uribe / Barber-Martinez 5/0) to approve the consent calendar as presented.
Motion carried by unanimous City Council and LRA Board roll call vote:
AYES: Uribe, Hernandez, Jones Cruz, Barber-Martinez, and Mayor O'Brien NAYS: None / ABSENT: None / ABSTAINED: None
10. PUBLIC HEARINGS
No Items Scheduled.
11. NEW BUSINESS
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Item 11.1 A Resolution Appropriating Funds for the 2023 Cheese & Wine Festival and Discussion for the 2024 Cheese and Wine Festival. - It is recommended that the City Council consider the approval of a Resolution to appropriate funds for the 2023 Cheese & Wine Festival. It is also recommended that the City Council provide feedback and
recommendations to the Parks and Recreation department on how to proceed for the event in 2024
Director Parks & Recreation Patton, gave a comprehensive staff report and power point presentation a review of the 2023 Cheese & Wine Festival and recommendations and feedback moving forward with the 2024 Festival.
City Council discussed item with staff.
Olivia Arambulo, with Timeless Real Estate and Chamber of Commerce commented on the application fees for the last year 2023 were $500 for a 10 x 20 retails boost space and $325 for a 10x10 retail boost space. For 2022 the price was $275, and in 2021 it was $100.
Terry Spezzano, Riverbank Resident I think we've kind of struggled with this event. / obviously was out of town last year, but I heard the rumors, and / wanted to acknowledge what Mayor O'Brien said. I think what we have lost that community spirit with it, where we're bringing in kids, that we had. We had one year where they brought in Lego, and it was a lot of fun. And honestly, the only adult thing is the wine tasting kids like cheese, contrary to popular belief. I think a one-day event would be great. I also love the idea of you bringing it in-house and that brings us, even cost wise, if you do that, even if it's like it was last year. I was looking at those numbers. Your cost is in hiring crazy people to run it. Sorry for the crazy people, but last year they weren't any good, and the year before they weren't any good. And they don't even know the laws.
But we don't have, and we have council here. He can. I mean he probably is, knows, too. And so, if you're hiring people and spending that kind of money, I don't understand what the vetting process was. And by bringing it in house with someone who obviously has served or done these types of events. You're not only saving money, you're also doing the right thing. So, / 100% think we should do one day, maybe 2 days, but when at least one day and give the people that you trust to run your city a chance.
Randy Richardson, Riverbank Resident, the thing that / got out of this discussion and the information is that we really need to do is spend some time paying attention to the businesses that are in Riverbank. I don't know what has happened, but since I've been coming to the council meetings taking Charles place, it just seems to be a disconnect between the city and the businesses. And I'm not saying that is a negative thing in a sense that its anybody's follow up, But I just really feel like if we're going to do an event, a Wine and Cheese Festival. If we researched in the past, I believe that you will find that businesses in Riverbank during those times, we're being acknowledged and celebrated a little bit more that feeling like they're being stepped on like they are now.
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Arlene Figueroa, Riverbank Resident, I've been a part of the Cheese and Wines Festival for close to 20 years now. I would like to see a scaled down to one day, so that we can really concentrate on doing our best. I want to say the last 2 to 3 years, its been going down and down, last year was the worst. And I think we can all agree on that. I would like also, for there to be more of a concentration on the children, more family oriented why? The adults have their wine tasting to go in and everything. The children are bored and not being able to play and have a good time. I would like to see some education about how cheese is made. We don't have that. WE don't have enough tasting of different types of cheeses or even food that is made out of cheese other than maybe a cheeseburger. So, I would like to see that we do our due diligence and try to get some of our local vendors do those things, or have the cheese companies, maybe donate and stuff like that. Even when it comes to the wine, I know at this last year. I don't know where that wine came from, but I believe a lot if it came from some Amazon company s sometning. It was purchased trom all over the place. It was not local. The biggest local wine we had was Gallo. And that was disappointing, because I know we can do better.
There being no public comments, Mayor O'Brien brought the item back to City Council.
ACTION:
Be solution 2024-0 an to appradiat fibe forte 202 sea rome Festival.
Motion carried by unanimous City Council and LRA Board roll call vote:
AYES: Uribe, Hernandez, Jones Cruz, Barber-Martinez, Mayor O'Brien NAYS: None / ABSENT: None / ABSTAINED: None
DIRECTION: City Council provided feedback to move forward with the 2024 Cheese & Wine Festival, in-house coordinated, scaled down 1-day event, with lower vendor fees discounted to Riverbank residents, family and children oriented and education.
12. COMMENTS/REPORTS
A brief report on notable attendance of a meeting or conference or other notable topics of City business shall be made. The Brown Act does not allow for discussion or action of items by the City Council/LRA Board during this time.
Item 12.1 Staff
City Manager Garcia reported on the following:
Sand and sand bags are available at our public works corporation yard. It is self- serve. But we can help out if there is and elderly individual that may need assistance.
• Tickets are currently available for our parks and recreation "My Little One and Me" Valentine Dinner Dance, happening on Saturday, February 17ih. You can get yours tickets online in our recreation page, or here in office.
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• Riverbank Historical Society will be holding the grand unveiling of their mural, on Saturday February 3rd from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. For those that have not seen the mural it is located here in downtown at the south end of the former Bordona bank building.
• This Thursday, the city will be participating in the Annual Homeless Point In Time (PIT) Count. The Count provides Stanislaus County with data that is reported to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and aids in the allocation of funds to help end homelessness. It is a very important event. • Thank you to the volunteers who have already committed to assisting us that day.
We will be holding a breakfast for our unhoused residents that day at Scout Hall, starting at 8:00am. We will also have some treats available at our Day Use Facility for our residents who happen to attend there and the Stanislaus County CARE Team will actually be coming to count along the river. We hope this year, we get the best indication of what our numbers really truly are here in Riverbank. Prior years we've been steady at 18, when we know, and Seth, who is working at our day use facility, knows that we are probably around 30 to 35. • We will have a team that is actually going out through the city just in case there's somebody that we don't happen to capture at those 3 locations. • This afternoon the city did receive notification from the County Register of Voters that the Urban Growth Initiative has failed to gather the necessary amount of signatures needed to qualify for the November Ballot.
• The Finance Department has published the fiscal year 2023-2024 Budget book via our new software provider, Cleargov. The budget book is accessible via the Finance Department website. It is very interactive, so feel free to go look around.
Item 12.2 Council/Authority Member
Councilmember Hernandez reported on the following:
The Sister City Committee is always welcoming new members. We are going to be doing some fundraising starting with a raffle that's being led by our committee, we are selling opportunity tickets for that raffle. We are also doing a dunk tank for the Founder's Day Carnival, which we are very excited about. Hopefully, the Mayor will participate, and you will be able to help us fundraise.
Councilmember Uribe reported on the following:
• It will be $10 dollars to dunk the Mayor, so keep that on your calendars. • As part of the alliance of Elected officials, we had a lengthy discussion with Senator Ashby, we talked about the RHNA numbers, loss of redevelopment, some legislation she'd like to see. We also talked housing topics, redevelopment ghost housing.
• Attended first Revenue & Taxation subcommittee on the 18th ', talked about the priorities for the 2024 dove deep into the state budget. Some legislation in the works. One that I'm watching closely Prop 41 amendment, is on the table. Which kind of addresses the shoplifting of the $950 and a lot of retail issues. • It is election year so we dove deep into some propositions. AC113, the business roundtable taxpayer protection and government Accountability Act has some legal
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issues. They're going to be addressing that in March, in the Supreme Court, so I'll be keeping an eye on that.
Councilmember Barber-Martinez reported on the following:
• There is a Neighborhood Mini Grant Program that offers $50 to $250 to residents of Stanislaus County that wish to organize neighborhood gatherings or block parties, and the purpose is to help people in your neighborhood connect, have interactions and to create safer communities.
• Attended the League of California Cities Public Safety Policy Committee and we will be working on safeguarding local revenues and bolstering local economic development, strengthening climate change, resiliency and disaster and preparedness, improve public safety in California communities which includes taking a deep look at prop 47 and also fentanyl crisis, expanding investments to prevent and reduce homelessness, increase the supply of affordable housing. • Attended the Ad Hoc Bridge Committee meeting and the bridge housing is a way to address the challenges of homelessness through community accountability, sheltering, housing and program services.
• Central Valley Community Resources is going to have their 7ih annual crabby love affair, which is a crab annual fundraiser for our at risk, young adults, ages 18 to 21, and that is on February 10th at the Community center right here in Riverbank, • I want to leave you with Martin Luther King quote, because his birthday was this year, and everybody was celebrating, and I and I hope that everyone got a chance to get out and do something of service and check in on your neighbors, and just, you know, feel good about helping somebody." life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?" And when I think about the unhoused residents that are in our in our area, our city that are cold and they're out in the rain. I'm very grateful that we have opened our day use facility, and we expect to open our Sierra house very soon. So, thank you to the council and staff for making that happen.
• we still need blankets and clothing and snacks, and you can donate that to the day use program. Thank you.
Vice Mayor Jones Cruz reported on the following:
• Nothing to Report.
Item 12.3 Mayor/Chair
Mayor O'Brien reported on the following:
• The comment that you heard about the initiative failing, one thing, we will do as a city, still be very respectful of the agricultural requirements in our area around Riverbank, but still balance it with the need for providing housing of all, its pricing, So, as we go forward, we're going to be very mindful of it. • Looking forward to our year end information from each of the departments. • The Financial review is scheduled for the second meeting in February. • The Financial Forecast is a Riverbank initiative that started in 2013 that the League thought was a good idea, and they have that now.
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Sierra House funds, we need funding that is going to through our community inputs or fundraising, all of these Love Riverbank Fundraiser, Sister City Fundraiser, CVRC Crab Feed Fundraiser, we have to spread it out, you only have one bank of people and you're asking to contribute to 8 different things in a six-week period. Let's start spreading it out to all the good people in Riverbank. • Thank you to Chief Ridenour and Police Services for their efforts in the Retail shoplifting efforts, we appreciate that.
13. CLOSED SESSION
The public will have a limit of 3 minutes to comment on Closed Session items) as set forth on the agenda prior to the City Council/LRA Board recessing to Closed Session.
No Items Scheduled.
14. LADJOURNMENT OF THE REGULAR MEETING
There being no further business, Mayor / Chair O'Brien adjourned the regular meeting at 7:28 P.M.to the next regular scheduled City Council / LRA Meeting of February 13, 2024 at 6:00 P.M.
ATTEST: (Adopted 01/23/2024) APPROVED:
Gabriela Hernandez Richard D. O'Brien
City Clerk / LRA Recorder Mayor/ Chair
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