Parlier council approves downtown façade change order for Buildings 1–8; ARPA funding questioned

Parlier City Council voted 5–0 on Oct. 2, 2025, to approve a change order to extend the downtown façade improvements to Buildings 1–8, adopting the agenda item described as Resolution No. 2025-75. The motion to approve option 1 (a change order to Yana's Construction to apply the same façade treatment used in prior phases) was made by Mayor Pro Tem Sabrina Rodriguez and seconded by Council Member Diego Garza; the roll-call vote recorded five ayes.

The council debate focused on which portion of downtown to fund now and whether federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money that had been moved into the general fund should pay the additional cost. Javier presented four options on the agenda: (1) change order to finish Buildings 1–8 to match Phase I; (2) extend the project to Buildings 9–11 (K Street to Newmark) using ARPA funds placed into the general fund; (3) rebid Buildings 9–11 as a separate contract; and (4) a budget amendment to repair the community center roof (estimated roughly $270,000). Staff estimated the combined fiscal impact of all three downtown options at about $941,500 to the general fund if all were selected.

Fiscal context and council concerns

Finance staff told the council that the budget previously showed an apparent ARPA “surplus” of roughly $530,000 in the adopted budget, but that the available ARPA-derived balance has since fallen because of year-end adjustments and other transfers. As stated in the meeting, the actual ARPA-derived balance available to repurpose was “no more than $300,000” at the time of the discussion; staff said exact numbers would rely on final closeout figures.

Several council members and residents objected to using ARPA dollars to cover recurring operating shortfalls. One council member reiterated that ARPA funds must be used for qualifying projects and said moving them to cover general overspending could require repayment to the federal government if auditors find non‑qualified uses. City staff responded that downtown façade work is an eligible capital project when documented to ARPA criteria and that using the funds for downtown improvements would avoid a later audit repayment.

Outcome and next steps

Council approved option 1 (change order for Buildings 1–8) by roll call. Staff will proceed with the change order to the current contractor for the downtown façade upgrades and return with contract paperwork and any required budget amendments. Council did not approve options 2–4 at this meeting; further action would require separate motions and additional budget review.

Ending

Council members requested staff post revised budget figures and ARPA-eligibility documentation before considering additional façade expenditures beyond Buildings 1–8.