Salinas becomes mayor of Lindsay
Kimball resigns at Lindsay City Council meeting Tuesday
Pamela Kimball, who has represented Lindsay as mayor since 2016, opened the City Council meeting Tuesday evening with a message that would change the organization of the local governing body.
“At the time I was made mayor two years ago, I had served on the Council since 2001 without ever receiving that distinction. I had the most seniority of anyone then serving, but by only a few weeks. I felt it an honor to be appointed and thank this Council for that recognition and trust,” Kimball said at the start of the meeting. “The mayor of the city of Lindsay is elected from, and serves at the pleasure of the City Council. There is always a reorganization to the office when a new Council is seated to ensure the mayor has the majorities support. By our charter, this can happen at any time. The term of office is not for any certain duration.”
Kimball continued on to speak about Danny Salinas, who has served the city of Lindsay as mayor pro tem since 2012. She also spoke about Esteban Velasquez who was re-elected to the Council in 2016. Kimball, Salinas, and Velasquez all have nearly 20 years of service on the City Council.
“The three of us have been through a lot together and I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss them,” Kimball said. “Their intelligence, their insight, their good humor and camaraderie, and just all around awesomeness. They are deserving of everyone’s gratitude and appreciation.”
After taking a small pause, Kimball delivered an announcement that shocked the small audience in attendance.
“I would like to make a motion tonight that mayor pro tem Danny Salinas be appointed to the office of mayor of the city of Lindsay, with Esteban “Steve” Velasquez as mayor pro tem to take effect immediately,” Kimball said.
The motion was seconded by Council member Laura Cortes and passed with a roll call vote of 5-0. Kimball, Salinas, and Velasquez stood and moved to their new seats followed by name plaques moved to different slots, officially declaring Salinas as the city's new mayor, with Velasquez sitting as mayor pro tem.
“Thanks everybody,” Salinas said. “It's been a pleasure doing what I love doing for 17 years.”
The meeting moved forward to routine items and City Council members gave their reports.
The first to report was Kimball who stated that she attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Self-help Enterprises townhouses, also known as the Palm Terrace apartments. She was wowed by the amount of work and people it took to complete the job, and said the event was very good.
Cortes went next, reporting that putting lights in the park have really enhanced the experience for soccer practices. She thanked those who helped install the lights for their hard work. Cortes also reminded the Council that the kindergarten through eighth grade classes in town are on a minimum day schedule for this week, and are out of school for vacation next week.
Velasquez added to Kimball's report about the townhouses, saying the pillars in the community center of the complex were preserved during construction. The pillars are an original part of a house that stood in the back of the orange field located on the land before construction began.
Salinas, who was last to give a Council report, shared the story of taking his granddaughter to see the new fire truck and how happy it made him to see the accomplishment of bringing the new truck in to town.
Ireland Mccall, the Lindsay High School student representative, announced Army recruiters were on campus Monday. Mccall updated the Council on recent results from the school's athletics and gave a brief schedule of upcoming sporting events.
City Manager Bill Zigler requested that Council meet on Nov. 27.
“We typically do not have a second meeting due to the proximity of Thanksgiving,” Zigler said. “However, it shouldn't be an issue this year, and we are trying to get a couple of public hearings moving forward.”
Council agreed to the request to hold the City Council meeting. Zigler continued with his report, and updated the Council on the roundabout project currently under construction.
“We should be able to start phase two in the not so distant future,” Zigler said. “Phase one was the biggest part, and phase two will be on the north east corner.”
Zigler finished his report and the Council moved on to the consent calendar where all nine items were approved with a vote of 5-0.
A public hearing was opened and Lieutenant Nicholas Nave of the Lindsay Police Department, presented the Council with a grant award and resolution regarding $100,000 to continue funding for one police officer position and a portion of a community service officer position. Only one comment was made and it was in support of the grant award and resolution. With a roll call vote of 5-0, Nave's award and resolution were approved.
Lisa Davis, the Wellness Center supervisor, presented the Council with a tentative agenda for the fire truck parade and grand opening of the Lindsay Sports Complex. The event is set for Dec. 8, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., complete with a fire truck parade at 9 a.m. and a free soccer clinic beginning at 10 a.m. Davis is also hoping to organize a guest speaker, who is knowledgeable about soccer, for the event.
After Davis finished her presentation, the Council moved into a private executive session to discuss two separate cases, one a litigation and the other a negotiation. Council returned to the public session with nothing to report.
The next City Council meeting will be held on Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. in the City Hall located at 251 E. Honolulu Street.