Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Sanger City Council
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023
6:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER
1700 7th Street, Sanger, California 93657
A. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council called their meeting to order at 6:01 PM.
B. OPENING CEREMONIES
Pastor Peter Hingano offered the invocation.
Mayor Frank Gonzalez led the flag salute.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Frank Gonzalez, Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Martinez, Councilmember Esmeralda Hurtado, Councilmember Michael Montelongo, Councilmember Dolores Melendez
Absent: None
C. AGENDA AP
PROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS
The Council by motion of Councilmember Montelongo approved the agenda as posted. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Martinez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
D. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
1. Chief Greg Garner introduced newly appointed Police Officers Manvir Dhanoa, Karl Kulow, and Jose Pacheco, and newly promoted Corporal Joel Banda Tovar.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2023
E. PUBLIC FORUM
Willfred Laemmlen stated he wrote two letters to the Council about a problem with the water meter in his driveway. He stated he received a bid for the repairs and they came in at $4,019. He said the City should do the repairs. He said he filed a claim and it was denied.
Al Alvarado stated Councilmember Montelongo told him that if he took care of things, he would be placed on the agenda. He asked Council to place his item on a future agenda.
An unidentified member of the audience thanked Councilmember Melendez for having the alley cleaned up but more trash has been dumped. She stated the employees of the chicken factory are not using the crosswalk and making it dangerous for drivers.
F. CONSENT CALENDAR
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez pulled Item F-6 and approved the following items on the Consent Calendar:
1. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Minutes of the Special and Regular Meetings held on April 6, 2023.
2. SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM - Warrants including Check Nos. 88891 through 89090.
3. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Payroll including Direct Deposit Nos. 59238 through 59462; Payroll Check Nos. 58877 through 58874; and Benefit Check Nos. 1872 through 1879.
4. SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM - Police Department Monthly Report.
5. SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM - Fire Department Monthly Report.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
6. SUBJECT: Review of Military Equipment Use Policy, Ordinance, and Receipt of Annual Report.
After further discussion and review, the Council by motion of Councilmember Montelongo, affirmed the ordinance, and accepted the Annual Military Equipment Use Policy. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Martinez and approved by the following vote:
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2023
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
G. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Continuation from April 6, 2023 City Council Meeting and Reintroduction.
1. SUBJECT: Zoning Amendment No. 2022-04 (City- wide Rezones).
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez waived the full reading and introduced Ordinance No. 2023-02, amending the City of Sanger Zoning Map, to achieve compliance with 2035 Sanger General Plan, rezoning real property for a total of 333 parcels within the City. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
H. CITY MANAGER/STAFF COMMUNICATION
1. The Senior Center meal program will resume on May 1st after three years of being closed mostly due to COVID and also working out a contract with FMAAA who provides some funding for the meal program.
2. The Senior Cinco de Mayo lunch will be held on Friday, May 5th at the Senior Center; tickets on sale at the Recreation Department.
I. MATTERS INITIATED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Consideration and/or direction of installing flashing lights at 8 th Street and Academy
Avenue – Councilmember Hurtado.
City Engineer Josh Rogers presented on the item and recommended pedestrian crossing signs with push button activation for the intersection.
Public comment:
Osvaldo Vera stated the intersection is very dangerous.
Kevin Carter said he thinks the biggest problem is that people do not pay attention. He said he has witnessed people walking across the street when the light is red. He said people need to follow the rules.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2023
The Council by motion of Councilmember Hurtado, gave direction to Staff to bring back a staff report with the projected scope, cost and timeline of the project, and to consider utilizing the $800,000 funding to pay for the project. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Melendez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: MARTINEZ
ABSENT: NONE
2. Consideration and/or direction of adopting an ordinance relating to theft of catalytic converters – Mayor Pro Tem Martinez.
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez withdrew the agenda item until a future date. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez
1. Stated he has been sending issues throughout the week to the City Manager and appreciates Staff’s work on those issues.
Councilmember Hurtado
1. Requested and received consensus to have a workshop on the current ordinance regarding food trucks.
2. Requested and received consensus to have Staff provide an update on the sewer management plan and the wastewater plant.
Councilmember Montelongo
1. Asked Staff to reach out to Hope Sanger regarding an application they submitted on March 2
nd for an event at end of April.
2. Requested and received consensus to place Mr. Laemmlen’s claim on a future meeting agenda.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2023
3. Requested Mr. Alvarado’s item be placed on the next Council meeting agenda.
City Attorney Montoy said Staff would need more time to prepare and suggested she and City Manager Chapa meet with Mr. Alvarado and his attorney to resolve issues and bring back something for Council to approve or not approve. The Council gave consensus.
4. Stated he was informed by high school students of street race at Academy and 7 th Streets.
He said he saw the video and it looked like many vehicles were involved. He said he is concerned because the Council was not informed. He said Fresno is being proactive so now street racing is going to smaller cities and he wants to give PD the proper tools to do something similar such as going after the spectators and organizers.
5. Requested and received consensus to bring back the agenda item regarding teleworking.
Councilmember Melendez
1. Thanked Staff for their help with the trash in the alleyways.
2. Requested an update on the JFK water park repairs.
Mayor Gonzalez
1. Asked whether the City has a checklist for events.
City Manager Chapa stated the City has an application process, which should be submitted with the information needed and with enough time to review and ask questions.
He said he is not familiar with Hope Sanger’s application but will look into it.
2. Asked if the cameras on 7
th and N Streets are active.
Chief Garner stated he looked into it and found that the three cameras were placed there in 2015 along with others at Sanger Park. The cameras are inoperable but are being replaced currently and will be up shortly.
3. Announced the State of the City Address will be held on April 26 th and invited all to
attend.
J. ADJ
OURNMENT
Being no further business, the Council adjourned their meeting at 7:39 PM.
ATTEST:
Rebeca Padron, City Clerk