[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6241966,"mediaKeyId","3251709-3db8ff76d379963c0822babc0c3a1127","parentId",3251709,"title","Council awards $4.43 million sewer trunk contract and approves pipe purchase to avoid canal delay","audioSeconds",258,"startMs",2838000,"endMs",3096000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3251709-3db8ff76d379963c0822babc0c3a1127&start=2838&end=3096","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3251709-3db8ff76d379963c0822babc0c3a1127/thumbnail_2838000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241966/Los-Banos/Merced-County/California/Council-awards-443-million-sewer-trunk-contract-and-approves-pipe-purchase-to-avoid-canal-delay","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241966-7033a03da9f86a8d4877530b404b7205/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200028&Signature=nIZVkmeWFbwH5aLdBHXaNznq6usruSqhU7hKgWJ6vLPgmLkJ16HwEILn5-HZWANVFRlh9hoo4hYFSVf3KGN2R-yUbAjdPpgh68kh-1TTI7jXXlgqG6COKDqgBD~rVJGNr80Pw6QJMvV8cwbX1sXQCu9hhHeb5uKvIEMjCmPInP4d-mMJm3HQXUW~n1KfZpEd5Ibd6ByocBCi2FAwLCOAn5apy9DdIy~9YGqQJfRHKviEtokhCqgQF1sZpIHywRUIhYdZVVyrDjJwt60GlERD4qBWUi6j75vM9aA~4mk99xXwWniGz~tESSbs4AHWYR41sSrM~kNSFBhqJ~YZR4kkEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Los Banos CA","date","2025-05-09T00:02:31Z","article","The Los Banos City Council on May 7 awarded a construction contract of $4,432,440 to Rolfe Construction Inc. for the final-mile sewer trunk line replacement and authorized a separate purchase order of $175,269 to procure reinforced concrete pipe needed to build a siphon under the San Luis Canal.

Why it matters: City engineers said the existing sewer trunk line is at capacity and deteriorating; replacing it will increase wastewater conveyance capacity to the treatment plant and reduce the risk of failures. Purchasing the pipe in advance was presented as a time‑and‑cost‑saving step because the Grasslands Water District plans to drop water from the San Luis Canal June 1–July 17, creating a window to complete the siphon and avoid a later, more expensive bypass.

Public Works Director and City Engineer Chuck Burson explained the project and the rationale for buying pipe ahead of construction: “The current line is at capacity and then deteriorating, so we need to replace it and also plan for the future,” he said. About the siphon procurement he told council the advance purchase would let the contractor complete the intersection while the canal is dry and “it'll save us at least a quarter million dollars or more.”

Contract details and approvals: The council approved City Council Resolution No. 6927 awarding the Rolfe Construction contract and a 15% contingency ($664,866) for unforeseen conditions. Later the council approved City Council Resolution No. 6928 authorizing the interim city manager to execute a purchase order with Aggee Construction Corporation in the amount of $175,269 to procure the reinforced concrete pipe that will form the siphon segment of the work. The latter purchase was described in staff reports as necessary to let the contractor complete the crossing during the scheduled canal drawdown.

The city emphasized scheduling constraints: Burson said Grasslands Water District will lower the canal June 1–July 17 and that completing the pipe work during that interval lowers costs. The council approved both measures by voice vote (“Ayes have it”).

Implementation notes: The project will be managed by the Public Works/Engineering division. The contract award includes a contingency fund for unforeseen conditions; staff will return with construction schedules, traffic control plans and updates on required coordination with Grasslands Water District and other permitting entities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Los Banos California, City Council Meeting, May 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Los Banos City Council approved a $4,432,440 construction contract with Rolfe Construction Inc. to replace the final mile of the city’s sewer trunk line and authorized an advance purchase order of $175,269 for reinforced concrete pipe to allow the contractor to complete a siphon under the San Luis Canal during a scheduled canal drain period.","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},6241974,"Council directs staff to revisit mobile food-vendor rules; vendors say seating and shade are essential",1254,6626000,7880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3251709-3db8ff76d379963c0822babc0c3a1127&start=6626&end=7880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3251709-3db8ff76d379963c0822babc0c3a1127/thumbnail_6626000.jpg","/articles/6241974/Los-Banos/Merced-County/California/Council-directs-staff-to-revisit-mobile-food-vendor-rules-vendors-say-seating-and-shade-are-essential","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241974-91106fd2034a8bfb6fb02c1d86c696f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200028&Signature=Y23LT9vfAoLO-Z8hzPF-5Zy7f9JoeF4-SgEUTpyvphiS6bKV8oj1jky9n9RMYEcLwOXjG16ovpYgbtOWA6AOxhRWbxHMfynQw~yC5Qg7YxXKNV6N2Msnla5CqGlF4jkOqdo1ZIJsPyfr0vjU~vi9aE8EahybVko~4JQuCaBBMfTQ985SYxeFLeEVmcuwNXAgEmwPkK31Y5qjshTKXmbv6BNTuC13aQzwKJDftaDsANupELpmCoeKHv0dl9T8xjSCMMu-7NROnMb~Z-8EBlS6Pvz5NsXb1tTVJfevb28aKfAKxq5nAAS-PLqjDKKHaTaccRJdfQ8loltpTgwW2zVavQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Banos City Council voted May 7 to have staff review and return recommendations for changes to the city’s mobile food‑vending ordinance, after multiple mobile-vendor operators and nearby business owners urged the city to permit temporary seating and shade.

Why it matters: Vendors and customers told the council that short‑term seating improves accessibility and the customer experience, especially for working‑hour lunches and for patrons with mobility limitations. Vendors said they would continue to comply with health and safety rules and remove temporary furnishings at the end of each business day.

The council member who requested the discussion, Councilmember Marcus Chavez, said the most frequent vendor requests were for “tables and chairs and, as well as tents. It is the Central Valley — it gets very hot.” The council’s action sends the ordinance back to staff for a comparative review of policies in other California cities and for proposed local amendments.

Mobile-vendor operators and business owners spoke during public comment. A written submission from Nineveh Villegomez, who identified themself as “owner of a local taco truck located next to City Hall,” said seating turns a quick sale into “a brief moment of comfort and connection” for working customers and urged the council to “support small business owners like ours.” Ivan Gonzalez, identified as owner of La Jaliciencia 2 station at 402 Washington Avenue, said the current rule harmed customers with limited mobility and described having received a citation after providing a chair for a customer.

Public speakers and council members discussed broader issues including enforcement against illegal vendors, fee levels for permits and compliance with recent state guidance on street vendors. One public commenter noted that other Central Valley cities allow temporary seating and said fines and permit fees in Los Banos “are excessive and should only cover administrative costs.”

Action and next steps: The council voted to direct staff to review the ordinance and return with recommended updates to temporary seating, shade, and related fee structures. The review will include consultation with public safety and health departments to ensure any changes meet food-safety, accessibility and public-right‑of‑way requirements. Staff will present options for council consideration at a future meeting.","After hearing from food-truck operators, restaurant owners and customers, the Los Banos City Council directed staff to review the city’s mobile food vending ordinance — including rules on tables, chairs and shade — and return with recommended changes and fee updates.",{"_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},6241979,"City council approves downtown PBID agreement, orders audit of assessment finances",5245,1365000,6610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3251709-3db8ff76d379963c0822babc0c3a1127&start=1365&end=6610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3251709-3db8ff76d379963c0822babc0c3a1127/thumbnail_1365000.jpg","/articles/6241979/Los-Banos/Merced-County/California/City-council-approves-downtown-PBID-agreement-orders-audit-of-assessment-finances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241979-d26306d041f3b4c1662a2cee71debb58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771200028&Signature=X6c7QcbbWgWxk2znaoePuLtVRSmQjKt3JFpuDKBblvrfEPbk5Hp~BvH1NA1k0xG9vEk5FNyMAdQpg2TjSXFapgvUS~d50QW~juTThTDIwAf3LRi8k2dhASeeLXqAnZgR3BxV-cC8VNjK93npBWi7eAkXWghAGWiPB13GXOLfm9RKJiZEhAOTzw2lEfkH6~REjCQ0KcDpGLPlqx6PezY0gLlo~hUFVCjRncr~S1DSPWdyj6eNogthAZwt-ZLY1D~6QfsruLXW9TPxvSjBBO5wGp8Ja94tHJEImtiswxlyTv7ZxjVXUu0Ka-Ki5Pdt0t7zRs96ceBH3wTI9rDlR2UBWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Banos City Council on May 7 approved a management agreement that will allow the Los Banos Downtown Association to implement the downtown Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) through Dec. 31, 2034, and directed staff to obtain a full independent financial audit of PBID revenues and expenditures from the district’s start through the present.

The audit direction followed public testimony calling for transparency in how PBID assessment funds were spent and an extended discussion during which city staff explained the limits of the city’s role as the assessment collection agent. Community and Economic Development Director Stacy Souza Elks said the PBID was renewed in August 2024 “through a Prop 218 process” and that the city acts largely as a fiscal conduit rather than the district manager: “PBID is like a homeowners association.”

Why it matters: The PBID levy is added to property tax bills for parcels inside the downtown district; property owners and downtown merchants told the council they are uncertain how assessment dollars have been spent and asked the council either to pause renewal or to require fuller financial disclosure before the city signs the agreement.

Residents and downtown property owners raised specific concerns during public comment. Elaine Corey, a downtown property owner, asked the council to pull the agenda item and “call for an audit of handling of all the monies and expenses,” saying, “The board of directors has not been forthcoming with information as to the spending of our tax assessment.” Other speakers including Sean George and Frank Elvira Jr. told the council they had just received balance sheets minutes before the meeting and remained dissatisfied with the level of detail provided.

Representatives of the downtown association defended their work and said financial records have been made available. Mary Bo Garcia, speaking for the Los Banos Downtown Association, listed recent events and improvements and said, “We have provided financials. We have provided everything that has been asked of us.” She also pointed to recent purchases such as security cameras and to ongoing programming including a farmers market and seasonal events.

Council members discussed the agreement’s oversight provisions and the Brown Act requirement for open meetings. One council member emphasized the contract language that lets the city terminate the agreement if the association “misappropriated funds, committed malfeasance, or violated any law,” and pressed staff that the council must be able to see detailed records to exercise that authority.

The council majority decided to approve the agreement to avoid interrupting the district’s ability to operate and pay bills, while simultaneously directing staff to require an independent financial audit of PBID funds (PBID-side assessments only) covering the full period of the district’s existence through the most recent fiscal year. Staff said the audit would be procured at the association’s cost, that the city would coordinate audit scope and standards with the association, and that audit deliverables would be provided to council and made public.

The motion to authorize the interim city manager to execute the agreement and to require the audit passed (voice vote: “Ayes have it”).

The city’s role and next steps: City staff and the association will work out audit scope and timing so the financial review can be completed and publicly presented. The agreement approved tonight affirms the city’s duties to collect the assessment through county tax rolls and to remit funds to the association, and it contains record-keeping and audit language the council can use to request additional financial detail going forward.

The council also noted the distinction between PBID assessments (collected via property tax roll) and private non‑profit fundraising by the association, and limited the council’s audit direction to the PBID assessment funds. The council said it will revisit any further action if the audit uncovers misuse or if the association fails to provide timely records.","The Los Banos City Council voted to authorize a management agreement with the Los Banos Downtown Association to implement the downtown Property and Business Improvement District through Dec. 31, 2034, and directed city staff to work with the association on a comprehensive financial audit of the PBID from inception to date.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council awards $4.43 million sewer trunk contract and approves pipe purchase to avoid canal delay

Council directs staff to revisit mobile food-vendor rules; vendors say seating and shade are essential

City council approves downtown PBID agreement, orders audit of assessment finances