It’s back to the budget for the Turlock City Council on Tuesday, who will continue this year’s extended budget season by reviewing the Economic Development and Redevelopment and Housing Program Services Budgets.

As with the other budgets considered since March 8 — Capital Improvement, self-insurance, equipment replacement, non-general fund and General Fund — those up for discussion on Tuesday are still preliminary.

The Redevelopment Agency budget, in particular is up in the air.

Legislation to eliminate redevelopment agencies statewide is still pending. The RDA budget may see “major revisions” prior to final adoption, according to a staff report, if such agencies are eliminated.

The budget proposal would see the agency continue on with major, previously agreed-to projects such as construction of the Carnegie Arts Center, the Public Safety Facility and improvements in the Westside Industrial Specific Plan industrial park. The agency funds one full-time employee, portions of four other employees’ salaries and some administrative functions within six budgets.

Tuesday’s RDA and Housing budgets are the final scheduled for discussion prior to the adoption of the whole 2011-2012 budget. That adoption is scheduled for May 24.

The Turlock City Council is also expected to:

·         Authorize the removal and surplus or sale of the batting cage facility equipment at Pedretti Fields. The cages have not been operational in over two years, as a succession of vendors have struggled to turn a profit at the facility and subsequently closed.

Last year, the city and California State University, Stanislaus examined a joint venture to maintain and operate the facility, but it was determined the equipment had deteriorated to an inoperable condition with broken or missing parts, bad wiring and water damage. As the equipment is over 15 years old and replacement parts are hard to find, repairing the cages would be difficult.
The city may replace the batting cages with new machines in the future.

·         Consider an $117,628 change order for the Canal Drive reconstruction and resurfacing, which rebuilt the road from Geer Road to Daubenberger Road. The increased cost, on top of the approximately $2.15 million project cost, comes from unforeseen costs related to storm drain improvements, installation of traffic signal loops at Olive and Canal, additional demolition along the median curb between Geer and Main, and adjusting contract quantities to match actual work.

All work has already been completed on the project. The change order will not be paid for with general fund dollars, but instead will be funded with federal and state grant dollars, as was the rest of the project.

·         Issue proclamations for Older Americans Month, American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Days, Asthma Awareness Month and Public Works Week.

·         Receive a special briefing from Pamela Contreras, vice president external of Associated Students Inc. at California State University, Stanislaus.

·         Receive a briefing from the Turlock City Arts Commission on the Spring Juried Art Show, which will conclude on Tuesday with a reception at City Hall.

The Turlock City Council will meet at 7 p.m. in Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, located at 156 S. Broadway.