City Council - Regular Meeting

Recording in progress.

Good evening, everyone. Welcome. Tonight, we have some, individuals that we'll be recognizing. We're so excited to have such a great crowd tonight. I would like to welcome everybody to the regular meeting of the Madera City Council, Wednesday, 03/04/2026, and we'll be starting here at 06:01. City Clerk Gonzales.

The Madera City Council meetings are open to the public. This meeting will also be available for public viewing and participation through Zoom. Members of the public may also observe the livestream meeting on the city's website at www.moderra.gov/live. Members of the public may comment on agenda items at the meeting or remotely through an electronic meeting via phone by dialing 669906833. Enter ID 83908860837Pound.

Press 9 to raise your hand to comment and 6 to unmute yourself to speak. Comments will also be accepted via email at citycouncilpubliccomment@Madera.gov or by regular mail at 205 West 4th Street, Madera, California 93637. We'd also like to remind the public that Wordly is available for translation services. Thank you for that. Roll call, please. Mayor Gallegos? Here. Mayor Pro Tem Zakaria? Here. Council member Rodriguez is absent. Council member Montes is absent. Council member Evans is absent. Council Member Mejia? Here. Council Member Villegas?

I hear.

And I'd like to excuse Councilwoman Evans. She is out ill today, so, put that on the record, please. We have, an invocation by pastor Mike Sousa from Harvest Community Church, and if you could remain standing for the flag salute. Thank you.

It's an honor to be here tonight. So would you join me in prayer? Creator and sustainer, as our city council meets this evening, we ask that you look upon and visit the city of Madera. Strengthen the ties of mutual regard that form our civic and community life. We thank you for the rain and snow that's fallen so that our farms, fields, orchards and vineyards have enough moisture to begin the growing season.

We thank you for our honest and able leaders. Enable them in the positions they hold to govern with integrity, enthusiasm, imagination, and diligence. Help them create create opportunity and in so doing eliminate poverty and disadvantage so that peace, prosperity, and well-being may prevail. We pray that in our city, men and women of all ages with different backgrounds, from diverse cultures, and with differing talents may find with one another the fulfillment of their humanity. Then together with our abundant resources strive to build up and strengthen our community for the greater good of all people. We ask this in your gracious name. Amen. Amen.

He has his back? Okay. Thank you for that. Moving on to approval of the agenda. I'll bring it to my colleagues.

Move to approve as written.

Second. Thank you. I have a first and a second. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you for that. Moving on to presentation, City Clerk Gonzales.

Presentation number one is a proclamation recognizing the retirement of Scott Farrell, fire apparatus engineer.

Wow. What an exciting day. I've been waiting for this for a while. We're going to bring up our honoree here, Mr. Farrell, if you can stand over here because I want to make sure you're in the camera. And before I say a few words for myself, I'm going to bring up our chief Garcia to say a few words.

Good evening, counsel. Anthony Garcia, battalion chief, city of Madeira. Welcome. I'd to welcome everyone, to Council chambers on this great day that we're gonna have to honor, Scottie. All of us firefighters that don't have Scottie Farrell.

So I have a wrote down a couple of words just kind of highlighting his career, where he started, where he finished, and, just some highlights of what he's got going on. Engineer Farrell began his fire service career in 1979 under the direction of fire captain Randy Cooper and Jeff Metzen. In May 1981, he joined the Madera City volunteer firefighters. The following month, in June '81, he was hired by Cal Fire, known at that time as CDF, and was assigned to Mariposa Headquarters where he proudly served for six seasons. In 1987, Scott was hired by the city of Madera Fire Department as a firefighter and was promoted to engineer in 1990.

In 1993, when Madera City Fire Department entered into contract with Cal Fire, engineer Farrell continued his service under the partnership, faithfully serving the community until his retirement. For more than forty years, Scottie has been a cornerstone of the city of Madera. His knowledge of the city, its history, and the fire service is unmatched. As an engineer, his skill, dedication, and steady leadership set the standard for those around him. Throughout his career, he oversaw numerous programs with the department, always striving to improve operations and support his fellow firefighters.

However, his greatest legacy lies in hundreds of firefighters he mentored along the way. Those who had the privilege of working alongside Scottie will carry forward the lessons, values, and professionalism he instilled in them. He is without question one of the finest firefighters and mentors I have personally ever known, and I know a lot of the guys in the room and girls could say the same thing. But as you guys know, being a firefighter requires a lot of time away from home, and it's with that that you have to have a strong family and strong support network, at home. So he's been supported every step, by the way, by his loving family, his wife, Pam, daughter Carrie and husband Anthony, daughter Ali and husband Taylor, granddaughter Eliza, daughter Jacqueline and husband Steve, and their children Mia and Miles.

Their unwavering support has been an essential part of this remarkable journey. Congratulations on an outstanding career and well earned retirement. Your legacy will continue to serve this department and the community for years to come.

Wow, that's pretty hard to follow. Just a back story, I have known Scott through high school. And I got a job at the city of Madera, and he was a firefighter for the city. And that's how I got real comfortable with firefighters. I would go to the station all the time, bring goodies, you know me, I'm always taking goodies. And that's when they belonged to the city, and we had several firefighters on duty at that time. And he has served us well. He did not want this recognition, but he promised me if I won mayor, he would be here. So he's like, because he's not one to want to be in the spotlight, but he is so deserving of this proclamation. He has dedicated his life.

His family has given him to us in the city as community members to protect us. I see a lot of his colleagues that have retired in the audience tonight. I thank you for being here tonight and supporting them. I see a lot of the new faces that are in our firefighters that are here that have mentored from him. He has a world of knowledge that he can give you and I'm sure if you ever have questions, you pick up that phone.

He's there right there to give you that information that you would need or some of that knowledge, especially it is hard, you're away from your family, you live at the fire station and your family has to go and do their lives without you for a few days until you can make it back, it's not easy And to give that many years of service and volunteering, if you add it up, it's almost forty seven years. And not to age us or anything, but that's all most of your life, forty seven years. I know some of our rookies up here are not even close to that age. So on behalf of the City of Madera, Mayor Sisi Gallos, and the City Council, I will hereby proclaim that 03/04/2026, as the day to celebrate a fire apparatus engineer feral service to Cal Fire and the city Of Madera and offer best wishes for his happy retirement to spend with his family now and his grandbabies, which I know he is going to enjoy so much. So, Scott, thank you so much, and we appreciate all that you've done for us throughout the year.

I

just want to say thank you to the mayor, the council, chiefs, my fire family, and, of course, my family. And my kids, they all live out of state, so they couldn't be here, but they might be watching. Thank you all.

Can get all the firefighters? Oh, my mother's time

for that.

We got to. Oh, who am I? Oh, I see. Oh, one minute. I apologize. We have mister Martinez here for from the office of senator Caballero.

Hello. Good afternoon, city council. My name is Arturo Martinez here on behalf of the office of senator Caballero. There was a lot of good words said, I'll keep it brief. So, mister Scofero, thank you for your service to the state of California and to the city of Madera and for those forty four years fighting fires and supporting our communities. On behalf of senator Cavallero, we have this certificate for you today.

We

can have some on this site as well.

Yes. I sure can. Excuse me. Excuse me. You take my plates. I'm outnumbered.

Here comes diaper. Hold on. Got one more.

We got more. Okay. Okay. Go on, Dabra. Get in here.

Over here.

He's done. Yeah.

Come on, Douglas. Okay. Everybody. 1234 and then. K.

Wow. Got it. Ready.

123. And one more, please. Ready? 123.

Smile, Thank you, guys. Thank you.

Let the record show councilman Montez is in the chamber.

What I thought Step in. Hurry. Yes. Yes.

City Clerk?

For our second presentation this evening, we have a proclamation Women's History Month.

Thank you for that. And at this time, before I go on with my little blurb here, I'd like to call, who we're going to be recognizing tonight for this, and that is Patty Manfredi.

So

we are recognizing Women History Month and who not only to recognize, but a woman in our community that has been an outstanding woman of leadership and who has done so much to mentor young women in certain positions and that is where we're at today. So let me tell you a little bit about her. She was born and raised in Madeira and she's married to Stelle Manfredi, a CEO of the Madeira County for years. She has four children and 10 grandchildren. She does not look that old to have 10 grandchildren.

For me, these are some of the highlights. I mean, I would probably have to have a six page thing to read about all the wonderful things she's done in our community. So I've highlighted many many of the few ones I felt were important. The most important one I think is in 1999, she developed and was the director who raised funds for the Ronald McDonald House and stayed on for eleven years while the building was built and successful. And if you don't know, the Ronald McDonald House is the house that families stay when their children are at Valley Children's, and they have no means of funds to really get a hotel room or anywhere to go.

They used to sleep in their cars. They didn't want to leave their children, and there was only so much room in the hospital rooms that they can really stay in. So doing this has shaped our community in so many different ways that now we have parents that are at ease when their children are in need at a hospital. She was the first woman to be on this the County Board of Supervisors, which is amazing. Empowering Woman, she was the Executive Director of California Central Ministries.

