City Council/Successor Agency/Public Finance Authority

CITY OF AVENAL “Pistachio Capital of the World®” REGULAR CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/PFA MEETING September 25, 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 CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: by Mayor Pro Tem Gamez at 5:18pm. ROLL CALL: Councilman Ricardo Verdugo, David Reynosa, Pablo Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem Gamez, Mayor Alvaro Preciado (via Zoom). Mayor Preciado logged on via Zoom at 6:02pm. ABSENT: None. STAFF: López, Price, Curiel, Ortiz, Bermudez, Naranjo, Davis, Velasco, Nevarez 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. Council Member/Successor Agency Gamez motioned to allow Mayor Preciado to participate via Zoom seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Reynosa, and motion carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Gamez, Reynosa, Hernandez, Preciado. NOES: Verdugo ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. PUBLIC COMMENT/ANNOUNCEMENTS & UNSCHEDULED APPEARANCES: This time is reserved for members of the audience to address the City Council on items of interest that are both on the Agenda or not on the Agenda, and are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council/Successor Agency. State Law prohibits any member of the Council from commenting or acting on matters not on the agenda. The Council asks that you keep your comments concise and respectful. Criticism, concerns, or support are welcome, provided they are expressed with appropriate courtesy. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes. A timer will notify you when your time is expired. Please begin your comments by stating your name and place of residence. Ginger Wallis, Avenal resident, requested that Ordinance 2025-03 and Ordinance 2025-02 be read clearly and that Closed Session be moved to the end of the meeting. She also asked why the contract with Kings County was not sent following the previous Council meeting. Additionally, she requested that the meeting minutes reflect public comments verbatim and inquired which other City departments had been established within a few months. Dalila Barajas, Avenal resident, expressed concern regarding the proposed change from summary minutes to action minutes, stating it would reduce transparency and hinder the public’s ability to hold the Council accountable. She emphasized that the City Council should support the community and noted that her previous comments were not accurately reflected in the minutes, as they were revised to appear more positive than intended. Francisco Lopez, Avenal resident, shared an invitation to the upcoming Pistachio Festival and provided information about event activities. He also encouraged community members to participate in the talent show. Richard Valle, Kings County Supervisor, stated that he had met with Mayor Preciado and urged him to sign the contract with the County. He noted that Mayor Preciado initially indicated support for a three-year contract with an 18-month termination clause and amended language. Mr. Valle explained that following a subsequent conversation, Mayor Preciado expressed preference for a six-month termination clause, after which the Kings County Board of Supervisors declined further assistance. He reported that during the Board’s meeting the following day, three options would be presented to the City, and that if no agreement is reached, Kings County Fire Department services in Avenal will end effective October 31, 2025. Mr. Valle stated that if the community is left without fire services, it would be the responsibility of the City Council. John Chamberlain, Kings County Fire Chief, stated that he has no authority to receive or utilize funds from the City of Avenal and confirmed that he returned the checks and invoices after reviewing a letter from City Manager Antony López regarding prepayments for fire services. Sheila Verdugo, Avenal resident, urged the Council not to approve the change from summary minutes to action minutes. She expressed that many residents feel unheard regarding fire services, and reducing detail in the minutes would further that concern. She also requested that the item be pulled from the Consent Calendar and asked Councilmembers, as parents, to consider doing the right thing for the community. Luther Wallis, Avenal resident, expressed concern about large semi-trucks near the landfill posing a safety hazard and described a recent incident. He also stated that the City should slow down efforts to establish a local fire department and continue providing updates to the community. Kelly Guzman, Avenal resident (via Zoom), expressed solidarity with residents who feel there is a lack of transparency. She read portions of the recall statement and stated that public access to information should be simple and that residents’ statements should not be minimized. She also requested that the second reading of Ordinance 2025-03 not be waived. Rita Wallis, Avenal resident, asked why the fire contract from the previous Council meeting had not been sent to Kings County and stated that this inaction is the reason Council is facing a recall, asserting that members are not fulfilling their responsibilities. 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 11, 2025, Regular Meeting. B. Consider and Ratify Approval of Resolution 2025-48, Proclaiming September 2025 as National Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month. C. Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance 2025-02 Amending Section 6-4.20 of the Avenal Municipal Code - Cross-Connection Control Policy Update. Resolution 2025-49. D. Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance 2025-03 Adding Chapter 12 to Title 4 of the Avenal Municipal Code – Establishing the Avenal Fire Department and Fire Protection Regulations. Resolution 2025-50. E. Consider by Motion, Transition from Summary Minutes to Action Minutes for City Council Meetings. Council Member/Successor Agency Verdugo motioned to approve items A, B, C, and move item D to Old Business and item E to New Business, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Gamez, and motion carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Verdugo, Gamez, Reynosa, Hernandez. NOES: None. ABSENT: Preciado. ABSTAIN: None. RESOLUTION 2025-48: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AVENAL, CALIFORNIA, PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 2025 AS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AND RECOVERY MONTH. RESOLUTION 2025-49: ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 2025-02 AMENDING SECTION 6-4.20 OF THE AVENAL MUNICIPAL CODE-CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL POLICY UPDATE. 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 presented report as submitted. 2. Community Development Activity Report: Joshua McDonnell, Contract City Planner, 4Creeks. Joshua McDonnell, Contract City Planner, presented report as submitted. 3. Economic Development & Grant Writing Report: Emily Engelsgaard, Grants Manager, the CrisCom Company. John B, CrisCom representative, presented report as submitted. B. Presentations/Reports: 1. Avenal Landfill Quarterly Report: Site Manager, George Anderson – WasteConnections. Teresa Flores, Office Manager for WasteConnections, presented report as submitted. PUBLIC HEARING(s): Joint Hearing of the City of Avenal Successor Agency RDA Trust Obligations Fund/Public Finance Authority: A. None OLD BUSINESS: 9. A. Waive Second Reading and Adopt Ordinance 2025-03 Adding Chapter 12 to Title 4 of the Avenal Municipal Code – Establishing the Avenal Fire Department and Fire Protection Regulations. Resolution 2025- 50. Council Member/Successor Agency Preciado motioned to approve Resolution 2025-50 seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Hernandez, and motion carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Preciado, Hernandez, Gamez. NOES: Reynosa, Verdugo. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. NEW BUSINESS: 10. A. Consider by Motion, Transition from Summary Minutes to Action Minutes for City Council Meetings. Council Member/Successor Agency Verdugo motioned to table discussion on transition from summary minutes to action minutes, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Gamez, and motion carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Gamez, Reynosa, Verdugo. NOES: Hernandez, Preciado. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. CLOSED SESSION: (City/Successor Agency): A. 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- APOA; Bargaining Units 1, 2, 3 & 5 B. PERSONNEL (Government Code § 54957(b)). It is the intention of this governing body to meet in closed-session to: Hear complaints or charges against a public employee. Closed session was moved to the end of the meeting. City Council returned from closed session at 7:27pm with nothing to report. 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. City Manager, Antony V. López, stated that the conversation between Supervisor Valle and Mayor Preciado was not depicted in the way he heard from Mayor Preciado and there is more context to the fire negotiations thus far. Council Member/Successor Agency Preciado motioned to have a special meeting on Tuesday 9/30 at 4pm, seconded by Councilman/Successor Agency Member Verdugo, and motion carried. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Preciado, Verdugo, Hernandez, Gamez, Reynosa. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. ADJOURNMENT: City Council meeting was adjourned at 7:39pm __ /s/ Karla Curiel Karla Curiel, Deputy City Clerk