News Correspondent

City staff and management will be taking off the last two weeks of 2014 in Riverbank, so the ‘City of Action’ offices will close Friday, Dec. 19 and re-open at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015.

The closure and vacation time is part of the city’s ‘9/80’ work schedule, negotiated with various employee groups when reorganization was necessary because of budget cuts.

Officials note that Emergency Services will be available as normal, by calling 911, and the City Public Works emergency standby number is 800-672-9058.

The city council’s final meeting of the year was held on Dec. 9. The fourth Tuesday meeting would have been on Dec. 23, but has been canceled.

In action at the Dec. 9 session, Riverbank Public Works Superintendent Michael Riddell reported to the City Council how upgrade efforts are progressing at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The $3.9 million project’s planning began in 2013, with construction getting under way in August 2014. Riddell told the council the work was expected to be completed by the end of March 2015, but, despite a small electrical problem, will be finished ahead of schedule, in February. The work is being done through an Energy Savings Performance contract with Schneider Electric and will allow annual savings in electricity to be used to fund the construction costs over time. The project adheres to the city's Strategic Plan, the goal to improve and maintain infrastructure and facilities.