[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6652268,"mediaKeyId","2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1","parentId",2494178,"title","Hanford staff outlines 2025 CDBG draft, council asks to prioritize seniors if extra funds appear","audioSeconds",1324,"startMs",59911,"endMs",1384849,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1&start=59&end=1384","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1/thumbnail_59911.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6652268/Hanford/Kings-County/California/Hanford-staff-outlines-2025-CDBG-draft-council-asks-to-prioritize-seniors-if-extra-funds-appear","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652268-e0532313403cc3e3c25ee828b08a0248/orig.mp4?Expires=1770886438&Signature=bC88YHTm3dtUJvV0EGLgtxF5eYylKk~Ypeyjx3PXRJXh1ZbtiwTNlBRzR0-hLAdJPU0g8JPcZmCvFHP4v7zHDNSVlX7QYDba3QWRf9ysgcf6xeamAn1B8etpmjXJfwEbE-Dk1SgheWRkKtcMLPvhs-xvd2vHvu5ZlM2ZM9mYBqDK-2wZ8vWkJUUhxYRbMDYEHbGhzld1PDTnQEOAE6bIedE-A5Sxp-Ydia~dJ6p5Bjw~KGDwjBc8OJ-lTHH6mwYVV2drAs2qDEhYTQtW6LlGL-RX20eYlS-pRAxSaNQAAE9ZYgXeN-pHFRkcry5TsZENuUBXMDIHmc9On1seRkovIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Hanford","date","2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","article","City staff presented a draft of the city’s 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and scheduled a 30‑day public comment period beginning April 1 and a public hearing on May 6 to adopt the final plan.

The presentation by Sandra Lerma, housing administration analyst in the Community Development Department, summarized the federal program’s purpose, eligible activities and preliminary allocation proposals and said the city projects about $569,484 in CDBG funding for 2025, including program income. Lerma said the city’s five‑year consolidated plan — approved last year — sets priority needs for housing, public services and community development and that the annual action plan will identify this year’s activities and allocations.

Councilors focused their questions on public‑service funding for seniors. Lerma and a representative from the local seniors program (identified in the meeting as “Miss Wharton”) described growing costs for congregate and home‑delivered meals and provided figures recorded in staff handouts about meals served and recent spending for senior nutrition programs. Council members repeatedly urged that, if the city receives payoffs or additional program income during the year, the council should consider allocating the statutory 15% public‑service cap toward the King’s Commission on Aging to help cover meal costs.

Lerma said preliminary suggestions in the draft include $40,000 for homelessness continuum‑related services, $15,000 for fair‑housing education and $40,000 for King’s Community Action; she described those as preliminary allocations that would be refined in the draft action plan. She also outlined other proposed allocations and said the city plans a housing rehabilitation program and a veterans building ADA improvement project funded in part with CDBG. Lerma said the draft will be published for public comment on April 1 and returned to council on May 6 for the public hearing and adoption.

Councilors asked for clarity about how and when the 15% cap on public‑service spending could be used mid‑year if the city receives additional program income or loan payoffs; Lerma said the action plan includes language allowing program income to be applied to public services up to the 15% cap if payoffs occur. Council members asked staff to prioritize the King’s Commission on Aging as the top public‑service applicant if additional funds become available; the council indicated consensus on that direction during the study session discussion.

Next steps: staff will publish the draft action plan for a 30‑day public comment period starting April 1, return to council for a public hearing and potential adoption on May 6, and prepare the CAPER (annual performance report) for the current program year later this fall.

Provenance: The city introduced the item as “Item A, council review and discussion of the 2025 community development block grant annual action plan.” The staff presentation began with Sandra Lerma’s description of program purpose and allocations and closed with the scheduling of the May 6 public hearing.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Hanford - City Council - Mar 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a draft of the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and scheduled a 30‑day public comment period beginning April 1 and a May 6 public hearing to adopt the final plan.","taxTitle","Hanford, Kings County, California","taxId",4030,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6652248,"Council adopts 2025 Active Transportation Plan to guide walking, biking and trail grants",564,7101665,7665745,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1&start=7101&end=7665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1/thumbnail_7101665.jpg","/articles/6652248/Hanford/Kings-County/California/Council-adopts-2025-Active-Transportation-Plan-to-guide-walking-biking-and-trail-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652248-e369fb61f22855c380c91efa239a4c43/orig.mp4?Expires=1770886438&Signature=Izy~9zlYjOaqKhdIU9wctUpsu2Klzb4hpoyeLuiA11NDyeKzLibekVSV8fjQA6oIpUMwEQjxMA7ld9yLVUW2p69qilcwqUB3NNIVca42y4TySKiX6MzxB8ziMPBCXHeLJpzOVGkLcGk96NoZBps2BLH~P9TpJm1ZwuevKNI0MtkqRMOtqe8ia6EzTvpwzv8C4qC22cME2fNnRspe0a8eAx~2FTYINH0gcIX~WF~UbHPmJGLc9iMlq6U9Z4wZ3RHJKSBXZGUe2HG5mcJW~rycP7qaLD9sSYUq9XnHKY8pBOg4bd~iI0XJArttdQmX0P183YaDEHohOuEEbjYZtK-Sfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council unanimously adopted the city’s 2025 Active Transportation Plan, a policy framework intended to update the outdated 2016 pedestrian and bicycle plan, identify priority projects, improve safety and make the city eligible for state and federal active‑transportation grants.

Staff and the consultant team described the plan’s goals: increase access and connectivity, expand multimodal options and improve safety and comfort for pedestrians and bicyclists. The plan proposes a mix of facilities, including Class I trails, Class II bike lanes and Class III shared routes, and identifies short‑ and long‑term priority corridors and crossings. Staff emphasized the plan itself does not commit the city to specific projects or funding; rather, adoption creates an official city framework that must be followed to pursue many active‑transportation grants.

Public commenters and some council members raised safety concerns about proposed trails near ditches and canals, the potential for encampments and the need for access by emergency vehicles. Staff said the plan anticipates safety, lighting, access and maintenance considerations and would be implemented incrementally — beginning with projects that are feasible and grant‑eligible. Staff also noted the plan was endorsed unanimously by the Parks and Recreation Commission after an outreach process that included a 30‑day public comment period.

Councilors supported the plan as a long‑range, grant‑eligible roadmap and instructed staff to pursue funding and begin the coordination and technical work needed to turn prioritized corridors into projects. The motion to adopt the plan passed 5‑0.

Provenance: The active transportation plan was introduced in general business; staff presented the plan and the council voted to adopt it at the meeting’s conclusion.","After public comment and Parks & Recreation Commission endorsement, the council unanimously adopted a new 2025 Active Transportation Plan to update the city’s 2016 pedestrian and bicycle plan and to qualify Hanford for active‑transportation funding and grant opportunities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6652253,"Winter Wonderland draws 92,000 visits; council approves $49,999 grant appropriation for drone show",1120,5995774,7116725,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1&start=5995&end=7116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1/thumbnail_5995774.jpg","/articles/6652253/Hanford/Kings-County/California/Winter-Wonderland-draws-92000-visits-council-approves-49999-grant-appropriation-for-drone-show","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652253-fb56fad88f70fcd83111322429de796f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770886438&Signature=opbuldmBQuhyuEHaiyEUws3GL65R0kJ-U-bqHtMr0wT~0ib42tmIM5UE2Gatq3NEfmBukPhcFa-amCjOgnyzA5zg27VtRrpdqajZSiYWv~HhyihUx6zHeJlaWACu4wxarrxPiYokxgGWJPXUYRapIfgh7jfDGVqTGKJcAD~BQc9aecV~9a0cQdo1fSqJGPi7SH1KEYAliolz0iFOyrLCfh8HUGIMcZQa2OCmRMIrBOoOj3ZXcfuedLD7xzsOph9CW7GO3Pxo0hMGO8iydkmijmyoQZYWnzU4lji9ISIVOOnUfzDebVa42hBhvPKIYXT0bgdqgsGDINvLTVEfXSIjFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Staff presented a final report on the fourth Winter Wonderland at Civic Park, describing attendance, vendor revenue, sponsorships, recent capital investments in the event infrastructure and proposals to reduce long‑term maintenance on the park’s center lawn.

The city’s community‑relations and events staff reported roughly 92,000 visits during the season and an average length of stay of about 81 minutes. Staff said collective vendor revenue was about $740,000 this year, a decline from the prior year, and that the city made capital investments — including a used ice‑maintenance machine (Zamboni), new skates and a new 30‑foot Christmas tree — totaling about $320,000 to reduce future rental costs. Staff said the event finished the season with approximately a $10,000 net gap and a cost‑recovery rate of about 98.3 percent after those investments.

Staff also reported two consumer drone shows funded through a Clean Alternatives to Fireworks grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District that drew roughly 10,600 attendees for one of the two evening displays. The city sought and the council approved an appropriation of $49,999 from that grant to pay the vendor for the drone show; the city attorney and staff said the grant will reimburse the city for the expense. The motion to appropriate the grant funds passed unanimously, 5‑0.

Council discussion praised staff, volunteers and sponsors for the event’s execution and sponsorship support, and members asked staff to explore options for reducing damage to Civic Park’s center lawn. Staff said they had received bids ranging from approximately $49,000 to $60,000 to hardscape or otherwise convert the center lawn into a lower‑maintenance surface that could host future events without annual sod replacement; staff said they would return with specific cost and schedule proposals if council directed further work.

Staff recommended increasing outreach to schools for field‑trip skating sessions, keeping weekday programming and evaluating themed nights and weekday programming to balance attendance and operating costs moving forward.

Provenance: The Winter Wonderland final report was introduced in general business and the appropriation motion followed the presentation and council discussion.","City staff reported on attendance, vendor revenue and capital investments for the fourth Winter Wonderland festival and the council approved a $49,999 appropriation from a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District grant to pay for a drone show.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6652258,"Council directs staff to draft social‑media policy based on a limited public‑forum approach",3685,3083465,6768505,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1&start=3083&end=6768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1/thumbnail_3083465.jpg","/articles/6652258/Hanford/Kings-County/California/Council-directs-staff-to-draft-socialmedia-policy-based-on-a-limited-publicforum-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652258-68e6190b1462bd987d2775f233e1b168/orig.mp4?Expires=1770886438&Signature=Zr0Y1UKimVKeomfnR7ppl7Km9BQlxfRdDNdVE1iZPEz7yxUQScTI2u6G8jGKpT-xXyTIR3s8H5crOuE2NE9eZZ-Z2KF5cBUX4uqPPCgziEpy6Ik1s1-TdGCNrdTuVHlPcGS46Zdh1bCExKVQvMFuLVRuFP9HAbLf0xILG3A8EfuVCE6Umx797NuS9AKu2dnk6Gmk~ijh0CjlI3FaCd0N7MuC5Lx8K2Q15SoxHDn0i6w2MhbVyZcSdZJ1b9sMHzsdm-NUamtH3k4xhaZG37JReQI5N1MseRdzXkzbHEofZzPcxuIlABTPRWNunyMN0rwp~UHFMk6ircPnMM0io6KsdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff and the city attorney presented legal parameters and options for city social‑media use and for allowing public comments on city accounts, and the council gave staff direction to draft a social‑media policy that would treat city comment sections as a limited public forum, with topic‑based, viewpoint‑neutral restrictions.

City Attorney Ty (Tay) Mazodi outlined the First Amendment framework courts use to assess government restrictions on speech and described four forum types: traditional, designated, limited and nonpublic. He emphasized that viewpoint‑based restrictions are always unconstitutional in public forums and explained that a limited public forum — for example, public comment at a council meeting — permits reasonable, viewpoint‑neutral limits tied to the forum’s purpose. Mazodi said the city could remove obscenity, imminent threats of unlawful action and defamatory statements (with caution), but that removing comments because of viewpoint would be impermissible.

Staff identified a number of practical options: keep comments off, consolidate accounts, accept direct messages only, or open comment sections and limit them to topics within the city’s jurisdiction or to the specific subject of a social‑media post. Council members expressed differing views: some members cautioned that opening comments could generate abusive or off‑topic discourse and increase staff workload; other members supported a temporary trial to see whether topic‑limited comments would raise the city’s profile as a trusted source and allow rapid correction of misinformation.

After discussion, the council provided “sufficient direction” for staff to draft a social‑media policy that would treat comments as a limited public forum and permit restrictions that are viewpoint‑neutral and reasonable in light of the forum’s purpose. Staff were also directed to consider account consolidation and to include operational guidance on monitoring, response timelines, and how to restrict comments to the subject of a post or matters within the city’s jurisdiction. The city attorney noted the council could later reverse a decision to enable comments if needed.

Public commenters at the study session urged caution, saying comment sections routinely become venues for venting and misinformation; several residents recommended preserving direct‑message avenues and the city website as primary official sources.

