October 19–25, 2026
A steady local week: the Apple Valley City Council adopted a new employee pay plan, greenlit a liquor store expansion, and cleared several housekeeping items at its Thursday meeting.
At City Hall. The council's Thursday, October 22 session was productive. It adopted the city's 2026 pay and benefits plan, which sets new wages, health coverage, and retirement terms for Apple Valley employees starting next year. The council also approved a revised budget for the Apple Valley Liquor Store #2 Phase 2 expansion, allowing construction to move forward under updated costs. Both measures are now in effect, adopted by the council.
Around the parks. The council approved two park-related actions Thursday. It authorized an online auction of surplus equipment from Johnny Cake Park East and Scott Park through Auction Masters, Inc., with proceeds returning to the city. It also rejected all bids that came in for the JCPW (Johnny Cake Park West) irrigation system replacement. That rejection means the city must go out for new bids, which pushes the project timeline back and leaves the irrigation system as-is in the meantime. Both actions are adopted by the council.
A project gets outside help. The council set up a pool of engineering and technical consultants to work on a major 2026 city project. Using a consultant pool, rather than hiring permanent staff, lets the city move faster on project work. That arrangement is now in place, adopted by the council.
For local clergy. One federal bill that may touch some Apple Valley residents: a new law (HR 227) gives ordained ministers, nuns, and Christian Science practitioners a two-year window to reverse a prior decision to opt out of Social Security and Medicare. If they re-enroll, they'll pay self-employment taxes on their ministerial income going forward and become eligible for retirement and Medicare benefits. This is now law.
On the emergency-alert front. A federal bill (HR 7022) signed by the President would let wireless carriers deliver emergency alerts, like severe weather or public-safety warnings, through satellite networks in addition to the usual cell towers. If your carrier opts in, you could see those alerts even in areas with weak cell coverage. You'd also have the option to turn off satellite delivery. Passed by both chambers and signed.
Several other federal bills this week dealt with matters well outside Apple Valley, including a Sacramento land sale and San Francisco Bay restoration funding.
Coming up next week:
San Francisco Bay cleanup funding. A federal bill (HR 1382) that would expand restoration funding for San Francisco Bay and open that federal money to private businesses and nonprofits is out of committee and headed toward a full House floor vote. No firm vote date has been set. The bill is specific to the Bay Area and won't have a direct effect in Apple Valley, but it's on the federal radar for the week.
See what's up for a vote now · Find your representatives