[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6528980,"mediaKeyId","3869024-d20deb2f93eb18802c8b1192e3c54b10","parentId",3869024,"title","Hanford council accepts mayor's resignation, selects new mayor and vice mayor; approves RMRA list and interim city manager","audioSeconds",1237,"startMs",4479000,"endMs",5716000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3869024-d20deb2f93eb18802c8b1192e3c54b10&start=4479&end=5716","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3869024-d20deb2f93eb18802c8b1192e3c54b10/thumbnail_4479000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6528980/Hanford/Kings-County/California/Hanford-council-accepts-mayors-resignation-selects-new-mayor-and-vice-mayor-approves-RMRA-list-and-interim-city-manager","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528980-fdfd0abe0d59cfb3d6f258ecd9a0e776/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126502&Signature=JFKWnCwVxNvcPo7PRlXEu60oKmZETobOnR2q3uP77~ooRVnNDLjXdpJZq3RN2lmRajWv6tqY~gYy0aKlxXLPPKkqZv~DoEuTbpC9NBNu-NbM7a4YMsVLkQPpzc7AgMlL2kJMV5-VFggG1dopmEA0hBjto~aHYYuXTAwhQz2e1attUqfGwgykrOZm1jmdmDD3QiFW9yld~TmxqXh6V3S32YORhZR1KYH~El1xc5sPaviW8xadNW40f6NBIh621NSV-cM4zrPAZ0kK~vm-Y1xaKQB5MqJo7qEAOF7GtHPizT~RscYbuMrZHYluxSNO7RY022~skib64hd0fgOhwhOszA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Hanford","date","2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Hanford City Council voted on multiple governance and budget items at its June meeting, accepting Mayor Lou Martinez’s resignation as mayor, electing Travis Paden as mayor and Nancy House as vice mayor, adopting a road maintenance project list tied to RMRA funding, and approving an interim city manager agreement.

The council formally accepted Mayor Lou Martinez’s resignation from the mayor position and then conducted nominations and roll-call votes to select a new mayor and vice mayor. Travis Paden was nominated and confirmed by council majority; Nancy House was subsequently selected as vice mayor.

In other formal actions, the council adopted Resolution No. 25-36-R, designating a project list for the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) and approving an estimated RMRA revenue projection of $1,605,667. The project list centers on a two-phase Lacey Boulevard rehabilitation project; staff recommended appropriating approximately $802,000 per phase and pursuing a complete-streets design.

Council also approved an interim city manager employment agreement for Finance Director Christopher Tavares, effective in August and paying a monthly interim salary of $16,809. The agreement will remain in effect until a permanent city manager is hired or either party elects to terminate early.

The consent calendar and individual consent items that had been pulled for discussion — including blanket purchase orders for public works and parks and Measure H–funded police vehicle purchases — were approved by the council. Items F (public works/parks blanket purchase orders over $50,000) and H (police vehicle purchases funded by Measure H) moved forward with council votes.

The council discussed a proposal for a drone show around Independence Day but members and staff said the request arrived too late to plan and promote for this year. By motion the council voted to delay consideration and asked staff to plan instead for a possible 2026 event, and to pursue stronger sponsorship and earlier planning. Hanford’s fire chief told council he preferred earlier enforcement and code changes to reduce illegal-fireworks harm rather than late, one-off events.

Votes at a glance:
- Acceptance of Mayor Lou Martinez’s resignation — motion to accept passed (vote: 5-0).
- Selection of Mayor (Travis Paden) — confirmed by roll-call (Kyres: abstain; House: no; Reagan: yes; Paden: yes; Martinez: yes) — outcome: elected mayor.
- Selection of Vice Mayor (Nancy House) — confirmed by roll-call (final tally: majority yes) — outcome: elected vice mayor.
- Resolution 25-36-R (RMRA project list; estimated RMRA $1,605,667) — adopted (vote: 5-0).
- Interim city manager employment agreement for Christopher Tavares (monthly $16,809; effective August) — approved (vote: 5-0).
- Consent calendar and pulled items F and H (blanket purchase orders; Measure H vehicle purchases) — approved (motions passed; votes recorded 5-0 on each).
- Drone show proposal — motion to delay to 2026 and plan earlier/sponsorship approach — passed (vote: 5-0).

Why it matters: The leadership change affects council organization and who presides over meetings; the RMRA resolution moves city street-rehabilitation planning into design and funding phases; the interim manager agreement ensures executive continuity while the city recruits a permanent manager.

Clarifying details and next steps: Staff noted Phase 1 of the Lacey Boulevard project runs from the railroad tracks to Sierra Drive and Phase 2 from Tenth Avenue to the railroad tracks; staff will bring design options back to council. The interim city manager agreement begins with a transition period in August and keeps the appointee’s existing benefits while adding interim pay. The council directed staff to draft a new city attorney contract (separate item at the study session) and asked staff to return with enforceable fireworks code changes and with a presentation from the Kings County homelessness collaborative in a future meeting.

Ending: Multiple administrative and budget matters were resolved in the session. Council directed staff to return with drafts and reports — including the RMRA project design options, a draft updated city attorney contract and recommendations on enforceable fireworks code changes — for formal action at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Hanford - City Council - Jun 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its June meeting the Hanford City Council accepted Mayor Lou Martinez's resignation as mayor, selected Travis Paden as mayor and Nancy House as vice mayor, adopted an RMRA project resolution, approved an interim city manager agreement and delayed a proposed drone show until 2026. Multiple consent items and purchases were approved.","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},6528985,"Hanford council hears presentation from Griswold LaSalle; council directs staff to update city attorney contract",3064,20000,3084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3869024-d20deb2f93eb18802c8b1192e3c54b10&start=20&end=3084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3869024-d20deb2f93eb18802c8b1192e3c54b10/thumbnail_20000.jpg","/articles/6528985/Hanford/Kings-County/California/Hanford-council-hears-presentation-from-Griswold-LaSalle-council-directs-staff-to-update-city-attorney-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528985-637711e4bd5cc8a1133dde4c5fe1a839/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126502&Signature=Cgcw4qrnyKlU8-BMu9kt1EHNzdee4DE1q-qC8TYKF63V20zxjygCo3nN0TVottI0IiJ6DoOE9RTQu7yZavb2yHXCQ0CCA0do6FvJNdA7Z0Vi-qn0VWafnaaMRLgfCKmKiZ9k6zqxSNawWQXinjXQMBVT74JgxOXxRzbVRcpIMhWr-7QLf7mFOHkNUS6YrdYSiAWOZW4ov0kwgmT7FMkkZmU4cHmmbr8T8VcqxTrBrIhXcGXO64nHN4tN6tY2UcVKHRstxEqIRcgSujvUGv7kKJj-ifKXAJdj~YaI~h~Lh7enMcHxfmbM5hyRI3896LW4qfWKsoGpFBG8IhscntUUGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An attorney from Griswold LaSalle outlined the law firm's history, municipal experience and local investments at the Hanford City Council study session and the council unanimously agreed to pursue a modernized city attorney contract.

The presentation, given during the council's study session, described the firm's municipal practice, institutional knowledge and community investments. The presenter said the firm had represented Hanford since 2007 and reported that its current non–tort legal billing to the city for fiscal year 2024 was about $642,000, compared with a $650,000 budgeted amount in 2011. The presenter said an inflation-adjusted equivalent of the 2011 figure would be roughly $927,000 in 2025.

Council members asked questions and several praised the firm’s local hiring, internship and community programs. After discussion, council gave consensus — recorded as a 5-0 confirmation on the record — for staff to work with the firm to produce an updated city attorney contract and bring it back to the council for formal approval.

Why it matters: Hanford's city attorney contract governs the city's primary legal advice and day-to-day representation. Updating the contract would create a contemporary agreement that could reflect current service levels, billing practices and explicit performance expectations.

What was presented: The firm described long tenure advising municipal clients across the valley, litigation experience, land-use expertise and local economic contributions including payroll, downtown investment and a community foundation that funds local scholarships and events. The presenters described a summer clerk and paralegal pathway that brings local students into legal careers and said the office hosts continuing legal education and community events.

Council response and next steps: Councilmembers thanked the presenters for the overview and for local investment, and several members emphasized the value of institutional knowledge when staff research historic documents and ordinances. City staff told council the current city attorney contract dates from April 1, 2011; with council consensus staff will prepare a modern contract for council consideration and return at a future meeting.

Council comments included both praise for the firm's community work and a reminder that an updated contract should be publicly reviewed; no change in legal representation was enacted tonight beyond the direction to draft a new contract for council action.

Ending: Staff and the firm will collaborate on a modernized contract; the council instructed staff to return the draft contract for formal council approval at a subsequent meeting.","A Hanford City Council study session featured a presentation from Griswold LaSalle about its municipal legal services, local investments and recruiting programs. Councilmembers gave unanimous consensus to direct staff to draft a modernized city attorney contract for return to council.","actionData","errors"]

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Hanford council accepts mayor's resignation, selects new mayor and vice mayor; approves RMRA list and interim city manager

Hanford council hears presentation from Griswold LaSalle; council directs staff to update city attorney contract