During the May 7 meeting of the Los Banos City Council, the management plan with the Downtown Property Business Improvement District (PBID) was approved on the condition of an audit, $4 million was awarded to replace a major sewer arterial and discussion was held over the mobile food vendor ordinance.
Mayor Michael Amabile and Mayor Pro Tem Deborah Lewis led a quorum of council members, Evan Sanders and Marcus Chavez. District one’s seat remains vacant until filled by special election.
The management district plan with the PBID extends the previous agreement by 10 years, following the 10-year renewal of the PBID at the Aug 7, 2024, meeting of the council.
According to Community and Economic Development Director Stacy Elms, the plan allows the city to act as the ‘middle-man’ in providing the PBID the tax assessments from the county. The PBID covers roughly five blocks of the downtown and is operated by the Los Banos Downtown Association (LBDA).
Six downtown property owners complained about the PBID’s financial transparency during the public forum.
LBDA Executive Director Maribel Garcia rebuked their concerns, “We are being transparent, they just don’t want to hear the answers we’re giving.”
Based on these concerns, Deborah Lewis requested that a full audit of the PBID be done at the PBID’s expense.
“I think we owe it to the taxpayers to do this,” Lewis said. Lewis wants the audit to go “Line by line” to “clear the air.”
Council member Chavez agreed with Lewis and also criticized the LBDA’s board member hiring requirements, asking “What’s the point?” He asked if all the board members are “yes-men.”
Newly hired Finance Director Minnie Moreno said the city will coordinate with the PBID to ensure the audit meets the standards of a city. The motion to approve the agreement with the audit was unanimous.
Mayor Amabile said, “I’m sure we can fix this. I know the Downtown Association will do the right thing. And I’m sure the people in this audience will let us know if they are not doing the right thing.”
City Attorney Bill Vaughn recused himself before the discussion over his property in the district.
The $4,432,440 awarded to Rolfe Construction Inc. was for the replacement of the final kilometer of sewer pipe transporting sewage into the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
According to public works director and city engineer Chuck Bergeson, the sewer line was “at-capacity and deteriorating.” The sewer line will be upgraded from 24 inches to 36 inches. The award was approved unanimously.
Additionally, the city purchased $175,269 of reinforced concrete pipe. According to Bergeson, the pipe will be used as a siphon pipe to bring sewage underneath the Grasslands Water District’s San Luis Canal instead of going through it, which can cause a sewage spill if something heavy were to be dropped on the pipe in the canal.
Having the pipe ready to go for the canal’s 45-day dry window in June and July could save the city “at least a quarter million dollars or more,” Bergeson said.
Placed on the agenda at the last meeting by council member Marcus Chavez, the mobile food vendor discussion was focused on the need for chairs and tables. The current ordinance does not allow mobile food vendors to have tables and chairs.
Mobile Food Vendor Ninive Villagomez wrote to the council, “Without that seating, many are forced to eat standing up or in their vehicles, which can make the experience feel rushed and less enjoyable.”
Ivan Gonzalez, owner of a taco truck, came up to speak on the need for the disabled to have seating. “I don’t think it’s fair for people [like] myself. That can’t stand for long periods of time and wait for food and services like other people could,” Gonzalez said while motioning to his missing left arm.
Chavez asked that staff review what other cities have in their ordinance and “see what makes sense” for Los Banos.
Amabile said that any new ordinance has to be fair. “The more restaurants in your town, the better it is for all the restaurants,” Amabile explained. He mentioned that when there are few restaurants, people leave town and spend their money elsewhere. When more restaurants exist in town, people stay in town.
Additionally, the council appointed Letty Guerra to the Measure H Citizens’ Oversight Committee for a term ending Dec. 31, 2026. And appointed Thomas Kaljian and Brian Holleran to the Tree Commission for terms ending Dec. 31, 2026.
In quick reports at the end of the meeting, Director Elms reported that the new population of Los Banos is 48,896. Los Banos and Merced City grew while the rest of the county shrank.
Finance Director Minnie Moreno reported that credit card payments are coming to all parts of the city. Police Chief Ray Reyna reported that the police have a new mobile speed trailer after 8 years. The trailer with multiple cameras will be used to enforce traffic laws.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Amabile gave three proclamations. His first was for the National Day of Prayer on May 1.
His second was recognizing the 56th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week, specifically recognizing City Clerk Lucy Mallonee for her service.
His third was recognizing Community Services Officer Alexander Valdez as employee of the month for April.
His second recognition was for Police Explorers Post 864. According to the proclamation, at the 2025 Merced County Law Explorer Competition on April 5, the police explorers won 1st place in Felony Vehicle stop, Domestic Violence Investigation, team Tug-Of-War, second place in Suspicious Person Call, and third place in Female Obstacle Course.
“You all deserve this, you all are very important to us, we appreciate your service and everything you are doing for our community,” Police Chief Ray Reyna said to the Post members during the recognition.
