Item 2-1
May 28, 2025
Selma City Council Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER at 10:04 a.m.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Avalos, Oceguera, Trujillo, Mayor Pro Tem Guerra, and Mayor Robertson
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Joyce Cason, community member, spoke of concerns regarding the future Fire Department development project. Concern regarding the location across from high school was described; Council was urged to consider amendments to original plans.
Stella Ramirez, community member, emphasized additional concern regarding the future Fire Department development project. Ramirez reiterated concern regarding location. 1 - CONSENT CALENDAR
Approval - Consideration of Resolution 2025-34 for Notice of Completion for the Transit Oriented Development Improvement Project
Approval - Consideration of Resolution 2025-35 Approving First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Griffin Structures Inc for Additional Service Request (ASR) #1 Fee for Master Plan Concept Design and Bridging Documents for a Temporary EMS Facility to be Incorporated into the New Fire Station / Headquarters Campus
Motion by Council Member Oceguera, seconded by Council Member Trujillo to approve Consent Calendar.
Ayes: Oceguera, Trujillo
Noes: Avalos, Guerra, Robertson
2 - NEW BUSINESS
2-1 Information Item - Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2025 /2026 Spoke: Finance Director Margarita Moreno
FY 2022-2023 Expenditures: Finance Director Margarita Moreno offered to forward information, via email, regarding the anomalous $10 million expenditure in 2022-2023 related to the Pension Obligation Bond (POB).
Reserve Policy Review: Mayor Pro Tem Guerra suggested that the Council consider raising the General Fund reserve percentage (currently 20%, which provides 3 months of operating expenses).
Council Member Trujillo requested Finance Director Moreno explain the Reserve Policy further, requesting interpretation of financial data. Mayor Robertson questioned range of typical reserves in other municipalities.
1 General Fund Revenues: Finance Director Moreno explained all General Fund Revenues including Sales Tax and Property Tax. Director Moreno confirmed Property Tax is teetered with Fresno County. Director Moreno advised the figures provided were conservative; based on consultant estimates.
General Fund Expenditures: Finance Director Moreno provided detailed figures and information regarding expenditures by division. Mayor Robertson requested information regarding Police and Fire Division expenditures. Fire Chief Jordan Webster provided narrative regarding Fire Division salaries, personnel restructure and the further mentioned the Pension Obligation Bond. Chief Webster stated the expenditure increase was not bonus or payroll related; he clarified salaries are according to MOU and do not include a bonus.
Division Budgets: Finance Director Moreno, Administrative Services Director Venegas and other Department Heads spoke of applicable proposed department budgets. Deputy City Manager Jerome Keene presented for the Community Development budget, and followed with Public Works, on behalf of Director Michael Honn (absent). Mayor Pro Tem Guerra requested detailed expense information regarding City Clerk training and overall budget. Council Member Oceguera addressed City Council budget and ethics training requirement. Director Venegas confirmed an on-site Ethics and Brown Act training is tentatively scheduled for June 26", 2025, at City Hall.
Director Venegas agreed to distribute training event invitations to committee members and commissioners, in addition to Council.
HR Staffing Request: Administrative Services Director Janie Venegas, requested two new full-time employees (HR Technician and Office Assistant) to handle risk management claims and front desk duties, offset by reductions in other departments (Grants Manager, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, Fire Department part-time Secretary). Mayor Robertson questioned the overall expense of adding two additional administrative positions. Director Venegas was directed by Mayor Robertson to provide an estimated increase at later date.
Employee Health Insurance (Self-Funded): Mayor Robertson and Council Member Avalos requested information regarding transfer from CaPERS health insurance plan to self-funded insurance plan. Director Venegas detailed overall cost savings and changes in plan benefits.
Director Venegas was requested to compile and share the projected cost savings for the current and upcoming years. Mayor Pro Tem Guerra suggested conducting an employee/retiree survey to gauge satisfaction with the self-funded plan. Council Member Oceguera provides his experience with health insurance and obtaining necessary prescriptions. He further questioned the use of current broker.
RMA Insurance: Mayor Robertson suggested Administrative Services Director Venegas put the MA/Property Casualty Insurance out to bid. Director Venegas detailed the benefits o SJVRMA (Central San Joaquin Vallev Risk Management Authority Adjourned for break at 11:21 a.m.
Reconvened at 11:31 a.m.
Police Department: Chief Alcaraz provided budget information and sworn officer vacancy statistics, including canine use, termed as "detection dogs". Chief Alcaraz addressed vehicle leases and Measure S funds. He presented a plan to lease five new patrol vehicles ($80,000 annual cost, amortized over 5 years). Mayor Robertson instructed Chief Alcaraz to ensure that local vendors, such as Fahrney Ford, are given preference and an equal opportunity to bid on the lease/ financing structure. Council directs that all final lease agreements are subject to Council approval.
Animal Services: Chief Alcaraz provided information regarding Animal Services. The proposed budget for Animal Services is $715,999. Council Member Trujillo requested further consideration of Kingsburg and Fowler's current animal service contracts. Council requested an offline discussion to address the variables, costs, staffing, and policy of the animal shelter. Mayor Robertson noted the Council plans to consider eliminating the Animal Services Director position during the next City Council meeting to establish a more realistic wage structure for the shelter.
Adjourned for break at 12:07 p.m.
Reconvened at 12:30 p.m.
City Attorney Costanzo addressed necessity to revisit Consent Calendar, as neither item was individi rather both items were erroneously voted off consent. Re-vote taken on each item 1-1 Approval - Consideration of Resolution 2025-34 for Notice of Completion for the Transit Oriented Development Improvement Project
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Guerra, seconded by Council Member Avalos to approve Item 1-1 of Consent Calendar.
Ayes: Guerra, Avalos, Oceguera, Trujillo, Robertson
Noes: None
1-2 Approval - Consideration of Resolution 2025-35 Approving First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Griffin Structures Inc for Additional Service Request (ASR) #1 Fee for Master Plan Concept Design and Bridging Documents for a Temporary EMS Facility to be Incorporated into the New Fire Station / Headquarters Campus
Spoke: Fire Chief Jordan Webster
Fire Chief Webster addressed concerns of Item 1-2; particularly the location concern of Fire Campus. He explained matters from a Chief / employee perspective, detailing safety and privacy concerns of EMS employees. He reiterated dire need for housing of all First Responder employees, with critical need for EMS facility. Chief Webster detailed the benefits of the facility design. Chief Webster responded to community concern regarding lack of facilities in southwest Selma. Council Member Avalos and Mayor Robertson questioned proposed budget for project. Chief Webster recapped Senator Hurtado grant.
After discussion as described above, re-vote was taken on this item individually. 3 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Guerra, seconded by Council Member Oceguera to approve Item 1-2 of Consent Calendar.
Ayes: Guerra, Oceguera, Avalos, Trujillo, Robertson
Noes: None
Council returned to discussion of Item 2-1:
Fire Department: Chief Webster provided details of the estimated $1.2 million cost for a new fire engine; he mentioned this expense is not in the operating budget. Chief Webster agreed to review the feasibility of using the Senator Hurtado grant money (Fund 459) for the fire truck. Chief Webster confirmed the requested $115,000 for a new Command Vehicle will be purchased locally.
Chief Webster provided explanation as to significant overtime. He explained significant portion of overtime ($585,000 budgeted) is due to EMS staff being classified differently than suppression staff, requiring 16 hours of mandatory overtime per week as part of their 56-hour work schedule, making it a planned expense.
Public Comment: Joyce Cason, community member, questioned Chief Webster regarding Phase 1 of Fire Campus, the EMS housing facility. Concern of project phasing and allocation of property during such phasing is expressed.
Community Development / Public Works / Capital Improvements: Deputy City Manager Keene addressed property in SW for Fire Campus. He added there was $1.3 million dollars in grant money pending. The request for an additional $100,000 for the Downtown BID Storefront Improvement Grant is pending a formal request and will be on the next BID agenda. Council Member Avalos and Mayor Robertson directed staff to include a placeholder of $1 million in the budget for the construction/replacement of downtown light posts (or Schaefer Park lights). He directed staff to work internally to find an appropriate fund source (e.g. Fund Balance, which will reduce it to $3 million if a full $1 million is budgeted). Council requested a comparison between Musco and non-Musco light options and related structural costs for the Schaefer Park lighting project. Council requested a workshop ASAP on the design plans for the Second Street grant project, including potential signage (arch sign) and downtown features. Mayor Robertson requested prioritizing the submission of the Request for Authorization (RFA) to Caltrans for construction funding before June 2026, once the right-of-way acquisition is complete. Mayor Robertson sparked discussion regarding full-time City Engineer versus use of contracted. David Horn, contracted City Engineer, provided budget details on Capital Improvement Projects.
Community Services: Staff were directed to increase funding to the 4100 Recreation budget to support additional events like "Selma Live". Council Member Avalos requested, and staff agreed to increase the Senior Activity general fund budget by $10,000 to allow for additional trips and activities, including potentially subsidizing one free excursion per year. Cultural Arts Center Coordinator Nicolette Andersen requested to convert her part-time employee into full-time, to better support grant writing, sponsorships, and daily theater operations. 4 Special Revenue / Enterprise / Debt Service: Finance Director Moreno detailed the Measure S Sector More are, to consid i an es or on the eas ofty oncond eigedious debt measures (bonds) to secure a potentially lower interest rate. Finance Director Moreno agreed to provide a document detailing the aggregate monthly and annual debt service payments at the next
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m.
Approved the 21" day of October 2025.
ATTEST: Scott Robertson, Mayor
Saxena
Sara M. Carlson
City Clerk