Hanford Insider
Welcome the Hanford Insider, I’m your host Rob Bentley. I’m a lifelong resident of Hanford and I’m very involved in the local history scene and podcasting so I decided to start this show as a resource to Hanford area residents for covering issues, promoting events, sports, and reflecting on some local history.
Tune in each Monday for a new episode.
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Hanford Insider
Mayor Travis Paden Wednesday Wrap Up 7/16/25
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Making local government more accessible takes many forms, and today we're bridging a crucial information gap for our community. Mayor Travis Paden's City Council meeting wrap-ups have been a Facebook staple for engaged citizens, but what about those who prefer to stay off social media? We've solved that problem by bringing the Mayor's updates directly to your podcast feed.
This debut edition delivers a comprehensive rundown of Hanford's latest civic decisions. Mayor Paden's walks us through discussions on supporting businesses affected by graffiti vandalism, the unanimous approval of downtown improvement funding through Main Street Hanford, and critical infrastructure investments including road maintenance equipment and citywide concrete repairs. The Council's approval of 134 new housing lots in the Stonehaven and Linaria developments signals continued growth for our community, while an $85,000 grant from the California Highway Patrol strengthens our traffic enforcement capabilities.
The meeting also demonstrated thoughtful governance in action, with Council members choosing to postpone decisions on a feather flag sign ordinance until all representatives could be present to voice their constituents' perspectives. This careful balance of progress and deliberation exemplifies the careful stewardship our local leaders provide. Whether you're a longtime civic enthusiast or just beginning to engage with local government, these regular updates will help you stay connected to the decisions shaping our community's future. Subscribe to ensure you never miss a Council wrap-up, and consider reaching out directly to your Council representative with questions or concerns before the next meeting on August 5th.
You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsider
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Hey everybody, this is Rob. I just wanted to hop on the podcast real quick and let you know about a new feature. After each City Council meeting, Mayor Travis Payton heads to his Facebook page to give his followers a wrap-up of City Council actions. From the previous night's meeting, and after talking it over with several of you, I realized that not all of my listeners are on social media. So I spoke with Travis and he agreed to let me post his updates in podcast form here on the Hanford Insider. Travis and he agreed to let me post his updates in podcast form here on the Hanford Insider. This will become a regular feature in the show, but since the next new show isn't until July 28th, I thought I'd pass along his update today.
Speaker 2:Now here's Travis Payton. Hello, Hanford Mayor, Travis Payton here with the Wednesday wrap-up of everything that we discussed at last night's Hanford City Council meeting. Here are a few of the highlights. In our study session, staff presented the city graffiti abatement policy and we discussed better ways that we could support businesses and residents that are affected by this vandalism. In our closed session, labor talks continued with several employee groups In our regular meeting.
Speaker 2:In our consent calendar items we agreed to a three-year contract with Main Street Hanford. This would ensure that 100% of the double business license tax that was self-imposed by the downtown businesses to be given to Main Street Hanford for future downtown improvements. New labor agreements were approved for our management and executive staff, with benefits and updated pay through 2027. We funded key infrastructure projects like a new city server for our IT department, a steel roller for road maintenance and a new fueling card system. Approved next year was the concrete improvement Improvement Project for sidewalks and concrete repairs. Two subdivision maps were also approved totaling 134 lots in the Stonehaven and Linaria housing developments near Hanford-Armona Road and 10 1⁄2 Avenue. $85,000 grant was also approved, given by the California Highway Patrol for traffic enforcement and officer training.
Speaker 2:In our public hearing staff presented the Landscape and Lighting District Assessments and Engineers Report, where the Engineers Report was approved with a 2.1% increase In our General Business item. The Council decided to table this particular item dealing with a feather flag sign ordinance to make sure that all Council members were present and their constituents' voices were heard. You can watch the full meeting online on our website at hanfordcity. Thank you to everyone who tuned in to last episode. Your involvement and engagement makes a difference. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 5th, and until then, feel free to reach out to your City Council member via email or social media and enjoy the rest of your week.
