The California Board of Aldermen is set to meet again a week removed from its regular monthly meeting at the beginning of this week, with plans to tackle the city's budget for the next fiscal year.
The Board of Aldermen will meet next Monday for a first round budget session. As of this week's regular meeting, the city had 30 days to pass a balanced budget.
In new business, the board approved a bid for the purchase of two 300 KVA transformers at $7,795 each and one 750 KVA transformer at a cost of $13,595. The two 300 KVA transformers will replace existing units in the city, and the 750 KVA unit will go to the new extension at California Middle School.
The board approved a number of new ordinances at Monday's meeting. The first on the list authorizes the execution of a contract between California and Gary Kempker, operating as GBK Advisors, LLC. Kempker previously was hired to perform a review of the California Police Department's operations and will be coming back on board to help implement the changes he recommended earlier this year following his initial review.
A second ordinance establishes a weight limit of 24,000 pounds for trucks, trailers and other motorized vehicles on certain streets in California, including Windmill Ridge Drive and Country Meadows Street.
Other ordinances follow up on some of the board's business from last month's meeting; one officially establishes the 20 mph speed limit change on Roache Street, and the other approves an annexation agreement between the city and Drinkard Construction, a request the business made at last month's meeting. The next step will be a public hearing, set for March 18 at 2 p.m.
In department reports, the group discussed an issue city officials have noticed recently at the city's ballfields. Members of the public are driving and parking in areas outside of the designated parking area and are letting dogs run loose off leashes; letting dogs run around unleashed violates a city ordinance. The board decided it will cable gates in the area to help provide some visual cues of where people shouldn't be parking, and will also work to put up some signs indicating that dogs should not be off leashes in the area.
Also in the Recreation Department, the city pool has yet to open as planned as the city deals with issues with the building's water heater. Recreation Supervisor Leslie Scheidt said she's hoping the pool is able to open by this weekend. Scheidt also discussed ongoing recreational athletics and registration for upcoming seasons; volleyball plays for one more week, and soccer starts at the end of March as registration has now closed. Registration for baseball and softball is still open for two more weeks.
In the Street Department, Street Supervisor Victor Maurer said the city's planning for spring cleanup during the last three days of this month - March 29-31. They'll clean the streets within city limits north of Highway 50 on March 29, the streets south of Highway 50 within city limits on March 30, and re-sweep everything on March 31.
In the Wastewater Department, Wastewater Supervisor Patrick Murphy said there's been a delay on manufacturing for the gate needed to finish the city's aeration basin project but said he hoped it would be finished soon so that project could finish. The board also approved a biosolids bid Murphy presented. He recommended going with Midwest Injection, for which the price improves over the next five years. The department also resumed its regular two-man operations, which had been suspended for a majority of the past year to allow for social distancing, starting Tuesday, as Moniteau County coronavirus numbers have maintained a steady low more recently.
Finally, the board approved moving forward with establishing a City of California Facebook page to help disseminate information about dates for things like spring cleanup and other events in the community the city might wish to promote. The city will adopt a social media policy in the near future to help facilitate this.
The California Board of Aldermen's next regular monthly meeting is set at 7 p.m. April 5.