Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Sanger City Council
THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023
6:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER
1700 7th Street, Sanger, California 93657
A. C ALL TO ORDER
The Council called their meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
B. OP
ENING CEREMONIES
The invocation was offered by Pastor Sosai.
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. AGE
NDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez deleted Agenda Item D-1 and approved the agenda as amended. 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
D. C
EREMONIAL MATTERS
1. Introduction of new Fire Personnel. DELETED
2. Mayor Gonzalez read a Proclamation in honor of National Public Works Week and in recognition of Public Works Employees.
3. Mayor Gonzalez read a Proclamation in honor of Municipal Clerks Week 2023.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 4, 2023
E. PUBLIC FORUM
Geoff Lickey stated he was fined another $500 for having a basketball hoop in his front yard. He said the City is taking no action towards rectifying the situation in which the housing developers did not build a park they were supposed to.
Unidentified audience member stated he has received no answers to his questions: 1) consensus to table an agenda item to April 6 when full Council was in attendance; 2) extra million dollars for Fire Station remodel.
Unidentified audience member stated he has lived in his home for more than 40 years and there is no sidewalk on his property. He said the west side looks better.
Karen Pearson, Chamber President and resident, stated the Council is doing an amazing job and interacting with the public.
F. CONSENT CALENDAR
The Council by motion of Councilmember Montelongo approved the following items on the Consent Calendar:
1. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Second Reading Ordinance No. 2023-02, implementation of Zoning Amendment No. 2022-04 2035 Sanger General Plan for a total of 333 parcels within the City (identified in Staff Report Attachment “2”) (Zoning Map Update).
The City Council waived the full second reading and adopted 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.
2. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Facility Use Agreement with City of Clovis Fire Department.
The City Council approved the agreement between the City of Sanger and the City of Clovis Fire Department for the use of their training facility and authorize d the City Manager to sign the documents on behalf of the City.
3. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Final Acceptance for O Street Reconstruction Project from North Avenue to 10th Street.
The City Council:
1. Accepted the work for the O Street Avenue Reconstruction Project from North Avenue to 10th Street in the amount of $1,184,627.32; and
2. Authorized recordation of the Notice of Completion with the Fresno County Recorder; and
3. Authorized payment of 5% retention in the amount of $59,231.37 to Emmett Valley Construction upon expiration of the 35-day lien period.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 4, 2023
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
G. PUBLIC HEARING
The Council held a public hearing to discuss proposed Pre -Zoning Amendment No. 2023-01 and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Somerset Residential Community Project.
Public comment:
Osvaldo Vera stated bringing 500 more houses is a bad idea because it will create more traffic and more crime.
Unidentified audience member stated that a house with no yard is weird and she thinks it is a bad idea because we have to pay for the park.
The Council closed the public hearing.
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez waived the full reading, and introduced Ordinance No. 2023-05:
i) adopting pre-annexation zoning by approving Pre-Zoning Amendment No. 2023-01 to Pre- zone APNs 332-090- 017, 332-090- 26, and 332 -090-27 from the County’s AE -20 District to the City’s R-1-6, RM-2.5, and RSC Districts; and ii) adopting a mitigated negative declaration, as clarified, for the Somerset Reside ntial Community Project generally located south of E. North Avenue, east of S. Bethel Ave, and west of S. Greenwood Ave (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 332-090-017, 332-090-26, and 332-090-27) (Somerset Residential Community Project).
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: HURTADO
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
H. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. SUBJECT: Change City Ordinance Relating to Firework Sales .
Public comment:
Pastor of Bethel Church stated there is only one firework stand located at the corner of 180 and Academy and said it is better to pause this action until a couple of years.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 4, 2023
Kevin Carter stated he thinks fireworks should be outlawed in the entire City. He said if a person sits outside at 10 pm on the 4
th, it’s hard to breathe because of the smoke and the streets are full of trash the day after 4th of July.
The Council by motion of Councilmember Montelongo waived the full reading and introduced Ordinance No. 2023-04 regarding the sale of legal “safe and sane” fireworks within the City. The motion was seconded by Mayor Gonzalez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: MARTINEZ
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
I. CITY MANAGER/STAFF COMMUNICATION
None.
J. MATTERS INITIATED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Fentanyl Crisis Legislation – Mayor Frank Gonzalez.
The Council, by consensus, gave direction to have the Mayor sign a letter of support for the new legislation aimed at addressing the fentanyl crisis.
2. Employee Schedules and Teleworking.
The Council by motion of Councilmember Montelongo terminated the policy for teleworking and asked staff to bring back an item regarding adhoc teleworking. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Hurtado and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: MARTINEZ
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Councilmember Hurtado
1. Waiting on updates previously requested.
Councilmember Montelongo
1. Thanked the City Attorney and City Manager for working with the Alvarado’s.
2. Thanked the City Manager and Police Chief for taking care of issues with the Hope Sanger event.
3. Thanked the City Manager for working on items brought forward during the week.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
May 4, 2023
4. Requested consensus to direct staff to bring back an item regarding the Sanger Unified School District’s facility lease for use of the Youth Center. Consensus was not given.
Councilmember Melendez
1. Requested and received consensus to direct staff to try to determine the cause of the smell at JFK Park and how to fix the problem.
2. Requested and received consensus to direct staff to prepare an emergency plan regarding water in the summer.
Councilmember Hurtado
1. Requested and received consensus to have staff provide a report to the Council regarding the smell at JFK Park.
Mayor Gonzalez
1. Asked City Attorney about the public comment regarding the agenda item that was tabled. City Attorney Montoy indicated that the item was tabled to the following meeting because only three members of the Council were present at the time. Although, the full Council was not present at the following meeting, enough members were present to provide a majority vote.
2. Indicated that the J Street repair project is listed on the street repair list and was announced during the State of the City.
3. Indicated that he and Councilmember Melendez will visit Pitman Farms to discuss the employees not using the crosswalk to cross the street.
4. Requested and received consensus to place an item on the next agenda to end Zoom meetings. City Attorney Montoy indicated she would prepare the agenda item.
K. ADJ
OURNMENT
Being no further business, the Council adjourned their meeting at 8:11 PM.
ATTEST:
Rebeca Padron, City Clerk