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 OCTOBER 10, 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 5:15 p.m. ROLL CALL: Councilman, Ricardo Verdugo, Pablo Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem Alejandro Ramirez, Mayor Alvaro Preciado. ABSENT: Councilman Lou Gravelle, STAFF: Lopez, Ortiz, Price, Bermudez, Davis, Velasco, Lara-Nieto. 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 $450.00 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 5:19 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: Any person may directly address the Council/Agency at this time on items of interest regarding Closed Session. A. Personnel (Government Code §54957(b)). Consider Public Employee Performance Evaluation for the Position of: City Manager. B. Conference with Labor Negotiator(s) (Government Code § 54957.6). It is the intent of this governing body to meet in Closed Session to review its position and to instruct its designated representatives: Designated representatives: City Employees Bargaining Units 4. Mayor Preciado reopened meeting at 6:20 p.m. with nothing to report. PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS & UNSCHEDULED APPEARANCES: Maria Ortiz, City Clerk stated no comment cards have been submitted at this time. Staff presented a video was presented of the Avenal Cutoff Road project and pictures. CONSENT \CALENDAR: All items listed under the consent calendar are routine or for approval only and are enacted by one motion: (Action). A. Consider City of Avenal/Successor Agency’s Approval of Minutes for September 26, 2024. B. Consider Updating the City Clerk/Administrative Assistant job description to City Clerk/Community Development Coordinator, within Avenal City Hall (Resolution 2024-46). C. Consider Entering into an M.O.U. with Avenal Rotary Club for the 2024 Pistachio Days Festival. D. Consider Adoption of Citywide Policy Governing the Assignment and Use of Take-Home Vehicles for City Employees (Resolution 2024-47). E. Consider Adoption of Citywide Policy Governing Travel Per Diem and Mileage Reimbursements (Resolution 2024-48). Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – October 10, 2024 Page 2 RESOLUTION 2024-46: UPDATING THE CITY CLERK JOB. Councilman Verdugo made a motion to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and carried. RESOLUTION 2024-47 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL ADOPTING A CITYWIDE TAKEHOME AND GENERAL VEHICLE USE POLICY FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. Councilman Verdugo made a motion to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and carried. RESOLUTION 2024-48: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL ADDOPTING AN EMPLOYEE TRAVEL PER DIEM AND MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT POLICY. Councilman Verdugo made a motion to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and carried. Council Member/Successor Agency Member Verdugo motioned to approve Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Verdugo, Hernandez, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: Gravelle. 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; Water Distribution; 5) Wastewater Collection; 6) Vehicle, Equipment & Building Maintenance. a. City Engineer’s Activity Report: Javier Andrade –A&M Consulting Engineers Javier Andrade –A&M Consulting Engineers reported activities as follows: 1) Local Roadway; 2) Roads/Streets; Kids Park; 3) Bathrooms; 4) Transportation and 4) Grants. 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; and 5) Others: -Civic Plus provides us the necessary info for the .gov migration, -Golden Rule Signs set to provide updates by end of week for the Skyline/Kings Street digital sign replacement. Currently awaiting update from MAVP on the Elliot Park signs -Staff demos and deploys Crossroads Software, a traffic collision reporting software for APD. Further functionality to be expanded upon with guidance from Chief of Police. -Continuing to assist in local events (Food distributions, Block Party) -Continues to maintain the city website and provide tech support across all facilities. -Image2000 reaches out with two proposals for a new printer lease. Staff reaches out to C.A. Redding and American Business Machines for quotes for both printing and letter folding. 3. Recreation Department Activity Report: Anna Lara, Community Activities Senior Leader Anna Lara, Community Activities Senior Leader reported the following: 1) Community Garden; 2) September 25th Community Night Out; 3) Rentals; 4) working on - Pistachio Fest October 15th -19th , October 25th -Trunk or Treat 5PM- 8PM/Animal Shelter will join, Dia de Los Muertos, Thanksgiving Dinner, Holiday Magic – Date change to December 7th; 5) Collaborations - Valley Voices – Food Distribution & October 23rd - Avenal State Prison Trunk or Treat. 