Council rejects all Carnegie bids

The project to rebuild the burned Carnegie Arts Center has been put on hold following a closed session Turlock City Council decision on Tuesday evening.

Daycare changes approved

The Turlock Planning Commission and local large family daycare providers reached common ground on Thursday evening as a compromise set of proposed regulations upon new large family daycares was approved.

Residents oppose dorm development

Campus Crest Development's proposed privately-owned and operated dorms for California State University, Stanislaus, students will be chief among the list of the Turlock City Council's agenda items on Tuesday evening.

New county shelter approved

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved plans for a new $11 million animal shelter on Tuesday morning, including a controversial low-cost spay and neuter clinic in the design - at least for now.

Parents behind on child support given a second chance

California parents who have had their drivers' licenses revoked because of failure to pay child support might have the chance to get back on the road. The California Department of Child Support Services and the Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services are offering the "Get Back on the Road Again" program to parents who are willing to buy back their license.

Behavioral Health services cut, expanded

One minute, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors agreed to accept $7.8 million from the California Department of Mental Health to fund new Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention programs. Then, just a few minutes later, the Board voted to oust four county employees from positions whose salaries had been paid for years by a now-canceled state program.

Local dairy producers receive much-needed aid

Cries for help from local dairy producers were answered this week when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would be increasing prices through the Dairy Product Price Support Program. Price support payments for nonfat dry milk and cheddar blocks and barrels were increased for the first time in nearly three decades.

Budget woes force court closures

Feeling the sting of state budgetary cutbacks, the Judicial Council of California approved the closure of all state courts for one day a month.

Council to deal with costs of lay offs

The Turlock City Council will cover issues from land purchases to sewer management in their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday.

Dale Pinkney Park approved

The park currently known as Cimmaron Park, located at the corner of Cherry Blossom Lane and Arthur Mace Drive in northeast Turlock, will henceforth be known as Dale Pinkney Park following a July 14 Turlock City Council decision.

Wasden: The first 30 days

Looking back at his first month as Turlock City Manager - which officially passed on Monday - Roy Wasden can characterize his experience thus far in just one word.

Housing Element Update set for Council

The Turlock Planning Commission approved the 2009 Housing Element Update Thursday evening, moving the document that will help the City of Turlock meet housing needs through 2014 ahead to the next planning milestone.

Census committee seeks government money, volunteers

With the 2010 U.S. Census less than a year away - set for April 1, 2010, - the City of Turlock is beginning its effort to count every man, woman, and child in attempts to secure a fair share of government dollars.

Council approves Dels Lane site for new transit hub

The Turlock City Council gave the proposed Dels Lane Public Transportation Hub a green light on Tuesday evening, despite a grassroots petition effort that drew 1,970 signatures from Turlockers who wanted the hub sited downtown.

Federal recovery funds to help reduce diesel emission in Valley

A number of Central Valley school buses and agricultural vehicles will soon be "greener" thanks to the millions of dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funds awarded to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District.

More affordable housing needed, finds report

While housing prices have dropped, California still needs more affordable housing, according to a new state Department of Housing and Community Development report. "Prior to the foreclosure crisis and current economic downturn (also known as the Great Recession), California had experienced decades of undersupply, contributing to significant price escalation and the affordability crisis," the report reads. "... While the recession of the early 1990s was most devastating with regard to poverty and unemployment, ...

Failing water meters to get upgrade

City expects no changes for skate park when police offices move

The future of Turlock's popular skate park, located adjacent to the current Turlock Police Department, is in question given the construction of the new Public Safety Facility several blocks away. Turlock Parks, Recreation, and Community commissioners posed the question a month ago: without the close police presence, would the park – home to some acts of crime throughout the years – continue? But commissioners learned Tuesday that the skate park will remain ...

Voters to decide library tax on June ballot

A voter supported one-eighth cent sales tax has been the lifeblood of the Stanislaus County Library since its 1995 inception. But the fate of that sales tax, due to expire in 2013, will be up to voters once again in the June 5, 2012 Primary Election, following the Board of Supervisors' Tuesday action to place the issue on the ballot for renewal. The county's dedicated library sales tax was the first such ...

Council looks at replacing failing water meters

The Turlock City Council will consider a $495,225 upgrade to the city's failing automated water meter reading system at their next meeting on Tuesday.

Planning passes on regional ag map

A countywide initiative intended to preserve agricultural land, driven by local mayors, was shot down by the Turlock Planning Commission on Thursday for sidestepping existing planning efforts and failing to truly protect farmland. The initiative, known as the Agricultural Preservation Plan Map 2050, asks cities to clearly define their borders as of the year 2050. By doing so, the areas outside of the 2050 boundaries would be preserved for agriculture. The plan ...

City balks at proposed storm drain regulations

Washing your own car or having sprinklers that splash onto the sidewalk could soon be illegal, due to a proposed new state storm water permit. The new permit, drafted by the State Water Resources Control Board, is based on a concept of "only rain down the drain." Planners say they're attempting to meet federal regulations, but local officials say they've gone far beyond the realm of reason. "The requirements are so prescriptive, ...

What should come first, money or a plan?

Should Turlock be practical, given budgetary constraints, or should it aim for the stars? The question was front and center at a special meeting of the Turlock City Council on Tuesday, where council members went to work updating the city's strategic plan. The plan, a conceptual long-term planning document which will guide Turlock policy through 2013, has been in the works since March. Before that effort, the document had lain dormant since ...

Stanislaus County receives federal grant for preventative health programs

A federal grant aimed at getting to the root causes of chronic diseases was recently awarded to the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. The Capacity Building Grant of $293,899 was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of a block of Community Transformation grants. The Capacity Building Grant money is to be used for laying the foundation for sustainable community prevention programs and practices that tackle smoking, ...

Ag secretary lauds Obama’s jobs plan in California

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the state this week, lauding the positive impacts President Barack Obama's proposed American Jobs Act would have on Californians. "The American Jobs Act provides common-sense steps we can take right now to put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans, without adding a dime to the deficit," Vilsack said to attendees at a business roundtable in Sacramento. The ...

Council votes to keep RDA options open

With the fate of redevelopment agencies statewide still hazy at best, a split Turlock City Council decided to keep its options open Tuesday, approving a resolution which will allow Turlock to decide whether or not to retain its agency at a later date. The move effectively informed the state that Turlock may eventually decide to issue a large "ransom" payment to the state in exchange for the right to keep its agency active, ...

Council to plan the future of Turlock

It's time for some long term planning, says Turlock City Hall.

City reports successful summer for rec programs

Turlock Parks and Recreation wrapped up a successful year of summer programming earlier this month. They saw high participation numbers across the board, and they received grant funding to offer summer programming to ACES after school program participants. "Our numbers were high from youth to adults. Summer went very well," said Erik Schulze, recreation senior supervisor. Turlock Recreation ran a special summer clinic for students who participated in the ACES after-school program ...

Council hires firm to recruit new police chief

The search for Turlock's next full-time police chief kicked off Tuesday, when the Turlock City Council approved hiring Teri Black and Co. to conduct an executive recruitment process. The recruiter will be tasked with finding a successor to former Chief Gary Hampton, who left to head the Tracy Police Department on July 31. Since then, Dave Young has served as the Interim Chief of Police. The use of an outside recruiter drew ...

Council awaits decision on RDA take legality

The future of redevelopment remains hazy, but the City of Turlock is attempting to plan for whatever fate may befall redevelopment agencies statewide. The Turlock City Council held a special workshop Tuesday specifically to discuss the city's options following the state's action to force all redevelopment agencies to either close their doors, or pay large fees to the state. "I think it's just a wait and see for me right now," said ...