Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
March 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, Kelly Crosby, Paul Minchella, and Brian Cox.
Councilmembers absent: Samantha Wood. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Police Chief Sid Cullins, Fire Marshal Eric Hunter and Fire Chief Jimmy Lloyd. Public attending: 6. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
Janice Lauppe informed the Council in Colusa County, CA they have a Volunteer Citizen Service Unit.
This Volunteer Citizen Service Unit could help the Alturas Police Department with some duties such as administrative duties while short staffed.
Mayor Cox agrees this would be a great program to implement. However, at this time Chief Cullins is short staff and would not have the time to implement this program. Mayor Cox asks Mrs. Lauppe if she could gather the information from Colusa County. This way the City can implement at a later date and help prevent this situation from occurring again.
Perry Porter & Ruth Porter are concerned with people speeding when turning onto W. 14th Street, then heading to Maple Street. They’ve had a few accidents in this area and they’re concerned for the neighborhoods safety.
City Council will ask the Public Works Department to place a stop sign in this area to see if this will slow the traffic in the area.
Mr. Porter has a few more items he would like to address. The first item is the potholes. The other item Mr.
Porter is concerned with is semi-trucks idling their trucks all night on Maple Street.
Mayor Cox responded that the City has been collaborating with Modoc County Road Department. With this collaboration the City hopes to see the streets improved.
City Clerk Binning informs Council item #6 Discussion/Action: Chamber of Commerce representatives to discuss and request an alternative route for the Winterfest parade will need to be removed and placed on the April 18, 2023 City Council agenda.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the agenda with the removal of item #6 as discussed. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of February 21, 2023 meeting; b.) Approve minutes of February 27, 2023 special meeting; c.) Approve City warrants for February, 2023 in the amount of $242,003.29; d.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for February, 2023 in the amount of $115,324.79; e.) Adopt Resolution #2023-10 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $409.13. ALL AYES.
Kirsten McAlister representing T.E.A.C.H. Crisis Center, would like to request approval to place signs by trees on Main Street for the month of April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to authorize placing signs by trees on Main Street for the month of April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. ALL AYES.
Darrell Anderson with Anderson Engineering and Surveying, Inc. provided City Council with an update regarding the Swimming Pool Rehabilitation Project. After the initial inspection of the Alturas Municipal Pool Mr. Anderson expects on open the Alturas Municipal Pool for the season. Mr. Anderson plans on breaking the repairs into two phases. The first phase will consist of repairs to allow for opening which include repairing the fiberglass. The second phase will consist of the extensive repairs that will be more time consuming. These repairs are planned to last for 5 to 7 years, which will give adequate time for the new swimming pool to be built.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to approve Anderson Engineering and Surveying, Inc. proposed initial repairs as outlined in phase one and phase two. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to authorize the Mayor to sign a Proclamation declaring March as General Aviation Appreciation month. ALL AYES.
City Attorney Hedlund requested City Clerk Binning to consult with Golden State Risk Management regarding the required liability amounts for a commercial business at the airport. City Clerk Binning did and Golden State Risk Management requested an increase in the amounts. City Council would like the contract to clearly state the propsed liability amounts and that this is a commercial business.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to table hangar lease agreement between the City of Alturas and Brad Criner. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to authorize the Mayor to sign a support letter for AB 1505 to preserve Matching Grant Funding to protect Affordable Multifamily Housing from Earthquakes. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to authorize the Mayor to sign a support letter for High Desert Lumber, LLC for their application for United States Department of Agriculture WIOP Grant Program. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-11 authorizing adding an addendum to the Finance Director Original Employment Agreement dated February 22, 2023. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-12 authorizing adding an addendum to the Assistant Public Works Director Original Employment Agreement dated May 20, 2022. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-13 authorizing adding an addendum to the Chief of Police Original Employment Agreement dated June 17, 2021. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to Resolution #2023-14 authorizing adding an addendum to the Assistant Finance Director Original Employment Agreement dated January 18, 2022. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to approve the second reading of Ordinance #529 adding Section 6 “Reserve Officer Program” to Chapter 19 “Police”. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-15 approving the Personal Service Agreement for Background Investigation Services between the City of Alturas and Allen J. Sobol. ALL AYES.
Police Chief Cullins finds due to historically low Police Officer staffing levels either by absent staff or unfilled positions it is impossible to provide full coverage. Thereby making current staff unable to use accrued vacation leave without disrupting operations.
City Treasurer Long agrees that an action needs to be taken. However, is concerned the current draft resolution does not state an end date or a cap. Which could financially impact the budget if a Police Officer were to leave. The City would then have to pay the accrued vacation leave.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to table Resolution #2023-16 approving the Alturas Police Chief’s request for a temporary waiver on accrued vacation leave until a cap or end date is agreed upon. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-17 authorizing the use of Risk Management Accreditation Program (RMAP) funds to help with City Hall Security Upgrades. Funds will not exceed $5,000.00. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to award the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Alturas Fire Department Decontamination Facility Project to Joe Lloyd General Contracting. ALL AYES.
Mayor Cox explained after the March 10, 2023 Alturas City Council Work Session, he thought establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee to collaborate with Modoc County Road Department to improve City Streets would be beneficial. Mayor Cox attended a meeting with the Modoc County Road Department and Assistant Public Works Director Dodds. During this meeting they discussed potential road projects that Modoc County Road Department could assist with.
Councilmember Crosby thought these meetings were to connect staff from Modoc County and the City of Alturas to collaborate. Which wouldn’t require an Ad-Hoc Committee. Then the staff can report back to the Council when they have proposed projects.
After discussion MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to strike establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee to collaborate with Modoc County Road Department to improve City Streets. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-18 approving the Annual Service Agreement for Water Storage Tank/Clarifier- Cathodic Protection System(s) between the City of Alturas and Two Brothers Cathodic Services, Inc. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-19 approving Task Order #5 for the Professional Services Agreement for on-call engineering services between the City of Alturas and GHD Inc. for the Nagle Street Rehabilitation Project. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to adopt Resolution #2023-20 approving Task Order #6 for the Professional Services Agreement for on-call engineering services between the City of Alturas and GHD Inc. for the West C Street Rehabilitation Project. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Nelson would like to thank the Alturas Police Department for responding to complaints on Estes Street.
Councilmember Crosby reports Superior California Economic Development (SCED) met and are now short staffed. Due to being short staffed the feasibility grant for the USDA processing facility is slowly moving forward.
Councilmember Minchella was on the interview panel for Modoc County Transportation Commission (MCTC). They were able to hire two great candidates.
Mayor Cox attended the Pool Committee. During this meeting they were informed they found a matching fund grant which would be beneficial. This would require them to put forth 100% of the funding in advance and then be reimbursed for the matching half. During this meeting City Treasurer Long suggested using the John Wall Trust funds as the matching funds to continue the project. Construction prices are projected to continue to increase which will not benefit the City if they do not proceed.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Fire Chief Lloyd reports the Alturas Fire Department is one member away from being fully staffed. Fire Chief Lloyd reports in January of 2023 the Alturas Fire Department responded to four fire calls and fortyfive medical calls. February of 2023 they responded to four fire calls and thirty-one medical calls.
City Clerk Binning reminds Council April 3, 2023 will be the Annual Appreciation Dinner for the Alturas Fire Department.
City Treasurer Long reminds Council to stay below the budget for the Annual Appreciation Dinner.
City Clerk Binning reminds Council April 3, 2023 is the deadline to file their 700 forms. Ms. Binning informs Council during the March 8, 2023 Planning Commission meeting, the Commissioners voted Bill Hall as Chair and Sean Buie as Vice Chair for the Planning Commission.
Police Chief Cullins reports since the last Council meeting the Alturas Police Department had one hundred and twenty-eight incidents, made thirty-eight reports, and made seven arrests. Out of the seven arrests three were felonies and four were misdemeanors.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Minchella to adjourn the meeting at 4:07 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk