Carson council approves $5.66 million traffic-signal contract and adopts ordinance allowing license revocation tied to criminal investigations

The Carson City Council on Aug. 5 voted to award a $5,661,686 construction contract to Elektor Bellcore Electric Inc. to modify traffic signals at six intersections and adopted Ordinance No. 25-2509, which amends the Carson Municipal Code to expressly allow the city to suspend or revoke business licenses when criminal investigations produce evidence of violations of law.

The traffic-signal contract covers existing signals at these locations: Figueroa Street at Victoria Street; Figueroa Street at 220 Third Street; Figueroa Street at 230 Fourth Street; Main Street at Albertoni Street; Main Street at 200 Twentieth Street; and Main Street at Victoria Street. Staff described the work as upgrades and modifications to existing signals rather than wholly new installations.

“The project is to modify those, to put left turn signals for increased safety,” said Ian of the city’s engineering division. He also said the work would include pedestrian-signal modifications and controller upgrades to support new phasing.

Councilmember Jim Dear moved approval of the construction contract and identified the amount and the low responsive bidder. The motion as read by council included authorization for the mayor to execute the construction contract following city-attorney review. A council member seconded the motion; the council voted to approve the contract (final vote recorded in the minutes as “It passes, madam mayor.”). The staff-stated contract amount was $5,661,686.

On a separate item the council conducted a second reading and adopted Ordinance No. 25-2509, amending chapter 3 (Business Professions and Trades) of the Carson Municipal Code by adding explicit authority for the city to revoke or suspend business licenses when criminal investigations yield evidence of violations of law. The ordinance amends municipal code sections cited in the motion as 6-3-8383 (revocation/suspension grounds), 6-3-134.1 (eligibility), and 6-3-134.3 (performance standards). Council voted to adopt the ordinance on second reading; the clerk announced, “It passes, madam mayor.”

Votes at a glance - Traffic-signal contract (Project No. 1657): Award construction contract to Elektor Bellcore Electric Inc., $5,661,686 — Approved. - Ordinance No. 25-2509: Second reading and adoption to allow license suspension/revocation when criminal investigations yield evidence of law violations — Approved. - Consent calendar (Items 10–22) and minutes (earlier item): Approved (as announced in the meeting).

What the actions mean - Traffic signals: The contract will modify existing signals (add left-turn indications, pedestrian improvements, and controller upgrades) at six intersections described above. Staff said synchronization across corridors was not part of this contract; county-level projects address broader signal coordination. - Ordinance: The municipal-code change adds explicit municipal authority to suspend or revoke business licenses where criminal investigations yield evidence of violations; the motion cited specific code sections being amended.

Next steps and implementation Staff will return signed contract documents after review by the city attorney and mayoral execution per the motion. The ordinance takes effect per the normal municipal-code adoption process after the second reading.

Background and context Councilmembers and staff emphasized safety and clarity. Councilmember Dear requested that staff clarify in the record that the signal work is modifications to existing intersections rather than new installations. Staff confirmed controller upgrades are a safety feature enabling left-turn phasing. The motion language used in the meeting named the bidder and contract amount.

Ending Council members did not provide specific implementation timelines or detailed funding-source breakdowns during the discussion; funding sources were not specified in the remarks captured on the record.