Everybody on this side and father the
few things we have to do to get started
and then we'll call you forward please.
>> Okay. Um call the meeting to order at 6
o' uh first item will be a roll call
>> here.
» all right. Well, tonight we're having an
invocation by Father Dominic. And
Father, would you come forward to the
podium and we'll all stand for the
invocation and after that we'll do the
pledge of allegiance.
In the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Heavenly
Father, we come before you today with
grateful hearts asking you to bless our
city council and all those who serve our
community. Thank you for giving them the
responsibility and opportunity to lead,
make decisions and work for the common
good. Lord, grant our council members
wisdom to make good decisions, courage
to do what is right, patience when
facing difficult challenges, and
compassion for every person they
represent. Help them listen carefully to
the needs of our families, children,
seniors, businesses, and those who are
struggling. Guide them to work together
with respect, honesty, fairness, and
unity, putting our communities
well-being above personal interests. May
their decisions promote peace, safety,
justice, and opportunities for all. May
the Holy Spirit guide our leaders. May
Christ be at the center of the service
and may God bless and protect our city
and all who call it home. Protect our
city and all who call it home. In the
name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
>> Thank you, Father. Thank you.
>> Ready. Salute. I pledge allegiance 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.
>> Okay. Thank you. And
thank you very much uh Miss Kintanar for
bringing the father tonight.
Okay. And um so the first item uh now
would be the approval of the agenda. Do
we have a motion?
I'll move for approval.
>> Second it.
>> Motion by Gomez, second
>> by Valdinos.
>> I
>> Yes. Hi I
>> Okay. And uh next would be the consent
calendar which is only one item. Does
anybody wish to pull it?
» Uh can we pull it Mayor Paul? I do have
some questions.
>> Okay. So, we're gonna pull item uh for
the Veterans Park splash pad
rehabilitation and startup. And I don't
know if we we do have a staff report
that's been written up
and um
you know I I know I read through it and the part that I that what I
understand is this is like the first
stage and what may be additional work
that needs to be done. Uh I I understand
that it's been I guess 14 years but it
might have been more than that that that
was first put in that they said that be
it's been about 14 years since they u
really had totally had the maintenance
that would you be considered complete
and that this is the first uh in this
first phase here is to uh correct those
items that are above ground. They're not
sure what's below ground. they have to
take care of these things first and then
after that um they're they're
recommending that um you know we there
be a weekly maintenance
uh and that would be a separate contract
and then if there's underground work
that would be a separate contract but
» oh and well first of all before well I'd
like to ask council members
Go public comment.
>> I did.
Let's go to public comment. I apologize.
Okay. Don't want to be a bearer of bad
news, but I've been waiting a month for
a record request
and never got it. I turned it to your
clerk because Miss Gonzalez over there
at the police department don't know how
what she's doing. She sent me another
place to go put in a public record.
That's not the way it works. And I'll
give you guys a couple of days to fix it
because once I do a public record
request, it's a litigation hold on what
I want. and a disability altered or
hidden from me as a
and so I'd rather not involve that
sheriff. If not, I'm going to be calling
an intent to sue myself.
>> Okay, Mr. Limy, by the way, we should
not mention any city employees by name.
Uh, and I'll ask anybody in audience to
not refrain from that
>> to identify Yeah.
>> Why can't we identify them?
>> Well, all I can say that's the re what
the attorney has told me that that's
what the the law says. But that said, uh
you know
>> that I believe it's been received.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. It's been received. I know there's
things that go to our attorney before
they can be released. And um
>> the the rule is real clear about open
records. If you don't have an attorney,
that's your problem. You need to get
something going. It's clear you have 10
days. I was never notified of any
extension. And what she did already
violated
the Open Records Act already.
Now, I can I can send it all my
information to the attorney general and
see what they want to do. But, uh, I'd
like to get this done in house, but I'm
not going to keep playing the game with
you guys. There's been several records
I've never received,
>> and there's three more coming up real
fast close to the 10 day.
>> Okay. And and uh
what I would would ask, all of these
have been submitted to to Michelle.
Okay. So, she has them. I know that our attorney is still working for us.
He's not here right now. Uh he has
resigned, just so you know that. Uh but
he he is willing to continue working
until we find a replacement. And so that
doesn't mean that he's not working on
things. So,
>> he will respond appropriately.
>> How do you get someone that never voted
in for the council of the vice mayor?
>> He was never voted in. He should be a
temporary
fill in, not to be advanced. He
advancing when the people didn't want
him in here. They didn't vote for him.
>> Sir,
you know, we can choose
who between us who the council members
are. This gentleman has been voted in in
the past, but
>> voted not voted for. Okay. We'll just do
a a recall on the whole city council.
about that.
>> Thank you for your comments. Anybody
else wish to speak on public comments?
» Okay.
And I apologize for not skipping a
public comments there and getting in the
wrong order. But back to the the
Veterans Parks flash pad. Um
uh
we do not have our acting public works
director here tonight, Troy Ever. Um
>> excuse me, Mayor Boyer. Did you ask if
there was anyone else that wanted to
step forward or No.
>> Well, I might have missed that. Does
anybody else wish to come on public
comments?
>> Is there going to be more discussion on
the park flashback?
>> Uh there will be. Yes.
Okay.
Um or sir, did you want to speak
in public? [clears throat]
>> Okay. I'm
>> I messed up. I got that out out of order
and then I didn't make sure that
everybody had a chance to speak. I
apologize.
