Votes at a glance: Livingston Council actions Feb. 4 — contracts, MOUs and appointments

The Livingston City Council took the following formal actions during its Feb. 4 meeting. This roundup lists each item, the motion outcome and recorded votes where provided.

- Consent calendar: Items 4 and 5 (agreement with Midway Amusements for the 2025‑27 Sweet Potato Festival; MOU with the Supervisory Employees Association for 7/1/2024–6/30/2025 and revised pay schedule) were approved by a 4‑0 roll call (Ross, O’Paul, Mayor Pro Tem Semmer, Mayor Moran — all “Yes”).

- Item 2 (amendment to interim city manager contract providing a 4% cost‑of‑living increase effective 2/1/2024): Approved by roll call (Roth yes, O’Paul yes, Moran yes; Semmer recused) — recorded as 3‑0 in favor with one recusal.

- Item 3 (professional services agreement with Shannon Pump Company to repair Well 15 and Well 17; amount not to exceed $208,773.23; waiver of formal bidding): Approved by roll call (4‑0).

- Item 6 (Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Livingston Police Officers Association for 7/1/2024–6/30/2025 and revised pay schedule): Councilmember Roth recused and did not vote; remaining members approved the MOU 3‑0.

- Items 7 and 8 (general plan amendment and zoning map amendment for the Moonglow development; and a time extension for the Villages at Main application): Both items were continued to the Feb. 18 meeting because required adjacent‑property notices had not been completed; council voted to continue 4‑0.

- Item 9A and 9B (midyear budget adjustments and directive to move Gilton franchise fees): Item 9A (midyear budget amendments) passed 4‑0; Item 9B (authorize finance to move Gilton franchise fees from fire services fund back to the general fund, and deposit future Gilton franchise fees to the general fund / sanitation fund as directed) passed by roll call 4‑0; council also directed staff to return with options for an administrative fee and phasing scenarios.

- Item 10 (Planning Commission appointment / vacancy and direction to solicit applications): Council directed staff to bring back a resolution appointing Diego Castillo as a permanent member and to solicit applications for the resulting alternate vacancy; motion passed 4‑0.

- Item 11 (Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission vacancies): Council appointed one member (Jessica, per staff list) and directed staff to solicit applications for remaining vacancies; motion passed 4‑0.

- Item 12 (discussion and direction on dissolving the ad‑hoc committee for over‑the‑counter building permits): Council dissolved the ad hoc committee and directed staff to follow the existing staff memo process (staff to make findings and forward memos to the city manager, who will distribute to council); motion passed 4‑0.

- Item 13 (designation of delegates for the Merced County Association of Governments One‑Voice trip): Mayor Moran and Mayor Pro Tem Semmer were originally designated; Councilmembers Roth and Paul volunteered to attend in their stead and the council appointed Councilmembers Roth and Paul to represent Livingston; motion passed 4‑0.

- Item 14 (status update on administrative fee for solid‑waste billing): No fee adopted; council directed finance staff to return with models and phased options (see separate article for full debate and directions).

- Item 15A (appointment to fill city council vacancy): The council appointed Robert Wallace to fill the vacant council seat by a 3‑1 vote (Roth yes; O’Paul yes; Semmer yes; Moran no). Wallace was sworn in at the meeting.

- Item 15B (city treasurer vacancy): The council appointed Perwinder (name as submitted) to the treasurer position pending verification that he meets code requirements; the appointee will be sworn after verification. Councilmember O’Paul temporarily recused himself from the dais during consideration of that appointment.

Several other routine or technical items were approved on consent or processed as staff direction; where votes were recorded the roll call results above reflect the meeting transcript.