Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
July 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 Treasurer Dorothy Long, Interim Public Works Director Kim Dodds, Fire Chief Jimmy Lloyd, and Fire Marshal Eric Hunter. Public attending: 1.
All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve the agenda as presented. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of June 20, 2023 meeting; b.) Approve minutes of June 21, 2023 special meeting; c.) Approve minutes of July 6, 2023 special meeting; d.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for June 2023 in the amount of $133,632.59; e.) Adopt Resolution #2023-36 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $993.65. ALL AYES.
On behalf of Modoc Heritage Foundation, Cheryl Kunert requested approval and assistance to hang approximately 24 banners on Main Street to advertise the 2023 Modoc District Fair. Banners would be up from August 1, 2023 until the end of the fair. Ms. Kunert also extended the invitation for City Council Members to attend.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve and provide assistance with hanging banners on Main Street to advertise for the Modoc County District Fair. Banners will be displayed from August 1, 2023 until the end of the fair. ALL AYES.
The Public Works Committee presented a finalized employment agreement for the Public Works Director/Planning Director Warren Farnam that will be effective August 1, 2023. The three-year agreement has a salary of $115,000 for year one, $120,000 for year two, and $125,000 for year three.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve a three (3) year employment contract for the Public Works Director/Planning Director Warren Farnam. Contract effective August 1, 2023 through July 31, 2026. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-37 authorizing Administrative Assistant Hayley Banks to be added to the Plumas Bank signature card, and removing City Clerk Macey Binning. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-38 authorizing City Treasurer Dorothy Long and Assistant to the City Treasurer Deanna Garcia to authorize investments on monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF). ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-39 approving the City of Alturas Utility Account Payment Policy. ALL AYES.
City Treasurer Long explained the needs of new emergency/patrol vehicles in the Fire and Police Departments. Currently the Fire Marshal’s vehicle is out of commission due to a long list of repairs and is at this time considered inoperable. Additionally, the Police Department’s fleet is in need of a new patrol vehicle now that staffing levels are increasing back to a regular pre-pandemic level. The funds that would be used to purchase these vehicles would be State and Local Recovery Funds (SLFRF).
City Treasurer Long also explained the importance of a new Heating and Air Conditioning Unit (HVAC) in City Hall. The current unit is considered to be the original and has been costing a substantial amount of money each year for repairs. A new unit would improve air quality and decrease maintenance and repair expenditures.
Mayor Cox added that it would be best to use these funds prior to the federal government deadlines.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-40 authorizing and allocating Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds (SLFRF) in an amount not to exceed $155,000.00 for a Heating and Air Conditioning Unit in City Hall and patrol and response vehicles. ALL AYES.
Interim Public Works Director Dodds explains the presented amendment to the existing Planning Grant for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project. The amendment covers the increase in the grant award and would remove previous Public Works Director Joe Picotte and add Interim Public Works Director Dodds.
Mayor Cox proposed the question to add new Public Works Director Warren Farnam and asks if the timeline for completion is realistic.
Interim Public Works Director Dodds expresses that he feels the timeline is realistic and there shouldn’t be an issue.
City Attorney Hedlund advises Mayor Cox to leave only Dodds on the amendment at this time.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-41 approving the Proposition 1 Small Community Wastewater Project C-06-8292-110 amendment No. 3 between the City of Alturas and California State Water Resource Control Board. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Minchella attended the Modoc County LAFCO meeting held July 14, 2023.
Mayor Cox provided an update on unfinished business pertaining to the City’s STIP project on East Street. Mayor Cox advised City Council of the substandard work that was performed and explained that the City’s on call engineering firm GHD is working to get this issue resolved in a timely manner.
Mayor Cox also informed the City Council on the rising issues regarding the increase on cost of materials to rehab streets versus the dollar amounts allocated to the City’s State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) projects.
Mayor Cox reported that City Treasurer Long and Pool Committee member Glenn Nader attended a Site Visit with a representative from the State regarding the most recent grant application for a new pool.
City Treasurer Long added that the site visit was a standard protocol for all grant applications and that the representative walked the potential new pool site with them and asked some standard follow up questions pertaining to the grant application. City Treasurer Long also relayed to the council that per the representative, this was a very competitive round of funding and while she doesn’t want us to be discouraged, she also doesn’t want the City to get their hopes up even though the City put in a competitive application.
Councilmember Crosby reports of the USDA feasibility status and should have more updates as time progresses.
Mayor Cox states he has a person to nominate for the new street/road committee and reminds councilmembers to come up with others to nominate.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Fire Chief Lloyd states that the department had a total of 242 calls, 11 of which were fire calls. Chief Lloyd also informed council of the ISO meeting in May. The meeting went extremely well and the Alturas City Fire is close to moving up a rating possibly. Good ISO ratings aide City residents with homeowners’ insurance costs.
Mayor Cox extended appreciation to the City Fire Department.
Interim Public Works Director Dodds states that the department has been busy spraying mosquitos and finally received hot mix to keep busy with pot hole patching. The airport is expecting a helicopter crew from USDA.
City Treasurer Long advises that Assistant Finance Director interviews are coming up soon on July 20, 2023 and she is hopeful as there were many great applicants.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Crosby to adjourn the meeting at 2:28 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall. SECONDED by Councilmember Wood. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Dorothy Long
City Treasurer