Newman City Council adopts FY 2025–26 budget, awards road contract and rezones sites; declares nuisance at 1343 Clove Court

The Newman City Council voted 3–0 Tuesday to adopt the city’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget and Gann appropriations limit, award a $367,645.36 contract for a 2024 slurry-seal project, approve a list of potential SB 1-funded road projects, adopt zoning changes required by the housing element and declare a public nuisance at 1343 Clove Court.

The actions complete routine year‑end budget business and advance several street‑repair projects and housing rezonings the city identified under its cycle 2023–2031 housing element. Councilmember Pimentel, Councilmember Tomlinson and Mayor Pro Tem Ball cast all recorded votes.

Luke, the city staff member who presented the budget, told the council the city expects roughly $7.6 million in general‑fund revenues in 2025–26 and is budgeting about $8.4 million in expenditures. The presentation noted a 51% reserve at the end of the previous fiscal year and that staffing increases in the budget (nine positions) largely reflect additional volunteer firefighters rather than new full‑time hires. "We're looking at $7,600,000 coming in this year," Luke said during his overview.

Votes at a glance: - Consent calendar (multiple routine items including adoption of Resolution 2025 accepting Jensen Road improvements as complete and authorizing final payment to Rolfe Construction): adopted, roll call 3–0. - Resolution declaring public nuisance (Resolution 2025) at 1343 Clove Court under Ordinance 95‑4: adopted, roll call 3–0. Staff said the city sent initial warnings beginning in early May (initial photos taken around May 2–3; first enforcement letter dated May 12) and that staff would continue to work with the property owner for roughly one month before moving forward with abatement if remediation is not completed. - Gann appropriations limit (Resolution 2025 establishing FY 2025–26 limit): adopted, roll call 3–0. - FY 2025–26 budget adoption (Resolution 2025): adopted, roll call 3–0. - Award contract to American Pavement Systems for the 2024 slurry‑seal project (approximately $367,645.36) and authorize the city manager to execute the agreement: adopted, roll call 3–0. Staff said the project targets neighborhoods in the northeast part of Newman and will be funded from the city’s SB 1 allocation. - Adoption of a list of projects to be eligible for SB 1 (Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017) funding for FY 2025–26: adopted, roll call 3–0. Proposed streets include Mariposa Street, Tulare, Fresno Street and other corridors identified by pavement condition index (PCI) analysis. - Reading and adoption of Ordinance 2025 amending Title 5 (zoning) to rezone eight sites to R‑3 under Program 1.9 of the housing element (cycle 2023–2031): adopted, roll call 3–0. Staff said two property owners had called to oppose rezoning of their parcels but the measure moved forward following the hearing conducted at the May 24 meeting.

What council members and staff said: - Justin Farkas, representing the office of Assemblyman Juan Alanis, updated the council on the recent legislative schedule in Sacramento and noted the assembly’s house‑of‑origin deadline had passed; he summarized several bills his office had tracked, including work on the low carbon fuel standard and other measures. - On roads, Public Works staff member Thomas described the slurry‑seal selection process and said the city used PCI scores to choose concentrated areas that would most benefit from slurry and crack sealing. Thomas told council members that larger pavement failures and deep potholes (divots) identified on Hills Ferry and other streets would require separate repairs and, in some cases, county coordination or later projects funded through STANCOG. - On the nuisance item, code enforcement staff displayed photos and described ongoing cleanup efforts. Staff said the owner had completed some work but an unpermitted structure and outside storage remained; staff recommended declaring the nuisance while allowing one additional month for voluntary remediation before pursuing abatement.

Details and background: - Budget: staff reported enterprise funds (water and sewer) are "healthy" and that combined enterprise spending is projected near $7.8 million; state and other grant awards totaling about $11 million remain available to the city with roughly $7.4 million approved for spending on specific projects. The presenter said budgeted expenditures exceed forecast revenues because the city budgets for full payroll and vacant positions often remain unfilled early in the year; historically the city has closed those gaps and maintained reserves. - Roads: the lowest responsive bid for the slurry‑seal contract came from American Pavement Systems at about $367,645.36. Staff said the work includes crack sealing and restriping; more substantial repairs (deep potholes, manhole adjustments) are not part of this contract. - Housing rezones: the readopted ordinance rezones eight parcels (examples mentioned include sites on Hills Ferry, L Street, West Avenue near Tulare and parcels on Prince Road) to R‑3 to meet state housing element site‑inventory requirements. - Consent/Capital: the consent calendar included acceptance of Jensen Road improvements as complete and authorization for the city clerk to record a notice of completion and for final payment to Rolfe Construction 35 days after that recording.

What happens next: - Staff will upload the adopted SB 1 project list by the July 1 deadline to preserve eligibility for next fiscal‑year funding and will sequence the next road areas based on project outcomes and PCI results. - For the nuisance at 1343 Clove Court, code enforcement will continue outreach for the next month; if the property is not fully remediated, staff said it will proceed with abatement procedures.

Meeting context: the council convened with three members present (Mayor Pro Tem Ball; Councilmember Pimentel; Councilmember Tomlinson). Multiple staff presenters addressed the council, including the budget presenter Luke, Public Works staff Thomas and code enforcement. The meeting included brief public comments and a legislative update from the assemblyman’s office.