Ray Barragan

The City Council meeting agenda for February 24, 2026, included a Closed Session to discuss two cases of initiation of litigation with legal counsel. During the Open Session, new officers were sworn in through Ceremonial Oaths of Office. The Consent Calendar involved the approval of the February 10, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes and acceptance of the January 2026 Monthly Financial Report. Key New Business included a decision on the Fairmead Wastewater System Consolidation Project application to LAFCO. Public hearings were held for the first reading of ordinances establishing an expedited permitting process for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and delegating certain signature authorities to the City Administrator. The Council also considered adopting a resolution to declare the existence of a public nuisance due to weed growth.

The joint meeting agenda included a Closed Session to address a Public Employee Performance Evaluation for the Police Chief and a Conference with Legal Counsel regarding existing litigation involving Chowchilla Real Estate Holdings, LLC. The Open Session covered presentations recognizing the family of Officer Barrantes and proclaiming January as National Mentoring Month. Key discussion items included the adoption of the Annual Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS 26/27) for the Successor Agency and City Council, consideration of amending the Master Fee Schedule for recreation fees, a request for direction on preliminary design and cost estimates for a potential dog park, and the City Council Reorganization for the election of the Mayor Pro Tem. Staff reports provided updates on police activity, including crime statistics showing significant reductions in several categories, fire department response metrics, public works projects (e.g., Kings Avenue ADA Project, pothole repair), new business activity, and ongoing project management tracking.

The City Council meeting agenda included several key items. In presentations/workshop, time was reserved for public address on non-agenda items. The consent calendar covered the approval of the January 27, 2026 Joint City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency Meeting Minutes and consideration of the January 2026 Check Register Report. Public hearings involved the introduction and first reading of ordinances to establish an expedited and streamlined Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Process and to delegate certain signature authorities. New business included direction and approval to proceed with the Fairmead Wastewater System Consolidation Project and submitting the required application to LAFCO. The document also contained detailed minutes from the January 27, 2026, Joint City Council/Redevelopment Successor Agency Meeting, which addressed police chief performance evaluation, litigation conference, presentations recognizing the Officer Barrantes Family and National Mentoring Month, departmental verbal reports on police activity, ambulance response times, public works projects (Avenue 24½, Kings/Riverside ADA Project, groundwater recharge), community development updates (AutoZone opening, Fourth & Kings Sports Complex), recreation software evaluation, server migration, and the CFD refunding process. The January 27 meeting also included council reorganization to elect the Mayor Pro Tem and discussion on the State Route 233 Roundabout Project.

The Special City Council Meeting agenda included a Proclamation for Human Trafficking Awareness Month and time reserved for Public Address on non-agenda items. Consent items scheduled for approval included the minutes from the December 9, 2025 Regular and Special City Council Meetings, the December 2025 Check Register Report, the November Financials Report, and a resolution approving the Master Agreement with the Madera County Transportation Commission for Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Exchange Funding. New Business items involved consideration of Collaborative Agency Appointments made by the Mayor and the adoption of a resolution accepting improvements and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion for Orchard View Final Map No. 22-0010.

The council discussed and considered various items, including the approval of the 2026 Citywide Calendar, the Master Agreement between the Madera County Transportation Commission and the City of Chowchilla for transit program funding, and awarding a contract for the HSIP (Cycle 11) Intersection Improvements Project. They also discussed monthly invoice payments and financial statements, including the October 2025 Budget vs Actual and Balance Sheet, and addressed the establishment of Community Facilities District No. 2025-2 and related actions.