>> Oh, perfect. U I I just My name is Dorio
Gutier. I uh live at 500 North Current,
but I um I haven't received a call about
the incident with my neighbor um at 522
North Kern and um I really when I called
Brenda to come out um she um said that
she would go out later, she never went
out, but I really wanted to see if it
didn't have to be her, it could be
anybody just to come out and see what
the neighbor actually did in that in the
um the the the water cement block where
you where it's um cemented. Um there's a
lid to open it. I just wanted to see if
someone can inspect what they actually
did there. And and um I already have um
he's already been violated for the the
dumping of toxic water, but I believe
that's what he's continually trying to
do. Divert the water somewhere else or
something. And I uh right now actually
before I um came over here I I double
checked that area where there was the illegal dumpings and there's water
still leeching out from there. All of
his he uses white rocks of some sort to
like cover up or to make it look nice
and they're all falling through the
ground. He's trying to reme remedy it by putting
like bathroom like a really thin
bathroom uh like a wallpaper or
something. It's like a pretty pretty
hard but they're just using all kinds of
junk. The whole fence is all damaged.
>> Sir, you you would want someone from the city to go out and take a look
at it. And Brendo is a person that you
referred to.
» I'm kind of c can can somebody get back
to him then what that process is?
» Is there a timeline that he can be
given? Well, we were allowed the first
violation which is two week a citation
two weeks and third and second third the
second and third each is two weeks. So
accumulate that up.
» Well, I'm kind of to the point where I'm
just going to file a lawsuit. Um a civil
lawsuit against him, but I have a lot of
video to to and even previously the um
Jose Maro, he he's the one that kind of
helped and he took pictures of his own
with the city. So, there's already
documents um of the incident previously
with the city already, but I just wanted
to see it
>> just like a cease desist or something. I
I'm just not I'm kind of to that point
where I'm just there. No, they're not
supposed to be a washer back there, but
they just continue washing their clothes
and dumping that water from the washer
into
>> Okay, sir. Well, okay. I I understand
what you're saying and I know we're
going through whatever processes we can
and then I know that if you want to do
something legal with your neighbor
that's your right to do so but
>> just a bit
>> we're following at least the steps that
we need to.
>> All right. Yeah. No.
>> I'm sorry that is not happening quicker.
>> Yeah. It's fine. I just would was
expecting a call or at least someone to
come out to to check with me and to see
what what what that situation was about.
And so I haven't been able to speak to
anybody ever since that time. And they kind of when people do that,
nothing happens to them. They continue
to do it over and over until they until
they someone stops and
>> Okay. Okay.
>> That's something.
>> Thank you.
>> Does anybody else wish to come up for
public comment?
» Not seeing anyone. Okay. Now, we're
going to go to the item that was pulled
from consent calendar, which is the
Veterans Park splash pad. And um
we don't actually have staff here to
present on it tonight other than we've
read this, but if there's we should have
a discussion and then um see what people
from the public have to say and then see
if we want to make a decision on this.
Mr. Tro discuss it at all. There's
nobody here to talk about it.
>> I don't see anyone here without having a
city manager, without having our public
first person. It hasn't gone to
engineering.
» Why is it here?
>> Well, if uh after reading it, if we felt
comfortable with it, we wanted to
approve it either on consent or now that
it's off of consent, we could.
I know that it's been down for a while
and I know it's the hottest part of the
year and even now if it's going to get
worked on it's not going to it's not
going to get taken care of while it's
still still really hot unfortunately.
>> So Mayor Par, are we discussing it right
now then or are we bringing it back
because there's a couple of questions I
do?
>> We're we're bringing it up right now. So
>> when does it the splash pad officially
close?
>> Is it October I think?
Yeah.
>> So, in two months.
>> Um,
>> and
how was this budgeted before like all
these,
you know, all this stuff? How was it
budgeted? Because it it was done at one
point, right?
>> When you say it was done,
>> yeah, all this work, is it work that
needs to get done on it? that according
to this contractor who's you know as I
understand familiar with splash pads
this is their recommendation the work of
what they would charge to do it which
>> okay
>> the
>> so when it was built there was never
money budgeted for these items right
here
>> well when it was built roughly 20 years
ago I think um
>> you know I I couldn't answer you whether
what was budgeted every year it probably
you know, they every
I'm making an assumption that staff
worked on it. They they were trained on
how to take care of it. A lot of those
staff have since left and equipment has
um worn out and it's gotten to the point
where the recommendation isn't is to not
use it until everything is corrected.
>> So, there's two months left.
Can we ask
Blaze and Associates for a grant for
this? Uh because I think this is a
perfect item. It's on a park.
Um
I don't see it as difficult to try to
chase some money for this since it's two
months away and
you know look for a grant that's this
amount.
>> It's just two months away.
>> Yeah.
And then again, if this is the
agreement,
um, is this a one-time offer or is it
ongoing? I don't see a start or end
date.
>> Yeah, this is just for the first phase.
And honestly, if we were going to not
try to do something right away, it
probably makes sense to to uh get some
other proposals um and um
>> get it done over the winter and and make
sure it's done right.
>> That was my question. Is this are there
other bids or is this the only bid?
>> This is the only
>> we were supposed to agree on today with
no other bid.
>> Correct. And and the again the
assumption was to try to get things done
as soon as possible. But again, it's
again here we are almost September.
>> So there's no point in rushing it since
we're going to close in October. So
yeah,
>> I agree. definitely look for a grant
>> and we're going to ask the public here,
but just want to hear how what other
council members thoughts are before we
get public input.
>> Yeah. I know normally for parks um when
we build a park, we don't normally set
aside money for maintenance. It's like
um a fire truck or a police vehicle um
or anything out of public works. Um,
there's a there's a budget for
maintenance and we pull it out of there.
Uh, the $9,000 amount, I believe 10,000
is when we have to go to bid or
something above that. So, it's well
within the the allotted the allotted
amount for us to make a decision on it.
Um, I don't I don't think it needs to
wait two two months
>> or two weeks. Um,
and then as far as trying to find a
grant, grants don't cover maintenance.
Grants will cover improvements if that's
what we're looking for. And grants maybe
will cover a new uh splash pad, but not
maintenance.
>> That's a great idea, Greg. We should get
a new splash pad for the kids. upgrade.
>> Maybe after we finish the maintenance on
this, we could have that discussion, but
I think we need to take care of what we
have right now.
>> So, like you were saying, there's no
extra. I believe there should be at
least three bids.
Anything in the amount of 5,000 or more.
Um,
it's 2 months away and let's talk to
Blaze. That's what we're paying them
for.
>> Oh, Danny, you got any thoughts?
» I would like to get a fix if possible
before the season ended, but
I wish there was a temporary fix we
could do right now, but I wouldn't mind
seeing a new bad phantom in the future.
I think we should focus on the one we
have right now, though.
Okay. Well, at this point, I'd like to
turn over to the public and if there's
anybody wishes to speak on this item,
uh, please come forward.
» If you have a technician working at the
city, no one worked on it. I got it from
an inside source. That was never a test
theft.
>> They didn't do any upkeep on that
machine. And in order to do it right,
you need at least three bids. You can't
just go out and grab a bid and okay and
take it. Cities are obligated to get
three bid and do the lowest bid.
So, and no, there's no upkeep on that
machine. I got it from a reliable source
and I seen it.
Unless you're a technician, no one did
anything to it but maybe change filters
and stuff like that. That machine was
neglected.
There's there's no one here that wants
to take responsibility for anything in
this town.
>> They want to hear people and say, "Okay,
that's what they said. That's what I'm
going to believe." Instead of looking
for themselves. I went through that
myself.
So, you need to get it together and do
it the right way. You're supposed to get
three bids and then take the least, not
just go out and get a bid out. We're
going to spend the people's money
because we don't want to do the
footwork.
Okay. Thank you, sir. Does anybody else
wish to speak on this subject?
» Good afternoon, Alice Lopez, 44 North
Matthews. Um, I understand that the
splash pad is something really important
for you, the young children, and it's so
hot out there. Uh, but at this point,
you have a couple months left. I think
you really need to take the time and get
city matters in order, have all your
staff present because uh even if you
want to go out and look for a grant,
there's not you don't have enough people
to do that. And then when you get out
there, you get somebody get these
estimates or whatever uh to repair that.
Maybe also look into adding some
additional things. One of the things
that I had suggested at one time is to
put a shower uh maybe alongside the
bathroom. So that way if they need to
run you wash certain things off because
we know what's happening out there with
the unhoused, they're using that as a
shower. So if you put the shower that
runs about the same time that the splash
pad does, you just have the water on
during those times. Everybody can rinse
off the unnecessary things before they
get on the splash pad. I know that the
splash pad was just repainted a year
ago, two years ago, and it looks very
nice, but with all the additional stuff
going into the system, that's why it was
constantly down. So, um, unfortunately
for the younger children, um, I wish
that there was a better answer, but at
this point, I don't think, uh, the
city's able to do that kind of thing
right now.
>> Thank you.
>> Anybody else wish to speak on the
subject?
Okay, bringing it back to council
and um
you know I I I guess one question I as
and I don't know if anybody in the city
staff has heard like complaints about
how long it's been down or
anything.
>> We have gotten calls to be open
a few people.
>> Yeah.
uh you know I have to say that that even
if we hired this company they're they're
not guaranteeing that it's going to be
operational even when they're done with
this first phase and since we are
getting closer to October
um maybe it does make sense to
u have it looked into some more and uh
if we could get a grant that would be
great um I know Blazen Associates can
always check on those things Um and and
this is something that possibly we may
want to get our city engineer to take a
look at also. And um and you know maybe
it could if if we're going to go the
efforts to to do that maybe we could
look at upgrading it some including a
shower or anything else.
>> So um
yes it mentions the chlorine storage
tank in here. Do we know what and what
kind of shape it's in?
We don't have anyone here that could
answer that question, but we can get an
answer. Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think we should look at that.
Um, and maybe that'll help us with the
timing. You know, if it's compromised in
any way, I mean, we really should move
forward with some kind of work on it.
[clears throat]
>> Well, and and if it has a problem where
there's a potential for a leak, uh, we
better empty it.
>> Yeah. Or make sure it's well, if there's
we need to empty it if there's a
potential leak. So if that's something
we can pass on to staff with public
works to check in to just make sure
everything's
there will not be a hazard and I know
our fire department knows all about
those kind of things too.
>> Thank you. Okay. Thank you.
So, is this something we want to uh uh
basically
make a recommendation to staff that they
bring back where they look at these
other options and then bring it back as
a future agenda item and have it ready
for when summer starts next year, having
it something operational by then?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, at this point, would we say
we're tableabling it?
table with get everything in order. Get
your bids. Get
>> Yeah.
>> Have Jason look into can upgrade that
for fifths and u
see what kind of grants they can get.
>> Okay. Do we have a is that a motion to
table with those uh
>> items included?
>> Yes.
>> So Tina, that's that's your motion.
>> I second it.
>> And second by Valdeinos. Does that
include in the safety checks and making
sure that we empty the tank and if
there's part nothing
>> um
>> worked at that.
>> Yeah, it includes that. Okay, but we got
that. It's going to happen anyway.
Whether it wasn't a motion, but yes, it
includes included the motion and second
agrees to that. Okay.
>> I
>> Yes.
sir.
what she said about the housing using
the water
you know filter
going on maybe
shut off after so
you know it
is
afterwards I was thinking
>> okay well that's something that be a
separate item sir so I don't yeah it's
not not on the agenda Okay.
>> Yeah.
» That's a good idea to consider when we
bring it back.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> All right. Uh Okay. Next item are action
items and the first one is discussion
regarding the interim city manager. and
we interviewed two candidates on um
Friday evening
and uh
the two candidates names
um
» and what was I know Kevin Northcraft was
[snorts]
one of the candidates and Bossberg Mr.
Bossburg was the second one. And so, uh,
I know staff has passed out, uh, their
where they reached out for references
and and checked out. I know the council
has had a chance. I don't know if you've
all had a chance to look at that.
>> Got that a little bit before the meeting
started.
Um,
but with that, I would I would start
with uh asking council members if they
have any uh comments and questions. any
anything that
you would want to add
or you need a little more time for for
reading the
>> Were these sent to us or something?
>> Well, they were just handed out before
the meeting,
>> but we can we could take a little more
time to to read it and then and before
we make any decisions, we'll ask the
public for any comments, too.
And maybe a little little background on
it is uh well we're this little
interlude here. Um the uh uh our
police chief Jay Brock uh his last day
as interim city manager was last Friday.
He's still our police chief. Uh we're
trying to get an interim city manager as
soon as possible to fill that role
because as you can see tonight we don't
have everything we need to to carry on
business. Um and so uh we interview we
actually screened I think there were
maybe five people that uh we thought
might apply for the job and it turned
out that actually only two were
available to interview last Friday
evening when we're here. And so we did
those interviews and so at this point I
I'd say it's a decision on the council
between those two people that we
interviewed.
>> What's there's three people. What is
this?
The Fernando Santan. Is that something
different?
» Mr. Santion, I think he was available
like on a 5050,
>> a little bit more than 5050
on the phone and every other week he um
he has to have a alternate schedule
because of his kids. He lives in Fresno
and I'm going to be doing this. So, he
has to drop at school and then he also
has to pick them up from school. And
then he also has a commitment on stage
uh two stations
as well and
>> okay so if we wanted a full-time
interim city manager there's two if we
wanted to consider
part-time
that could be considered also
so basically everything's on the table
>> so that Fernando Santan we didn't
interview him so is that one
>> so can we schedule a date to interview
him because I don't want to say that we
interviewed two people and this guy we
don't even know who he is. We just got
it today.
>> Well, he he had been contacted earlier,
too.
Yeah. And uh we can decide to do that or
we can decide that we want to make a
decision based on who we interview.
I think it's more than fair to give
everybody interviews.
Well,
like I said earlier, I think we need to
have someone as soon as possible. And if
we were satisfied with one of the
persons that we interviewed, I think we
should make a decision on that,
but that's up to us.
» So, Paul, tonight is just a discussion
of who we're going to choose. That's it.
>> It's actually
under an action item, so we can take
action.
But it's is it talking about the
employment commitment and
compensation and what about the
backgrounds checks? They how do they
clear?
>> We have not done any background checks
yet, but if we were to make a decision,
we could make it subject to a positive
background check. I think that
previously happened to us with um Daniel
Padilla and we said that we weren't
going to do that again. We'd wait for
the background check to be completed if
I'm correct.
>> That's why we would make it contingent,
right?
>> Yeah.
>> That's how they contingent.
>> It be contingent
on passing.
>> That's what we said was in also. I mean,
>> yeah, that went sideways for a whole
other reason.
>> No, it was for that reason.
» Yeah,
>> I'm happy with um you know, the the
responses that we got back from Mr.
Northcraftoft. He interviewed really
well. Uh he's been in a city manager for
position for many years in one way or
under or another, either interim or
full-time. So, um, yeah, I would
consider
>> it does Northcraft does stand out with a
lot of knowledge and experience. He's
done it before. So, and we need to get
somebody in here quick. We need to start
putting a team together because we don't
have a team right now here at the city
of Farmsville. We're running just with a
few people and and it can't work with
the staff we have right now. We got to
fill it up soon.
>> Okay. Well, before I weigh in, I'd like
to open it up to the public. And I know
none of you were in the interviews
because that was a close session uh
personnel issue, but if anybody wants to
talk, you know, come up to the podium
and speak about it, please please do so.
>> Is this guy local or out of town?
>> He's uh lives in Tallery, I believe. I
know he was their city manager before.
>> Okay. He done city manager before, but
without a background check, you don't
know what he'd like. and and there's
jobs you can't get minimum wage jobs.
Remember what happened to the last one?
year you let him go and he had
experience. Are we going to go through
that again?
>> By the way, we're hiring someone to be
interim for a sixmon approximately a
six-month term and then what can happen
is that that person can help go through
the the selection process for the
long-term city manager.
Okay.
» Okay. Is there anybody else wishes could
come up
>> so Paul I do have
>> well okay well just this gentleman
>> what the qualifications would be for
city managers
>> um and and you don't have to come
forward we could hear you from there.
Okay. Uh I I don't have the list in
front of me, but um the preference was
to have someone with city manager
experience.
Um
>> any degrees,
» you know, um for the long-term city
manager, we were talking about having, I
believe, a master's in public
administration.
I'm not sure
if these candidates have that.
I know. At least bachelor's degrees
[snorts]
>> or associates or something.
>> Oh, at least bachelors.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. Thank you.
Any other comments or questions?
Okay. We'll bring it back to the
council.
>> I do have a kind of a question um in
regards to this. Um I I saw the email
earlier and I asked Mike if I could
comment on it. Um, if as you stated
being the mayor is only for ceremonial
purposes.
>> Exactly.
>> Then why was it discussed that we would
have Farley do the negotiations for us
and all that
>> that was in the email?
>> Yeah. Yeah.
without our
>> so the council didn't know about
>> he he is he has done that before
and if that's something that the council
does not want to occur
we can do it differently
>> I was just thinking since the mayor is
supposed to be only ceremonial purposes
why would you bring that to Barley and
ask him that that is something that the
council should discuss Yes.
>> And and according to the email, looks
like you already have picked a
candidate. And I just have a question.
Does anybody know this candidate Kevin
Northcrap that I mean if we end up
picking them
again in the past we failed we failed we
managers because again
>> someone has always referred that person
and so I thought the discussion was that
we're going to try to steer away from
that. Um, I'm not gonna I know we can't
discuss close session items, but I'm
going to say this and I'm gonna say it
as carefully as I can.
When I asked my 16-year-old to go get a
job, he threw a big old fit.
Mr. Kevin,
that's what it sound like. It sounded
like someone holded his hand like, "You
have to come and take this job or else
you're out." That's what I felt like.
Mr. Nate then brings so much experience.
His heart is there for the community. He
would advocate for the community. His
number one goal was the community.
>> Yes.
>> It was not about himself.
>> He [clears throat] did his homework
about the community.
This man, Mr. uh Nathan has so much
his wealth of knowledge, so many
resources. I think he would just bring
it would benefit the city of
Farmersville,
especially what's going on right now. We
need some more positiveness. We need
people that know their stuff. We know
people that are not going to use the
city and we're not we want people that
are not going to have get easy money
from the city anymore.
Um, Mr. Nathan, I think he's the best
candidate
and I'm going to leave it as that.
And I just I got to say that I I just
hope as council members I hope we make
the best decision for the best interest
of the people
>> of the people.
>> And so who's going to treat the people
right and you could tell with Nathan the
type of personality he had? He was very
energetic
and he is very knowledgeable. And um
I know you you you know the other
candidate and that's where I'm I I don't
>> anyway
>> we don't know
>> if I can just
>> so just the time
>> respond one thing when you say I know
the candidate I know through my previous
employment I worked uh with a project in
the city of Taller when he was the city
manager roughly 20 25 years ago and So,
I went to some meetings he was at there.
Um,
you know, that's that's as much as I
know him. Uh, I did make some phone
calls uh to uh the the member of the
Chamber of Commerce in uh in Toeri. Um
got positive feedback from him. uh
talked with uh county supervisor, had
positive things to say about not only
his work experience as a city manager,
but his character and he also uh was on
the Deli District Hospital Board and
helped clean things up over there and
was their their president for some some
time. He's also had a number of uh
assignments or or let me put it this way
jobs where he's uh been the u interim
city manager and this is after he served
the 10 years there in Toeri and uh
positive feedback from those
assignments.
Um
so in my mind he's qualified. Another
thing that I think is an advantage to
the city if we do choose him is that
he's a retired Kalpers uh annuitant and
uh and that means that uh we don't have
to pay uh extra for a lot of fringe and
things like that that um we would for
anybody else in the position
>> and and he only wants a job for six
months and and I think in our case it
makes sense to have someone for
roughly that period of time because we
want to wait till after election in
November, see who the council is at that
time and that council
can that he could work with that council
to, you know, get a long-term city
manager afterwards. I I don't think it's
a good idea to get try to get a
long-term city manager right now before
the election.
So, those are my thoughts on it.
Well, we know how this is going to go.
So, go ahead and make your motion.
» Any any other comments? Because I am
willing to make a motion. But any other
comments from any other council members?
>> I just feel Kevin or Prep is perfect
right now for us to get him right now at
the moment. He's got the knowledge, the
experience. He's got good reference,
good feedback,
people saying nothing but good things
about him. He's worked at many other
places where he's helped improve other
cities, got them out of meth and you
know left them in a better state. So I
don't see why we can't get him somebody
already been in that situation work with
this you know as city manager. So
>> and thank you to human resources for
doing the
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. Well, I'm I'm going to make a
motion and I move to approve a
contingent offer offer of employment to
Kevin Northcraft for the position of
interim city manager contingent upon
successful completion and approval by
city council of a background check and
review and approval by the city council
of the interim city manager employment
contract
>> and I second it.
>> Any further discussion?
Okay.
>> I
>> no.
>> Okay.
We'll move on with the next item which
is uh related to discussion regarding
interim city attorney.
And um at after our last regular council
meeting, our city attorney sent us all
an email saying that he was going to be
resigning the city attorney. However, he
would continue on until we have a
replacement.
Um part of continuing on though means
he's not going to council meetings where
you can see it would be very helpful to
have an an attorney here. And so
um this is just for discussion right
now. I know we we've got a
[clears throat]
a pretty old proposal that came from uh
Moses Diaz um years ago. Interesting
being uh interim city attorney. Um but
personally, I think we ought to take
some time to
um do some more research and and and
um you know, we we definitely need to go
through a request for proposals for a
long-term city attorney. Uh it's it's
our decision if we want to have a more
streamlined approach for an interim, but
I just want to open up for discussion.
If anybody wishes to speak on the
council, we're open to comments from
the public after we've had a chance to
say something and we'll bring it back to
council.
>> Is there recommendations from League of
Cities at all?
I you know I know that Jay had sent
something out there asking for a
response and
» you say
can you follow up on that and and see if
we've gotten anything because we want to
put it out there and um Yeah.
And the attorney that you mentioned
right now, where is he coming from?
>> He's I I believe Vicelia.
Uh the the name of the firm is Public
Interest Law Firm. He [clears throat]
used to work for the Farley Law Firm. He
was our
he was the person that was assigned to
us for quite a while
and then he went off and spun off in his
own company with some I'm not sure who
else is in it now.
who recommended him?
» I believe that
Mike Farley said that he was he knew he
was available and also I believe that um
I think uh Jay Brock had said that uh we had a proposal from him which is what
we have right here. But that's as much as I I could tell you.
Any
comments from council members before we
open up the public?
Okay, let's open up the public. Is
anybody wish to speak on this item? We
know we all know we need an attorney.
You know, any good city attorneys out
there are send them our way.
Okay.
I know this it's it's a kind of a tough
thing to
you know you don't find city attorneys
that easy.
>> Just one last comment. I mean if he was
referred by Mike Farley and J Brock and
both of them have resigned,
isn't that a pattern that he will resign
too?
So
>> I can't say that.
» Well, let let's how about if we talk
about a process here and and one process
I would suggest is with our new interim
city manager after he starts assuming
everything's works out all right. Uh,
I I think that he could help go through
that process in uh both getting an
interim and a long-term
city attorney. And
does that sound like a reasonable
approach?
» My only concern is not having somebody
here during our meetings.
>> Yes.
>> Um because I think that opens us up to
liability. Not just personal liability,
but liability for the city.
>> Yeah.
>> So, you know, I
that's a risk.
>> Just I also just want to make sure he's
not getting paid the whole amount since
he's not showing up.
>> Well, I think he's charges by the hour
» to be here.
>> Yeah.
>> Awesome.
But he would not be getting paid for
being into
that meetings at this point.
Okay. Well, I uh it sounds to me like
this is something that needs to get
tabled.
» I think if we make a decision, it's
going to have to be at the next meeting.
>> Okay. So,
>> so table this to the next
>> Yeah.
>> council meeting, which I think is
September 14th. So, [snorts] is it
getting tabled to the next council
meeting, Paul, or is it going to be what
you said and it's going to be the
interim city manager that's going to
work on it? Well, of course, I'm sure
you're going to be there helping him.
Which one is it going to be?
» Well,
>> I thought I thought you said that when
we get the interim city manager.
>> Well, I mean, I'm happy to make a
decision right now if that's what you
would like.
>> I wasn't speaking to you, Greg. I was
talking to Paul.
>> St.
Why does it always have to count on you,
Greg? You always have to make decisions.
>> Okay, let let's let's get Okay, back to Okay. Um,
>> well, I will say this. You know, we
Nothing's going to happen until the
council takes action.
>> Well, you guys might as well take action
because you guys are going to agree on
it. You guys are going to go against us.
>> We need to table it all. We need to uh
talk to Vegas cities.
>> Yeah. and and and that's that's my
recommendation that we table this until
the the next meeting regular meeting
which will be September 14th. By that
time hopefully we'll have our inner city
manager
ready and also uh hopefully uh we'll
have some information from League of
Cities and and any other avenues we can
you know start searching
So is that is that a motion to table
till
the next meeting? So
>> yeah, I'll second it.
>> And we need to get attorneys.
>> Hi.
>> Yes.
>> No.
>> Okay. Uh next item is uh we have council
reports and
Tina, you want to start your end? Well,
go ahead. Skip me for right now. Come
back to it.
>> Okay. Or
>> none for me.
>> Wait a minute. We didn't do future
agenda items, do we?
>> Oh, sorry.
» Uh, Greg.
>> No.
>> Danny.
» Okay. Well, one thing I'll I'll mention
is the Economic Development Corporation.
I went to a meeting Wednesday last week
and that the decision of the board was
to dissolve the EDC
uh
and uh they looked at like the last five
years and how the the balance of
finances was going down and uh even
though they were cutting back
significantly on staff
uh they decided it's best to dissolve
while they still have funds to go
through the dissolution process. They
also um and the suggestion was that we
voted on whatever funds are left over
would go to the EDC foundation
which um
uh can still receive grants from um
entities such as bankier which donated
25,000 this year to to the cre because
of the community community reinvestment
act. Um the next meeting is going to be
on October 28th and at that point
there'll probably be more information on
the process. U in the meantime too um
talking with um
Mike and Alita that work for Tallery
County Economic Development Office,
which is a separate entity through the
county. um they're they're still willing
to work with the smaller cities to uh
help with economic development and so we
can call on them if
and and at this point they're not
charging anything so it's worth doing.
Uh and other larger cities such as
Vicelia they have their own economic
development staff. Same thing with
Taller, same thing with um with
Porterville. So, uh, I think the smaller
cities, you know, if we want to, um,
could could possibly align with the
county or we could try to do something
different, but just want to give an
update on that that it looks like the EC
is is going away.
And that's my only council report. And
so, we'll go at this point for uh,
manager reports and for city engineer
Jason.
done. So we got all the information sent
out tomorrow
just basically tell them what they need.
Obviously they have to do it for their
own lenders but that was all done and
researched and completed. So I went
through that as well.
» Thank you Jason. You went above and
beyond. You didn't have to do that but
you did. Um I already uh let the
neighbors know especially all the other
streets. um they're very grateful about
it because again they're very low income
and they didn't know where this money
was going to come from. And so I I truly
appreciate you that you did that.
>> Yeah. And good job. And and I was going
to ask Tina, I know you first brought
this up and and I don't know if this
addressed all the properties that you
had mentioned uh that might be on the
other side of
um
the other side I think on on Virginia
maybe on the on the south side of the
bullet of Vicelia road. Uh, and so and I
didn't want to because of the Brown Act,
I know I was talking with Arceli, I
didn't want to be talking with you about
at the same time, but this is something
that I think could come back as an
agenda item to discuss all of it.
>> Yeah, if that sounds reasonable to you.
>> I thought letters were already sent out
to all the residents to let them know
that it was taken out of the
>> concern.
No, but before because I had Eddie
um reach out to city manager and he
>> he sent over a letter that should have
been sent out to all the residents a
while back
>> and and and my understanding
>> I don't think they were based on
attorney's
>> opinion and and in this case instead of
coming out from the city it came from
Jason at at four creeks and it was
worded differently and and
Mr. Farley reviewed that letter
>> because Eddie's
he's a blood guy that I use
[clears throat]
the one when the flood zone map changed
I found the person that repaired the
entire flood zone. So she went through
the entire like to make sure I fully
comprehended what she did. So I had a
good understanding of what she did which
essentially is just more or less she
just removed stuff she really had.
>> So basically zones are right next to the
channel.
>> So that's why I'm recommend we bring it
back as an agenda item for covering all
those other properties. Uh Tina and if
the is it Mr. Perez the surveyor, you
know, has that input that maybe that
could get to Jason, too.
>> That that would be good.
>> Mayor, that was that was just wasted
time. Ben, was Eddie?
>> So, Mayor Paul, so since the city
dropped the ball on this um people did
go out there and purchase flood
insurance.
>> Well, they did.
>> And they did uh get a city an engineer
to come and get them out of the flood
zone. Um what can that be done for that?
Well, I'm not sure. The city dropped the
ball. I think the attorney was was
concerned about the liability of the way
the letter the letter was written.
>> Was that recently?
>> Was that recently? The letter
>> we were told it was going to get sent
out a long a while back.
>> Yeah. I don't think you were included,
Paul, but there was months ago um
>> this was already happening
>> and it was reported to the um city clerk
and city manager about it and it never
happened. So, um, everything that you
sent me, Jason, we already had it.
>> Okay.
>> Um, yeah.
>> All I say is we've talked a lot about it
and we ought to have as an agenda item
and then we could go in more details.
>> Okay.
>> Do you want that as anformational item?
>> Uh, well, and and to consider the
additional properties that you have you
have
>> to find out.
>> Yeah.
>> Why wasn't anything done back then?
because now our people have had to pay
out of pocket. So I would like to know
when the city attorney stated that that
letter was
not to be sent out
>> because I was the misunderstanding and I
did a lot of the leg work also emailing
and he would call me because nobody had
emailed him. So I want to make sure
>> why wasn't that letter sent out to our
people. So yeah, if you could put that
on the agenda and find out all the
answers, I would really appreciate that.
Okay.
>> Yeah. Well, you're you're you're not
responsible for that part. Okay. It's
trying to get the new letters out to the
people that didn't get it before. I
believe that in the format that you
prepared.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. Anything else?
» So, they didn't quite
making sure.
So they're moving very tough now
at the end. So that's a good thing. Um
and then I got as meeting I got challen
right now.
We all going to regular roundabout. You
kind of see how they play into
everything. So roundabouts will be
conceptual at this point time but you'll
be able to see how they tie in and then
you'll get to see someone from the
county will be here. I'm working with
that. It's going to actually be able to
answer any questions. I'll probably have
a couple staff members here that are
working with 280 design itself as well.
So, it'll be more of a presentation. You
guys can ask questions. You guys are
getting questions on it.
>> That's great. Thank you. Thank you,
>> Chief.
That's something we could look into in
the future, but go ahead, Chief.
So
fire department at the senior center we
did a heat illness presentation last
week and enjoy that. Our next
presentation will be in two two or three
weeks. We're going to bring in a lot of
our tools and equipment to do kind of a
short display with seniors. And the
other news I have we had six went out
this morning the timber fire.
>> Oh wow. We'll be there again.
>> Wow. And and and they've already come
back from two other wildfires.
>> They came back from the other ones. And
so this morning I dispatched that.
>> Wow.
» Okay. Okay. And Sergeant Prost, we don't
want to put you on the spot, but
anything you want to report on from the
police department?
>> Uh nothing at this time.
>> Okay. Okay. Thank you. call for council
reports. I'm not sure when I can bring
this up, but um I I still want to get
all those in in those minutes from the
last meeting. I was unable to speak
>> and um change that. So, I would like to
one of these days put that on the agenda
soon
>> so that I could get my minutes changed
and my input. I I I believe what's being
worked on is to have um
verbate uh recordings
of of everything
uh and and and I'm talking about going
forward and I'm not sure I can answer
everything about going backwards, but going forwards uh recordings and
then uh but we would have to vote if we
want just summary minutes
from that are typed but having the
recordings that stay basically as long
as the minutes stay that that could be
looked at. Um and um obviously we know
that you know depending on the length of
a meeting sometimes those
you know I I I think one of them was
over 12 pages single spaced and still
didn't cover everything. So but um
that's that's not forgotten about what
you said about in the past to to get get
that together.
Okay. Anything else? Council comments.
>> Yeah. Um about the minutes again. Yeah.
>> Um so we've always done summary minutes.
>> Yeah.
>> We never move to do transcription
or, you know, to have somebody sit there
and listen to the recording for however
long it takes to manually type it out.
Um why are we flip-flopping back and
forth?
>> Because the context is not there, Greg.
That's why we're flip-flopping back. I I
think we need to bring it to us and then
make a decision how we want it done. But
it seemed like it would be a good comp
compromise if we
um if we do the the recordings that
anybody could look at or listen to and
then we have summary minutes which makes
it easier on the clerk. I I believe
what's being looked at too is whether or
not we can have some sort of um the it
looking at it here for a screen for live
streaming and making it so that the
meetings are available to people online
on a regular basis. Um, right now it's
on Zoom, right?
>> It's just Zoom. So, we're working on
YouTube live and also Yeah. do all new
microphones that'll be on the next.
>> So, is this meeting recorded?
>> Is this meeting being recorded
>> on Zoom? Yes.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, I'm going back to the council
reports again. Um, where are the August
10th meetings? We should have had them
today. That's two weeks passed by now.
So, that's lack of transparency for the
public.
Um, I don't see them attached on here.
And so, that's my question. Mayor Paul,
where are they at?
>> You know, uh, at this point, I I told
staff, let's [snorts] take care of, you
know, the items that we already
discussed tonight. uh they would be
coming back in the future with
so they will be coming but they're not here tonight.
>> And another um item I do have on here um
after the reorganization
on July the 20th
the I brought it back well Mayor Paul
that day you did say that to put it on
the agenda for the dos and don'ts for
council for training. Again, I brought
it back on July the 27th and it's still
not on here and I've been asking it at
every meeting and it's still not as a
future agenda item.
>> Okay,
>> Mayor Boyer, I don't need to
>> Well, if I could just respond, you know,
uh I believe that dos and don'ts, we'd
want to have an attorney
do that. And right now, we don't have an
attorney that's going to be here. So, I
think we need to wait till we have one.
>> Can we add it on the agenda? Because
I've been asking to put it on the
agenda. Yeah, we can put it on the
dos and don'ts. Okay.
You got that for future agenda.
Okay. Yeah.
>> The reason why I want to bring those
minutes back is because the context is
not in there. The residents have a right
to know exactly why things were done and
what was said and a lot of that is
missing. the most important things are
missing which really makes me concerned
and that's what I'm asking.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> I I heard you and I know there's a
number of meetings where I know I said
things too but they're not in there.
>> They didn't have a chance. But that's
the thing. You could have changed your
minutes when it was my turn to to do the
minutes to make my changes. You guys
made a motion.
>> Or no, you know what? That's when you
guys took a break and then when we came
back I thought I was going to have a
chance and then you shut me down and you
guys made a motion and it was three to
two. So I was out I didn't even get a
chance but as gave a little bit of the
minutes that she wanted corrected. I was
not given a chance to correct any of the
minutes
>> and I had never ever
asked to correct any of the minutes
since I've been on this council. And the
one time I asked to have them corrected,
I was shut down.
And those were very important, the
context. So
>> we can bring it.
>> My opinion is we could bring those back,
>> but it will be with a full not not just
what one person asked for.
>> No, there's a recording. I open house
and I I listen to the whole recording
and I keep saying that's exactly what I
was trying to put in there.
>> Okay. But I wasn't given the
opportunity. And then because there were
no minutes to go over, that's not good
that you do that because it's like, you
know, we have our jobs and we have our
families. So what happened on the last
meeting we're going to have to take
notes on to bring it to this. No, now
we're going to have to wait till the
next meeting. So
that's not that's not fair to us to do
that.
>> Well, at the ne Okay. Well, for the next meeting, there's no problem having
the minutes for this meeting and the
last previous one, right?
>> Not my point.
>> No, I know. But the earlier ones, too,
that's part of that whole thing with the
>> Yeah. reporting and
>> um so that should be a priority on our
future agenda items, the reporting of
the city council meetings. It's still
there's a TBD on here and it's been a
TBD. So that should be a workshop, a
discussion. It should be a priority
because again
>> the minutes have been
>> incorrect items that I said I want them
on the record have been removed.
>> So there's lack of transparency. Our
public deserve that and nothing less.
>> Okay. Anything else?
>> No.
>> Okay.
uh
for tonight's meeting. We don't have any
uh we don't have any close session
and uh at this point the meeting could
be adjourned. Thank you everybody for
coming. Thank you.