City Council/Successor Agency/Public Finance Authority

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5. – A. CITY OF AVENAL JOINT MEETING OF THE AVENAL CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019; 5:15 P.M. AVENAL THEATER; 233 E. KINGS STREET, AVENAL, CA 93204 MINUTES Mayor Ovalle called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. Staff Present: Whitten, Ortiz, Perkins, Davis, Santillan, Bermudez, Stivers. Legal Counsel: Ken Jorgensen. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Ovalle ROLL CALL: Councilman Preciado, Councilman Hernandez, Councilman Harvick, Mayor Pro Tem Woolley, Mayor Ovalle. CITY CLERK: Government Code Section 54952.3: The members of the City Council and Successor Agency are entitled to receive a total of $300.00 per month because of being elected to the City Council. They receive no other compensation for sitting as a member of the Successor Agency. City Council went into Closed Session at 5:19 p.m. CLOSED SESSION: (City/Successor Agency): It is the intent of this governing body to meet in closed session to review its position and to instruct its designated representatives: A. POTENTIAL/PENDING LITIGATION (Government Code § 54956.9). It is the intention of this governing body to meet in closed-session concerning: Conference with legal counsel – Deciding whether basis exists for closed-session for anticipated litigation (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(3)). Number of potential cases is: 1. B. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR(S) (Government Code§54956.8). It is the intent of this governing body to meet in Closed Session to confer with ifs real property negotiator(s) concerning the purchase, sale, exchange or lease of real property by or for this local agency as follows: Property Description: APN: 040-165-007 Negotiator(s): City Manager/City Attorney/CrisCom. Party with whom negotiating: County of Kings/State of California. Instructions to negotiator concerning: Terms C. CONSIDER THREAT TO PUBLIC SERVICES OR FACILITIES (Government Code § 54957(a)). It is the intention of this governing body to meet in Closed Session concerning the following: Consultation with Avenal Police Department: Rusty Stivers, Chief of Police. Mayor Ovalle, reopened City Council meeting at 5:59 p.m. with no action to report. CONSENT CALENDAR: A. Consider City of Avenal/Successor Agency's Approval of Minutes for October 10, 2019: A motion was made to approve consent calendar by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Harvick, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Hernandez and carried. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Harvick, Hernandez, Preciado, Woolley, Ovalle. Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency October 24, 2019 Page 2 of 5 NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBER/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY/ITEMS OR CONSIDERATION: A. Consider Appointments to the Avenal Recreation Commission: Mayor Ovalle asked if there are any changes for appointments by Councilman Harvick and Councilman Preciado. l) Paul Cobine: Term 3 - Councilmember Harvick's Appointment - Appoint to fill unexpired term (exp. 2021). 2) Arlene Santino: Term 5 - Councilmember Preciado's Appointment - Appoint to serve new term (2019- 2023). Councilman Preciado appointed Gloria Balderas to the Recreation Commission. Melissa Whitten, City Manager, reported Councilman Harvick decided to waive his appointment and pass it onto the City Council at the October 10th meeting. Staff is asking for City Council’s direction. Councilman Preciado suggested reaching out to residents that have submitted letters of interest to the Planning Commission. The City Council directed Staff to reach out to the individuals that submitted letters of interest to the Planning Commission for interest in serving on the Recreation Commission. Also, Staff was directed to advertise the vacancy in the Hanford Sentinel and City website. B. Consider Holiday Meeting Schedule: Melissa Whitten, City Manager, stated the Holiday meeting schedule allows Council and Staff to take a break and accommodate holiday schedules. Currently, Staff is recommending the following Holiday Meeting Schedule for consideration by City Council/Successors Agency/Housing Authority: Thursday November 14, 2019 5:15 p.m. Avenal Theater & Event Center. Thursday November 28, 2019 5:15 p.m. Avenal Theater & Event Center (cancel). Thursday December 12, 2019 5:15 p.m. Avenal Theater & Event Center. Thursday December 26, 2019 5:15 p.m. Avenal Theater & Event Center (cancel). **Special meetings can be scheduled and noticed, if necessary. Staff recommends by motion, to cancel the November 28, 2019 and December 26, 2019 City Council meetings. A motion was made by Councilman Harvick to cancel the November 28, 2019 and December 26, 2019 City Council meetings, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Woolley and carried. Also noted, that special meetings can be scheduled and noticed, if necessary. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Harvick, Preciado, Hernandez, Woolley, Ovalle. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS & UNSCHEDULED APPEARANCES: Maria Ovalle commented on the following: 1) The Chairperson of Miss Teen Avenal Scholarship Pageant, Dominica Sanchez was not unable to attend; 2) Thanks to the City Council for making Miss Teen Scholarship Pageant possible for these past ten (10) years; 3) This will be her last year as part of Miss Teen Avenal Scholarship Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency October 24, 2019 Page 3 of 5 Pageant so the organization is recruiting for a new Chairperson to keep it going; 4) she announced the winners of the Miss 2019/2020 Teen Avenal Scholarship Pageant – Winner - Ariana MaGee, First Runner-Up - Cindy Hernandez; and, Second Runner-Up Melonie Estrada. All winners are enrolled in the Wonderful Ag Program, in which they will be graduating with their Associates of Sciences degree when they graduate from high school. Mrs. Ovalle shared where the 10 years of former contestants are now. Gabby Mora (2009/2010) attended UC Santa Barbara and is now in the Army; Ana Atilano (2010/2011) is a Registered Nurse working at an Outpatient Surgery Center; Jessica Avila (2011/2012) lives in Orange County and is a Recruiter for Affluent Staffing; Mariana Zavala- Tanner (2012/2013) enlisted in the Navy as a Petty Officer Second Class Intelligence Specialist and is stationed in San Diego while attending Ashford University to obtain her Bachelors’ Degree in Psychology to become a social worker; Marisol Pacheco (2013/2014) graduated from Fresno State in May 2018 with her Bachelors’ in Social Work. She was admitted to the Social Work Masters Program there and is on the last year of that program and is interning at the Madera County Child Protective Services; Jennifer Cabrera (2014/2015) graduated with honors from Fresno State after receiving a scholarship from Boxer Jose Ramirez. She continues to work with Fresno Police Department; Sofia Lopez (2016/2017) is in her second year in Sacramento State; Sandra Lopez (2017/2018) is in her second year at Fresno State; Rose Marie Santillan (2018/2019) is in her Senior year at Avenal High School. She is happy to see all the great accomplishments of these young ladies. Mayor Ovalle stated that it was awesome to hear that all Miss Teen Scholarship participants have gone on to do positive things and have come back to help their community. Ms. Whitten thanked Mrs. Ovalle as Mrs. Ovalle and Dominica Sanchez have done a beautiful job with the Miss Teen Scholarship program. Mario Pescara stated his various concerns regarding building code violations at Westview Apartments and would like the City of Avenal to get involved. ACTIVITY REPORTS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Activity Reports: 1) Avenal Police Department Activity Report: Rusty Stivers, Chief of Police; Rusty Stivers, Chief of Police, reported the following: 1) Investigations; 2) Upcoming events - PAL Boxing Club is open on Tuesday and Thursday. JSO Diaz is organizing Basketball as a second sport for our PAL program and they will most likely have 5 teams playing in Lemoore on Saturdays; the week of October 21 - 25 is Red Ribbon Week and Gunnar will be doing a demonstration at the schools on October 22nd; the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will be on November 4th from 3 - 6 pm at Family Dollar; and the Coats for Kids Drive is tentatively scheduled for November 23, donations permitting; 3) Personnel News - Officer Kayla Smith received our Officer of the Year Award at the Public Safety Award Luncheon hosted by the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce, Martha Augustus has resigned from the Police Department to accept a position with the County of Kings in Hanford. Martha had served our community for nearly 8 years and made an impact in the people she has met. We will miss her but wish her nothing but the best in her career. 2) Community Development/Planning Activity Report: Fernando Santillan, Community/Economic Development Director. Fernando Santillan, Community/Economic Development Director, reported the following: 1) The Wonderful Fitness Court Launch was held on September 27 and lots of great feedback was received; 2) The new Rice Park Restrooms are operational and have been well received; 3) The Avenal Community Center project continues; 4) This year’s first Waste Tire and E-Waste Recycling Event was held. 500 tires and 60 CRTs were collected; 5) The Releaf Tree Planting should be wrapped up by November; 6) Staff has been coordinating with the County of Kings on 2020 Census efforts to ensure as many people in Avenal are counted as possible; 7) SB 2 Planning Program through Housing and Community Development Application for funding to implement an electronic permitting systems and other measures to support the regional planning process and support new housing development; 8) Arroyo Del Camino Phase 2 is complete and has begun leasing apartments; 9) Staff is working with the Job Training Office on a May 2020 Job Fair in Avenal, as the 2019 Job Fair was deemed a success and JTO would like to continue event; 9) Staff is following up with the State Parks and Recreation Department regarding our three Prop. 68 applications; 10) Thanked, Tony for assisting with the Pistachio Festival, as well as several other City staff members. It was a fantastic event throughout the entire weekend; and, 11) Staff Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency October 24, 2019 Page 4 of 5 has been approached by a developer for non-legally binding letter of interest from the City that would allow the developer to explore potential projects in Avenal that could be funded through the Federal Opportunity Zone Program. A. Special Presentations/Requests: 1. None. PUBLIC HEARING(s): A. None. OLD BUSINESS: A. None. NEW BUSINESS: A. Consider Authorizing Resolution to Apply for and Receive SB-2 Planning Grant Program (PGP) Funds: Mr. Santillan reported that the attached resolution is required by the State Water Resources Control Board as part of the funding application for SB 2 funds. SB 2 is known as the Building Homes and Jobs Act and was passed in 2017. the City of Avenal is eligible to receive up to $160,000 in non-competitive grant funds during the first cycle (future cycles are expected to be competitive) for eligible activities that support housing development. Staff is evaluating several potential projects, including electronic permitting systems, upgrades to the planning counter and other improvements that will facilitate interactions with developers and builders. We are also looking at potential streamlining efforts for Zoning/Development Code as well as developing guidance for ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) development in Avenal. Applications for funding are due Nov. 30, 2019. Staff recommends adoption of the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager or Community Development Director to execute the SB2 Planning Grant Program (PGP) funding application and any documents/amendments attached thereto. After a brief discussion, the following action was taken. RESOLUTION 2019-55: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR, AND RECEIPT OF, SB 2 PLANNING GRANTS PROGRAM FUNDS. A motion was made by Councilman Harvick, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Woolley and carried. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Harvick, Preciado, Hernandez, Woolley, Ovalle. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS/CLOSING COMMENTS: Councilman Preciado reported the following: 1) October 14th he attended Los Angeles Water District meeting with Gloria Grey and District 12 State Senator Anna Caballero. The largest water distributor in the State will partner with the Latino Water Coalition to work on projects that will benefit the Central Valley; 2) San Joaquin Air District Governing Board training conference was extended for 2 days which caused him to miss the League of Cities conference. He returned his per diem check and notified staff; 3) District 21 Congressman TJ Cox recognized Alvaro Preciado for a Latino inspired award; and, 4) Pistachio Festival was a big success. The Miss Teen Avenal Scholarship Pageant will be missed next year unless someone takes over. It greatly impacts our community. Thank you, Mrs. Ovalle, for your years of service. Councilman Hernandez reported that he attended the Pistachio Festival, played lottery with community members and had a good time. Mayor Pro Tem Woolley reported the following: 1) attended Pistachio Festival so she could feed her churro addiction; 2) attended the League of Cities conference in Long Beach. They had their largest attendance and good speakers. There was one workshop for a Rural Cities Information Exchange as a pilot program for the League of Cities. They would provide a link for City Councilmembers to join. Their goal is to provide informational webinars Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency October 24, 2019 Page 5 of 5 for small cities that issues that will affect small communities; 3) Highway 198 will be detoured onto Avenal Cutoff while replacing the bridge over the canal going to Interstate 5 Oct. 28th – Nov. 1, 2019; 4) KART/KCAPTA closed their Public Hearing and decided to leave bus routes as they are. The riders on all of the other routes in the County changes buses at the Hub to go to WalMart so the request to add a route to Walmart on the Avenal route does not meet the unmet needs definition. Also, a route to WalMart would make the route 30 minutes longer at a cost of $12,000 for the remainder of the year. As this bus route is not meeting the State required 15% purchased fares due to low ridership, additional funds would must either be raised through ticket prices or charging for children as they ride for free. Melissa Whitten, City Manager, reported the following: 1) Pistachio Festival was great, looked well-attended and thanked everyone involved; 3) Treat Street on October 31st from 4 - 8 pm; 4) November 1, 2019 Avenal Elementary Fall Festival 4-7 pm and Day of the Dead Celebration 7-10 pm; 5) November 4th Battle of the Badges at Family Dollar parking lot; and, 6) on November 11th - Veterans Day, City offices will be closed. Councilman Preciado requested a Study Session be scheduled regarding transportation needs for residents within the City of Avenal and to explore alternative transportation. Mayor Ovalle thanked Mrs. Ovalle for all her hard work with the Miss Teen Avenal Scholarship Pageant. He also thanked everyone for attending. ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business, the City Council meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Maria Ortiz, City Clerk