Hello, farewell at Turlock council meeting

TURLOCK -- The City Council will welcome its newest member and bid farewell to another tonight.

Newly elected Councilman Steven Nascimento and re-elected member Amy Bublak will be sworn in at the meeting, as will City Treasurer Diana Lewis, who ran unopposed. A reception before the meeting at 6 p.m. will honor outgoing member Mary Jackson, who served one term on the council but fell short in her re-election bid, as well as those taking office.

The public is encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift to donate to Turlock Together. The nonprofit group that includes the city, The Salvation Army, local churches and other community advocates comes together during the holidays to provide food baskets and toys for those in need. Gifts for children from infants to age 12 are welcome.

The regular board meeting, the last of the year, will follow at 7 p.m. in Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway. Turlock Together will give a presentation about its efforts this year.

The rest of the meeting's agenda is light, with no final readings, public hearings, scheduled matters or council items for future consideration slated for discussion.

Final authorization for a number of routine maintenance projects and contracts is expected, including awarding a bid of $1,186,495 with Merced's Mid Cal Pipeline & Utilities, Inc. for water and sewer line replacement in alleys, approving a $719,761 Transportation Development Act claim for nontransit expenses in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 fiscal years, and authorizing the acceptance of $34,400 to administer the DUI and driver's license checkpoint minigrant through the California Office of Traffic Safety for fiscal year 2012-13.

Bee staff writer Marijke Rowland can be reached at mrowland@modbee.com or (209) 578-2284. Follow her on www.twitter.com/turlocknow.