Tracy City Council approves contract extensions, equipment list and appointments; council absorbs some utility card fees

The Tracy City Council approved a set of contracts, committee changes and appointments during its Feb. 4 meetings, voting unanimously on each roll call shown in the record.

The votes cover a range of routine and time-sensitive items: an expanded contract with Willdan Engineering to provide interim city engineer and support services, adoption of the police department's military-equipment inventory for 2024, a change to the Finance Committee bylaws that combines it with the Investment Review Committee, a decision to absorb certain residential card convenience fees on utility payments, and the appointment of Gurdeep ("Gary") Shergill to the Environmental Sustainability Commission.

Why it matters: The contract extension and staffing decisions are meant to maintain continuity on ongoing capital and development work while the city recruits a permanent city engineer. The equipment inventory vote formally authorizes continued use of specified tools under the agency's policy. The convenience-fee decision affects how some utility customers are charged, and the committee bylaw change alters how fiscal oversight and investment review will be scheduled.

Council actions and outcomes

- Interim city engineer and support services (Amendment No. 1 with Willdan Engineering): Staff recommended increasing the professional services agreement ceiling to a not-to-exceed $450,000 and extending the term to Dec. 31, 2025 to maintain review and sign-off capacity for civil plans while recruitment continues. The council voted to adopt the amendment; the motion passed on a roll call with all voting yes (Mayor Dan Areola; Mayor Pro Tem Abercrombie; Council members Nygaard, Bedoya and Evans). Staff said the original emergency contract had been $50,000; the amendment provides budgetary flexibility to carry the engineering function while searches and reorganization continue.

- Police department military-equipment list (Item 1C): The police lieutenant reported the department tracked 261 deployments of AB-41 listed equipment during 2024 and provided a breakdown (for example: BearCat 13, drones 23, less-lethal shotgun 35, patrol rifles 34, flash-bangs 9). Council approved the item on a roll call (Mayor Areola; Mayor Pro Tem…