Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Sanger City Council
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2023
6:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER
1700 7th Street, Sanger, California 93657
A. C ALL TO ORDER
The City Council called their meeting to order at 6:04 PM.
B. OP
ENING CEREMONIES
The invocation was offered by Pastor Jessica Guerra.
The flag salute was led by Mayor Frank Gonzalez.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Frank Gonzalez, Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Martinez, Council Member Esmeralda Hurtado, Council Member Michael Montelongo
Absent: Council Member Dolores Melendez
C. AGE
NDA APPROVAL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS
The Council by motion of Council Member 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
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
D. C
EREMONIAL MATTERS
1. Fire Chief Greg Tarascou introduced newly appointed Emergency Medical Technicians Jackson Biggs and Ava Jaeckel.
E. P
RESENTATI ON
1. Multi-Jurisdictional Housing Element – Public Review Draft.
Nicole West, Senior Associate II with Placeworks, presented the Multi- Jurisdictional Housing Element Draft.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2023
F. PUBLIC FORUM
Jerry Valadez, Chief Executive Officer of SAM Academy, stated he attended a Task Force Meeting and was reminded of a Council approved project with Kings River Conservancy for which the City received a grant in the amount of $450,000. He stated 19 launches exist on the Kings River but none in Sanger. Mr. Valadez stated the Citizens Oversight Committee and the City Council need to review and revise the guideless of the Measure S grant process because there are existing non-compliance issues. Mr. Valadez asked whether there is a commitment to social justice by the Council and said it is questionable due to observations and statements made in the last few months. Mr. Valadez stated the Council should reinstate using Zoom to make meetings more inclusive and advertising on Facebook and social media to invite people.
Unidentified audience member stated the alley still has junk and it needs to be picked up.
Osvaldo Vera, stated he is the founder of Sanger Youth Boxing Club and said what happened two or three weeks ago is unacceptable because the kids are getting together in Del Rey now and they live in Sanger.
Efren Rubio stated they are already out of Sanger and they should not have to go to Del Rey.
Karen Pearson, Rotary Club President, announced their display at the Fresno Fair took first place in their class.
Sharri Carter stated the animal control department is an overtaxed, underfunded, and overlooked part of Sanger that needs to be addressed. Ms. Carter stated the Animal Control Officer is doing the best she can by herself in a job that should employ at least two officers. Ms. Carter stated the City needs a larger shelter and pet owners need to be responsible and make sure pets are spayed and neutered.
Kevin Carter stated that at the last meeting a subject came up about providing a timetable of all the events that happened at the boxing club and asked what happened as a result.
G. CONSENT CALENDAR
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez pulled Agenda Items G-1, G-3 and G-4 and approved the following item on the Consent Calendar:
2. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Declaration of City Vehicles as Surplus Property.
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-52 which declares the property listed in Attachment “A” and Attachment “B” as surplus property and authorizes the Sanger Purchasing Agent to dispose of said property.
The motion was seconded by Council Member Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2023
1. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Minutes of the Special and Regular Meetings held on August 17, 2023, Special Meeting held on August 21, 2023, Special Meeting held on September 7, 2023, and Joint Meeting of the Sanger City Council and Successor Agency to the Sanger Redevelopment Agency held on September 7, 2023.
Public comment:
Unidentified member of the audience asked for clarification on the joint meeting.
City Attorney Hilda Montoy explained the Council Members serve as members of the City Council and as Board Members of the Successor Agency and the September 7, 2023 meeting was a joint meeting of both bodies.
Council Member Hurtado stated she was present at the August 17, 2023 Special Meeting and the minutes indicate she was absent.
City Attorney Montoy stated Staff would research and make necessary correction.
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez approved the minutes of the Special and Regular Meetings held on August 17, 2023, Special Meeting held on August 21, 2023, Special Meeting held on September 7, 2023, and Joint Meeting of the Sanger City Council and Successor Agency to the Sanger Redevelopment Agency held on September 7, 2023, contingent upon any necessary corrections to the August 17, 2023 Special Meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Council Member Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
3. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Appointment to the Commission to Advance the Status of Women and Girls, District 4 Representative.
After further discussion, the Council approved Mayor Frank Gonzalez’s appointment of Char Jones to the City’s Commission to Advance the Status of Women and Girls: District 4. The motion was seconded by Council Member Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2023
3. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Consultant Services Agreement with Trinity Consultants, Inc.
Public comment:
Unidentified member of the audience asked whether Algonquin requested Trinity to be the consultant.
Council Member Hurtado made a motion to continue the item and bring back to Council after issuing an RFP. The motion failed for lack of second.
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez adopted Resolution No. 2023-53 approving a consultant services agreement between the City of Sanger and Trinity Consultants, Inc., for a CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) Environmental Analysis for Conditional Use Permit No. 2023-01 (Algonquin Power) and authorized the Interim City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. The motion was seconded by Council Member Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: HURTADO
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
H. PUBLIC HEARING
1. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program 2024/2025 Fiscal Year Allocation.
The Council held a public hearing to discuss the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Community Development Block Grant Program Allocation.
Public comment:
Unidentified member of the audience stated the City lost Lincoln Park and it w as the best park in Sanger but that he supports this program one hundred percent.
Unidentified member of the audience stated the City forgot about JFK Park because the track needs new covering and the park needs new lights.
