GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – The Gridley City Council considered four items at its last regularly scheduled meeting.

First, council heard from Danny Howard, Gridley’s Electric Utilities Director, regarding the Gridley Electric Utility Security Plan. This was a procedural item brought yearly before council for approval of any updates or changes in the security plan. Howard informed council that there were no changes to the plan from the previous year. In 2021 the Electric Utilities Substation had a monitoring system installed and worked with engineers to make sure that all information was secure in regard to cybersecurity. Howard told council that this plan is to ensure the safety of the city’s facility, maintenance programs, and department operations. The motion passed 4-0 (ayes: Mayor Johnson, Vice Mayor Farr, Councilmembers Calderon and Sanchez. Councilmember Torres not present)

Second, Council member Catalina Sanchez brought forth a proposal for a smoke free outdoor parks ordinance. Recently youth leaders from the group Si Se Puede addressed the council on the dangers of smoking and vaping, especially in youth. This item was a continuation of that conversation. Councilmember Sanchez requested City Council to direct city staff to develop a smoke free outdoor parks ordinance, something that is currently not addressed by Gridley’s Municipal Code. Council voted 4-0 to proceed with drafting an outdoor smoking ordinance for Gridley’s public parks. (ayes: Mayor Johnson, Vice Mayor Farr, Councilmembers Calderon and Sanchez. Councilmember Torres not present).

Next, was the first reading of Ordinance 837-2022, the addition of chapter 8.05 to Title 8 of the Gridley Municipal Code relating to solid waste and organic waste disposal reduction in the effort to conform to SB 1383, put in place by California to reduce organic solid waste. The City of Gridley is currently under the 5-year waiver, giving the city 5 years to come into compliance with the new bill. Discussions on how to implement this in a residential and business setting, what bookkeeping procedures would be needed, and how to work with partners to come into compliance were had between Council, City Administrator, Cliff Wagner, representatives from CAL Recycle and Waste Management. This item was not up for vote but required the first reading of the ordinance before the item returns on the June 6^th agenda for adoption.

Wrapping up the agenda was a discussion item brought forth by Mayor Bruce Johnson regarding the City of Gridley’s policy on pole versus monument signs. Johnson questioned the reasoning behind the current ordinance’s exclusion of pole signs within the City of Gridley. A motion was made to direct staff to bring forth the current ordinance regarding pole/monument signage for review by City Council at a future meeting. The motion passed 4-0 (ayes: Mayor Johnson, Vice Mayor Farr, Councilmembers Calderon and Sanchez. Councilmember Torres not present).