MINUTES CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA (via ZOOM and in-person) City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Mailing Address: Ceres City Hall, 2220 Magnolia Street, Ceres, CA 95307-3292 Phone: (209)538-5700 CALL TO ORDER Fax: (209)538-5780 Mayor Lopez called the January 13, 2025 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL - Present: Mayor: Javier Lopez Councimembers: James Casey (District 1); Rosalinda L. Vierra (District 2); Cerina Otero (District 3) Daniel A. Martinez (District 4) District 1 Casey Present INVOCATION District2 Vierra Present District3 Otero Present District4 Martinez Present Councilmember Councilmember Councimember Councimember Mayor Lopez Present Invocation by Tim Giannosa, Big Valley Grace Community Church. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez. PRESENTATIONS A. Recognize Outgoing Planning Commissioners Robert Kachel and Gary Del Nero Gary Del Nero and Robert Kachel accepted a plaque recognizing their time served Design-Build Institute of America - National Award of Merit Recipient (Regional on the Planning Commission. Surface Water Supply Project) B. MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 2 Regular City Council Meeting City of Turlock's Municipal Services Director, Chris Fisher, presented the council with an award from the Design-Build Institute of America for the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority surface water supply project. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda Supervisor Channce Condit spoke regarding a community clean-up event that will be hosted during spring (late March or early April) at Central Valley High School. Ceres Garden Club presented a Penny Pines certificate to Recreation Manager, Joey John Silveira spoke regarding traffic mitigation, illegal fireworks, and fines associated with Frank Johnson presented Police Chief, Chris Perry, with a plaque for his service to the Shirley Rogers spoke regarding her appointment to District 5 of the Stanislaus County's Brandy Meyer spoke regarding the Chamber of Commerce's Community Service Awards Gene Yeakley spoke regarding community participation and attendance at City Council meetings, push bars on the senior lounge door in the Community Center, wished Councilmember Otero luck in her newly elected position, and encouraged attendance at City Clerk, Fallon Martin, read an email into the record from Princee Viccc regarding (five minutes) Chavez and Mayor Lopez. illegal fireworks. Ceres community. Commission on Aging. being held Friday, January 17th. the Stanislaus County's Commission on Aging. committee appointments. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION None APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDSICOMMISSIONS C. Appointment of a Vice Mayor for a Two-Year' Term Mayor Lopez introduced the item and recommended Councimember Martinez to Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public serve a two-year term as Vice Mayor. spoke: MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 3 Regular City Council Meeting Gene Yeakley spoke regarding inquiries from other Councilmembers expressing their desire to serve as Vice Mayor. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Action: Motion by Mayor Lopez, seconded by Councilmember Martinez, approving the appointment of Councilmember Martinez to Vice Mayor. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Vierra Yes Councimember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Mayor Lopez Yes Casey No Otero Yes Martinez Yes D. Confirmation of the 2025 Mayoral Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees Mayor Lopez introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked forp public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public Council and staff discussion included whether councimembers were consulted on their availability and preferences, Councimember Vierra being removed from all but Council made the recommendation to make the following changes toi the "2025 City comment. one committee and past practice in previous years. Council Committee Appointments": Surface Water. Joint Powers Authority Board (SRWA) Remove Councilmember Otero and add Councimember Casey West Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (JPA) Remove Vice Mayor Martinez and Councimember Otero and add Councilmember Casey and Councimember Vierra as an alternate Remove Councilmember Casey and add Councimember Vierra Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Stanislaus Homeless Alliance Otero, confirming the 2025 City Council Committee Appointments with the above-mentioned changes. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councimember Councimember Vice Mayor Casey Yes Vierra Yes Otero Yes Martinez Yes Mayor Lopez Yes MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 4 Regular City Council Meeting CONSENT CALENDAR 1. 2. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda oft the January 13, 2025 City Council Meeting Waive Readings. All Readings of Ordinances and Resolutions are Waived. (Waive - readings in full of all ordinances and resolutions on the agenda and declare that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been Approval of Minutes for the December 9, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting. was Posted on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (City Clerk) read by title). (City Clerk) 3. (City Clerk) 4. 5. 6. Approval of Minutes for the December 9, 2024 Special City Council Meeting. Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated November 20, 2024 through December 11, Resolution No. 2025-01, Approving the General Services Agreement for the Planning and Engineering Security Improvements Project to Artisan Design Group, Inc., Authorizing a 5% Contingency, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute (City Clerk) 2024. (Esenwein) the Contract. (Beltran) 7. 8. Item not considered per Amendment #1 oft the Agenda. Resolution No. 2025-02, Approving the Acceptance oft the State of California Office of Traffic Safety Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant and Approves Resolution No. 2025-03, Approving Payment to Don Pedro Pump Company for Emergency Booster Pump Repairs Performed at Blaker Reservoir Water Tanks. a Budget Amendment to Appropriate the Funds. (Perry) 9. (Royal) 10. General Correspondence - Information Only a. Public Works Monthly Report for November 2024 (Royal) 11. Resolution No. 2025-04, Approving Amendment 2 for the Memorandum of Understanding with the Stanislaus Council of Governments for the Final Suballocation of the Regional Early Action Planning Grant, Authorizing a Budget Amendment, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment. (Simvoulakis) 12. Resolution No. 2025-05, Approving a Two (2) Year Agreement with Turlock Youth Sports Foundation for Organization and Conduct of Adult Basketball and MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 5 Regular City Council Meeting Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Chavez) 13. Removed for separate consideration. 