Council to review homeless shelter state requirements

The state-mandated effort to designate an area of Turlock where homeless shelters can be constructed without special approval is back on the Turlock City Council's agenda in a special, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting.

Mapping the future of Turlock

After being forced into a reactionary mode for years, with declining tax revenues and state cuts causing tough budgetary decisions, the Turlock City Council will attempt to become proactive with a new effort to establish a two to four year roadmap for the City of Turlock.

Council approves Public Safety Facility bids

By a 4-1 vote, the Turlock City Council awarded construction bids for a new, 57,570 square foot home for Turlock's Police and Fire Departments on Tuesday, despite citizen concerns about funding the project's approximately $33.6 million price tag.

Governor’s budget proposal cuts funding for library programs

The newly presented budget from Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing some deep cuts to several state departments, including libraries, which could close the books on programs like adult literacy.

Town hall meeting brings elected officials under one roof

Representatives from state and local government, the federal legislature and Turlock school boards alike will gather in Turlock's War Memorial for a first-of-its-kind town hall meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 24.

City finds buyer for RDA bond

The City of Turlock's Redevelopment Agency bonds found a willing buyer at a better than expected interest rate, Turlock Senior Accountant Marie Lorenzi said Friday.

Higher RDA bond interest rate approved by council

Turlock City Council members on Tuesday approved a higher interest rate for the redevelopment bond issuance intended to fund the Public Safety Facility, possibly reducing the city's available funding for the project by $2.5 million.

Mayor lobbies legislators for Turlock projects

On Friday, Turlock Mayor John Lazar got up close and personal with a Portuguese Water Dog by the name of Bo.

Audit finds Hughson in bad shape

An expected, $64,789 General Fund budget surplus for the City of Hughson is now projected as a $70,923 – or more – deficit, members of the Hughson Finance Committee learned Tuesday.

City’s mid-year budget review appears positive

The Turlock City Council will receive a mid-year budget update on Tuesday, noting that expenditures appear to be on-track with projections, though revenues remain uncertain.

Tough times ahead for county

New Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dick Monteith delivered a grim yet positive State of the County address Tuesday night, calling for greater community and regional involvement to survive impending, drastic cuts.

Public Safety Facility, future projects in jeopardy

As the City of Turlock's redevelopment agency prepares a bond issuance to fund the proposed new Public Safety Facility, redevelopment agencies statewide have been thrown into disarray by Gov. Jerry Brown's 2011 budget proposal.

City woos new business with incentives program

The City of Turlock, like all cities in this down economy, is going to extraordinary lengths to attract new businesses, fill vacant storefronts, and increase sales tax dollars.

Council agrees to shoulder increase cost of Carnegie construction, intersection improvement

Turlock Vice Mayor Amy Bublak split with council members Tuesday as the lone voice opposing two contract change orders, totaling nearly $60,000.

Commission considers making dog parks part of General Plan Update

The Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Program Commission is actively reviewing possible locations for a second dog park in Turlock. Although there are no funds currently available for the construction of a new dog park, the commission is researching the possibility of including dog parks in the Parks Master Plan and General Plan update for all future parks in Turlock. <font face="Calibri" ...

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 &ndash; particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, like soot &ndash; 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. "&hellip; 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 &ndash; 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 &ndash; 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 &ndash; 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 ...