Documented by Artemes Gidram

At its Thursday meeting, members of the Sanger City Council questioned why the city has $135,000 in unspent COVID-19 relief funds. Photo credit: Artemes Gidram

 Here’s what you need to know

  • The Sanger City Council has completed its required four public hearings to bring annexed land into District 1 and is ready for a vote at the next meeting.
  • COVID-19 relief grants have expired, and the city may need to return about $135,000 in unused funds to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.  Sanger was awarded approximately $279,000 in total to aid residents with COVID-19-related issues, such as past due and current mortgage and utility payments.
  • The council tabled moving forward with the development of handicap-accessible parking spots downtown in order to get more community feedback.

Follow-up questions

  • Where will the final handicap-accessible parking spots be located?
  • Why wasn’t more of the COVID-19 relief grant used?

The scene

The Sanger City Council meeting took place on Feb. 15, 2024, at 6:11 p.m.

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

Officials present:

Frank Gonzalez, mayor

Daniel Martinez, mayor pro-tem

Hilda Cantu-Montoy, city attorney

Greg Garner, acting city manager

Esmeralda Hurtado, council member

Dolores Melendez, council member

Michael Montelongo, council member

  • Opening ceremonies
    • Pastor Jessica Guerra of Grace Community Church gave the opening invocation.
    • Gonzalez led the flag salute.
    • Every official was present during roll call, with Greg Garner continuing to fill the seat of city manager for this meeting.
  • Agenda approval
    • Motion by Hurtado unanimously approved.
  • Public hearing
    • Public Hearing 4 to update on City Council district boundaries as a result of property annexation
      • Cantu-Montoy
        • According to state law, the hearing must not start before 6:15 p.m.
        • It was the fourth of four required hearings needed to redraw district lines.
        • A fifth meeting will conclude these hearings with a vote on the matter.
        • State law requires that the lines be drawn to include an annexed property in the nearest council district.
      • Public Hearing 4 to update on City Council district boundaries
      • The council held the hearing at 6:15 p.m. in accordance with the law.. 
      • The annexed property is on the northeast side of town, extending from the north border of District 1 to Kings Canyon Road.
      • The annexed property becomes part of District 1. There are 36 residents in the annexed area who will become constituents.
      • There were no public comments.
  • Presentations
    • CrisCom Co. report to the council, Renee Missakian, CEO of CrisCom
      • Advocacy and government affairs
        • Missakian congratulated the council on hiring new city manager, Nathan Olson. She said that CrisCom has worked with Olson in the past.
        • CrisCom has begun having discussions with Olson and different department heads to find out what the funding requirements will be. CrisCom has been waiting for the appointment of a city manager before going forward with this step.
        • CrisCom will be back in Sanger on Feb. 28 to talk with staff during a meeting to have a larger discussion.
        • CrisCom Governmental Affairs Manager John Basmajian visited the offices of Senator Anna Caballero and Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula in Sacramento in the previous week and will be performing a follow-up visit after CrisCom meets with staff.
        • CrisCom has scheduled a tour on March 8 for Arambula to visit Sanger.
        • Congressman Jim Costa’s office has stated that $850,000 has been set aside to use for the Sanger Fire Department but hasn’t been approved yet. Congress has until March 8 to approve.
        • Basmajian will be meeting Gonzalez in Washington, D.C. after Gonzalez’s obligations with Fresno One Voice are concluded.
      • Grant Writing
      • Mid Valley Disposal Report to the council and presentation of Recycler of the Year to Dutch Bros.
        • Cleanup events
          • October 2023
            • Serviced more than 650 vehicles
            • Collection totals:
              • Electronic waste: 6,320 pounds
              • Metals: 80,560 pounds
              • Organics: 90,600 pounds
              • Trees: 5,420 pounds
              • Trash: 196,100 pounds
              • Mattresses: 226 units
          • 2024 events
            • April 4 and Oct. 26
        • Alley cleanup
          • 2023 alley cleanups were hosted by Set Free Church in collaboration with Mid Valley Disposal.
          • All items collected from the alley cleanups were dumped at the Sanger City Yard at no charge, and were removed by Mid Valley Disposal.
          • Set Free Church is still conducting alley cleanups.
        • Jensen Avenue cleanup
          • 260 pounds of trash removed on April 8
          • 160 pounds of trash removed on Sept. 30
          • Next event scheduled for April 6
        • City-sponsored community events
          • Cooked for Sanger Public Works and distributed towels during National Public Works Week on May 25
          • Participated in the Annual Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 4
          • Event sponsor for the Sanger Police Foundation Golf Tournament on Sept. 22
          • Event sponsor for the Sanger Toyland Parade on Dec. 2
          • Apache high school scholarship
          • Deadline for applications is Feb. 29.
        • SB 1383 Progress
          • Electronic annual report for 2022 was submitted to CalRecycle on time.
          • CalRecycle had an in-person visit on Feb. 2.
          • In the process of finalizing the new successor agreement for Senate Bill 1383.
        • Recycler of the Year
          • Every year Mid Valley recognizes businesses that are going above and beyond with their waste services in the cities they serve.
          • Dutch Bros. in Sanger was selected for its efforts to contribute to conservation stewardship through recycling and dedication to reducing waste. There has been no contamination or overfilling of their waste containers, the company said.
