City Council/Successor Agency/Public Finance Authority

CITY OF AVENAL “Pistachio Capital of the World®” REGULAR CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/PFA MEETING JANUARY 23, 2025, 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 Prior to start of the meeting we had a study session regarding ethics training, more specifically, on the Brown Act lead by City Attorney Moses which began at 4:02pm. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by Mayor Preciado at 5:20 pm ROLL CALL: Councilman Ricardo Verdugo, David Reynosa, Pablo Hernandez, Mayor Pro, Tem M. Leticia Gamez; Mayor, Alvaro Preciado. ABSENT: None. STAFF: Lopez, Curiel, Price, Bermudez, Velasco, Naranjo. LEGAL COUNSEL: 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. PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS & UNSCHEDULED APPEARANCES: Any person may directly address the Council/Agency at this time on any item on the agenda or on any other items of interest to the public that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council/Successor Agency. State Law prohibits any member of the Council/Agency from commenting or acting on matters not on the agenda. Three (3) minutes are allowed per person. I, Deputy City Clerk, Karla Curiel, received one comment card from Francisco Lopez. Francisco Lopez expressed concerns regarding the way Reef-Sunset Unified School District (RSUSD) presented the School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement. He stated that the presentation was inadequate, as it focused solely on the impact of one deputy rather than addressing the entire contract. He expressed that this approach reflected poorly on the Avenal Police Department and highlighted a lack of communication. Mr. Lopez emphasized the need for joint meetings between the City and the school district, as their decisions are interconnected. Additionally, he voiced concerns that the Sheriff’s Department could potentially be used for deportation efforts, noting that some community members are not citizens, and he hoped such actions would not occur. Overall, he urged both entities to collaborate more effectively. Kings County Grand Jury Member Kevin Scott stated that he served on the Hanford High School Board for eight years. During his tenure, the board facilitated the development of new facilities for police and nursing, without utilizing school district funds. Instead, the project was funded through contributions from the City and the College of the Sequoias (COS). He emphasized that the foundation of a city lies in its schools, police, fire services, and other essential institutions. Scott highlighted that the goal was not only to reduce costs for the school district but also to accomplish initiatives that the district would not have been able to undertake independently. This was achieved by leveraging grants and funding from COS and the City Council. He further stressed the importance of collaborative meetings between the school district and the City Council to drive progress in the implementation of community projects. Consider Recognizing Senior Officer Miguel Gracida as the Recipient of the 2024 Avenal Police Department Courage to Lead Award Chief Velasco announced that the Avenal Police Department is proud to recognize Senior Officer Miguel Gracida as the recipient of the 2024 Avenal Police Department Courage to Lead Award. Established in 2010, this award honors individuals who exemplify courageous leadership. He added that Officer Gracida has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and courage, making him a deserving recipient of this recognition. As a Field Training Officer (FTO), he has played a pivotal role in mentoring and training new officers, further strengthening the department. In recognition of his service, Senior Officer Gracida was presented with an award and a certificate signed by Chief Velasco and City Manager Lopez. 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 January 9, 2025. B. Ratify Resolution 2025-08/ SA Resolution 2025-01-Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule FY 25-26 for July 2025 through June 2026. C. Approve Expenditure for Repair to Main Pump #1 - Plant #1 (Motion). D. Consider Transitioning the Property and Evidence Officer Position from Part- Time to Full-Time within the Avenal Police Department (Resolution 2025-09). E. Consider Changing the Title of Police Captain to Police Commander and Update Job Description (Resolution 2025-10). F. Consider Changing the Title of Senior Police Officer to Police Corporal and Update Job Description (Resolution 2025-11). G. Consider Adopting by Resolution, New and Amended Citywide Policies for the City of Avenal Policy & Procedure Manual: Content Creation Guide and Official City Branding Social Media; Social Media Terms of Use Policy; Sexual Harassment; Discipline; Email Etiquette Policies, & Gym Release Form (Resolution 2025-12). During the initial discussion, Council Member Verdugo requested to move Item B to Old Business and Items D, E, and F to New Business. Additionally, he motioned to table Item G for approximately one month to allow for a thorough review of all related policies. For Items A and C, Mayor Pro Tem Gamez motioned for approval, with a second from Council Member Verdugo. The motion carried. Subsequently, during the discussions under Old Business Mayor Pro Tem Gamez requested to go back to Consent Calendar and motioned to approve Items D, E, and F. Item G was temporarily approved for a year after short presentation from City Manager, pending review of policies from City Attorney. It was also stated by City Attorney that these new policies supersede the old ones for the year. RESOLUTION 2025-09: AMENDING AN EXISTING EMPLOYMENT POSITION WITHIN CITY HALL. Council Member/Successor Agency Member Gamez motioned to approve item D on Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried. This was for the transitioning of the Property and Evidence Officer Position from Part-Time to Full-Time within the Avenal Police Department. RESOLUTION 2025-10: REPLACING AN EXISTING EMPLOYMENT POSITION WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. Council Member/Successor Agency Member Gamez motioned to approve item E on Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried. This is to consider changing the title of Police Captain to Police Commander and update job description. RESOLUTION 2025-11: REPLACING AN EXISTING EMPLOYMENT POSITION WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. Council Member/Successor Agency Member Gamez motioned to approve item F on Consent Calendar, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried. This is to consider changing the title of Senior Police Officer to Police Corporal and update job description. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Verdugo, Reynosa, Hernandez, Gamez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. RESOLUTION 2025-12: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL ADOPTING NEW AND AMENDED CITYWIDE POLICIES FOR THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA TERMS OF USE POLICY, CONTENT CREATION GUIDE AND OFFICIAL CITY BRANDING SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY, DISCIPLINE POLICY, EMAIL ETIQUETTE POLICY, AND GYM RELEASE FORM. Council Member/Successor Agency Member Gamez motioned to temporarily approve item G for a year, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried. These policies are replacing the current for the year. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Reynosa, Hernandez, Gamez, Preciado. NOES: Verdugo. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. MAYOR & COUNCIL MEMBER/ SUCCESSOR AGENCY/ ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: A. None ACTIVITY REPORTS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & COMMITTEE REPORTS: A. Activity Reports: 1. Police Department Activity Report: Cecilio Velasco, Chief of Police. Chief Velasco began by stating that his report would cover the period from October 2024 to the present. The majority of his report was presented as submitted. However, at the conclusion of his report, he addressed a recent school board meeting he attended, clarifying that statements made regarding the current state of the Avenal Police Department were inaccurate. He noted that a comment was made suggesting he should feel embarrassed, but he firmly disagreed, expressing his pride in serving the City of Avenal and his appreciation for the progress being made within the department. Mayor Preciado inquired about the Homicide Report and Operation Royal Flush. Chief Velasco responded that the incident occurred in 2023 and remains an ongoing investigation, preventing him from discussing specific details. He confirmed that the Avenal Police Department assisted in the case, with the Sheriff’s Department also playing a role. He further emphasized that he has no opposition to the Sheriff’s Department operating in the city and appreciates their assistance in the investigation. Mayor Preciado stated that his inquiry was made in the interest of public transparency. He also voiced his agreement with Chief Velasco regarding the inaccuracies stated about the Avenal Police Department during the school board meeting. 2. Community Development Activity Report: Kelsey George, Contract City Planner, 4Creeks. Kelsey provided an update to the Council, noting that several inquiries had been received about potential ideas for the City. She thanked the City for its efforts in the recent Goal Setting exercise and commended the City’s resourcefulness. The remainder of her report was presented as submitted. At the end of her report, Councilman Verdugo asked if the City can enter homes at any time without notifying residents, to which Kelsey responded that the City cannot enter homes illegally, but Code Enforcement can inspect properties without prior notice if a complaint is filed. Mayor Preciado inquired if the food vendor application process was similar to other communities, and Kelsey confirmed that it is and helps streamline the application process. Mayor Preciado also asked if the process is business-friendly, and Kelsey affirmed that it is designed to be so. Council Member Verdugo asked whether the City can increase fees at any time and where the fee schedules come from. Kelsey explained that fees can be adjusted administratively but must be approved by the City Council, and that fee details are available on the City website. The City Manager added that fee schedules are reviewed annually and that no increases have been made in the past 2-3 years. Kelsey also noted that staff time is factored into the fee but kept low. Finally, Mayor Preciado asked about the time frame for City annexation. Kelsey explained that the process varies depending on the county and involves a two-tier procedure with Kings and Fresno Counties, with Kings County serving as the lead agency. 3. Economic Development & Grant Writing Report: Emily Engelsgaard, Grants Manager, the CrisCom Company. Emily presented her report as submitted to the Council. During the discussion, the Mayor asked about the possibility of additional funding for air districts and whether it could be made available to rural communities. Emily responded that she would look into the matter further with her team to see if there are any extra funding opportunities. B. Special Presentations: a. Kings County Behavioral Health Community Updates Christi Lupkes, Deputy Director of Kings County Behavioral Health, introduced several representatives from contracted providers in the audience and presented her report as submitted to the Council. During the discussion, a member of the public asked how many total services were provided and to differentiate between appointments and services. Christi clarified that there are 12 youth currently receiving services, totaling 806 services. Councilman Verdugo raised a concern about the long application process for receiving services in the past. Christi explained that the process has not been condensed due to State requirements and Medi-Cal informational needs but that post-Covid, eligibility will now be reviewed with the person requesting services by someone from the agency. Councilman Verdugo also brought up the Suicide Walk event, noting that the city’s event was made smaller while a larger event for Kings County took place. Christi responded that their goal was not to create competition but to have multiple walks to create more community engagement and saturation. Council Member Gamez praised Aspirnet for their involvement with her family, to which Christi thanked Gamez for being a foster parent. The City Manager added that the digital signs are now complete, and once operational, they will begin cycling through information. An audience member, Sheila, asked about mobile crisis services. Christi explained that mobile crisis services are available throughout Kings County, with teams based in Hanford and Corcoran, and they are working on a third team. The City Manager added that a portion of the Avenal Hospital building is being explored for use, and Christi mentioned there is limited space in Avenal but they are looking into grants for infrastructure to support a team there. Sheila also inquired about the type of insurance accepted for mobile crisis services. Christi responded that the services primarily accept Medi-Cal or Medi-Cal only, and a representative in the audience added that mobile crisis services do not require specific health insurance. Sheila expressed an interest in connecting for future city events and seeking funding, as well as wanting to see support groups offered locally. Former resident Craig Bollinger raised a concern about a 6-month meeting agreement and felt that no progress had been made, referencing Richard Valle’s comments from the previous year. Christi responded that progress had been made and encouraged him to contact them if there were any specific issues requiring attention. Christi also mentioned her interest in starting a public campaign for awareness. Mayor Preciado thanked the program for their presentation and their commitment and concluded by affirming that they would continue their involvement with the program and the school. PUBLIC HEARING(s): A. None OLD BUSINESS: City Manager Lopez suggested that item B that was tabled be discussed before presenting on SRO agreement. He additionally went over final numbers for the obligation payment. Councilman Verdugo expressed concerns about placing resolutions on the consent calendar, citing state law from research he had brought and stating that it may reduce government transparency. He emphasized that this is why he prefers not to have resolutions on the consent calendar. Moses confirmed that the research was correct, but explained that resolutions are sometimes placed on the consent calendar to expedite the process, noting that neither approach is necessarily wrong. The City Manager added that the Mayor has the discretion to decide the agenda. The Mayor followed up by suggesting that Council members should review the agenda and ask questions prior to the meeting through the proper chain of command, in order to avoid taking up valuable public and Council time. Moses further clarified that there are different procedures for the consent calendar, and recommended adhering to the default rule. In regard to Item B from the consent calendar, it is a resolution that was amended with final numbers. RATIFY RESOLUTION 2025-08/ SA RESOLUTION 2025-01: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL (SUCCESSOR AGENCY) APPROVING A RECOGNIZED PAYMENT SCHEDULE (ROPS) PURSUANT TO AB XI 26, FOR JULY 2025 THROUGH JUNE 2026. Council Member/Successor Agency Member Verdugo motioned to approve amended Resolution, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Reynosa, and motion carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Verdugo, Reynosa, Hernandez, Gamez, Preciado. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. A. SRO Agreement with RSUSD (Informational). The City Manager reported that the previous week's school board meeting was disastrous. Both the City and the School District had been collaborating on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement for several months, and a meeting was held with the Superintendent on the morning of the board meeting. The City had requested a 50% financial contribution from the District, but this was reduced to 30%. Unfortunately, the agreement was misrepresented by the District administration at the board meeting. The City Manager expressed appreciation for the parents who spoke on the matter and acknowledged the support of the Avenal Police Department. He also thanked the City Council for their presence and involvement. He presented the agreement from the District and highlighted a specific section he disagreed with, notably the SRO guidelines concerning the ability to leave campus. The City Manager emphasized that the District is seeking more oversight over the Avenal Police Department officers, which contributed to the District’s decision not to approve the agreement. He expressed concern that the proposed changes would undermine the authority of the Chief of Police. Chief Velasco then provided additional context, stating that previous MOUs with the District were established to ensure accountability. He noted an instance where he had inquired about an office for Officer Gracida, but the District indicated it was unnecessary, while the Sheriff was provided an office as part of an agreement. The Chief also expressed disagreement with the District’s call for increased oversight of the SROs, explaining that building relationships with students is a gradual process, and that stricter oversight would be counterproductive. He further noted that there may be an amendment to the COPS grant, potentially allowing the funds to be allocated for purposes other than the SRO program. Mayor Preciado lastly included that it would be important to still meet with the District Board as they will need a new contract starting the new academic year. NEW BUSINESS: A. None. CORRESPONDENCE/ANNOUNCEMENTS/CLOSING COMMENTS: Any Council member may request an item be placed on a future agenda, provided that a simple majority also support adding said item. Discussion or action on any item not on the current agenda is strictly prohibited. Closing comments are intended for Council members to report attendance of any special events and pertinent information back to the public.  Upcoming/Future Agenda Items to Consider.  Correspondence/Announcements/Information/Closing Comments. There were no comments from the Deputy City Clerk. The City Manager informed the Council that Sexual Harassment Training is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by a ceremony in the afternoon to celebrate the graduation of three new officers from the COS Police Academy. Chief Velasco added that Friday, the 24th, will be a significant day for the City. The official ceremony will take place next Wednesday at Pegasus. There were no comments from the City Attorney. Council Member Verdugo offered an apology for his previous comments, stating he may have come across too strongly during the meeting. There were no comments from Council Members Reynosa, Hernandez, or Mayor Pro Tem Gamez. Mayor Preciado requested that the City Manager provide a deadline for staff to complete the Sexual Harassment Training. He also reminded the Council to complete and submit their 700 forms. Mayor Preciado shared that he had recently met with the Kings Area Rural Transit Agency (KART) and announced that they had successfully purchased a Ford F150 in good condition for $500. An audience member raised a concern regarding the trucks' hour meters and suggested they be checked against the mileage. The Mayor clarified that the low mileage was due to the vehicles being primarily used for transportation between locations. Additionally, the Mayor noted that there are new members on several boards, including KART and Vehicle Abatement. He also mentioned that he is looking forward to meeting with Alexandra Macedo's office in March to discuss potential funding opportunities. Regarding future agenda items, Mayor Preciado, along with Council Member Hernandez, expressed interest in addressing a community concern about local businesses purchasing products from wholesale stores and subsequently marking up prices two to three times higher in Avenal. The City Council went into Closed Session at 8:51p.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. Threat to Public Services or Facilities § 54957(a)). Consultation with Chief of Police. 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 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. Council came out of Closed Session at 10:46pm with no action taken. Having no other business, Mayor Preciado adjourned the meeting at 10:46pm. ADJOURNMENT: 1. In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office (559) 386-5766. Avenal Theater & Event Center, 233 East Kings Street Avenal, CA 93204. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the city to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting [28 CFR 35.02.35.1044 AA Title II]. 2. Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the [Council/ Authority] after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the [City Clerks] office at 919 Skyline Blvd., Avenal, CA 93204 during normal business hours. I certify this Agenda of the City of Avenal City Council workshop is to be posted at the following locations: 1) City Council Chambers, Avenal Theater 233 E. Kings St.; 2) City Hall 919 Skyline Blvd.; 3) Avenal Lumber, 600 Skyline Blvd.; and 4) T&T Market, 801 Skyline Blvd. Avenal CA 93204 on, January 20, 2025. __ /s/ Karla Curiel Karla Curiel, Deputy City Clerk