Victorville council approves housing and safety contracts, raises city manager pay and backs California anniversary events

The Victorville City Council on Sept. 2 approved a set of contracts and budget changes intended to expand rapid rehousing services, add pedestrian safety devices at school crosswalks, secure unarmed security services and formalize veterinary services for the city’s animal adoption center. The council also approved a 5% salary increase for City Manager Keith Metzler and voted to light City Hall in California’s colors for the state’s 175th anniversary.

The council adopted staff recommendations to award two consultant agreements under the state’s Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF-3) for rapid rehousing: a 24-month agreement with Family Assistance Program not to exceed $959,920 and a 24-month agreement with Victor Valley Family Resource Center not to exceed $200,000. City planner Alex Hategui was identified as the author of the ERF-3 item. The motion to approve the contracts was moved by Councilmember Godin and seconded by Councilmember Irving; the vote was unanimous.

Why it matters: the ERF-3 award is part of a larger $6.4 million-state grant the city received in late 2024; staff said about $2.3 million of that award was budgeted for rapid rehousing services. City staff described the rapid rehousing work as covering rental subsidies, security deposits, landlord incentives, housing search assistance and referrals to community-based supports.

The council also approved Resolution No. 25-066 to amend the FY 2025–26 budget to add $149,310 in Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant proceeds and $465,000 in Measure I funds to install 19 rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at nine school crosswalk locations. City engineer Freddy Bonilla and staff noted some Measure I money was needed to fund ADA-related improvements at beacon locations. Councilmember Herriman praised the city crews’ work on school striping and safety improvements. The motion passed unanimously.

In procurement actions, the council awarded a general services provider agreement for unarmed security guard services (project JM25-128) to American Global Security Inc. in an amount not to exceed $324,355. Human Resources Officer Heather Barber said the city received 17 bids and that the selection criteria included methodology of service, past performance, understanding of the scope, professional qualifications and cost. “So they took all of that into consideration for all of the proposals that were submitted and then ranked according to that,” Barber said. The award passed unanimously.

The council ratified $257,184.86 in veterinary expenditures for fiscal year 2024–25 and approved a new professional services agreement with Dr. Joseph Velasco, doing business as Providential Services Inc., in an amount of $265,000 for FY 2025–26 to provide veterinary services to the city’s animal services division. Staff said the city now employs a registered veterinary technician on site and that Dr. Velasco’s contract formalizes ongoing clinical support for the 130‑kennel adoption facility opened in December 2024. Councilmembers discussed that feline trap‑neuter‑release pricing was included in the vet cost exhibit; staff pointed to the cost table in Exhibit B of the packet.

The council approved a 5% salary adjustment for City Manager Keith Metzler after a motion by Mayor Becerra and a second by Councilmember Irving. The council cited the city’s size and complexity, including city-owned utilities and airport-related entities, in supporting the increase; the vote was unanimous.

On civic recognition, the council approved a motion to mark California’s statehood anniversary by illuminating City Hall in blue and gold (the state’s colors), to explore becoming a Clean California community, and to promote the anniversary through social media and other feasible measures. Staff said some timeline items (for example, a proclamation by Sept. 9) might be difficult but that they would pursue feasible elements of the request. The motion passed unanimously.

Other council business and administrative instructions included directing staff to schedule a forthcoming agenda item to appoint a recreation representative to the Planning Commission after Commissioner Kurt’s resignation, and directing staff to return with options for filling the vacancy created by Councilwoman Jones’s resignation; the latter motion passed with Councilwoman Jones voting no and all other members voting yes.

During public comment, Carla Cisneros of Victorville told the council that “numerous community mailboxes across the city have been broken into and vandalized,” and urged the city and Victorville Police Department to increase patrols around community mailboxes or work with the U.S. Postal Service to secure boxes. The clerk confirmed there were no additional public comment cards after Cisneros spoke.

Staff reports and logistics: the council received a briefing that closed session had addressed one real‑property negotiation pursuant to California Government Code § 54956.8 and that there was no reportable action. City Manager Metzler reported work beginning on Phase 2 of the citywide pavement preservation and maintenance project, with slurry seal work scheduled to begin Sept. 19, and promoted a Halloween‑themed community cleanup day on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Votes at a glance: all recorded agenda actions passed unanimously except the council direction to return with options for filling Councilwoman Jones’s vacancy, which passed with Jones voting no. Specific vote tallies and motion sponsors are listed in the city’s adopted minutes and are summarized in the actions array attached below.

The council adjourned at 6:42 p.m.