Newman City Council adopts consent calendar, introduces 2025 California building code and updates personnel rules

The Newman City Council unanimously approved its consent calendar, introduced for first reading an ordinance to incorporate the 2025 edition of the California Building Standards Code into the Newman City Code, and adopted revised personnel rules at its Sept. 9 regular meeting.

Council members voted 5-0 to approve routine items listed on the consent calendar, which included waiving full readings of ordinances and resolutions, approval of warrants, approval of minutes for the Aug. 26 meeting, and adopting a resolution of concurrence and acceptance of the consolidated annual performance and evaluation report for fiscal year 2024–25 prepared for the Stanislaus Urban County/HOME Consortium. Council also voted 5-0 to accept a public utility easement and to relinquish access rights within the southernmost 435 feet of Murano Avenue.

Contract building official Mike Brinkman introduced the ordinance to adopt the state’s updated building standards, saying the 2025 code “ensures public safety while implementing the most efficient technology available to conserve the state’s natural resources and energy use.” The council approved the ordinance’s first reading and introduction by roll call; if adopted at subsequent readings, the code would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, per the staff presentation. Brinkman noted a standalone Part 7 addressing the wildland-urban interface among the more substantial updates in the 2025 cycle.

Separately, city staff presented a comprehensive update to the city’s personnel rules (the merit personnel system). A staff member said the overhaul was intended to align the city’s policies with recent state and federal changes, noting the rules were originally adopted in 1976 and last substantially revised in 2010. The staff member told the council the draft had been circulated to the city’s three bargaining groups, two of which responded affirmatively after review; the third did not respond within the requested comment window.

All three items passed without further debate. The meeting record shows motions carried with a 5-0 tally on each vote.

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar (waive readings; approve warrants; approve minutes; adopt CAPER resolution; accept public utility easement): motion carried 5-0. - Ordinance (first reading/introduction to incorporate the California Building Standards Code, 2025 edition, into Newman City Code): motion carried 5-0. - Resolution (adopt updated rules and regulations for administration of the merit personnel system): motion carried 5-0.

Council members and staff did not identify public opposition during the votes. The council did not take any additional final action on the building-code ordinance beyond the first reading at this meeting; further readings or adoption would appear on a future agenda.