Reedley City Council (6/13/23)

June 13, 2023 — Reedley City Council

Documented by Ntsa Iab Vang

Here’s what you need to know

• The Reedley City Council met on Tuesday, June 13 at 7 p.m. to discuss and approve the adoption of the fiscal year 2023-24 budget. The items approved include, an agreement with Kings Canyon Unified School District for the Restorative Justice Initiative (RPBI), $51,000 for the emergency placement of a concrete block wall around the Reed Avenue sewer station to protect against potential flooding from the Kings River, and adoption of the 2024 fiscal year budget. 
• The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) presented and shared their overview of their work in Reedley. The EDC is in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to recognize the need for a separate organization to provide complementing services to the local business community. CEO and President Lee Ann Eager reported that $548,000 was made in direct funding to local businesses.
  

Follow-up questions

• As the heat continues to rise over the summer, how is the city preventing people from entering the Kings and San Joaquin rivers?
• To prevent sudden notice of closure in the future, how long will the cooling center programs be available?

 Attendance

• Matthew Tuttle, mayor pro tem
• Scott Friesen, council member 
• Anita Betancourt, mayor 
• Suzanne Byers, council member 
• Mary Fast, council member
  

Presentations

• Fresno County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) Services Overview Presented by Eager and team.
  • The EDC is in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to recognize the need for a separate organization to provide complementing services to the local business community.
  • A total of 10 members are on the committee.
  • Five Cities: Long standing partnership serving Eastside cities
    • Membership: Seven eastside cities and the county of Fresno
    • Board of directors – elected representatives
    • Executive committee – CAO/city managers or designee
  • EDC Services for 5 Cities JPA – Reedley’s cost of $5.7 million
    • Administration, business development, capacity building, marketing/promotion.
  • Reedley Business Expansion and Retention Impacts
    • Connect business to resources and incentives: Workforce, financing/tax credits, fee reductions, import/export of products, energy savings.
    • A total of $548,000 for direct funding of local businesses.
    • Workforce and training programs to fill job positions for businesses.
  • Customized Request for Information (RFI) response packets that include:
    • Location competitive advantages, available real estate, local incentives, regional data, industry data, labor availability, quality of life.
    • Blue White Robotics – Assembly facility in Reedley providing services such as: Product testing, start-up support, hiring and recruitment resources, etc. 
  • Fresno EDC Good Jobs Challenge Award
    • $23 million awarded to support employment-focused training that results in 2,500 job placements by 2027 in four in-demand sectors.
      

Actions/Discussions

• Item 3: Approve and authorize the city manager to execute an agreement between the city of Reedley and Kings Canyon Unified School District for the Restorative Justice initiative for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.
• City manager is requesting a continuation of the program along with updates.
• Item 7: Adopt Resolution 2023-037 amending the 2022-2023 adopted budget appropriating $51,000 from the sewer enterprise fund balance for the emergency placement of a concrete block wall around the Reed Avenue sewer lift station to protect against potential flooding from the Kings River.
  • Motion was approved in a vote of 5-0.

Administrative Business

• Item 9: Adoption of 2023-2024 fiscal year budget and related items
  • Item A: Adopt Resolution 2023-039 of the Reedley City Council, successor agency to the former redevelopment agency, and as the board of the Reedley Housing Authority, adopting the final budget of the city of Reedley for fiscal year July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, providing for the appropriation and expenditure of all sums set forth in said final budget, providing for the transfers and additional appropriations and repealing all resolutions and parts of resolutions in conflict herewith, except as provided for by minute order of the council on June 13, 2023.
    • Motion to exclude Item D: The council voted to keep the $50,000, rejecting the additional $25,000 until further clarifications.
      
  • Item B: Adopt Resolution 2023-040 of the Reedley City Council, adopting master salary tables for all employees of Reedley.
    • Motion passed in vote of 5-0
      
  • Item C: Adopt resolution 2023-041 of the Reedley City Council, establishing a salary and benefit schedule for unrepresented employees.
    • Motion passed in a vote of 5-0.
      
  • Item D: Approve and authorize city manager to execute Amendment 3 to the professional services agreement with the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce, amending annual compensation from $50,000 to $75,000 for fiscal year 2023-24 with future year compensation subject to annual city council appropriation.
    • DENIED and a motion was made to move forward the item for discussion. It will be revisited for further clarifications.
    • Tuttle questioned the raise of $25,000 in Item D. Representative shares that inflation continues to increase the cost and expenses as it relies on the chamber for funding. 
    • Tuttle opted out of the item.
    • Betancourt said she has always been in favor of the professional services, however, she questions the cost increase.
    • Friesen said the item requires a second review and urges an updated presentation and clarifications.
      
  • Item E: Approve and authorize the city manager to execute Amendment 1 to government affairs consulting agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, amending annual compensation from $42,000 to $54,000, effective Jan. 1, 2024, and approval by minute order of additional supporting FY 2023-24 budget appropriations of $6,000.
    • Motion passed in a vote of 5-0.
      
  • Item F: Approve and authorize city manager to execute an addendum to an agreement with the county of Fresno to administer and receive up to an additional $10,168 in community development block grant coronavirus response funds for senior citizen meal program costs, and approval by minute order for fiscal year 2023-24 adopted budget to be increased by $10,168 to deploy the additional funding in the same manner as what was previously approved.
    • Fast voiced her appreciation for the senior centers.
    • Motion passed in a vote of 5-0.
      
  • Item G: Approval by minute order of two new full-time recreation site lead positions and additional supporting budget appropriations of $213,135 in the general fund for the new positions and additional part-time staff time and supplies in support of the previously approved memorandums of understanding with the Kings Canyon Unified School District and Fresno County superintendent of schools for expanded learning programs at T.L. Reed and Washington School sites.
    • Motion passed in a vote of 5-0.
      
  • Item H: Approval by minute order of additional supporting fiscal year 2023-24 budget appropriations of $40,000 in the general fund representing grant funding from the California Energy Commission for activities related to acquisition and implementation of automated online solar permitting software.
    • City manager comments, the grant came in after the fiscal year 2023-2024 presentation.
    • Motion passed in a vote of 5-0.

Public Comments

• Jose Plascencia, local Allstate agent, thanked  the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce. Plascencia says during the process of opening his business eight years ago in Reedley, many people warned him about the “unfriendly” business city. He said the chamber has reversed the negative business perception.. 

Council Reports:

• Friesen attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the Reedley Cemetery and gave his thanks and appreciation to Tuttle.
• Fast thanked organizers of the Memorial Day event. She also thanked Public Works and staff for keeping the parks clean, especially on the weekend. She also expressed appreciation to the organizers of the event honoring long term employees of the city of Reedley. 
• Byers said she attended many parades and ceremony events, but the Memorial Day event this year was one of the best. She signaled her appreciation for Tuttle, who arranged the event. Byers said there is a need for a coalition to reduce the gang population in Reedley.
• Tuttle said that 18,000 veterans are buried in Reedley. He also suggested creating a committee to host the event in the future and encouraged fundraising for the American Legion as it helps with flag expenses.
• Betancourt thanked the event coordinators for the employee luncheon. 

Staff Reports:

• City manager said that rivers continue to be a danger zone and having staff out helps prevent people from going into the water. Ziebreedla also shared that a Reedley College event happening this Friday has been sold out and she looks forward to it. 
• City manager talked about a tragic event that happened recently. She urged  a closed session with the chief of police to prevent unforeseen events.
• Sierra View Homes Retirement Community closed its cooling center earlier in May, but recently reopened and it invites the public.

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