Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Sanger City Council
THURSDAY , JANUARY 16, 2025
6:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER
1700 7TH Street, Sanger, California 93657
A. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council called their meeting to order at 6:02 PM.
B. OPENING CEREMONIES
The invocation was offered by Pastor Paul Canaday.
The flag salute was led by Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Martinez.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Martinez, Council Member Esmeralda Hurtado, Council Member Michael Montelongo, Council Member Dolores Melendez
Absent: Mayor Frank Gonzalez
C. AGENDA APPROV AL, ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS
City Manager Nathan Olson removed item G.2.
The Council by motion of Council Member Hurtado approved the agenda as posted and removed item G.2. The motion was seconded by Council Member Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GONZALEZ
D. PRESENTATIONS
1. Sanger Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Report
Karen Pearson, President of the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, introduced new employee Isaiah Lopez and presented a quarterly report to Council.
E. PUBLIC FORUM
Public Comment:
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2025
Kevin Carter requested that a future agenda item be added to discuss changing how the Mayor is selected and consider having five districts and the Council selects a mayor.
Unidentified audience member provided history about how the old council was elected. He said that if the item is put back on the agenda, then the council is selecting a mayor and not the public.
Joseph Rocha said if the City was in a deficit then why did the Fire Chief get a 5% raise.
F. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Hurtado pulled item F-10.
Joseph Rocha pulled items F-4, F-6, F-7, F-8.
The Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo approved Items F-1, F-2, F-3, F-5, and F-9 from the consent calendar. The motion was seconded by Council Member Melendez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GONZALEZ
1. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Minutes of a Joint Meeting held on December 5, 2024; a Special Meeting held on December 17, 2024; and a Regular and Special meetings held on December 19, 2024
2. SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM - Police Department Monthly Report for the month of December.
3. SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM - Fire Department Monthly Repor t for the month of November.
4. SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM - Warrants including check Nos. 93573 through 93706 for the month of December.
Public Comment:
Joseph Rocha said he had questions on check numbers 93706 and 93665 to Deed Construction and why payments are still being made.
City Manager Olson said that the payments are regular monthly payments as per the contract.
Liquidated damages will be issued to the City after final payments are made.
City Engineer Josh Rogers said there have been delays on the Bethel/Almond project and coordinating with PG&E which has been a long process.
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2025
5. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Payroll for the month of December including Direct Deposit Nos. 65316 through 65560; Payroll check Nos. 60115 through 60151 and Benefit Check Nos. 60128 through 60158.
6. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Extension of the Agreement between the City of Sanger and the Sanger District Chamber of Commerce.
The City Council approved Amendment No. 6 to the Agreement between the City of Sanger and the Sanger District Chamber of Commerce for their contractual services in the amount of $6,666.67 per month through June 30, 2025, and authorized the City Manager to execute.
City Manager Olson reported on the item, noting that instead of renegotiating the contract at this time, the contract was extended to June 2025, with no changes.
Public comment:
Unidentified audience member asked why the contract had increased to $80,000 and that the city should conduct an audit on the Chamber to see how money is spent.
Unidentified audience member said if you want to nickel and dime, then get up and do the work.
Jospeh Rocha said that an audit should be done if there is a deficit.
City Manager Olson said that the cost to put on events has increased . He also said that the Chamber’s programs are audited and it is required to provide a list of expenses.
Karen Pearson said that the Chamber’s contract was at $60,000 and increased to $80,000 two years ago, which has improved the quality of events as well as increased attendance.
The Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo approved item F-6. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hurtado and approved by the following vote:
AYES: MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GONZALEZ
7. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Approval of Resolution 2025- 01, Amending the City’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Position Allocation.
The City Council adopt ed Resolution No. 2025- 01 amending the City’s FY2025 position allocation. The amended personnel allocation includes the addition of one (1), new, full-time Parks & Recreation Director and two (2), new, full-time Streets, Parks, Facility workers assigned to the streets division.
Assistant City Manager Michelle Speer presented on item F-7.
City Attorney Montoy said the Council had approved the item at their December 2025 meeting, noting it was a housekeeping item to memorialize into one position.
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2025
Unidentified audience member, said the City did not have a summer fun program this past summer, which impacted the farm working families. If the city has funding, the program should be brought back to the community and not leave the kids out to have a Recreation Director.
City Manager Olson said that the City will have different summer programs in place this year, which will be managed by a Recreation Director. He noted the recreation department has deficits of $800,000 a year.
The Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo approved item F-7. The motion was seconded by Council Member Melendez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GONZALEZ
8. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Authorization for Out of State Travel The City Council authorize d Out of State travel for City Manager, Community Development Director, Mayor, and Mayor Pro Tem, to attend the ICSC LAS VEGAS convention in Las Vegas, NV , on May 18, 2025, through May 20, 2025.
City Manager Olson presented on item F-8, noting that Assistant City Manager Speer would not be attending the event..
Public comment:
Joseph Rocha said that to save money, only the city manager and the director should attend the event.
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez approved item F-8. The motion was seconded by Council Member Melendez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GONZALEZ
9. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Professional Services Agreement with Quad Knopf, Inc. dba QK, for CEQA (California Environmental Quality t) Environmental Analysis for anticipated project submitted by DR Horton (Serenade II Single Family Residential Subdivision).
The City Council adopt ed Resolution No. 2025-02 approving a professional services agreement between the City of Sanger and QK, for CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) Environmental Analysis for an anticipated project, DR Horton Serenade II Single Family Residential Subdivision, and authorized the City Manager to execute on behalf of the City.
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2025
10. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Sanger Wastewater Plant Determination of Emergency
The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025- 03, Approving and Ratifying the Director of Emergency Services’ Determination of Emergency at the Sanger Domestic Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility and Authorizing the City Manager to Make R equired Emergency Repairs on Those Facilities Without Competitive Bidding in accordance with Sanger Code Section 2-214(d) and the Public Contract Code.
City Manager Olson presented on item F-10.
Public Comment:
Kevin Carter asked if sewage is still being pushed into the fields?
City Manager Olson said that sewage is still bypassing the digester.
Joseph Rocha asked if everything was now an emergency?
The Council by motion of Council Member Melendez approved item F -10. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hurtado and approved by the following vote:
AYES: MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GONZALEZ
G. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
1. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Claims Authority Ordinance.
The City Council Waived Full Reading and Introduce d Ordinance No. 2025-01 Amending Chapter 1, Article 1 of the Sanger City Code relating to city manager authority on claims against the city.
Assistant City Manager Michelle Speer presented on the item.
Public comment:
Joseph Rocha asked if a third party will always be involved.
The Council by motion of Mayor Pro Tem Martinez waived the Full Reading and Introduced Ordinance No. 2025-01 Amending Chapter 1, Article 1 of the Sanger City Code relating to city manager authority on claims against the city. The motion was seconded by Council Member Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES: MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: GONZALEZ
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2025
2. SUBJECT: TABLED TO NEXT MEETING - Assignment of Sanger’s Elected Officials to Serve as Representatives/Designees on Member Boards, Committees and Commissions
RECOMMENDATION: T
hat the City Council determine assignments to
serve as representatives on the following boards, commissions, and committees:
1. Fresno County Council of Governments / Fresno County Rural Transit Agency
2. Five Cities Economic Development Authority – CenterPoint District
3. San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Special City Selection Committee
4. Southeast Regional Solid Waste Commission
5. Sanger Environmental Fund
6. Upper Kings Basin Integrated Regional Water Management Authority
7. South Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency
8. Sanger Planning Commission
9. Citizen’s Oversight Committee – Measure S
10. Sanger Youth Council
H. CITY MANAGER/STAFF COMMUNICATION
City Manager Olson encouraged the community to report their concerns via the City’s website “Ask Sanger” for a quick response. He invited the community to attend the next City Manager Roundtable scheduled for January 22, 2025, 6 PM in the Council Chamber for a discussion on the 2025-26 budget. He also reported that crimes in Sanger are down 23% over the year and calls for service are up.
I. REPORTS AND MATTERS INITIATED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mayor Pro Tem Martinez
1. Asked if the contractor would be painting the stripes near the completed project area near Bethel Ave., Lily and Third streets.
2. Appreciates the City’s Fire Department being a good steward by helping with the Los Angeles County fires.
3. In light of the recent New Orleans tragic event, asked for the City to consider having block barriers for future city events and parades.
4. Asked if the Code Enforcement and the Building Departments are fully staffed?
5. Asked if the City could prepare a report listing how other cities elect their mayors and present the information at a future meeting.
Council Member Hurtado
1. Asked to receive regular updates on youth sports programs and senior center needs.
Council Member Montelongo
1. Sanger Unified School District, through the LEAP program, has a free summer program with expanded hours.
2. Thanked the Chamber and staff for their support in the recent Townhall on Human Trafficking and also thanked the school district for partnering with the City.
3. Will be helping the Grean Team in their upcoming community clean up event.
4. Asked for an updated on lighting at Rotary park.
Council Member Melendez
1. Will be at the Green Team event.
City Council Minutes
January 16, 2025
I. ADJOURNMENT
Being no further business, the Council adjourned their meeting at 7:42 PM.
Attest:
Corina Tamez, City Clerk /Executive Assistant