Friends and family members filled the chambers of the Sparks City Council Monday as John Mayer took the bench for the last time and newly elected Ward 1 council member Julia Ratti assumed the seat.

“I am honored, overwhelmed and I am going to work hard,” Ratti said after taking the oath of office.

The council did not see any other personnel changes after City Attorney Chet Adams, Ward 3 council member Ron Smith and Ward 5 council member Ron Schmitt retained their seats following the Nov. 4 election.

Before Ratti was seated, the former city council certified the results of the Nov. 4 election as presented by City Clerk Linda Patterson.

Her report stated the winners of the races and included a review of the certification process. Representatives from Sparks had randomly tested 2 percent of the machines in the area and found them to be in perfect working order.

Patterson’s staff report stated that polling place voter turnout in Sparks was 11,595 on Election Day, absentee voter turnout was 3,871 and early voter turnout was 20,441. In total, more than 78 percent of voters in Sparks went to the polls.

Then, after a five-minute recess filled with hugs and handshakes, the regular city council meeting began with the election of a Mayor Pro Temp. Following a motion from Smith, the council unanimously approved the election of Schmitt as the new Mayor Pro Temp. The position was formerly filled by Ward 1 council member John Mayer.

The Mayor Pro Temp is charged with the responsibilities of the mayor if the current mayor is incapacitated or otherwise occupied.

Other items of business included unanimous yes votes, approving a grant to the Sparks Fire Department, an application for a neighborhood stabilization program and a bid for road improvements on Hulda Way.

The road construction on Hulda Way would upgrade the pavement on the north bound lane to match the improvements that were recently made on the south bound lane. According to the city’s transportation manager, Jon Ericson, the construction would be limited to 25 days.

The council meeting also included lengthy discussion of a proposal to rezone portions of the industrial area in Sparks, adding specific criteria for parking, landscaping requirements and other criteria.

During the recess between the two meetings, former council member John Mayer shook hands and made his way out the door at the back of the room. He had an application for employment in hand for a greeter at a Scolari’s grocery store. He said he was not done working yet.