GALT, CA (MPG) - Three years after his first term as mayor, Paul Sandhu will one again lead Galt City Council. At its Dec. 5 meeting, Council chose Sandhu and Rich Lozano to serve as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, in the coming year. The two last held the positions in 2020.

The meeting also included discussions of Walker Community Park upgrades and plastic waste at the Galt Market.

Sandhu Chosen as Mayor

While council members are elected by voters, it is up to council members to select two of their number as mayor and vice mayor.

During voting for mayor, Council Member Kevin Papineau nominated Vandenburg, while Vandenburg nominated Sandhu. The nomination for Vandenburg failed on a 2-3 vote, with Vandenburg among the no votes. He later explained that life changes have made continuing as mayor impractical.

Sandhu was elected 4-1, with Papineau opposed.

For vice mayor, Sandhu nominated Vandenburg, and Council Member Shawn Farmer nominated Lozano. Vandenburg’s nomination again failed to win a majority, and Lozano was subsequently selected by a unanimous vote.

Sandhu thanked Vandenburg for his “excellent job” serving as mayor. Sandhu also voiced appreciation for being chosen to succeed him.

“I feel honored that all my colleagues, they support me as mayor for one term, and I certainly will give everybody — staff, council colleagues and citizens — my 100%,” Sandhu said.

Walker Park Funding

Responding to a previous request from Council, City Manager Lorenzo Hines Jr. presented a set of options for funding the Walker Community Park Master Plan. The multiphase concept could ultimately add three baseball fields, two softball fields and other recreation amenities to the site.

Initial work has started on Phase 2, with prep work for the baseball diamonds, but the source of funding for the full phase hasn’t been decided yet. The baseball diamonds are expected to cost $5.2 million, and the rest of Phase 2 is estimated at $6.9 million.

The options that Hines presented were as follows: Save $1 million in Meassure Q funds per year, use up to $1 million per year from the sales tax to fund a bond issue, or borrow money from the city’s own funds. Called an “interfund loan,” the third option is not generally used and should be done with care if it involves a fund supported by ratepayers, Hines said.

Additionally, Hines said, the city learned the day before the meeting that the state Department of Parks and Recreation has awarded it a $2.65 million grant for the improvements. The options did not account for the additional money, which requires the city to come up with equivalent funding.

Discussion among council members included potential upgrades for the Littleton Community Center, another likely item for Measure Q spending.

Farmer supported dipping into the city’s general fund reserve rather than issuing bonds, and said the grant plus the city’s match would cover the baseball field cost. He also pointed out that Council has already committed a large portion of Measure Q funds to ongoing costs, saying it seems “rash” to commit so much money so early.

Lozano and Papineau said they are not completely opposed to bonds, but Lozano asked for more options while Papineau said the city should limit borrowing.

On the Littleton, the council members favored repairing the existing space rather than replacing it.

Hines said city staff would look into using the general fund reserves.

Council did not make a final decision on funding during the item.

Plastic Bags at Galt Market

Discussing how to reduce plastic waste left behind after Galt Market days, Council agreed to test an additional cleanup by city staff, but some members voiced support in the long term for a policy change.

In a presentation, Special Events Manager Jackie Garcia said plastic waste has been found on neighboring trees and private properties.

She said a survey of 214 market vendors found that 84% were using plastic bags.

Garcia recommended creating a “bring your own bag” educational campaign. She said that surveyed vendors voiced concerns about cost or frustrations if the campaign were implemented; respondents also spoke about the chance to promote cleanliness and recycling.

Comparable flea markets in the area do not have policies on plastic bags, Garcia said, though at one, only produce vendors use plastic bags, and another does not provide tote bags to patrons. The Galt Market does provide tote bags.

Parks and Recreation Director Armando Solis told council members that market staff have taken steps to make trash cans more accessible. He suggested having staff do an additional clean up around the market in the morning, to see what impact it has. Council supported this by consensus; Farmer, though he supported the idea, said he wanted a policy change in the long term.