[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-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",[32,74,86,98,109],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6546624,"mediaKeyId","3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a","parentId",3610539,"title","Downtown business owners urge city help after customers lose parking; council to ask chamber for outreach","audioSeconds",507,"startMs",125000,"endMs",632000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a&start=125&end=632","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a/thumbnail_125000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546624/Newman-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Downtown-business-owners-urge-city-help-after-customers-lose-parking-council-to-ask-chamber-for-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546624-1095fa33808517c975a631d55b8b50aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186898&Signature=RUVpZucibEgjVxpW3k-SVjXhe8VFE8bclwkhBvNd2~TJ2IKN8f-QnjJrVh03l1iAZvQq37t-lQONLZb~WQbL3tUBQOg98dCGXnv5v-IhQWuJE5lnPZatj3jXN6eFSv-dMaBvst1bIVjQ9L70C~6FD7waMxHvjl~47L4tnZJTtu35N1sHXyrk8rPl61T8rvRlU9YIGXgdlzGKkcjG-wtSnLOHUHZUpYKGMIqoB6~QJKeoB98scmsspCsV9-xmI-77trczDfKzSBufEi4n3-HpKpEn29r7xJ7TghPB--snRPXvDF16LhNDcf5P9yPmmMSiJuGMbZOBjRU75BCUKcxbMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-28T16:49:29Z","article","Multiple downtown Newman business owners told the City Council during the public comment period that long-term parking by residents or employees is limiting customer access to storefronts.

An unnamed business owner said his customers struggle to find parking during his operating hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and asked whether spaces could be reserved for customers. The city replied it would have staff reach out to the speaker but noted that parking is largely shared among many businesses.

Aaron Cruz Valdez, who identified himself as the owner of a jewelry store, said cars associated with an upstairs apartment often park all day and that repeated long-term parking deters customers. “I get customer going around and around,” he said. He asked the city to talk to landlords and property owners about parking practices so customers have better access.

Council and staff response: Staff said they will contact the speaker and suggested outreach through the Newman Chamber of Commerce, which in the past ran a flyer asking employees to park in the plaza rather than in front of storefronts. Staff also said they would coordinate with the business license office to explore mailing an educational flyer to property owners and employers. The council did not adopt any regulatory parking change at the meeting; the action was a staff direction to pursue outreach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025, Newman City Council Meeting, 05-27-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several downtown business owners raised concerns that long-term parkers reduce customer access; the city said staff will reach out to the Chamber of Commerce and business license staff to pursue an educational outreach campaign.","taxTitle","Newman City, Stanislaus County, California","taxId",72156,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6546630,"Fall Festival organizers ask council to narrow indemnity; council accepts report and directs staff to work on language",419,1438000,1857000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a&start=1438&end=1857","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a/thumbnail_1438000.jpg","/articles/6546630/Newman-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Fall-Festival-organizers-ask-council-to-narrow-indemnity-council-accepts-report-and-directs-staff-to-work-on-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546630-fa78e828d7d5d1a2bed41d16166fc152/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186898&Signature=BbqtAxN7p0dJBcYr-s-qDCHm4Uk4mAfH2XbWzxi1wu7oMFGcy1GtovSDo6MWX2aCp0Cs8fQ~~PNn1xHUeahW60zMIh3IO81FfMMA32HoOioW2nrG1yVpiht8wWrMjhIzLcQ-N06lniAmgvIrcoI025XhUDvbW7VsJg2PYvDf9JwC4UURhB1Wy~u-Wc-t06ZvJowyZsfATNuvmbHRu0Jo9OPsh9XcHKK2sWBmfEAaqxYXMASsbwAgzN1zzzpWEviegjpNB9itpchIwjQ61jy9LOhp5uv6PBxohLP4OPldnNnTpLYBxNbr0sz67qDD9Paz7GI0S5X8~AgZBo0UgXVRtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Organizers of the Newman Fall Festival told the City Council the festival’s proposed indemnity and hold-harmless language would leave the volunteer-run event exposed to liability for incidents caused by city-maintained property, and asked for an exception where the city is at fault.

Brandon Mello, technology and systems administrator for the festival executive committee, said the draft agreement would make the festival fully responsible “even if they are caused by hazards on city property.” He said the festival is not asking to avoid responsibility but is requesting an explicit exception that would relieve the nonprofit of liability when an incident is caused by the city's negligence or failure to maintain sidewalks, streets or grassy areas.

“We have been involved in lawsuits before over broken or raised sidewalks and holes in the grass, things we did not cause and do not control,” Mello said. He told the council the committee had increased its insurance substantially—adding a $4,000,000 umbrella policy so the festival now carries $5,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 aggregate—and requires alcohol vendors to carry liquor-liability naming the city and the festival. Mello warned that overly broad indemnity language could make the event uninsurable.

City staff, including the city manager and the risk-management contact, told the council they are working with legal counsel and county risk management to craft acceptable language; staff said similar negotiations are underway with county users of city facilities. Sergeant Williams and other staff also gave a brief operational update: the festival’s park activities will close at 10 p.m. each night and insurance adjustments had already been made.

The council voted 5-0 to accept the report on the Newman Fall Festival and directed staff to work with risk management and the festival organizers to revise the indemnity language.

Why it matters: The Fall Festival is one of Newman’s largest volunteer-run events. The council’s direction aims to balance the city’s liability exposure with the practical ability of a volunteer nonprofit to obtain insurance and run the event.","Volunteers behind the Newman Fall Festival asked the council to limit liability for incidents caused by city property conditions. The council accepted the festival report and directed staff to work with risk management on revised indemnity language.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6546635,"Council adopts Lighting & Landscape District report and declares intention to levy assessments",259,1186000,1445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a&start=1186&end=1445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a/thumbnail_1186000.jpg","/articles/6546635/Newman-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Council-adopts-Lighting-Landscape-District-report-and-declares-intention-to-levy-assessments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546635-50efb2a09636dd48926dce40186a23a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186898&Signature=Jrsb76D7~MGgnTkhMC~kXBTYPQqegwi4n-KF8vxM8c12U057iQaRL9tBW06OqUJe4PcxLiO7aFffThgbybfOeaVpNsiS2Jt4XVvd-QuoPlDRl~UjLXfsoQv4SobLYb21M~TkyfGN06jQHpS3WTyVHVEhsu4rSmO5jDnuxwC1g~Zuopvm2gtvJnwMO~aoR3TFpThn5jcnngT8apUXXSI3EjLWcq8uCCGr5YiNgOcr5BdgwJbIPc7V8jSuH6YwRyK4dNk4A8CdPU-FWrPAwMI7JH3dh9107EJQnXMRfr77QEbUoggyrdZA2L~FDsNDON46GQcSYA930PZqgtKn~A8X5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newman City Council adopted the annual engineer's report for the city's Lighting and Landscape Maintenance District (LLMD), approved a modest rate increase and declared its intent to levy assessments for fiscal year 2025–26.

A staff presentation explained the engineer’s report and said rates would increase by 2.69 percent; in the most expensive zone, the increase amounts to $9.52 for the year. “Not a significant amount of money, but all the money that's collected from that goes to take care of the street lights, park lighting, park maintenance, and amenities that are in the area,” the staff member told the council.

Councilors voted 5-0 to adopt the annual report and then voted 5-0 to adopt a separate resolution declaring the city's intention to levy and collect assessments for the district. Staff said the declaration starts the notification process required before assessments are levied, including notices in the newspaper and an opportunity for property owners to protest at a subsequent hearing.

Why it matters: LLMD assessments fund lighting and landscape maintenance in specific zones; adopting the engineer’s report and declaring the intent to levy are procedural steps required for the district to collect assessments for the next fiscal year.","The council approved the engineer's annual report for the Lighting and Landscape Maintenance District, accepted a 2.69% rate increase (about $9.52/year for the highest zone) and voted to declare the city’s intent to levy assessments for FY 2025–26.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":89,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6546639,"Newman approves rezoning and general plan changes to add higher-density housing sites",770000,1029000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a&start=770&end=1029","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a/thumbnail_770000.jpg","/articles/6546639/Newman-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Newman-approves-rezoning-and-general-plan-changes-to-add-higher-density-housing-sites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546639-1b311b0d077287e3584b45f431ecd289/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186898&Signature=laqthbouwNvA2hkMUWJ47SYikn7Cw9pHW~69uxoBGg0b6PKeoM3~QReUa1NORMPyvQ8cpj62QB~gPp~7TxClTpgt-QXg8IbnhrKRg8eqokgE-2ECYg0EwqjjivF9faf6Stz5JI1S9asGhSS5HIU-fO~28VYLw8hM0uOoYjnfm9tOASuTpGGIOsF8FMJc4cJP673KT54W4xVzzoyyO4ubRO~XVA0HbfGgSIMrx0WLGNfWRL5YNDG1yEgjgwli2qNyusgh6rh57-SGKgClcwau4gVLloh48Zt8au05x0ZYXgRkTY4-625vYlWzbcul6Q1TpkgD~gWK83oDhMM04Yc3lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newman City Council approved a general plan amendment and introduced a zoning ordinance to increase allowable housing density on multiple properties as part of Program 1.9 of the sixth-cycle housing element.

Planning staff described a package of nine general plan amendments and eight rezones intended to enable development at a minimum of 20 units per acre on selected parcels, moving several sites from single-family or medium-density designations to high-density residential. “Most of these are, either low density or medium density, residential. We're gonna redesignate those to high density residential,” a staff member said during the presentation. The staff presentation identified sample locations including Inyo, Prince Street, 407 Hills Ferry and L Street.

Staff said two property owners contacted the city after receiving notice and supported the changes for their properties. The staff also told the council that the city had already completed California Environmental Quality Act review as part of the housing element process and that no additional CEQA actions were necessary for these map and plan changes.

During public comment, homeowner Marshall Croom asked whether high-density meant duplexes or apartment buildings and raised questions about traffic access at a site off Bluebonnet. The staff member said development access would be reviewed with potential restrictions, including limiting access over railroad tracks.

The council voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution 2025 approving General Plan Amendment 2025-01 to redesignate the identified properties to high-density residential. The council also voted 5-0 to introduce an ordinance to rezone the eight parcels to an R-3 multifamily zoning district; final adoption of the ordinance is scheduled for a subsequent meeting.

Why it matters: The actions implement Program 1.9 of the city's housing element and increase the capacity for multifamily housing on specific parcels, a step taken to meet state housing requirements.","Council approved one general plan amendment redesignating nine properties for high-density residential use and introduced a rezoning ordinance to implement multifamily zoning on eight of them.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_47":115,"_49":116,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6546644,"Newman Council adopts updated health and safety element required by state law",121,573000,694000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a&start=573&end=694","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3610539-e3c149fb0a0fbd3cd149afb4554e2b0a/thumbnail_573000.jpg","/articles/6546644/Newman-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Newman-Council-adopts-updated-health-and-safety-element-required-by-state-law","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546644-2b1aea20eb08693027d6ce046019be2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186898&Signature=mzG0d8A6E5N75-K1LXaFPpO~jssufaN6cU0KEjvzO5l5yTEPR2cS84tVnRfKVKFsCBHyxO9J7g-d8yoWL77wPfg2U7NXR-Otf5GVzG7oYZmbgz5M60uBut30sI5dx4J0NCehxgRJaD0-5LiQW726h~b0NxAGUJI-8V-tDsQi0PJWa8CFPfH7xqSUFCPPpabAKWYHeLQakl9U1Y9ygLufFiMDnPluECEbYQQQbJphaX3cV64G4~72eC9d6VhljOwT63hzXwT2Tw~qTwVTgfvcEDYqO5Jw1sQBITaJ7UmgjIB377Y-3Rzp~przTCrDAcYfTmuM5Q6IzNjfgWltsvW-lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Newman City Council on Tuesday adopted an update to the city's health and safety element to reflect recent state requirements and local hazard planning.

Planning staff said state law requires cities to maintain a general plan with a health and safety element and that recent legislation (identified in the staff presentation as “s p 10 35” and “s p 3 79”) now requires safety elements to be updated every eight years alongside housing elements. “As part of the health and safety element, we look at different things,” the staff member told the council, listing drought, geological hazards, flood, wildfire and hazardous materials among the topics covered.

The staff presentation said the update incorporates background risk information and adopts goals, policies and actions; it also incorporates by reference the Stanislaus County local hazard mitigation plan, the county multi-jurisdictional hazardous mitigation plan, the emergency operations plan and the county flood protection plan to support evacuation and emergency response planning. Staff reported they had received comments from the California Geological Survey and had added the requested language in the draft.

The council opened a public hearing; with no speakers, councilmember motioned and the council voted to adopt the resolution adopting the health and safety element update with the proposed changes. The motion carried 5-0.

Why it matters: The health and safety element guides local preparedness and risk reduction and must align with state law and regional hazard planning. The adoption also completes a required update that runs alongside the housing element the city adopted last year.

Council members did not ask for further changes at Tuesday’s meeting; staff remains responsible for integrating the element into broader emergency planning and for any subsequent implementation steps.","The Newman City Council voted 5-0 to adopt an updated health and safety element that incorporates county hazard plans and changes requested by the California Geological Survey.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Downtown business owners urge city help after customers lose parking; council to ask chamber for outreach

Fall Festival organizers ask council to narrow indemnity; council accepts report and directs staff to work on language

Council adopts Lighting & Landscape District report and declares intention to levy assessments

Newman approves rezoning and general plan changes to add higher-density housing sites

Newman Council adopts updated health and safety element required by state law