  • Public hearing
    • Public hearing regarding Community Development Block Grant closeout
      • Hurtado recused herself as she is employed by Self-Help Enterprises.
      • David Brletic, community development director, Sanger
        • Staff recommended conducting a public hearing and directing staff to continue working with Self-Help Enterprises to conduct the grant closeout process for two grants and then authorize closeout documents to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
        • Sanger was awarded approximately $279,000 to aid residents with COVID-19-related issues, such as past due and current mortgage and utility payments.
        • Brletic said that $135,000 remains in this grant program and staff is working with Self-Help Enterprises to get it distributed for any outstanding applications, but that unused money is going to be returned to the HCD now that the grant has expired.
      • Vote
        • Motion by Martinez passed 4-0-1, with Hurtado’s recusal.
    • Consent calendar
      • Community member Julian Rocha asked to pull items H1, H4, H5, and H7 from the consent calendar.
        • Vote
          • Motion by Montelongo to approve all items excluding H1, H4, H5 and H7 passed unanimously
      • Item H1
        • Warrants Including check numbers 90939 through 91210
          • Julian Rocha
            • Rocha said he had concerns about specific checks, and wanted to know how his tax money was being spent. The checks were numbers 91000, 91003, 91036, 91041, 91044, 91121, 91045, 91125 and 91210.
            • Rocha provided Garner with his phone number, and Garner said he would have staff look into these checks and get back to Rocha.
      • Item H4
        • Fire Department monthly report
          • Rocha raised concerns over the cost of the Fire Department remodel. Rocha highlighted that there were invoices paid in November and December 2023, and wanted to know how much more the remodel was going to cost.
            • Fire Chief Greg Tarascou said the invoices were part of their contract with CSG Consulting. Tarascou wasn’t sure what specifically the invoices paid for, but said he would look into them.
      • Item H5
        • Out-of-state travel request for Sanger Police Cmdr. Joshua Johnson and Community Service Officer Paul Welch
          • Rocha said he supports the request, and hopes the city is sending these two individuals because they’re the future and not because they’re “someone’s best friend.”
        • Vote
          • Motion by Montelongo was passed unanimously.
      • Item H7
        • Side letter agreements with all bargaining groups regarding Juneteenth holiday
          • Julian Rocha
            • Rocha pointed out that he believes there is $10,000 in the budget to pay for holidays for police officers, and he wanted to know how the $10,000 would break down among employees.
              • Garner clarified that for officers there are no days off. Regardless of the holiday, the police staffing remains the same. And costs for other workers is dependent on the various hourly wages of the individuals, he said.
        • Vote
          • Motion by Montelongo to approve the agreements was passed unanimously.
  • Department reports
    • On-street accessible downtown parking
      • Josh Rogers, city engineer
        • The request was to confirm where there may be currently or have been historically handicap-accessible parking stalls in the downtown area. Rogers stated that the only existing one is on the north side of 7th Street, just west of Academy Street.
        • A change that has happened recently is how handicap accessibility in the public right of way is being governed. The laws, formerly very restrictive, have made it difficult to modify spaces on streets that have been there for 50 to 60 years. However, some of these requirements have become less stringent within the last year.
        • It would cost the city between $30,000 and $40,000 to make two accessible parking spots, and creating a ramp would cost another $10,000.
      • Public comment
        • Osvaldo Vera, retired boxing coach
          • Vera wanted to know when the yellow lines were going to be painted in the downtown area. He said it’s scary to drive there at his age.
        • Julian Rocha, community member
          • Rocha brought up his blue disability placard to show the council. He said the proposed locations for accessible parking are too far from everything downtown. He pleaded with the council to consider the input of those with accessibility issues.
        • Kevin Carter, community member
          • Carter said he believes the project should be done at the same time the city reconstructs the whole street. 
          • After public comment closed, Martinez clarified that the parking spot locations have not been set. He said everything presented was for illustrative purposes to see what parking spots would look like downtown. He said the city still needs to talk to business owners and property owners to find out who is interested in having a space in front of their business.
      • Hurtado asked to table the item to allow for more outreach to the community and businesses. She also said she wants to see estimates of what the costs would be if the project were combined with the complete reconstruction of 7th Street.
        • Hurtado moved to table the parking space request, which passed unanimously
    • Amendments to the Subdivision Improvement Agreement and Temporary Lift Station Covenant
      • David Brletic, community development director
        • Staff recommended that the council adopt Resolution 2024-07 to increase the number of new connections to the current lift station, which is part of the sewage system, in place.
        • DR Horton submitted a letter requesting an increase from 32 to 50 units to be connected to the temporary lift station. The subdivision agreement and the temporary lift station covenant were previously approved by the council.
        • Developer DR Horton is seeking a permanent lift station by May to replace the temporary one currently there.
      • Vote
        • Motion by Montelongo to adopt the resolution was passed unanimously.

