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Atwater Council adopts Measure B spending guidelines, requires council sign‑off for facility and gym purchases
Summary
The Atwater City Council adopted program guidelines for Measure B (the public safety transactions and use tax), moving facility and gym equipment spending into a category that requires prior council authorization and directing oversight committee reporting; the council then recessed into closed session on litigation and a property negotiation.
The Atwater City Council adopted program guidelines for Measure B, the city's public safety transactions and use tax, clarifying eligible expenditures and creating a new requirement that any facility- or gym-related purchases receive prior council authorization.
City Manager Chris presented the staff report, saying the guidelines aim to guide staff on allowable expenses from the Measure B special account (0004) and to align with the municipal code (section 3.45). "So I moved the everything dealing with facilities or gym equipment into a new category that would require prior authorization from city council," Chris said, adding that the document also removes the SRO listing, reclassifies crime mapping and includes a form for oversight-committee review.
The move responded to concerns raised by councilmembers and the oversight committee about transparency and the timing of oversight. Councilmember Calisa said the ordinance has long required an independent audit and urged that it be separated from the city's broader audit so the public can more easily find Measure B-specific audit results: "I would just like to see it potentially be separated so that the public can easily access it and they can see exactly what the funds are being used for, in a separate location."
During public comment on the item, an oversight committee member and other residents pressed for prior review of non-emergency purchases, noting examples they felt were presented to the committee after purchases were made. One commenter questioned the cost of dispatcher workstations, noting a listed purchase of $59,006.02 and asking, "It seems like that's a lot for dispatcher furniture." City staff and council discussed additional administrative steps, including using the attached oversight form at committee meetings and bringing signed committee reports to council.
After discussion and public comment, a councilmember moved to approve item 12 (the Measure B program guidelines). The motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous vote by councilmembers present.
The council then recessed into closed session to discuss three items: anticipated litigation (two cases) under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2); real property negotiations concerning 303 East Bellevue Road (APN 156-060-011) with National Retail Properties LP (agency negotiators: the city manager and Public Works Director Vincent); and existing litigation, City of Atwater v. Robert Hugo Carbajal, under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1). The mayor noted the council would return to make a report after the closed session.
The council's action puts program-level guidance in place for Measure B spending while directing clearer oversight and reporting; staff said the guidelines are adaptable and can be updated by council in the future.
