Council approves consent agenda and contract, budget and rate items; GreenWaste rate increase approved 4‑1

Council approved a bundled consent agenda and then took separate votes on several pulled consent items and contract/fee adjustments on June 5.

Major outcomes at the meeting: - Consent agenda: the council approved the full consent agenda (multiple routine items) by unanimous vote; several items had been pulled for discussion but were ultimately adopted. - City checks (Item 8b): Council approved and filed the city check report after a public comment that asked for timelier reporting; staff said the reports will be provided quarterly going forward. - Grand jury response (Item 8e): Council approved the city’s formal response to the 2024–25 Monterey County civil grand jury report on road safety and where to report problems; staff said a prior recommendation to change cClickFix labeling had been implemented. - Hospital security budget amendment (Item 8f): Council approved a budget amendment of $54,004.03 to pay for 24/7 security coverage for detained suspects who require hospital care rather than using sworn officers for the overnight guard role. - Infrastructure asset data contract (Item 8i): Council approved an amendment to NCE Inc.’s professional services agreement to expand asset data collection (add light posts, guardrails, traffic barriers, utility boxes, water valves, manholes, trees and tree wells) raising the contract to an amount not to exceed $87,000. - Public works standards (Item 8j): Council authorized a professional service agreement with Watson Engineers Inc. in the amount of $48,000 to develop updated public works engineering standards and technical specifications. - Solid‑waste franchise rate (Item 8m): Council approved a contractual 4.14% rate increase in GreenWaste Recovery Inc.’s collection charges effective July 1, 2025. The vote passed 4–1; Council member Miller stated objections during discussion and recorded a “no” vote. Staff and a consultant explained the increase is a formulaic, multi‑index escalation tied to costs and tip‑fee changes at the regional disposal authority (Regen Monterey); staff noted the city participates in a cost‑sharing MOU with Regen for consulting review. - Additional consent items: the council approved several contract awards (police department parking lot construction contract with a construction contingency, on‑call landscape architecture agreements, sidewalk inspection and restoration contracts, and a five‑year fire services agreement with the city of Del Rey Oaks) as listed on the consent agenda.

Why it matters: the approvals include capital contracts, ongoing professional services, and a utility rate increase that affects residential bills. Staff said refusal to accept an approved franchise rate adjustment could put the city in breach of contract.

Ending: Several pulled items generated questions about transparency and contract details; staff said they will supply additional back‑up and accomplishment information where requested.