Modesto Council Watch

The Modesto City Council on Tuesday voted to:

Reduce water and sewer connection fees for an expansion to The Salvation Army's Ninth Street homeless shelter. Those charges increased in 2005 and 2007. The council chose to set them at the 2005 rates, sparing the nonprofit at least $190,000. The expansion has been in the works since 2005, when The Salvation Army applied for a $1 million grant for the project. It won the grant a year later. The city plans to work with The Salvation Army to find government grants to pay its remaining $38,000 in building fees.

Vote: Unanimous

Raise bus fares. Fees for Modesto Area Express routes will increase to $1.25 from $1. Fares for the city's BART commuter route will rise to $14 from $11, and Dial-A-Ride charges will increase 50 cents to $2.50. The hikes are aimed at offsetting higher gas prices and decreasing some of the money the city uses to subsidize public transportation. Dial-A-Ride passengers, for example, cost the city $22.93.

Vote: Unanimous

Use eminent domain to seize property for a road expansion at the northeast corner of Pelandale Avenue and Sisk Road. The property owner does not oppose the project, but is evaluating the city's offer, his attorney said.

Vote: Unanimous

Set fees to pay for a monitoring program in the city's new metal theft law. Recyclers will have to pay $250 to submit an application and $150 to renew it.

Vote: Unanimous

In addition, the council:

Heard a poem from city poet laureate Sam Pierstorff. His two-year term expires in July and his poem about "American Graffiti" likely will be the last he presents to the council.

In closed session, received an update on bargaining with the Modesto City Employees Association, the city's largest union