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Minutes of a Special Meeting of the Sanger City Council TUESDAY, JUNE 17,2025
6:00 PM
COUNCIL CHAMBER
1700 7rH Street, Sanger, California 93657
A. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council called their Special Meeting to order at 6:01 pm B. OPENING CEREMONIES
The invocation was offered by Pastor Gilbert Montelongo.
The flag salute was led by Mayor Frank Gonzalez.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Frank Gonzalez, Mayor Pro Tem DanielMartinez, Council Member Esmeralda Hurtado, Council Member Michael Montelongo, Council Member Dolores Melendez
Absent: None
The Council held a ceremonial swearing in for newly appointed Police Chief John Reynolds.
C. AGENDAAPPROVAL
The Council by motion of Council Member Melendez approved the agenda as posted. The motion was seconded by CouncilMember Montelongo and approved by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NONE
NONE
NONE
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
The Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo pulled Agenda Item D-l for further discussion and approved the remaining item on the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Council Member Hurtado and approved by the following vote:
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
June 17,2025
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN
ABSENT:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN
ABSENT:
L SUBJECT: APPROVED - Easement Acquisition - Almond Avenue Reconstruction Project-Bethel Ave to Greenwood Ave.
City Engineer Josh Rogers provided revised Right of Way Agreements, to include two named trustees rather than one and requiring two signatures.
The Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo:
I . Adopted Resolution No. 2025-41, which:
a. Approves the Right of Way Agreement for the property located at 1316 Bethel Avenue; and
b. Authorizes the City Manager to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Cify;and
c. Accepts the Slope Easement and Permit to Enter and Construct at the same property.
The motion was seconded by Council Member Hurtado and approved by the following vote:
GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NONE
NONE
NONE
GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ
NONE
NONE
NONE
2. SUBJECT: APPROVED - Consideration of an Agreement for Interim Legal Services.
The City Council approved Agreement for Interim Legal Services with Aleshire and Wynder, LLP for services to be provided while the Request for Proposals (RFP) for City Attorney services is completed.
E. PUBLIC HEARTNG
1. SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2025-2026Prcliminary Budget Presentation.
The City Council held a public hearing to discuss the Fiscal Year 2025-2026Preliminary Budget.
Assistant City Manager/Administrative Services Director Michelle Speer presented the item.
Public comment regarding the presentation of the General Fund budget:
Unidentified member of the audience expressed concern about the $4.4 million deficit.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
June 17,2025
Kevin Carter stated that having a deficit this large woffies him and the City should be talking about next year's budget now. He said he hates to take ARPA monies to use for daily expenses.
Public comment regarding the presentation of Enterprise Funds budgets:
Kevin Carter stated that the budget process previously included Measure S grants for non- profits, a CIP presentation, and setting priorities prior to each budget presentation. He said budget meetings with CouncilMembers should be held in a public meeting.
Unidentified member of the audience stated that he has a problem with Council Members having individual meetings with the City Manager to go over the budget.
The City Council called for a recess at7:34 pm
The City Council reconvened the Special Meeting at7:45 pm Public comment regarding the budget overall:
Kevin Carter stated he is not accusing that figures are being switched, but his comment is about discussions that should be held in public.
Unidentified member of the audience stated it seems it would be cheaper to fix O Street at the same time the sewer is being repaired. He said he understands the concern about freezing a police position and taking away the newsletter mailings.
Public comment regarding the continuation of the Utility Use's Tax:
None
The Council closed the public hearing.
The City Council by motion of Council Member Montelongo adopted Resolution No. 2025-42 making a determination of the necessity of continuing the Utility User's Tax in Fiscal Year 2025-2026.The motion was seconded by Council Member Melendez and approved by the following vote:
AYES: GONZALEZ, MARTINEZ, HURTADO, MONTELONGO, MELENDEZ NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
After review of the proposed FY 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget, by consensus, the Council provided the following direction to staff:
Regarding the existing General Fund Restricted Reserve Policy (25Yo of the City Council Special Meeting Minutes
June 17,2025
average prior three years' total general fund expenditures less any expenditures related to a debt-funded capital improvement project), the Council directed staff to make no changes to the existing policy.
o Regarding the change of use of ARPA funds as proposed in the FY 25-26 Preliminary Budget, the Council directed staff to keep the budget as proposed and bring back a resolution on June 27,2025, approving the change ofuse of funds.
r Regarding the elimination of the $800,000 fund for Council Member projects as proposed in the FY 25-26 Preliminary Budget, the Council directed staff to keep the budget as proposed and bring back a resolution on June 27,2025, approving the elimination of the project funds.
o Regarding the freezing of funds for one police officer position (keeping the allocation of the position) as proposed in the FY 25-26 Preliminary Budget, the Council directed staff to amend the Preliminary Budget and fund the allocated position.
o Regarding the elimination of the $24,000 funding for the cost of mailing the Inside Sanger Newsletter with monthly utility bills as proposed in the FY 25-26 Preliminary Budget, the Council directed staff to amend the Preliminary Budget and include the $24,000 funding for mailing costs.
F. ADJOURNMENT
Being no further business, the Council adjourned their Special Meeting at 8:37 pm.
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