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Residents Urge Measure B Transparency, Raise Local Complaints During Atwater Public Comment
Summary
Residents used public comment to press the council on Measure B oversight and audits, ask for promised police hires, complain about construction impacts on private property, and allege that a councilmember may not reside in his district; staff said Measure B is audited as part of the city audit and that an oversight committee meeting is scheduled.
During the public comment period at the Atwater City Council meeting, several residents raised concerns about Measure B oversight, municipal spending and local public-works issues.
One commenter asked for an independent Measure B audit and said none were on file. "The ordinance is pretty specific. It says right in there that there's going to be audits to Measure B, and there are none," the speaker said, urging staff and the council to produce records for the Measure B oversight committee. City Manager Chris responded that the city's annual audit includes Measure B expenditures and that staff can organize a separate line item for a standalone audit if the council chooses to procure one.
Other speakers asked why no additional police officers have been hired using Measure B revenue and urged the council to prioritize public-safety staffing. Several residents also raised complaints about the Fruitland Avenue project and said construction efforts had affected driveways and irrigation.
Rudy Abara alleged a councilmember (identified by the speaker as "Mr. Raymond") is not living in his district and suggested the council should consider a vote of no confidence or that the member step down; this was presented as an allegation by a member of the public and not proven during the meeting.
City staff said an oversight committee meeting for Measure B was scheduled the following night and that staff would provide forms and reports to the committee when council-approved expenditure plans are final.
