Parlier City Council – March 18, 2021 — fresnoland

Documenter: Ramiro Merino

Purpose of Agency

Parlier is a general law City governed by a five-member City Council and operates under the City Council-City Manager form of government. Four council members are elected by their respective district and the Mayor is elected at large. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council. 

Parlier City Council Board Member Duties

Council members are the leaders and policy makers elected to represent various segments of the community and to concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to citizens’ needs and wishes. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to carry out policy and ensure that the entire community is being served. Parlier City Administrator, Sonia Hall, handles the City’s day-to-day business with an “open-door policy” to community residents and businesses, where comments, concerns and suggestions are always welcome.

Parlier City Council Board Members

• Alma Beltran, Mayor

• Sabrina Rodriguez, Council Member District 1

• Trinidad Pimentel, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member District 2

• Cathryn “Kathy” Solorio, Council Member District 3

• Diane Maldonado, Council Member District 4

The Scene

The Parlier City Council meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 18 by Mayor Alma Beltran. The meeting was streamed live virtually through Facebook and Zoom, where a total of seven participants showed up throughout the night on Zoom. The viewers for Facebook are unknown. The in-person meeting consisted of the five council members, including the Mayor Alma Beltran, Mayor Pro Tem and Council Member for District 2, Trinidad Pimental, Council Members Sabrina Rodriguez, Cathryn “Kathy” Solorio, and Diane Maldonado for Districts 1, 3 and 4. City Clerk Dorothy Garza, Treasurer Michelle Lopez, Police Chief Jose Garza, City Attorney Neal Constanzo, Finance Director Ellie Velicescu and approximately five community members were also present. The camera was directed towards the podium, where a TV monitor displayed those on Zoom. Everyone shown at the meeting wore a mask and practiced social distancing as best as they could given the room layout of the meeting. 

You can find the agenda for the City Council meeting here

Public Comment:

The Council opened the meeting with public comment. The audio quality of the meeting sounded hazy, so a lot of what the residents said was unclear. Elizabeth Taylor, a resident of Parlier, spoke about how the Police Department lost five police officers. Mayor Beltran said “Ultimately, we are here for the public.” An attorney stated that the police department has out-of-date equipment and the moral issues are concerning. He stated that there are “lightbulbs from 1968 that have not been replaced.” Major Beltran stated that Chief Garza is aware of these issues but have not been addressed. “It is on the Chief to bring up these issues and address them, but if he does not, then nothing will be cleared up.” A mother spoke about the way the Chief handled her complaint from a year ago regarding one of the police officers. She stated, “The citizens of Parlier do not believe that the officers have their best intentions. This starts from the top.” She talked about when she went to the police department to speak to the Chief about the police department, he spoke to her in the hall where other people could hear the conversation. She did not feel comfortable with telling how exactly she felt because there was no privacy in the hall. Humberto Gomez, Sr., stated that he had no idea this was happening in the police department. Humberto Gomez, Jr., spoke about his conversations with other Police Chiefs regarding Chief Garza. He brought up how the Mayor gets paid $110 a day and thought this was unacceptable. “In terms of Chief Garza and his relationships, he is impeccable,” showing his support for the Chief. 

Consent Calendar

The City Council unanimously approved the consent calendar, which are the Check Reports dated Feb. 27, 2021 to March 12, 2021, and the Minutes dated Regular Meeting Feb. 18, 2021 and March 4, 2021. 

Regular Business

At this moment, Humberto Gomez, Sr., spoke out loud to the Council but Mayor Beltran said for him to not speak at this time because public comment was over and the Council needed to move to regular business. 

The Council approved the following agenda items: 

• Approve the Contract with Interstate Gas Service, Inc (DBA IGService (IGS) to conduct a water rate study for the purpose of determining rates that are fair and equitable according to California state law and the requirements of Proposition 218. 

• Consideration and Necessary Action of Award of Contract for the Alley Improvements in the alley south of Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School between “J” Street and “H” Street for Federal Project No. CML-5252(028).

• Consideration and Necessary Action on Award of Contract for the Street Improvements in Zediker Avenue between Merced Street and Manning Avenue for Federal Project No. STPL-5252(029)

• Consideration and Necessary Action on Award of Contract for the Street Improvements in Cypress Avenue and Rodriguez Avenue using SB 1 funding. 

• Consideration and Necessary Action on Tract 6287 – Improvement Plans Adobe West, Inc. a California Corporation 

• Consideration and Necessary Action on a zoning text amendment affecting cannabis dispensaries 

• Consideration and Necessary Action on Resolution No. 2021-17. Making Findings and Determining Public Employment Retirement System Member is Disabled from Performance of his Duties under Government Code Sections 21154 and 21156. 

Closed Session

Closed Session began at 7:45 p.m. After the City Council went to Closed Session, the connection to the last part of the meeting was lost. I tried reconnecting, but it appeared I was the only one in the zoom meeting. 

Summary

• Concerns were brought up regarding the morale and work environment of the Police Department. 

• The Council approved moving forward with the contract with Interstate Gas Services, Inc., to conduct a water rate study for the purpose of determining rates that are fair and equitable according to California state law, and the requirements of Proposition 218. 

• The Council approved the resolution of the City of Parlier, awarding the contract to Valley Excavation, Inc for the alley improvements in the alley south of Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School between “J” and “H” Street. 

• The Council approved the contract for the Street Improvements in Zediker Avenue between Merced Street and Manning Ave. 

• The Council approved the resolution 2021-14, awarding the contract for the Street Improvements in Cypress Avenue and Rodriguez Avenue. 

• The Council approved Resolution 2021-16 initiating an amendment to Section 18.24.020(A) of the Parlier Municipal Code to add “cannabis dispensaries” to the list of permitted uses subject to the provisions of PMC Chapter 18.55.