While the Ceres City Council acted to appoint a new member of the Ceres Planning Commission on Monday, members learned of a new and sudden vacancy that popped up the same day.

With two applicants expressing interest in a seat, the council chose only to appoint Francisco Mireles, a ground penetrating radar technician, and skipped over Kelly Cerny for the second slot.

Mireles will fill the seat being vacated by Dave Johnson at the end of December. Cerny, a 38-year Ceres resident with a background as an executive assistant to county officials, also applied.

Mireles appeared at the council in-person to be quizzed by members while Cerny – on vacation in Monterey with her husband Randy – answered questions via Zoom.

Randy Cerny has been an outspoken critic of the mayor and council.

Before each councilmember posed one question of both applicants, City Clerk Fallon Martin noted the council had the option to appoint both Mireles and Cerny since Planning Commissioner Ishwar Gil handed in his sudden immediate resignation, leaving a vacant term which expires on Dec. 31, 2026. Martin said the council had the option to appoint both Mireles and Cerny or appoint one on Monday and attempt to seek more applicants for Gil’s seat.

Although only two residents applied for Johnson’s expiring term, Mayor Javier Lopez suggested giving “some other folks some opportunities to apply for that other position.”

Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez and Councilwoman Cerina Otero were okay with appointing both applicants but Councilwoman Rosalinda Vierra wanted to stick to the task of finding Johnson’s replacement, saying “I don’t think it’s fair to go move with something that’s not on the agenda.”

Councilman James Casey agreed with Vierra, saying the sudden Gil vacancy should be processed separately.

Casey posed the question about the applicants’ most important qualifications to serve on the commission.  Mireles cited his leadership abilities as president of a nonprofit cruising organization and sense of commitment to the community. Cerny cited her attention to detail, her ability to listen and “look at the big picture of a project.” She also cited her volunteerism in the schools, Ceres Chamber, Ceres Dolphins and the American Heart Association.

Vierra asked if the applicants would be able to support a project unpopular with the audience majority. Both applied to the affirmative.

Otero asked if all commercial buildings should look the same or have distinct differences. Both applicants stated a preference for individuality.

Martinez asked what each hoped to accomplish serving on the commission. Mireles said he wants to help the city grow with economic stability. Cerny wants to see people look at Ceres as an alternative to living in Modesto “and look at this as a good community to stay, live and work and play.”

The mayor asked Mireles and Cerny if the city should place more emphasis on the building of more single family homes or homes at a higher density to preserve farmland. Mireless favors higher density, saying, “If we lose our farmland I believe the city of Ceres will lose its identity.”

Cerny also favors higher densities to lessen impacts on farmland.

Vice Mayor Martinez said while both seemed qualified with similar answers, he favored Mireles for physically being present.

Vierra threw her weight into deciding for Mireles, flagging Cerny’s answer about long term planning for housing and noted that Ceres has been planning projects like West Landing for decades.

Mayor Lopez told Mireles that showing up in-person “really means a lot” and that “you will be a great planning commissioner.”

Otero favored Cerny’s sole appointment and said she shouldn’t have been disfavored because the city gave her the option to be interviewed via Zoom while she was away on a planned vacation.

When it came to a vote, Mireles was supported by Lopez, Martinez and Vierra while Casey and Cerina Otero were holding out for Cerny.