GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - One of the first items of action at Monday’s Gridley City Council Meeting was the revision of the resolution to rename streets located at the Industrial Park. Previously, they planned to change “Elaine Court” to “Paradise Way” and “Industrial Park Drive” to “Hall Drive” in honor of the late Frank Hall. Mayor Johnson made the motion to use Hall’s full name, officially making the street’s new name “Frank Hall Drive.”

The Council then heard the second half of the annual budget presentation with reports provided by Parks and Recreation, Gridley-Biggs Police Department and City Engineers.

Under the command of Trina Leishman, Gridley Parks and Recreation has made exciting new changes, both to their facilities and their programs. The Parks and Recreation Center at Vierra Park has been deep cleaned, repainted and its kitchen updated with a new oven and hood. As a result, facility rental has increased by 30%. Leishman anticipates an expansion of their Senior Nutrition & Socialization Program with a developing partnership with a Paradise program in the works. The new program would provide daily meals for seniors with delivery optional, instead of just two days a week.

Continuing, Leishman outlined the summer camps and classes planned for this year (visit their Facebook page for more info) and reviewed the Soccer and Basketball seasons. City Soccer leagues saw a 65% increase in players, reduced operating costs by $1,200 and are planning all girl teams for next season. Due to renovations at the Sycamore School that will make their field unavailable during the season, Parks and Recreation is hoping to work with the Fairgrounds in order to temporarily use their facilities. The Basketball program has also seen an increase in players, up 25% and a $2,000 reduction in operating costs. Events such as Breakfast with Santa and the Kids Fishing Day are also doing well and generating funds for the department.

GBPD Chief Byers outlined new programs implemented within the department. Officers now review over 900 pages of policy in daily 15-minute daily training bulletins with the electronic policy manual system. CAPSS, a new automated pawn system which tracks items pawned throughout the U.S, has made it easier for officers to identify and retrieve stolen property. Creative arrangements with BCSO (Butte County Sheriff’s Office) have provided coverage in dispatch during slow periods, saving the GBPD money. Chief Byers also outlined changes in the Volunteer program with the hopes of resurrecting the program. Additionally, the K-9 program is fully funded by outside sources.

In not-so-good news, Council heard reports from City Engineer Trin Campos, about the status of Gridley’s roads. Due to years of postponed maintenance, the city currently has a $22 million maintenance backlog in regard to its street pavement operations. According to Pavement Management Program, a report on the overall structural integrity of city roads, Gridley’s streets average a 40 on a scale of 100, designating them as “poor” quality.

The Council’s object is to aggressively improve street conditions and plans to be hyper-vigilant for grants and other avenues of funding to repair Gridley’s roadways. City Works Department will continue to grind and overlay asphalt where possible.