City - Regular Meeting

Thank you for joining us this evening. Uh before we start our meeting, I'd like to ask everybody to stand for invocation by Mayor Prom, Miss Lewis.

Thank you, Mayor. Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening thanking you first of all because you are God the Almighty and there is none above you. Lord, we ask that you bless this meeting, that you will give us the wisdom and understanding to make the right decisions for the city and for the residents of this city. I pray for our employees, Father, that you keep them safe. I pray for our state and I pray for our country. Father, I give you thanks for all that you've done for us. Keep us in your will and in your understanding in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. like to call this meeting to order for November 19th, 2025. And chief, if we could have the pledge, please to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. [clears throat]

[snorts]

Okay, if we could have roll call. Lucy, please. Perez here. Sanders Chavez here. Lewis here. Amil here. First item is consideration of the agenda as submitted and this will be the approval. Adopt the agenda as submitted. Any questions or comments on the agenda? If we could have that motion. So moved. Second.

Okay. We have a motion to second to approve the agenda as submitted. Any questions or comments by the council? Not hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. And now the next item is a presentation by the housing authority of Merced County regarding the senior tiny homes and development in Los Bannis. And I'll let you take it over. Thank you. Welcome. Good evening everyone. Thank you for having us here. [clears throat]

My name is Rosa Vasquez. I'm the executive director for the housing authority of the county of Merced. And we are here tonight to dis to talk about our tiny homes that we're building in those banels. We're very excited and happy that this is our first development um as the housing authority um to be um developing. So I brought with me tonight Maria Alvarado who's our director of um development for the housing authority and Mr. Bernell Hill who is our um developer for the property. So I'll let Maria speak and um if there's any questions be more than happy to answer them. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Good afternoon everyone.

Afternoon. Um very very brief presentation. Um uh as uh our executive director mentioned, we are the housing authority of the county of Merrced. Uh for some background, um the housing authority was founded in 1949. Since then, the mission of the housing authority has been to provide affordable rental housing for those um with low income. Okay. Um the housing authority oversees uh approximately 39 3,944 um affordable housing units. Those are comprised of uh 2,950 housing choice voucher uh vouchers, sorry. Uh 421 public housing units, 73 which are uh authority owned project based vouchers, which is what we call uh Valley View Homes, 147 uh uh section 8 contract based um units, which again are affordable. uh 65 market rate um units uh four migrant centers that comprise 228 um units for uh seasonal migrant farm workers. We actually do have one of our uh seasonal centers here in the city of Losanos off of uh Henry Miller Road. Um a yearround center that's now 60 units which we increased this last year by 10 um for the total of 3, uh 944. um some of the programs that the housing authority oversees because it's not just section 8 which is now called the housing choice voucher uh the housing authority also oversees the projectbased voucher program which is under the umbrella of the housing choice voucher program which I'll knock out HCV for short um and for those we have 666 units throughout the county of Merced those include um Merced spanos um just recently Livingston um so that portfolio uh is expanding additionally We do oversee the public housing program. Again, that's it's all uh income based. Those are uh housing

authority owned units. Um and those are also scattered throughout the the county of Merced, which again, the housing authority does have public housing here in the city of Laspanos. Um as mentioned, this is the seasonal migrant center um at Water Losanos Merrced Planada. Um and that again houses our migrant farm workers for approximately 6 months throughout the season. Um and at that time whenever the season concludes then they go ahead and and move out of um the area. Uh we do have the year-round center in the city of Planata that provides housing year round for all of our uh farmworker uh families. Um some of the special programs that the housing authority oversees is the VASH program, the veteran affairs supportive housing. Uh currently the housing authority has 123 of those vouchers. Uh we also have emergency housing vouchers which were grant-based. They are now um expired as the the slider shows um but they have been converted over to 10M based vouchers. Uh we also have the mainstream vouchers. Those are 26 vouchers that are exclusively uh for individuals moving out of institutional settings um into uh permanent housing. Um we have the shelter care plus program that's a partnership with behavioral health. Those are eight vouchers. So um those are um for people that are receiving supportive services through behavioral health. Um we also have the independent living skills program. Those are for um youth that are aging out of the foster care system. So um there's 10 vouchers that we partner with um uh HSA again to to help these individuals uh secure affordable permanent housing as well. um the family unification program. Those are 27 set aside vouchers again in partnership with HSA and those are targeted for um individuals or families that are working towards re being reunited um with their children um who have been taken away for whatever reason. Um we also do have 235 set aside vouchers with that we partner with the coordinated entry system. Those are in

our referral base. Um and those uh can come from, you know, partnering agencies such as um CRS saving grace. Um the continuum of care. Um again, it's just to help with um individuals that are homeless or um at risk of being homeless. Um we also have the adult protective services or APS vouchers. Those are in partnership with um HSA and those are for elderly individuals that um are receiving um experiencing abuse in homes. Again, it's to help them secure their own housing. Um, removing them from those um situations. Um, we have what's our uh HSP or housing um oh my goodness, I forgot the what the acronym stands for. Um, but again, it's for those individuals that are being housed through HSA at motel. Um, so once their motel voucher expires, um, this voucher will help them be able to secure um, a unit. Uh, we also oversee the family self-sufficiency program. Um, this program is open to both housing choice voucher and public housing residents. Uh, it is a five-year program that assists our families um with attaining self-sufficiency. So, it does give them u financial literacy classes, um budgeting classes, um training, a an array of of services that will help them um with the goal of them becoming self-sufficient and hopefully off the program at some point um in uh within their time with us. Um but now to the the the main theme why we're here. Um we'd love to present the two uh projects that we have. Again, it's total 11 units. Um but they are broken out into two different lots. Um in Midor, which is located at 860 uh F Street. It is six one-bedroom, 500 ft² units. Um both sites are uh designated for elderly and or disabled individuals. Uh but some of the amenities that come with uh these developments is they're going to have, you know, their own individual um parking areas. Um it's a closed concept plan. So they have a full

kitchen, um a living room, a bedroom with a full closet, full bathroom, uh with a bathtub, uh and a washer and dryer hookup. So it's not what you would typically think of when you think of small home, a tiny home. This is a small home. Um they [clears throat] it's very spacious. Uh it is ADA compliant. It will be completely um solar. We will be providing energy efficient um appliances again to ensure that we're um you know doing our part. Um they do have their own private patio and porch that these anyone that would like to just step outside, hang out um along with communal areas for um our elderly um and or disabled families to to um enjoy. Um we will have a iron fencing at the entrance of the homes again just for added security. And this is Enmira Road at 860 um EP Street. Uh and this is all in partnership. Oh, that my slides were a little um switched over. Um this is what the uh homes are going to look like again specifically for um 860 uh F Street. So it's again six units. Uh and you'll see where the communal and the parking areas are. Um Las Vas, it's at 840 D Street. This is located uh near infand uh here where near our public housing um site. Uh and that's comprised of five one-bedroom units, same square footage, same amenities um and again the same target u population. Okay. Um and this is the layout for that specific um site. So again, you'll see the five units. Um where are grassier areas, the the communal areas, the parking spaces um and again this is located on D Street at 40 D Street again infill with our public housing um site. So we're excited. Um those should be nearing completion um late December of this year um early January. The housing authority is working on getting that weight list um opened so that any parties that are interested can sign up.

Um and uh we hope to we're working with HSA. We're working with HSA. Sorry for those referrals. I kind of skipped over that one. Um and the housing authority would be thrilled if any of the council members, city manager, the mayor would be in attendance when we schedule that um groundbreaking, not oh grand opening, sorry, um for those centers, for those sites. Yes. Thank you very much. Love to be there. Yes. Go ahead. [clears throat]

Well, I'm Verell Hill. I'm the uh developer. Um this is my first time working in Los Banos. Um I work closely with Stacy and her group. And um after we Well, every city is different. I mean, it's just the way it is. And Stockton is different, LOI is different and Los Angeles are different. how uh you need to work with them. But I will say that um the staff um did a good job and I'm very pleased with uh uh what happened and how we were able to work together to get the project uh off the ground. Like any uh uh project, it it's normally difficult to get it get it going. Uh and a lot of that is when uh the developer needs to learn how um to work with um the the way the city operates and and uh it took a few weeks to to get that under my hat and but uh I I again I was very pleased with the u the working relationship that we had and um I don't know but uh have you any of you seen the email blast that we've been sending out about the tiny homes.

Yes.

Okay. Um we are [clears throat] uh the stage that we are at now uh next week we'll be putting down the floors. We painted uh did the painting. The solar is in the brush. The it's it's it's going to take us probably another two uh two months to do the fine um tuning of it and and finishing off. But uh the houses are are are ready to will be ready to go in about two months. Um, I'm excited about the homes because they are actually homes. They are not um box cars. They are not pre-fabricated uh buildings that in my view will uh fall apart in in in 10 years, 15 years, 20 years. These homes are built. They stick built home foundation and they'll they'll last a 100red years if we do if the proper maintenance is done on them. they'll be here and I'll be hopefully in heaven uh at the time, but uh we're looking at a hundred years. Uh and and so um um and believe me, 500 square ft doesn't sound like a lot until you get inside and able to walk walk through it. And uh I I I believe that this should be the model that the state of California uh follows uh because it's it um you know it takes care of um a lot of the needs of the people uh that that will be living there and uh the fact that you know you're looking at a 100year life use youthful life u this is where we ought to be spending our money as we move forward. uh you know 500 if you wanted to go to 600 or 650 and add a second bedroom. But these these are the time kind of homes that should be built

for the uh um for the problem that California has with homeless um and uh um and it can be built fairly uh inexpensive in my view. So, uh, when I and I build apartments, um, you know, we we we have a long history of building in Stockton, uh, and when you are building a, uh, multif family apartment and you're spending $500,000 per unit, per apartment.

Um, you know, this this is an alternative that I believe is is something that everybody should be looking at. Anyway, my um um my time working with the Las staff, uh it was good. I'm very happy about it. Of course, I was pushing. I wanted things to go faster. They didn't go as fast as I wanted them to go, but that's what I uh experienced on every uh in every city that I deal with. And uh but the uh the staff here uh was good and and uh so I don't have anything I don't have any real complaints and you know it's easy I guess when when we are almost at the finish line. Uh but um you know working with the staff was good. So um I was pleased and I want the city manager to know that and the mayor to know that working with the staff was good. U that's [clears throat] about it. Thank you

again. Thank you everyone for having us and yes it has been a real pleasure to work with um Stacy and with um Christie and all the staff. Um they have been very responsive um to questions we have or any concerns and um I do hope to see everybody there um for our grand opening. Thank you very much for having us tonight. And if there's any questions or any other um information you would like, please reach out to us. We'll come out and um answer any questions. Well, we appreciate all three of you very much. And now that you know the ropes of Lost Banish, you can build uh five or six more of those units. Definitely plan on doing that.

We need more of that and it's it's uplifting people and that's what it's all about. We appreciate all the work you're doing with our staff, too. So, thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor, if I may [clears throat] have a question, sure. There's one question for you. Okay. Thank you. Um couple of questions. Uh in in our report it indicated that this is going to be older adult uh fixed housing. Is there a starting age an age qualification? Um it will be 62 and above. 62 or disabled. Oh. Or disabled. Okay. And the disability is no age requirement. No.

Okay. And also in the presentation um you talked about uh some of the some individuals living in hotels or motel with vouchers and when their time I think what I understood is when their time was up there they'd have another voucher to move into another [clears throat] housing situation. So when that time is up, is there a guarantee that there's going to be something available for?

So the way that that program works is um HSA is providing a motel voucher for families and it's only for a specific time. I'm not quite I can't remember if it's 30 to 60 days. So what happens is at the end of that um time, the end of that voucher that's provided by HSA, the families then um are at risk of becoming homeless. So then they will send the referral to the housing authority to um qualify for a voucher under the housing choice voucher to obtain permanent housing. Okay. So that that would mean something that they never have to move out of um so long as they meet program requirements. Correct. Okay. All right. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Really appreciate your presentation. Thank you. Okay, now we will move on to our public forum. Members of the public may address the city council on any item of public interest that's within the jurisdiction of our city. This includes agenda and non-aggenda items. You have five minutes to speak. If you anyone would like to speak to the city council, please come forward at this time. State your name and uh so we know who you are and and talk to your city council. Welcome.

Good evening. I was glad to see the uh individuals come up and speak and I'm looking forward to their grand opening. I had encouraged them early on [snorts] that um as they [clears throat] progress with individuals with special needs and individuals um that they will be servicing that um that we could look forward to developing a program for um assisting them with uh service dogs that would be trained especially for them. Um, and that would be getting um dogs that are in need of homes um to getting them trained and then transferring them over. One thing that I did want to talk about was the continuation of um developing our pet friendly city. I have enjoyed um I've seen the website develop a little different with updates about being pet friendly and what we do in the community to assist our community members. [snorts] If we could still keep on working with um green spaces for pets to be able to run. Um, I have been and I I your staff has been open to my suggestion with developers to um always plan for pets whether or not it is a a apartment building or whether or not it's a home. Um and as we develop maybe one day to get some kind of fees that would go directly to assisting the city with reimbursement of the extra

work they have to do when new individuals move into our city. So, as we progress with this, um I I do want to encourage um everybody to just know that uh we've been experiencing a big amount of individuals that have been uh feeding animals, lots of different kinds of animals outside their home. There are, of course, laws against that and um and properly. Um there's forms that can be filled out and um if any of you guys have any questions, please uh speak to the uh the shelter individuals or Ivan or the police chief about the permit fees. And it's not really a permit. It's just a agreement that if you do feed an animal that you do clean up after that after the feeding. And then additionally then you do um steps to spay and neuter those those pets or those animals. Um but I did want to again encourage as we keep going along. I know um I did get uh I was able to meet uh three individuals um from our community [snorts] uh through my my I love feral cats booth. Um there has been three individuals that I have on my list and I don't know who to give them to. I'll probably just give them to Ivan. Um but these are individuals that have um uh one has h had been a veterinarian and two have been veterinarian assistants and uh what they did do was um they were raising their young family so they stopped what they were doing but

they're ready to go back into it. So, um, if we could start developing some kind of program on that and let's just keep going for that pet friendly, uh, community that we could be able to put up signs. Um, and then additionally um, if we can encourage somehow to do a program where um, the city provides stickers for businesses that are pet friendly. I know that there's a few businesses that have signs that say that they're pet friendly and our patio is pet friendly. So maybe we could expand on that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else like to speak to the council? Please come forward. [cough] [clears throat]

Welcome.

Good evening, Mr. mayor, city council members, city staff, and as always, uh, fellow residents. So, I want to talk a little bit about the, uh, decision to limit the scope of the audit for the PID downtown association. Uh, there's a lot of, uh, there's a cloud hanging over Los Banos. A lot of investors, entrepreneurs, they're not confident with investing in Los Banos. And this would have been one of the way to relieve or dispel that uh that cloud is to have a complete audit of those uh of that of those transactions. Uh I hope that we get to the bottom of it so we can invite and encourage more investors into our downtown area. Uh the housing uh understand 500 units that could potentially be up about 2,250 additional uh individuals if we have uh two adults per house and the average uh children is 2.5, right? So again, do we have the capacity? Do we have the infrastructure to support that? Do we have the water quality issues addressed? and unfortunately we do not. So hopefully we uh we can mitigate that in the future. Good news is uh as you well know uh last week we celebrated the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, the finest fighting force in the world. Uh and it was an over overwhelming success. We uh had to turn folks away because we were in uh possibility of breaching the maximum capacity. Uh M&M's was a fantastic host. bent over backwards to assist us in any way they could. Uh and it was a u we had some uh technical difficulties. The speaker didn't want to

work for us as as always happens, but it was a very nice event. Uh people were very satisfied and uh it accomplished some of the things that I wanted to do is I wanted to ensure that the Marines that wanted to stay and celebrate didn't have to drive a long way such as Merced. They like to have a get together there, but it's not there's never been a a ceremony like we've had here. So again, it it would be a uh first historical never in those monos and never in Merced County. So I want to thank all the um ticket purchasers that uh person made the cake, etc. And I also want to thank uh uh E is Morald de Horta. She's a city council member from the city of Sanger who drove all the way down here to participate in that and and show support. She also happens to be a candidate for senator for district 4. So I appreciate her attending um the American hero initiative with their silent auction. They uh raised several thousands of dollars to help veterans disabled veterans in home and vehicle repairs. So again another uh successful uh for that and I'm very thankful for the folks who participated in that siluction. Uh, I want to thank the office of uh, Congressman Adam Gray. He uh, presented uh, Mrs. Maria uh, Phillips with a certificate from his office uh, expressing thanks and gratitude for her efforts in helping veterans. Uh, we invited our board of supervisors from district 5. Unfortunately, there was no response, but I was happy to see that uh, the candidate for district 5, Mr. uh, Miguel Alejandro did show up. I appreciate that very much.

Thank you very much. Thank you for your comments. [clears throat]

Anyone else, please come forward. Welcome. Good evening. I feel like public speaking never gets any easier. Anyways, [snorts] good evening, mayor, council members, and staff, residents. Um, let's make it quick, have a good amount to read. So, my name is Miguel Alejandre and I want to speak on an issue that continues to rise to the forefront for residents across Los Bay and the west side. The infrastructure capacity. Our community is growing and people want growth. They want more housing options, including truly affording affordable units and senior living options, which I love what they're doing with those 11 units. Families [snorts] want want stronger job opportunities so they don't have to commute long distances. But the message I continue to hear from residents is clear. Growth growth must be matched with infrastructure. At this moment, Los Bayus is facing serious challenges that affect our daily quality of life. Fire staffing and response capacity that is stretched thin, limited hospital beds and urgent care across access for a population reaching 50,000. Police staffing that struggles to sometimes keep up with call volume. EMT and ambulance wait time increasing increasing road congestion that slows residents workers and first responders. school crowding and limited classroom capacity and water and wastewater nearing their upper limits. These aren't new problems, but the urgency is increasing as more developments are proposed. Tonight, I'm asking the council, what steps can we make together to move forward with ensuring our infrastructure grows at the same pace as our population. I respectfully request the council consider the following actions. One, create a formal infrastructure capacity report updated annually outlining our fire, police, medical, water, wastewater, road, and school capacities compared to projected population. Two, develop a growth plus infrastructure policy requiring major development projects to identify how they will

support or fund the needed public services associated with increased population. Three, prioritize affordable and senior housing that matches the needs of working families, fixed income seniors, and those priced out of the current market. Four, strengthen partnerships with our regional healthcare providers to expand local bed capacity, urgent care hours, and recruitment pipelines. I'm have about have a kia next month here in town. I hope everything goes well and we don't need a niku. I'm worried about that. Five, establish a fire and police staffing plan based on national standards for cities of our size. Six, collaborate with the school district to ensure future developments contribute to easing easing classroom overcrowding. Seven, pursue state and federal infra infrastructure grants more aggressively, especially for fire, EMS, roads, and water. Eight, and the last one, engage in public, engage the public in a structured way, workshops, surveys, public dashboards, so residents can clearly see how development ties into infrastructure improvements. Los Angeles is a proud and growing community. We can welcome new homes, new businesses, and new opportunities, but only if we grow responsibly. My hope is that we can make infrastructure planning a top priority, not only for today, but for the next decade. Our families, workers, businesses, and seniors deserve a city that grows with them, not ahead of them. Okay, this document is from a resident who reached out to me that's about the school board. It doesn't have to do with the city council, but it's to make citizens aware. First, it is important to note that the parent club is separate entity from the school. Though it is listed as a title one parent engagement organization, this allows parents to participate and support school activities using their own fundraising efforts. However, we are currently facing a serious situation. On October 29th, 2025, parents were informed that no sitting president leaving the club without authorized leadership. The bank the bank account containing 6,700 raised by parents was reportedly closed and the funds were deposited to the school. School administration has claimed that the bank sent the check back to MC MSSE and they took it as a donation. Instead of waiting for a new

president to be seated, this is not correct. A bank that has no authority to donate someone else's funds. Sorry. These were donations raised by parents and the school has a legal obligation to track and account for those funds. No receipts, records or documentations have been provided showing how the funds were handled or spent. The principal has stated that the club will close unless new members are found despite the fact that the parent club is a parentled organization with its own governance. Last school year 2024 2025, it was known that the sitting president will no longer have an enrolled student and therefore be ineligible for the club. The school failed to run an election in the spring of 2025. For this school year, 2025 2026, leaving us without a clear leadership transition. As [snorts] a result, when the veter Veterans Day parade approached, we were left scrambling with only 3 days notice. Parents had to step in to complete the flow and decorations and student shirts were cancelled because there was no president to coordinate the event. This was particularly frustrating as the school had signed up for this event over a month in advance and the parent club had been counting on proper leadership to support it. We were asking the district board to consider the following. Transparency and accountability for the 6700 raised by parents, including bank records, check documentations, and how funds were spent. Two, support for the parent club as a parent led organization that operates separately from school, ensuring it can continue its title one parent engagement role. Three, proper election and succession procedures that so that the parent club is not left without leadership at critical times which directly impacts students and parent participation. We hope the board will assist in ensuring proper governance, transparency, and continuing for the parent club so that parents and students can continue the benefits from next activities. Thank you for your time. Right on time. Thank you. Thank you for your comments. Anyone else please come forward? And I do not see or hear anyone coming forward. We do have a letter that was sent to the city council and Lucy, if you could read that for us. Go into the record.

Good evening, [clears throat] Mayor Amabil and council members. I'm writing to express my concern regarding the growing number of ebikes being operated throughout Los Bannis on sidewalks, city roadways, and along the rail trail. I have personally experienced close calls on the rail trail at sunset when ebikes approached at high speeds highlighting the need for clearer safety guidelines. I respectfully request the council consider coordinating with the police department and the Laspanis Unified School District to engage the community in drafting an ebike ordinance. Promoting safe outdoor activity is important not only for individual health but also for fostering a vibrant active community. Additionally, we should consider bringing back the dashed lines on the rail trail to clearly [clears throat] indicate separate lanes. At a minimum, I believe the ordinance should address the following: speed limits, direction of travel, right-of-way requirements, open space restrictions, modification bans. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Arasmo Fiveros, a concerned resident.

Anything else, Lucy? That's the only letter. That's the only one. Okay. We appreciate his letter. We appreciate everyone that spoke at the public forum. And now we'll move on. So our next item is consideration of the consent agenda as submitted. Uh is there any questions by the city council the consent agenda or further discussion? You want to pull it off or with that Lucy, why don't you read everything off the consent agenda?

Items on the consent agenda are as follows. warrant numbers 254495 through 254914 in the amount of 1,379,5963. City council meeting minutes for October 1st, 2025. City [clears throat] council meeting minutes for October 15, 2025. City Council meeting minutes for November 5th, 2025. City Council resolution number 7017 authorizing investment of monies in the local agency investment fund. City Council resolution number 7018 accepting the Transportation Development Act funds financial statement for the years ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 as prepared by Price Paging Company, Merced County Association of Government's Auditors. City Council resolution number 7019 authorizing the submitt of an application acceptance of an allocation of funds and execution of a grant agreement with the California Department of Transportation for an airport improvement program matching grant increasing the amount by $3515 and amending the fiscal year 202526 budget. City Council resolution number 7020 [clears throat] acting as the city of Laspanis groundwater sustainability sustainability agency approving the Delta Mod subbasin domestic well mitigation policy. City Council resolution number 7021 acting as the city of Laspanis groundwater sustainability agency authorizing the city manager to execute

the revised Delta Mandota subbasin memorandum of agreement. City Council resolution number 7022 amending division 4 salary schedule employee classifications relating to changes to section A administration adding legal assistant and amending the fisc year 202526 budget by approximately $63,753 as it pertains to salary and benefits and the items are to be approved as submitted. Okay, now that we've heard them, is there any items that for further discussion the council would like to have and I'll entertain a motion.

Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda as submitted. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second to approve a consent agenda as submitted. Any further questions or comments? All in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Eyes have it.

Yeah. Thank you, Chris. Next item is a public hearing. You may challenge the proposed action as described herein court. You may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at a public hearing described herein or in written correspondence delivered to the city at or prior to a public meeting. And our first item in public hearing is to receive public comment and consideration of the 2025 California Fire Standards Code local city of Lasass amendment to the building standard code. And this is we already went over this at our last meeting, but is there anything else chief you want to say about this that

Yeah. Good evening, mayor, council, staff. Um [clears throat] the uh every 3 years the codes are um adopted by the state. So there's always update of codes. So we had the first hearing last month, the deputy fire marshal Galikio made that presentation regards to some things regarding battery energy storage. uh some code standards of wildland urban interface. It's now its own code and there's a lot of changes that mirror uh some of the changes that were done in the building code in regards to uh electrical and battery storage systems. So uh we did not receive any comment at that time and um unless I have requesting that you you open up the hearing um take comment close the hearing and then adopt the uh ordinance.

Okay. Thank you. Fire Chief Tala. Okay, with this, uh, I'll go ahead and open up the public hearing for public comment and consideration on 2025 California Fire Code Standard Codes, local city of Laspass amendments to the building standard code. At this time, I'll open up the public hearing. Anyone that would like to speak to the city council on this item, please come forward. [snorts] Okay, I do not see or hear anyone coming forward. I'll close the public hearing and move to a question.

Oh, I [laughter] we'll move to uh ordinance number 12 11 adopting by reference the 2025 edition of the California fire code by amendment to title 4 chapter 3 the Los Municipal Code and adoption of local amendment there too. This would be uh the second reading and the adoption. So, we first we need to we opened up the public hearing, closed the public hearing. Now, we need to wave the second reading. So, I need that motion. Mayor, uh, yes. I'd like to make a motion to wave the second reading of ordinance 1211 as read by title. Second.

Okay. We have a motion and a second to wave the second reading ordinance 1211 as stated. Any further comments on that item? And hearing n, all in favor signify by saying I. I I opposed. Eyes have it. And now we need a motion to adopt the ordinance. Yes, mayor. I'd like to make a motion to adopt ordinance number 1211 as read by title. Second. Have a motion and second to adopt ordinance number 1211 as stated. Any further questions or comments by the city council? This is an ordinance, so we'll take a roll call vote. Please. Perez. I. Sanders Chavez. Yes. Lewis, yes.

Amabil,

yes. Okay. And now we'll move on to our second public hearing is to receive comment public comment on consideration the 2025 California building standards codes. This is for local city of Lasis amendment to the building standard code. Again, uh before I open up the public hearing, I'll go over to our fire chief. Any comments on this one? I know this is our second time around on this one, too. Good evening again. Yes, this will be our second reading and and during the first reading, uh, Assistant Chief Dor Bush provided some updates in regards to some of the changes that were in the code related to wildland urban interface, energy and green code, uh, and California's push for [clears throat] being more energy efficient. So, there's a lot more in regards to uh, electric and some of those changes are reflective in this code. And again, this is another triannual update um, that is being adopted. So, I'm requesting uh if council would uh or the mayor would open up the public hearing, take comment, uh close the hearing, and then wave and adopt, please.

Great. Thanks, Chief. So, at this time, I'd like to open up the public hearing to receive comment on this item of the 2025 California Building Code as stated. Anyone that would like to speak to us on this, please come forward at this time. And I do not see or hear anyone moving forward. I'll close the public hearing, turn it back over to the city council. And so we have a uh we need a motion to wave the second reading of ordinance number 1212. Yeah, mayor. I'd like to make a motion to wave the second reading of ordinance number 1212 [snorts] by title. We have a second.

I'll second the motion. Okay, we have a motion and a second for ordinance 1212 as stated. Any further comments or questions from the council? Not hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. And now we'll need uh the motion to adopt ordinance 1212. Yeah. Mayor [clears throat] like to make a motion to adopt uh ordinance 1212 as read by title. Second. Okay, we have a motion, second as stated. Any further questions on ordinance 1212? Okay, this is an ordinance again. So, Lucy, we'll need a roll call vote, please. Perez, yes. Sanders. Chavez, yes. Lewis, yes.

Amil, yes.

Okay. Item nine is consideration adoption of ordinance 1213. This is adding article 49 to title 9 chapter 3 of the Laspanis municipal code regional housing needs assessment overlay district. And this would be a second reading and adoption. And I'll turn to our community economic development director, Souza Elms. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and City Council. Um, so as you may recall on November 5th, the city council held a public hearing uh to consider the adoption of the 2024 2032 housing element and then also related zoning ordinance amendment uh to establish a regional housing needs assessment reena overlay district and that's to implement uh the housing element. At uh the close of um the public hearing, the city council adopted the resolution for the housing element and then introduced and waved the first reading of ordinance number 1213 um amending title 9 of the Las Vegas Municipal Code to add article 49 to chapter 3, which would provide for the Reena Overlay district. Uh so tonight we're asking that the city council would uh wave the second reading and complete the adoption process by adopting ordinance number 1213 um by title. Uh no changes have been made to the ordinance since its introduction back on November 5th and um staff is asking for adoption tonight. And that concludes my report.

No public hearing is needed. No, we did close it back on the 5th. Okay. [snorts] Okay. So, with that, any questions of staff council? So, we'll need uh a motion to wave second reading of ordinance 1213. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to wave the second reading of ordinance number 1213 as read by title. Second. Okay, we have a motion and second for ordinance 1213 as stated. Further comments or questions by the council? Not hearing any. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. So now we'll need an uh motion to adopt ordinance 1213.

Yes, m [clears throat] excuse me. I'd like to make a motion to adopt ordinance uh 1213 as read by title. Second. And we have a motion and a second to adopt ordinance 1213. Any questions or comments? This is a ordinance. So we will again need a roll call vote please. Perez yes. Sanders. Chavez. Yes. Lewis. Yes. Amabil.

Yes. Item 10 consideration of policy priority and appointment of delegate to attend the 2026 MCAG. That's Merced County Association of Government's one voice program. With this I'll turn it over to our city manager on that. Good evening, mayor, city council, uh member of the public as well as staff. Um on an annual basis, um Mercedes, uh county, uh Mercedes associate of governments prepare together a one voice programs that would allow cities um within the county itself, all seven cities and the county to come up with priority and to be able to go to Washington DC and lobbying those policy to meet our needs. Some of the policy that was brought to to us from the last um couple cycle has been water infrastructure, public safeties, um airports um and also environmental qual protections. Um so for this year they wanted to um expedite this program to allow times for new members to be able to come up with priority as well as to have proper meeting in place um so that way the group can come up and vote together on on what is the to be the regional priority for this year. Um so with this staff reports um staff would like to get direction from council to select two priority um two or three priorities so that way we can work together with all those other seven city and the county um to put together this package and to also um ask council for directions to nominate a delegate um to actually go to Washington DC ourself. Um this trips again um will start on um May 13th um I'm sorry May 12th and will last all the way until the four weeks of um the end of May 14th. It is a fully loaded schedule that would starts um you know with the initial meetings at MCAG office um in December and then that will continue on on a monthly basis to continually uh come up with this programs. as we've already heard from the member of the public um we need to

leverage um federal fundings and state dollar. So this is one of those platform that as council and as staff we can continue to leverage and lobby for some of the priority policy that would come before you. So some of those policy that we have previously brought um for specifically for city of Los banners is water infrastructures that is the state revolving funds associated with water treatments. Um for us that would be for chrome 6 as well as our water distribution systems. We also has a needs um associated with public safety. um that is our capital improvements such as fire stations um the fire equipment that go with that whether it's fire trucks or other um equipment that's needed as well as our um furnishings of our emergency operations center. The other priority that could be considered is transportation base um for this year um staff has prepared the Pioneer complete street projects or the regional Pioneer connector on the south end um to be considered um and then the last project that we prepare would be the Losanos landfield closures. Now that we are transitioning to a clean closure project, there is available fundings and platform that we could leverage against um through the US EPA um to [clears throat] bring this forward. So again tonight, mayor and council would like your direction to select two or three policy platform for staff to prepare in detail for and also to select a delegates um um to attend this uh one voice program. One thing to note that one of the delegates um we can have two or three delegates to Washington DC and MCAG is request that one of those delegate be a staff member. Um so for that um I volunteer um as a staff member to go for this program. Um but we'll still need a uh a member from the council to um to also go along with this program. Well, I think uh just right off the the priorities that you listed, I don't think we're going to get anything bigger than chromium 6 and helping us on that and our water infrastructure. Of course, we can always use funding for uh public

safety. Uh I know in the past we've done airports and things like that, but I think the priority right now is what's looming over us, and that that's a chromium 6 uh from the state. So I think that has to be number one my opinion. I don't know how the rest of the council feels. [snorts] Yeah, I'd agree on the water for sure. That's that's top and foremost on the infrastructure side. I think what you said is pretty much right on. Y

that's I mean and I think as well as the public safety is also important. We need that other station as well. Uh you know transportation to me those are the top three. That's why I bring in there. Any other comments from council? I add them right there with our water infrastructure.

Well, uh, absolutely water especially around chromium 6 is a priority. Uh last year I represented um our police and fire department. Uh but of course, you know, we were kind of tossed in at the last minute to come up with something because our city did not sit submit any priorities last year uh to MCAG for this particular uh annual visit to the capitol. Um, I I think you know as as we move forward, public safety is going to always be a priority in our city and how we approach this and what mechanisms we're going to use to try to get it is is the challenge and I think both of our chiefs understand that, our fire chief as well as our police chief. Um, and one of the things that I learned last year is how the government looks at a small city. And it's generally about small cities back east, which could be, you know, 35,000 people or 25,000 people, but but because it's concentrated in a smaller state where there are a lot of cities, uh, they tend to get the most money. Whereas in California out here, they look at us as, you know, some broad broad expansive uh state and a small community such as Los Banos where we have less than 50,000 people is not considered small to them. So, you know, I think public safety is still a top priority, but we've got to really come up with a strategy as to how we're going to uh present to the representatives from the federal government about the importance of public safety here in California and especially here in Los Banos. So, those those would be my top priorities. Um I don't know whether or not um we would even get any money

regarding completion of Pioneer corridor. Maybe there maybe there might be some money there. I think Gustinine was able to get money to help them uh with their project with the roundabout. Um so that that may be a possibility. Um the landfield closure I I don't know that that's I don't know that that would be a priority for them. I it's all about funding. That's you go back there to try to get money. It's really what it's all about. So what costs us the what's the biggest bang we can get for our buck and said is you know

fix the chromium 6 issue or whatever the state decides to do with that. That infrastructure is cost so many millions of dollars. And then of course public safety, fire stations, uh other things for the police department and and roads cost so much in California to build. So like any kind of extensions like that that they can give. I don't think California's on the top of anybody's list back in Washington DC. It's true. But uh hopefully we can make some friends over there. And so those those are my three pictures.

So it looks like we're all on the same page. Mayor. So, as far as MCAG, because I know we went back, we're late to the party last time, but what I think what did us a disservice? Well, one is already obviously California is not in the in the graces of uh the current administration, but then we really pushed high speed right now. I think that just closed all our doors. I just think it's I don't know if if MKAG plans to champion that or how can you keep that off there because I think it's killing our our opportunities potentially closing doors to us. So, I don't know how that works.

Yeah. Well, that's uh that's where I know they sort of threw the mayor Augustine under the under the under the train maybe I should say uh last year with that. But you're right. I mean, uh, if there's something in Washington DC that they're totally against, why are we bringing it up? We're trying to make points on something for a lost banis in our in our in our area. So, and what do we have to do with the train? They took away our station that was at Santael. So, I mean there's I mean,

but is mayor is that something that um MCAG is being pushed by the state of California to support? So therefore they have to

well yeah because well and uh Non could talk about that but um it's they're a lot of it's mandated from CALR and CALR they're they get their their marching orders from administration of the state our governor and down and so it just trickles down and if it's still a priority up in Sacramento it becomes everybody gets forcefed you know that's how it sort of works Mayor, if I may add on that fun a little bit and you're absolutely right and unfortunately the the highspeed rails and all a lot of these passenger does not come to Los Angeles on the east side of Merced County that's a completely different story because they have you know a bunch of other services that would tag along with the highspeed rail. So on the east side of the Sanwin rivers um they have a different priority. So those city will be submitting on completely different. However, those policy will have to come back to the working group for the one voice program um to workshops what is top priority for the entire county and not just one side or the other and then that policy platform will then go back to the governing board of MCAG to be voted uh and ratified before it become a program. So there is opportunity for us um to be at the table so that we can leverage the funding that would actually benefit Lbanas and the entire county and not just one side or the other. Yeah. Now they took away the station to Merced, right? That's the train station was taken away.

Highspeed rails. The latest update is that the funding is not there. They are looking for alternative and that's right now is very farfetched.

Yeah. Okay. So I think we've this is discussion and uh direction by by council. Now we need uh a delegate and a and alternate delegate. You know, I think uh Evan Sanders would make a great delegate. [laughter] That's what always happens to me. If I'm five minutes late to a meeting and Merced, I become the representative whoever they're voting on. And uh I'm just kidding. But

so I don't know how does anybody feel do let's see do you feel like going to Washington DC and going on that or

Well mayor I'll just say this um it it's advantageous to our city if we keep continuity going instead of switching delegates off each year because that means somebody has to learn all over again. Um, I'm not saying that a delegate has to be the same person year after year after year, but um there, you know, to help move forward, it it it was a bit of adjustment for me because I hadn't been a delegate since 2017. And so to learn their new process was, you know, a little bit challenging. So I think at least for a couple of years we probably should have the same person go and then you know the alternative delegate should be involved in on the meetings so that they understand what's going on um for future possibility of being the delegate.

Anybody volunteering? How about you, Mayor? Yeah, I've I've gone before, so I can I can do it again. It's uh um I can I'll I'll be the delegate. I have no problem with that. And I am on MCAG, so I'm there. Uh but we'll need an alternate, too. Anybody want to be an alternate? I can't go that I'd like to be an alternate and um at least start learning um you know, what it takes in the ropes. Okay. Okay. Is do you think you do you you need a motion or just direction?

No, just direction just to clarify. So our two priority um policy priorities is going to be water infrastructures and public safety and then the delegate is going to be uh Mayor Amabil and the alternate will be council member Perez. Thank you. Okay. Thank everybody for that discussion. We'll now move to our city department reports and we'll start with community economic development director Susa Elms. Stacy,

thank you again, Mr. Mr. Mayor, um so the next planning commission meeting which is scheduled for uh Wednesday um November 26th will be cancelled due to the Thanksgiving holiday. So just want to give that update to the council. Also this Friday uh which is November 21st at 11:00 a.m. we will be holding a groundbreaking ceremony for our one tree project which is the permanent supportive housing project um for 58 permanent supportive housing units. um to house our unhoused. So, we're really excited to start breaking some ground and it's going to be a great ceremony. Hope everyone can come. Um I do also want to provide an update on no Hawaiian Barbecue. They have not announced their um grand opening event. Uh they are wrapping up their final um inspections. Uh so we're hoping that that will be announced soon. As soon as it is, we will let the council know. um and the public as well as everyone is excited about ONO coming to Los Vanis. Um and then the last item um I do want to bring to your attention is Small Business Saturday which is November 29th. Um it is always the Saturday after Black Friday and it's important because it has a real emphasis on um supporting our small businesses, our local small businesses. And so we're really going to be uh launching forward with our shop smart support local. Thank you, Minnie, for wearing your shirt. Um and we're uh really going to be partnering with our small businesses who are willing to participate. We're going to be providing some local Las Vegas bucks. You can win one of these awesome shirts with depending on the amount of purchase. So, if you've spent $50 at a small business,

one of our participating small businesses, you can come in and redeem your Los Vanis bucks, your LB bucks for one of our cool shirts. Um, we also have stickers um that will be in the windows of participating um small businesses that are willing to partner with us. Um, and so we're hoping that everyone on Saturday comes out and shops in Las Vegas and shop smart, support local. Thank you. That's it. Thank you, Stacey. Was it you or Joe that brought the Chick-fil-A and adapt? Oh, can talk about that?

Sure. Um, so we had a great turnout um with the Chick-fil-A mobile food vendor truck. Uh, it was pretty spontaneous. It happened pretty quickly and um hopefully we'll have more notice to be able to provide to the community um as well as the council on future dates. They would like to come back before the end of the year because this event this past Saturday was uh was a hit. They opened at noon and they sold out by about 300 p.m. Um so great event. Um, we've been speaking to um, Chick-fil-A Corporation now for a bit of a while. Um, I I can say that to their real estate team and they do have a franchisee that's who owns the mobile food truck uh, who was interested in this area and is doing market validation and I think Lost Vanis knocked his socks off. So, keep it up Las Vegas. Hopefully next time when the sun is shining and you know the weather is participating uh more folks from Las Vegas will come out.

Great. Thank you. Dex and finance director Morano Minnie

just a second um my colleague um shop smart support local it's you know what we need to do for the city of Laspanos and every resident can count by ordering online having it delivered to their home having everything delivered to their home is um we keep the tax dollars and again I'm going to say this out loud it's 70% leakage for the city of Losanos and sales tax revenue So we have a lot of opportunity as everybody in their household to make a big difference for our community to provide police, fire, recreation and all of this. So I'm very proud of of the campaign and looking forward to to coming on Saturday and shopping at Laspanos. So, um, uh, other than that, we also want to encourage all of our, uh, water customers, we will be shutting, uh, services off starting in January because now we do have the policy, the 998 policy in place, AB998. And so, we are encouraging all of our citizens that have high balances to come in and talk to us and made payment arrangements prior to that. Um, that way they're all set and they don't have their services shut off. We want to work with you to make sure that the that uh payment arrangement is made. Um other than that, that's all my report.

Great. Thank you very much. I have I have a question. Mayor, for our financial director, are we sending notices out now to these customers so that you know they're not taken by surprise? Notices have been going out for the past four years. Um it's just the shut off portion that hasn't happened. Um we are going to start uh doing social media campaign. Uh we are going to be putting a an insert in the utility bills just letting everybody know that that uh we'll be starting actual shut offs in January. Thank you. Thank you. Fire Chief Twala Paul.

Good evening again. Uh I don't have too much but I want to want to thank you for the adoption of the uh updated codes. Uh they uh really important for us to keep the community safe. Um, with that, we did have a couple fires today and in one of the locations we had some prior issues and uh thank goodness that we had our fire prevention and our code enforcement. Thank you, chief, for having code enforcement uh out dealing with some potential issues that we may have. So, uh if we hadn't had those um you know, as we update our codes and had those codes in place for us to be able to enforce, then uh we would have had we would had greater disaster today. So, it was uh it worked out really well. Um I know that we have movie night coming up in December. Uh so, I'll send more information out on that. And um uh be safe for the holidays. I know everybody likes uh to deep fry their turkey and we're going to be pushing out some fire safety campaign stuff. So, thank you.

That's dangerous. Okay. Thanks, Chief. Human resource director. Lucy, you have anything?

Yes, Mr. Mayor. City Council. Since the last city council meeting, three new employees have started with the city. Marisol Romero, she's the new homeless outreach coordinator in the community and economic development department. Monica Hegy is the new account clerk one in the finance department. And Mary Lerner, our new city attorney, started this week. And we are in the process of hiring at least 12 more employees across various departments in the coming weeks. We are currently recruiting for several positions including lateral police officer, public safety dispatcher, community services officer, custodian, and volunteer firefighter. And we encourage anyone interested to visit the city's website to view current job openings or contact human resources at city hall for more information at 827-2427. Also, I would like to announce that the Lasanis City Council will be hosting its 29th annual holiday open house at the December 17th council meeting. It'll begin at 4:30 p.m. and continue until the meeting starts at 6 and we invite the public to attend. Great. Thank you, Lucy. Uh it's not uh Monica started used to work for the city when she was in high school and I was mayor back then. That didn't make me feel real young. I just want to tell you that. So

me either. [laughter] You were here too. She was in high school. So that's good. Glad she's back. And and the other new hires, park and recreation director Joe. Hi.

