[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6294294,"mediaKeyId","2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3","parentId",2522021,"title","Los Banos Council approves consent agenda, personnel resolutions and commission appointments","audioSeconds",1074,"startMs",1753000,"endMs",2827000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3&start=1753&end=2827","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3/thumbnail_1753000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6294294/Los-Banos/Merced-County/California/Los-Banos-Council-approves-consent-agenda-personnel-resolutions-and-commission-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6294294-ee5785d5310f71883b7e3fe34f83150c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775332880&Signature=ntxFZWRZHXEOqGOmU~t6RUfEh5hlY-MRfJKQi3qBCzE5tMOyiSSvM1Blc-fAm0Pn~nrL7oi32lYIGNK5WC7~3~jKF6Z--Do4Q8NcUaQ5lkjzUw9j8lMuC-WkmhJiXPvMy5TX6OFsQ1wPmIOBmKE7e0Yths-nZh5medAQu-yuorUqLrgSl3uNCtZV1Pm3PN3FxPxTwqz5buN6FtMj8P7AQe0n-Jn68c2gptSENrACEJXVn6~U80tHNhwaP-RhNJsVxivSRcSGuKbCL2oHtEHTzALInQXoKtE7Mp4ERp3Wp~PAOopflr-9pJEpb2-R9XY9sv2dnIfmyjknwGciZotR0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Los Banos CA","date","2025-03-06T20:30:01Z","article","The City Council carried several routine and personnel actions at its March 5 meeting, voting to approve the consent agenda, adopt multiple personnel resolutions, and appoint commission members.

Consent agenda: The council approved warrant numbers 249957 through 250351 totaling $1,509,163.42. Also included were City Council Resolution No. 6893 (amending the salary schedule for police sergeants) and Resolution No. 6894 (final map adoption for Southpointe at Regency Park Phase 11A). Councilmember Chavez moved and Councilmember Saunders seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

Personnel changes: The council adopted Resolution No. 6896 rescinding earlier action that had designated certain middle manager positions as at‑will; under the new resolution those positions will be subject to probationary periods from the date of hire or promotion, a change staff said affects 13 middle manager classifications and is intended to improve recruitment and retention. Director Melanie presented the item and the interim city manager provided the statutorily required oral compensation summary prior to the vote. The motion carried on council vote.

The council also adopted Resolution No. 6897 amending Division 5 personnel benefits to increase POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) incentive caps and to raise management administrative leave allocations (for department heads from 80 to 96 hours per year and for assistant department heads from 40 to 48 hours per year). The interim city manager orally summarized the compensation changes required by Government Code before the vote; the measure carried.

Appointments: The council appointed Larry Leonardo to the Airport Commission (two‑year term expiring 12/31/2026) and appointed Kathy Ballard and Refugio Yamez to the Measure H Citizens Oversight Committee (two‑year terms expiring 12/31/2026). Motions were made and seconded and each appointment passed by voice vote.

Vote record summary: Motions reported in the transcript show the consent agenda, resolutions and appointments carried with councilmembers voting in favor; roll calls were recorded for some items and voice votes for others. The transcript does not record any recorded “no” votes for the listed items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Los Banos California, City Council Meeting, March 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the March 5 meeting the council approved the consent agenda (including warrants totaling $1,509,163.42), adopted personnel resolutions changing middle manager status and pay provisions, and appointed members to multiple commissions. All motions carried by majority vote.","taxTitle","Los Banos, Merced County, California","taxId",55580,"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},6294297,"Council adopts ordinance pre‑zoning and annexing acreage for new Santa Fe Grade stormwater basin",236,1846000,2082000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3&start=1846&end=2082","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3/thumbnail_1846000.jpg","/articles/6294297/Los-Banos/Merced-County/California/Council-adopts-ordinance-prezoning-and-annexing-acreage-for-new-Santa-Fe-Grade-stormwater-basin","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6294297-5b819cc121896b706ebae9bc9affef6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775332880&Signature=hjAqTuMlLMjUqcmTvVwVF7ASEWC2YZqD-G-eoNbGO2iq0mTtdgDqZB6B0-~TaQEW~m1WxjdA76fOzRE2abDwv0nuUd9TsUw-cSQoTFm33G89fyjlwlDLteNNOoH1h1~dsIKvalpw-YB4dpDncK-v4couX3utirSek1erTavA7WgXhwKZi7Fk0MnJVfIWp2nylcPvlvDOKds-fsm98Ql9frDw~vN6D0qbAWNnNNyD84CCTALlvIXfHZkePBZuXq7Bk6KlF0~L0m7Xx3KVBH6SceTj-vWVqZfzmcx0KSf~WIYDAGzSRz0l7YAFGTXzbia7QZHvwq4aXM2ASmpNsyNDog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1207 to pre‑zone approximately 70 acres between the San Luis Canal and the Santa Fe Canal (Merced County) as Public Facilities and to annex the property into the City of Los Banos.

