Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
June 20, 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, Cheryl Nelson, Paul Minchella, and Brian Cox.
Councilmembers absent: Kelly Crosby. Staff present: City Clerk Macey Binning, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Police Chief Sid Cullins, Assistant Director of Public Works Kim Dodds, and IT Specialist Sean Buie. Public attending: 9. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson 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 May 16, 2023 meeting; b.) Approve minutes of May 24, 2023 special meeting; c.) Approve City warrants for May, 2023 in the amount of $198,788.58; d.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for May 2023 in the amount of $146,319.72; e.) Adopt Resolution #2023-28 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $334.80. ALL AYES.
California State Assembly District I candidate, Mark Mezzano introduced himself to the City Council and Constituents.
Leslie Gonzalez was not present. Councilmembers continued to the next item on the agenda.
Jim Cavasso would like to propose updating the “Alturas Sign” located at Hwy 395 & Lassen County Rd A-3. Mr. Cavasso will be reaching out to several entities for donations. Mr. Cavasso requests the City Council consider donating to help update this sign which helps tourism. Mr. Cavasso has received quotes for updating the sign and depending on the material it ranges from $2,000.00 to $6,000.00.
The City Council understands the importance of this sign and ask City Treasurer Long if funding is available.
City Treasurer Long responds for the fiscal year the Community Project funds they have $700.00 available at this time.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to have Jim Cavasso provide the City Council with a donation proposal after other entities have donated to update the “Alturas Sign” located at Hwy 395 & Lassen County Rd A-3. ALL AYES.
Darrell Andersen with Andersen Engineering and Surveying, Inc. provided the City Council with an update on the Swimming Pool Rehabilitation Project. Mr. Andersen informed the Council due to difficulty finding a contractor the project has been delayed. Originally they planned to open for the 2023 pool season but will now plan for the 2024 pool season. Mr. Andersen has now found a contractor to
repair the pool and plans to start repairs this summer. With the needed repairs Mr. Andersen estimates the cost to be $280,000.00 this cost does not include geothermal. However, these repairs should have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years. If the City Council would like to add geothermal and a new roof the estimate would be around $325,000.00 which is still be within the $450,000.00 budget for this project.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to request Andersen Engineering and Surveying, Inc. to obtain quotes and move forward the Swimming Pool Rehabilitation Project with geothermal. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the annual Alturas Police Department Military Equipment Use Policy. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to authorize Dorothy Long, HR Director to sign the United Public Employees of California (“Union”) acknowledgement and agreement to General Unit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to update the salary schedules to reflect the correct increases for the Chief WWTP Operator, Foreman and Wastewater Treatment Class I/II. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-29 approving the Service Agreement No. 223002 between the City of Alturas and SHN Consulting Engineers and Geologists, Inc. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-30 approving Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget to roll over to Fiscal Year 2023/2024, until adoption of new budget. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-31 adopting a list of projects for Fiscal Year 2023-24 funded by the SB 1 The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. ALL AYES.
Mayor Cox is concerned that the new job description for the Assistant Finance Director does not include supervisory duties. Mr. Cox would like to amend the new description and add the following language “In the absence of the Finance Director, this position will be responsible for assuming the supervisory duties of staff on the interim as needed.”.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-32 updating the job description for the Assistant Finance Director with the amendment to add the following language “In the absence of the Finance Director, this position will be responsible for assuming the supervisory duties of staff on the interim as needed.”. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-33 amending Resolution #2020-34 to properly record vacating an alleyway located West of Warner Street and between W. 3rd Street and W. 4th Street. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to award the Propane Service to Ed Staub & Sons for $.25 over wholesale with the expiration date of June 30, 2024. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to accept the letter of resignation from City Clerk/Assistant Finance Director. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee for enhancing and maintaining City Streets. This committee will consist of Councilmember Minchella and others to be added to the committee later. ALL AYES.
Mayor Cox would like to see progress on a new fee schedule for the livestock and ball fields. Currently the fee schedule in place either does not cover costs to maintain these areas or simply does not even have a fee schedule in place. He understands this may take community involvement and encourages the AdHoc Committee to begin this process.
The Committee has held meetings with the public and understands the importance of this schedule.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to establish a fee schedule for the livestock and ball fields by January 2024. ALL AYES.
Mayor Cox reviewed and made appointments to the Mayor Appointment list for July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Wood reports the Planning Commissioners approved a mobile sign permit for Garrett Automotive detailing. During this meeting they reviewed and discussed vacating an alleyway located West of Warner Street and between W. 3rd Street and W. 4th Street.
Councilmember Minchella attended the Modoc County LAFCO meeting held June 13, 2023. Modoc County LAFCO is currently searching for a Public Member and Public Member Alternate. Mr. Minchella also attended the Modoc County Transportation Commission (MCTC).
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
City Clerk Binning will be preparing lists and notes of job duties to help with the transition.
Assistant Director of Public Works Dodds reports that all the hangar parts have arrived. The airport engineer reviewed proposed sites and will check with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Mr.
Dodds estimates that the new hangar will be completed in 6 months.
IT Specialist Sean Buie provided the City Council with a detailed proposal of the cost of upgrades for the Council Chamber.
Councilmembers ask that Mr. Buie work with City Treasurer Long to add this item to the FY23-24 budget.
Mayor Cox would like for the malfunctioning doors to be fixed as soon as possible.
Police Chief Cullins reports since May 16, 2023 the Alturas Police Department has made a total of 10 arrests. Out of the 10 arrests 4 were felonies. Chief Cullins reviewed the CAD system reports which showed for 2023 the Alturas Police Department had a total of 772 incidents, and in 2022 they had 955 incidents. Chief Cullins is happy to report staffing levels are improving. Officer F.Widby has joined the Alturas Police Department and the two Cadets will be graduating the Police Academy this month.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Minchella to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
SECONDED by Councilmember Wood. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Macey Binning
City Clerk