[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6245359,"mediaKeyId","3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9","parentId",3226602,"title","Selma reviews multi‑phase fire station campus plan, staff weigh costs and aesthetics","audioSeconds",421,"startMs",7911000,"endMs",8332000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9&start=7911&end=8332","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9/thumbnail_7911000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6245359/Selma-City/Fresno-County/California/Selma-reviews-multiphase-fire-station-campus-plan-staff-weigh-costs-and-aesthetics","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245359-3a1dc052445f076ee59d80006d4a84a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404657&Signature=S953BSxjKS7jiJggUhf5TEei7moSOPnhsTDRPz4BSM7nvcqEQoeLbc~T350xCugAP4xJm0Lv2VzWQDwFQV1d~8Vs2WNkNhVOyGU~47LjgN86AXiQFYImrE7ESYKWYV4i0DsA6i3HwjaDra6e7M9z5w9lI1yrFZXtWBHFRhrJg7H2Quj-Q-mJYaYcpOjXiekc1r3FnYdMaUMbTpQvfAWyaHzshBk1VJH9WJdGQXaR9uAGIACVQ8J9nsKABP7Lw-sX12akLvIfgklJT-fziJL4QeSVIDATZ92gmRL5Exqnk1D43kwXcz~VSB5nHnqsQrn3IZwgFVdRqcwPG5enJu2eQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Selma CA","date","2025-05-07T06:36:25Z","article","Selma officials presented conceptual plans May 6 for a three-phase fire station campus on Huntsman Street: a modular EMS facility, a full fire-station operations building with apparatus bays and dorms, and a later administrative/headquarters addition.

Fire Chief Steve Webster described phase 1 as an EMS facility using modular buildings to house ambulances and staff with secure parking and automatic gate access. Phase 2 is a permanent operations building with two drive-through apparatus bays, dormitory space for crews, kitchen and turnout storage; phase 3 would add administrative offices and a third apparatus bay.

Chief Webster said the project team will value-engineer finishes but reported preliminary construction-cost estimates that put a full build of phases 2–3 in the $22 million–$26 million range at current per‑square‑foot market rates. He and staff recommended a phased approach so the city can deliver immediate EMS needs while deferring some capital cost.

Council and staff discussed aesthetics and scale. Staff presented three conceptual styles and said contemporary materials (metal, glass and pitched roofs) would deliver durability and lower long-term maintenance. Council members stressed combining durable base materials with higher-quality façade elements in visible downtown stations.

The presentation also included a digital interactive capital projects map showing active and upcoming projects, and staff said work on the Amberwood sewer trunk main and other CIP projects is advancing. Council asked for continued coordination with developer Lennar on the Amberwood schedule and with Union Pacific on the railroad crossing for the sewer trunk main.

Ending: Council provided direction on design preferences and asked staff to continue design, pursue value engineering, and return with more refined cost estimates and timeline options for phased construction.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Selma City Council Meeting 05/06/25 Pt. 2","oneSentenceSummary","The council reviewed a multi‑phase plan for a new north-end fire station campus including an EMS modular facility, engine bay and headquarters addition; staff noted current cost estimates of $1,500–$1,700 per square foot and proposed phased construction to reduce upfront budget impact.","taxTitle","Selma City, Fresno County, California","taxId",71639,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245363,"Animal services committee reports staffing, operations updates; council proclaims Second Chance Animal Rescue",1117,1547000,2664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9&start=1547&end=2664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9/thumbnail_1547000.jpg","/articles/6245363/Selma-City/Fresno-County/California/Animal-services-committee-reports-staffing-operations-updates-council-proclaims-Second-Chance-Animal-Rescue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245363-2f640438985cd5bbf012f1734df4c28c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404657&Signature=j4gVsx5sNdiKD7E6eXagA9PQzYM63hGZwQLavXUTthZL~531~Eci9OIcdxQobUfMm310xcQJ~TbvRgAN6UOOrQ3oMBotBI1eop09ztg24PkWWPkVjbLENs06VB1xFVpp9wCfzrXLykSB5WYKI77yXoUVpNFu1nkURlCz8WZYEbbbRItVpzB6QSOxMHyxien~12~eJT~yN2c2dtZeeNkabq-Mz--Ecbx7z2QoP2UiYKdXgr7CcPbUHSejco7h6no3ukQHzsESGYhoV1M-DlrJaxCNo0CpA46UM~t1vI0cNElFt7nUcLoArwPY8iN5q1b6oFbEPe~14zQ~OB-Mhbt9Ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Selma Animal Services Advisory Committee presented an update May 6 reporting hiring progress, expanded volunteer programming and recommendations on ordinances and funding to support a more effective animal control operation.

Parveen, speaking for the advisory committee, said city staff reported six allocated positions as filled and expected the animal shelter to be fully staffed by May 19, including three animal-care technicians, a field services manager, a shelter manager and a director. The committee urged the city to ensure seven-day coverage and to adjust public access hours so the shelter is open on weekends when adoptions are likely; it recommended closing a weekday for internal work rather than closing Sundays. Parveen also recommended at least four kennel technicians and two animal care officers to achieve adequate overlap for seven-day service.

The committee reported steps to expand volunteers, including programs for 15–18-year-old students (with parental accompaniment) and an “adventure program” to take dogs out for socialization. The committee urged the council to adopt updated ordinances to create enforcement teeth for mandatory microchipping and spay/neuter rules and to designate an annual funding allocation to support spay/neuter vouchers and related enforcement.

Separately, the council presented a proclamation recognizing Second Chance Animal Rescue (formerly Second Chance Animal Shelter) for a decade of service providing animal control and rescue services in Selma. Representatives of Second Chance thanked volunteers and said they would deliver a shelter inspection report to the council.

The advisory committee also raised operational items for staff action: establish a dedicated shelter phone/landline so calls are reliably answered, use radio communications for field officers, implement a visible kennel-card program for animals on display, develop a fee schedule and post a dedicated shelter website listing animals available for adoption. The committee recommended a quarantine/intake area for sick animals and noted existing shelter space could be repurposed for improved cat housing if funding is identified.

Ending: The council accepted the advisory committee’s report, issued the proclamation to Second Chance Animal Rescue and asked staff to return with ordinance and funding proposals to support the shelter’s recommendations.","Selma’s Animal Services Advisory Committee reported staffing increases, volunteer expansion and recommendations on ordinances and funding; the council issued a proclamation recognizing Second Chance Animal Rescue and asked for further shelter oversight steps.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245368,"Selma accepts audited 2023–24 financial statements; council forms ad hoc finance review",401,7159000,7560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9&start=7159&end=7560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9/thumbnail_7159000.jpg","/articles/6245368/Selma-City/Fresno-County/California/Selma-accepts-audited-202324-financial-statements-council-forms-ad-hoc-finance-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245368-c16e048cac065655f7e34d401cf537b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404657&Signature=R-Gj5nSlWB5iGOMZLn2GLx8Rf690gfMzD0bL7~P7eGH-I1wwLwY4w07Y2YD9goGpgCr7YhXDHEuQpAldcv~cerZiv7bnUw84XiSjP8jotktS54NI4Jq-~tOjyix0sett6TGuNUNwoYM5R9-9lliikrjXaJuSd28YeRzovZ~n~OObIwFDE3i5zQRd6izDZxWKEgpuOUfcXfUgriXJSQYqjE4K21bLD~En3VxRrBP4yYzMgrZQDLkyxcCvMakySC5Thm7wAoBOjKzfKUHRCwsxhpt-J7YPKtvLF136h0lfc8qMb4X72ALCDvFYOs0y3EzFncXBg86yUEpPs6ScuwhgPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Selma accepted an audited set of financial statements for fiscal year 2023–24 on May 6 after auditors issued an unqualified opinion, but the meeting produced significant follow-up requests from councilmembers about fund balances, ARPA spending and prior-year payroll reconciling items.

Ryan Jolly, CPA, presented the audit on behalf of the city’s auditors, reporting an unqualified opinion and noting a single-audit because the city’s federal expenditures exceeded the OMB threshold. The auditor said total net position for the citywide statements was about $91.8 million and that the general fund’s total fund balance was just over $21.4 million. He noted the general fund posted a net decrease in fund balance of roughly $838,000 for the fiscal year.

Several councilmembers asked detailed questions about where the budget variances originated and whether one-time federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were used for ongoing payroll expenses. Finance Director Moreno said ARPA had been used for several projects and that some ARPA expenditures noted through April 28 would be reclassified when bond proceeds became available: “That was a matter of removing this as an AJE at 06/30 to make this whole and charge the money to the bond,” she said regarding sewer trunk line costs she said were temporarily charged to ARPA and would be moved to bond proceeds.

Councilmember Robertson asked for more detail on the $838,000 decrease to understand whether it signaled an ongoing structural problem; auditor Jolly and staff said timing, capital outlays, and one-time items (including settlement and project costs) contributed to the variance. The audit report showed enterprise-fund decreases in ambulance, garbage and transit operations, and noted a negative fund balance in the garbage enterprise fund.

Following discussion the council agreed to form an ad hoc finance review: Mayor Robertson and Councilmember Avalos volunteered to meet with Finance Director Moreno and the interim city manager to review the audit details and related fund classifications before reporting back to the full council.

Ending: The council voted to accept the audited financial statements. Staff said they will provide more detailed reconciliations, ARPA accounting documentation, and fund-by-fund explanations to the ad hoc committee.
","Auditors issued an unqualified opinion on Selma’s 2023–24 financial statements, but council members raised questions about an $838,000 decrease in the general fund and ARPA classifications; two councilmembers volunteered for an ad hoc finance review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245372,"City attorney says council referred former manager's $350,000 settlement to Attorney General for possible 1090 violation",646,4034000,4680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9&start=4034&end=4680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9/thumbnail_4034000.jpg","/articles/6245372/Selma-City/Fresno-County/California/City-attorney-says-council-referred-former-managers-350000-settlement-to-Attorney-General-for-possible-1090-violation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245372-37db46951b99c62e5ac124837046d209/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404657&Signature=Ew5RUtLyq6FDPz73zfLlz5b8IycHP46znvpJbrPQ8QmaQ5lwZZjl1IcZIBxHl5SOTOCCkodigUu5P2eoKjNRbTQFyG77hw3t9PRaHFJrcxTqyUCV1EN4Gu45PWwnso2cz-qNhvxesUPgfNicsziBcNLUQenkEv5CUEiB2HHlQBNHl3CY8IlmefQXS9t7YqZbTmwggE88hHXou1d~~oQ3ctNBdReXC0c5dFTd5n~wgH2BXiGjlMjJcZCk1~Qsjg1y9pPUEdKi7MHxWcukXwXPV~DCjFh9bqv5AunGqkyhPw6Syip3jvWMmjnGt6PgFGpQW-M0G4cpNxmp5q5Zmtbuwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Selma City Council’s legal team will ask the California Attorney General’s Office to review a $350,000 settlement and related agreements with former city manager Fernando Santillan for potential violations of Government Code section 1090, City Attorney Costanzo said during the council’s May 6 meeting.

Costanzo told councilmembers that the council earlier voted to direct him to make the referral. “Government Code section 1090 is the basic conflict of interest statute that prohibits any city officer from having a contract with the city in which that officer is financially interested,” he said. Costanzo said the settlement agreement and revised employment agreement involved payments to Santillan that the city attorney believes were not supported by valid legal claims, and therefore may be “a gift of public money” subject to recovery.

Costanzo said the referral packet follows the office of the Attorney General’s required form, that he has a contact in Sacramento who will shepherd the submission, and that the AG’s office will inform the city whether it will investigate. “Government Code section 1090 can be prosecuted either civilly or criminally or both,” Costanzo told the council. He also said the conduct underlying the paid claims appeared to be privileged (arising from closed sessions or other protected communications) and therefore not a valid basis for civil payment.

Councilmembers asked how the AG process works; Costanzo replied that the AG will contact his office whether it declines the matter or decides to investigate. He said the district attorney’s office in Fresno showed little response when some council members inquired previously, and that is why the city is referring the matter to the Attorney General.

Costanzo circulated a draft referral form to councilmembers at the meeting and asked them to provide any suggested corrections before he files the referral.

Ending: The city attorney said he will file the referral on Thursday and will make the document public when the AG office receives it; council members said they will review the draft and provide any edits.
","City Attorney Costanzo told Selma council he will refer the settlement paid to former city manager Fernando Santillan to the California Attorney General, citing potential violation of Government Code section 1090 and seeking recovery of public funds.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6245377,"Selma council installs John Kunkel as interim city manager after 4-1 vote",272,3600000,3872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9&start=3600&end=3872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3226602-49a258644f84a943725a5ccf37f093d9/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6245377/Selma-City/Fresno-County/California/Selma-council-installs-John-Kunkel-as-interim-city-manager-after-4-1-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245377-61591204bce3382d6fa90271349d3614/orig.mp4?Expires=1770404657&Signature=AQal4OalN-mUZc6L4Lhqcu1yIQpIb50dbnlGyfKwiPLm90DAiQMv2FOCqDGgHb7HWL3VS7A-XBXStxvcPWWjnQsfZ3h5NSQOAG1YdsDqEj1wuJeQzy8SXDZmMZnPsHQecdJMrS-0cUTtQht09d6MkB6XlVUNc0JoVqfRrzbGM6Stm-s5cPk4jBg~9YHEbPliRG1S-MrTKa04d6msk5~igJvlwipA3q7rTswDrY4gnkwuff7puOG4lBFGUOU6rP4BRG578AhrcByXIDOJQqM32u5uG3iAsJv4hEZa16mkuHmpFm7BFtkjfXfCPye6XxIo06fi2GrfEbHS1NAvOSZVQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Selma City Council on May 6 appointed John Kunkel as interim city manager and administered his oath of office after a 4-1 roll-call vote that recorded Councilmember Trujillo as the lone “no.”

The move followed a closed-session decision earlier in the evening. After the public portion of the meeting, the council formally considered Resolution 2025-32R to approve and authorize execution of the interim city manager employment agreement for Kunkel and voted to adopt it.

Kunkel, who has previously served as chief of police and city manager in other Central Valley cities, addressed the council after being sworn in and described his working style. “I have an open door policy,” he said. He told the council he will post his office hours and that he will comply with CalPERS limits on retired annuitants’ hours.

The appointment prompted public comment at the meeting. Blanca Mendoza Navarro told the council she was “disappointed” and questioned the ethics and transparency of appointing an investigator who examined the previous city manager to a management position. The council and city attorney responded that the investigation was produced by the city attorney and that there is no legal conflict of interest tied to hiring a retired annuitant under CalPERS rules.

The vote and swearing-in concluded with the council’s formal record showing a majority approval and the new interim manager acknowledging his duties to the federal and state constitutions and promising accessibility to the public and staff.

What happens next: Councilmembers and staff said the interim appointment is intended to cover day-to-day administration while the council continues to consider a permanent city manager process.

Ending: Kunkel said he will post his working hours at City Hall because his status as a CalPERS annuitant limits his hours. The council gave no immediate timeline for a permanent recruitment during the May 6 meeting.","The Selma City Council voted to appoint John Kunkel as interim city manager, swearing him in at the May 6 meeting after a 4-1 roll-call vote amid public criticism about conflicts and pension-hour limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Selma reviews multi‑phase fire station campus plan, staff weigh costs and aesthetics

Animal services committee reports staffing, operations updates; council proclaims Second Chance Animal Rescue

Selma accepts audited 2023–24 financial statements; council forms ad hoc finance review

City attorney says council referred former manager's $350,000 settlement to Attorney General for possible 1090 violation

Selma council installs John Kunkel as interim city manager after 4-1 vote