Staff presentation: Director Elms said the annexation and general plan amendment will allow construction of a basin intended for surface and stormwater capture and incidental groundwater recharge. Elms said the project supports the city’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) and will allow local jurisdiction to regulate permits for the planned storm basins.

Public hearing: Mayor Pro Tem Lewis opened the public hearing; no members of the public spoke. The council then waived the second reading and moved to adopt the ordinance.

Vote and roll call: Councilmember Sanders moved to waive the second reading and then moved adoption; Councilmember Chavez seconded. Roll call recorded affirmative votes from Sanders, Chavez and Lewis; the clerk announced “Amabile. Motion is passed,” indicating the ordinance carried.

Next steps: Staff will process annexation paperwork and proceed with permitting and project design to support the city’s water conservation and groundwater recharge goals.","The council adopted Ordinance No. 1207 to pre‑zone and annex approximately 70 acres between the San Luis and Santa Fe canals for a stormwater capture and groundwater recharge basin tied to the city's Groundwater Sustainability Plan.",{"_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},6294298,"Council approves addendum to lease for solar lighting along HG Faucet Canal Trail",197,2223000,2420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3&start=2223&end=2420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3/thumbnail_2223000.jpg","/articles/6294298/Los-Banos/Merced-County/California/Council-approves-addendum-to-lease-for-solar-lighting-along-HG-Faucet-Canal-Trail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6294298-b263ddb334cb25c7366de60c7d370fb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775332880&Signature=UCgz31mL3pROMs9SrN9oW-ND97paIli6Tfe4D~NmZvhAVRxuPV8nd4u1kRdP0DKo-Wzmu23lRhCNlZ1ILaEJCiJrW54C1dKKQV8O9bELqGX7kVG9ysYWTD0lI7BB5gcV5gDCCcIZNtp1EdFPwJOkt8LRtnIa47KNp26oceLDXQU7zcvnUi9ncua8AI1cjnzu77R~08ukEFiGB9pdUpHD7oJjNF~U0LxJ6BQ~8yeETGN0LEdqSAG-iklaM1sr99VYa7k4kdSGg3QobBmKwAUuII4fqnt1w2AFC8aaJ-O9FiHvOqf8M1g4PkSu774i3pnxcRPlTmIhqrR0PpXGcCfi4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted to adopt Resolution No. 6895, authorizing the interim city manager to execute Addendum No. 1 to the lease with the Central California Irrigation District (CCID) to allow installation of solar lighting along the HG Faucet Canal Trail.

Staff presentation: Director Hine told the council the trail—leased from CCID under an agreement first signed in 1996 and renewed through 2029—runs from Pioneer to I Street and is heavily used. The city applied for a $125,000 grant from the San Joaquin River Exchange to fund lighting; Hine said staff selected solar fixtures to avoid the higher trenching and electrical costs ordinary wiring would require.

Project budget and steps: Hine said the full project is estimated at about $300,000, with the grant covering $125,000 and staff estimating roughly $175,000 of local funding would be required. The city will seek that funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process; if approved by the council, staff will present the addendum to the CCID board, then proceed to bidding and construction.

Council questions and concerns: Councilmembers asked whether the grant covered the full cost and about the risk posed by the lease’s remaining term—the lease expires in 2029. Hine said the grant covers only part of the cost and that the anticipated city portion would be requested during the FY26 budget. On the lease term, Hine said the relationship with CCID has been cooperative and the city has previously added improvements (for example, a footbridge) under similar arrangements, but he could not guarantee future renewals.

Resident impacts: Council members emphasized sensitive fixture selection to avoid light pollution where residences abut the canal. Hine said fixture type and placement would be considered in later design work.

Vote: Councilmember Chavez moved approval; Councilmember Saunders seconded. The motion carried with councilmembers voting in favor.

Next steps: If CCID approves the addendum, staff will release a bid package and seek construction funding through the FY26 budget.","The council authorized an addendum to the 1996 lease with the Central California Irrigation District to install solar lights along the HG Faucet Canal Trail, accepting a $125,000 grant and anticipating roughly $175,000 in city funding to complete a projected $300,000 project.",{"_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},6294299,"Los Banos residents raise safety concerns over battery storage project approved near city",114,1357000,1471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3&start=1357&end=1471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2522021-0612a8ec6f0ba3aebe0ceba2d73162c3/thumbnail_1357000.jpg","/articles/6294299/Los-Banos/Merced-County/California/Los-Banos-residents-raise-safety-concerns-over-battery-storage-project-approved-near-city","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6294299-9c3e1a836e029bbe55851e36194be8c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775332880&Signature=IxjzdC0d1GhQqrFvvz2sJtdzFTQLra4Y99URbCY9Aw9joZr0B3RJCrFwzy2vA9H3Hq8jcHae2aA48L-PnT4w9wGyRTkepQ9dQfY7Pgjw57J0SVEwfVGyEF~uJFKjAlt0Iby0-MdFuo71HpTcOdZ~cQtpoB9WXQMJrrtvHwgpDpmlQYTl-LtcVFqp0vTUcmdkEa4NqW4~r5zM6z2tk0aVAp2KpcDSe33dV54sZxMk3M8RQ7IPy~hfAwC~1FOCHWeiubAAbUohJRj8B9PwGGqpE4raHIBv8ilqIFSANm8dKGps-GNIY-DPSlcN1EMW08aqsDXXvnsjA7qNnYq24ErGSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mary Hannes, a resident of Los Banos, urged the City Council during the public forum to take note of a battery energy storage system approved by the Merced County Planning Commission that will sit about nine miles south of the city.

Hannes said the technology behind large, utility‑scale battery storage is “still relatively new” and warned of fire risks, telling the council: “Imagine, if you will, a fire similar to the recent Moss Landing fire happening 9 miles south of town.” She said local firefighters are untrained for that type of blaze, that fires of this kind “cannot be put out with water,” and that suppression requires special materials.

Why it matters: Hannes told the council she and other residents presented concerns to the county planning commission before it approved the 15‑acre project, and she said site access and emergency response are additional problems. She told the council the roads to the site are “country county roads … in unsafe or unpaved condition,” which become impassable in wet weather and could prevent heavy fire suppression equipment from reaching the location.

Hannes also raised local political concerns, saying the property is owned by AKT Development and noting that “Alana Kanalakis is the current Lieutenant Governor of the State of California,” which she characterized as a potential conflict of interest. She told the council that research identified roughly 10 more similar projects proposed across the state, including sites nearer to Los Banos in Gustine, Lemoore, Hanford and Firebaugh.

Hannes referenced statewide action in response to recent fires, saying Assembly Member Dawn Addis of Morro Bay introduced Assembly Bill 303, the Battery Energy Storage Safety and Accountability Act, intended to raise safety standards and restore local oversight for large BESS projects.

The council did not take action on the matter during the meeting; Hannes spoke during the public forum portion of the agenda, where the council does not act on non‑agenda items. The transcript does not record any staff report or fire department presentation on the project during the meeting.

Looking ahead: Hannes asked the council to note the county’s approval and the potential implications for Los Banos; she urged attention to firefighter training, road access, and whether power from the facilities would primarily leave the local service area. The council did not direct staff to follow up on the specific project during the meeting.","At the City Council public forum, resident Mary Hannes warned that a 15‑acre battery energy storage system (BESS) approved by the Merced County Planning Commission could pose wildfire and access risks for Los Banos, citing the recent Moss Landing fire and calling for local oversight and firefighter preparedness.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Los Banos Council approves consent agenda, personnel resolutions and commission appointments

Council adopts ordinance pre‑zoning and annexing acreage for new Santa Fe Grade stormwater basin

Council approves addendum to lease for solar lighting along HG Faucet Canal Trail

Los Banos residents raise safety concerns over battery storage project approved near city