Modesto Bee Article
By Adam Ashton, Staff Reporter
last updated: May 05, 2008 03:11:41 AM
The Modesto City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to vote on:
Hiring National Demographics Corp., a Glendale consultant, to advise the city on how to draw district boundaries for City Council elections in 2009. The company was hired by the city to advise the Charter Review Committee in 2006 and 2007 while it prepared two government-reform ballot measures, one of which called for district elections. The company can earn as much as $70,000 under the new contract.
Accepting a report from the Stanislaus Council of Governments detailing how Modesto could spend extra revenue if voters approve a proposed half-cent sales tax increase for roads. Modesto's share would be about $6.9 million a year for 20 years.
Rejecting an appeal from Peterson King Contract Glass, a Stratos Way business that has refused to pay a $4,349 city building fee. The company contends it does not receive city services because it is outside the city limit and should not have to pay the fee.
Accepting a spending plan for $3.6 million in federal housing grants the city is expected to receive in the next budget year, which starts July 1.
Buying eight trucks for the Public Works Department at a cost of $932,147. They were among some of the vehicles the council delayed buying two weeks ago when it asked the Public Works Department to review whether the purchases were necessary.
Adjusting a Modesto Area Express bus route to provide more service to the Stanislaus County medical facility at 401 Paradise Road. The request would add a route that would bring passengers closer to the medical center.
Awarding a $1.1 million construction management contract to Consolidated CM of Sacramento for work on improvements to Modesto's Jennings Road sewer treatment plant.
Hiring Modesto-based George Reed Construction to install traffic improvements at the intersection of Floyd and Roselle avenues. The company can earn $2.1 million.
Submitting an application to host a stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California cycling race.
In addition, the council is scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss:
Hiring a city auditor
Negotiations with the 440-member Modesto City Employees Association
Updates to a lawsuit filed against the city in 2005 by Finance Department Customer Service Supervisors Jo Ann Bertolotti and Leslie Curtin. They alleged they were underpaid compared with a male colleague. A jury sided with them in November but the verdict was dismissed by a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge because one juror did not disclose a possible bias before the trial and an attorney representing the city employees submitted inadmissable evidence while questioning a witness.
The City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St.
-- Adam Ashton
