FOWLER – After a short but sweet meeting, the city council is getting the gears turning on a number of improvements to city operations.
On March 3, the Fowler City Council went through a light agenda, but with a number of notable items. Topics ranged from a contract approval for a $1 million road reconstruction project, potential city position adjustments and finalization of future council compensation.
Fixing the ‘potholed street’
The council unanimously approved a contract of just over $1 million with Don Berry Construction, Inc. for the Fresno Street Reconstruction Project.
City Engineer Soo Ho Park gave the council a brief overview of the project, which will consist of pavement rehabilitation, concrete improvements, signing and striping down Fresno Street between Third and Seventh streets, as well as First Street between Merced and Main.
Park noted that the project will also be consolidated with the city’s Bikeway to Transit Project, which is funded in large part by a Measure C Transit-Oriented Development grant. This side of the project will bring new bike lanes, shared bikeway markings, bicycle-vehicle conflict zones marked with green paint, bike repair stations and bike racks.
The staff report states that these bike-oriented improvements will be implemented: between Merced and Fresno Streets on 10th, Ninth, Seventh, Fourth, Third and Second streets; Fifth Street between Adams Avenue and Fresno Street; Main Street between 10th Street and Adams Avenue; and Fresno Street between 10th and Third streets.
In one vote, the council approved a notice of exemption for the project, awarded the contract and authorized a 10% contingency pending approval from City Manager Michael Reid.
“It’s a heavy lift, and I’m glad that we’re finally doing it,” said Mayor Juan Mejia in his comments. “From the paving to the striping, and we’re going way down, so (I) appreciate it.”
Changing of hats
Though the item was pulled from the consent agenda, Reid initially brought forth a resolution to appoint Public Works and Public Utilities Director, Eric Rocha, as the assistant city manager, in addition to converting the current part-time code enforcement assistant position to a full-time code enforcement officer position.
Mejia pulled the item due to the staff report not providing specific figures under the “fiscal impact” section, and requested that the item be brought back with exact numbers for the sake of transparency.
In response, Reid explained that transitioning the public works and utilities director to an assistant city manager would result in a salary loss of $200 a month, making it “a wash in that respect.” With regards to additional personnel costs in making the code enforcement position full-time, Community and Economic Developer Matthew Flood said it would be an estimated $15,000 increase.
According to Reid, however, the potential revenue that could be generated from having a full-time officer may offset that cost. With a code enforcement officer who can dedicate more time to the job, increased citations could generate additional revenue for the city.
“It appears that with increased work product, the revenue that would offset the wages is there,” Reid said. “We don’t want to say that we’re going to go out there and look for citations, but there’s enough work out there that that is a reasonable possibility.”
Reid later added that although he can bring the item back with dollar amounts, this case is “unique” due to the salary decrease relating to the assistant city manager position, and the need for caution on how to “craft the message” that the city will gain revenue from citations with a full-time code enforcement officer.
In her comments, Mayor Pro Tem Amarjeet Gill also requested that when the item is brought back, it is accompanied by statistics that justify the need for a full-time code enforcement officer, which Reid said can also be done.
With these concerns raised, the council unanimously voted to revisit the item at the next council meeting with a documented update.
Council compensation
After multiple meetings of discussion, guidance and ordinance drafting, the council approved the second and final reading to increase monthly compensation for city council members.
Pursuant to the provisions outlined in California Senate Bill 329, which allows cities within the population range of Fowler to increase the monthly stipend to up to $950, the council approved a new amount of $277.
The council voted 3-2, with Councilmembers Karnig Kazarian and Daniel Parra voting in opposition. The increase will not take effect until after the next municipal election.
