GALT, CA (MPG) - John Griffin, a city of Galt public works employee, has been appointed as the permanent public works director.

Interim City Manager Chris Erias made the announcement at the July 16 Galt City Council meeting. Griffin replaces predecessor Mike Selling, who resigned in May. 

Griffin has worked with the city for a total of nine years, beginning with a seven-year stint as a civil engineer in the 2000s. He returned to the city in 2022 in his most recent role as deputy director of public works.

“We’re really excited about John joining the team and I know he’ll be a great addition to the director level and, really, for the city in general,” Erias said.

Griffin made an annual presentation of proposed fees for the city’s landscaping and lighting districts (LLDs), which are used to coordinate funding for the landscape maintenance of certain areas in the city.

Two of the landscaping and lighting districts have fixed fees that legally can be changed only by a vote of the residents, while the third can apply inflation adjustments. All three receive most of their funding from General Fund subsidies. The subsidies are now funded through the Measure Q sales tax.

In City of Galt Landscaping and Lighting District No. 3, which can account for inflation, the assessment for a single-family residence is rising by $13.32 to $417.03. Nonetheless, the district will receive two-thirds of its revenue from Measure Q, which is contributing $328,000.

Griffin told Mayor Paul Sandhu that the consumer price index measure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ figures for the West Region, which includes California, six other Western states and Guam.

Westside Galt Lighting, Landscaping and Maintenance District has its fees fixed in a range of $36.62 to $221.80, depending on which benefit zone a residence is in. The landscaping and lighting district will get $398,000 in Measure Q money, 70% of the revenue it needs to operate.

Northeast Galt Landscaping and Lighting District has a fee range of $51.70 to $301.85. It will receive a $1.3 million subsidy, accounting for 73% of needed revenue.

City Council voted 3-0 to accept the fees.

Galt resident Rob Boal was appointed to the Measure R Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, filling one of two vacancies on the board. The terms of members Chris Brossman and Linda Clendenin expired in April and the two did not reapply.

Vice-Mayor Rich Lozano said he met with Boal earlier and said he “would be great for the position.”

City Council approved Boal’s appointment 3-0.

Parks and Recreation Director Armando Solis gave an update on reported vandalism at Meadowview Park. The park is closed until further notice because the “rubber playground floor was ripped up by unknown means” on July 11, according to Galt Police Department records. Solis said the city is seeking bids for replacing the floor and added that similar damage at Walker Community Park cost $67,000 to repair.

The Aug. 6 City Council meeting is canceled, due to National Night Out. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20.