GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - On June 17, following two budget hearings, the Gridley City Council voted to approve the draft budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025. Martin Pineda, city finance director, reviewed adjustments and additions made to improve the accuracy and clarity of the budget.

The city has implemented a new digital budget interface through ClearGov to provide greater ease of access to city officials as well as the community. The ClearGov interface is crisp, clear and easy to navigate, and features revenue and expenditure summaries, capital improvement plans, and breakdowns by department, as well as a great deal of general information about the process of developing and monitoring the city’s financial plan. The budget can be viewed by the public online at https://city-gridley-ca-budget-book.cleargov.com/14941.

Other items of business raised and approved at the June 17 meeting included a formal request to the Butte County Board of Supervisors to merge a planned municipal election this Nov. 5 with the statewide General Election. City Administrator Elisa Arteaga noted that this is a standard procedure occurring every two years when state and general elections fall together in the cycle.

City Council discussed at some length and ultimately approved the submitted Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, one of several other city policies coming up for review and revision. The plan specifies how workplace hazards are to be assessed and corrected, what training is to be given to employees and what procedures are to be followed in the event of any violent workplace incidents. Hazard assessment and incident report forms are included.

Orchard Hospital administration officials were present at the meeting to speak about a proposed change in property subdivision for the hospital. The two-story building behind the hospital (which has been empty for some time), is expected to be demolished this summer, making way for a new Adolescent Services mental health facility.

The hospital has already applied for and received a grant to fund the new facility. Construction is expected to start at the beginning of 2025. The City Council’s vote will ensure that the parcel used for construction will be independent from other parcels and developments, per grant requirements. Council unanimously approved the motion.