The action to raise council member wages for the first time in 37 years was tabled by Los Banos Mayor Michael Amabile at the April 15 meeting. The council hired a permanent human resources director, raised impact fees, began a market-rate rental study and heard reports.
Amabile explained, “We weren’t aware that Council Member (Marcus) Chavez would not be present here today. I really feel that we need a full council here before we make any kind of decisions like that.”
After the meeting, City Manager Nirorn Than confirmed to The Express that Chavez was absent to attend a Southern California conference for his day job.
According to Than’s report, the drafted raise would take council members’ and mayor’s pay from $300 and $400 a month, respectively, to the current maximum of $1,275 a month for all. Amabile defended that the number wasn’t final.
Amabile pointed to the workload being “ten times” what it was in the ’90s, with constant meetings and travel that limit who can afford to do the job. He argued that the future public needs a mayor who can afford to be as committed as he is. “It’s a new world out there,” he said.
During the public forum, three members of the public criticized the raise. Eramso Viveros found the report to be unclear about the benefits package and found the execution by the council to be lacking.
Khalid Sanchez wrote that she wasn’t opposed to the idea of a raise but believed that it should be a more reasonable number and voted on by the public.
Isabel Carlos, interim HR director, lost the “interim” in her title. She said that after receiving a “warm welcome and that sense of professionalism and collaborative spirit,” she was inspired to apply.
She was chosen, and her contract was signed at this meeting. She will be paid $179,562 annually. Than commented that she will “take our city to the next level.” . . .
The development impact fees (DIFs) were raised by 0.4 percent. According to Community and Economic Development Director Stacy Elms, the adjustment was to keep in line with the Engineering News-Records’ Construction Cost Index for the San Francisco region.
The council discussed potentially lowering DIFs to allow more affordable development, but no action was taken. . . .
BAE Urban Economics Inc. was awarded a $29,960 bid to conduct a market-rate rental study. Initiated by Mayor Pro Tem Deborah Lewis, the goal is to give the city a local “market rate” that it can use for rental facilities.
Finance Director Minnie Moreno assured the council that only comparable cities and counties will be used.
“I’m very happy that this is coming forward because it takes us out of the position of (asking), ‘What should we be charging people for public property that is being rented or leased?’ and it gives us a policy to follow,” Lewis said. . . .
A $143,512 amendment was approved for Galvin Preservation Associates Inc. to conduct landscape architecture services for the Pioneer Road Complete Streets Project.
According to Public Works Director William Via, their contract was originally signed in 2022, not to exceed $1.9 million. This new addition brings the cost to $2.1 million. The amendment was “due to additional analysis required by Caltrans.” . . .
The council changed policy, making the city treasurer and city clerk positions vacant if the current clerk or treasurer misses three consecutive meetings without an excused absence. . . .
At the beginning of the meeting, Haley Leonard, planning technician, was recognized as the employee of the month for March 2026. Police Explorer Post No. 864 was recognized for its accomplishments. The 57th Annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week was recognized. . . .
Tony Vasquez was the only new hire recognized by the council. Via explained that he is a water maintenance worker. . . .
