[{"_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",6457920,"mediaKeyId","5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421","parentId",5825569,"title","Modesto council approves armored vehicle purchase amid public opposition and support","audioSeconds",1266,"startMs",6341000,"endMs",7607000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421&start=6341&end=7607","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421/thumbnail_6341000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6457920/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Modesto-council-approves-armored-vehicle-purchase-amid-public-opposition-and-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457920-8cc33b77ecfad4e750ede8b5386c9082/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009139&Signature=AZUXQpwRwmTM4POOsk2~MqpFYRvYiEnlnKGzazmkuEt67BwJ2i6SDtNkXnOuc6Ii~k14i7wG9yZPOPCWMtx7QCwPnWvvuonUF~SXVRfi41U2A2ZEA9I~e2vhPoysh2OYptuq3AnqipSdD~ifesZJHZTAye3fmEc9IrAgdX6FDMoO4-w4Ew-oTG4WQJ~~Ln8TACOmuWriyXTcitQ6~RQQjxEnSGEoe-oFS6J6aEIFdGUfdOrRde~QGdQUZfFR4iaGtZYzCMEjeOdBPP9lpdB-QRjjKLvsY2se6C9I5HcuMRkoy9YUt5Y4aJSPnycKYMn~3ASHasK7c5mIbgLq~SLEHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Modesto","date","2025-09-24T16:49:39.097Z","article","The Modesto City Council voted to purchase an armored vehicle for the Modesto Police Department at its Sept. 23 meeting, approving a purchase and related change-order authority after a staff presentation and more than an hour of public comment both for and against the acquisition.

City staff said the existing armored vehicle, acquired in February 2003, has exceeded its operational lifespan and lacks contemporary features such as adequate portholes for less-lethal tools, flexible turrets, reliable climate control and storage. Chief Brandon Gillespie described recent operational uses, including responding to an officer-involved shooting in August, and said a modern vehicle would improve officer and public safety.

The purchase was approved under a competitive cooperative procurement with Linco Armored Vehicles/Pittsfield, Maine; the council authorized a base purchase price captured in staff materials ($425,730), taxes and fees (about $36,564 in the staff presentation), and change orders up to 15% of the purchase price. The item was identified in the FY25-26 budget as an enhancement; the staff report said approximately $400,000 of the cost would come from Measure H funds and the remainder from the police department’s supplemental law-enforcement fund.

Public comment was split. Opponents described the vehicle as “militarization” and urged the city to invest in housing, mental-health services and homelessness prevention instead of armored hardware. Several speakers referenced the June 14 protest arrests and questioned whether the vehicle would be used against community members; others said the police need the vehicle to respond to active shooters, hostage situations and other high-risk incidents.

The council voted in favor of the purchase. The motion to approve was made by Council Member Escudia Brayton and seconded by Council Member Wright; the roll call showed unanimous approval. The resolution authorized the director of finance or designee to issue the purchase order and to approve change orders up to 15% of the total purchase price.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/23/2025 - City of Modesto Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council authorized purchase of one armored vehicle for the Modesto Police Department, funding partly from Measure H and supplemental law-enforcement funds; public speakers were divided.","taxTitle","Modesto City, Stanislaus County, California","taxId",3811,"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},6457921,"Modesto residents press council to place repeal of mask ordinance on agenda after CPRB recommendation",2430,3443000,5873000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421&start=3443&end=5873","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421/thumbnail_3443000.jpg","/articles/6457921/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Modesto-residents-press-council-to-place-repeal-of-mask-ordinance-on-agenda-after-CPRB-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457921-c41d0bed774499171938b014f80fd211/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009140&Signature=YEIb3NVk-Z8RYyUjegF8rJkmZSzXhGugkN-4q~XjKsZ8CaCxAhnbVYu8KR0N-EQgklwFC56x28BUQJyIWfonZE2u~x8phnrOUEZZDSAfNYJEzouoFFMoWvIIKXpk0-mDt86Xqz~zDolTnoFX8Ys-FkrRyg9mLGRmiugZ16oNW7zAbO5bur0zDyCrc5dR1eLVlrSMQ2hlf2mLvPhgOHVT3y8yW68c7u7EWOOq4a2OwyggVebYXf20DtDuI76Phpg39FljPdrTDVxPjGQMhrQ4a5ABaBU1L52AfSMtvnBYvSE51N0yAlWSdKcw1~K~ax31wTVp1DX~3d9I7R8gLaiyLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Sept. 23 Modesto City Council meeting, repeated public comments urged the council and city manager to add consideration of a repeal of Modesto Municipal Code 4-23.02, subsection 13 — the city’s face-covering rule at protests — to an upcoming agenda.

Speakers said the Community Police Review Board (CPRB) recently recommended repeal and asked the council to act promptly. Ryan Hall, communications director for Cal Pride, told the council the CPRB “finally consented to recommend that the city repeal the mask ordinance last week,” and called for the council to agendize the ordinance for repeal rather than allow continued delay. Several other speakers — including attorney Harlan Diven, community organizers from Central Valley BIPOC Coalition, and residents who said they witnessed arrests on June 14 — described the ordinance as vague, overbroad and subject to selective enforcement.

The speakers linked the June 14 arrests to application of the ordinance, saying it had been used against unhoused youth and people of color. Julissa, who identified herself with the Central Valley BIPOC Coalition, asked the council to pair repeal with “some form of reparative action” for those affected. Multiple speakers referenced recommendations from outside organizations including ACLU Northern California and the CPRB and asked the city manager to place the repeal on the Oct. 14 council agenda.

City staff and council did not introduce or vote on a repeal at the Sept. 23 meeting. Several people who spoke said they have attended CPRB and council meetings for months seeking the same outcome. Commenters asked the council to reject further delay and said a community survey request described by Chief Gillespie at the CPRB was unnecessary because public input had already been consistent and ongoing.

The issue remained a public-comment demand rather than an action before the council on Sept. 23; speakers asked the council to respond by formally agendizing the CPRB recommendation and voting to repeal the municipal provision that limits face coverings at protests.

Community members signaled they will continue to attend council meetings until the item is scheduled; at least one speaker named Oct. 14 as the date they wanted the repeal placed on the agenda.

The council did not vote on the matter at the Sept. 23 meeting.","Multiple community members and advocacy groups urged Modesto City Council to agendize and repeal Modesto Municipal Code 4-23.02(13) after the Community Police Review Board recommended repeal; no council vote occurred at the Sept. 23 meeting.",{"_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},6457916,"Modesto approves $143.9 million River Trunk realignment and authorizes up to $60 million in wastewater bonds",989,10178000,11167000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421&start=10178&end=11167","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421/thumbnail_10178000.jpg","/articles/6457916/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Modesto-approves-1439-million-River-Trunk-realignment-and-authorizes-up-to-60-million-in-wastewater-bonds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457916-c45e211b86f7986cee17e621e8ed630a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009140&Signature=iHA20b1xtseDNcT54voyWXT9vFJhkxOWCOZYYT6UMHFuAbKLETLPt3ZrKoplUjeszwEJLz3G50YAUU0L65HS6ok9lhBEuXb4MxjW9gNeeSdpz3pgNmKD2u53XC12vdWIt9mb3GZm4xqayAnSM9w8qsab1zswheHcMiW-jTWiWKXQu9HYGP8fBEq72Jw7rD49lgTfpn1LCZH-tvnl-6SUhCZ-gPJ9iDKM~F0wqP~e4bf9oh6ra0E03yJC9UlkpcvNHChXOZDF3jh6TQRlUZ83QArWRNxMWsG9tdXmYWKn0Q12COqtoaLrm29O-aUkBIJj6tK~G~6zZeFQi~HG1HvX0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Modesto City Council approved a set of resolutions Sept. 23 to advance the River Trunk realignment and pump station project, a multi-component wastewater infrastructure program the city described as essential to address aging pipeline collapses and hydraulic deficiencies.

Staff described the scale of the work: a pump station with a wet well as deep as 90 feet, replacement pipeline beneath the river reach, and related construction. The project was split into three subprojects; the pump station and associated pipe replacement — the item before council Sept. 23 — will convey roughly 24% of the city’s wastewater flow to the Sutter Treatment Plant once complete.

The council accepted the low bid from Shimek Construction Company (Irvine) for $115,560,000 and authorized change orders up to 10% ($11,556,010) for a construction total not to exceed $127,116,000. The council also approved agreements for construction-management services with West Yost Associates (not to exceed $8,500,000 plus 10% additional-services authority, total $9,350,000) and for engineering support during construction with Corolla (Corola/Corolla Engineers — transcript spelling captured as “Corolla engineers”) for an amount not to exceed $5,675,000 plus $567,500 (total $6,242,500). The council amended the FY25–26 capital budget to transfer wastewater reserves into the project to fully fund construction and associated services, and authorized the issuance of wastewater revenue bonds not to exceed $60,000,000 to finance construction.

Council votes on the multiple resolutions were consistent: the construction contract and associated agreements and the bond authorization were approved on roll-call votes that carried 6–1 (Council Member Chris Rickey recorded the lone “no” votes on several of the items). Staff said the need for debt issuance had been captured in the wastewater rate study approved in 2021; estimated annual debt service was discussed in the staff presentation, and staff said the utility would maintain required coverage ratios and reserve targets even after borrowing.

The council’s approvals move the project into construction procurement and financing steps; staff said detailed schedules, a credit-rating review and final bond pricing remain as next steps.","Council awarded multiple contracts and authorized a revenue bond issuance to fund the River Trunk realignment pump station project; most measures passed 6-1 with Council Member Rickey dissenting on several financial items.",{"_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},6457919,"Council awards $14.7 million contract for Ninth Street corridor upgrades, including three roundabouts",965,8711000,9676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421&start=8711&end=9676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825569-e667061196aa3e2c1adbb15b8b20e421/thumbnail_8711000.jpg","/articles/6457919/Modesto-City/Stanislaus-County/California/Council-awards-147-million-contract-for-Ninth-Street-corridor-upgrades-including-three-roundabouts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457919-21c3f0d8981af313a9c7a0ad84966be1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009140&Signature=HtNEEz8iMGlz1T-Idmkft7ULQUVvqGbdI48zFRTiCJL5diqAad01yS1wZ-RZLSp9eQBrlWBrkvkvUvCelpao-xTjOrndf3uDuurRkVpjRI2rJd-soIx2Na21AZm7MpwCjv08QIDj6uFBzODi3dChmtr9yOILr4UOKS7qQbuZGLI-3km9u~AJG3sZ5Tw2TH5R4f3DSqQLF9KJlO3CfZSrFKlhz7O8QNFgYvx4AUqf8nALac4KpirEP7OBi5iy26YCYJ2e-XJpEBRsF1jRzLboXv3HWjC97wxTX3QqEYNPI9fN0xbdQZacAihReh~9MH2b1saW8s3r5sFrI~lprgXeRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Modesto City Council voted unanimously Sept. 23 to award contracts to construct the Ninth Street Corridor Improvement Project, a multi-phase street, bicycle and pedestrian upgrade stretching from Carpenter Road to L Street.

City Engineer Toby Wells told the council the project had been advanced with an Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant and local Measure L funds. The winning low bidder for construction was United Pavement Maintenance, at $13,363,465; the council authorized change orders up to $1,336,347 (10%) for a total not to exceed $14,699,812. The council also approved a construction-management agreement with TRC Engineers not to exceed $990,880, plus a 10% additional-services authorization (total not to exceed $1,089,968).

Wells described three single-lane roundabouts planned at Carver, Tully and Needham to address offset intersections and improve safety, plus roadway, bus-stop and bicycle-path improvements. The project will be built in two phases; the north segment (Needham to Carpenter) will be constructed first with the south segment following in 2026.

Council members asked technical questions about right-of-way and utilities; staff said the work stays within existing city right-of-way and that sidewalks, landscaping and non-electric utilities would be preserved. The council authorized the manager to execute the contracts and approved a budget amendment to allocate additional funds to complete the project. Wells estimated construction would start late 2025 with substantial completion targeted across 2026–27.

The contract award and construction-management agreement carried on a 7–0 roll call vote.","City awarded construction and construction-management contracts for the Ninth Street Corridor Improvement Project, funded by AHSC, Measure L and local funds; work includes three single-lane roundabouts and multi-modal improvements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Modesto council approves armored vehicle purchase amid public opposition and support

Modesto residents press council to place repeal of mask ordinance on agenda after CPRB recommendation

Modesto approves $143.9 million River Trunk realignment and authorizes up to $60 million in wastewater bonds

Council awards $14.7 million contract for Ninth Street corridor upgrades, including three roundabouts