City Council/Successor Agency/Public Finance Authority

AGENDA ITEM NO. 5. – A. CITY OF AVENAL “Pistachio Capital of the World®” REGULAR CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/PFA MEETING MAY 9, 2024, 5:15 P.M. AVENAL THEATER & EVENT CENTER, 233 E. KINGS ST., AVENAL, CA VIA ZOOM VIDEO/WEB CONFERENCING: Web Link: bit.ly/AvenalCouncil or use https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87243440488 Or by calling +1 669 900 6833 and use meeting ID 872 4344 0488 to join. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by Mayor Preciado at 5:19 p.m. ROLL CALL: Councilman Pablo Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem Alejandro Ramirez, Mayor Alvaro Preciado. ABSENT: Councilmen’s: Lou Gravelle, Ricardo Verdugo. STAFF: Lopez, Ortiz, Price, Bermudez, Davis, Velasco. Williams Lara-Nieto, Nevarez. LEGAL COUNCEL: Moses Diaz. CITY CLERK: Government Code Section 54952.3: The members of the City Council/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 Successor Agency. The City Council went into Closed Session at 5:17 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: Any person may directly address the Council/Agency at this time on items of interest regarding Closed Session. A. 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 its real property negotiator(s) concerning the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property by or for this agency as follows: 1. Property Description: APN: 040-320-009-000; & 040-320-014-000 Negotiator(s): City Manager/City Attorney. Party with whom negotiating: CrisCom Company. Instructions to negotiator concerning: Terms of Payment. 2. 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. B. Pending Litigation (Government Code § 54956.9). Conference with legal counsel – EXISTING LITIGATION (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1)). Parties, case/claim no: Ross Family Properties, LLC, v. City of Avenal (Kings County Superior Court, Case No. 24CU0071) Mayor Preciado reopened meeting at 6:04 p.m. with nothing to report out of Closed Session PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS & UNSCHEDULED APPEARANCES: 6: Antony Lopez, City Manager reported the following: 1) Thanked the City Council for allowing him to connect virtually from Fairfield Ohio. He helped a resident move. Maria Ortiz, City Clerk asked the City Council to move up item 6. Activity Report: 3. Recreation Department Activity Report after Public Comment. Councilman Gravelle motioned to move up item 6. Activity Report: 3. Recreation Department Activity Report after Public Comment, seconded by Councilman Verdugo and motion carried. Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – May 9, 2024 Page 2 of 4 Roll Call Vote: AYES: Gravelle, Hernandez, Verdugo, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Ana Lara, Senior Recreation Leader reported the following: 1) Thanked, the Council for moving her item up her daughter has a game and it is senior night; 2) Community Garden; 3) Old Timers Day; 4) Rental report; 4) working on: Family Teatime, Summer Kidz Spot Program; and 5) Collaboration: Health Collaborative, Outdoor Movies Rotary – OTD/Food Distributions, KCAO – Scholarships for Kidz Spot Summer Program and Valley Voices. CONSENT CALENDAR: All items listed under the consent calendar are routine and enacted by one motion: (Action). A. Consider City of Avenal/Successor Agency’s Approval of Minutes for May 9, 2024. Council Member/Successor Agency Member Gravelle motioned to approve Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Gravelle, Hernandez, Verdugo, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. ACTIVITY REPORTS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS& COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Activity Reports: 1. Public Works/Code Enforcement/Animal Control Departments Activity Report: Scott Davis, Public Works Supervisor. Scott Davis, Public Works Supervisor reported the following: 1) Code Enforcement; 2) Park & Landscape; 3) Animal Control; 4) Streets; 5) Water Distribution; 6) Wastewater Distribution; and 7) Vehicle, Equipment, Building Maintenances. 2. IT Department Activity Report: Humberto Bermudez, IT Manager. Humberto Bermudez, IT Manager reported the following: 1) Internet; 2) Phone System; 3) Emails; 4) Services; 5) Other Continuing to assist in local events (Food distributions, Old Timer’s Day), Continues to maintain the city website and provide tech support across all facilities, Refreshing quotes from digital sign vendors to meet two 8x4ft single sided sign with as low of a pitch as available. B. Special Presentations/Reports: 1) None. MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBERS/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY/ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: A. None PUBLIC HEARING(s): A. None OLD BUSINESS: A. Consider Approval of Council Policy 2024-01 (Council Stipend/Compensation): Resolution 2024-17 City Manager Lopez reported that continued from April 25th Meeting Following the Avenal City Council's motion on March 14, 2024, to adopt Option 1 - Performance-Based Incremental Compensation regarding Council compensation /stipend, staff has prepared a comprehensive draft policy for a new council member compensation schedule. This policy is designed to promote active participation and engagement among council members in city governance and community activities. This policy will take effect starting May 1, 2024, and will be fully incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 budget. The draft policy establishes a transparent and equitable compensation structure, offering a base pay of Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – May 9, 2024 Page 3 of 4 $300/month for council members, with additional pay for attending council and board meetings, and active participation in city events. The