She helped design Youth in Christ. She was the President of Maderas Aging Agency. She was the EDC commissioner, and she was recognized from the CW CVW as the most 100 influential women. Wow, Patty. Outstanding in leadership award, District 21 A for the agriculture assignment for our Madera District Fair Board, the CSA years of service to this community, KC24, 24 women of influence, which I could totally see, and woman of the year from our state assembly.

So I have seen her in many aspects of all these things that I've talked about, but her work has united confidence, shattered barriers and built pathways where none existed before. Because of her leadership, women are not just participating in our community, they're leading it such as I. Without her mentorship, I don't know if I'd be strong enough to keep doing what I do. This community has led us very well with her behind it. We're very proud to recognize Patty for her strength, her action, and empowering leadership.

And I could keep going on and on and on, but I want her to say a few words. So on behalf of Cece Gagos, myself, the mayor of the city Of Madeira, and behalf of the entire council, we hereby proclaim March 2026 as Women History Month and the recipient being Patty Manfredi. And before she says a few words, I'm gonna have mister Martinez come on up.

Good afternoon again, city council. So I'll read I'll read the certificate real quickly. I presented to the city of Madera in recognition of proclaiming women's history month. The office in Anacaballero proudly recognizes the city of Madera for proclaiming women's history month and for joining communities across the nation in honoring the remarkable contributions of women throughout history. Women have played a vital role in shaping our nation, our state, and our local communities through leadership, innovation, service, and perseverance.

Their achievements continue to strengthen our society and inspire future generations. By recognizing women's history month, the city of Madeira highlights the importance of celebrating the accomplishments of women and acknowledging the many ways women continue to contribute to the cultural, social, economic, and civic life of our communities. In recognition of this meaningful proclamation and the city's commitment to honoring the achievements of women, the office of senior Anna Cabrera extends sincere appreciation to the city of Madera for its leadership and celebrating Women's History Month. And congratulations to Patty Manfredi for being chosen as a recipient by the city of Madera.

Well, thank you very much. Mayor Cece Gallegos and honorable members of the council, I thank you very much for this recognition today. And it's very inspiring to have you, recognize me with this, and I'm very humbled and honored to be recognized today. I wrote some things down so I wouldn't talk on and on for all of you with all the many things. So there is so much.

And I'd like to add to introductions before I start of my family. Mike, my husband Mike, my husband's brother. Stel have no idea. Stelman Freddie, who was a former CAO, is my husband and his daughter, Tasha. My sister Joyce is back in the back row there, and my brother Jerry and his son, Jeremy, and my dear friend is Tori Loftus and Lynn Toskey who always are supporting me as well as inspiring me with all the adventures we've been on through the years.

Thank you. I'd like to share with you a little bit about because it's taken a lot of years to get to this point. We are given opportunities every stage of our life in this journey, this venture has gone so far beyond my expectations. Yet I shouldn't be quite so surprised for when you let God in the driver's seat, you're in for quite a ride. And, oh, things he will have you do. Are you sure about that god? I would say so many times. Oh, yes. He was. Wow.

From just being a little farm girl wanting to be a princess someday to actually owning my own business or sitting on numerous councils or boards to developing organizations or raising millions of dollars to build something. Participating in developing the shopping center at the Madera District Fair is how I started on the fair board twenty one years ago. A unique concept. We are the only fair in California that has a shopping center. And it's kind of fun.

Sometimes at our concerts, the band will stop in the middle of a playing, and they'll say, I've never played next door to a Lowe's before. So we had a lot of fun with that. Or developing a countywide ministry with the churches throughout our county, working with all the youth pastors, their ministers, and with approval of the school district, we were able to develop 32 different club programs in two years, reaching thousands of kids per week from kindergarten through high school in the before school, lunch hours, or club schools after school program. And along with that, we developed Operation Project Serve. I brought my dog tag so that you would believe me because I ran around in army fatigues and wore a dog tag that says Operation Project Serve with our names on it, and every person who was a member of Operation Project Serve had their army fatigues and their dog tags to wear as we did our projects.

We served it serve in which we team church kids with high risk kids, excuse me, learning from each other in a joint venture to serve our communities. When we wore army fatigues and dog tags, some of the residents would call us the little army people while painting out graffiti and providing clothing or food items for those in need and serving up the rescue mission. Our youth pastors also put on a variety of, rallies for people. For about seven years, every Wednesday morning at the Madera High School campus on North Campus, we met at the flagpole at 07:00 in the morning for whoever wanted to pray, and it could be anywhere from five to sometimes over 200 people that would attend. And that was whether it was raining or or shine.

We were always there, sometimes driving through the fog. Wesley Beckett, is the son of Carlos and Georgia Beckett, never missed a single week in all those years at the poll. He said it was his favorite thing to do. We played powerpuff football, and we held after school bible studies. And in May was a very fun month because we had have a cow day live with real cow tongues and dried cow patties in the competition.

And the following week, we did the undie five hundred, and you'll have to ask me about that because that was a very popular event. Through all these fun all year long events of dedicated volunteers and willing students, we saw kids get out of gangs, saved from suicide, and got them professional counselors, and literally changed the lives of numerous kids for the betterment and truly made our community a better and happier place for these awesome kids. As one former gang member told me, it feels so good to be doing something good for the people in this community instead of being a problem to them. All these ventures have enriched my life with so many people I've met and befriended. I am truly grateful for all the opportunity I've been given, and I'd like to close this with a poem that I wrote back in 2010 to share with all of you and encourage all of you.

First of all, before I read that poem, I wanna say, I hope you enjoy your goodies and your coffee because that's something that I enjoy doing. As you say, I think we think, like, with food is always a good thing to share with people on that. And so on behalf of the people of our community, I'm liking to thank you for your service as a a council member because that is not an easy job. And it's a it's a very exciting job, and you learn a lot, and you give a lot, but you also deal with a lot of situations. And so my hat's off to you for doing what you're doing.

We may not always realize that everything we do affects not only our lives, but touches others too. For a little bit of thoughtfulness that shows someone you care creates a ray of sunshine for both of you to share. Yes. Every time you offer someone a helping hand, every time you show a friend, you care and understand. Every time you have a kind and gentle word to give, you help someone find beauty in this precious life we live. Where happiness brings happiness and loving ways bring love, and giving is the treasure that contentment is made of. Thank you very much for the honor tonight, and I appreciate it.

One two three. Thank you. K. Next item, city clerk Gonzales. Next item is

a proclamation recognizing Red Cross month.

And that will be presented by our mayor pro, Tim Zachariah.

Thank you. And I'd to invite Lori Wilson and her crew. So today, we're gonna be recognizing, the American Red Cross, and it's it's something that I think as a community, we hope to, never have to need. But when the need is there, we're always very thankful for the services that they provide. So on behalf of the city of Madera, whereas during the American Red Cross month in March, we celebrate the human, humanitarian spirit of the city of Madera and reaffirm our commitment to help ensure no one faces a crisis alone.

And whereas caring for one another is at the heart of our community, whose simple acts of kindness through the Red Cross provide help and hope in people's most difficult moments. And whereas we honor all those who fill American Red Cross founder Clara Barton's noble words, must never think of anything except the need and how to meet it. Whereas the support, volunteerism, and generous donations of the Central Valley Red Cross are critical critical to our community's resilience. And now there may be as it resolved that on behalf of our mayor, Cece Gallegos, and the city council, that we proclaim March, as American Red Cross month. And I would invite Hi.

Thank you so much for this. Before I acknowledge that, I wanna acknowledge Patty. The work you did with Ronald McDonald House as a was is very critical to this community. As somebody who knows personally, when my young one was born, we were medevac from Fairbanks, Alaska to Seattle Children's Hospital, and Ronald McDonald House was critical to, taking care of us during that time. So what you did for this community with that was absolutely critical.

So thank you for making sure this fam that this community is taken care of for that. And then your poem is also ties in very nicely to with the proclamation. So I wanna say thank you for for for the proclamation because when you're with the proclamation, you're not recognizing me. You're recognizing our volunteers. And I love the proclamation this year because it's not about the numbers, about how many home fires we responded to or how many volunteer hours or how many, you know, service members we did emergency communications for because all of that is very important, but it speaks to the heart of what our organization is about.

It's about community taking care of community. Community members coming together to make sure that their neighbors both here and afar are taken care of when there is an emergency, when there is a need. And so with you recognizing that, you're recognizing them, like, recognize those people that are getting up in the middle of the night, that are leaving their homes and going across the country, or leaving their homes on Christmas when there's a home fire to take care of their their neighbors. So thank you for for doing that, and for, for seeing them, for seeing our volunteers because it is the volunteers that are doing it. It is not me. They yell at me if I do it. So it is not me. It is our volunteers. And so I I do appreciate it, and so thank you for for recognizing them.

Do you wanna introduce back?

Introduce our so behind me, we have, Tiffany. She is our community disaster program manager for Madera Mariposa, and with me is my daughter Lauren. She is also a Red Cross volunteer. She actually during the Creek Fire and other other disasters, she has been known to serve meals in the in the shelters. And then behind me is, one of my board members, Gerald Goldstein. He, is used to work for the city of Madeira, and and now works down in Fresno. But yes. So That was. And

we have mister Martinez here from senator Caviero. If you give him a few minutes. Good

afternoon again, city council. I'll be brief again. The officer Caviero proudly recognizes Central Valley Red Cross during American Red Cross month and honors organization for its long standing commitment to human humanitarian service throughout the Central Valley. For generations, the American Red Cross has stood as a symbol of compassion, service, and hope. Throughout education of volunteers, staff, and community partners, Central Valley Red Cross provides critical assistance to individuals and families during times of the staff disaster emergency and hardship.

Whether responding to crisis, supporting this disaster recovery, providing preparedness education, or delivering lifesaving resources, Central Valley Red Cross plays a vital role in strengthening the resilience of our communities and ensuring the help is always within reach. In recognition of their continued service and unwavering commitment to helping others, the office of senator Anna Caballero extends sincere appreciation to the Central Valley Red Cross for their invaluable contributions to the well-being and safety of the people of our region. Thank you very much.

Come on up for a picture. I have something to do pictures with. Thank you so much.

Can't hang on to our house for the office.

Switching chairs. Moving on to the next item.

Public comment. The first fifteen minutes of the meeting are reserved for members of the public to address the council on items which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the council. Speakers shall be limited to three minutes. Speakers will be asked, but are not required to identify themselves and state the subject of their comments. If the subject is an item on the agenda, the mayor has the option of asking the speaker to hold a comment until that item is called. Comments on items listed as a public hearing on the agenda should be held until the hearing is opened. The council is prohibited by law from taking any action on matters discussed that are not on the agenda, and no adverse concluse conclusions should be drawn if the council does not respond to public comment at this time.

Thank you for that. At this time, I open up for public comment. Anybody in the chamber, please come to the podium.

Evening, Madam Mayor, City Council members. My name is Hardin Ripito. I'm the founder of the Big Valley Horseshoe League. Tonight, the Big Valley Horseshoe League at exactly 07:00 will begin our twenty sixth year of pitching horseshoes at Rotary Park in the bowling alley. If you drive by Rotary Park tonight, you'll see approximately 130 horseshoe pitchers plus their families out there participating.

Last Saturday, we held a fundraiser for one of our members who had some medical problems and couldn't needed to pay. We had 64 players, and which made up 32 teams, and they came from from North, from, Watsonville, Merced, Chowchilla, Tas Palos. And then from the South, we had p, players from Lemoore, Visalia, Sanger, Fresno, Kerman, plus other cities that I can't remember. The these I've been this is my eighth appearance before the council to get your support to build eight additional horseshoe courts. I received some word this week that the city has planned and funded a design for those additional courts.

And I wanna tell you, I am extremely grateful. We will the Big Valley Horseshoe League will make you proud. My job, I think, is done, so I won't be coming before the council for a while. I will let the park department do their job.

Oh, we will miss

work hand and foot with them. Again, thank you, council. We appreciate everything you've done, and I would invite the mayor and the councils when those courts are completed to come out and throw the first pitches. Got it. Thank you very much.

Thank you for your comment. I see no one in the chamber. Do we have anybody online or on Zoom, Cindy Clerk Gonzales?

We have none, Mayor. Okay. With that, I

close public comment and move on to the next item.

It's item a one, reallocation of community development block grant COVID program funds from the program year 2020 to 2021.

Thank you for that. And that'll be presented by our grants manager, Sunika. Welcome.

Good evening, mayor, mayor pro tem, council members, members of the public. Marcela Zuniga. I'm here to present, on the item for a public hearing the reallocation of the community development block grant COVID funds in the amount of $256,050.21. So in response to the COVID nineteen pandemic, the city was awarded $938,981 of CDBG CV funds in program year twenty twenty, twenty twenty one. These funds were allocated to four local agencies to support micro enterprise and rent utility projects to offset the impacts of COVID-nineteen.

Much of the money was spent, but at this time, there remains a balance of $256,050 with zero two one dollars The recipient agencies are having difficulty expending the money on eligible cases due to the COVID nineteen emergency ending in 2023. If council approves the reallocation of these monies, staff is proposing the funding be used to construct a basketball court at Rotary Gateway Park. The deadline to expend COVID nineteen's funds is September 2026. Unspent funds must be returned to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Beginning in program year 2324, staff held multiple discussions with the CDBG CV subrecipient agencies about the terms of the agreements and meeting HUD's expenditure deadline.

City City staff invited subrecipients to attend a meeting with the city's assigned HUD technical assistant assistance representative to strategize timely expenditure of the funds. As with the as the HUD expenditure deadline drew closer, staff proceeded with providing all four subrecipients with the notice of intent to terminate the CDBG CV subrecipient agreements. Notice was provided on 01/23/2026. The subrecipient agreements officially terminated as of 02/23/2026. The CDBG guidelines allow the reallocation of funds provided the recipient agency follows the requirements of the citizen participation plan as amended specifically for COVID-nineteen funds.

The amended CPP requires issuing a five day public notice comment period, holding a public hearing about the proposed change. HUD waived the thirty day public comment period for CDBG CV funds to allow for an expedited process for noticing a reasonable opportunity for the public comment for public comment of no less than five days. A public comment period opened on Saturday, 02/21/2026 and concluded on Thursday, 02/26/2026. There was an additional additional opportunity for public comment during the 03/02/2026, Block Grant Commission meeting. No public comments have been received.

Tonight's public hearing request concludes the notice and requirements of the CPP. The CDBG program allows for the reallocation of CDBG funds to another project that meets HUD CDBG CV project requirements to respond to, prepare for COVID-nineteen, or any other pandemic of similar nature. The following two tables provide a summary of the unspent funds and the proposed project. So here we can see the upper portion of this table are the two microenterprise, grants that were awarded to Madera County Development Commission as well as the Madera Downtown Association. The remaining balance, combined balance for both of those agencies is $18,000.

The bottom portion of the table are the rental assistance awards. Those were awarded to Madera Coalition for Community Justice well as the Community Action Partnership of Madera County. The balance there, is $238,050.21, worth a combined total of $256,050.21. These awards were approved by city council on 09/16/2020 and 05/19/2021. The proposal for these funds is to is a construction the construction of a basketball court at Rotary Gateway Park.

This is a considered a CDBG CV eligible project. Capital improvement projects are eligible, being that they being that the benefit is toward low moderate income residents. And the proposed project meets the CDBG CV criteria by improving an outdoor space and encouraging social gatherings outdoors. Again, the proposed funding amount is 256,256 thousand and $50.21 There are no financial impacts because of this action. If approved, this project will be funded exclusively with CDBG funding is included in the twenty twenty five-twenty six adopted city budget.

However, if the reallocation is not approved and the money remains unspent as of September 2026, the unspent funds will need to be returned ahead. So this evening, Steph has a couple of recommendations. The first is that council open a public hearing allowing for public comment on this item. And the second is that council adopted a resolution to reallocate $256,050 of 21¢ to the construction of a basketball court at Rotary Gateway Park and approved the amendment of the twenty twenty-twenty one CDBG annual action plan to update the CDBG CV scope of work and funding activity. That concludes my presentation. I can answer any questions.

Okay. Thank you for that. I'll bring it back to my colleagues for any questions or concerns. Councilwoman Mihilla.

Thank you, mayor, and thank you for the presentation, Marcella. I don't really have questions. I just really appreciate staff being diligent and being proactive and offering the meetings to try to reallocate the funds or not reallocate, but, to make sure that there's plant and also identifying a community need and being ready, to make sure that Madera doesn't lose out on on our CDBG funds. So thank you for that.

Thank you. Thank you for your comment, Councilwomanihi. And, yes, we are in so need of basketball courts. Hear that a lot from the community. With that, I open up the public hearing. Anybody in the chamber that has any comments? City clerk, anybody online or on Zoom? We have none, mayor. Thank you for that. At this time, I close the public hearing and bring it back to my colleagues for a motion and a second.

Motion to approve.

I second.

Motion and second. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motions passes unanimously. You for your presentation. Moving on to the next item.

Is consent calendar matters listed under the consent calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion and one vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, a member of the public or a member of the council may request an item be removed from the consent calendar, and it will be considered separately.

Thank you. With that, I bring it back to my colleagues for any questions or comments. I see none. I'll open it up for public comment. I see no one in the chamber. Anybody online or on Zoom?

We have none, Mayor. Thank you

for that. I will close public comment at this time and bring it back to my colleagues.

Move to approve cassette. Second.

Thank you for that motion and the second. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Moving on to the next item.

Under Section D, item D1 is the twenty twenty six fourth of July celebration.

Oh, and that is going to be presented by our parks director, Abert. Thank you for being here tonight.

Good evening, madam mayor, mayor pro tem, guests, colleagues, Joe Abare presenting item d one for the fourth of July celebration. If you recall, I was here two weeks ago, at a late hour talking about this same subject. This is just a follow on to that presentation. During the as you remember on the February 4, council meeting requested that staff prepare an update regarding the July 4 display. And then on the eighteenth, we provided an official report and presentation on the historical and current status of the fourth of July celebration.

