[{"_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",6272534,"mediaKeyId","3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6","parentId",3027563,"title","City attorney to depart; council approves RFP to recruit replacement","audioSeconds",3843,"startMs",857000,"endMs",4700000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6&start=857&end=4700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6/thumbnail_857000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6272534/Livingston-City/Merced-County/California/City-attorney-to-depart-council-approves-RFP-to-recruit-replacement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272534-7957d312e21daab371b9f22e91a782da/orig.mp4?Expires=1774393427&Signature=oiT5~2puYqSnjqcflFVZw19oiydlRfDuRqBVLa9zSZrQxK2sKstrJuTZxWtYIhu4U8DPxFRvZhj5LlDorVnK8tTOQu6kSfRCFEjHqj4TRetIBvNNvEIDFgtT7joL7JYcsGx7NK9AQgPZdeqp5ZfVptmsafE1U8Ia5wf~u9MewqUgNm0e62o9QtN53gESWzgMByqrwky5hFpE9ungGFwM3988jf64sLNp7pkSjcEkNcXBNKBdDlkTcey2xOrw9~EEFlo2hDBx8dAZ0-UjwErrWi7MlrHPr0jMP3B5q8s2PanG~jSonOhWb-oKdAMtW8-e-xtIFojO2pfBkdKB9O5GYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Livingston, CA","date","2025-04-17T00:10:55.11Z","article","City Attorney Roy Santos informed the council on April 15 that he has tendered his resignation effective in June. He told the council it was a personal decision and thanked staff and council for the opportunity to serve.

Santos said, “I have tendered my resignation as the city attorney and I'll be leaving in, June.” Councilmembers thanked him for his service and asked staff to begin recruitment for a replacement.

Staff presented a draft request for proposals (RFP) for outside counsel that is largely the same as the prior RFP used when the current firm was hired; staff proposed adding a provision asking that urgent tasks be completed within 30 days or that counsel notify the city manager and council if more time is required. Councilmember Ruppel praised Santos's offer to remain available to ensure continuity until a replacement is hired.

Councilmember Roth moved to send the RFP; Councilmember Oppa seconded. The roll-call vote to issue the RFP passed 4-0. Staff said the RFP would be finalized and posted that week.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Livingston City Council Meeting April - 15 - 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Attorney Roy Santos notified the council he has tendered his resignation effective in June; the council approved sending an RFP to recruit a replacement and added a suggested 30-day turnaround expectation for urgent legal tasks.","taxTitle","Livingston City, Merced County, California","taxId",72037,"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},6272537,"Council directs one-day July festival; fireworks contract previously secured",1581,2796000,4377000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6&start=2796&end=4377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6/thumbnail_2796000.jpg","/articles/6272537/Livingston-City/Merced-County/California/Council-directs-one-day-July-festival-fireworks-contract-previously-secured","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272537-32562b74271f84c6a2c3aa7f77afc454/orig.mp4?Expires=1774393427&Signature=neyOUMl0IdO~XI6htWKIbV7FIikOzQOGSdY98MAKXfIsYnIaGRem492exzH-S3PHDK2L6MRuF~wGUtCnZmMOkD04DnJN19XDIZFknkmNgp1XwdGo0ZQR8UyT0juYv0TjgqmLT0ETMeqL06kIjb0ZMj5I5q0dfaJ5RFYs3ZaZiLiOc4zKTlx9ZIFF79~VRcsIVQKcGxMLqczv6b2RDpNiSAYaQ9N~zkOCV22sbpQWUiOttNJtZSMt3h~fmnQJM-5y8LxqQNoafv-HTgr8UCxQKnSWVmIWJ-C2mnxiw0lOq0vsP4qUe8TiWfsz1ocMdPkFbmSbS4duQGJFTm9OKpC1bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council directed staff to hold a one-day July festival in 2025 after a lengthy discussion on staffing, budgets and safety. The motion passed on a 4-0 roll call vote.

Recreation Superintendent Jackie Benoit told the council staff recommended the council set the size and duration of the event and consider a multi-year decision to allow timely contracting and budgeting. Benoit said contracts for fireworks must be secured months in advance and that 2025 would be the third year of a three-year fireworks commitment obtained earlier.

Longtime volunteer coordinator Julio Valadez provided itemized 2024 figures and context, saying the festival historically ran three days with a carnival, vendors, beer garden and live entertainment. Valadez reported that under the $60,000 allocation he had been given, additional city expenses and vendor-coordination fees expanded the total expenses; he supplied carnival onsite-sales breakdowns for specific days and said the city received roughly $27,000 from the carnival company under revised revenue-sharing terms.

Ashley Macias, who has served as vendor coordinator, said many vendors do better at a one-day event and recommended a single-day format. Several speakers from the public and council members expressed concern about staff capacity, security lines and heat for multi-day operations.

Councilmember Roth moved to make the festival a one-day event; Councilmember Ruppel seconded. The vote was 4-0 in favor. Council and staff asked volunteers to submit specific needs and budgets so staff can process required funding and logistics and to consider forming a committee in the fall for planning future years.

Staff also said the city had been approached about alternatives to fireworks, such as a drone show, by the air pollution control district and that half of the fireworks payment for 2025 had already been made.","After public comment and staff analysis of staffing and costs, council voted 4-0 to hold a one-day July festival in 2025; staff and volunteers plan follow-up coordination for logistics and budgeting.",{"_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},6272542,"Council appoints Jitender Man as alternate to Winston County Commission; one councilmember recuses",60,2687000,2747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6&start=2687&end=2747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6/thumbnail_2687000.jpg","/articles/6272542/Livingston-City/Merced-County/California/Council-appoints-Jitender-Man-as-alternate-to-Winston-County-Commission-one-councilmember-recuses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272542-0077364748dcef292b1ec94706a9ccdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1774393427&Signature=nRB7sjh06sOSyCqpopQB00wre7nZ52VThd3ItNjYiJ97WKjH3hcvs93Ls58BZxaCuHrT-MBXQcVY85gA65OyxEwgAPb3Er8lA3Mj~64Pb-90tBWRcgeRrjs6E-7GVwJx4QLLd5O61yXzf3WGdEEozhMOJ5-HSpHUdIc1zm-FibwVmmQIU74vWA35cgjXnpIYviEyFRZRNjbHUcN7v4fQpIcsc~yJ6JWpq0D0~EhrPBMm75w2SWQDx1z4GSZhZUPqGf~3QLNsYCdYTx0dZ5lHzpWUBMJm36-0foCu2jn~PEDUy0hpeMIAKgCKdksEy9u5MEDj59s9gRe1pFgsTmJ8RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council approved a resolution appointing Jitender Man as the City of Livingston’s alternate to the Winston County Commission on April 15. Councilmember Uple recused himself from discussion and the vote after disclosing a familial connection to the appointee.

The mayor pro tem noted Councilmember Uple's recusal and the clerk recorded that he left the council chambers at 7:39 p.m. The appointment was then moved and seconded and carried on a recorded vote of three in favor and one recusal.

No public comment was received on the appointment during the meeting. The council noted the item had been pulled from the consent calendar earlier to allow for the recusal and separate action.","Council appointed Jitender Man as the city's alternate to the Winston County Commission; Councilmember Uple recused from the vote due to a declared familial connection.",{"_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},6272547,"Council approves zoning map change, planning appointment and equipment purchases",134,2536000,2670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6&start=2536&end=2670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6/thumbnail_2536000.jpg","/articles/6272547/Livingston-City/Merced-County/California/Council-approves-zoning-map-change-planning-appointment-and-equipment-purchases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272547-7f2ef90a9fdf6fa166776f2000e3da99/orig.mp4?Expires=1774393427&Signature=kXIrGsnB~oyoh9tbaKbU5zSNUe7512bh3ZfmfvSUyiiKYQzR4TjjbpTaWWJVoJRV75zLxlW4DX2EKliHLGLI2FBvV35s9-IAgyM-OExu3Jx2Qczu0lgnQV5mYec51kWxC~vx18vdEgw7RXG3cSpKUz6okfvaAiQwgu4c-HBc0aR0LAgCEqVTg12Retdl-Pnlu6XSg6jGjTfqs2hvCy2HTv~m5cDQC7irWc8sphtB~sD~UWPcK5jmt8r4T4jE9G76ZTxj-E9je3GxA03GQNl4MOpqFqaAg-QxQxZAJgWn~HqXcpa3630k1nnjPI~J3pQXCC0ZJi7Y4MuvzOfVdm7vKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Livingston City Council approved multiple consent-agenda items on April 15, adopting an ordinance to amend the official zoning map, appointing a planning commissioner, and authorizing municipal equipment purchases.

The ordinance carried on second reading and final adoption designates 1.64 acres at 23 Campbell Avenue to a new zoning designation as described in the staff report. The council also adopted a resolution appointing Diego Castillo to the city’s planning commission.

On equipment purchases, the council approved the purchase of a new police patrol car and authorized the city manager to issue a purchase order for servers and network equipment for the police department, city hall and the city manager’s office, with a not-to-exceed amount of $82,375.26.

Councilmember Raul moved approval of the consent items; Councilmember Ruppel seconded. The roll-call vote was 4-0 in favor. A separate consent item (item 4) had been pulled earlier for individual consideration and is reported separately.","Council adopted a zoning-map amendment and approved appointments and purchases on the consent calendar, including a police patrol car and servers/network equipment not to exceed $82,375.26.",{"_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},6272552,"Livingston receives clean FY2024 audit; single-audit triggered by ARPA funding",552,1684000,2236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6&start=1684&end=2236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3027563-9bd8b107136700d08553bcab3690bfb6/thumbnail_1684000.jpg","/articles/6272552/Livingston-City/Merced-County/California/Livingston-receives-clean-FY2024-audit-single-audit-triggered-by-ARPA-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6272552-25c95faa0ec27f1520eeda8bf5f33ea0/orig.mp4?Expires=1774393427&Signature=JsPOF5VszuBz6hCwS6sQ7AGfFtnqHeFVTkGjPOb5wHWo61hJQkM2WwZ9VKCBqFCdGvgj2wR7rOXcP1PgptpdquymFfElhZtWqBBQj7KKMoYJ9APxQtXwCoKNb8Tb38hACzrahlbPOyuxLEyprd0m0DfSDSZxtkkIJv75RPOysrBuv1ufuY0dZRj0eBYpw0e3mCP1R63wTPhUuWjFkYuv7hiM-gYUgN9S587YZGkNTZoQLIDVK~pstTpbn6rNUw084oP~zJ0rq4PVO7RcVGQFVND0FixISlZwwzcAuqa~E6XDGbdrwo9gyj-7pEPzQd6VlT0tnHhHhg3gS~NpGE2k7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LSL CPAs director James Patera presented the City of Livingston’s fiscal year 2024 audit on April 15, reporting an unmodified opinion on the city’s financial statements and no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. The council voted to receive and file the report.

Patera, director at LSL CPAs, told the council the audit and required internal-control reviews showed the city’s fiscal 2024 statements were “accurate and reliable as of 06/30/2024” and that the auditors found “no material noncompliance with any laws or regulations.” He described the result as a successful completion of the firm’s multi-year effort to get the city back on the regular reporting cycle.

The report also included a single-audit component because the city’s federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (ARPA) spending was reported at about $1,200,000 on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. Patera explained the single-audit threshold in effect for the period was $750,000 (noting the threshold will increase to $1,000,000 for fiscal years ending in 2026).

Councilmember Roth made the motion to receive and file the audit; Councilmember Wallace seconded. The motion passed on a 4-0 roll call vote.

The auditor noted that prior-year findings related to late filing and capital asset records had been corrected for 2024. Patera thanked the city finance team for the effort to resolve those items and said the city is scheduled to return to the normal audit cycle for fiscal 2025.","External auditors issued an unmodified opinion on Livingston’s fiscal year 2024 financial statements and reported no material weaknesses; council voted 4-0 to receive and file the audit report.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City attorney to depart; council approves RFP to recruit replacement

Council directs one-day July festival; fireworks contract previously secured

Council appoints Jitender Man as alternate to Winston County Commission; one councilmember recuses

Council approves zoning map change, planning appointment and equipment purchases

Livingston receives clean FY2024 audit; single-audit triggered by ARPA funding