Archive By Section - Government
Council to consider Carnegie bids
After nine long months, the proposed Carnegie Arts Center reconstruction is back on the Turlock City Council's agenda this Tuesday.
List of candidates released for June election
With the Statewide Direct Primary Election just over two months away, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced the final the list of candidates and propositions on Friday.
County employees agree to pay cut
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors started the hard work of balancing the county's 2010-2011 budget on Tuesday, approving a voluntary 5 percent pay cut for nearly all county employees.
Federal mortgage aid coming
Those in danger of foreclosure may be newly eligible for help from the federal government. A recently expanded government program will reduce mortgage payments for the unemployed and cut the principal for underwater mortgage holders.
Hughson City Council recall petitions filed
Three months after the Civil Grand Jury found three Hughson City Council members in violation of the Brown Act, the Fair Political Practices Commission Code and the Hughson Municipal Code, residents of Hughson filed a petition for recall with over 1,000 signatures.
Applicants sought for Civil Grand Jury
The Stanislaus County Superior Court is currently looking for volunteers to serve on the 2010-2011 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury.
‘Chaos and dysfunction’ reign at Hughson City Hall
Recent finger-pointing and calls for resignations between Hughson City Council members and the mayor have had a negative affect on City employees. This disrupted work environment was made apparent at Monday's Hughson City Council meeting when additional funds were requested by an outside auditing firm to complete their work.
Council to review latest Carnegie bids
Nearly nine months after the initial set of Carnegie Arts Center reconstruction bids were rejected by the Turlock City Council due to legal disputes, the second round of bids were made public this week.
Grim outlook for city budget
Turlock City Council members have long warned that the 2010-2011 budget would be among the most challenging in the city's history. On Tuesday night, during a special budget workshop, council members and the public learned just how grim the budget situation might be, with an expected $3.0 to $4.3 million general fund deficit.
Budget workshop set to precede City Council meeting
The Turlock City Council hopes to get out in front of an anticipated $4 million budget deficit by starting their meeting an hour early on Tuesday to hold a special budget workshop.
City countersues former manager
Two lawsuits - one filed by former city manager Tim Kerr and the other a cross compliant filed by the City of Turlock - have shined a new light on the reasons behind Kerr's departure and have let loose a litany of accusations and political posturing at City Hall.
Open seats draw numerous candidates
Election season is well underway, with the initial candidate filing period for the June 8 Statewide Direct Primary Election coming to a close last Friday - except for a handful of races where the incumbent did not file for reelection.
Parks commission looks to refine their mission
Parks, Recreation and Community commissioners approved the creation of an ad hoc committee to review the commission's by-laws, but stopped short of agreeing to an increase from seven to 14 members at their Wednesday night meeting.
Hughson mayor, employee exonerated by Civil Grand Jury
A new chapter in the on-going drama that is the Hughson City Council was released earlier this week when the Civil Grand Jury found that Mayor Ramon Bawanan and Management Analyst Dominque Spinale were not guilty of "wrongdoing."
Housing Element Update to go before City Council
The Turlock City Council will consider adopting the Housing Element Update, a plan that will prepare the City of Turlock to meet housing needs through 2014, during their regularly scheduled Tuesday meeting.
Articles by Section - Government
Cuts to welfare, tax increases in Brown’s budget proposal
Just days into 2012, the effort to pass a state budget has already begun. Governor Jerry Brown fired the first salvo of the budget year with a proposal combining cuts to welfare and child care with tax increases on the wealthy to balance the budget. "The budget that I am submitting today keeps the cuts made last year and adds new ones," Brown wrote in his ...
Search for new police chief progresses
The search for a new police chief to take the helm of the Turlock Police Department has been narrowed down to six prospects. The final candidates will begin interviews next week, said City Manager Roy Wasden. They will be meeting with panelists representing the community, city departments, labor, and professional law enforcement before meeting with the City Council. Interim Police Chief Dave Young has been leading the department since July when Gary ...
New laws to ensure child safety in vehicles, prevent bullying
As the clock strikes midnight, hundreds of new laws will take effect in the State of California, governing tanning beds and concussions in youth sports, among countless other topics. But perhaps the highest-profile law for 2012 is a provision requiring all children under age 8 – unless they stand at least 4-foot 9-inches tall – to be secured in a car seat or a booster seat in the rear seat. That's more stringent ...
Mayor ready to tackle the tough problems in 2012
Journal: What successes did Turlock have in 2011? John Lazar: Turlock had many successes this past year. I believe the main success has been not having to use $2.5 in reserves to balance our general fund this year. Through internal cuts, voluntary salary reductions by our staff, and better sales and property tax assessment revenue this year, our government books are in the black. I'm very proud of the team spirit of our community! ...
Court upholds RDA shutdown
The future of redevelopment – a statewide program which devotes a share of property tax to reducing blight and increasing property values – now appears to be non-existent. The death of redevelopment follows a long-awaited Wednesday State Supreme Court decision which upheld the State Legislature's right to eliminate redevelopment agencies across California, but ruled unconstitutional a measure which would have allowed those agencies to remain open should they make annual payments to the ...
County Supervisor ‘cautiously optimistic’ for 2012
Stanislaus County District 2 Supervisor Vito Chiesa shares his views on 2011, 2012: Journal: What successes did Stanislaus County have in 2011? Chiesa: Success is measured incrementally in these times, Chiesa said, listing the following successes: The Kenwood Lighting District was established, providing much-needed infrastructure to a small county island within Turlock city limits;Completed the Stanislaus County Animal Shelter, and established a Joint Powers Authority to operate the facility;Broke ground ...
City’s housing plan certified by state — finally
More than a year and a half after Turlock first approved its new Housing Element Update – a document which describes how the City of Turlock will meet housing needs through 2014 – the California Department of Housing and Community Development certified the document last week. "The primary delay was the fact that they wanted us to actually tell them what we were going to do to comply with (Senate Bill 2)," said ...
Supervisors make changes to ag land rules
Requirements for non-agriculture uses in county ag-zoned land will in most cases be reduced or eliminated, following Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors action Tuesday evening. New construction in county agricultural land will no longer require vegetative screening and solid fencing, low people intensive uses will no longer require buffers, and adjacent non-agricultural uses in ag-zoned land may be considered part of a buffer. The old setback rules, intended to provide a buffer ...
City swears in new clerk
The Turlock City Council recognized the retirement of City Clerk Rhonda Greenlee on Tuesday night. Greenlee has been working for the City of Turlock since 1991, and her retirement will be effective on Dec. 29. A reception was held at City Hall in Greenlee's honor.
Turlock City Council preview
On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council is expected to:
Valley leaders meet in Turlock
Turlock's long been known as the heart of the Central Valley. On Friday, the city lived up to its billing, hosting a Valley-wide meeting of leaders for a daylong discussion of the most pressing issues facing Valley governments, citizens, and businesses. The meeting represented the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley's– a joint effort between state, local, and business leaders from eight Valley counties to promote the economy, environment, and equality ...
County releases updated transportation guide
For the first time in six years, Stanislaus County has updated its Transportation Guide. The document, available at local libraries, chambers of commerce, and some government offices, offers a reference manual to all of the public and private transportation available in Stanislaus County, from bikeways to airports and carpools. By using the document, individuals can plot a route anywhere in the county – and beyond, to neighboring San Joaquin ...
Denham bill looks to hire vets
A new law, championed by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Atwater) through the House of Representatives, will aim to put thousands of unemployed veterans back to work. The VOW to Hire Heroes act, a bipartisan, bicameral measure signed into law by President Barack Obama this week, will offer additional training, transition assistance, and tax credits to veterans. "With thousands of troops returning home before the end of the year and hundreds of thousands ...
California Dairy Campaign, Farmers Union attempt to ring the bell on the Dairy Security Act
The Turlock-based California Farmers Union and the California Dairy Campaign have come out against the Dairy Security Act of 2011 (H.R. 3062). CDC President Joe Augusto and CFU President Joaquin Contente have been urging lawmakers to oppose the Dairy Security Act. The Dairy Security Act was brought forward by Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Mike Simpson, (R-Idaho) under the belief that the DSA would reduce dairy subsidies by $131 over 10 years. Supporters of ...
City ends year under budget; employees reap benefits
Last year didn't just go well for the City of Turlock – it blew away even the most optimistic projections. Though Turlock had planned to operate at a $2.2 million deficit in 2010-2011, the City of Turlock instead came in under budget, actually adding $50,000 to its reserves. Traditionally, the City of Turlock "lives within its means," City Manager Roy Wasden said, under-spending the budget by between $300,000 and $500,000. But a ...
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