MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WESTMORLAND
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2024
6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
355 South Center Street
Westmorland, CA 92281
Mayor’s Message
This is a public meeting. You may be heard on an agenda item before the Council takes action on the item upon being recognized by the mayor. During the oral communications portion of the agenda, you may address the Council on items that do not appear on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Council.
Personal attacks on individuals, slanderous comments, or comments, which may invade an individual’s privacy, are prohibited. The mayor reserves the right to limit the speaker’s time. Individuals wishing accessibility accommodations at this meeting, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), may request such accommodations to aid hearing, visual, or mobility impairment by contacting City Hall at (760) 344-3411. Please note that 48 hours advance notice will be necessary to honor your request.
Brown Act AB 361:
Location: Westmorland City Hall Council Chambers 355 S Center Street Judith Rivera- Mayor
Xavier Mendez- Mayor Pro- Tem
Ana Beltran- Council Member
Justina Cruz- Council Member
Ray Gutierrez- Council Member
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rivera Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation: The pledge of allegiance was led by Mayor Rivera Roll Call: Council Members Present: Mayor Rivera, Council Members Mendez, Beltran and Cruz. Council Member Gutierrez was excused absent.
Oral Communication-Public Comment: Now is the time for any member of the public to speak to the Council.
Please step to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Three (3) minute maximum time. • Blanca Ortiz- Mr. Ortiz had her grandson speak for her due to not being able to speak in Spanish.
He had stated there was a sewer line issue they had contacted public works director who allegedly stated the issue was on the customer’s side. The resident explains the company they had called out to fix the issue stated the issue was back on the city, public works had gone back and flushed out the line and the line was finally cleared. They are requesting the city to pay back due to it being the city’s fault not theirs. Ms. Rivera mentioned to the resident that they will be discussing during closed session and a city employee will be in contact with them soon with the final verdict. • Darlene Berber- Mrs. Berber asked for council’s permission to wave the fees for a youth hall rental for Friday 14th from 6:00PM-10:00PM for a promotional ceremony and dance for the students that went able to attend the promotion ceremony at the school. City council approved to wave the fees for the youth hall rental for the June 14.
Staff Reports Non-Action Items:
Fire Department - Sergio Cruz -ABSENT
City Manager- Laura Fischer- Ms. Fischer gave a briefing report stating the following • Audits: we are almost complete in the following years of 2020-2023 and the new following year 2024 should be started in December of 2024.
• Public Safety Maintenance sales tax: currently working on it with the imperial county try to get all the years we have missed out on she’ll be contacting council with updates. • Housing Element- currently working on the second draft Mrs. Nava is still working on. • HOME Monitoring: city hired Raney Associates to perform the HOME Monitoring. • Filter and pipe Project: reported that we have 90% of the plans done for the filter project and staff is currently still attending meetings on the pipe project Mr. Hamby is still actively working on the projects.
Public Works Director - Ramiro Barajas- Mr. Barajas reported that they are currently working on setting up the FEMA trailers at the Fire Station currently working on the trench and then the electrical he’s been meeting and communication with our Building Inspector Mr. Castro through out the process. As well to mention there was an emergency at the WWTP and to mention the poll being open as of march 25th has been going through smoothly.
Consent Agenda: Approve the Consent Agenda Items 1-4.
1. Approval of Meeting Minutes from May 15, 2024 & May 1, 2024- Ms. Rivera asked city clerk if Mr.
Mendez had reviewed the meeting minutes prior to the meeting. Ms. Pisch stated she did have him review and he said they are good for the agenda.
2. Approval of City Warrant List.
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
Regular Business:
1. Chief Mara as New Chief of Police- Perry Montia. Ms. Rivera wanted to thank Mr. Montia for his time and introduced the new Westmorland Police Chief Mr. Lynn Mara, his swearing in was May 31, 2024.
Chief Mara wanted to thank everyone for the opportunity he was giving by the city.
2. Action in Approving AMENDED RESOLUTION NO. 2024-06 RESOLUTION ORDERING AN
ELECTION, REQUESTING IMPERIAL COUNTY REGISTRAR OF VOTERS TO CONDUCT THE ELECTION, AND REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION OF THE ELECTION- Christine Pisch, City Clerk. Ms. Pisch mentioned to council the correction of the Resolution 2024-06 adding the 2year term seat meaning the city will have three (3) seats available two (2) full term (4 years) one (1) half term (2 years).