Yeah. Good evening. Um, so [clears throat] we do have some public meetings tomorrow night as well as Saturday about the Vineyard B uh park. We're trying to put a parking lot expanded parking lot there as well as a Westside Dog Park. Um, tomorrow it'll be at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. at Miller and Lux. We have the Golden Agers and dinner at the community center. Um, and then Saturday it's at the community center at noon and 1:30. Um, also you can email uh me at parksandrecationos.org. Um we had some meetings last week about the South Point Basin Park and pump track. Um so still taking comments on those as well. Um Shaughnessy Village, I wanted to provide a little update on that. Um the shade structure was starting to go up today. Um and shortly thereafter, we'll be putting the concrete in. Um uh at at which point it really the only area that needs uh completion as far as the up top uh uh non-basin area is the uh playground certification. So we're very close on that. likely we'll open the top area and leave the basin enclosed um to allow the grass to establish for a bit longer um and then open that sometime in the spring, but we are hoping to to open the top part with the playground and all the amenities um uh very soon. Uh we're also selling breakfast with Santa tickets uh right now. You can buy them online or at the community center that's going to be on 1213 the the second Saturday there in December. I wanted to highlight yeah we have the movie night at the fire. There's a lot of holiday events. So, you know, I feel like everyone always comes by the community center and asks, but we have the Christmas parade. Police has the uh um Coco at the Popo at the in the plaza. And uh speaking of the plaza, hopefully you drove by, but the park staff is putting up the the tree. It looks really good. It's huge, 29 ft. Um and that will get lit at the Christmas parade on 126. So, that's my updates. Thank you.

Thank you, Police Chief Raina. Good evening, Mayor, council. How's everybody doing? Good. We're doing good, thank you.

All right. [snorts] Um, so just a couple things. Um, last week PD, Code Enforcement, Public Works. Um, all worked together. We got the tarps on the tents, knew the rain was coming, so um, the staff worked together. Um, we worked with housing to to get a large number of these things in and everyone um worked quickly because of the coming rain. So, everything worked out there. Um, our just a reminder, our canned food drive is going on until December 10th. We've been able to bring in a lot of canned food. We are meeting with Charleston tomorrow and we're picking up another um another load of of canned goods. So, thank you. Um, we do have I it's an update. I told you it was coming, but it's official now. So, we do have a police officer starting on December 1st. And so, there will be a swear on ceremony. We'll uh make sure that you all know when that is as well. Um, as Joe mentioned, um, this is, I think, our third year doing our, uh, hot cocoa with a popo event. It's a fun, uh, Christmas time event. Um, and we get to get out there with the community and hang out and drink some hot cocoa and there's going to be prizes and I think there's like a Santa and I think we're going to have a movie and stuff. So, it'll be good. So, um, we'll push all that information, the times exactly so you guys know if you are able to attend. It's going to be really fun and it will be at the plaza. Um I have four in the academy and I have four uh candidates right now in background for the January academy. So uh let me see here. And then I have several other candidates in the process for a few other open positions that we have and welcome Mary. So I just wanted to say that we're happy to have you here and happy to answer any questions.

Great chief. Any questions? Okay. Thanks Chief. public works director William V. William.

Uh good even good evening mayor and council members. I don't have a lot of updates. Uh the rain kind of slowed some of the projects down. Um we we have made a couple offers in public public works to a couple of potential employees. So hopefully next council meeting I'll have an update on that one of them. One of them's pretty pretty big deal I think. Um, and then we met with Calrans about Dansza uh last week, I believe it was last week, and city manager joined us in that meeting. So, I think we've got that scoped out and going in the right direction. We got uh a little bit of direction from CALR and got their agreement on what we were thinking about. So, our consultant is continuing to develop to develop that. Um, so uh it's we're making some progress. I know it seems like it's really slow, but sometimes it takes a little while, but um we're making some progress on that. Um and then um well, I have I have a little bit of an update, but there's an item coming to the next council meeting, but this kind of has to do with that. So, we so staff started doing some water valve replacements, um valves and end points. Um, we have some zero reads that that we're just getting the the base uh payments from those because we're not reading it how much water they're using. So, staff started doing that internally uh last week. Um, and and that's number one priority for for a couple of staff members is to get those water meters all changed out. Um, but there'll be a little bit more update on that at the next council meeting. And that's all I have for tonight.

Great. Thank you. go to our city manager on there. Good evening, Mayor Council. Um, so one of the thing that I want to talk about is

sorry I didn't turn this on. Um, is that tonight it was all about housing. There was a lot that has been taken place. Um, one is how the city is going to grow that is under the housing element. So now that document is public and we're hoping to get compliance um or certifications from HCD here in the near future. It is a big endeavor that our staff is taking. So, thank you Stacy and your team as well as council for reviewing those 500 pages documents and providing common to make sure that it fit for those banners and not just a uh a template document from other agency. On that forefront, um as you hear tonight, we are working with multiple different partner whether it's the housing authority with the county as well as a bunch of other grants um to make sure that we protect um the vulnerable community that are at risk of being homeless. One of the thing that is coming up on our radar is the community uh development block grant. Um we currently have a notice of public meeting that just went out. So next Tuesday on November 25th, we would like to invite the community to provide comments on some of the thing and key component that we could be applying under this grant for. Currently there is um $27 million available in the state of California to go um and apply and it can be used for uh a number of infrastructure improvement up to $3.6 million per jurisdiction. So that is something that we would like to get the community comments on and to bring that back to council so that way we can um whether decide to pursue this grant and if we do um which portion of that grant should we be uh applying for again um this is just one of the approach that we are taking to leverage some of those state dollar and as you can imagine this Friday is a momentous moment for us um to go into a groundbreaking for one tree project. So, we hope to see everybody there um to receive some more updates um to meet the contracted developer uh and to celebrate this moment together. And that's not the end of it. Um next um council meeting in December um we will also bringing in more updates on housing and how we are dealing with um other

options for our unhoused populations. Um on that front and I do want to speak a little bit to waters and sewer. Um tonight agenda was with the groundwater sustainability. Um we are working in multiple fronts. one of which is the recharge basins on the east side of um of the city. That project is moving forwards. Um so that will be we will be one of the first cities in Merced County to start taking largecale complex project in recharge. Um that is in partner with grassland water district to make sure that we are in compliance with both water quality as well as um water supply. Um the next front to that is we are reinitiating back our master plan update that is both for water and sewer. So that will be coming to you in the very near future. Um on that front, I want to thank you to our new public work director. Even though it was his fourth weeks in, he jumped right in head and feet first um to start on Danza. So you do um we hear um your uh commitments and your priority for this road. Um so we will be working uh with Calran to continue pushing this uh issue up front so that that road can be reopened back to our community. Um again, Thanksgiving coming up, I want to take the opportunity to thank you and thank you staff for putting all the hard work every day um to make this happen. Um as department head and you know and myself, we wear multiple different hats. We roll up our sleeve and being the front lines sometime. You'll see our department heads are being on the table to make executive decision and then in the next hour they're putting on a vest out there doing inspections and looking at projects. So thank you for being those uh um to to do what need to be done and thank you council for allowing us to do that. Um, and also last note on Thanksgiving fronts, um, as you are deep frying your turkey and a bunch of other dishes, please do not dump your oil onto the sewer um, line, fat, oil, and grease are the biggest enemy, especially now that we're hitting a little bit of colder temperature. Those things built up in the pipe, and that's no fun um, to deal with a sewer uh, um, uh, overflow.