14. Removed for separate consideration. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving items 1-6 and 8-12. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Yes Vierra Yes Otero Yes Martinez Yes Yes CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Items 13: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution No. 2025-06, Approving a Two (2) Year Agreement with Turlock Youth Sports Foundation for Organization and Conduct ofYouth Basketball Programs and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Chavez) Councilmember Otero spoke regarding the location of the program, the program replacing the current Hoopsters program, and length of the agreement. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 13. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by thet following roll call vote: Vierra Yes Councilmember Councimember Councimember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Yes Otero Yes Martinez Yes Yes Items 14: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Vierra Resolution No. 2025-07, Approving the Construction Contract with Paradigm Construction, Inc. for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Administration Building Upgrade, Authorizing a 20% Contingency and Authorizing the City Manager to Councilmember Vierra wanted to confirm the building administration upgrades will not conflict with the Energy Services Project for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Execute the Contract. (Royal) Improvements and Upgrades. MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 6 Regular City Council Meeting Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public John Warren congratulated Councimember Otero on her newly elected position and confirmed the upgrades are permanent and will not be changed with the Energy spoke: Services Project. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 14. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Vierra Yes Councimember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Yes Casey Yes Otero Yes Martinez Yes UNFINISHED BUSINESS None PUBLIC HEARING None NEW BUSINESS None DISCUSSION ITEMS 15. Consideration of Removal oft the Fishing Restriction at the River Bluff Regional Park Lower Terrace Retention Pond. (Roya!) Public Works Director, Sam Royal, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public John Silveira spoke regarding the cost of repairs to be used on other things such spoke: as traffic. John Warren spoke regarding the life of the liner. Frank Johnson inquired as to whether the liner is repairable. Gene Yeakley spoke regarding lining the pond with concrete. MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 7 Regular City Council Meeting Shirley Rogers inquired about the purpose of the pond. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included the age of the liner, manufacturer's recommendation on when to replace the liner, using repair funds for other areas, and looking at the Ceres City Council Strategic Plan. COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS Update the Ceres City Council Strategic Plan (Requested by Councilmember Otero) (Requested by Vice Mayor Martinez) (Requested by Councimember Casey) (Requested by Councimember Casey) Creating a Volunteer Group to Assist Code Enforcement Improve Communication and Outreach on Public Hearings Establish a Committee to Review the Modesto City Fire Contract REPORTS Mayor Nothing to report. City Council Councimember Vierra spoke regarding a vehicle accident at Morgan Rd. and San Pedro Ave., Tuscany Village back on the market, Stanislaus County Recovery Center, Councilmember Otero thanked City staff for welcoming her onto the Council. and transitional housing. City Manager Nothing to report. City Attorney Nothing to report. Departments MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 8 Regular City Council Meeting Police Chief, Chris Perry, spoke regarding three recruits who were sent to the academy have graduated and are now officers with the Ceres Police Department and Public Works Director, Sam Royal, spoke regarding the leaf & limb program ending four new police officers and two new dispatchers were sworn in. January gth. CLOSED SESSION 16. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code "For the purposes of this section, litigation shall be considered pending when any of the following circumstances exist... A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the legislative body of the local agency on the advice ofi its legal counsel, based on existing facts and circumstances, there is $54956.9(d)(2) as significant exposure to litigation against the local agency." Potential Case: 1 case $54956.9(d)(1) 17. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code "For purposes of this section, litigation shall be considered pending when any of the following circumstances exist... Litigation, to which the local agency is a party, has been initiated formally." Name of Case: Tom Mitsopoulas VS. City of Ceres; Stanislaus Superior Court Case No. CV-24-009325 18. Liability Claims, Cal. Gov. Code $54956.95 Claimant: Whitmore Stations, Inc./Gurdip Ghag Agency Claimed Against: City of Ceres Mayor Lopez introduced the Closed Session items. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION Items 16 and 17: Item 18: Mayor Lopez reported that direction has been given to staff. Mayor Lopez reported the item was accepted with a 5/0/0/0 vote. ADJOURNMENT The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on January 27, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in the Community Center at 2701 Fourth Street, Ceres, CA. MINUTES January 13, 2025 Page 9 Regular City Council Meeting There being no further business, Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m. - Javier E Falow wwat Fallon Martin, City Clerk Consistent with Council Policy, the minutes referenced above are in Action Format. The complete recording oft the meeting can be viewed at nttp/www.clceres.ca.us/agenda center.