City Council - Regular Meeting

meeting of the Ripen City Council to order. Um, we met in close session at 5:30 and uh, Mr. Turbstra, can you? Thanks, Mr. Mr. Mayor. Yeah, the council did meet in close session at 5:30. All members were attendant uh or all council members were in attendance for the entirety of the session and there was no reportable action out of that session. Very good. Thank you. And now let's uh move to the pledge of allegiance. Mr. Zitervart, could you lead us in the pledge? I

pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for our invocation. God bless America. God bless the city of Ribbon.

Thank you for having me here tonight. It's an honor and a privilege to be here with you. We had a chief to heart at our church on Sunday and that was just awesome to just say thank you to all the first responders uh for the city of Ripen. Um and so yeah, let me just bless you with a word of prayer. Uh so would you join me in prayer? Lord, we just want to come before you tonight and just humble ourselves uh humble ourselves to what you have for us. Uh we do thank you uh for the opportunity to gather tonight. Um and so Lord, I just pray uh for this council. I pray that you give them wisdom. I pray that you uh give them unity as they continue to move forward uh through their agenda of business. And Lord, we just thank you uh even for just a beautiful day today uh just to be reminded of how you show up everywhere around us if we're willing to look and see your goodness. Uh so Lord, we thank you for your faithfulness. Uh we thank you for the blessings that you have given to this city. Lord, may we be a blessing back. Uh may we look to see where we can fill needs. Look to see uh where we can shine brightly for you, not just here in Ripen, but locally and globally. Uh so Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to conduct business. And Lord, I do ask that you continue to watch over and keep everybody in this room, protect their families, protect uh their businesses, pro protect their friends. And so Lord, we uh we give tonight to you and we ask that you be honored and glorified in all that we do. And it's in the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray. And everybody said,

"Amen." Amen. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Lisa, roll call, please. Council member Daniel Degraphth, here. Leo Zuber, here. Mike Rushia, present. Vice Mayor Dean Uker, here. Mayor Gary Barton, present. Uh, this is a time for public discussion. For any items that are not on the agenda, please come to the podium. uh state your name and uh and we look forward to hearing from you.

Uh yes. Uh my name is Emil Galiermo, longtime Ripen resident, Ripen's first poet laurate. It's springtime. I know you think it's tax time, but in fact, this is National Poetry Month. So, National Poetry Month, think of the favorite poem you have. uh maybe come on the 22nd at 4 pm to the library and share it with your constituents. I'll be there. Maybe it'll be just me and you. But it's uh we always have this meeting once a month. It's the 30th annual poetry month. And of course uh on this occasion I come to uh give you a poem about Ripen. This is my Ripen Tree in spring. Ripen's almond trees are nicer. Blossoms get the pre-sp springtime fame. But after the big fest and the blossoming is done, I wait for my single pear trees leaves to boom. Yes, they boom. The leaves don't just arrive, they rustle in the wind. I listen dutifully. I am not autistic, but I have my neurodeivergent tendencies. Mostly I get anxious about petty things. When that happens, I go outside and sit where I can look at my big tree and wait. The bark is silent. I look up for the talk. The conversation begins and is never harsh as the leaves move. The breeze articulates every syllable. The sound they whisper is called a sithiorism. A noun its nature's wooing. Just saying. The word cyurism is soothing. rustling branches, whispering leaves, calming themes. You can hear a cyurism at any time of year, but in April, it's the leaves first chorus. Sit under a tree with a friend this spring when the breeze is alive. Be sitting ci

blossoms are seductive, sure, but the leaves don't lie. They offer solace when the news of the day turns ugly. Leaves sound out nature's voice. Believe them when things go arai and one yearns for life's peaceful truths. So once again uh it's poetry month, April 30th annual poetry month and we meet once a month usually in the library this week or this month the 22nd at 4 pm. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I think John Mangalist like most you've known me. Um, it came to my attention one of the individuals was working on a project, the Rodons, and the idea was it's a brick program that will have Harvey Duma's name on it, Clarence Smith's name, Dean Uker. A lot of the luminaries within our community will have bricks with their names on them. And the idea is that Rotary was going to do it next to the building that the Rodons are building. It's 120 ft sidewalk which they're paying for. It's a roadway which they're paying for. The brick installing they're paying for. So they're doing everything on their dime. They have a beautiful article to give to Dennis Wyatt who hates the city to discuss how beautiful this was going to be. So the net says, "Now, am I going to tell De Dennis that the city poo pooed the idea?" I said, 'N no, you're not going to do that. I said, 'I want to go and talk to Kevin because I said, I don't think they realize what this is about. I said, the optics of this situation would be very

negative. And I said, if you think about it, Rotary built the gazebo that's in Stoofer Park that everyone uses. Rotary has donated a drone to the city fire department. They donated a drone to the police department. So when the Rotary does something, they do it with the spirit of the community. When Ken Zidavar heard about the program from Annette, he said, "Oh, good. I didn't get an opportunity in 1986 when they did the bid historical society brick program to put my kids' names in there because they weren't around. I can buy a brick and put the kid's name. I said, "Yeah." I said, "What's wonderful is people within our community can invest within our community. They end up having a piece of our community, an understanding of what what we do." When people come in the gun store, I got one of the history books that I wrote, and they say, "Why did you write three history books?" And I said, "Because I care about the community that we live in." I said, "The fire department book took me eight months to write. I didn't get paid for it." I said, 'I did it because I care about the community. The idea that the Rodans came up with a program that is good for our community and the council didn't have an adequate time to hear about it and the idea could have been poo pooed isn't a good idea. So, what I would say is think about it, talk about it, decide, let her know because I want an article that praises how our city is all inclusive and how our city helps other people. Because if you think about it, all the names that are going to be from Clarence Smith all the way down, all the names that are going to be on there are all people that have given their hearts. Harrison Gibbs would do stuff just to do stuff. his name will be on a brick as well as any other individual within our

community that wants to be part of that. Any questions? I see my little things beeping. I think my speech is shorter than the poem. So, questions.

Any questions? Do you think do you think a brick program that honors the individuals that have done great things within our community that match the rather other brick programs than we already have? Cuz the thing is is we wouldn't have the police memorial if the city hadn't approached me and said, "We're having a hard time building this memorial." And I said, "With the brick program, we're having a hard time selling bricks." Harrison Gibbs and I built it in six months. They had worked on it for four years. I remember when I wanted to take the city hall, the old city hall and make it into a museum. I think it was I think you were the mayor at that time and you said if someone can do it, I'm sure that John can do it. And we have a beautiful veterans museum. Nancy Hall will be on a brick. We would not have a veterans wall if it wasn't for Nancy Hall's Hallmason getting the people to donate the bricks, the labor, and everything else. Put that wall up. We need to recognize these people. We need to appreciate these people and we don't need to turn our backs on them.

Okay.

Thank you, John. I find your words compelling. Yeah. What is what's the next appropriate venue for this? I know um we've seen your comments on it, Kevin. Where does this go now? Well, just through the chair or through the mayor, I would say um this is not an item that is listed on the agenda. So, obviously, it's not subject for discussion for tonight's meeting. Though, I um I would defer to staff to um potentially agendaize something related to this or a discussion item for this council's consideration. Um beyond that, um I would defer to staff on this. Thank you, John. Anyone else? All right, let's move to our agenda. Uh, approval of March's March meetings minutes. Move.

Is there a second? Very good. Uh, minutes are approved. Uh, agenda for this month's meeting. Are there any items that anyone wishes to pull? If not, is there a motion to approve uh the agenda as posted?

Second. Good consent calendar. Megan,

thank you. Next. Uh a let's see got u ordinance second reading um and uh is I'll turn this over to you uh Mr. Warner.

Yeah, thank you Mr. Mayor. Um I would just highlight two changes that are before the city council tonight um since the the first reading and introduction of this ordinance. Uh the first one was a reduction of the timeline from 25 business days to 10 business days for the recreation director to approve or deny a park use permit application. Uh the second was the prohibition of personal transportation devices such as electric bikes or motorized scooters on grass areas or non designated areas within city parks. Outside of those two changes, uh the rest of the ordinance is what was discussed at the at the first reading. Happy to answer any questions.

Very good. Any questions? If not, is there a motion to wave the second reading uh which incorporates these changes? All right. Discussion items. Uh, first, uh, clarity. Mr. Chair, Mr. Mayor, um, I I believe I heard you ask for a motion to just wave the second reading. Um, just for clarity of the record, I believe that your voting was to adopt the the resolution

to ordinance. So, I just wanted to make that clear in the record and for the minutes that the ordinance adopted. We don't want this to take any longer. Thank you, Mr. Turk. Um, love being a stickler for these little things. Mr. Stevens, by the hour proposed capital expenses at the golf course.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh we did receive a request from uh SGM to make improvements and to utilize the uh long-term capital improvements. Um we do have that fund in place for both emergency and long-term improvements. Um the committee did uh meet out there, take a tour of the facility and uh on the in the staff report it does show a list of the seven requests starting with the maintenance shed and and trees and new fencing. the uh the committee definitely felt that that those three met the criteria and should be approved. But some of the additional ones four through seven um some of those items have come in to disrepair. They haven't been taken care of over the years. So, the committee felt that it would be appropriate for at least a one-time uh approval of all of that to to make sure that the course is in in good running condition and and up to the standards we'd like to see out there. And so, uh we are requesting uh the 50% of the request which comes out to the 8324593. um here happy to answer any questions that you may have in that regard.

Any questions for Kai? I have one. Kai, could you just give us your impressions of uh the condition of the golf course? Um now after we've had several months with our new operator. Yeah, we we're pretty impressed with the the strides they've they've made in a in a relatively short period of time with the city's help and your approval. Of course, um they have moved forward with um you know, sprucing up the area. And now they're they're talking about, you know, actual buildings to to keep their their stuff out of sight, but also it'll it'll help it last longer, look better, fencing to cover it up. The the course is much greener. They've removed a lot of the the dead stuff. They've addressed the gopher. The gophers are an ongoing thing. They are um wanting to, you know, redo some of the bunkers. So, we are we were fairly impressed with um you know the some of the strides they've made and and they seem very interested in in continuing to move forward to improve the course. If I might add to that, I mean we Dean and I had and Kevin Kai had a meeting with them to discuss this and it was from the first time we met when they first took over the course to now just less than a year at this point they've been operating it night and day difference as far as the quality of the course um just the the visual aspects and then what they're planning to do. I mean a lot of these things are things that you think any operator would have proposed a long time ago. um glad to see that they're actually doing it. And then the items that you know discussed on here that are a little bit outside of what the typical scope is. I mean my impression was you know they're they're doing these things. These aren't these aren't things that we would likely fund on an ongoing basis or long term in the future. But given the state of its

condition when they received it, um it was appropriate to use these funds to get them sort of to this next stage particularly because of the work that they've done and just how nice it is now compared to where it was before. So that was kind of my impression from the meeting and you know tour of the facility.

Excellent. Thank you. And do Kaida, did they mention at all um their traffic? Are they satisfied with the number of rounds that are being played? Yes. I've noticed that social media comments about the golf course are really positive. I mean,

couple of them I' they start out with a negative comment. Somebody asks about playing golf and somebody says something that's not necessarily positive. Then you get a string of very positive comments that come in after that that apparently you haven't seen it. You need to go out there. Things are different. Blah blah blah. And whatever they're doing is having an impact on the community in a positive manner, too. very good. Thank you. Uh, is there a motion to approve? All right. Motion uh to approve capital expenditures passes. And now short-range transit transit plan. Mr. Warner.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh a couple months ago, the consultant who has prepared the draft short-range transit plan that's in front of the city council tonight for action um held a workshop um with the council and the public. Um this plan is intended to provide a roadmap for transit transit service operations in in Ripen and was developed uh with a with a variety of inputs. Uh they looked at demographics and transit needs in Ripen. Uh they looked at existing tra trans transit services not only within the city of Ripen but also within our region and also looking at the projected revenue and what we have available to to pay for transit over the the next planning horizon which is 10 years. Um like I mentioned um there there was a lot of data input also and reaching out to the public to figure out uh what those transit needs are. Transit in Ripen is very different than transit in other community based off our our demographics. Um so they uh they uh published an online survey to get input. They actually went on board the buses uh that we travel on or that we we have in operations to get input from those are actually using um the Blossom Express. Uh we had stakeholder meetings primarily with Bethany Holm who's our largest user of the transit services of Ripen trying to figure out how can we improve the services we provide to to meet their needs and also um like I'd mentioned early on we had a uh public workshop a couple couple months ago. So based on this evaluation, what um is included in the uh short range transit plan as far as transit services um uh going forward continue the current fixed route Blossom Express service. They're recommending to to maintain the uh Tuesday and Thursday service from 9:30 to 2:30. that services a number of stops in Ripen, but also

goes to St to Modesto in Stannis County and um provides access to Kaiser and their medical facilities um the mall and and Target for for shopping. Um, so they're continued to to uh or recommending to continue that service, but once some of these other recommendations have been in place and we we begin to gather some data to re-evaluate that fixed route service and whether it expands or even constricts depending on the needs um of Ripen residents. The um other recommendation is to expand our dial ride service. Right now that we do have a dial ride service but it is um using volunteer drivers. It has been a challenge to have drivers lined up to meet the needs of those who are interested in this service. So, what is being recommended to um uh to provide a more reliable service to to Ripen residents is for the the city to hire a part-time driver that would be available u right now we're looking at Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Um and they would be able to have access to anywhere within the city of Ripen um or Stannis Los County. And um the recommendation is a general public fair would be $15 per a one-way trip um while seniors and disabled individuals be able to um get the service for $5 per per one-way trip. Um and the and the reason it is limited to Stannis County is because there is an existing uh Sanank um regional transit district service Van Go it's called. You may have seen that short red bus that drives around, but that is essentially an ondemand service that provides access to um locations in Ripen and Sanwaqin County. So the the city's dial ride service is intended not to conflict with with that service. Um and then the last recommendation is to expand u the Van Go

service for for Ripen residents really with the goal of community engagement and access to local commerce. So, um, the recommendation is right now the existing Van Go service operates 7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any, again, anywhere in Sanwank County, you could reserve a trip. Uh, was being proposed as part of the short-range transit plan is a city contract with RTD to provide service for Ripen residents on Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:00 p. p.m. to 900 pm. So, that would be year round um, with that service. And then the second recommendation was to um also contract with RDD RTD for the Vango service to serve the Ripons Farmer Market which operates every Thursday from May to September. So during those times that it's operating um a Ripen resident could schedule a trip, get access to the farmers market to and from um their their destination to and from the farmers market. The last thing I I would mention and what these services are based on is is the revenue uh that the city receives um for specifically for transit. It is restricted for transit. Uh we get measure K renewal transit funds. Um LTF U SJ COG a few years ago has required um a city of our size to set aside 25% of our LTF funds for transit only uses. Um, so we've been doing that. Um, and then we because we're in a rural urbanized area now, this just started with the last census, we received with Federal Transit Administration 5311 funds um that can be used for operations in the past. We've not been able to use that for operations. So that really that's about $120,000 a year that we haven't had available to us um for transit. So that was really the the goal of the

transit plan is looking over this next year period of how to take these restricted resources, the restricted funding and put it to a positive use in in our community. and and so in this plan and how this is funded um pretty much 100% of the measure K revenue and the FTA 5311 funds are being dedicated to transit operations and anywhere from you know early on in the years the LTF funds 20 so percent of that would be dedicated to the operations and over time that would increase to about 85% of that money being used for transit operations again this is a roadmap things may change depending on data and um technologies that are available and the needs of the community. But um this is the starting point of the the transit operations over over the next 10 years. Um so with that, happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Kevin. Any questions? Excuse me. I think it's definitely needed. So thanks for working on that with the with the uh with the people that put it together. I think just fabulous. I mean, there's a lot of pieces to it, but it's good. Kevin, that study uh I thought was well done. Came at a considerable cost. Was that uh were the funds to pay for that uh part of what you received from

Yeah. The uh city's LTF funds are set aside uh paid for the plan. The cost of the plan. Is that what you're referring to? Yeah. The the cost of the plan was paid out of the LTF transit bus. Very good. Is there a motion to approve the short range transit plan? So moved. Second.

It is approved. And we are to uh department reports. We will start with is eminence the police chief Danny Sour. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, just like to report out that we will be hosting our second quarter community meeting on May 6 at 7 p.m. at the police department with a focus on ebike and motorized scooters, educational awareness, and going over the laws and safe practices. Good idea.

Yes. And other than that, I have nothing to report. Mr. Mayor, very good. Thank you, Mr. Stevens. Mr. Zervart.

Um, yes. After a little bit of a hiatus, we will be having a planning commission meeting on Monday. Um, shocker that is. Um, if you're free, come out and join us. Uh, we actually have a couple items on there. One's pretty noteworthy. We will be uh updating our accessory dwelling unit ordinance or the planning commission will be hearing the proposal for that and making a recommendation to city council. So, if you want a preview of their of your uh May city council meeting, you can come join us for and learn a little bit about accessory dwelling units. Um I've been working with city attorney on this for quite some time and we've been pretty immersed in it and uh it's still hard to understand. So, um I do have a PowerPoint that that I put together for planning commission and we'll have the same for city council as well, but um feel free to join us on Monday if you'd like.

Very good. Thank you, Mr. Peace. Yes, Mr. Mayor, honorable city council. Two two quick items. Our large item pickup program is underway. It started here in April and it will run through September. So, residents can go online and and sign up for that program. Um, and then our water usage for March. Uh, we were 11% lower than our 2013 numbers. We were 40% higher than last year's numbers. We had a very warm March. So, that's it. Thank you, Mr. Turbstra. Nothing new to report. Mr. Warner, Mr. Degraphth.

Well, as per usual, thank you to everyone who stuck it out till the very end here. Appreciate you being here and for uh comments and coming and speaking to us. Appreciate that. And uh to my wife who is not here, happy anniversary. We are celebrating 14 years of uh wedded bliss today. So, um let's get this meeting over with. Councilman Zuber. Nothing to report. Councilman Rushia. Yeah, just real quick. I want

I want to thank everybody that came to first responder appreciation uh day last Saturday. You know, it ranges from 100 to 500 people. We had about 150 people come out, which is good. We We didn't have any bling, as I explained at the meeting. Every dime we're raising is going to go directly to the first responders. It was nice and short and it was sweet. Pastor Brett Dod asked him if he would actually do the event and it turned out well. So, we're really pleased and hopefully we'll get more people coming out next year and more donations and be able to take care of all of you guys. Thank you. Thanks, Mike. Vice Mayor Uker,

just like congratulate Daniel and his wife on their 14 wonderful years.

That's it. Very good. Thank you. And um yeah, I'll just echo Mike. It was a great event last Saturday. Perfect central California weather. And u uh yeah, just it very much bears mentioning that Mike and and Mona spend a lot of time and effort in putting that together. And it's a great event and one that I don't know how many other communities do it, but I'm sure I'm glad we do it because uh that is uh in my opinion the first order of government is protection of our citizens. So we appreciate our police and our firefighters. And with that this meeting is adjourned and we will now but

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take take a very short period of time. So call to order uh our redevelopment successor agency meeting. Uh, do we need to take role, Lisa? Director Daniel Degrass here. Leo Zuber here. Mike Rusha. Vice Chairman Dean Uker here. Chairman Gary Barton present. We um is there any public discussion on anything that uh is not on the agenda for this? Seeing none, uh is there approval? Motion for approval of the minutes. Move to approve.

Second. And we take a voice vote. All in favor? I oppose. Nay. Minutes are approved. Consent calendar uh which you see in front of you. Is there a motion to approve? Approve the consent calendar. Move to approve. Second. We have a motion to uh approve and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Nay. Um it sent calendar approved and this meeting of our successor agency unless Mike you'd like to All right. See you guys. We are ajourned.