Lemoore council approves consent items, accepts $350,000 REAP funds and adopts quarterly investment reporting

At its April 1 meeting, the Lemoore City Council approved a suite of consent calendar items and directed staff to amend the city's investment policy to require a quarterly public investment report.

Council voted to approve routine items including minutes from the March 18 meeting and a budget amendment for training facility equipment. The council accepted Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) funds in the amount of $350,000 and authorized a budget amendment for that award. The council also authorized the purchase of four Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid vehicles and approved a resolution renewing the police department's policy on use of military equipment.

Item 4-2, a second-reading ordinance (2025-02) adopting a zone text amendment to add rules for electronic billboards and modify off-site sign standards and other sign-setback requirements, had been pulled for separate consideration at a resident's request. After brief public follow-up, the council approved item 4-2. Resident Alex Walker had asked whether there might be revenue opportunities if an electronic billboard were on city-owned property and whether private electronic billboards require fees; staff replied that there could be a revenue opportunity if the city placed a billboard on city property and that private installations require permit fees.

Council members also discussed the investment policy (item 4-7). Council member Gornick moved to direct staff to include a quarterly public investment report requirement in the investment policy if the policy did not already do so. The motion was seconded by Council member Brewster and passed unanimously. "We would receive an investment report every quarter publicly," Council member Gornick said during discussion.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve consent calendar items 4-1 and 4-3 through 4-6: motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gornick, second by Council member Brewster; vote 4-0 in favor (Council member Lyons was recorded present earlier but not voting on the motion). - Approval of item 4-2 (second-reading ordinance 2025-02, zone text amendment to add electronic billboards and related code changes): motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gornick, second by Council member Brewster; vote 4-0 in favor. - Amendment to investment policy to require quarterly public investment reports (item 4-7): motion by Mayor Pro Tem Gornick, second by Council member Brewster; vote 4-0 in favor.

The council pulled item 4-8 for consideration at a future meeting. The consent approvals and the investment policy amendment were recorded on the public record; staff will update policy documents to reflect the new quarterly reporting requirement.