Turlock City Council met Oct. 14 to approve motions to fund a variety of items related to the funding of public safety.
The meeting started with students from Julien Elementary School who were recognized and commended by the City for their participation in Red Ribbon Week, which encourages students, families and their communities to lead drug-free lifestyles.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the motion put forward by Turlock Police Department (TPD) Lt. Ron Reid to request purchasing six replacement marked black and white police vehicles for TPD from Patchetts Ford & Mercury in Turlock, who met the Department’s specifications and provided the lowest bid to the City.
Reid stated problems with the some of the department’s 29 current vehicles; replacements are budgeted to not exceed $276,000, or $46,000 per vehicle. The plan is to replace six vehicles per year through 5 years that raise concerns due to mileage, maintenance and/or mechanical issues.
Previously TPD used Ford Crown Victoria vehicles which are no longer available for purchase; the six vehicles will be replaced with 2015 Ford Explorer Interceptor Utility vehicles which, of note, will cause an increase in gas milage because of their V6 engines.
TPD Police Chief Robert Jackson and Lt. Miguel Pacheco’s request to authorize the trade-in of firearms TPD plans to take out of commission to offset future replacement costs was approved 5-0 by the Council; TPD estimates to receive $27,000 in trade in value.
In a series of contract negotiations that went on during the meeting, by a 5-0 vote by the Council, they moved to adopt a new contract between the City of Turlock and Turlock Firefighter Local #2434 covering the period between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2019
The City Council moved to eliminate the City’s 9 percent payments of Employer Paid Member Contributions to CALPERS, or the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, for Firefighters Local #2434 and Fire Management Safety Members of the City.
Instead, the city will report the same 9 percent of compensation earnable as additional pay. The changes are effective for the pay period beginning Oct. 1, 2014.
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