Vallejo City Council on July 22 approved a package of public-safety and infrastructure measures, including a $2 million appropriation for police recruitment and retention, a $3.689 million contract to resurface residential streets, and authority to lease or purchase mobile security camera systems up to $500,000.

The council took the items in a sequence of votes late in the meeting after public comment and debate over policing and community safety. Council members said the recruitment money and the camera procurement aim to speed hiring and expand options for deterrence and evidence-gathering; opponents in public comment argued the money should instead go to community services or be conditioned by stronger accountability rules.

Votes at a glance
- Recruitment and retention funding (Resolution to amend FY25–26 budget, appropriation $2,000,000): Motion made and carried by roll call; unanimous with mayor absent. Roll call recorded: Council member Gordon — yes; Council member Leggett/Matias — yes; Council member Matulek — aye; Council member Paul Maris — aye; Vice Mayor Bergenzer — yes. This item was presented as “step 2 of 2” after prior meet-and-confer steps with the bargaining unit.
- Cape Seal 2025 project (award to Gilotti Brothers, San Rafael): Contract award for $3,689,824.98; council adopted required CEQA finding and approved plans and specifications; motion carried unanimously with mayor absent.
- Mobile security camera systems (agreement with Live View Technologies; authorization not to exceed $500,000 and budget appropriation $1,150,000 for public-safety measures): Council approved the procurement and appropriations, with the city manager authorized to proceed unless the Surveillance Advisory Board raises objections at its meeting; motion carried unanimously with mayor absent.
- Five-year Capital Improvement Program (FY25–26 through FY29–30): Council held a public hearing, received staff presentation and adopted the five-year CIP accepting a FY25–26 appropriation package that emphasizes pavement, public buildings and water projects; motion carried unanimously with mayor absent.
- Economic Development Commission 2025 work plan and budget step: Council approved the EDC work plan and a notice of intent to amend FY25–26 budget for $7,967 to complete prior work-plan items; motion carried unanimously with mayor absent.

The votes followed extensive public comment, including calls from residents for changes in policing practice, demands for clearer data on police complaints, and business owners asking for more regular patrols in commercial corridors. Council discussion focused on balancing recruitment and retention needs for the Vallejo Police Department with broader accountability and cultural-change work.

Councilmembers and staff said the $2 million recruitment/retention appropriation is intended to accelerate officer hiring and reduce attrition. City HR and police staff described that without a change in approach the department’s net gain in officers would remain limited; supporters argued the money would help attract and retain lateral hires and increase patrol staffing more quickly than the existing baseline would allow. Detractors in public comments and on the dais pressed for more explicit disciplinary or performance-linked safeguards.

Contracting and procurement notes
The cape seal contract to Gilotti Brothers was the low responsive bid; city staff said the method selected for the Cape Seal project differs from a recent chip-seal project that had generated resident complaints because the current scope includes a seal coat cover to secure the aggregate. For the camera systems, staff said two towers are planned immediately and the remainder will move forward unless the Surveillance Advisory Board raises objections on Thursday; staff will return if the board identifies issues.

What’s next
Council asked staff to return with implementation details and to coordinate follow-up with advisory bodies where appropriate. Several council members also asked that council-level briefings be provided on major capital projects — notably the police headquarters project and large water CIP work — at the next meeting or soon thereafter.