Modesto City Council Watch

The Modesto City Council tonight is scheduled to vote on:

— Reorganizing the city's Finance and Human Resources departments by reducing the number of high-level administrators. Human Resources Director Robin Renwick accepted an early retirement package in May. Finance Director Wayne Padilla resigned in June to take a position in Chowchilla. City Manager Greg Nyhoff has been re-evaluating the departments since then. The proposal before the council would do away with three positions in the Finance Department, but create a budget officer. The plan for the Human Resources Department would fill the vacant director slot but eliminate two filled positions and strike one that's vacant.

— Setting priorities for the city's Planning Division focusing on advancing adjustments to building fees, annexing the Shackelford neighborhood in south Modesto and moving forward several economic development projects. The city Community and Economic Development Department, which includes the Planning Division, lost a quarter of its budget this year because of a prolonged downturn in tax revenue.

— Awarding a $237,682 contract to Modesto Executive Electric to upgrade lights at six parks

— Hiring Fermin Sierra Construction to replace four sewer mains at a cost of $467,430

— Raising monthly garbage pickup rates by 8 cents to reflect an increase in fuel costs. The new rate would be $22.45 a month.

— Buying three pumps for the city's sewage treatment plant on Jennings Road from JM Squared Associates of Concord at a cost of $196,291

— Awarding a $256,402 contract to Shimadzu Scientific Instruments of Pleasanton to install equipment at the city's water quality control laboratory

— Signing an agreement with Central Valley Concrete of Merced to buy rock, sand and gravel for the Public Works Department at a cost of $306,314 a year for five years

The City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St.

-- Adam Ashton