Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
January 17, 2023 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: Kelly Crosby, Cheryl Nelson, Paul Minchella, and Brian Cox.
Councilmembers absent: Samantha Wood. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Director of Public Works Joe Picotte, Police Chief Sid Cullins, Fire Chief Jimmy Lloyd and Fire Marshal Eric Hunter. Public attending: 5. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
Under public forum Kenji explained he and his family recently moved to Alturas. Before moving to Alturas he had a bike shop and was involved in BMX racing. Kenji was approached by several community members regarding the interest in having a BMX race track. He would like to propose using City property by the current Skate Park to create the race track. If the City donated the area, he and other volunteers would create and apply for funding separately.
The City Councilmembers agree recreation for the Community is important. They ask Kenji to work with City Treasurer Long on the location and provide City Clerk Binning with more specific items to be placed on a future agenda.
Mayor Cox asked all present to join together for a moment of silences for Richard W. Steyer. Richard W.
Steyer severed on the City Council as Mayor from August 1997 to March 2002.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella 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 December 20, 2022 meeting; b.) Approve minutes of January 5, 2023 special meeting; c.) Approve minutes of January 11, 2023 special meeting; d.) Approve City warrants for December, 2022 in the amount of $131,617.40; e.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for December, 2022 in the amount of $107,594.30; f.) Adopt Resolution #2023-1 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $673.16. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to open the public hearing at 2:13 p.m. considering the first reading of Ordinance #527 repealing and replacing Chapter 4 “Animals and Fowl”. ALL AYES.
Mayor Cox explained that they’ve made appropriate changes to Ordinance #527 repealing and replacing Chapter 4 “Animals and Fowl” since it was last presented to City Council.
With no further public comments MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to close the public hearing at 2:16 p.m. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the first reading of Ordinance #527 repealing and replacing Chapter 4 “Animals and Fowl”. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to open the public hearing at 2:17 p.m. considering the first reading of emergency Ordinance #528 temporarily permitting the use of a “Reserved Officer Program”. ALL AYES.
City Attorney Hedlund asked Risk Manager Eric Hunter to explain the urgency of the Reserved Officer Program and how implementation will help preserve public peace, health and safety.
Risk Manager Eric Hunter explained how crucial it is to pass the emergency ordinance to allow a Reserved Officer Program. Currently, if a disaster strikes the Alturas Police Department will not be able to cover the area which will endanger public health and safety.
Mayor Cox reiterated how crucial it is to pass the emergency ordinance due to historically low Police Officer staffing levels. Other agencies are helping the Alturas Police Department but are struggling with the same issue. This Reserved Officer Program will allow past Officers that are no longer in Law Enforcement to help the Department.
City Attorney Hedlund informs the Council that upon adoption Ordinance# 528 will take effect immediately. Then he and City Clerk Binning will draft a permanent program to be passed as a regular ordinance.
Councilmember Crosby had two questions. First, how many Reserved Officers will this program allow? The second question is how will the compensation be determined? Mayor Cox responds that in the draft ordinance it states “The total number of the Reserve Police Officers shall not exceed that of the number of full-time sworn officers.”.
After review of Section 10. Compensation. City Attorney Hedlund would like to amend the section to read “The amount of compensation for a Reserve Police Officer shall be prescribed by the mutual agreement of the City Finance Director and Alturas Chief of Police. Compensation shall be determined by them based upon the reserve officer’s experience and training and shall not exceed the compensation of a full-time Sworn Police officer with equivalent training and experience.”.
With no further public comments MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to close the public hearing at 2:28 p.m. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to approve emergency Ordinance #528 temporarily permitting the use of a “Reserved Officer Program”. With the amendment to Section 10. Compensation. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-2 approving the ninth amendment to Garbage Service Contract between USA Waste of California, Inc. and the City of Alturas. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to adopt Resolution #2023-3 approving the first amendment to the Personal Service Contract for Chief Plant Operator Jeffrey A. Nield and the City of Alturas. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to award the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Swimming Pool Rehabilitation Project #2023-002 to Anderson Engineering and Surveying, Inc. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to appoint Rosemary Nelson as a new Alturas Planning Commissioner to fill an unexpired vacancy. Term to expire March of 2024. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Crosby informed the Council Superior California Economic Development (SCED) was awarded the feasibility grant for the USDA processing facility. The SCED Project Coordinator will be presenting a presentation of what to expect next with this process.
Mayor Cox attended a North State Infrastructure Roundtable for Mayors and County Chairs November 22, 2022 in Redding. This meeting was led by Governor Newsom Infrastructure Advisor, Antonio Villaraigosa. During this meeting they informed the Counties and Cities of upcoming infrastructure funding. This was a great meeting to establish contacts and to expresses challenges regarding rural communities.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Police Chief Cullins reports on the hiring status for the Alturas Police Department. Currently he has two Cadets in the academy and has a potential lateral hire.
Public Works Director Picotte reports the City, Mill, and the School are discussing and exploring geothermal options. Mr. Picotte reports the Skilled Nursing project with the hospital is moving forward.
Currently they are working on lot line adjustments and rezoning the property site.
City Treasurer Long reports a staff member in the front office will be on maternity leave until April. Ms.
Long plans to start the budgeting process for the upcoming year and stresses to all departments the importance to communicate upcoming expenses.
Councilmember Nelson asks if she could get a key to view the Mill Site.
Mr. Picotte can arrange for Assistant Public Works Director Dodds to let Councilmember Nelson in to tour the Mill.
Councilmember Minchella would like to attend as well.
Fire Chief Lloyd reports in December, 2022 the Alturas Fire Department had 3 fire calls and 43 medical calls. Mr. Lloyd is happy to report that their personnel roster is full. They currently have 40 active volunteers and one interested individual.
At 3:10 p.m., Mayor Cox announced the Council would be meeting in closed session under G.C. Section 54961 – Liability Claims/Greene.
Reconvened back to open session at 3:45 p.m. with the following action.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to approve the Greene sewer claim in the amount of $1977.50 on the condition Ms. Greene signs a release of liability of any other damages. ALL AYES.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Crosby to adjourn the meeting at 3:48 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall. SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk