May 3, 2023 — Madera City Council

Documented by Ramiro Merino

Here’s what you need to know

  • At the May 3 Madera City Council meeting, the council approved an agreement with Superior International Industries for McNally Park renovations for $244,508.42. The improvements planned include the replacement of all park amenities, such as playground equipment, benches, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, barbeques, as well as the reconstruction of basketball court areas. 
  • On its consent agenda, the council approved a letter formalizing support for Senate Bill 227, which would extend unemployment insurance to undocumented workers. Dr. Sarait Martinez, Executive Director for the Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo IndĂ­gena Oaxaqueño (CBDIO) spoke in support of the action. “If you do decide to pass this, you will be the second city in the state to pass this,” she said. “San Francisco passed this recently. We hope to count on your support.”
  • City Attorney Hilda Montoy read a letter regarding her resignation effective July 1, 2023. “I hold a strong belief in the merits of good governance and how it can help the public we all serve,” she said. “I admire what each of you does for the city, yet the time has come to focus on my family.”
  • During public comment, DJ Becker expressed concerns about the city’s animal control system and ordinances. He said three previous officers have left and they are down to one who is in training. “Madera has an overwhelming number of surplus animals and ineffective ordinances, which is a bad combination,” he said. “What do you think is happening to the 5,000 animals that are refused to be taken by the Animal Control? It is a crisis and it is our responsibility to fix it. Let’s not ignore it any longer.”

Notes 

Actions/Discussions/Public comment

  • Approved – Consent Calendar
    • Support letter for Senate Bill 17 (Senior Housing Production Act) as introduced by Senator Anna Caballero, letter of support for a request for Clean California Funding for the Madera Station Relocation Project and appointing Michael Lima, director of financial services, to serve as city treasurer. 
    • Council member Montes made a motion to approve the consent calendar.
    • Council member Evans seconded the motion. 
    • The council members voted unanimously to approve the consent calendar as presented. 
  • Approved – Rezone Property Located at 308 N. C Street from commercial to residential
    • Council member Evans made a motion to approve this item. 
    • Council member Villegas seconded the motion. 
    • Mayor Pro Tem Mejia abstained. 
    • The motion passed. 
  • Approved – Agreement with EagleShield Pest Control Services
    • Council member Rodriguez made a motion to approve this item. 
    • Council member Villegas seconded the motion. 
    • The council members voted unanimously to approve this item. 
  • Approved – Agreement between the city and Superior International Industries for McNally Park in the amount of $244,508.42
    • Council member Gallegos made a motion to approve this item. 
    • Council member Villegas seconded the motion. 
    • The council voted unanimously to approve this item. 
  • Mayor Santos Garcia called the Madera City Council meeting to order at 6 p.m. 
  • The invocation was led by William Francis.    
  • The agenda was approved unanimously. 
  • During public comment, DJ Becker spoke on the necessity to upgrade and improve animal ordinances. “Our animal ordinances are having a real impact on our residents. Our three previous officers have left, we have one remaining but he is in training. Madera has an overwhelming number of surplus animals and ineffective ordinances, which is a bad combination. I was attacked a year ago while trying to break up a dog fight. What do you think is happening to the 5,000 animals that are refused to be taken by the Animal Control? It is a crisis and it is our responsibility to fix it. Let’s not ignore it any longer. I look forward to having an interactive presentation.” 
  • City Attorney Hilda Montoy read a letter regarding her resignation effective July 1, 2023. “Who would have known that when I received Arnoldo’s phone call about the interim position that I would be your city attorney four years later? My departure does not come easy as I have genuinely enjoyed serving as Madera’s city attorney. I hold a strong belief in the merits of good governance and how it can help the public we all serve. I admire what each of you does for the city. Yet the time has come to focus on my family. While I have been able to have both, I will also be resigning from the other city’s I work with within the next year.” 
  • Mayor Garcia read a proclamation recognizing CASA and May as the National Foster Care Month. Wilma Tom Hashimoto, Execute Director for CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties said, “I have to thank you for your hard decisions you have to make on a daily basis. I remember the first time I came up here, I said we are going to grow. And we have. We have 38 advocates serving 49 children. This is where CASA comes in. We advocate for children through the courts, educational system and during covid, we helped with mental health services. We are also looking at having our first mural at C and 4th streets where the food alley is being proposed. Thank you for this time and I’ll see you again next year with more updates.” 
  • City Manager Arnoldo Rodriguez introduced the new city employees. “As the council is aware, since I started back in December of 2018, almost the entire time we have had vacancies at the department head level. This has put a lot of pressure on our staff and on our department heads who have stepped up. It is with great pleasure to introduce our new staff.”
    • Michael Lima, Director of Financial Services 
    • Ismael Hernandez, Public Works Operations Director
    • Daniel Holguin, Interim Information Services Manager
    • Arnold (no last name was provided), City of Madera Police Officer 
  • There were no workshops scheduled on the agenda. 
  • Mayor Garcia asked if any members of the public would like to speak on the consent calendar. Dr. Sarait Martinez, Executive Director for the Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo IndĂ­gena Oaxaqueño (CBDIO) spoke on behalf of item B-6 , Resolution Formalizing Support for Senate Bill 227, which would extend unemployment insurance to undocumented workers.  “Thank you for listening to the testimonies you heard at the last meeting. We appreciate your support. If you do decide to pass this, you will be the second city in the state to pass this. San Francisco passed this recently. We hope to count on your support.”
  • The Council members voted unanimously to approve the consent calendar as presented.
    • (B-1) Minutes – March 15, 2023
    • (B-2) Informational Report on Register of Audited Demands
    • (B-3) Assignment of an Account Collections Services Agreement
    • (B-4) Support Letter for Senate Bill 17 as Introduced by Senator Anna Caballero
    • (B-5) Letter of Support for Request for Clean California Funding for the Madera Station Relocation Project
    • (B-6) Resolution Formalizing Support for Senate Bill 227
    • (B-7) Covenant Agreement to Allow a Limited Encroachment into a Public Utility Easement at 1302 Pomegranate Street (APN 011-351-076)
    • (B-8) Covenant Agreement to Allow a Limited Encroachment into a Public Utility Easement at 1409 Taylor Lane (APN 006-580-004)
    • (B-9) Bid Package 1 – RRFB and Safety Improvements at George Washington Elementary School, AHSC Agreement No. 19-AHSC-12761, City Project No. R-94
    • (B-10) Amendment to the Tyler Munis Technologies License and Services Agreement for the Fire Prevention Mobile with Smart Draw System to include Licensing and Software Access and Related Budget Amendment
    • (B-11) Use Agreement with the City of Kerman for the Use of its Shooting Range
    • (B-12) Appointment of City Treasurer
    • (B-13) Continuing Declaration Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency – January 2023 Winter Storms
    • (B-14) Second Reading and Adoption of the 2022 California Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Fire, Residential, Energy, and Green Building Standards Codes
  • During the public hearing portion of the meeting, Assistant City Planner Adileni Rueda presented the Rezone Property Located at 308 N. C Street .
    • “An application to rezone 308 N. C Street from C1 (Light Commercial) to R1 (One unit for each 6,000 square feet). Our proposal is to rezone this area. The project was determined to be exempt under the California Environmental Quality (CEQA) Act. The Planning Commission recommended the council to approve this rezone.”
  • During the Petitions, Bids, Resolutions, Ordinances, and Agreements portion of the meeting, newly appointed Public Works Operations Director Ismael Hernandez presented on the agreement with EagleShield Pest Control for Pest Control Services
    • “The current agreement with the current pest control company was issued in 2020 will expire on May 20, 2023. In preparation, the city issued a Request for Proposal (RFP), soliciting bids to provide pest control services. In an effort to reach local vendors, staff notified the 14 vendors that are city business license holders. Five bids were received, where one was found to be non-responsive. An evaluation was conducted by a review committee of the four remaining responsive and responsible bids. After careful evaluation, the review committee recommends the selection of EagleShield Pest Control. They were the second lowest bidder but when evaluating other criteria of the review process such as Qualifications and Experience, Work Plan and Reference, EagleShield Pest Control was selected as the best choice for the City. The term is for two years with an option to extend the agreement for three additional years. The annual base cost of this agreement will be $12,373 per year for two years, at a total of $24,746.
    • There was no public comment for this item. 
    • Council member Gallegos said “Thank you for allowing our 14 businesses to apply. It looks like EagleShield is from Clovis. I hope in two years we can have a pest control company from Madera working with the city.” 
  • Director of Parks and Community Services Joseph Hebert presented the agreement between the city and Superior International Industries for rehabilitation at McNally Park:
    • Hebert said, “There was a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for FY 2022/223 allocation of $609,307 for the rehabilitation at McNally Park, located at 825 South A Street. The improvements planned include the replacement of all park amenities, such as playground equipment, benches, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, barbeques, as well as the reconstruction of basketball court areas. On April 19, 2023, council approved Resolution 23-46 approving a cooperative purchase agreement with Superior International Industries for $213,123.18. The original quote did not include demolition and reconstruction of the playground safety perimeter fence. The updated quote is now at $144,508.42, which includes fencing work that is needed. Still pending is the procurement of service for reconstruction of the basketball court areas, restroom rehabilitation, picnic shelter area rehabilitation and as funds allow, the addition of recreational features. Purchases under the cooperative purchase agreement will be made from the Parks and Community Services Department, Facilities and Improvements funds. There is sufficient funding available in the FY 2022/23 budget.”
  • Council member Reports/Announcements/Future Agenda Items
    • Council member Gallegos said, “Welcome to the city, a total of 80 years combined. Thank you council member Montes for taking my place for the Art of Life Walk. Come on out and have some pancakes. Thank you to the party staff for planting trees for Earth Day.”
    • Council member Rodriguez said, “I give my deepest condolences to Council member Gallegos for the loss in your family. Welcome to the city. We will be having Cinco de Mayo, which was a battle that took place in Puebla from the French. Hope you all have a great Cinco de Mayo, have fun and be safe. I want to recognize City Attorney Hilda. We will miss you, she will be retiring. We have overcome a lot of hurdles thanks to you and your team. My son is on the golf team from Madera and he is competing next week on Monday.” 
    • Council member Montes said, “I also want to express my condolences. Welcome to the city, we look forward to having these vacancies filled and doing the city’s business. Thank you to the families for lending us your officers. There are a lot of families that are proud of their loved ones. I got to take my family out and help plant trees at our park. Hilda, we will miss you. We really appreciate you.” 
    • Council member Evans said, “I offer my deepest condolences to the Gallegos family. May 14th is Mother’s Day. We need to recognize the person that took the 9 months and carried us. Hug your mother because when they are gone, they do not return. Hilda, thank you for all of your advice. To the new gentlemen, welcome. Arnoldo has carried a lot of weight on his shoulders, you will be able to help lift that weight. To my council members, I love you. On this day right here, I salute you. I went last week to James Monroe. I did the CASA test. Do your best and take the test. You do not have to get an A, but if you do your best, then that is all we can ask for.”
    • Mayor Pro Tem Elisa Mejia said, “Thank you Hilda for your service. Welcome to the city gentleman. I attended a Salt of the Earth Conference. We had a lot of people all over the world here in our city. They got a tour of the city and met people. Council member Montes was there. There are still ways you can show your support. This week we also have another conference. Our Madtown Robotics team put Madera on the map again.” 
    • Council member Villegas said, “Hilda, thank you for your help with the city and for guiding the city. I want to congratulate the gentleman and welcome to the city.” 
    • Mayor Garcia said, “Congratulations to the Madera Robotics Team, they are number one in the world. It’s not insignificant. I would like for us to look at our agenda and talk about animal control code enforcement. This would be a positive step.”
  • With no further discussion, Mayor Garcia adjourned the meeting at 6:59 p.m. 

Conversation highlight

  • “It’s been a long time coming. All of our parks deserve care and love.” said Santos Garcia, Mayor, City of Madera. 

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

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