Local mayors support ‘My Vote Counts’ campaign

Mayors from Turlock, Hughson, Ceres, Modesto, Riverbank, Patterson, Newman and Waterford – and around the state – united on Tuesday to oppose Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones in the coming state budget.

AG asks federal court to restore same-sex marriage now

On Tuesday, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris asked the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to dismiss its order prohibiting same-sex marriages in California until an appeal of Proposition 8 is resolved.

Council approves revisiting big box ban in future

Want to build a big box discount superstore in the City of Turlock? Check back around 2020, a split Turlock City Council said Tuesday night.

County lays off 16 more workers

Stanislaus County's workforce will be growing smaller – again – following Board of Supervisors action on Tuesday.

2010 full of adjustments for fire department

For the first time in several years the number of calls the Turlock Fire Department responded to dropped in 2010, according to the department's annual report presented to the City Council Tuesday night.

Turlockers get face time with elected officials

The first ever Turlock Government Night drew elected officials from federal, state and local government to the same place at the same time to offer frank answers about budgets, projects and priorities.

Council increases city bus fares

Most fares on the Bus Line Service of Turlock will increase by about $.25 per ride, in an effort to meet state-mandated fare collection rates after a vote by the Turlock City Council Tuesday night.

Hughson joins county consortium for development funding

The City of Hughson will now join with a consortium of urban county cities to obtain Community Development Block Grant funds from the state rather than applying on its own, following a Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors vote on Tuesday night.

StanCOG passes on half-cent sales tax to support transportation, for now

Voters likely won't be asked to support a new, half-cent sales tax to support transportation projects until 2014, following Stanislaus County Council of Governments Policy Board action Wednesday night.

Washington haggles over high-speed rail funding

The Obama administration's six-year, $53 million plan to invest in the development of high-speed rail has earned plaudits from rail supporters, but House Republicans say the cost is too high in the down economy.

Hughson lays off five employees

Facing an unexpected General Fund deficit of $172,000 this year – expected to balloon to $514,000 next year – the Hughson City Council agreed to cut five of the city's 23 full-time staff members in an effort to balance the budget.

Council supports tax to benefit transportation

The majority of the Turlock City Council on Tuesday begrudgingly expressed support for the Stanislaus County Council of Government's plans to put a new, ½ cent sales tax to benefit transportation projects and road improvements on voters' ballots in November 2012.

Council divided on firefighter grant

After a close City Council vote the Turlock City Fire Department has been given the green light to pursue a federal grant that would pay for increased staffing.

Council reviews homeless shelter study area

Turlock's plan to comply with a state mandate to ease restrictions on constructing homeless shelters became clearer Tuesday night, as the Turlock City Council approved a study area where it will look to site 200 beds – up from the 100 bed figure suggested by city staff.

Turlock successes, struggles and plans for the future to top Mayor’s annual address

What was Turlock's biggest accomplishment in 2010? Surviving the economic downturn relatively intact, according to an advance copy of Turlock Mayor John Lazar's State of the City speech, to be delivered at 8 a.m. today at the Turlock Chamber of Commerce Membership Breakfast.

Longer hours, more vendors will improve farmers market, say students

A group of California State University, Stanislaus students has big ideas on how to improve Turlock's Farmers Market.

Yamzon named StanCOG director

Carlos Yamzon has been named the new Executive Director of the Stanislaus County Council of Governments. Yamzon was appointed by vote of the StanCOG Policy Board on Tuesday evening. Yamzon spent five years as StanCOG Senior Planner, and 27 years at the California Department of Transportation. Since June, Yamzon has served as StanCOG Interim Executive Director. The position became vacant when then-director Vince Harris resigned in June to assume the post ...

Valley counties in trouble with new clean air standards

New clean air standards announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday could be tough for some Valley counties to meet. The new nationwide standard allows no more than 12 micrograms of harmful fine particle pollution – particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, like soot – in a cubic meter of air. That PM2.5 can lead to plaque deposits in arteries, leading to vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, according to the American Medical ...

City seats new council members

The new Turlock City Council, entrusted with guiding the city through 2014, was seated on Tuesday. Newcomer Steven Nascimento was sworn-in Tuesday alongside returning Councilmember Amy Bublak in front of a crowd of family, friends, and notable Turlockers. Both were elected on Nov. 6. "Welcome Steven, happy to have you up here," Mayor John Lazar said as the council was seated. "And welcome Amy, happy to have you back." Just before ...

Planning revisits electrified fencing ban

Criminals could get a bit of a shock the next time they try to break into a secured area. Electrified security fences may soon be made legal in the City of Turlock, following an early endorsement from the Turlock Planning Commission on Thursday. "I think it's a legitimate request," said Planning Commission Chair Michael Brem. "… Let's just get on with this, and let's get it done as quickly as we can." ...

City to swear in new council members Tuesday

Turlock's two newest council members will be sworn in at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11. Incumbent Amy Bublak, a Modesto Police Officer, will be sworn in alongside council newcomer Steven Nascimento, a former Parks, Recreation, and Community Commissioner and District Director for State Sen. Anthony Cannella (R – Ceres). The two earned the most votes of four competitors in the Nov. 6 election. Also being sworn in will be incumbent City Treasurer ...

Health Benefit Exchange site could bring hundreds of jobs to county

Inauguration tickets available

A limited number of tickets for President Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration ceremony will be made available through the office of U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R – Turlock). Constituents from across the newly redrawn 10th Congressional District of California have until 5 p.m. Dec. 19 to request tickets to the 57th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony on Jan. 21, 2013, which will be held at the U.S. Capitol. Such standing-room tickets to the inauguration are ...

City development fees records first increase in three years

After three straight years of decline, the City of Turlock's Capital Facility Fees posted revenue growth last year for the first time since 2007-08. Turlock posted $1.3 million in CFF revenues in 2011-12, a 16 percent improvement from fiscal year 2010-11 and the highest such figure since 2007-08. "The trend does show that, maybe, we are finally coming out of this recession," said City Engineer Mike Pitcock. Revenues still greatly lagged ...

Council passes visitors bureau budget

The Turlock City Council unanimously approved the Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau 2013 budget Tuesday night, which will see the CVB begin to offer services on weekend days. But approval of the CVB budget was almost postponed, as Councilwoman Amy Bublak requested the measure be delayed until after newly elected councilmember Steve Nascimento is seated in December. The council postponed approving a study of city water rates on Nov. 13 for the ...

Visitors bureau to give annual report

The Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau will give its annual report for 2012 and announce goals for 2013 at Tuesday's Turlock City Council meeting.

Lawsuit: General Plan doesn't go far enough to protect ag land

Turlock's newly adopted General Plan looks to preserve the city's agricultural heritage, while preparing for an expected influx of new residents over the next 20 years. But the City of Turlock is now facing a lawsuit from a Davis-based non-profit, charging that the city's new General Plan does not go far enough in its quest to protect agricultural land. "Stanislaus County has a conservation easement program," said Eugene Wilson, head of the ...

City offices close for holiday weeks

The City of Turlock's offices will be closed for the week of Thanksgiving, from Nov. 19 to Nov. 23. The closures were planned to minimize interruptions in service, the city said. Public safety and other essential services will remain in operation. Turlockers were notified of the planned closure in city utility billings. Turlock offices will also close for the week of Christmas, Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2013.

Council postpones water study

Turlock's water rates will remain flat – at least for now. The Turlock City Council was expected to approve hiring a consultant to conduct a water rate study on Tuesday, a move which will likely lead to higher water bills. But that study was postponed at the request of Councilwoman Amy Bublak, who argued that recently-elected Steven Nascimento should have the right to weigh in. "These are going to be big decisions," ...

County moves forward with new mental health, coroner's facilities

A dearth of beds for mental health patients in Stanislaus County, coupled with surging demand, has driven Stanislaus County mental health costs millions of dollars well above projections in recent months. On Tuesday, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors took the first steps to respond to that shortage of beds, approving a recommendation to develop a county-owned Psychiatric Health Facility at the Stanislaus Recovery Center in Ceres. "We are increasing the level ...