policy caps the total monthly compensation at $950 per council member (per Government Code § 36516) and introduces a Community Grant Fund to reallocate unused funds for the benefit of community projects and initiatives. To fully implement this policy, several components will still be in development: • Exhibit A: The list of approved council board assignments and committees, which will outline eligible meetings and participation for additional compensation. • Exhibit B: Details regarding the Community Grant Fund, including its management, application process, and eligibility criteria. • Special Committee Consideration: The possibility of creating a special committee to review and recommend grant funding requests, ensuring a comprehensive approach to community support. After a lengthy discussion the following action was taken. Councilman Verdugo motioned for a stipend of 450.00 and bring back Council Policy. 2024-01 later date, seconded by Councilman Gravelle and motion carried. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Verdugo, Gravelle, Ramirez. NOES: Hernandez, Preciado. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. NEW BUSINESS: A. Consider Awarding Bid for Restrooms for the Avenal Community Garden and Avenal Pocket Park: Javier Andrade, City Engineering (Discussion/Action), Resolution 2024-18 Javier Andrade, Contract City Engineer the City of Avenal was awarded funds through the Per Capita Program to construct restrooms at the Community Garden and Neighborhood Park. Quotes were requested from Lionsgate Construction LLC and A-Z Home Improvements LLC. Lionsgate Construction LLC provided no response and A-Z Home Improvements LLC provided the following quotes: $ 33,892.28 – Community Garden Restroom $ 35,592.28 – Neighborhood Park Restroom Staff recommends entering a contract with A-Z Home Improvements LLC for the construction of both the Community Garden and Neighborhood Park restrooms. RESOLUTION 2024-18: THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL AWARDING THE COMMUNITY GARDEN AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK RESTROOMS PROJECT TO A-Z HOME IMPROVEMENTS LLC. Councilman Verdugo motioned to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and motion carried. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Verdugo, Hernandez, Gravelle, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. B. Consider Approval of the Avenal Kids Pocket Park Project Bid from Todd Companies: Javier Andrade, City Engineering: Resolution 2024-19 City Engineering Andrade reported that the City of Avenal applied and received funding for the construction of the new Avenal Kids Park through the Prop 68 Statewide Park Program. The City advertised the Avenal Kids Park Project beginning April 2, 2024. The City solicited bids which were opened and read aloud on April 30th, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Avenal City Hall, as follows: CONTRACTOR BASE BID TOTAL BID ADDITIVES BID Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – May 9, 2024 Page 4 of 4 Todd Companies $917,500.00 $227,347.00 $1,144,847.00 Stockbridge General Contracting Inc. $1,240,316.00 $171,110.00 $1,411,426.00 The lowest responsive bidder is Todd Companies. The City Engineer is recommending awarding the contract to Todd Companies with the condition of a change order to cost value engineer the project cost to $900,354.00 to reduce the cost of the project while still constructing the necessary scope of work. Staff recommends the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2024-19 to award the contract to Todd Companies for the Avenal Kids Pocket Park Project and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. Approximately $200,000 in construction costs will need to be funded by the City through the water, sewer, and general funds. RESOLUTION 2024-19: THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL AWARDING THE AVENAL KIDS POCKET PARK PROJECT TO TODD COMPANIES. Councilman Verdugo motioned to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and motion carried. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Verdugo, Hernandez, Gravelle, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. C. Consider Awarding Whitney Street/Community Building Sewer Pipelines and Manholes project: Robert Williams, PW Director: Resolution 2024-20 Scott Davis, Public Works Supervisor reported that on opened bids May 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. for the Whitney Street/Community Building Sewer Pipelines and Manhole Project. Staff received two (2) bids for the Whitney Street/Community Building Sewer Pipelines and Manhole Project as follows:  Grizzly Construction, Inc. $176,671  Mike Wilson Construction $130,000 Staff recommends entering into agreement with lowest responsible bidder Mike Wilson Construction. RESOLUTION 2024-20: THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL AWARDING WHITNEY STREET/COMMUNITY BUILDING SEWER PIPELINES AND MANHOLES PROJECT TO MIKE WILSON CONSTRUCTION. Councilman Verdugo motioned to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and motion carried. Roll Call Vote: AYES: Verdugo, Hernandez, Gravelle, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS/CLOSING COMMENTS: City Manager Lopez reported the following: 1) May 15th- Invite City/County Coordinating Meeting – La Fiesta Restaurant in Hanford.; 2) Thank you for a speedy meeting; 3) Vacation- to attend college reunion and will give more details later. Councilman Verdugo & Councilman Gravelle reported the following: 1) Old Timer was busy and well attended with many activities through town. Mayor Preciado reported the following: 1) attended many meetings and thanks the community for attending. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Preciado report that with no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Maria Ortiz, City Clerk