ER WE 3 MINUTES CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA (via ZOOM and in-person) City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street Monday, March 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Mailing Address: Ceres City Hall, 2220 Magnolia Street, Ceres, CA 95307-3292 Phone: (209) 538-5700 Fax: (209) 538-5780 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Lopez called the March 24, 2025, meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL - Present: Mayor: Javier Lopez Vice Mayor: Daniel A. Martinez (District 4) Councimembers: James Casey (District 1); Rosalinda L. Vierra (District 2); Cerina Otero (District 3) District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 Councimember Councilmember Councimember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Present Present Present Present Present INVOCATION Invocation by Dick Conners, Ceres First Baptist Church. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez. PRESENTATIONS A. Women's History Month Proclamation Soroptimist International of Ceres accepted the proclamation. CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes) Justin Farkas spoke regarding updates on Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office. MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 2 Mike Angels spoke regarding the office of emergency management report, flag poles at county buildings, and Ceres dispatch services partnering with Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services. Milt Trieweiler spoke regarding housing and farmland in the Central Valley. John Warren spoke regarding the seating arrangement during City Council meetings and acoustics within the Council Chambers. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION None APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDSICOMMISSIONS B. Measure "H" Citizens' Oversight Committee Appointment Process City Clerk, Fallon Martin, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: Brenda Herbert spoke regarding how boards and commissions interviews in the City of Ceres were conducted historically. John Warren spoke in favor of conducting the boards and commissions interviews in an open City Council meeting. Council and staff discussion included conducting interviews in an open City Council meeting, updating bylaws, applicant information that would be shared, structurellogistics of interviews conducted in an open City Council meeting, and establishing a policy. Council provided consensus for staff to bring back an item on a future agenda to creating a policy on how to conduct/hold boards and commission interviews (5/0). CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the March 24, 2025, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (City Clerk) 2. 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 read by title). (City Clerk) MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 3 3. Approval of Minutes for the March 10, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting. (City Clerk) 4. Removed for separate consideration. 5. Resolution No. 2025-19, Appointing the Interim Chief of Police as a City of Ceres Representative on the Modesto-Ceres Fire Protection Agency JPA Oversight Committee. (Johnson) 6. Resolution No. 2025-20, Authorizing the City Manager to Accept a Donation of a Police Canine and Complete the Transfer of Ownership of the Police Canine from the Ceres Police Canine Association to the City of Ceres. (Johnson) 7. Removed for separate consideration. 8. Removed for separate consideration. 9. Removed for separate consideration. 10. General Correspondence - Information Only a. Public Works Monthly Report for February 2025. (Royal) 11. Resolution No. 2025-23, Approving a Construction Contract for the Third Street Storm Drain Repair Project with United Pavement Maintenance, Inc., Authorizing a 10% Contingency, Authorizing a Budget Amendment, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Contract. (Royal) 12. Resolution No. 2025-24, Approving the Subdivision Improvement Agreement and Recordation of the Subdivision Map for the Whitmore Avenue Retail Subdivision, Authorizing the City Clerk to Certify the Final Map for the Whitmore Avenue Retail Subdivision on Behalf of the City of Ceres, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Subdivision Improvement Agreement for the Whitmore Avenue Retail Subdivision. (Beltran) 13. Removed for separate consideration. 14. Resolution No. 2025-25, Accepting the Richland Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project as Complete, Approving the Balancing Contract Change Order, Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion, and Authorizing the Release of the Remaining Retention to the Contractor. (Beltran) 15. Removed for separate consideration. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving items 1-3, 5-6, 10-12, and 14. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote: MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 4 Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 4: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Vierra Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated January 29, 2025, through February 18, 2025. (Esenwein) Councimember Vierra spoke regarding pricing and shopping local. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez, approving item 4. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Item 7: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Vierra Resolution No. 2025-21, Approving a Three-Year Agreement with Albonetti Investigations to Provide Pre-Employment Background Investigations for Sworn and Non-Sworn Staff. (Johnson) Councilmember Vierra inquired as to the difference between our current process and the recommended vendor. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included pricing, turn-around time, and the vendors qualifications. Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez, approving item 7. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 5 Item 8: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution No. 2025-XXX, Approving a Contract with the Department of California Highway Patrol for Their Use of the Police Department Range for a Term of Three (3) Years. (Johnson) Councimember Otero inquired as to the historical charges for such use, hourly cost, future plans, cost determination, and insurance requirements. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: John Warren spoke regarding the hours of use of the Ceres Police Department shooting range and his experience in negotiating the same type of contract. Council and staff discussion included cost projections, reevaluating the cost/charge, insurance coverage, what other cities charge for their range, renovation of the facility, and pulling the item to do further research. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving to table item 8 and bring it back to a future council meeting. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Yes No Item 9: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Casey Resolution No. 2025-22, Approving an Agreement with CivicPlus NextRequest for Public Records Request Management Software and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (City Clerk) Councilmember Casey spoke regarding approving a budget item for the next fiscal year and publication of public records requests on the City's website. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included the public records request process if the NextRequest agreement was not approved, annual cost, quantity of requests received via NextRequest, availability of previous submitted public records requests to the public, and manually processing public records requests. MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 6 Action: Motion by Councilmember Casey, seconded by Vice Mayor Martinez, approving item 9. Motion carried 5/0/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councimember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Item 13: Removed for separate consideration by Vice Mayor Martinez Resolution No. 2025-XXX, Approving a Three-Year Agreement with Ceres Youth Baseball for the Use of Costa Fields Baseball Complex and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement. (Chavez) Vice Mayor Martinez spoke regarding pulling the proposed contract to address some concerns on it and extend the current contract until the new contract addresses safety, transparency, outside food vendors, hours of the stadium lights, accessible gates locked/unlocked), Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: Jorge Guerrero spoke regarding music at Costa Fields during the Christmas Parade, gates and accessibility, tournaments, Ceres Youth Baseball staff, stadium light repairs at field three, and American Rescue Plan Act funds. Ismael Ontiveros spoke regarding the gates at Costa Fields, American Rescue Plan Act funds, lighting on field three, restroom upgrades John Warren spoke regarding American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to Ceres Youth Baseball, and exits and entrances at Costa Fields. Council and staff discussion included the format of the contract, gradual increase of fees, current Ceres Youth Baseball board members, rental of Costa Fields, cost to the City to rent out Costa Fields and the logistics of doing sO, maintenance and repair responsibilities of Costa Fields, American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to Costa Fields, Ceres Youth Baseball sub-leasing Costa Fields for tournaments, first responder's accessibility to the fields, Costa Fields' evacuation plan, improvements to Costa Fields using American Rescue Plan Act funds, cost of stadium light repairs, and American Rescue Plan Act fund requirements. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Mayor Lopez, approving Ceres Youth Baseball to continue with their currentlexisting contract while staff addresses council suggestions for contract renewal. Motion carried 3/2/0/0 by the following roll call vote: MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 7 Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez No Yes No Yes Yes Item 15: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember Otero Resolution No. 2025-XXX, Approving an Investment Resolution with US Bank for the City of Ceres. (Esenwein) Councimember Otero inquired about current investments with the City and whether the City Treasurer had the opportunity to review the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included having the City Treasurer review the item. Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Councilmember Otero, denying item 15. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez No Yes No No No UNFINISHED BUSINESS None PUBLIC HEARING 16a. Resolution No. 2025-026, Adopting the Initial Study for the 2023-2031 Housing Element of the General Plan. (Simvoulakis) 16b. Resolution No. 2025-027, Adopting a General Plan Amendment to Repeal the 2015-2023 Housing Element and Adopting the 2023-2031 Housing Element of the General Plan in Compliance with State Housing Element Law. (Simvoulakis) Community Development Director, Lea Simvoulakis, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: Milt Trieweiler spoke regarding preservation of farmland and building up rather than out. MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 8 Council and staff discussion included Housing Element programs, impacts on staff due to offering new programs, housing developments, revisions needed to the Housing Element, fire station locations, emergency shelters, zoning, income segregation, protected land, late fees, and very low-income units. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 16a. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez No Yes Yes Yes Yes Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Mayor Lopez, approving item 16b. Motion carried 4/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez No Yes Yes Yes Yes 17. Ordinance No. 2025-XXXX, An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Ceres, Adding Chapter 43 Regional Housing Needs Assessment Overlay District (RHNAOD) to Title 18 of the Ceres Municipal Code. (Simvoulakis) Community Development Director, Lea Simvoulakis, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: Milt Trieweiler spoke regarding the incentive to build low-income housing. Action: Motion by Vice Mayor Martinez, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 17. Motion carried 5/1/0/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes NEW BUSINESS None MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 9 DISCUSSION ITEMS None COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS 16. Inclusionary Policy & Density Bonuses Discussion (Requested by Councilmember Vierra) 17. Produce all Public Records Request Responses on the City's Website for Public Viewing (Requested by Councilmember Casey) REPORTS Mayor Nothing to report. City Council Councimember Vierra spoke regarding Stanislaus Homeless Alliance and the City Easter event. Councilmember Casey spoke regarding the anniversary of the Vietnam War coming to an end. City Manager Nothing to report. City Attorney Nothing to report. Departments Public Works Director, Sam Royal, spoke regarding the closure of Neel Park March 27th through May 1st CLOSED SESSION 18. Conference with Labor Negotiators, Cal Gov't Code $54957.6(a) Agency Designated Representative: City Manager, Douglas D. Dunford and Human Resources Director, Delilah Vasquez Employee Organization: Ceres Police Officers' Association MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 10 Employee Organization: First Line Supenlsols/Confidenta: Bargaining Group Employee Organization: Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA!) Employee Organization: Mid-Managers Bargaining Group Employee Organization: Public Safety Managers Under Negotiations: Price and/or terms of payment 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 Item 18: Vice Mayor Martinez stated direction had been provided to staff. ADJOURNMENT The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on April 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located in the Community Center at 2701 Fourth Street, Ceres, CA. There being no further business, Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting at 10:50 p.m. Javiér Lopez, Mayor Havvon wwP Fallon Martin, City Clerk Consistent with Council Policy, the minutes referenced above are in Action Format. The complete recording of the meeting can be viewed at htp/www.ciceres.ca.us/agenda center.