Provenance: The social‑media presentation began with an item announcing proposed changes to city social media (including comment enablement) and ended after council offered direction that staff draft a policy based on a limited public‑forum structure.","City attorney and staff briefed council on First Amendment limits for municipal social media; council directed staff to draft a social‑media policy using a limited public‑forum framework that would allow topic‑limited comments and set rules for viewpoint‑neutral moderation.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6652263,"Hanford hears update on CalPERS unfunded liability; advisers say bond earlier saved roughly $3 million",1577,1498990,3076800,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1&start=1498&end=3076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2494178-a177e6871425220eed0bd813a66fc5b1/thumbnail_1498990.jpg","/articles/6652263/Hanford/Kings-County/California/Hanford-hears-update-on-CalPERS-unfunded-liability-advisers-say-bond-earlier-saved-roughly-3-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6652263-c0db2e81ae5ea6f9db39280d01186be6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770886438&Signature=XDP0O6pG6AnkJiPpXpMa7E6oAI~ee35Hkgy6a3dPk9AUSAcHXR9alLP5Bj7W4N-DcIVZJQchVfVuBNUGbZT27JcRLdrUbi7-Jj3yui--umqDYY~kG2lSDViwyoKdwsKs32jo0I1OOJEBlOuXIb4FNFmeQcctR7s8xrzFRFxZY4oa3Uu996e3IAqswJf5IaFsVmr-6lyJbglEjAQwBxuBmIa8fyygB-grspxl-nT96ibjR-ZSovnaeyIpdGzzhQpbsU6ArTe-4JK2FLtw-qwx4I8O0EWgLXcWoONdPCTjZjTM9y7HYFO0anvklaCAqjXw9D2IfgVVzWPzEKRijA19Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Finance Director Chris Tavares and outside financial advisers from NHA Advisors briefed the council on the city’s CalPERS unfunded accrued liability (UAL), the results of a 2022 pension obligation bond and factors that could raise pension costs in coming years.

Mike Meyer of NHA Advisors told the council the city currently shows a UAL of about $35.6 million, split roughly between safety and miscellaneous plans, and said CalPERS’ recent investment return of 9.3% will lower the ongoing UAL this summer. He reviewed the city’s 2022 decision to issue pension obligation bonds (POBs) to restructure about half of its UAL and noted that those bonds were issued at an average interest rate of about 4.39 percent; CalPERS UAL interest and amortization rules currently use a 6.8 percent discount rate and a 20‑year amortization schedule.

Meyer and staff explained that, had the city not issued the POBs in 2022, the UAL would be materially higher — they estimated a hypothetical UAL of about $65 million — and the city’s annual pension payments would be significantly larger. He said the POB restructuring has already produced approximately $3 million in savings in the first few years compared with the higher CalPERS‑only payment path, and that those savings helped the city grow general‑fund reserves.

The presentation described key drivers behind higher liabilities statewide: lower long‑term investment returns compared with past assumptions, reductions in the CalPERS discount rate and changes in actuarial assumptions. Meyer noted CalPERS’ ongoing asset‑liability management study and said the system’s quadrennial review may lead to assumption changes this fall that could increase local costs. He also highlighted local management options discussed in the presentation, including prepaying obligations to capture a discount, negotiating labor costs, creating a Section 115 trust to set aside reserves for pension obligations, and cautious use of restructuring in future market conditions.

Councilors asked detailed questions about investment drivers and whether reserves could be used to smooth future payment spikes; advisers said the city’s growing reserves put it in a position to consider prepaying or using a trust to dampen volatility but cautioned that changes to CalPERS assumptions remain a major uncertainty.

No formal action was taken; the briefing was provided to inform budget development and long‑range financial planning.

Provenance: The item was introduced as “presentation regarding the city's CalPERS unfunded accrued liability and pension obligation bond update” and the formal portion of the presentation concluded when NHA Advisors finished and staff took questions.

","City finance staff and outside advisors reviewed Hanford’s CalPERS unfunded accrued liability, summarized the 2022 pension obligation bond (POB) restructuring and warned the city to plan for rising pension costs as CalPERS revises assumptions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hanford staff outlines 2025 CDBG draft, council asks to prioritize seniors if extra funds appear

Council adopts 2025 Active Transportation Plan to guide walking, biking and trail grants

Winter Wonderland draws 92,000 visits; council approves $49,999 grant appropriation for drone show

Council directs staff to draft social‑media policy based on a limited public‑forum approach

Hanford hears update on CalPERS unfunded liability; advisers say bond earlier saved roughly $3 million