Efren Rubio asked whether future parks would fall in the same category.
The Council closed the public hearing.
The City Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo approved the Medrano Park Improvements Project as the City’s CDBG project for Fiscal Year 2024/2025. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Martinez and approved by the following vote:
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2023
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
2. SUBJECT: TABLED - Ordinance No. 2023-08 approving Zoning Map Amendment No. 2023-01, amending the City of Sanger Zoning Map, to change the zoning of real property from the C-4 (General Commercial) district to the C-M (Commercial and Light Manufacturing) district consistent with the General Plan designations for the properties.
The Council held a public hearing to discuss Zoning Map Amendment No. 2023-01.
Public comment:
Unidentified member of the audience stated the City should keep the zoning as C -4 and improve the other side of the tracks.
Karen Pearson stated she can see both sides and the fencing and landscaping improved the area.
Efren Rubio stated it should just be temporary in case something else is needed later. Mr. Rubio stated Sanger Fence was a big contributor to Mayor Gonzalez’s campaign.
Kevin Carter stated he is a member of the Planning Commission but in his personal opinion, what is wrong in Sanger is that when a new project or business comes along we discourage them.
The Council closed the public hearing.
Mayor Gonzalez made a motion to table the item to the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hurtado and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
I. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Veterans Day Parade Sponsorship.
Public comment:
Kevin Carter stated he has all respect for veterans and also supports the Chamber but is disappointed in the American Legion for announcing at the last minute that they could not sponsor the parade.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2023
Karen Pearson, on behalf of the Chamber, stated the Chamber Board fully supports her decision to coordinate and sponsor the parade.
Efren Rubio stated he thinks the parade should go on but $10,000 is a big figure and they should be able to get by with $5,000.
Unidentified member of the audience stated he is glad the City can help the Chamber take over and it should be done for the veterans. He indicated he would like to see an itemized list of expenses.
The City Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo approved providing up to $10,000 in funds to assist with the Veterans Day Parade event and authorized staff to conduct due diligence regarding a potential organization and to enter an agreement with such organization. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hurtado and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: MELENDEZ
2. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Salary Range for the City Manager Position.
Council Member Hurtado left the dais at approximately 8:15 PM.
Public comment:
Unidentified member of the audience stated the Council should decrease the salary because there is a big difference with numbers but other cities have hotels, parks and restaurants. He stated the new city manager should first prove himself.
Kevin Carter stated the City needs to hire the best city manager possible and the City will have to pay a competitive salary.
Karen Pearson stated she thinks the City does need to be competitive with cities that are comparable to Sanger.
The City Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo adopt ed Resolution No. 2023-54 establishing a new salary range of $170,194 to $212,760 for the position of City Manager. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Martinez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, MONTELONGO
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: HURTADO, MELENDEZ
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2023
J. CITY MANAGER/STAFF COMMUNICATION
Interim City Manager Greg Garner announced the Job Fair was held on October 2 nd and it was a
great success with 230 attendees and 38 businesses. Interim City Manager Garner complemented all Staff involved and especially Executive Assistant to the City Manager Corina Tamez.
K. MATTERS INITIATED BY CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez
1. Attended the CalCities Annual Conference. He stated it was a good conference and he spoke with many people and attended educational seminars. The highlight was that he met privately with CrisCom representatives and was connected with the M ayor Pro Tempore Office and the Assembly Speaker Office.
2. Requested and received consensus to get an update on the status of obtaining funds for a splash pad at Veterans Park.
Council Member Montelongo
1. Thanked the Chamber for coordinating the Downtown Farmers Markets.
2. Announced a Town Hall is tentatively scheduled for November 16, 2023, at 6 pm and will be held at the Sanger High MPR. The purpose of the Town Hall is to bring awareness to the fentanyl issues.
3. Asked about the status of the Downtown Façade Program.
Interim City Manager Garner indicated the item is scheduled to be on the agenda for the October 19, 2023 City Council meeting.
4. Indicated he would like to know who is on the Downtown Revitalization Committee because there are many issues that need to be resolved.
Interim City Manager Garner indicated he met with the Chamber of Commerce and it appears that the issues were resolved.
5. Indicated that a Park Master Plan is being developed. He said Lincoln Park was claimed by the Sanger Unified School District because it is located on their property. He said the City improved Kelly Park as a result.
6. Requested staff look into issues with the crossing one the 4-way stop at 10 th and P Streets.
Mayor Gonzalez
1. Attended the CalCities Annual Conference where he participated in a session regarding the homeless issue. He said it is important for the City to have good partners and determine what is the City’s role in mitigating homelessness.
2. Requested and received co nsensus to direct the City Attorney to create an ordinance that deals with the issues of public comment and provides clear guidelines.
3. Met with vendors at the CalCities Conference and received information regarding technology that he will pass on to the Administrative Services Director and information regarding holiday decorations that he will pass on to the Public Works Director.
4. Indicated that he was advised of an incident in which a Public Works employee named Daniel saved the lives of a man and woman.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2023
5. Announced the boxing gym is open. Participants will need to follow the proper steps including filling out a waiver and getting parents’ signatures.
L. ADJ
OURNMENT
Being no further business, the Council adjourned their meeting at 8:55 PM.
ATTEST:
Rebeca Padron, City Clerk