Proponent asks city to support river park again Progress is being made on the Gateway Parcel of the Tuolumne River Regional Park between Ceres and Modesto and between Highway 99 and the Seventh Street Bridge.
Stressing that being outdoors and enjoying parks can do much to make the heart glad, especially given the year-long restrictions related to COVID-19, Brandy Meyer appealed to the Ceres City Council to restore its contribution to the Tuolumne River Regional Park (TRRP).
The city of Ceres ended its financial contribution to the park in 2017.
“The city of Ceres made a commitment in 1972 to not only Stanislaus County and Modesto but to the citizens of Ceres that we would take part in the development of a regional park,” said Meyer. “The city of Ceres has backed out on the agreement.
Experience is needed for this City Council
Chris Vierra must be shaking his head and thinking of asking Ceres residents: “Miss me yet?”
If you want a reason why Ceres needs experience on the City Council, look no farther than Javier Lopez’s lack of experience.
For decades I marveled at how Ceres city leaders remained free from scandal and controversy as other city councils and members in Hughson, Riverbank and Turlock experienced their own embarrassments. Now it seems like the new Ceres City Council is the laughingstock of the county.
Lots of folks are now asking what I asked on Nov. 4: how did this guy – a man of little vision, no experience and no money – get elected over an experienced councilman in an 8,753 to 6,924 vote margin? It wasn’t because he suggested the water needs of Ceres could be met by self-serve water kiosks and not addressing the problem of continued water source (I kid you not). His coziness with the Condits – he appointed an ine
Special election likely as council deadlock continues • For a third time, City Council stymied in 2-2 split votes over filling council seat The Ceres City Council met Monday and found themselves deadlocked 2-2 for a third time over who to fill an empty council seat. At the dais are Councilwoman Linda Ryno, Mayor Javier Lopez, Councilman Bret Silveira and Vice Mayor Couper Condit.
The third time was not the charm Monday evening when the Ceres City Council remained deadlocked in 2-2 ties that has stymied the appointment of someone to fill a vacant council seat.
None of the four members had changed their minds and after a lengthy deliberation the matter was put off to a yet a fourth meeting to be held on March 4. With the stalemate likely to not be resolved, the city may be forced to hold a special election to fill the District 1 council seat which could cost taxpayers $40,000 in county elections expense.
Ryno seeks clarification on camping policy in residential zones Scenes like this, of homeless persons camping in a Hatch Road commercial parking lot last October, is prompting the city to outlaw camping in public. At least one councilmember is concerned that the crackdown will send homeless onto residential streets.
As the city moves to ban camping in public places like shopping center parking lots, Councilwoman Linda Ryno last week sought clarification on how changes to the Ceres Municipal Code would guarantee homeless persons couldn’t move onto residential streets.
The new law will ban persons to live in cars and RVs in all commercial and industrial zones. Ryno, however, questioned the language of the new ordinance relating to residential zones. She wondered why residential was left out of the unlawful camping section.
Service Road overpass still years off • City Council OKs next phase of design work The Service Road overpass will not be replaced any time soon. Design and engineering work was ordered on Monday to make the project ready for bid. - photo by Jeff Benziger
Construction of the new freeway interchange with Service and Mitchell roads is still years away with costs likely to rise with time.
On Monday the Ceres City Council gave permission for Nolte Associates (now known as NV5) to proceed with the next phase of engineering and design work to bring it closer to its expected 2024 start construction date.