Council approves consent calendar, public‑safety MOU, nitrogen‑gas franchise extension and appoints Human Relations Commission member

The council moved through a series of orderly votes late in the meeting, approving multiple items with generally unanimous support.

Consent calendar: Vice Mayor Sowell moved approval of consent calendar items 1A–1H, seconded by Council Member Chang. Because one or more council members participated remotely, the city clerk conducted a roll‑call voice vote per the Brown Act; Mayor Klein, Council Members Srinivasan, Sall (vice mayor), Chang, and Mellinger voted yes and the motion carried 5‑0 with Council Members Cisneros and Lay absent.

Public Safety Managers Association MOU: Assistant City Manager Sarah Johnson Reyes presented the successor memorandum of understanding covering a three‑year term (with possible fourth‑year extension) that focuses on internal equity and recruitment/retention; fiscal impacts will be incorporated into the FY 2026–27 budget. Vice Mayor Sall moved adoption; the motion passed on roll call 5‑0.

Nitrogen gas franchise: Public Works Director Chip Taylor briefed council on a proposed 15‑year extension to an existing non‑exclusive franchise for distribution of nitrogen gas (Air Products). The current franchise dates to 1978 and serves local manufacturing and packaging customers. Staff benchmarked regional rates and recommended a rate yielding roughly $100,000 annual franchise revenue (up from about $40,000 under current terms). Council introduced the ordinance and voted 5‑0 to proceed.

Human Relations Commission appointment: After a roll‑call appointment process that produced two candidates with five affirmative votes each (Joshua Charnoda and Neela Rajkumar), Council Member Mellinger moved to appoint Joshua Charnoda to the Human Relations Commission for a term ending June 30, 2026; the motion passed on a subsequent voice vote.

All votes noted that Council Members Cisneros and Lay were absent from the meeting.