Documenter: Josef Sibala
Here’s what you need to know
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Public Health Director Sara Bosse stated that boosters are now available to be administered provided that an individual has taken the 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago. The department considers factors such as the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) age guidelines and high-risk job status.
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The Council (3-3) voted against the hybrid model in AB 361, requiring everyone in the councils, boards, and commissions to be present.
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Council voted (3-3) against the motion dissolving the current Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee.
The Scene
According to its website, the Madera City Council, a board of seven, is the elected legislative body of the City of Madera. There are six council districts. The district elects members of the City Council and the Mayor at large. Members of the City Council, including the Mayor, serve four-year terms.
The meeting was in-person on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 6 pm, yet accessible via YouTube.
Officials Present:
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Mayor Santos Garcia
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Mayor Pro Tem Artemio Villegas, District 6
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Councilmember Cece Gallegos, District 1
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Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, District 2
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Councilmember Steve Montes, District 3
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Councilmember Anita Evans, District 4
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Vacant, District 5
Others Present:
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City Manager Arnoldo Rodriguez, City Clerk Alicia Gonzales, City Attorney Hilda Cantu Montoy, and Public Health Director Sara Bosse
Discussions/Actions
Despite the decline in the case rate, Public Health Director Sara Bosse said that COVID cases in Madera County had surpassed 20,715 in total, 261 deaths, and 6 additional. 96% of cases were of the Delta variant.
Higher numbers are from ages 5 to 49 years old. She stressed the high rate of hospitalizations.
Throughout Madera County, vaccination rates are above 50% for the fully vaccinated, while 58.3% for those receiving the first dose. In the City of Madera, rates are about 66%.
She stated that boosters are now available to be administered provided that an individual has taken the 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least 6 months ago or more. The department considers factors such as the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) age guidelines and high-risk job status.
The department anticipates the Moderna booster for the next couple of weeks, while there has been no conversation regarding the Johnson&Johnson booster.
The Governor’s Office has announced that once granted full FDA approval on vaccination at school sites,
Vaccination of students ages 12 to 16 will cover for an entire semester. Testing in Madera County has moved back to the Fairgrounds.
First, the Council unanimously approved items B-1 to B-13 of the consent agenda as follows:
B-1 City Council Minutes of June 30, 2021.
B-2 Informational Report on Register of Audited Demands for September 4, 2021, to September 24, 2021 Recommendation: No Action Required.
B-3 Amendment to the City’s Transit Advisory Board (TAB) Bylaws Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Approving Amendment No. 3 to the Transit Advisory Board Bylaws.
B-4 Minute Order Ratifying Issuance of Revised COVID-19 Emergency Policy No. 4 Vaccine Incentive Pay by the City Manager in his role as Director of Emergency Services.
B-5 Resolution Approving a Pipeline Protection and Inspection Services Agreement for $17,000 with SFPP for Inspection Services Related to the Olive Avenue Widening and Reconstruction Project.
B-6 Request for Connection to the City’s Water System Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Approving Agreement for Outside of City Water Service for Property Located at 27682 Pina Street.
B-7 Master Agreement between the Madera County Transportation Commission (MCTC) and the City for the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 Allocation of RSTP Exchange Funding.
B-8 First Amendment to Agreement for Professional Services between the City and NBS Relating to Rate Studies for Additional Services at the cost of $17,800.
B-9 Amendment to No. 2 to Agreement for Management and Operation of Madera Transit Services Agreement with MV Public Transportation, Inc.; and 2) Adopt a Resolution Approving Amendment No. 2 to the Lease Agreement between the City and MV Public Transportation, Inc.
B-10 Acceptance of a Grant Award from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP)
Recommendation:
1) Adopt a Resolution to Accept the Grant Award of $95,000 on behalf of the City, and
2) Adopt a Resolution Amending the City’s 2021/22 Budget to Reflect Revenues and Expenditures Related to the Grant (Report by Dino Lawson)
B-11 Insurance Claim for Replacement of Four Police Units
Recommendation: Adopt a Minute Order Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Master Partial Proof of Loss for $140,000 towards Replacement of Four Police Units and to Submit and Execute any further Related Documents to Finalize the Insurance Claim (Report by Wendy Silva)
B-12 Informational Report on $100,000 Water Conservation Grant from the City to Madera Unified School District for Martin Luther King Middle School
Recommendation: This report is submitted for informational purposes only, and there is no action requested from Council (Report by Anthony Forestiere)
B-13 Informational Report on Community Facilities District 2005-001
Recommendation: This report is submitted for informational purposes only, and there is no action requested from Council (Report by Anthony Forestiere)
Under petitions, bids, resolution, ordinance, and agreements, the board discussed the following:
D-1 Remote City Council Meetings Under New Brown Act Requirements (AB361) Recommendation:
1) Council to Review the New Brown Act Requirements Under AB 361 for Remote Meetings, and
2) Council to Decide whether to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Remote Teleconference Public Meetings by the City Council and all Boards, Commissions, and Standing Committees of the City under Assembly Bill 361 for Thirty Days.
City Attorney Hilda Cantu Montoy stated that AB 361 applies to other emergencies under Government Code 8550H, including fires, storms, epidemics, and earthquakes.
AB 361 places requirements such as not requiring public comments to be submitted in advance, and any meeting may not proceed in case of technical disruption.
DJ Becker, chair of the block grant commission and ADA advisory council, shared concerns about returning to in-person meetings at City Hall in the public comment.
City Attorney Cantu Montoy clarified that if the board adopts AB 361, it would simply continue teleconferencing under the Governor’s executive orders.
The Council (3-3) voted against the hybrid model in AB 361, requiring everyone in the Council, Boards, and Commissions to be present.
Under Administrative Reports, Council discussed the following:
E-1 Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee Composition
Council voted (3-3) against the motion dissolving the current Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee.
On a public comment, Rico Saldivar urged the committee to continue.
During the closed session, the council discussed the items as follows:
G-1 Conference with Labor Negotiators – under Government Code §54957.6
Agency Designated Representative: Arnoldo Rodriguez and Wendy Silva
Employee Groups: General Bargaining Group
G-2 Conference with Real Property Negotiators – Under Government Code Section §54956.8
Property: 1 Parcel
City of Madera APN: 035-080-026
Agency Negotiators: Keith Helmuth
Negotiating Party: Jason Sanders
Under Negotiations: Price and Terms
G-3 Conference with Labor Negotiators – Under Government Code §54957.6
Agency Designated Representative: Mayor Santos Garcia Unrepresented Employee: City Clerk
G-4 Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
Initiation of Litigation Underunder Government Code Section §54956.9(d)(4)
One Case: City of Madera v. High-Speed Rail Authority
The meeting ended at 7:49 pm. On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the next regular meeting will be at 6 pm on YouTube.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@thefresnoland.com with “Correction Request” in the subject line.