That's conclude my uh, report. Mayor, thanks. Thank you very much. Council member Evan Sanders is absent this evening. And so we'll go to council member Marcus Chavez. District three.

All right. I don't [clears throat] have much for tonight, but uh want to thank staff definitely for I got the books uh for the budget. A lot of work went into those, so thank you very much. Haven't gone through it at all, but uh there's some good stuff in there, but thank you. There's a lot of hard work put into that book. Um Mary again, welcome. Your first meeting tonight, so you know, nice and calm, which is great and efficient. So, welcome aboard. And uh just to wrap it up, just want to say, you know, happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Um you know, next week uh you know, cherish your family, enjoy your time, and uh thank staff for everything that that you guys do for the city. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Prom Deborah Lewis, District 4.

Thank you, Mayor. Um first, I'm happy to hear about uh is it Ono? Um Hawaiian Barbecue coming uh to to be open soon. I hope that Dutch Brothers will be following thereafter which I believe is next door to them.

They're already open. Oh, okay. Well, there you there it is. Okay. Um also, uh Mary, I want to welcome you and I look forward to working with you. Um it's it'll be like a breath of fresh air. So, thank you for accepting the position. And um in regards to the oil uh as our city manager brought up, I know in the city of San Leandro, which is in uh Alama County, they have a place where you go specifically to drop off oils and other contaminant things. Uh does MCAG have anything like that that they offer the residents in our county? If not, mayor, I think that might be a good thing for them to start looking at to have one maybe on the east side and one on the west side where uh residents can bring their oils and not throw it down the drain or down their their um their h their drains in the home. Um it it's um it's it it's something that's well needed because it's not just during the holidays that people do this. people are barbecuing and frying turkeys and all kinds of things year round and so it it would be quite helpful to have some place to dispose that. And lastly, I want to thank uh everyone who came tonight and I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Be safe and uh we look forward to seeing you when we come back.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you very much, Council Member District 1, Mity Perez.

Thank you. Um not much either. Um, I was happy to attend last Saturday at Merald Dastoria's um, turkey giveaway. It was a really big turnout and, you know, really made me happy seeing how happy others were receiving that. Um, and I know there's other turkey giveaways, so I want to let people know, keep an eye out for those, you know, with during these times. Um, I've also been going around my district, uh, door knocking, letting people know about the planning commission, uh, position that's still open. And, um, you know, I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to hear about it. Um, I know word of mouth gets out there better, so you know, please, if you guys could spread the word. Um, and yeah, happy Thanksgiving, early Thanksgiving to everyone and thank you for being here tonight. Thank you very much. And al I have MCAG meeting uh tomorrow. So I'm going to bring up what you asked Prom. And I also want to bring up uh that now that things are stable in the city and a lot of new people have been hired and we got things going the way the city council wants. Uh, one of the things we did when I was mayor first time is develop a growth management system. And I think this is really important. So, um, I think I want to ask staff to start looking at that uh, for all the housing that might be coming up in the future. A lot of the housing in Los is market driven. I understand that. But we need to have public meetings to the people understand what type of housing they want, how much housing do they want. uh in the around 1999 I established a 3 to 5% growth rate in Laspanis. We were a lot smaller. We're half the size back then. So what does should the growth rate be now? You know 2% whatever it is. But we need to

have some public meetings on that and discuss what type of housing we from the podium we heard about senior housing, low-inccome housing. Um, I do know we need multiple housings, you know, multiple family housings and uh and I'm I'm one to it seemed like in the last 20 years a lot of developers were going to like four and five bedroomedroom houses and I think we need just my personal opinion that I'll I'll state at these these meetings. I think we need to go back to two and threebedroom houses like it was in the 30s and 40s and 50s when the town was first being built. uh because they're less expensive to buy. So, three families don't have to buy the houses and live in there together. And I think it's just a better opportunity for a resident. So, I know staff will take a look at that and uh come up with some schedules in the future for that. Um I do want to let everybody know that we are talking with the school district. Uh we have 2 by3 meetings. I established that for the first time Mayor 1.0, I guess you could call it. And then they sort of went away. Well, we've brought them back now and probably next month we'll be having uh another meeting. Two city council members, three school board members, and we talk about all this stuff about school sites, future school sites, school crowding. Um schools are their own entity. They're controlled a lot by the state. they don't have to come to the city for development plans for inspections. Uh and so we need to be and we have been and we will be uh with this school board a partner in developing schools in the right area where it doesn't impact roads and residents and you know schools should be on located on corners so there's two streets feeding into the

schools and all that stuff. So, we want to be a good partner with them and and um for the future and we need to know even though uh where's the next high schools maybe the high school we won't need another high school for 10 15 years but where should it be? We need to know that that that mark has to be put on a city map somewhere. So whoever's sitting up here in the next 5, 10, 20 years or whatever can see this is where the school district wanted this and we can when we talk and then we ever get to that area, we all are on the same page knowing what's going on. So uh and that that goes into the municipal service review sort of like with the school district. They don't I don't think they have that same thing as cities do, but we need we need to talk with them about the impacts of schools. and um they're they're limited on monies big time even though in I think it was 2003 we brought all the developers into city hall and we cut a deal that was almost four times the um the mand mandatory rate per square footage per household for the school district and we were the only ones in the central valley at that time that did anything like that because those school fees are mandated by the state and you really we have no power on changing what a if you build buy a house in Lasis and it's so many square feet you there's a fee that goes to the school district. Well, the fee was so small and that school district just couldn't get ahead. So we brought all the developers in back then by it was a lot of developers 7 8 9 10 back then and we had meetings after meetings and we came to a conclusion and we had a

volunteer agreement signed by the developers and the school district. So that's still in place today and that's why you see the school district does have money for like rebuilding Los Tiger Stadium, things like that. So, I'm glad that's still in place. We have to protect that. And uh but we need more than that. It's not It's more about money. It's about planning. And sometimes you can do things with less money if it's planned correctly. And I know they're all on board. School board's on board. I'm not saying they're not, but that's the kind of stuff we talked to them with. And our municipal service review that was approved just a few meetings ago is the length of our general plan. So when it when it shows we're a short fireman or something like that, that's for 20 years of the general plan. So when you get out 20 years, that's where you should be. And so uh we're very cognate on what is required and how we do it up here. Infrastructure, water, we have to water is a big thing. Even if you take chromium 6 out of it, you know, the well thing, things are going to have to change. In the ' 40s, we got our wa water from CCID canal was filtered was brought into the system off of Madison Street. Then they went the city went to wells and now wells have been as you can see with water quality has become an issue. So we have to probably do some type of combination of surface water. That's why uh we're talking about recharging because we have did studies that when we recharge an area well the well levels go up. So we want to continue that and study that and come up with plans that is good for everybody and hopefully doesn't cost a fortune. And so with that uh I appreciate everybody that spoke at the public forum

um tonight. Appreciate everybody being here. I want to wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving. Welcome to the party. I'll say Mary and we look forward to working with everybody. I appreciate staff, appreciate the residents. Everybody have a good night. This meeting is adjourned.