Climatec presents Council with list of city improvements

Climatec’s Business Development Manager Jeff Bartel revealed results of audits being done on facilities around Lindsay in regards to opportunities to upgrade various fixtures Tuesday evening at the Lindsay City Council meeting.

“We looked at anything that was connected to an electric meter, a water meter or a gas meter,” Bartel stated. “We were looking for any opportunities to replace or upgrade that equipment.”

He explained that many fixtures needed upgrading due to aging infrastructures, especially fixtures at City Hall.

Bartel’s presentation listed an investment price of roughly $3.3 million to upgrade all fixtures, but also provided a calculated overall savings to the city of just under $8 million over the lifetime of the upgraded equipment.

The future steps for the Climatec program include replacing the current streetlight bulbs with LED bulbs, but they still need final approval from the council to proceed with their plan for improvements around the city.

The council began the meeting by opening public comment. Salvador Segura, a resident of Lindsay for 45 years, stepped up to the podium to address the council. He expressed concern about trees looking dead along Tulare Street and was interested in getting together with a group to discuss alternate ways of watering them.

Once public comment closed the City Council members began their reports. Council Members Velasquez and Watson had nothing to report on. Council Member Cortes spoke about the health care advisory board meting she attended and said that no actions were taken at that meeting. Council Member Salinas had nothing to report and Mayor Kimball reported on the TCAG meeting and informed council of the transportation plan being formed.

Next to speak was Lindsay High School student Ireland Mccall, Lindsay City Council’s new student representative. Mccall introduced herself and informed the council of a rally the high school held on August 17. She also announced that club rush will be happen-

ing Friday, August 31.

City Manager Bill Zigler was next to give city staff reports to the council. He told the council that he would be out of the office until September 12 and that City Clerk Bret Harmon would be present in his absence.

Zigler informed the council of some power outages that will be occurring and asked for a small committee to be created to form ideas and make progress on the soccer park naming process. Council Members Cortes and Salinas volunteered and will be working together to generate a process.

Zigler also updated the council about the roundabout project on Hermosa Street.

“It's not going to be a short-term issue. It will go through the end of the year, the inconvenience of the intersection,” reported Zigler, “But there will be electronic billboards up and a variety of things done to alert the public to stay away from that area.”

Council approved all six items that were on the consent calendar.

Sol Nunez from Mid Valley Recycling gave a presentation regarding results from contamination week. She explained that no sad faces were given out this year, and there was a reduction in tags given out to residents. She also provided a comparison chart of cities around the county and showed that the contamination program is making a difference in all surrounding cities, not just Lindsay. She also expressed that styrofoam in recycling containers is the biggest contamination issue.

The official appointment of an Economic Development Corporation (EDC) board member occurred. The council unanimously agreed to appoint Zigler to the seat.

When asked for future agenda items, Salinas suggested that a committee be formed in regards to the roads, and Zigler reminded council that when bringing up future items the municipal code must be conformed to and some items may need to be seconded in order to be put on future agendas.

The council closed for executive session to discuss price and terms of payment for a parcel of land located at 126 S. Sweetbriar Avenue. The council unanimously approved the purchase of the old city jail parking lot at a price of $36,500, with $6,000 of the total to be paid in the first month and the remaining $30,500 to be paid throughout the following 12 months. The piece of land will be renovated into a new parking lot.

The next City Council meeting is set for September 11 at 6 p.m. in the Lindsay City Hall located at 251 E. Honolulu Street.