Documenter: Josef Sibala

Here’s what you need to know

• City Manager Sonia Hall urged the board to establish an independent oversight committee to enhance “strict fiscal accountability” of Measure Q funds dedicated to police services. 

• In his report, City Engineer Javier Andrade reported the expansion for the accessibility of the Earl Ruth Park Playground would start on July 2 to Aug. 15, 2021. The equipment and installation for the Heritage Park Playground will be on July 9, 2021.

The Scene

According to its website, Parlier is a general law city governed by a five-member City Council and operates under the City Council-City Manager form. 

Council members are the leaders and policy makers elected to represent various community segments and concentrate on policy issues that are responsive to citizens’ needs and wishes. The City Council appoints the City Manager to carry out policy and ensure service for the entire community., 

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.

The Parlier City Council meets on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648 or through Zoom. 

Parlier City Council Members present:

Mayor Alma M. Beltran, 

Mayor Pro-Tempore Trinidad Pimentel, 

Councilwoman Diane Maldonado, 

Councilwoman Sabrina Rodriguez, 

Councilwoman Cathryn “Kathy” Solorio, 

City Clerk Dorothy Garza, and 

Treasurer Michelle Lopez.

Others Present:

Sonia Hall, City Manager

Frank Ortiz, Regional Sales Manager of Vast Network

Javier Andrade, City Engineer

Bertha A. Augustine, Assistant City Manager

Jeff O’Neal, City Planner

Tasha Cantu

Veronica Puga

Mrs. Tienda

Discussions/Actions

After the roll call, City Manager Sonia Hall urged the board to establish an independent oversight committee to enhance “strict fiscal accountability” of Measure Q funds dedicated to police services. 

She said the independent committee members’ application process must be according to background, education, and experience. Each member will serve 4-year-terms while “putting the time” to follow the Brown Act and report to the City Council. 

She insisted that the independent oversight committee be separate from the Chief Advisory Board and recommend the Council. Besides, she requested a liaison officer from the Financial Department to the City Council. 

Then, Regional Sales Manager of Vast Network Frank Ortiz shared broadband options for the City of Parlier. He stressed that, unlike AT&T and Comcast, the price of the broadband options provided by Vast Network is competitive due to the built-in infrastructure in Parlier. 

He emphasized Vast Network’s focus on underserved communities, non-profit institutions, school districts, and government facilities. 

Parlier’s existing telecommunications expenses cost $3,121.60 monthly, ranging from 24 to 36 months. Option 1 has the same price as the existing cost, except with additional bandwidth with 36 to 60 months. Option 2 costs $4,020.60 monthly, ranging from 36 to 60 months, in which the city can freely choose what to do with the bandwidth. 

City Engineer Javier Andrade gave updates on ongoing projects. 

Regarding parks, the expansion for the accessibility of the Earl Ruth Park Playground will start on July 2 to Aug. 15, 2021. The equipment and installation for the Heritage Park Playground will be on July 9, 2021. 

Engineering work on the Sequoia Walkway was completed on June 30, 2021. The project will be out for bidding on July 15, 2021 and all work on the walkways is expected to be completed from November to December 2021. 

The Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) will visit the Isaac Newton Parlier Sports Park site on July 9, and if possible, do an award in August or September 2021.

Andrade said that they had awarded the bid for Fig Tree Park and signed the land purchase agreement with Fresno Housing on June 30, 2021. They completed the surveying and property descriptions of the landscaped plaza. The engineering will be completed in December 2021, while construction will finish in June 2022. 

The bids for the micro-surfacing at the road in Mendocino Avenue and Parlier Avenue were open on June 25, 2021, with the award held in the Council Meeting on July 1, 2021. They will finish the construction in August 2021. 

The engineering for the road reconstruction at Manning Avenue will be finished in December 2021, while the construction will begin from February to March 2022.

Likewise, the surveying and engineering on the downtown bulb outs at Fresno Street and First Street and Fresno Street and J Street will be completed in July 2021. The construction will start from August to September 2021.

Lastly, Andrade stated that they are finishing the award documents for the Urban Flooding Grant awarded in 2019, in July 2021. 

After the presentations and the closed public hearing, the City Council members unanimously approved the following:

• Check Reports dated June 11, 2021, to June 25, 2021. 

• Minutes dated Regular and Special Meetings for June 17, 2021. 

• Use Veteran’s Park and Flores Field by the Parlier Youth Cal Ripken from March 1, 2022 – July 1, 2022. M-W-F and every first and third Saturday. 

• Resolution No. 2021-34: Approving and Adopting the Final Budget for Fiscal Year July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, Providing for the Appropriation and Expenditure of All Sums outlined in Said Final Budget, Providing the Transfers and Additional Appropriations and Repealing All Resolutions and Parts of Resolution in Conflict Herewith.

• Resolution No. 2021-35 Approving and Adopting the Appropriation Limit for the Fiscal Year 2021-22. 

• Resolution No. 2021-36 to authorize grant funds for the Parlier Flood Protection Project from the Urban Flood Protection Grant Program.

• Resolution No. 2021-37 designating and authorizing the City Manager to award construction contracts for constructing a Fiberized Micro-Surface along Parlier and Mendocino Avenues, in the amount of $274,163.007. 

• Resolution No. 2021-38 and appoint the Voting Delegate and the two (2) alternate voting delegates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference – September 22-24, 2021. 

During the closed session, the City Council members mainly discussed the following:

• Public Employment Under Government Code Section 54957 All Positions. 

• Pending Litigation Under Government Code Section 54956.9 Austin v. City of Parlier Fresno Superior Court Case No. 20CECG01336 Nevada Policy Institute v. City of Parlier Fresno Superior Court Case No. 21CECG00206

The next City Council meeting will be on Thursday, July 15, 2021, at 6:30 pm at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648, or through Zoom. 

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@thefresnoland.com with “Correction Request” in the subject line.