Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
February 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
The Alturas City Council Mayor Cox called the regular meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers. Councilmembers present: Cheryl Nelson, Samantha Wood, Paul Minchella, and Brian Cox.
Councilmembers absent: Kelly Crosby. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Police Chief Sid Cullins, and IT Specialist Sean Buie. Public attending: 2. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve the agenda as presented. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of January 17, 2023 meeting; b.) Approve City warrants for January, 2023 in the amount of $239,205.66; c.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for January, 2023 in the amount of $153,295.67; d.) Adopt Resolution #2023-4 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $429.02. ALL AYES.
Nobody was present on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. Council moved to the next item on the agenda.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to authorize the Mayor to sign a Proclamation declaring March as American Red Cross Month. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize the City Mayor to sign a support letter for Modoc County Transportation Commission (MCTC) for their application for Modoc Sustainable Communities Planning Grant for a Short-Range Transit Plan. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to open the public hearing at 2:09 p.m. considering the first reading Ordinance #529 adding Section 6 “Reserved Officer Program” to Chapter 19 “Police”. ALL AYES.
Chief Cullins noticed a typographical error. On the Ordinance title it should read “Reserve” instead of “Reserved”.
With no further public comments MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to close the public hearing at 2:10 p.m. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve the first reading of Ordinance #529 adding Section 6 “Reserve Officer Program” to Chapter 19 “Police” with the typographical correction. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the second reading of Ordinance #527 repealing and replacing Chapter 4 “Animals and Fowl”. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to select the City Council of the City of Alturas to make determinations of Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) for persons/premises applying for an ABC license. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve a 3-year employment contract for the Finance Director effective March 1, 2023 through February 28, 2026. With the amendment to page 1 to reflect $82,000.00 for the 3rd year, and correct Section C to say “she” instead of “he”. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve Resolution #2023-5 authorizing expenditure of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) in an amount not to exceed $450,000.00 for engineering and repairs to the Alturas Municipal Pool. With the amendment to Section 1 to add “and” after engineering design. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-6 approving the second amended budget for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 in the amount of $5,836,641.00. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-7 approving the first amendment to the Industrial Lease Agreement between High Desert Lumber, LLC and the City of Alturas. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-8 approving Task Order #3 for the Professional Services Agreement for on-call engineering services between the City of Alturas and GHD Inc. for the Court Street Rehabilitation Project. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-9 approving Task Order #4 for the Professional Services Agreement for on-call engineering services between the City of Alturas and GHD Inc. for the West 8th Street Rehabilitation Project. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to award the bid for installing two mobile generators at the Alturas Municipal Airport to Big Dog Electric for $15,961.83.
ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to award the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Modoc Community Park Project #2023-001 to Melton Design Group, Inc. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Minchella attended the Modoc LAFCO meeting February 14, 2023. At this time there isn’t anything to report. Mr. Minchella and IT Specialist Sean Buie attended a webinar regarding State funding for broadband infrastructure. However, this funding will not be available for the City but entities providing the service.
Councilmember Wood reports the Planning Commission did not have a February meeting.
Mayor Cox attended the Modoc County Transportation Commission meeting and reports the Caltrans project to rehab Main Street is moving forward. Caltrans will be proposing designs and Mayor Cox would like to have a work session to gather the Council’s input. During this meeting they discussed new signs coming into town to enhance the City’s appeal. Mr. Cox attended the Pool Committee, during this meeting they were informed they found a matching fund grant which would be beneficial. Mr. Cox was pleased to attend the celebration for Robert Filomeo for his 100th birthday. Robert Filomeo served in World War II.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
City Clerk Binning informed the Council she attended a City Clerk Association of California training via Zoom. This training was held February 6, 2023 – February 9, 2023. City Clerk Binning reminds Council to complete their Form 700 by April 3, 2023. Ms. Binning informs Council she received a service proposal from Blue Water Recycling and will provide a copy to the Recycling Committee.
Police Chief Cullins reports the Alturas Police Department case numbers for 2023 is a total of 68 cases.
Last year at this time the Alturas Police Department had 55 cases. Even though the Alturas Police Department is shorthanded they still have plenty to do. Chief Cullins updates the Council on the hiring status. Currently he has one lateral in backgrounds and another lateral to start in the background process.
Two Cadets are in the Police Academy. Chief Cullins predicts by September the Alturas Police Department should be fully staffed. Chief Cullins is happy to announce Police Officer Widby was promoted to Sergeant.
City Treasurer Long reports the Public Works Department has three new Maintenance workers going through the hiring process. With the new hires the City of Alturas plans to work with Workforce Alliance to provide some funding for these positions. Ms. Long reports there has been some interest for the Chief Wastewater Operator. Ms. Long reports Andersen Engineering will be here Thursday, February 23, 2023 for a site visit at the old pool. During this site visit they will prioritize the repairs. The City is currently advertising for a Seasonal Pool Manager. As of today there hasn’t been any interest. City Treasurer is starting Fiscal Year End audits. Ms. Long predicts the City will go through a single audit this year which will add an additional cost.
Mayor Cox would like to thank City Treasurer Long for taking on extra duties.
IT Specialist Buie will provide the Council with City Council Chamber upgrade options. These upgrades will help City Council comply with new Brown Act teleconferencing requirements from Assembly Bill 2449.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Minchella to adjourn the meeting at 3:30 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall. SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk