Documented by Artemes Gidram

Here’s what you need to know

  • The Sanger City Council has updated its cameras and monitors, but has not committed to live streaming its meetings.
  • The council has voted to loosen restrictions on grant funding for facade improvements in the downtown area.
  • Following decorum disruptions at other city council meetings, the Sanger City Council has passed official decorum rules for both elected officials and public audience members..

Follow-up questions

  • Will the council begin live streaming meetings?
  • Is the council committed to beautifying the downtown area with the facade grant program?

Notes

The Scene

The Sanger City Council meeting took place on Nov. 2, 2023, starting at 6:03 p.m.

The meeting was held in person at the Sanger Administration building, located at 1700 7th St. in Sanger. The agenda can be found online at the city of Sanger website.

Officials present:

Frank Gonzalez, mayor

Daniel Martinez, mayor pro-tem

Hilda Cantu-Montoy, Sanger city attorney

Gregory Garner, acting city manager

Esmeralda Hurtado, council member

Dolores Melendez, council member

Michael Montelongo, council member

  • Ceremonies.
    • Invocation was performed by Pastor Jessica Gara.
    • Flag salute was led by Mayor Gonzalez.
    • Greg Tarascou introduced four new inductees into the Fire Department.
      • Julia Alonso
      • Wayne Clark
      • Sophia McWilliams
      • Caleb Nelson
  • Presentations
    • Nathan McGuian, owner, NTM Technologies
      • McGuian said it was a joy to work alongside Patrick Chafee, administrative services director for Sanger, in putting in new audio-visual equipment.
      • New equipment.
        • Projectors were replaced by two TV monitors on either side of the dais.
        • There is now a display in the back conference room.
        • There are two new cameras. One is in the back of the room facing the dais and one is behind the dais facing the audience.
      • The cameras are sound sensitive and automatically switch based on the location of  the person speaking.
      • The display that already existed in the lobby is now connected to the other monitors.
      • The physical buttons required for everything have been replaced by a touch panel on the city clerk’s desk.
      • The microphones on the dais now include a red light so speakers will know when they’re on.
      • Hurtado asked if the council was currently live streaming meetings..
        • McGuian clarified that they weren’t.
        • The capability exists with the new infrastructure but it’s a decision for the council to make, he said.
      • Martinez, Montelongo and Melendez congratulated McGuian on the installation of the new equipment.
  • Consent Agenda.
    • Hurtado asked to remove item 3 from the consent agenda. No one from the public pulled any item from the consent agenda.
    • Item 3.
      • Martinez asked Josh Rogers, the city engineer, if this was about separating one parcel into two.
        • Rogers clarified that this was correct.
        • When the Burger King, now Sonic Drive-In, was built, they left a pad open for further development.
        • They now wish to parcel that off for development.
  • Public hearing on the annexation of property into the Sanger Landscaping and Maintenance District.
    • David Brletic, community development director, city of Sanger
      • This is a D.R. Horton project on the southwest corner of Northand Greenwood avenues.
      • Phase 1 is already under construction, and they’re ready to move forward.
      • The Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 allows local governments the ability to collect assessments to defray the cost of maintaining street lighting and landscaped areas within the public right of way.
      • The city of Sanger has two established landscaping and lighting maintenance districts to maintain city parks, landscaped areas, block walls and streetlight operations and maintenance.
      • On Sept. 7, the City Council initiated the process for this annexation with the adoption of Resolution No. 2023-16 and setting a public hearing for Nov. 2.
      • Proposed Resolution 2023-31 finds that there is no majority protest by the applicant, annexes the property into Area I of Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District 2 and sets the levy at $116 per lot for the current fiscal year.
      • The annexed property will be subject to the annual levy approval by the City Council every year for all property within District 2, Area 1.
      • Approval of the resolution will annex Tract 6327 and set a levy at the same rate as other properties in District 2, Area 1.
      • Fiscal impact.
        • The 63 lots annexed will each pay the current $116 for the fiscal year, totalling $7,308.
        • The City Council will approve assessment amounts for District 2, Area 1, which may be adjusted to reflect increases based on the Consumer Price Index.
  • Downtown facade reimbursements
    • This item pertains to a grant program that reimburses costs to businesses for improving their downtown facades.
    • Brletic.
      • Five businesses have applied for the grant.
      • Several obstacles have prevented other businesses from applying, and prevented those who have already applied from continuing their application process, according to the city report.
      • Staff recommendations
        • Remove the requirement to provide three separate bids from contractors.
        • Include the approximately $400 needed to get a title report from a title company into their grant reimbursement.
        • Allow multiple applications from a single property owner.
  • Initiation of vacation of an unnamed alley between Cherry and Edgar avenues west of Academy Avenue.
    • Hurtado recused herself because she is employed by Self-Help Enterprises.
    • Brletic
      • The Planning Commission on Sept. 28 found that this was consistent with the language of the general plan.
      • There is no fiscal impact.
      • Montelongo asked if this interferes with utilities and their infrastructures in place.
        • Rogers stated that there was an assessment made, utility companies contacted and there was found to be no utility infrastructure in the alley.
  • Passing official ordinances on rules and decorum
    • Cantu-Montoy
      • This item was brought forth at the request of the council.
      • The ordinance clarifies times and decorum.
      • This ordinance pertains to both elected officials as well as the attending public.
      • This ordinance reinforces the Brown Act.

