Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
April 18, 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: Samantha Wood, Kelly Crosby, Paul Minchella, 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, and Assistant Director of Public Works Kim Dodds. Public attending: 7. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
Elizabeth Cavasso the Chair of the Alturas Community Rotary Foundation informed the Council on the status of funds and projects provided by the Rotary. Currently, they have $81,000.00 of unrestricted funds that are used for club projects; $104,000.00 restricted funds that are dedicated to scholarship funds; and $49,000.00 restricted funds dedicated to the Bobby Ray Memorial for a City pool. The Alturas Community Rotary Foundation would like to donate $30,000.00 for the Clean California Local Grant to improve the County Park located in the Alturas City Limits. Mrs. Cavasso encourages Council if anyone would like to make donations to the Bobby Ray Memorial for a City pool to send them to the Alturas Community Rotary.
Perry Porter & Ruth Porter would like to thank the Public Works Department for placing a stop sign at Maple Street and the Alturas Police Department for the extra patrol in the area.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to approve the agenda as presented. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of March 21, 2023 meeting; b.) Approve minutes of April 5, 2023 special meeting; c.) Approve City warrants for March, 2023 in the amount of $274,941.42; d.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for March, 2023 in the amount of $85,601.13. ALL AYES.
Dianna Bass and Harry Boulade representing the Alturas Chamber of Commerce would like to discuss alternative routes for the Winterfest Parade. This is due to safety concerns and a request for the Warner View Assisted Living residents be able to view the parade.
City Council would like to discuss this in a meeting and are willing to make adjustments to accommodate.
However, staffing, and safety concerns due to impaired vision at night will play a factor in this discussion.
The Council requests revisiting in September and would like the Alturas Chamber of Commerce to bring several proposals to review.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to revisit with the Chamber of Commerce in September to discuss alternative routes for the Winterfest Parade. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to authorize the City Mayor to sign a support letter for the City of Alturas to apply for the Clean California Local Grant Program. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-16 approving the Alturas Police Chief’s request for a temporary increase on cash out for vacation leave. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Crosby reports Superior California Economic Development (SCED) has contracted with Greg O’Sullivan to oversee the feasibility grant for the USDA processing facility. Superior California Economic Development (SCED) will need to advertise a Request for Proposals (RFP). Mrs. Crosby will update the Council throughout the process.
Councilmember Minchella attended the April 11, 2023 Modoc County LAFCO meeting. During this meeting they discussed consolidating districts and the benefits.
Councilmember Wood was not able to attend the April 12, 2023 Planning Commission meeting.
However, during this meeting the Planning Commissioners approved a sign permit for Modoc Family Optometry.
Mayor Cox was unable to attend the Modoc County Transportation Commission (MCTC) meeting.
However, Mr. Cox has been in contact with Caltrans regarding the Main Street project and would like to schedule a presentation for the City Council. Mr. Cox attended the California League of Cities conference. During this conference he was able to meet with Senator Brian Dahle and Assemblywoman Megan Dahle. Mr. Cox was surprised to learn a majority of the Cities agreed on the same issues.
However, Bills that would help Cities address these issues are not passing through committees.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Assistant Director of Public Works Dodds reports the new hangar for the airport will be delivered May 8, 2023. Mr. Dodds explains to the Council projects have been delayed due to the weather. The Public Works Department plans on repairing potholes once the weather allows for this. The Public Works Department received turf for the Skate Park to install. They’ve repaired the recent vandalism to the Junior Show Grounds. The 4-H Agriculture Advisor has scheduled a work day to clean the grounds.
Mayor Cox asked the status of installing security cameras.
City Treasurer Long will check on the status of the security cameras.
Police Chief Cullins reports staffing levels are improving. Officer Harrison has returned to Alturas Police Department. Since he was gone for less than 180 days a background check did not need to be completed, which expedited his hiring. Chief Cullins has two Lateral Officers in backgrounds and two Cadets in the Police Academy.
City Treasurer Long will be conducting interviews for the Pool Manager on April 19, 2023.
City Clerk Binning introduced her Modoc High School Senior Intern Hailey Quinn. Hailey has been working with Ms. Binning for the last two weeks learning about her position and the City of Alturas.
At 3:00 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.
Reconvened back to open session at 3:40 p.m. No action was taken.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Minchella to adjourn the meeting at 3:40 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk