ER WE MINUTES CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CITY OF CERES, CALIFORNIA (via ZOOM and in-person) City Council Chambers, 2701 Fourth Street Monday, April 28, 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 April 28, 2025, meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. ROLL CALL = Present: Mayor: Javier Lopez Vice Mayor: Daniel A. Martinez (District 4) Councilmembers: James Casey (District 1); Rosalinda L. Vierra (District 2); Cerina Otero (District 3) District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 Councimember Councimember Councimember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Present Present Present Absent Present INVOCATION Invocation by Tim Giannosa, Big Valley Grace Community Church. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Lopez. PRESENTATIONS A. Cinco de Mayo Proclamation The Stanislaus County Center for Human Services Promotoras accepted the proclamation. MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 2 CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS to the Council on matters not included on the agenda (five minutes) Justin Farkas spoke regarding updates on Assemblyman Juan Alanis' office. Shirley Rogers spoke regarding the Ceres Street Faire sponsorship. Brandy Meyer spoke regarding Love Ceres. John Warren spoke regarding the jurisdiction of Lazy Wheels, a Memorial Day event at Ceres Memorial Park, Peace Officer Memorial event, and the signing of the end of WWWII. Jorge Guerrero spoke regarding Ceres Youth Baseball, the contract between the City and Ceres Youth Baseball, lighting on the field, and American Rescue Plan Act funds. Ismael Ontiveros spoke regarding Ceres Youth Baseball, the contract between the City and Ceres Youth Baseball, batting cages, lighting on the field, and American Rescue Plan Act funds. Gary Condit spoke regarding Ceres Youth Baseball, the contract between the City and Ceres Youth Baseball, lighting on field three, and American Rescue Plan Act funds. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION None APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDSICOMMISSIONS None CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Clerks Report of Posting. The agenda of the April 28, 2025, City Council Meeting was Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 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) 3. Approval of Minutes for the April 14, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting. (City Clerk) 4. Removed for separate consideration. 5. General Correspondence = Information Only MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 3 a. Report on International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Annual Conference. (Aguirre) b. Economic Development Report for January - March 2025. (Aguirre) C. Public Works Monthly Report for March 2025. (Royal) 6. Removed for separate consideration. Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving items 1 - 3 and 5. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councimember Councimember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Absent Yes CONSIDERATION OF ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR Item 4: Removed for separate consideration by Councilmember James Casey Register of Audited Demand(s) Dated April 2, 2025, through April 9, 2025. (Esenwein) Councimember Casey spoke regarding Resolution 2021-57 and the fire protection cost paid to Modesto Fire. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included whether the service provided outweighs the cost and a future public meeting regarding fire services. Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving item 4. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Absent Yes Item 6: Removed for separate consideration by Ceres Resident Gene Yeakley Resolution No. 2025-032, Authorizing the City Manager to Accept Donated Funds to be Used for the Purchase and Buildout of a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe for the Police K9 Unit. (Johnson) MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 4 Gene Yeakley inquired as to where the funds came from, the donation amount and if there was a conflict of interest. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: Shirley Rogers congratulated staff for obtaining donations. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included who donated the funds, cost of the vehicle, cost of outfitting the vehicle, thanking the Corson Foundation for the donation, and obtaining another K9. Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving item 6. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Absent Yes UNFINISHED BUSINESS 7. Resolution No. 2025-033, Adopting the Amended City Council Rules and Procedures Handbook Dated April 2025, to Add the Pledge of Allegiance Procedure, Amend the Committee Appointment Process and Include Language Regarding Certificates. (City Clerk) City Clerk, Fallon Martin, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: Brandy Meyer spoke regarding the certificate request deadline. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included who a sub-committee would consist of when conducting committee interviews, request deadline for certificates, service organizations leading the pledge of allegiance, having a veteran or veteran organization lead the pledge of allegiance on the meeting preceding Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July, who will lead the pledge of allegiance when school is out, provide certificates to those who lead the pledge of allegiance, and including private schools for student led pledge of allegiance. MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 5 Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Councilmember Otero, approving the resolution with the changes to the handbook in addition to the changes discussed by the council. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote: Councimember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Absent Yes PUBLIC HEARING 8. Ordinance No. 2025-XXXX, An Ordinance oft the City Council of the City of Ceres, Adopting a Rezone to Change the Zoning Map Designation from the AP Administrative Professional Zoning District to the R-5 Multi-Family Residential Zoning District for a 2.1-Acre Site. (Aguirre) Resolution No. 2025-034, Approving a Site Plan Application for an 81-Unit Senior Living Facility Located at 1748 Evans Road, Ceres, CA 95307. (Aguirre) Planning Consultant, Lea Simvoulakis, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. The following members of the public spoke: Shirley Rogers spoke in support of the project. John Warren spoke regarding the building height and tree landscaping. Katherine Reeve spoke regarding window coverings in the building. Peter Sandholdt with FCGA Architecture spoke regarding trees and window coverings. Gene Yeakley spoke regarding the use of artificial trees in place of live trees. Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing. Council and staff discussion included electric vehicle compliance, community meeting notification to City Council and advertisement, entrance(s) for the project, and construction route. Action: Motion by Councilmember Vierra, seconded by Councilmember Casey, approving item 8. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote: MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 6 Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Absent Yes 9. Resolution No. 2025-035, Concurring and Supporting the Consolidated Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2029 and Annual Action Plan (AAP) for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Prepared for the Stanislaus Urban County and Stanislaus HOME Consortium. (Aguirre) Redevelopment and Economic Development Manager, Julian Aguirre, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing. Council and staff discussion included funding split, utilization of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, how CDBG funding can be used, allocation of HOME funding, and community outreach. Action: Motion by Councilmember Otero, seconded by Councilmember Vierra, approving item 9. Motion carried 4/0/1/0 by the following roll call vote: Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Vice Mayor Mayor Lopez Casey Vierra Otero Martinez Yes Yes Yes Absent Yes 10. Resolution No. 2025-XXX, Adopting the Necessary Findings to Approving an Energy Services Contract with Alliance Building Solutions, LLC, Approving a Finance Agreement and Related Necessary Lease Documents with Metro Futures, Inc. to Fund the Implementation of Energy Conservation Improvements to City Facilities in Accordance with California Government Code Sections 4217.10 to 4217.18, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreements. (City Manager) *This public hearing will be continued to an undetermined City Council meeting date. Mayor Lopez opened the public hearing. The following members of the public spoke: Jake Torres with American Building Solutions, LLC spoke regarding lighting being included in the project. Mayor Lopez closed the public hearing. MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 7 NEW BUSINESS None DISCUSSION ITEMS 11. Cannabis Business Pilot Program Evaluation. (City Attorney) City Attorney, Nubia Goldstein, introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. The following members of the public spoke: Andy Hartogh spoke regarding Kase Manufacturing's history, Ceres cannabis tax structure, and percent of revenue provided to Ceres by Kase Manufacturing. Shirley Rogers spoke regarding cannabis tax in Ceres. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included number of cannabis businesses in Ceres, compliance, tax structures in other cities, effects of cannabis use, how general tax funds can be used, and how a transition to conditional use permitting would look. COUNCILMEMBER REFERRALS 12. City Treasurer Monthly Reports (Councilmember Casey) Councimember Casey introduced the item. Mayor Lopez asked for public comment. No one spoke. Mayor Lopez closed public comment. Council and staff discussion included transparency, City Treasurer's responsibility in the Ceres Municipal Code, changing the responsibilities of the City Treasurer, updating the Ceres Municipal Code, bringing back a staff report stating what the code says, what State law requires, and options for the City Council. Consensus by council for staff to bring back an item with more information and options for the City Council on City Treasurer's responsibilities. (4/0/1/0 * Absent = Martinez) MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 8 REPORTS Mayor Nothing to report. City Council Councilmember Casey spoke regarding VFW's poppy fundraiser. Councimember Vierra spoke regarding attending a Modesto Nuts game, Love Ceres, El Rematito, Economic Evaluate at Opportunity Stanislaus, Providing Aid at Times of Crisis training, resources for senior citizens, Stanislaus Homeless Alliance, and lighting at George Costa Fields. Councimember Otero thanked the committee, sponsors, and volunteers for Love Ceres, Lazy Wheels mobile home park, homeless population in the city, reporting issues through the City of Ceres mobile app, and utilizing Ceres non-emergency. City Manager Nothing to report. City Attorney Nothing to report. Departments Redevelopment and Economic Development Manager, Julian Aguirre, spoke regarding the opening of KW Recovery Lab, The Drip Coffee House, and Panda Express. Public Works Director, Sam Royal, spoke regarding the Ceres Street Faire. CLOSED SESSION 13. Conference with Legal Counsel = Anticipated Litigation, Cal. Gov't Code $54956.9(d)(2) "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 of its legal counsel, based on existing facts and circumstances, there is a significant exposure to litigation against the local agency. Potential Case: 1 case Mayor Lopez stated the Closed Session items had been cancelled. MINUTES Regular City Council Meeting April 28, 2025 Page 9 REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION None ADJOURNMENT The next scheduled City Council Meeting will be held on May 12, 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 8:58 p.m. lur Javier Lopez, Mayor awow moR 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 dsmsaaane center.