Galt City Council on July 20 held its first in-person meeting in nearly a year and a half. It added the planned Parlin Oaks development to a community facilities district (CFD) and discussed the cityâs landscaping and lighting districts (LLDs). It also heard about the local status of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the council chamber, some differences from the last meeting in March were evident. Plexiglass barriers stood between the audience and the seating for presenters, and between each of the seats on the dais.
The lineup on the dais was different, as well. Having been elected and sworn in during lockdown, Jay Vandenburg attended his first in-person council meeting as a council member.
Galt City Council approved adjusted budget numbers at its June 15 regular meeting while granting City Manager Lorenzo Hines increased authority to shift funding. Council also accepted a revised framework for improvements to Carillion Boulevard and swore in new members of the Youth Commission.
Budget adjustments
The midterm changes to the city budget reflect rising costs, new and continuing projects, and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Hines told council members. The adjustments apply to the current 2020-21 fiscal year and the 2021-22 fiscal year, which begins on July 1.
On the revenue side, property tax income for both fiscal years was revised upward slightly, by about 2%. Sales and use tax revenue is also increasing, coming in 1% higher than expected in the current year and anticipated to be nearly 7% higher than originally projected in the coming year.
Galt City Council approved tax-sharing agreements with Sacramento County for two planned annexations at its June 1 regular meeting, but Mayor Shawn Farmer voted against one of the resolutions. Council
Police body cameras
In unanimously approving a contract to purchase cameras from Axon, which also manufactures the Taser, the council had the support of both Galt Police Department leadership and officers.
Interim Police Chief Brian Kalinowksi presented the contract to the council, saying there is evidence that body cameras reduce complaints against police, as well as officersâ use of force and the time needed to review incidents.
Kalinowski said Axon was chosen in part because its body cameras have the ability to automatically begin recording when an officer draws their handgun or activates their Taser, while cameras from other companies are triggered only in the former case.
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