Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
September 20, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
Pursuant to Resolution #2021-55 adopted by City Council on October 19, 2021, the Alturas City Council Mayor Cox called the regular meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers and via teleconference. Councilmembers present: Paul Minchella, Kelly Crosby, Samantha Wood, and Brian Cox. Councilmembers absent: Cheryl Nelson. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Police Chief Sid Cullins, Animal Control Officer Craig Wion, Director of Public Works Joe Picotte, Fire Chief Jimmy Lloyd and Fire Marshal Eric Hunter. Public attending: 11. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
Under public forum, students from Alturas Elementary School expressed to the City Council the importance of having a community pool. These students would like to see swim lessons being offered to teach students to swim. They also expressed how important summer activities are to the students. The students recently visited other cities and liked the idea of a splash pad.
The Councilmembers thanked the students and expressed how impressed they were with these young students and their public speaking skills. They assured the students the pool is a priority and are looking into funding.
Councilmember Crosby informed the students the Pool Committee recently was awarded a $945,182.00 grant through the Proposition 68 Rural Recreation and Tourism Program. Although, this funding will not build a new pool it will be used to build a splash pad, landscaping, and a parking area. This will be the first phase of building a pool area for the community.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to approve the agenda as presented. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of August 16, 2022 meeting; b.) Approve City warrants for August, 2022 in the amount of $147,020.18; c.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for August, 2022 in the amount of $123,778.84; d.) Adopt Resolution #2022-45 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $204.05; 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 #2022-46 approving the applications for the City of Alturas Utility Relief Program in the amount of $443.14. Mayor Cox abstained from item a.) Approve minutes of August 16, 2022 meeting since he was absent for this meeting. ALL AYES.
Alturas Rural Fire Chief Erik Kinney informed the Council Alturas Rural Fire Department plans on building a new Fire Barn. The new location would be on W. 4th Street between the Baptist Church and Frontier’s shop. Alturas Rural currently owns a lot in this section but are acquiring a section of another lot. In order for the Alturas Rural Fire Department to build a new Fire Barn they need to conduct a lot line adjustment which costs $575.00.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to waive the lot line adjustment fees for the Alturas Rural Fire Department. ALL AYES.
Mr. Picotte has been approached by Modoc High School about improving the current batting cages at the Rotary ballfields. Modoc High School would like to enclosing them, to allow students to practice all year.
Mr. Picotte will need to obtain a cost estimate, but before Mr. Picotte starts this project and partnership with Modoc High School, he would like to know what the Council’s pleasure is.
Mayor Cox would like to know if the City did partner with Modoc High School would they be able to contribute financially?
Planning Commissioner Hall asks since this project was initially a Rotary project would they be willing to help with improvements?
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to authorize the Public Works Director to work with Modoc High School to gather an estimate of enclosed batting cages and figure what the partners would contribute. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to open the public hearing at 2:23 pm for considering first reading of Ordinance #527 repealing and replacing Chapter 4 “Animals and Fowl”. ALL AYES.
Karen Haines, High Plateau Humane Society Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) Program Manager, submitted proposed changes to City Clerk Binning regarding their TNR program. Mrs. Haines explained how the program works. The Humane Society captures feral cats within the City, vaccinates, alters, and then releases the cats where they were found to help prevent over population and disease. Mrs. Haines expressed how crucial the program is within the City of Alturas.
City Clerk Binning provided the Council with the original proposed “Animal and Fowl” ordinance and the requested changes. Ms. Binning did not update the ordinance to allow Council to decide the direction they would like to proceed.
Animal Control Officer Wion recommends proceeding with the original ordinance without the proposed changes. By adding the changes, the City of Alturas would be required to abide by their program. Mr.
Wion is concerned this program is made up of volunteers and can become inactive.
City Clerk Binning agrees with Animal Control Officer Wion. Ms. Binning applauds the Humane Society for their program. However, the “Animal and Fowl” ordinance should be a pertain to the City and to set rules that could assist with their program, but not operate. An example of this is the Humane Society requested the City add “Community Cats”, if the City is trying to enforce the six-cat policy “Community Cat” can be used as a loop hole.
Mayor Cox had several concerns regarding the proposed changes and the legal language in the original daft. At this time the Council would like to propose tabling the first reading, and scheduling a meeting to review and discuss with the appropriate parties.
With no further comments to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to close the public hearing at 2:53 pm. ALL AYES MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to table the first reading of Ordinance #527 repealing and replacing Chapter 4 “Animals and Fowl”. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2022-47 Approving an amendment to existing CDBG-CV2 and CV3 Standard Agreement with the State numbered 20-CDBG-CV2-3-00107. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2022-48 authorizing the Storage Lease Agreement between the City of Alturas and Saddleback Sanitation. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to authorize the Chief of Police to sponsor three Cadets to attend the Police Academy, not to exceed $17,000.00 per Cadet. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2022-49 authorizing the Office Space Lease Agreement between the City of Alturas and Modoc Economic Development Corporation and Resource Conservation District. With the amendments to correct the agreement to reference office space instead of storage, and direct the City Attorney to add language regarding building maintenance and improvements. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to adopt Resolution #2022-50 authorizing the Alturas Fire Department to use Risk Management Accreditation Program (RMAP) funds to install a heating system in the Alturas Fire Barn building. Funds will not exceed $6,000.00. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Crosby reported Executive Director Robert Nash with Superior California Economic Development (SCED) retired. Ryan Richardson will become the new Executive Director. Ryan has been with SCED for several years as a Loan Officer. Superior California Economic Development (SCED) applied for a feasibility grant for the USDA processing facility, and were awarded. Mrs. Crosby will notify the Council once further information is available regarding a presentation and community outreach.
Mayor Cox and Councilmember Minchella attended a teleconference with the Director of Public Works Picotte, current Mill Site tenant Glenn Zane, and a Representative for Doug LaMalfa regarding Economic Development funding that can be utilized at the Mill. This meeting allowed them to develop a plan to pursue potential Economic Development funding.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Councilmember Crosby attended the California League of Cities annual conference in Long Beach, California. During this conference they approved bylaw amendments. Mrs. Crosby would be happy to
share the updated bylaws. Mrs. Crosby has other information and updates to share with the Council and Staff. Mrs. Crosby was able to attended the ethics training during the conference.
Director of Public Works Picotte notifies Council that he will be very short handed soon. Mr. Picotte will have several vacancies and advertised for Maintenance Worker I & II and received little feedback. Mr.
Picotte is exploring contracting and partnerships to complete bigger projects. Mr. Picotte stresses how important it is to outreach and inform others of the career opportunities with the City of Alturas.
Councilmember Wood asks if the City still participating with the Senior Internship Program.
City Clerk Binning replies the City is participating and the students must select the positions. City Treasurer Long was selected by an intern this semester.
Director of Public Works Picotte warns the Council he received short notice from the Railroad regarding a Main Street closure during the week of September 20th – 22nd. This concerns Mr. Picotte due to homecoming festivities for Modoc High School. He will work with the Railroad as much as he can. However, the Railroad can essentially do as they please due to their regulations.
Councilmember Crosby is concerned with emergency situations and the routes the first responders will take.
Do they have a contingency plan in place?
The Public Works Department will be repairing Warner Street between Holiday and the Golf Course. This road is currently in very poor condition. This project will be funded through the SB1 funds.
Mr. Picotte has noticed since the announcement of the $945,182.00 grant through the Proposition 68 Rural Recreation and Tourism Program there is confusion on what the grant funds will be used for. Currently, the Community believes it will be for a new pool. However, the funding will be used to construct a splash pad, landscaping, and parking area. Mr. Picotte plans on addressing and clarifying this misunderstanding.
City Treasurer Long reports she was selected by a Modoc High School student for the internship program for this semester. Ms. Long informs the Council the Street Auditor from the State office will be onsite the last week of September. Ms. Long plans on having the new budget approved during the next City Council meeting.
City Clerk Binning reminds the new Councilmembers they need to complete the required training. City Clerk Binning reached out to Golden State Risk Management to see if they had an upcoming in-person training. At this time, they do not. The Councilmember will need to complete an online training. Ms.
Binning encourages City Council and Department Heads to schedule a time for their evaluations.
Fire Chief Lloyd reports on the August call volume for the Alturas Fire Department. There were 0 fire calls and 25 medical calls. Year to date the Alturas Fire Department has received 26 fire calls and 219 medical calls.
At 3:47 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 potential case claim# 1201156.
Reconvened back to open session at 3:51 p.m. no action was taken.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Crosby to adjourn the meeting at 3:52 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall. SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk