City Council Meeting

CITY OF LOS BANOS CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 1, 2023 ACTION MINUTES – These minutes are prepared to depict action taken for agenda items presented to the City Council. For detail of this meeting refer to the electronic media (CD and/or audio) kept as a permanent record. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Llanez called the City Council Meeting to order at the hour of 6:03 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Police Chief Brizzee led the pledge of allegiance. ROLL CALL – MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL PRESENT: Council Members Doug Begonia, Brett Jones, Kenneth Lambert, Deborah Lewis, Mayor Paul Llanez; ABSENT: None. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: City Manager Pinheiro, City Attorney Vaughn, Police Chief Brizzee, City Clerk/Human Resources Director Mallonee, City Treasurer Lawrence, Fire Chief Tualla, Community & Economic Development Director Souza Elms, Interim Finance Director Kuhn CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Motion by Lambert, seconded by Jones to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all Council Members present. PRESENTATIONS - CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY 2023 – ANTHONY “BUTCH” TERRANOVA, PUBLIC WORKS FOREMAN; CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – BROKTON BORELLI, CHAMPION AT THE SAC-JOAQUIN WRESTLING MASTERS TOURNAMENT AND QUALIFIED FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS; CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – LARRY BORELLI, CHAMPION AT THE SAC-JOAQUIN WRESTLING MASTERS TOURNAMENT AND QUALIFIED FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS; CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – RAYMOND FERNANDEZ, PLACED 3RD AT THE SAC-JOAQUIN WRESTLING MASTERS TOURNAMENT AND QUALIFIED FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS; CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – KIARA DANIELS, PLACED 3RD AT THE SAC-JOAQUIN WRESTLING MASTERS TOURNAMENT AND QUALIFIED FOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS; CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – MIKAYLA MENDOZA, PLACED 7TH AT THE SAC-JOAQUIN WRESTLING MASTERS TOURNAMENT; CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – CRYSTAL HERNANDEZ, PLACED 8TH AT THE SAC-JOAQUIN WRESTLING MASTERS TOURNAMENT. Mayor Llanez presented and read the Certificates of Recognition, for which Broxton Borelli, Larry Borelli, Raymond Fernandez, Kiara Daniels, Mikayla Mendoza and Crystal Hernandez attended to accept. PUBLIC FORUM: MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON ANY ITEM OF PUBLIC INTEREST THAT IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY; INCLUDES AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO A FIVE (5) MINUTE PRESENTATION. DETAILED GUIDELINES ARE POSTED ON THE COUNCIL CHAMBER INFORMATIONAL TABLE. Mayor Llanez opened the public forum and asked those at the meeting if they would like to speak: SHANDRA LEWIS, Manager of Rancho Los Banos Mobile Home Park, thanked the City Council for removing the homeless and taking down the encampment, but she is concerned that one person was left there and allowed to come back, appreciates all that you have done but feels that that gentlemen will attract them to come back; CAROL ETCHEVARRY, Los Banos, stated that she spoke in July when we were having city planning issues and dismissal of Josh and she came to applaud you for bringing Josh back for what he has laid out for the City and she appreciates it and hopefully it all falls into place; MIKE HUGHES, Commander of the VFW of Los Banos, spoke regarding the upcoming Honor Flight Dinner event on April 15, 2023 and the funds they have raised over the years and who it helps, thanked the Council for all the support given over the years; BLANCHE WILLIAMS, Los Banos Elks Lodge, spoke regarding how May Day is coming soon and the beer booth they will have there to raise funds for local youth scholarships and spoke to the history of the May Day Fair and how it has grown into what it is today and encouraged all to support the upcoming May Day Fair; NANCY SOARES, commended the Council for bringing back the City Manager and excited to see Josh up there, its where he needs to be; TONY WHITEHURST, Los Banos Chamber of Commerce, thanked the Council and staff for their continued support and partnership with the Chamber in an attempt to make the business community a more welcoming environment, how businesses had been hit hard by COVID, they are actively pursuing a couple of agreements and commitments to attract new businesses to the City and the Chamber of Commerce, would encourage the Council and citizens to continue to participate in the Chamber events as it is very much appreciated; ROY TODD, went back and looked at some minutes from February 2020 the Chamber had 253 members and as of this point we are at 207 members, we have 11 new members and 20 renewals since January, and spoke to upcoming events, i.e. spring fair, tomato festival, fall street faire, annual Christmas parade and tree lighting, mother’s day in the park, how the new IHOP has agreed to join the Chambers, Bee Keeper has joined, how we were not able to do a mixer in February but will double down in March with a mixer hosted by Gail Mortgage and Valley Springs Memory Care, upcoming ribbon cutting for Biggins Texas BBQ at Mr. Lambert’s new location, 609 I Street. Mayor Llanez asked the City Clerk if she had received any comments to be read into the record. City Clerk Mallonee stated she received the following comments: ELIZABETH BENAVIDEZ, Executive Director with A.C.T.S. Foundation, wrote to introduce herself and speak regarding the services A.C.T.S. provides the low income and houseless community and population. No one else came forward to speak and the public forum was closed. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA. Motion by Lambert, seconded by Jones, to approve the consent agenda as follows: Check Register for #237331 - #237695 in the Amount of $4,669,704.00. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all Council Members present. CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION OF CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 6609 – AMENDING DIVISION 4, SALARY SCHEDULE/EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATIONS RELATING TO CHANGES TO SECTION A – ADMINISTRATION AND SECTION C – COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. (Continued from the February 1 and February 15 City Council Meetings and to be Continued to the March 15, 2023 City Council Meeting). Interim Finance Director Kuhn explained that the scope has expanded and in order to bring an adequate and fair picture, he is going through the process of changing it to go through the budget process and how this will not be a standalone item going forward but will be an item that addresses all unrepresented management positons and will be part of the budget process. Council Member Lewis wanted to make it clear for her understanding that there are two positions in question here and now we are bringing in other mid-management positions, she wants to make sure that these positions, it is not just about these positions but it is about these two women who have been underpaid for some time and need to not be clouded with other positions, she doesn’t want these two positon to get lost or off track for which Interim Finance Director Kuhn responded to and explained the process that he is going through and how the salary is structure by position, how his approach is gender neutral, he is looking at the value of the value of the position, the responsibilities of the position, he had to continue this as a part of unrepresented people not getting their fair amount of their salary was something that came up during this process and added that there will be an explanation with the data to support it, need to look at compaction and the way the position is structured and is all compensated as a basis of the internal process and the external market process and he is looking at both of these. Mayor Llanez stated that it is obvious that positions are under paid and need some increases and what is important is that people are paid properly. ADVISEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICES. (No Report). CITY MANAGER REPORT. City Manager Pinheiro stated that he is excited to be back, thanked all those for their support, all your words of encouragement he really appreciates it, will work very hard for the city, thanked the mayor and council members he appreciates your support, thanked staff for all their hard work and continue make me better, need community help and support to continue to make Los Banos a great place to be and made note of the new digital sign on the east side of town. REPORT/UPDATE ON MERCED COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (MCAG), PENINSULA CLEAN ENERGY (PCE), MEASURE V COMMITTEE, AND SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT (SJVAPCD), AND LOS BANOS DOWNTOWN PROPERTY & BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (LBDPBID). Council Member Lewis spoke regarding how the SJVAPCD had leftover funding in the budget and explained how the funds were re-directed to help farmers buy items they need and redirect burning of the orchards and grapevines. Mayor Llanez stated that the next MCAG meeting is later in March. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS DOUGLAS BEGONIA, JR.: Had the opportunity to go the firehouse for their Pancake Breakfast, which was a great event and spoke regarding the upcoming Arbor Day breakfast and event. BRETT JONES: Welcomed back our City Manager and spoke how we lost a lot of great momentum while you were away, but we cannot thank you for coming back to help this place we all call home. DEBORAH LEWIS: At our last two meetings, we were told that we would be getting an update on the status of the status of the cleanup of the CCID canal and the cost incurred and would like to see that scheduled as soon as he is available to report. KENNETH LAMBERT: Happy to have our City Manager back here and how it is time to start thinking positive and looking forward and we need to start focusing now for the City of Los Banos and start making positive thoughts and things going forward here. PAUL LLANEZ: Welcomed back Mr. Pinheiro as our City Manager and is excited to get stuff done, how he spoke with the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club to bring a brick and mortar facility to Los Banos and the resources are needed here, meeting after meeting after meeting, he makes himself available to the public on Fridays and to reach out to him, its time we bring some unity to the board and to this City and get stuff done, excited to work with Josh on things like the homeless and animal shelter, sports and youth and pickelball as well. ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Jones, seconded by Begonia, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. The motion carried by the affirmative action of all Council Members present. APPROVED: /s/ Paul Llanez_____________ Paul Llanez, Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Lucille L. Mallonee_________ Lucille L. Mallonee, City Clerk