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
3. Discussion/Action to Move the Next Resularly Scheduled Council Meeting set for Wednesday, June 19th to Tuesday, June 18th in Observation of Juneteenth- Laura Fischer, Manager. Ms. Fischer recommended to council due to our city meeting landing on Juneteeth we push the day ahead to June 18th in Horner of June 19th.
AYES: (1) Gutierrez, (2) Cruz, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
4. Discussion/Action to Adopt RESOLUTION NO. 2024-07 Approving the Amended and Restated Agreement with CR&R for waste hauling services- Laura Fischer, Manager. Ms. Fischer presented to council the amended agreement with CR&R hauler and the City of Westmorland for a additional two (2) year term till 2027 within this agreement indicates they will continue the same services and we will sell the street sweeper to the CR&R hauler.
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
5. Discussion/Action Adopting REOLUTION NO. 2024-08 Establishing a Fair Market Value for the 2015 Elgin Sweeper and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute Documents Necessary to Sell the Sweeper to CR&R- Laura Fischer, Manger. Ms. Fischer reminded council that this selling of the sweeper is within this new contract that for the CR&R recorded and city records we need this resolution to be made and approved.
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
6. Discussion and Action to approve the modifications to the PER Capita Grant Pool and Restroom improvements project- Teri Nava. TABLED DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATIONAL BACKUP.
7. Discussion and Action to approve payment to Teri Nava in the amount of $4,200.00 from the PER Capital Park Grant Pool Improvement Project- Laura Fischer, Manager. Mrs. Fischer asked for the payment of $4,200.00 to be made to Mrs. Nava for the past work done on the improvement project, Ms. Rivera had asked Ms. Pisch the number of times herself or office staff had gone to the county office for Ms. Nava, Ms. Pisch indicated it was once or twice that herself or office staff had gone to the County office. Mrs. Cruz and Mr. Gutierrez agreed to votes to make the payment to Ms. Nava in the amount of $4,200.00
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
8. Authorize Payment in the amount of $7,403, which is 20% of total cost, to Frey Municipal Software to order the approved software and to schedule training and product implementation to begin in July 2024- Laura Fischer, Manager. Ms. Fischer asked in order to secure our system to come a little sooner is to make a payment of 20% in the amount of $7,403.00 making this payment will ensure us to having our new software system sooner.
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
9. Authorize expenditures to be paid from remaining ARPA funds account 110-22-6334 in the Fire Department to purchase equipment and supplies - Laura Fischer, Manager. TABLED TILL AFTER AUDITS ARE COMPLETED.
10. Authorize expenditures from the sewer fund 520-00-6001 to replace a mechanical seal on the lift station pump in the amount of $3,184.82 payable to Wymore – Ramiro Barajas, Public Works Director. Mr. Barajas reported to council that the lift station pump is in need of the seal repair the amount he was quoted was $3,184.82. Mr. Barajas mentioned to council that this seal is an urgent need and will be coming from the sewer funds.
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
11. Discussion and Review Only of the Proposed FY 2024-25 Budget and Draft RESOLUTION NO. 2024-09 to Adopt- Laura Fischer, Manager. Ms. Fischer reminded council that she’s not asking for approval now just to have meetings set up with herself and council on what they want to make any changes or have any question that need answers to about anything on the budget. Ms. Fischer briefly went over a few pointers on the budget before proceeding to the next item on agenda.
12. Discussion and Review Only of the Proposed Five-Year Program of Projects and Draft RESOLUTION NO. 2024-10 to Adopt- Laura Fischer, Manager. Mrs. Fischer presented to council of the five (5) year project Resolution of future street projects, park projects and city projects that staff and city council wish to have completed in the next five (5) years.
13. Discussion and Review Only of the Proposed Fiscal Reserve Policy and Draft RESOLUTION NO. 2024-11 Adopting Reserves- Laura Fischer, Manager. Mrs. Fischer explained to council the reserve policy is money we save up thought the year or years for emergencies if an issue is to arise, we can pull from the reserve.
Closed Session: Council adjourned to Closed Session at 7:08 pm o Public Service Employees Job descriptions and salary scales, as well as Appointment, Employment, or evaluation (Gov’t. Code §54957(b)(1).)
o Conference with real estate negotiator (Gov’t. Code §54956.8.) Council Reconvened to Open Session at 8:00 pm.
City Attorney and Mrs. Rivera reported back the payment of $390.00 to be paid to claim against city.
AYES: (1) Cruz, (2) Gutierrez, Rivera
NOS: 0
ABSENT: Beltran, Mendez
Adjournment: Next regular scheduled meeting June 18, 2024.
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