Missed the first Modesto City Council meeting of 2026? Here’s what happened
The Modesto City Council had its first meeting of the new year on Tuesday. Last year saw the council face tough decisions on a number of important issues, including the city’s enforcement of a mask ban during the No Kings and ICE Out protests.
Attendance to City Council meetings was above average last year, as were public comments. On Tuesday, the attendance was sparse. Public comments were mainly centered around the city’s proposals for growth.
The following is a breakdown of things passed by the council Tuesday. All agenda items were approved as part of the consent calendar — a list of items voted on at once. Consent items do not include discussion or public comment.
- The city will pay more than double what it used to for the Police Department’s ballistic vests as MPD opts for more comfortable gear, and more of it, according to a staff report submitted by Chief Brandon Gillespie.
Under a previous contract, Modesto paid $301,612 for ballistic vests from Los Alamitos-based Adamson Police Products between fiscal years 2020 and 2025. The new contract with Adamson is a two-year agreement, with two one-year options, worth $884,635.
Annual costs steadily increased during the first contract. At the end of FY 2020-21, the city spent a little over $60,000 on vests. By the end of FY 2024-25, it paid $97,861.
The first year of the new contract will cost Modesto $166,579 — a 182% increase from last year.
Staff’s agenda report attributed the cost to a 13.2% increase in position allocations at MPD since 2019 and ballistic vests for civilian staff. It also cited the transition to a new lighter, more comfortable vest model. The older vests will be phased out as they reach the end of their five-year warranty period.
Funding source: Measure H
- Over $3 million was transferred to compensate for an underestimate of the South Modesto Strengthen and Replace Water Mains Project.
The project, done in partnership with Stanislaus County, is replacing old water mains in the Bret Harte and Parklawn neighborhoods. It’s also installing sidewalks, curbs, gutters, lighting and storm drainage.
The resolution passed Tuesday amended the city’s memorandum of understanding with Stanislaus County — originally worth $14 million, now a little more than $17 million.
Funding sources: $3 million transferred from Water Fund reserves to South Modesto Project Fund. American Rescue Plan Act.
- The city approved increasing a contract to paint water wells and tanks by 40%, from $868,453 to $1.54 million.
Modesto’s Water Services Division operates and maintains over 100 water well sites and 13 storage tank sites in and around Modesto, Salida, Turlock, Grayson, Del Rio, Ceres and Empire.
The tanks need to be repainted every five to 10 years. Annual costs from 2019 to 2023 were about $82,000 and are now expected to be $200,000. The city’s contract is with Rio Linda-based HB Restoration.
The city’s contract with HB Restoration was passed in October 2024. Its length is for two years, with two one-year extension options.
Funding source: Utilities Department, Wastewater Division FY 2025-26 operating budget
- In anticipation of increased costs to replace a contaminated Del Rio well, the city agreed to increase its contract with Sacramento-based West Yost Associates by just under $400,000.
The city agreed to replace the well back in 2010. However in 2021, it was discovered that dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) was present at levels exceeding the maximum contaminant level.
In May, the city purchased property for the purpose of building a new treatment system for the well. The total cost of the project is expected to be just shy of $1.3 million.
Funding source: Del Rio Replacement Well Fund
- The companies that repair and maintain generators for the city’s utility, police, fire and public works departments received a more than $1 million bump to their contract.
Livermore-based Bay City Electric and Tracy-based PowGen Inc. originally had a contract with the city worth $1.2 million over five years. The bump increases the contract’s worth to $2.2 million.
Documents show the city underestimated the cost of services “as it was difficult to predict the number of generators that will need to be repaired or maintained.”
The city aims to use the money to schedule more preventative maintenance, so there are fewer generator failures. Staff identified three generators that need repair, according to the council’s agenda report.
Funding source: Several, including Sewer Operations, Storm Drain, Water, Fleet Operations, Police and Fire funds.
- New lights are coming to three public tennis courts in the city. Downey Community Park, East La Loma Park and Roosevelt Park will have their lights removed and new LED lights installed.
The project will be done by the Stockton-based Bockmon & Woody Electric company, which was awarded a contract worth almost $328,000.
Funding source: Measure H
- The city released funds for several projects it considered complete including: G Street and H Street signal coordination ($1.3 million) and Paradise Road pedestrian and safety improvements ($9.1 million)
Appointments
Steven Zagaris - Citizens Salary Setting Commission.
Marshall Riddle, Odle Towe - Board of Zoning Adjustment
Mark Farrish - Modesto Landmark Preservation Commission
Craig Lewis - StanCOG Measure L Citizens’ Oversight Committee
Carolyn Neumann - Measure L Citizen’s Transportation Sales Tax Commission
Shannon Stevens, Dominique Johnson, Sandra Hilton Kaepp - Culture Commission
Priscilla Castillo, Ricardo Navarro - Youth-Member-At-Large
Karen Burch - Golf Courses Advisory Committee
