Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
January 18, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
Pursuant to Resolution #2021-55 adopted by City Council on October 19, 2021, the Alturas City Council Mayor Mark Steffek called the regular meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers and via teleconference. Councilmembers present: Mark Steffek, Kelly Crosby, Samantha Wood and Loni Lewis.
Cheryl Nelson arrived at 2:29 pm. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Police Chief Sid Cullins, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Director of Public Works Joe Picotte, and Fire Chief Keith Jacques. Public attending: 3. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve the agenda as presented. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Lewis to adopt the consent agenda as follows a) Approve minutes of December 21, 2021 meeting; b) Approve City warrants for December, 2021 in the amount of $184,908.94; c) Adopt Resolution #2022-1 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $800.34; d) Approve ACH reconciliation report for December, 2021 in the amount of $154,014.17; e) Requesting approval to extend Resolution #2021-55 for an additional 30 days to authorize remote teleconference meetings of the legislative bodies of City of Alturas pursuant to Brown Act provisions; f) Adopt Resolution #2022-2 approving the applications for the City of Alturas Utility Relief Program in the amount of $1,477.97. ALL AYES.
Heidi Hall addressed the City Council regarding her concern of a nuisance property. Mrs. Hall provided the Council and staff with pictures of the property. Mrs. Hall has completed and returned a complaint form to the City of Alturas and is currently working with Modoc County Environmental Health. Mrs. Hall contacted the owner of the property and has expressed her concern. However, this home is currently in probate which makes it harder for any action to be taken. This house has been red tagged. However, Mrs.
Hall has noticed people going in and out of this property. She is just wondering if there is another step that needs to be taken to expedite this process to resolve this issue. This property is affecting her private business and decreasing her homes value.
Fire Chief Jacques asks if Mrs. Hall has completed a complaint with the Alturas Fire Department. This will start the nuisance abatement timeline for the Fire Department so they can ultimately take action and clean the property.
Mrs. Hall believes she did, but can revisit with the Alturas Fire Marshal to start this timeline.
Director of Public Works Picotte advises the Council and Staff that since the property is still in probate and does not have a current owner, the City will need to proceed with caution.
Councilmember Lewis inquires if the City has an Ordinance, why can’t they proceed and clean the property?
Mr. Picotte responds that until ownership of the property is clearly stated, legally the City cannot follow the Ordinance.
Councilmember Crosby asks if the Alturas Police Department can take action if they see people on the property after it has been red tagged.
City Attorney Hedlund advices Mrs. Hall that there are a few more steps that need to be finalized.
Currently, the eviction process is taking place and until that is finalized the Alturas Police Department wouldn’t be able to take action. Unless, the County posted the property cannot be trespassed.
Mayor Steffek asks what timeline Mr. Hedlund expects for this process to be finalized.
Mr. Hedlund responds within the next week.
MOTION by Councilmember Lewis, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve the second reading of Ordinance #524 rezoning a commercial property into a residential property. Property is located at 220 & 222 W. McDowell Avenue (Assessor Parcel Number 003-172-012) ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize the City Attorney to draft and sign a termination of lease between High Desert Lumber, LLC and the City of Alturas. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Lewis, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2022-3 approving the application for Rural Recreation and Tourism Program Grant funds with the amendment to change the project name from Modoc Aquatic Community Park to Alturas Community Park. ALL AYES.
Councilmember Nelson arrived at 2:29 p.m.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby approval to adopt Resolution #2022-4 approving the Eighth Amendment to Garbage Service Contract between USA Waste of California, Inc. and the City of Alturas. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize the City Mayor to sign a support letter for the Modoc County Road Department for their application for the Clean California Local Grant Program. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to amend the agenda to reflect item #11 to be a Discussion Action item instead of Discussion Only. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Lewis, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2022-5 authorizing the Director of Public Works to sign the Settlement Agreement and Stipulation for
Entry of Administrative Civil Liability Order (Stipulated Order) from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2022-6 requesting the County Elections to conduct the Election and requesting consolidation of the Election. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Lewis to approve a 3-year employment contract for the Assistant Finance Director Macey Binning-VonRader effective February 1, 2022 through January 31, 2025. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Mayor Steffek informs the Council and staff that the next Modoc County LAFCO meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2022 at 4:00 PM.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Fire Chief Jacques informs Council that their new Administrative Assistant Thomas Eames is doing a great job. The Alturas Fire Marshal is currently working on updating fire plans.
City Clerk Binning notifies Council and staff the notice of election will be posted the first week of February.
Then February 14, 2022 is the first day for candidates to pull election papers. City Clerk Binning also reminds Council and Staff to file their 700 forms if they haven’t already. The Deadline is April 1, 2022.
Chief of Police Cullins was asked to explain arrest procedures under Covid19 conditions.
Mayor Steffek thanked Chief Cullins for the explanation using a current situation that received attention on social media. Mayor Steffek would like to see proactive steps be taken when any department with the City has negative comments.
Councilmember Nelson apologized for arriving late.
Councilmember Lewis asks Mr. Ingram the status update on his potential lease with the City.
Mr. Ingram responded that he has been in contact with the Director of Public Works Picotte, and they have been working on a draft agreement. However, Mr. Ingram has several internal items that he needs to complete for his business before he can move forward.
The Councilmembers would like to see the recycling committee to meet and help brainstorm ways to help the recycling center succeed.
Councilmember Crosby informs Council she attended a Moving Modoc Forward Taskforce meeting.
During this meeting Amy Velazquez and Stacey Snow with Workforce Alliance presented a presentation.
This prestation was on workforce within Modoc County and the impact it has within the community. Mrs.
Crosby will forward this presentation and supporting documents to the other Councilmembers.
Workforce Alliance has many programs. One program is to fund training opportunities. Mrs. Crosby has been actively attending the USDA processing plant meetings. The USDA processing plant project has a lot of community support and funding. Mrs. Crosby is on the Superior California Economic Development (SCED) loan committee, and has noticed that businesses within Modoc County have not applied for loan opportunities. Mrs. Crosby would like the Councilmembers and staff to inform business owners of these opportunities.
Director of Public Works Picotte is currently working on the sewer rate study. At this time, he has rough numbers. However, by the February City Council meeting he should have a presentation for the Council on the sewer rate study. During the January 12, 2022 Planning Commission meeting the Commissioners approved the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Alturas Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project. Mr. Picotte is close to completing and closing out the Wastewater Planning grant.
Mr. Picotte is now looking for grant opportunities for the construction of the Wastewater Treatment ponds.
Councilmember Wood was contacted by Modoc Highschool regarding the Senior Internship Program for her personal business and was curious if the City is participating in this program.
City Clerk Binning responds that the City is participating and are awaiting to see if any students select City positions.
Mayor Steffek announces that the Modoc County Librarian Cheryl Baker is retiring. Mr. Steffek invites Council to attend the open house at the Modoc County Library January 21, 2022 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Nelson to adjourn the meeting at 3:16 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk