Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
July 19, 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, Samantha Wood and Loni Lewis. Newley appointed Councilmembers present Brian Cox and Paul Minchella.
Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Police Chief Sid Cullins, Director of Public Works Joe Picotte, IT Specialist Sean Buie and Officer William Engel. Public attending: 9. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to move item #11 Discussion/action: Authorize the City Mayor to sign a support letter for the Convener and Fiscal Agent of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) for the North State region to item #16 and adjust the agenda accordingly. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Lewis, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of June 21, 2022 meeting; b.) Adopt Resolution #2022-33 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $8.09; c.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for June, 2022 in the amount of $157,118.61; d.) 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; e.) Adopt Resolution #2022-34 approving the applications for the City of Alturas Utility Relief Program in the amount of $3,111.68. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2022-35 amending Resolution 2021-53 to correct a typographical error relating to the agreement number. ALL AYES.
City Clerk Binning administered the Oath of Office to Councilmember Brian Cox, Councilmember Paul J.
Minchella, and City Treasurer Dorothy M. Long.
City Clerk Binning calls for nominations for the positions of Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson nominating Brian Cox as Mayor. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Cox, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella nominating Cheryl Nelson as Mayor Pro-Tem. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson adopt Resolution #2022- 36 designating Kelly Crosby as a voting delegate; and Paul J Minchella and Samantha Wood as alternates
to represent the City of Alturas for the 2022 League of California Cities Annual Business Meeting. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to appoint Councilmember Paul J. Minchella as Modoc LAFCO City representative and Councilmember Kelly Crosby as alternate.
ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to authorize City Treasurer Long to prepay the classic unfunded liability for FY 22/23 resulting in a 3.5% savings in interest for the City of Alturas. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to amend the agenda to the original order to allow Courtney Farrell, Project Manager with North State Planning and Development Collective to present on item #11 Discussion/action: Authorize the City Mayor to sign a support letter for the Convener and Fiscal Agent of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) for the North State region. ALL AYES.
Courtney Farrell, Project Manager with North State Planning and Development Collective, informed the Council that ten months ago the Governor established a fund for economic development at the State known as Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF). These funds are to assist with regions to recover from the impact caused by COVID on the communities. The Northern State region has ten counties within it. Ms. Farrell explains to the Council they haven’t received the guidelines for the funding and requested the State to release these guidelines soon. Ms. Farrell would like to propose a letter of support for the North State Planning & Development at Chico State Enterprises to be the Regional Convener and Fiscal Agent of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) for the North State region. Each region will be allocated five million dollars, and these funds are competitive. They ask if the City moves forward with the support letter, they would like a City representative to attend at least one meeting a month to discuss the funding within the region. By August 15, 2022 the Convener and Fiscal Agent of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) for the North State region will be announced. By October 2022 participation contracts will be completed and they can start applying for funds by January 1, 2023.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize the City Mayor to sign a support letter for the Convener and Fiscal Agent of the Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) for the North State region and list Councilmember Crosby as the contact. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize the Chief of Police to sponsor a potential applicant to attend the Police Academy, not to exceed $19,000.00. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2022-37 establishing an administration fee for the removal of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2022-38 authorizing submittal of a Regional Used Oil Payment Program application with Modoc County as the lead agency, related authorizations and identification of regional participants. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2022-39 authorizing the first amendment to the Professional Service Agreement for On Call Engineering between the City of Alturas and GHD, Inc. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to amend Resolution #2022-40 to state adopt instead of approving and adopt Resolution #2022-40 adopting the City of Alturas Utility Account Payment Policy. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Crosby reported she attended a Superior California Economic Development (SCED) loan committee meeting. During this meeting they approved three loans within the region.
Councilmember Wood reports the Planning Commission did not have a meeting July 13, 2022 due to lack of agenda items.
Mayor Cox would like to request being informed of Committee meetings to ensure attendance is adequate.
City Clerk Binning responds she would be happy to inform Mayor Cox of meeting dates. However, some committees establish a meeting with less than a twenty-four-hour notice which is permitted with some committees.
City Attorney Hedlund reminds Council as a safe harbor he would like to see only two Councilmembers attending a Committee meeting to comply with the Brown Act.
Councilmember Crosby notifies Council the Superior California Economic Development (SCED) is waiting for a reply regarding the feasibility grant for the USDA processing facility. If awarded they will hold community outreach meetings to gather input.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Director of Public Works warns Council he received a notice from the current supplier of sulfur dioxide (SO2) that they can no longer supply this chemical. This chemical is used at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr. Picotte has been searching for a new supplier. However, the price is substantially more and just with shipping, the City will be looking at $6,000.00. As of now, Mr. Picotte has 15 days left of supplies and may need to purchase even if it is expensive until he can figure out a long-term solution. Mr. Picotte has been meeting with Frontier regarding their encroachment permits. Mr. Picotte met with Glenn Zane regarding the mill site lease, Mr. Zane plans on having his business operating this fall.
City Attorney Hedlund explains the previous tenant’s legal matters are now resolved.
Director of Public Works along with Chief Cullins attended the Modoc County Disaster Council and Hazard Mitigation meeting. During this meeting they discussed updating the emergency plans. Mr.
Picotte had the opportunity to meet with California State Assemblywoman Megan Dahle, and discussed issues rural communities face.
Mayor Cox inquired if the Planning Commission could assist with the airport land use plan.
Director of Public Work agrees they would be a great resource for this project.
Mayor Cox informs the Council that Councilmember Nelson has been approached by entities that would like to donate money to help repair the existing pool. Mr. Cox would like to see the City be proactive for the 2023 pool season and reevaluate the pool. This way they would have a list of repairs that need to be completed to make the pool operational. Mayor Cox would like to know by February of 2023 if it is possible to operate the pool for the 2023 pool season so they can send lifeguards to trainings.
Director of Public Work plans to drain the pool this fall and inspect for all repairs and determine the cost to make operational.
Councilmember Crosby recently saw on the news a Redding Tribal entity joined together in partnerships to create a health center with a new pool and fitness center for the community. Mrs. Crosby would like to explore creating a partnership like this.
City Clerk Binning reminds leaving officers and newly appointed officers to complete a 700-form reflecting the changes.
At 3:42 p.m., Mayor Cox announced the Council would be meeting in closed session under G.C. Section 54956.9/Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation - 1 case.
Reconvened back to open session at 3:57 p.m.
City Attorney Hedlund reports the action that was taken during closed session.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to deny the Morris claim and authorize the City Attorney to draft the denial letter. ALL AYES.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Crosby to adjourn the meeting at 4:01 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall. SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk