Retiring Ceres Planning Commission members Bob Kachel and Gary Del Nero received plaques from the Ceres City Council on Monday as a sendoff for their years of service.
Both decided it was time to step down after each served about two decades. Their final meeting was on Dec. 16. They are being replaced by Ruldip “R.J.” Jammu and Dr. Dorie Perez. Jammu previously served on the commission.
“It’s been most interesting and I’ve learned a lot about city government,” said Del Nero, a retired Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputy. “You learn a lot about CUPs, conditional use permits, and how a city government is run.”
Del Nero applied for appointment in 2004 after seeing a notice in the Ceres Courier but not knowing much about what the job entailed. The council, led by then Mayor Delinda Moore gave him the appointment.
He acknowledged the public’s misconception that somehow the commission is responsible for bringing in new businesses which Ceres doesn’t have.
“We don’t have much to do with that at all, really.”
When receiving his plaque, Del Nero’s voice grew emotional as he thanked wife Molly for the time she gave up having him attend meetings. He also thanked city staff for making “easy times over the years and especially Ann Montgomery, clerk to the commission.
Despite the fact that many commissioners have made the leap to city council, Del Nero says he has zero interest that role in his retirement. He enjoys playing golf three times a week and attending the athletic events of his two young grandsons. He was helps take of his developmentally disabled son.
Kachel recounted how he was emotionally down 17 years ago after having to leave his job as a planning staff member with Stanislaus County for health reasons but getting appointed to the Ceres Planning Commission instilled in him a renewed sense of purpose. He also thanked Montgomery and all the staff members who assisted the commission through the years.
Kachel previously was a planner with the city of Roseville beginning in June 1972 while attending college. They then joined the planning team at Stanislaus County.
Kachel encouraged other citizens to put their name in the hat, saying “it’s a very rewarding thing to do.
“You get to meet a lot of nice people that you wouldn’t meet otherwise,” said Kachel.
Community Development Director Lea Simvoulakis opined that both men were “great commissioners during my short time here.”
Vacancy needs filling
A remaining vacancy on the Ceres Planning Commission needs to be filled and the city is asking interested Ceres residents to apply for consideration to be appointed. The vacancy was caused when Cerina Otero resigned to take the District 3 Ceres City Council seat.
The city is seeking applications from persons wishing to be appointed with a deadline of 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21.
A council subcommittee of Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez and Councilwoman Otero will interview each applicant. Community Development Director Lea Simvoulakis will attend and support the interview panel to answer questions. The subcommittee will present their recommended selection to the council at a regular meeting.
The newly appointed Planning Commissioners will become effective Jan. 1, 2025 and will each serve a four-year term.
The Planning Commission is a permanent advisory committee of citizens appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by the City Council. Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. to consider land use matters such as zone changes, conditional use permits, variances, subdivisions and general plan amendments.
Applications are available from City Hall and also online at https://www.ci.ceres.ca.us . For more information, call Simvoulakis at 209-538-5778; or Planning Division Administrative Secretary Ann Montgomery at 209-538-5774.
