Los Banos council approves grant application, awards contracts and clears retail alcohol permits; directs study of old police station

The Los Banos City Council on Aug. 6 approved a series of resolutions and took direction on several capital projects, moving forward with park, utility and public-safety plans while approving two conditional-use permits for off‑sale alcohol at new convenience-market developments.

Key votes at a glance - Resolution No. 6962: Authorized submittal of a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) application for renovations to Colorado Ballpark. Staff said the city is eligible as the park sits in a disadvantaged census tract and that federal award decisions are expected in winter 2025; the council approved the application. - Resolution No. 6970: Awarded a construction contract to SW Construction Inc. for the Orchard Terrace Sewer Lift Station Rehabilitation Project ($759,586.60 plus a 10% contingency). Staff said the award was to the lowest responsible bidder after vetting. - Resolution No. 6972: Approved Conditional Use Permit 2024‑03 for a Type 21 (general off‑sale) ABC license for Northgate 42 LLC (a convenience market with fuel pumps and an automated car wash). Planning staff said the project was cleared by a mitigated negative declaration; the council included conditions such as camera coverage to the satisfaction of the police chief. - Resolution No. 6973: Approved Conditional Use Permit 2023‑10 for a Type 21 license at Vintners Distributors Inc. for a convenience market on Mercy Springs Road and Wilmot Avenue; planning staff said that tract would have three off‑sale licenses after approval. - Acceptance: The council accepted the annual military-equipment report required under AB 481 and received an overview of the department’s equipment, training and community‑engagement procedures. - Resolution No. 6974: Approved a first amendment to the employment agreement with Gary Ambrizi Jr. to continue as interim city manager and allow a 30‑ to 90‑day overlap after hire of a permanent city manager; the amendment also reflected an hourly compensation adjustment already included in the FY 2025‑26 budget. - Administrative: The council authorized the cancellation of the regular Aug. 20 meeting and approved multiple consent items including grant acceptances, budget amendments and public‑works notices (Resolutions Nos. 6959–6971 among others).

Project and environmental notes - Colorado Ballpark and airport soils: At the start of the meeting a resident submitted a letter raising historical pesticide contamination near the Los Banos Airport and asked what safeguards would be taken during ballfield upgrades. Staff responded that a 1984 Phase II investigation had identified surface contamination that was removed, that city wells are located on the east side of the airport parcel and have not shown contamination, and that the city’s planned improvements will remain within the ballpark’s existing footprint rather than extending into airport property.

- Fire Station 4 and Emergency Operations Center: Fire Chief Paul Dwyer and staff presented a status update on a planned west‑side Fire Station 4 and a 5,700‑square‑foot regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The combined project budget was presented at about $11.5 million, and the city reported a $5 million award (with accrued interest) toward that total. Chief Dwyer said the station would initially have two to four personnel on duty, two apparatus bays with room for future expansion, health‑forward design (clean/contaminated separation), and integrated training facilities. The council directed staff to continue design and site work.

- Old police station property: Following public workshops and social‑media polling, councilmembers directed staff to pursue a feasibility study to evaluate reuse options for the former police annex and adjacent parcels rather than immediately demolishing the structures. Staff recommended a study that would include architectural and ADA assessments, abatement analysis and rough cost estimates to support outreach to potential developers or reuse scenarios.

Police and compliance - AB 481/military equipment: Commander Justin Melvin presented the city’s annual report on items identified under AB 481 (unmanned aircraft, patrol rifles, less‑lethal options, a mobile command trailer). The department reiterated training, policy oversight and public-complaint channels and the council voted to accept the report for the record.

Process and next steps Staff said conditional-use permits approved by the council now allow the applicants to pursue state ABC licensing; several projects are still subject to building permits, mitigation measures in adopted mitigated negative declarations, and coordination with Caltrans for traffic impacts where state highways are involved. City staff and councilmembers noted that grant decisions and contractor mobilization timelines vary and will be reported at future meetings.

Ending: The council moved a slate of infrastructure and land‑use items forward while asking for a feasibility analysis for downtown reuse of city property; residents who provided written concerns about contamination at the airport were told prior investigations did not find impacts to city wells and that the ballpark work would remain on the existing footprint.