Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Council voted to move forward with submitting the Sierra Kings Health Care District Mini Grant Application for funding of up to $5,000, which will support swim lessons for low-income families.

  • The Council voted to approve Urgency Ordinance No. 2022-001, which places a moratorium immediately on any new smoke shops/tobacco stores within City limits.

  • The Council voted to adopt Resolution No. 2022-012, which authorizes the City to apply for the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Funding through the Fresno Council of Governments.

Reedley City Council Board Members

  • Mary L. Fast, Mayor

  • Robert Beck, Mayor Pro Tem

  • Ray Soleno, Councilmember

  • Anita Bentacourt, Councilmember

  • Matthew Tuttle, Councilmember

The Scene

The Reedley City Council meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 by Mayor Mary Fast. The meeting consisted of four of the five council members Those present included Mayor Mary Fast, and Councilmembers Matthew Tuttle, Anita Bentacourt and Ray Soleno. Councilmember Robert Beck was not present. Other City staff present included City Manager Nicole Zieba, Community Services Director Sarah Reid, City Engineer Marilu Morales, Community Development Director Rob Terry, and City Clerk Ruthie Greenwood. Due to a recent increase in cases, the California Department of Public Health has mandated that everyone in California wear a mask in indoor public spaces and workplaces. The order is in effect December 15, 2021 to now February 15, 2022. Pastor Mike Schellenberg from the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church led the invocation.

Presentation

Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District Update

District Manager Steve Mulligan joined the meeting virtually. Mulligan said “The Consolidated Mosquito Abatement District is a California Special District. We are governed by our Board of Trustees, made up of 11 representatives from Fresno and Kings Counties. Our mission is to promote community health, comfort and prosperity by the effective and continuous control of disease-carrying and pest mosquitoes. To accomplish this mission, the District conducts surveillance of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases; controls mosquitoes with suitable insecticides, natural predators and the elimination of mosquito producing sources; and promotes public awareness. We want to reduce the risk of mosquitoes-borne diseases, which are the West Nile virus and the St. Louis encephalitis, reduce the nuisance of mosquito bites, and enhance the human environment and property values. Our services include disease control response, identify and treat mosquito source, and routine surveillance.

In order to understand our work, we need to understand the mosquito life cycle. Mosquitos are small flying insects. Only female mosquitoes bite. Male mosquitoes will fly and buzz around you but they cannot bite. While male mosquitoes feed on flower nectar, like a butterfly, female mosquitoes need blood to develop eggs. Mosquitoes need water to go from an egg to an adult. Female mosquitoes lay eggs on the water surface or on the sides of containers that can hold water. The eggs hatch after a few days or when covered with water. The larvae that hatch from the eggs, eat algae, bacteria, and microorganisms living in the water. Larvae can take as few as 4 days to fully develop in the water, depending on temperature and water conditions, before changing into pupae. The pupae are a non-feeding stage that do not eat but are in the process of transforming into the adult mosquito. This transformation can take place in 1 day. When the adult mosquito is fully formed it will emerge from the pupa and fly away.

With that said, we have a new problem, the invasive mosquito Aedes aegypti, which has been found in Clovis and Madera. This mosquito bites throughout the day. It is hard for us to control this species because they lay their eggs in residential neighborhoods as they look for small bodies of water. Small cryptic containers are the common aedes aegypti larval habitats such as toys, plant pots, utility boxes, as they can collect water. The 2021 Surveillance, Service Request and Treatment Summary reports that there were 610 mosquito habitat sites, with 675 mosquito inspections, and 237 mosquito treatments in the City of Reedley. Mosquitoes that transmit WNV are most active at night from dusk to dawn. The invasive Aedes aegypti is active throughout the day and readily enters homes.”

Recommendations to protect yourself:

  • Stay indoors during hours of high mosquito activity

  • Avoid areas where mosquitoes are active

  • Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants when outside

  • Use insect repellent on exposed skin when outside: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR 3535. Look for these four active ingredients in your repellent as they are recommended by the CDC.

Recommendations to protect your home:

  • Get rid of standing water around your home

  • Empty containers

  • Discard unneeded containers

  • Change pet water twice a week.

  • Maintain window and door screens

  • Screen/foam insert in yard drains

  • Put mosquito fish into ponds (contact the district for fish)

  • Maintain your swimming pool

  • Report unmaintained swimming pools

  • Report mosquito problems at (559) 896-1085 or www.mosquitobuzz.net

Councilmembers asked “What does a mosquito fish look like? Do you go around and inspect mosquitoes at people’s homes?” Steve Mulligan said “We do not go around like pest control. If we receive a call about a mosquito problem, then we will look into what the habitat looks like.” Daniel Munk commented “Just lost my audio feed but thank you to the City of Reedley for the opportunity to serve these past years.” City Manager Nicole Zieba said “We will get applicants, who will then be interviewed by the Mayor. At this point, the Mayor will make the recommendation to the Council, who will vote and approve for the selected candidate.”

Presentation to Outgoing Community Development Director 

City Manager Nicole Zieba said “It is with bittersweet news that we announce that Community Development Director Rob Terry is taking on a promotional move. When I would ask him for a question, he wouldn’t tell me let me get back to you. He would usually always have an answer. You can count on him for being professional and very knowledgeable. I definitely wish you well. It is bittersweet for me to say goodbye to you. Your leadership and knowledge and professionalism will be missed.”

Rob Terry said “When I came back, I felt like I was coming home. And now as I am leaving, I feel like I am leaving home. To the other department heads, to the staff, to Ellen, stepping away from people whom I have such love and appreciation for, it is hard. Geographically I will be away, but Reedley will always be special to me.” Mayor Fast said “We are sending you out to help lead Selma. We are successful because of the great people we have, like yourself. Think of it this way so as to not feel as sad. There are lots of things that have your footprint. Thank you for all of your work.” At this point, Mayor Fast announced there will be a 10 minute break.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Consent Calendar

The Council unanimously approved all four items on the consent calendar as presented:

  1. Approval of Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of January 25, 2022 and Special Meeting of January 27, 2022.

  2. Adopt Resolution No. 2022-001, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Reedley Approving Destruction of Specified City Records

  3. Adopt Resolution No. 2022-010, of the City Council of the City of Reedley Adopting Master Salary Tables for All Employees of the City of Reedley Revising Pay for the Part-Time Reserve Dispatcher Classification

  4. Adopt Resolution No. 2022-012 Supporting and Implementing Timely Use of Funding for Federally Funded Projects and Authorization to Apply for Regional Bid Grants through Fresno Council of Governments

Administrative Business 

Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Sierra Kings Health Care District Mini Grant Application and Related Documents Requesting and Accepting Funding for Low-Income Swim Lessons

Community Services Recreation Supervisor Madison Mitchell said “Every summer the Community Services Department offers a fee-based swim lesson program to the public. The fee to participate does create a challenge for low-income families. In March of 2021, the City of Reedley was awarded a Mini Grant from Sierra Kings Health Care District to offer one week of free swim lessons for low-income families and had 128 children participate.

The Sierra Kings Health Care District is currently accepting Mini Grant Applications for funding projects up to $5,000. Applications are due February 16, 2022 and we are requesting the full grant amount to offer free swim lessons to low-income residents in the summer of 2022. If awarded, the grant funding will support 140 youth over a week period, meeting 30 minutes per day. The budget will include staff time, facility use and student recognition. Swimming has many positive results including supporting a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress and learning a lifesaving skill that youth will carry with them for a lifetime. During the swim instruction, staff will also provide water safety tips and literature based around exercising safe habits in the river. I am happy to report that all participants passed the swim test last year.”

Councilmember Anita Betancourt said “I work with low-income families and I think this will benefit their children.” Mayor Fast said “I think this is a fantastic opportunity. I remember when I was growing up, we had two swimming holes, a ditch that is now covered, and the river because they were both free.” The Council voted unanimously to approve and authorize the City Manager to sign the Sierra Kings Health Care District Mini Grant Application for low-income swim lessons.

Adopt Ordinance No. 2022-001, an Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Reedley Temporarily Placing a Moratorium on the Establishment of Any New Smoke Shops/Tobacco Stores Within the City

City Manager Nicole Zieba said “What we have for you today is the Urgency Ordinance No. 2022-001, which places a moratorium on the establishment of any new smoke shops/tobacco stores within the City limits, while the City’s Zoning Code is under review. This is a long time coming. If we look back to when we had youth pleading about youth vaping, we not only remember how articulate and passionate they were, but also the information they presented. Unidos Por Salud and the Health Collaborative specifically requested that the Council consider the proximity of smoke shops to school, parks, and health facilities. Concerns have been raised in the community that allowing smoke shops/tobacco stores near schools or other areas where youth congregate increases the visibility of such products to youth, essentially allowing the existence of such stores to serve as advertising for tobacco products. Should you vote unanimously tonight with four votes of approval, we would put a hold on any new smoke shops trying to open in this city.

This would be a symbolic move because in the General Plan, we have that ‘the City will protect the public health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, and specifically sets goals and policies relating to utilizing its land use decisions to promote community health and discourage land uses that lead to poor community health outcomes.’ This would allow us to put these words to action. We currently have three smoke shops open in Reedley. This ordinance will not allow existing smoke shops to relocate near sensitive areas such as health clinics or schools, or near any other smoke shops. Unfortunately we do not have our youth here with us tonight but Freddy tells me they are very excited for this.”

Three Health Collaborative workers also spoke. “I grew up in this community. We are working with the high school and have found out that since the start of the pandemic, vaping has increased as a negative coping mechanism. This is a huge problem and we think this ordinance will help limit access. We are excited to continue providing educational workshops in both Spanish and English. We focus on disseminating the information in understandable ways to our Spanish speaking community. We want to support you all in passing and are ready to serve the community. This can serve as a catalyst for other cities in the Central Valley. We have a lot of youth who are civically engaged and active in their community. We see a lot of promise with this ordinance. However, we will not be here forever as the grant will run out eventually.” The Council voted unanimously to approve the Urgency Ordinance, which places a moratorium immediately on any new smoke shops/tobacco stores within the City limits, while the City’s Zoning Code is under review.

Receive Information & Reports

The following four transmittals were provided to the City Council for information:

  • Receive, Review and File the Quarterly Investment Report for 2nd Quarter Ending December 31, 2022 for Fiscal Year 2021-22

  • Reedley Community Services Commission Minutes of Regular Meetings of September 16, 2021

  • Reedley Community Services Commission Minutes of Regular Meetings of September 23, 2021 and November 16, 2021

  • Reedley Airport Commission Minutes of Regular Meeting of November 18, 2021

Council Reports

  • Councilmember Matthew Tuttle: “There is a new Saturday morning run on April 2nd. Be on the lookout to sign up.”

  • Councilmember Anita Bentacourt: No report.

  • Councilmember Ray Soleno: No report.

  • Mayor Mary Fast: “I attended the Council of Governments meeting. I do not have my notes on me but will report at the next Council meeting.”

Staff Reports

  • City Manager Nicole Zieba: “The statewide cases are declining. As has happened with Fresno County in the past trend, we are behind the state in terms of cases. As of next Tuesday, the mask mandate will end. However, schools and some indoor facilities will still require masks to be worn.”

Adjournment

With no further discussion, Mayor Mary Fast adjourned the City Council meeting at 8:33 p.m.

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

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