Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
May 16, 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: 11. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
Mayor Cox would like to suggest moving all the agenda items that pertain to City Treasurer Long to the beginning of the agenda to allow Ms. Long to make an obligation. The agenda items to be moved would be 9, 16, 17, 18, and 19.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to move agenda items 9, 16, 17, 18 and 19 after agenda item 4 to allow Ms. Long to make her obligation. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of April 18, 2023 meeting; b.) Approve minutes of April 27, 2023 special meeting; c.) Approve City warrants for April, 2023 in the amount of $378,534.03; d.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for April, 2023 in the amount of $126,966.79. ALL AYES.
The maximum base salary for this position is ($95,000.00) and the hourly equivalent is ($45.67), and the minimum base salary for this position is ($75,000.00) and the hourly equivalent is ($36.06). Kim Dodds will be paid an hourly rate of $36.06. Kim Dodds has not and will not receive any other benefit, incentive, compensation in lieu of benefit or other form of compensation in addition to this hourly pay rate.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-22 declaring an exception of the 180-day wait period in accordance with Government Code section 7522.56 and 21221 (h) and appointing Kim Dodds as Interim Public Works Director. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-25 approving the third amended budget for Fiscal Year 2022/2023 in the amount of $6,315,041.00.
ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize Dorothy Long, HR Director to sign the United Public Employees of California (“Union”) acknowledgement and agreement to 2018- 2020, 2020-2022, and 2022-2024 Alturas Safety Unit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to add additional required language to be in compliance with CalPERS after performing Holiday Pay Audit. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize Dorothy Long, HR Director to sign the United Public Employees of California (“Union”) acknowledgement and
agreement to 2018- 2020, 2020-2022, and 2022-2024 Alturas Safety Unit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to update the Holiday Pay section to reflect CalPERS requirements following the Holiday Pay Audit. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-26 approving the Supplemental Service Agreement No. 9 between the City of Alturas and Brandley Engineering, Inc. ALL AYES.
Modoc High School students Macy McCandless, Hailey Quinn and Natalie Bunker requested approval and assistance to hang banners on Main Street in honor of Modoc High Graduates of 2023.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve Public Works to hang banners on Main Street in honor of Modoc High Graduates of 2023. ALL AYES.
Lorissa Soriano, representing Modoc Economic Development Commission/Modoc Outdoor Recreation & Tourism, requests consideration of a donation from the City’s Community Projects Fund to help with the cost of the annual Modoc Sportsman’s Outdoor Expo.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to donate $300.00 from the City’s Community Projects Fund to help with the cost of the annual Modoc Sportsman’s Outdoor Expo. ALL AYES.
Javed Iqbal, representing Caltrans, gave a presentation on the upcoming Alturas Capital and Preventative Maintenance Project. During the presentation, the design for Main Street was for two lane configuration instead of four lane configuration as requested by the City Council. Mr. Iqbal was not aware that was the direction the City Council agreed upon and will consult with his supervisors. Mr. Iqbal took the input from City Council on the lighted crosswalks, design and suggested bulbouts. While discussing the radar speed sign system on 8th Street, Council decided to revisit with the Modoc School District to inquire on potential funding.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to adopt Resolution #2023-21 for recognition and profound appreciation of distinguished service by Kim Dodds, Assistant Director of Public Works. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to open the public hearing at 3:08 p.m. to consider the first reading of Ordinance #530 to amend the zoning map and adjust the current General Commercial (C-2) zoning plan boundary south approximately two hundred (200) feet on APNs 001-090-035, 001-090-026, and 001-090-034. ALL AYES.
Senior Planner Lisa Lozier, explained that the proposed project is to amend the existing General Plan and Zoning Maps to facilitate the development of a Skilled Nursing Facility and an addition to the south side of the recently constructed Modoc Medical Center. The proposed amendment will move the current General Commercial (C-2) zoning and General Commercial (GC) general plan boundary south approximately two hundred (200) feet consistent with the northern boundary of properties adjusted by recorded document DOC-20230000482. The current Medium Density Residential (R-2) zoning and
Medium Density Residential (MDR) general plan designation will remain on the southernmost 200 feet adjacent to 8th Street.
With no further public comments MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to close the public hearing at 3:16 p.m. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve the first reading of Ordinance #530 to amend the zoning map and adjust the current General Commercial (C-2) zoning plan boundary south approximately two hundred (200) feet on APNs 001-090-035, 001-090-026, and 001-090-034. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-23 approving General Plan Amendment (GPA# 2023-01) to amend parcels 001-090-035, 001-090- 026, and 001-090-034. ALL AYES.
City Clerk Binning requests to schedule a special meeting to approve the second reading of Ordinance #530 help expedite the process for the Skilled Nursing Facility.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Kelly to schedule the special meeting for May 24, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. ALL AYES.
IT Specialist Sean Buie provide the City Council with two upgrade options. The first option would be to update the Council Chambers with higher quality visual and audio capabilities which would cost $13, 905.00 plus tax. The second option would include both visual and audio capabilities with less quality functions. This would cost $11,325.00 plus tax.
The Councilmember would like to request IT Specialist Sean Buie to provide the City Council with a detailed proposal of the cost to review with City Treasurer Long and to have a deadline for this project if they move forward.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to request IT Specialist Sean Buie to provide the City Council with a detailed proposal of the cost of upgrades by the June 20, 2023 City Council meeting. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-24 approving the Personal Services Contract between the City of Alturas and Computer Haven, to provide Information Technology (IT) Services. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-27 approving the application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for the Modoc Community Park Pool Project. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Planning Commissioner Buie reports the Planning Commission approved the Site Plan for the Skilled Nursing Facility. They also voted to recommended the City Council to approve the Rezone and General Plan for the Skilled Nursing Facility.
Councilmember Minchella attended the Modoc County Transportation Commission (MCTC) meeting last week.
Councilmember Crosby reports Superior California Economic Development (SCED) had a USDA processing facility meeting May 2, 2023 in the City Council Chambers. They reviewed the contractors that submitted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the feasibility study for the processing facility. They made a selection and are currently signing contracts. Greg O’Sullivan will provide the City Council with a presentation in the near future.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Assistant Director of Public Works Dodds reports that he and Dorothy have been trying to contact Darryl Anderson with Anderson Engineering to receive an update on the status of the pool repairs. They currently have received several applications for lifeguards and have started the onboarding process for a pool manager. Mr. Dodds reports that the new airport hangar was delivered and now they are waiting for the doors to be delivered which will be by the end of the week.
Police Chief Cullins reports staffing levels are improving. Chief Cullins has two Lateral Officers in backgrounds and two Cadets in the Police Academy.
City Treasurer Long provided the City Council with a written staff report that stated she is currently preparing for the FY 23/24 budget and will schedule time with each department to discuss wants and needs for the upcoming fiscal year. Ms. Long anticipates seeing an increase in the City’s annual insurance coverage of roughly a $45,609.00 This will affect all departments and department heads have been advised of this. Ms. Long attended a CalPERS webinar regarding the PEPRA rate increase for employee contributions that is set to take place on July 1, 2023. All employees who are of the PEPRA class will be experiencing an increase to their contribution rates meaning more money deducted from their paychecks.
Miscellaneous PEPRA will increase from 6.75% to 7.75%, Safety Police PEPRA will increase from
13.00% to 13.75% and the same for Safety Fire PEPRA. Ms. Long learned CalPERS is doing a “Pre-pay and Save” option for the Unfunded Liability. By paying early, the month of July, we can save 3.4% in interest. Ms. Long will see if this is financially feasible with the current operating funds. Ms. Long attended the MCTC meeting last week and reported out on City project statuses as well as touched on the City’s collaboration with the County on the Clean CA Grant Application. Court & West 8th are going to the CTC for construction allocation approval and West C and Nagle are also going for approval on PS&E Allocation. She has submitted two applications to the FAA for federal assistance for the Airport. One was for funding of the Pavement Maintenance Management Plan to be included in the 2023 AIG (airport infrastructure grant) program for the City’s airport. The other was for the joint and crack reseal.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Wood to adjourn the meeting at 4:02 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk