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Hanford council accepts mayor's resignation, selects new mayor and vice mayor; approves RMRA list and interim city manager
Summary
At its June meeting the Hanford City Council accepted Mayor Lou Martinez's resignation as mayor, selected Travis Paden as mayor and Nancy House as vice mayor, adopted an RMRA project resolution, approved an interim city manager agreement and delayed a proposed drone show until 2026. Multiple consent items and purchases were approved.
The Hanford City Council voted on multiple governance and budget items at its June meeting, accepting Mayor Lou Martinez’s resignation as mayor, electing Travis Paden as mayor and Nancy House as vice mayor, adopting a road maintenance project list tied to RMRA funding, and approving an interim city manager agreement.
The council formally accepted Mayor Lou Martinez’s resignation from the mayor position and then conducted nominations and roll-call votes to select a new mayor and vice mayor. Travis Paden was nominated and confirmed by council majority; Nancy House was subsequently selected as vice mayor.
In other formal actions, the council adopted Resolution No. 25-36-R, designating a project list for the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) and approving an estimated RMRA revenue projection of $1,605,667. The project list centers on a two-phase Lacey Boulevard rehabilitation project; staff recommended appropriating approximately $802,000 per phase and pursuing a complete-streets design.
Council also approved an interim city manager employment agreement for Finance Director Christopher Tavares, effective in August and paying a monthly interim salary of $16,809. The agreement will remain in effect until a permanent city manager is hired or either party elects to terminate early.
The consent calendar and individual consent items that had been pulled for discussion — including blanket purchase orders for public works and parks and Measure H–funded police vehicle purchases — were approved by the council. Items F (public works/parks blanket purchase orders over $50,000) and H (police vehicle purchases funded by Measure H) moved forward with council votes.
The council discussed a proposal for a drone show around Independence Day but members and staff said the request arrived too late to plan and promote for this year. By motion the council voted to delay consideration and asked staff to plan instead for a possible 2026 event, and to pursue stronger sponsorship and earlier planning. Hanford’s fire chief told council he preferred earlier enforcement and code changes to reduce illegal-fireworks harm rather than late, one-off events.
Votes at a glance: - Acceptance of Mayor Lou Martinez’s resignation — motion to accept passed (vote: 5-0). - Selection of Mayor (Travis Paden) — confirmed by roll-call (Kyres: abstain; House: no; Reagan: yes; Paden: yes; Martinez: yes) — outcome: elected mayor. - Selection of Vice Mayor (Nancy House) — confirmed by roll-call (final tally: majority yes) — outcome: elected vice mayor. - Resolution 25-36-R (RMRA project list; estimated RMRA $1,605,667) — adopted (vote: 5-0). - Interim city manager employment agreement for Christopher Tavares (monthly $16,809; effective August) — approved (vote: 5-0). - Consent calendar and pulled items F and H (blanket purchase orders; Measure H vehicle purchases) — approved (motions passed; votes recorded 5-0 on each). - Drone show proposal — motion to delay to 2026 and plan earlier/sponsorship approach — passed (vote: 5-0).
Why it matters: The leadership change affects council organization and who presides over meetings; the RMRA resolution moves city street-rehabilitation planning into design and funding phases; the interim manager agreement ensures executive continuity while the city recruits a permanent manager.
Clarifying details and next steps: Staff noted Phase 1 of the Lacey Boulevard project runs from the railroad tracks to Sierra Drive and Phase 2 from Tenth Avenue to the railroad tracks; staff will bring design options back to council. The interim city manager agreement begins with a transition period in August and keeps the appointee’s existing benefits while adding interim pay. The council directed staff to draft a new city attorney contract (separate item at the study session) and asked staff to return with enforceable fireworks code changes and with a presentation from the Kings County homelessness collaborative in a future meeting.
Ending: Multiple administrative and budget matters were resolved in the session. Council directed staff to return with drafts and reports — including the RMRA project design options, a draft updated city attorney contract and recommendations on enforceable fireworks code changes — for formal action at future meetings.
