Turlock · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Turlock public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Transit Plans and Free Fares Program
The city contracted with Nelson\Nygaard to develop comprehensive transit plans to improve public transportation.
Crowell School Area Parking Problems
A District 1 resident described school employees parking all day on neighborhood streets near Crowell School and asked for permit parking; a council member said the school district is aware and motivated to fix it.
CFD No. 3 Special Taxes and Annexation
Two ordinances cleared final reading: special taxes for Community Facilities District No. 3 (with Annexation No. 1) and zoning code updates on nonconforming structures and conditional use permits.
Public Records and Accountability Complaints
A resident accused the clerk's office of repeatedly releasing altered, metadata-stripped building inspection photos and asked the council to investigate possible violations of state public records law.
Youth Opioid Prevention Funding
The city is finally spending opioid settlement money — $200,000 on youth sports and prevention programs plus firefighter saunas. Speakers demanded clearer education plans, metrics, and transparency about how providers were chosen.
Water Billing Corrections Update
The city corrected water bills: $191K in credits across 550 accounts and $269K in added charges across 22 accounts, with meter replacements continuing into early 2027.
Smoke Shop Regulations
Turlock is moving from a temporary moratorium to a permanent permit system for smoke shops — with security requirements, police-accessible surveillance, training, and 1,000-foot buffers from schools and parks. Public speakers pushed for broader rules covering all tobacco retailers, and the council capped new permits at one per district.
Well 8 Water Treatment Carbon Replacement
A $113,601 contract was scheduled to replace granular activated carbon in the water treatment system at Well 8, keeping the well's water treatment functioning.
2026 ADA Transition Plan
A year-long audit found compliance issues across 358 miles of sidewalks, all 27 parks, and all 17 city facilities — all now mapped in a searchable GIS tool. Work will be prioritized over roughly ten years.
Measure A spending and road bond debt dispute
The annual report shows Measure A sales tax money going to roads and public safety, with a new user-friendly website presentation. Residents asked for maps showing exactly which roads got fixed.
E-Bike Safety
A resident flagged the proliferation of electric motorcycles ridden by kids without helmets; the police chief said an ordinance is in the works.
Highway 99 community promotion signage
The city will spend $100,000 in tourism funds to put welcoming, city-branded messaging on vacant panels of existing Highway 99 billboards. Staff hopes the messaging — seen by roughly 108,000 drivers a day — will encourage travelers to stop, shop, and invest in Turlock, complementing the Turlock Marketplace and Chick-fil-A momentum.
Private security contract for City Hall and Transit Center
The city is replacing its security contract for City Hall and the 24/7 Transit Center coverage. Staff recommended Platinum Security after a 19-proposal competition, but the council wants interviews with the finalists before committing $1.885 million over five years.
Feral cat management
Multiple residents urged the city to act on stray cats, noting the shelter won't take healthy cats and that the old trap-neuter-release partnership with the state ended. One speaker detailed exponential population growth from a single breeding pair.
Montana Park multi-sport court and county funding
Stanislaus County is chipping in $150,000 toward the multi-sport court at Montana Park, which now includes twelve pickleball courts after community feedback. Bids go out this fall, construction starts in January, and the goal is to finish by August.
Roads Program Progress
Nearly $5 million in Measure A bond money went to road construction (Bid Package 3), plus $987,611 for construction management and a CEQA exemption for Geer Road — part of $18.6 million budgeted for road work this year.
Downtown property and business improvement district performance
The Downtown Property Owners Association reported nearly breaking even, investing $102,000 in maintenance, and leveraging over $78,000 in sponsorships for the July 4th celebration, with a balanced $285,400 budget for next year.
Building permit and tax revenue dispute at 290 North Thor Street
A resident alleged a stair repair permit at 290 North Thor Street was wrongly categorized as residential repair rather than commercial new construction, suppressing property tax revenue for the city and county.
Federal housing program performance (CAPER)
The council signed off on the yearly report card for how Turlock spent its federal housing money — $70,000 in public service grants, 2,598 people served, and six rehab projects completed. It goes to HUD, and the numbers shape next year's funding.
Code enforcement at 290 North Thor Street
A resident says a landlord stripped every tree and bush from a six-unit apartment property 17 months ago and the city has sent no written enforcement notice. He asked the council to direct the city manager to investigate why the case stalled under the Development Services director.
Personnel Appointment
The council interviewed candidates for city attorney in closed session. The city attorney advises the council on legal matters, contracts, and land-use decisions, so this hire matters for how the city operates for years.
Proposed AI Data Centers in the Region
One pageant contestant urged the council to keep data centers away from residential areas, saying they're 'hurting people and future' — a nod to the ongoing local debate over large data center development.
Dog-in-vehicle ordinance and modern car technology
A resident asked the council to revisit the city ordinance that fines dog owners $100 for leaving a dog in a car, noting state law accounts for temperature and that cars like his Tesla have climate-controlled 'dog mode.'
Regional HOME housing funds and the consortium question
The city raised the income cap for its state-funded first-time homebuyer assistance from 80% to 120% of area median income, letting more middle-income families qualify. A ready applicant can move forward within about 30 days.
2023-2031 Housing Element and CRMU Rezone
After roughly two years and multiple state rejections, Turlock finally adopted its state-mandated housing element along with a new Commercial Residential Mixed-Use zoning designation and rezoning of multiple properties. This shapes where housing — including mixed-use commercial/residential projects — can be built for the next eight years.
Sidewalk Repair Assistance Program Update
New three-year agreements, up to $1 million each, for removing trip hazards and replacing sidewalks across the city.
Economic Development Strategic Implementation Plan
The city's first updated economic roadmap since 2017 was accepted — but without its timeline page, and staff must return with a concrete implementation plan. It covers downtown revitalization, the West Side Industrial park, sports facilities, and opportunity zones.
Traffic Signal and Streetlight Maintenance Contract
A new five-year, up-to-$2.5 million contract keeps the city's 102 traffic signals and streetlights maintained and repaired, continuing proactive work like battery backup replacements and pedestrian countdown signals.
Geer Road Rehabilitation Project
The biggest road project in years is now under contract: rebuilding Geer Road from Golden State Boulevard to Taylor Road for about $20.3 million, mostly grant-funded. Expect construction through mid-2028 with lane closures on weekdays but all lanes open evenings, weekends and holidays.
Montana Park Progress
A resident pressed the council on the decade-long delay of the Montana Park multi-use regional park on the west side. The city manager said bidding slipped a few weeks but is expected soon, and a new grant application was just submitted for shade structures.
Building Permit Dispute at 290 North Thor Street
A resident appealed the city's validation of a building permit for apartment stairs, alleging forged signatures, plan deviations, and safety issues. The council unanimously denied the appeal after a lengthy hearing.
SRWA water treatment plant staffing
The regional water plant gets two reclassifications and a new instrument technician to reduce reliance on temporary contract help and improve reliability — paid for by shifting $150,000 out of contract services.
Abandoned fire-damaged property on Soderquist/High
A resident asked why the owner of a repeatedly burned, vacant structure near Soderquist and High isn't held accountable, saying it's a fire hazard and shelter for people with nowhere to go.
Code Enforcement and Mold Complaint
A resident said for two years the city has failed to address allegedly illegal wall repairs affecting 25 homes, and warned of potential litigation.
Drug activity at the Turlock Transit Center
Resident Linda White, who spends time at the Transit Center, described open drug dealing, use in the bathrooms, alcohol, and intimidating behavior including large dogs, with children nearby. She said security and safety officers' hands are tied and begged the council for help.
Sidewalk Vendor Regulation Ordinance
The council finalized new rules updating itinerant vendor rules and creating a sidewalk vendor chapter in the municipal code.
Solved Homicide and Police-Probation Collaboration
Mayor Bublak announced that a three-year-old Turlock homicide was solved last week through collaboration between Turlock Police and Stanislaus County Probation, bringing closure to the victim's family.
AMI Water Meter Modernization, Phase 1
The city is buying $6.2 million in new meters to replace aging ones — better billing accuracy, conservation tracking, and fewer mysteries like the one a resident complained about. Homeowners won't be individually billed for their meter swap.
Turlock Youth Council Proposal
A local high school student proposed creating a Turlock Youth Council to give young people a voice in city government, citing successful models across California. Council members responded warmly and pledged follow-up conversations.
Public Comment Placement Under New Remote Participation Format
Starting July 1, council meetings must be remotely accessible, agendas translated into Spanish, and formal disruption policies adopted. Remote speakers get the same three minutes as in-person speakers.
Code Enforcement Inaction on Abandoned Vehicle
A resident described a car tagged by code enforcement in October 2024 that has sat unmoved at 290 North Thor Street for 20 months, and asked the council to direct the police chief to enforce municipal code abatement provisions.
Golden State Boulevard Pavement Rehabilitation
The city plans to rehab Golden State Boulevard from Dells Lane to Tuolumne Road — about $11.5 million, mostly Measure A money plus $2 million in federal carbon reduction funds. Bike lanes and missing sidewalks get added; a third southbound lane is deferred to save $2.5 million. Construction could start in the fall after bidding in about a year.
Standing Water Drainage Issue on Residential Street
A resident reported that new drainage basins installed during the Miraflores paving were never drilled through, creating standing water and a two-year mosquito problem; she asked the water and roads departments to coordinate a fix.
Regional Transportation Grant Awards
The city won $10.5 million in StanCOG federal funding for five projects: signal improvements on East Olive and West Main, corridor work on Gear Road, Fifth Street rehab, and Lander/Olive Avenue safety improvements.
Redirecting remaining ARPA funds to Animal Services
The last $150,000 in federal pandemic relief money set aside for business programs is now going to the animal shelter, whose building the mayor called nearly dilapidated. Local businesses lose out on the proposed marketing and grant programs, at least for now.
CDBG public service funding
$115,000 in federal grants go to six nonprofits providing food, shelter, housing assistance, and fair housing services to low-income residents.
Cannabis business tax ballot measure
Council considered sending a cannabis business tax to voters but declined 3-2. Operators were split, with some saying proposed rates are too high.
FY 2026-27 city budget
The city's finances are on solid ground at mid-year: sales tax is running about $600,000 ahead of projections and salary savings total roughly $2.1 million. Amendments add a police position split between the general fund and cannabis fund.
Cannabis Development Agreements
All four dispensaries plus a cultivator got their agreements extended, with a new percentage-based public benefit fee (5.25% starting July 2026) replacing the old flat minimums — projected to cost the city about $600K in revenue next year.
Modesto fire services agreement under fire
Residents repeatedly criticized the arrangement under which Modesto's fire chief oversees Turlock fire services, claiming Turlock trucks get pulled to Modesto and the city lacks its own fire chief and fire marshal. Council members defended the arrangement, saying it saves money and improves service.