Actions/discussions/public comment

  • Julian Rocha, community member
    • Rocha started off by thanking CrisCom, Set Free Church and Mid Valley Disposal. He said that Sanger needs those organizations to be successful. 
    • Rocha pointed out that Hurtado had previously suggested the council honor Gongs Market after the family sold their business. He said this was necessary, and that community members, businesses and organizations should be recognized more often. 
    • Rocha also brought up the need for the city to erect a sign recognizing Tom Flores’ induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rocha wanted to know why the city needed to ask permission of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to include logos instead of simply putting up a sign.
  • Maria, community member
    • Maria thanked the council and all involved for cleaning up her alley, an issue she had previously brought to the attention of the council. However, she said that there are still more alleys that need fixing. 
    • Maria brought up JFK Park, saying there is a lot of water there and a bad smell. The park is unfit for activities such as soccer games that used to be played there, she said.
  • Jacob Zailian, Pastor, Set Free Church
    • Zailian told the council that his organization is going strong, having created five living quarters throughout Sanger and Fresno for individuals who need shelter and to detox from drugs.
    • Set Free Church is now housing 54 people.
    • They have a dedicated women’s home.
    • Set Free Church recently provided 25,000 pounds of food to those in need.
    • Set Free Church continues to clean up waste in the alleys.
  • Osvaldo Vera, retired boxing coach
    • Vera handed out a flyer advertising the Sanger Boxing gym available outside the chambers. Vera asked why the flyer said that parents and legal guardians of parents had to remain outside the gym. He said parents come to see their children participate and they deserve to be cheered on.

Conversation highlight

  • “And if I can’t get to there because I’m walking the whole length – believe it or not two blocks is long for someone like me, it really is – why would you put it on the furthest end and make me walk all the way down two blocks? You can’t put it in the middle somewhere?” – Julian Rocha, Sanger resident

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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