4. Economic Development & Grant Writing Report: Emily Engelsgaard, Grants Manager, the CrisCom Company. MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBERS/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY/ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: A. None. Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – October 10, 2024 Page 3 PUBLIC HEARING(s): Joint Hearing of the City of Avenal Successor Agency RDA Trust Obligations Fund/Public Finance Authority: A. Consider Proposed City of Avenal Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 City Budget /Fees & Charges:  Staff Report  Public Hearing  Discussion/Action: Approval by Resolution (including Fees & Charges). Note: Funding Requests included in FY 2022/2023. City Manager Lopez reported that would like to continue Consider Proposed City of Avenal Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 City Budget /Fees & Charges to the next City Council meeting. Mayor Preciado opened Public Hearing to Consider Proposed City of Avenal Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/2025 City Budget /Fees & Charges at 7:22 p.m. Romy Gutierrez had the following concerns: 1) Budget; 2) Road funds; 3) Mental Health; Avenal Police Department and 4) helping the youth with gangs and mental health issues and training for families. RESOLUTION 2024-49: ADOPTING THE CITY OF AVENAL FISCAL YEAR BUDGET 2024/2025. Councilman Verdugo made a motion to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Verdugo, Hernandez, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: Gravelle. ABSTAIN: None B. Consider Comprehensive Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Update:  Staff Report  Public Hearing  Discussion/Action: Approval by Resolution. Kelsey George, Planning Consultant reported in 2021, the City of Avenal sought proposals from qualified firms to prepare a comprehensive update to both the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances of the Avenal Municipal Code. The current ordinances are outdated, do not reflect the goals and policies of the General Plan, and in places are inconsistent with state law. The City contracted with consulting firm QK, Inc. to develop the updates to meet the following goals: • Implement the 2035 General Plan • Ensure consistency with state and federal laws • Improve user-friendliness • Create a transparent process • Promote improved project design • Respond to community concerns Encourage infill development • Standardize development review On August 12, 2024, the draft ordinances were presented to the Avenal Planning Commission as an informational item to highlight major changes. On September 9, 2024, the Planning Commission formally recommended adoption of the ordinances via Resolution 24-02. This hearing is to introduce the new comprehensive Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Update for adoption. It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions: 1. Request the City Planner to deliver the staff report; 2. Ask any questions of staff regarding the action; 3. Open the public hearing for comments; close the public hearing; ask for any additional Commission discussion and questions; 4. Request a motion for action on the project. Staff recommends the Council approve the project by adopting: Ordinance 2024-02 (finding the project exempt from CEQA and adoption of the proposed ordinances) Mayor Preciado opened Public Hearing at 7:36 p.m. closed Public Hearing with no comments. Joint Meeting City Council/Successor Agency/PFA – October 10, 2024 Page 4 ORDINANCE 2024-02: (FIRST READING & INTRODUCTION) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL REVISING CHAPTER 6 AND REPEALING THE EXISTING ZONING ORDINANCE AND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE (CHAPTERS 9 AND 10 OF THE AVENAL MUNICIPAL CODE) AND REPLACING THEM WITH A NEW COMPREHENSIVE ZONING AND ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE. Councilman Verdugo made a motion to approve, seconded by Councilman Hernandez and carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Verdugo, Hernandez, Ramirez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: Gravelle. ABSTAIN: None. OLD BUSINESS: A. Consider Approving SRO Agreement with RSUSD: (Discussion/Action). City Manager Lopez reported still negotiation SRO Agreement requesting to table item. Mayor Preciado made the motion to table, seconded by Councilman Verdugo and motion carried ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Preciado, Verdugo, Gravelle. NOES: None. ABSENT: Hernandez, Ramirez. ABSTAIN: None. NEW BUSINESS: A. None. CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS/CLOSING COMMENTS: City Manager Lopez reported the following: 1) Thanked, City Council for a speedy meeting. Councilman Verdugo reported the following: Thanked all City staff. 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 7:57 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Maria Ortiz, City Clerk