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Garfield council advances ordinances, introduces bond measures for water work and park
Summary
At its Sept. 23 meeting the Garfield Mayor and Council introduced several ordinances on first reading and adopted multiple bond ordinances to fund water‑system upgrades and park improvements; council also set final hearings for October 14 for introduced ordinances.
The Garfield Mayor and Council on Sept. 23 introduced a package of ordinances and approved multiple bond measures to cover unanticipated water‑system work and park improvements.
The council introduced ordinance 30‑98 to update fire prevention fees, ordinance 30‑99 to change vehicles and traffic rules near Garfield Middle School and the adjacent preschool, and ordinance 31‑00 to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats from pet shops except when animals come from an animal care facility or rescue. Officials said the animal‑sale change removes a line in the prior ordinance that allowed private insured breeders to supply pet shops.
Council members also introduced bond ordinance 31‑01, authorizing an additional $370,000 to finish replacement of water meters in phase 2 of the city’s metering project. Officials said replacing all meters is a prerequisite to bringing water services back in‑house; the presenter estimated the remainder of the meter replacement would be complete by 2026. Bond ordinance 31‑02, an additional $350,000 to replace unanticipated lead service lines on Harrison and MacArthur avenues identified during construction, was also introduced.
Several items on the agenda were on second reading and were adopted. Ordinance 30‑90, creating a process (and fee) for 15‑minute business loading zones, passed final reading after the public comment period produced no speakers. The council also adopted bond ordinance 30‑96 (an additional $380,000 for Prospect Street water main replacement after finding lead lines) and ordinance 30‑97, authorizing up to $675,000 to complete improvements at Garden Court East Park using a Green Acres grant to build an all‑inclusive playground.
Public comment included a request for an update on Harrison Avenue paving and safety. Resident Bernie Martin asked when the road work would conclude; the city manager said the paving bid has been awarded jointly with Lodi, the lead line replacement is nearing completion and the paving is expected to be done, if not this year, by early 2026. Multiple residents urged increased enforcement while the street remains rough and traffic patterns are altered.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 30‑98 (fire prevention fee changes) — introduced on first reading; motion carried (motion to introduce approved). (See introduction at meeting.) - Ordinance 30‑99 (vehicles & traffic near schools) — introduced on first reading; motion carried. - Ordinance 31‑00 (ban sale of dogs/cats in pet shops) — introduced on first reading after council clarification on rescue/retail partnerships; motion carried. - Ordinance 31‑01 (bond — water meter replacement, $370,000) — introduced on first reading; motion carried. - Ordinance 31‑02 (bond — lead water service line replacements, $350,000) — introduced on first reading; motion carried. - Ordinance 30‑90 (parking/loading zone process) — adopted on final reading. - Ordinance 30‑96 (Prospect Street water main replacement bond, $380,000) — adopted on final reading. - Ordinance 30‑97 (Garden Court East Park bond, $675,000; Green Acres grant) — adopted on final reading.
What happens next
Final hearings for the introduced ordinances were set for the council meeting on Oct. 14, 2025; adopted bond ordinances will proceed per municipal procedures for bond issuance and project implementation. The city manager indicated the water‑meter work should be finished by 2026 and that road paving on Harrison Avenue is tied to completion of the lead service‑line work.
