Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
February 15, 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, Cheryl Nelson and Loni Lewis.
Councilmembers absent: Samantha Wood. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Police Chief Sid Cullins, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Director of Public Works Joe Picotte, Fire Chief Keith Jacques, and Fire Marshal Eric Hunter. Public attending: 1. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to approve the agenda as presented. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt the consent agenda as follows a) Approve minutes of January 18, 2022 meeting; b) Approve City warrants for January, 2022 in the amount of $204,574.84; c) Adopt Resolution #2022-7 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $2,687.87; d) Approve ACH reconciliation report for January, 2022 in the amount of $164,323.80; 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 #2022-8 approving the applications for the City of Alturas Utility Relief Program in the amount of $6,941.46. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Lewis to adopt Resolution #2022-9 authorizing the Alturas Fire Department to use Risk Management Accreditation Program (RMAP) funds to purchase smoke detectors for City buildings. Funds will not exceed $1,700.00. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Lewis to adopt Resolution #2022-10 approving the first amended budget for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 in the amount of $6,548,525.00.
ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Lewis, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to authorize the City Mayor to sign a support letter for the Modoc County USDA-Inspected Processing Facility Project. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Lewis, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2022-11 approving the guidelines for the submission and tabulation of protests in connection with rate hearings conducted pursuant to Article XIIID, Section 6 of the California Constitution. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Lewis to take a 5-minute recess to allow Planning Director Picotte to prepare for presentation. ALL AYES.
Director of Public Works Picotte introduced Anders Rasmussen and Richard Culp, representing SHN Consulting Engineers. SHN Consulting Engineers conducted the planning grant for the Wastewater Treatment Facility. Part of this grant was to conduct a Wastewater Rate Study for the City of Alturas.
Anders Rasmussen and Richard Culp, representing SHN Consulting Engineers presented the Wastewater Rate Study findings to the City Council. When conducting a rate study, they reviewed all expenses that would affect maintaining the system which include operating, maintenance, employee salaries, etc. Once they collected the expense data for the past 6 years, they projected the future costs and added inflation. In conclusion they propose a 6.4% increase implemented each year for the next 5 years. Once they complete the 5 year increase another rate study should be conducted to review rates. This will be a total of $15 increase to City residences over the next 5 years.
City Attorney Hedlund informs Council that Mr. Picotte is now looking into a construction grant for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Director of Public Works Picotte enlightens the Council that when they conducted the Wastewater Rate Study, they projected the rates at a new facility. Even though chemical costs and penalty costs will be potentially eliminated or reduced. The new facility will have new costs associated with the monitoring wells and other operating expenses.
Mayor Steffek inquires about the 218 process and what would happen if they receive a sufficient amount of protests.
Anders Rasmussen replied that the City would need to receive a certain amount of protests which would be 50% + one. If this were to happen, they would need to reexamine and try again.
Director of Public Works Picotte explains how crucial public and staff education is on the rate study and need for this increase. Mr. Picotte would like to hold public meetings to educate the public and staff on how crucial this rate increase is to the infrastructure and how it affects our residents if it doesn’t occur.
Mayor Steffek asks what should the Council and staff expect next.
Director of Public Works Picotte explains depending on the Council’s pleasure today, if they agree and would like to proceed with the proposed rates, the next step would be for Mr. Picotte to conduct public outreach sessions before hearing letters are sent to property owners. Once letters are sent to the property owners it starts the 45-day period before the public hearing. Mr. Picotte does not want to rush this process without the proper education. Mr. Picotte will have an update on the process during the next City Council meeting.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Lewis to approve the Wastewater Rate Study, and move forward with the proposed rate increase that was presented. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
With recent concerns regarding the recycling issues within the City Mayor Steffek would like to see the Recycling Committee become more active. He would like the following to be addressed through the committee if possible. Develop a list of unserviceable City vehicles and equipment that can be recycled located at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Airport. Another item to address is to conduct a City-wide beatification day which will encourage residents to clean properties and neighborhoods. This will also encourage residents to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Develop a plan outline for organic recycling. Currently the City has a 5-year timeline to implement a plan. However, Mayor Steffek would like for the City to be proactive on this deadline.
Director of Public Works Picotte explained that he is currently working on developing the City’s plan for the organic recycling with Cal Recycling.
Another is to identify and develop a strong partnership for recycling with local and regional business, and agencies. Mr. Steffek would like the committee to search for grant opportunities. Mayor Steffek encourages this committee to have a meeting and report by the March City Council meeting.
Councilmember Crosby informs Council she attended a Moving Modoc Forward Taskforce meeting. The current goal is to update the economic vitality plan. Mrs. Crosby believes they have great members with innovative ideas. During these meetings informative presentations are given. The last presentation was on small business loans. Amy Velazquez and Stacey Snow with Workforce Alliance gave a presentation at the previous meeting. This prestation was on workforce within Modoc County and how to engage and encourage business to use Workforce Alliance. Workforce Alliance has many funding and training opportunities that business could utilize. Mrs. Crosby is on the Superior California Economic Development (SCED) loan committee, and noticed they fund high risk businesses. Mrs. Crosby has been actively attending the USDA processing plant meetings. They recently visited the Prather Ranch to tour an operating USDA processing facility.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Fire Chief Jacques announces that he is stepping down as Fire Chief. This will be effective March 7, 2022 at the next Fire Department meeting. Mr. Jacques has been Fire Chief for 17 years. At the next Fire Department meeting they will vote and select the new Fire Chief. Mr. Jacques asks that the City Council doesn’t revisit the City Manager idea because the City could not sustain such a position financially.
Councilmember Lewis would like to thank Fire Chief Jacques for his service.
Chief of Police Cullins reviewed the yearly stats for the Alturas Police Department for 2021. They had a total of 190 arrests and 76 were felonies. In 2020 the Alturas Police Department had a total of 254 arrests and 85 were felonies. The first six weeks of 2022 so far has a total of 13 arrests and 5 are felonies.
Mayor Steffek asks Chief Cullins if the unused medication disposal kiosk has been installed and being used.
Chief Cullins replies that is has been installed and is currently being used.
Council would like the unused medication disposal kiosk to be advertised.
Councilmember Lewis expressed her concern regarding unleashed dogs within the City.
Mayor Steffek recalls that City staff plans to update the City of Alturas Municipal Code book to help resolve the animal issues.
Director of Public Works Picotte reports that the Planning Commissioners are interested in Moving Modoc Forward and would like information to attend. The Planning Commissioners were also interested in the new structure of the Chamber of Commerce and if the City correlates with the Chamber. Mr. Picotte would like a representative from the Chamber to attend and update Council as they did in the past. Mr. Picotte would like a representative from the Planning Commissioner to attend City Council meetings as well. Mr. Picotte has applied for several different grants. Plans to coordinate with Modoc County through the Clean California grant to update the park within City Limits. Mr. Picotte plans to update the streets, curb and gutters surrounding the park. Mr. Picotte will be preparing to close out the Wastewater Treatment Plant planning grant.
City Treasurer Long attended a webinar pertaining to the CalPERS unfunded liability presented by a law firm. This law firm has helped similar sized cities by reviewing variation CalPERS reports and projecting future costs. This is to better help and manage the CalPERS unfunded liability costs. Ms. Long asked the law firm to provide her with a work scope to be able to present. Ms. Long is also helping Director of Public Works Picotte plan a meeting to discuss a fee schedule for the ball fields and arenas. This meeting is scheduled for February 24th at 5:30 pm. Ms. Long informed the Council the Department Heads had a meeting to discuss the Local Recovery Funds and how they would like to expend the first round. Ms. Long plans on having a Resolution for the Local Recovery Funds during the March City Council meeting. Ms.
Long will be attending a virtual training regarding the 2022 labor laws.
City Attorney Hedlund reports that the lease with the Mill Site is now current.
Councilmember Nelson reports she attended the February 1, 2022 Modoc County Transportation Commission meeting.
City Clerk Binning is currently working on updating the election ordinance to allow city officers whose four-year term would have expired in June of 2022 or June of 2024 be extended and expire the third Tuesday in July. This would allow adequate time for the certification of election results. Currently having city officers take office in June does not allow enough time for election results to be certified.
Councilmember Lewis followed up on the status of the nuisance property from the January 18, 2022 City Council meeting.
City Attorney Hedlund reports that the probate is still in process.
Fire Marshal Hunter has been in contact and following up on the nuisance property as well.
At 3:54 p.m., Mayor Steffek announced the Council would be meeting in closed session under G.C. Section 54957.6/Conference with Labor Negotiator Mr. Mark Steffek and Mrs. Kelly Crosby to discuss UPEC Local 792 General Unit Proposals.
Reconvened back to open session at 4:46 p.m. with no action to report at this time.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Lewis to adjourn the meeting at 4:46 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk