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Sanger council approves second fire billing clerk and accepts $910,000 Safe Routes grant
Summary
The council approved adding a second full‑time fire‑department billing clerk (cost estimated at $65,000–$75,000, expected to be offset by improved ambulance reimbursements) and unanimously approved a $910,000 funding agreement for a Jensen Avenue pedestrian bridge under the Safe Routes to School program; staff said local match may still be required.
Sanger — The City Council approved two operational measures on March 19 intended to boost revenue collection and pedestrian safety.
Fire Chief (identified on the record) told the council the department has handled ambulance billing in‑house since 2018 and that increasing transport volume and billing complexity have stretched a single billing clerk beyond capacity. The chief said adding a second full‑time billing clerk would cost approximately $65,000 to $75,000 in salary and benefits, depending on step placement, but that improved billing follow‑up should increase ambulance‑recovery revenue and offset the cost. The council approved the personnel addition by a 4–0–1 vote (one member absent).
On infrastructure, the city’s engineer described a Safe Routes to School pedestrian‑bridge project over the Fellows West Canal on Jensen Avenue. The project application was partially funded by the Fresno County Transportation Authority; the city was awarded $910,000 but must still identify a local match. Council voted unanimously to approve the funding agreement and staff said they will pursue additional funding to reduce or eliminate the local match obligation.
Other votes: the consent calendar passed (with Councilmember Hurtado recorded as recused on item G10), the council adopted a CalPERS contract change described by staff, and it approved travel to the ICSC developer/retail conference.
What happens next: staff will post the billing‑clerk position if council’s approval stands, pursue supplemental grant funding for the bridge to reduce local match, and return budget details as part of a forthcoming budget update.
