The Ridgecrest City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to increase appropriations in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget to spend proceeds from a surplus-equipment auction on road-safety project planning, including finishing bid documents for a HAWK signal at Los Flores School.

Acting City Manager Travis Reid said the city sold unused equipment at a government auction and "received about $64,000 in revenue." The council approved a resolution to designate that revenue into an expense account so staff can complete bid documents for a Highway Safety Improvement Program project; timing is critical, Reid said, because the construction window should coincide with the schools summer break.

"At this time, that is the one that we are planning on using the funding for," Reid said of the HAWK signal project. He said the funds would not cover the whole project but would allow the city to finish the bid package and specifications so staff can seek construction bids.

Councilmembers moved and seconded the resolution; the roll call vote was recorded as five ayes and the motion carried. Reid said the city will return to the council to award any construction contract that results from the bid process.

The appropriation follows earlier council action to approve the consent calendar and the meeting agenda, both approved without public comment. The councils consent-vote practice and the agenda approval were routine votes taken at the start of the meeting.

No speaker during the item raised substantive opposition. Councilmember Gorman thanked staff for the work locating auction proceeds; other members asked whether the HAWK signal was the only intended use and were told it was the only timing-critical use being requested this session.

The city also said it expects to open pool construction bids the following day at the city clerk's office; any contract awards will return to the council for approval.