For 2026, if you remember that historical, thing that I gave you, presentation that I gave, the city originally had it, and then we went through a period where, they kinda went up and down, and then Qantas took it over in 2023. This year, Qantas, organization has requested that the city resume primary oversight and financial responsibility for the fireworks display and the celebratory event. The Kiwanis will continue to assist, and I mean, a big assist because we need some help, while the city will serve as the lead on this. The transition of leadership from the Kiwanis to the city requires formalizing roles through memorandum of understandings, MOUs with the Madera District Fair and the Kiwanis Club. For the past several years, Kiwanis managed primary logistics, including fundraising and securing insurance.

While Qantas will continue to partner with the city specifically by retaining the third party fireworks vendor, the city will now assume responsibility for primary administrative functions, including insurance and liability management. It's worth noting that the city would lease the Madera Fake Fairgrounds, which is state property. Consequently, the city will contract via the fairgrounds, the state fire marshal to oversee the safety and and of the approximately eighteen minute fireworks display. It's noted that since the reintroduction of the event, it's been hosted free of charge to the community, which is a big deal. To ensure the celebration remains accessible to all residents, and continues to foster civic pride, staff recommends that the 20 this year's event remain free, for entry and parking.

This approach aligns with the city's goals of providing a safe central gathering place for all community members to celebrate the country's independence. The projected budget for the celebration is estimated at $60,497, and it includes, direct events cost and updated and an updated estimate for city staff services based on last year's actuals. Notably, the city's agreement with, Mid Valley continues to provide a $10,000 contribution specifically designated for this event. The remaining balance will be funded by the general fund. All estimated costs are in your packet that I put put together, on previous years of actuals and presented in table one.

As you can see, we've kind of made a summary. I don't know how to move this out of the way. Here we go. So yeah, we can see the fireworks show 20,000 fireworks, the Fairgrounds rental, another seven advertising banners and and the Madera Tribune, another 4,000. A portable light tower rental for the Fairgrounds parking lot, 1,500.

City staff salaries estimated at $3,497, and then contracted services, another 19,000, 500. We did put in a 5,000 contingency because it's our first shot at it, and so there's a lot of unknowns right now. But, I think, this is a pretty pretty fair budget for for what we expect. So the total, again, 60,000, dollars 497. Our recommendation is, to delegate authority to this city manager for the, agreements that have to come come come out of this.

I don't wanna have to come back here every time we have an agreement. We have several that are in play. So we wanna delegate signature authority to to, the city manager. The other thing is that, we actually need a budget, amending the fiscal budget for 2025, twenty twenty five, twenty six budget, approving related revenue and, expenditure line items for the execution of the upcoming celebration, in an amount not to exceed the proposed $60,497. That conclude concludes my presentation. If you have any questions, I'm here to answer them.

Okay. Thank you for that. Our city manager.

Thank you very much, mayor. Just a point of clarification. On the fireworks display show, there there was two line items in there that I think are worth highlighting for both the council and the community. Earlier today, city staff delivered a check of $20,000 to the Kiwanis, and that's where the down payment of the fireworks show. There's an additional cost to the fireworks show.

The fireworks show, is approximately $37,000. So the contracted services, it should read, the dollar amount is accurate, but most of that is also for the fireworks show. So the fireworks show itself for approximately, again, eighteen minutes to approximately $37,000. And I simply wanted to clarify that because on table one, the contractor, services is largely for the fireworks show. So, again, that's just a point of clarification. The staff report is correct, but I did wanna highlight that for both the council and the community. Thank you.

Thank you for that. I'll bring it back to my colleagues. Mayor pro Tim Zacarayan.

Thank you. And and, again, just for for the community to be aware that the the majority of the funding traditionally has been donated through the community. So I still feel strong that we're gonna be getting community support so that we won't have that gigantic, you know, general budget, expenditure. It's gonna be hopefully fully funded, including some of the items that are gonna be needed. And, you know, Kiwana still fully intends to be and help participate.

I'm you know, we never intended to just throw it back at the city and say good luck. But, I I think through a great partnership, it's it was never our event, and we just kind of helped get it through until it was kind of where we felt ready to kinda come back to the city. And I think that's where we're at right now. But, again, just to give assurance to the city and every and the staff and everyone that that funding is still gonna be there so that it's not just, a blank check-in the sense of the city. So thank you.

Thank you for your comments. At this time, I open it for public comment in the chamber. I see none. City Clerk Consolas, anyone online or on Zoom?

We have none, mayor.

Thank you. I close public comment at this time and bring it back to my colleagues for a motion and a second.

Move to approve. Second.

I have a motion and a second. All those in favor, aye. Aye. Those opposed? Motion passes unanimously. Thank you for that. Thank you, Parks Director Abeber, for your presentation. Moving on to the next item.

Under administrative reports, item e one, selecting recipients for April proclamations.

Thank you. And that will be presented by our own city clerk Gonzales.

No one's ever clapped before.

I'm I'm I'm have.

It's it's taken back.

They're in

that mission.

We've just been celebrating everyone tonight.

Okay. Good evening, mayor and council. Alicia Gonzales, city clerk. This evening, I bring before you, the, selection of a recipient for April's proclamations. For some background, council adopted a policy in August 2023 governing ceremonial documents.

In December, council approved the twenty twenty six list of annual proclamations. Council also discussed and approved certain proclamations would be labeled at as recipient at the discretion of council. So this evening, per council's direction, staff is recommend requesting that council select a recipient for the proclamation recognizing sexual assault awareness month and a proclamation recognizing National Volunteer Day. Those are our two proclamations for the month of April. Those will be presented on April 15, and I will now turn it back over to counsel for consideration.

Thank you. I'll bring it to my colleagues for any, selections for we'll start with the sexual Assault Awareness Month. Councilwoman Mejia? I'll wait then. Councilmember Montez? Community Action Partnership, Derry County. Okay. I'm good with that. Any others? Okay. Cap MC. Moving on to, National Volunteer Day, Councilwoman Mejia.

I'd like to nominate, mister Juan Jaramillo, a resident here in Madera that is often seen volunteering through different community events throughout our city.

Thank you. I'd also like to volunteer our, police department chaplains. They do a lot for us, and they're also there in the community when it has nothing to do with law enforcement, just like support events that have tragedies in our city. And so I would like to have them being recognized for volunteer month. With that, I think we have direction. Or why don't we be safe and do a motion for that?

Move that the nominations that we just selected be, accepted for the proclamations for next month.

I have a motion. Second. Second. All those in favor, aye.

Aye.

Those opposed? There's none. Before I move on, I need to open it for public comment. I see no one in the chamber. Anyone online or on Zoom? We have none, Mayor. Thank you. Close public comment. And, motion passes unanimously. Thank you for that. Moving on. Next item.

Is council member report announcements future agenda items? This portion of the meeting is reserved for the mayor and council members to make brief reports on boards, committees, and other public agencies and at public events to request updates to initiate future agenda items and to take action on matters initiated under this section of the agenda. Under this section, the council may take action only on items specifically agendized in which meet other requirements for action.

Thank you for that. Moving on first to mayor pro tem Zakaria.

Nothing to report this evening.

Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Montez.

Nothing, sir.

Councilwoman Mihilla.

Nothing to report.

Oh, council member Viegas.

Nothing to report.

Wow. I think that's a first. Well, of course, the mayor has one thing to say. I am just gonna remind my colleagues that your woman of the year nomination for candidate and your bio is due on Friday. That is just so the city clerk and I can get all the awards engraved and everything ordered for those women of the year for 2026. And if you choose to opt out, there's no pressure there. We just have to make sure our programs and everything is ordered in time for that night. So just an FYI, get it get it in by Friday at 05:00. With that, I'll turn it over to my city attorney.

Thank you, mayor. We have two items for closed session this evening. And what first one is conference labor negotiator pursuant to government code section five four nine five seven point six. The agency designated representatives are on Aldo Rodriguez, Wendy Silva, and Michael Lima. The employee organizations are Madera affiliated employ City Employees Association, Madera Police Officers Association, mid management employee group, and law enforcement mid management employee group. The and item g two is conference of labor negotiators pursuant to government code section five four nine five seven point six. Agency designated representative is Arnold Rodriguez, Wendy Silva, and Mike Lima. Unrepresentative positions are city engineer and public works operations director. And for the record, we anticipate that council member Rodriguez will be participating remotely under the just cause exception. He is traveling for the, regional policy council.

And in the event that we cannot make a connection with him in closed session, we will announce that in open session. Thank you.

Okay. Let's give Shannon a round of applause. Let's keep it going. Good job, Shannon. With that, I open it up for public comment in this chamber. I see none. Anyone on Zoom or online?

We have none, mayor.

Thank you. Closed public comment. And at this time, we will, take a break to enter into closed session. If you're not here, safe travels home, and thank you for joining us tonight.

Session, and council member Rodriguez was able to participate and left the meeting at 08:11. Thank you so much.

Thank you for that. I adjourn this meeting at 08:11, and we will see you back Wednesday, 03/18/2026 at 06:00 for our especially woman of the year in the city of Madeira. Good night, everyone.