Actions/discussions/public comment

  • Public comment
    • An unidentified woman in a jean jacket asked if it was possible to provide bilingual interpretations over live stream for the community – even if the translation is done after the meeting and later uploaded.
      • The community member wished to know if there was a time frame for when this new equipment would be used for live streaming.
        • Gonzalez clarified that there was no time frame.
    • David Santos, field office, Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced
      • Santos introduced himself, and his role, to the council.
      • Santos said he looks forward to working with the council.
    • An unidentified woman in a green shirt.
      • There was a hit-and-run of a girl on Academy and Annadale avenues recently.
      • The community member was sad and disappointed in the council’s lack of action.
      • The council, or someone from the city, should talk to the father of the girl, she said.
    • Acevedo, no first name available, community member
      • Acevedo is concerned about the yellow lights on 5th Street.
        • The issue of what is wrong with the yellow lights was not addressed.
      • Acevedo stated that he’s scared to drive in Sanger.
      • Acevedo said that the council should see how dangerous driving on the streets is by looking at 7th Street where  the council meetings are held.
  • Consent agenda
    • Martinez moved to pass the consent agenda except for item 3, and the motion which passed 5-0.
    • Hurtado moved to pass item 3, and it passed 5-0.
  • Public hearing on annexation
    • Martinez moved to approve the annexation.
    • Passed 4-0-1 with Hurtado abstaining.
      • Hurtado did not provide a reason for her abstention.
  • Downtown facade reimbursements
    • Staff recommendation 1
      • Montelongo moved to remove the three bids as long as they have an estimate from a licensed California contractor. The motion passed 5-0.
    • Staff Recommendation 2
      • Hurtado moved to pass the staff recommendation, and the motion passed 5-0.
    • Staff Recommendation 3
      • Hurtado motioned to pass staff recommendation with the exception that properties used for storage were excluded. There was no second.
      • Montelongo moved to pass the staff recommendation with the exception that staff continue to look into how to best work with business owners in conjunction with their property owners.
        • The motion assed 5-0.
    • Vacation of the alleyway
      • Motion by Montelongo
      • Item passed 4-0, with Hurtado not voting while absent from chambers.
  • Rules and decorum ordinance.
    • Montelongo moved to pass the ordinance.
    • The ordinance passed 4-0-1 with Hurtado abstaining.
      • Hurtado abstained, citing concerns about silencing public comment.

Conversation highlight

  • “I, too, am disappointed in only five applications. But, I think everyone needs to realize that this isn’t to simplify money dispersal. It requires money from the property owners as well. So if property owners aren’t willing, we’re matching money, we’re not just giving out money. So they need to be willing to invest into their buildings,” said Daniel Martinez, Sanger mayor pro-tem.

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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