Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
September 19, 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, Cheryl Nelson, and Brian Cox. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Public Works Director Warren Farnam, City Clerk Tacie Wheeler, Acting Chief of Police Marc Muller and Fire Marshal Eric Hunter. Public attending: 2. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
No comments were presented under public forum.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, 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 August 15, 2023 meeting; b.) Approve City Warrants for August 2023 in the amount of $294,638.81; c.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for August 2023 in the amount of $124,937.91; d.) Adopt Resolution #2023-50 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $187.20. ALL AYES.
On behalf of Modoc Crisis Center/TEACH, Gena Long presents the signs she would like to put along Main Street for Domestic Violence Awareness for the month of October.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve request by Gena Long to put Domestic Violence Awareness signs along Main Street for the month of October ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-49 authorizing City Clerk Tacie Wheeler to be added to the Plumas Bank signature card.
ALL AYES.
City Treasurer Long informed City Council that the capitalization policy needed to be updated and approved per Auditor request.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-51 formalizing and updating the City of Alturas Capitalization Policy.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to adopt Resolution #2023-52 authorizing Director of Public Works to execute any and all documents pertaining to the Pool Rehabilitation Project.
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2023-53 authorizing the Director of Public Works to execute any and all documents for the Alturas Municipal Airport Reseal Joints Runway 13-31 and Taxiway B Project contract.
Director of Public Works Farnam explained the need for the generator purchase, along with the emergency response requirements. City is currently paying over $6,000 per month to rent a generator from United Rentals.
Councilmember Crosby inquired about the Gang of 5 emergency response funding being able to be used to purchase the generator.
Director of Public Works Farnam advised that the Gang of 5 funding is more than a year out, and he will be checking on sources and getting quotes from different vendors.
MOTION by councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to authorize the purchase as an emergency item, a used three phase diesel generator and trailer to replace the rental unit located on well 7, not to exceed $50,000
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Wood has another person for the street committee, and will get his information to Councilmember Minchella.
Councilmember Minchella is part of the negotiations for the General Unit, waiting to hear back from the Union. Also reported out on the street committee, and is impressed with the group that has been put together. Dean Rouse was elected chair.
Mayor Cox informed the council of upcoming travel and training policy coming forward.
Councilmember Crosby attended the Superior California Economic Development (SCED) meeting.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Fire Marshal Hunter updated Council on the ISO classification increase to a 2, and reports that we are in the top 5% of the Nation. Councilmember Minchella inquired on what attributes to the classification increase. Hunter informed that they look at everything from the station to the trucks to the water pressure, and stated that the water department was just three points shy of 100%. Mayor Cox and the rest of the Council extend their gratitude to the Fire Department. Hunter also reports that the decontamination station is almost complete, they are getting ready to train several new firefighters, and medical calls have been lower this month.
Acting Police Chief Muller reports on those they have in backgrounds to become an officer. Mayor Cox asked about the new dispatch person, and extends gratitude to her for cleaning and organizing the office.
Director of Public Works Farnam reports that one employee passed his D2 water distribution test. There isn’t any progress with the Millsite at this time. They’ve started surveying for the Waste Water Treatment Plant. For Roads, the county partnership has been going well, three sections of roads have been paved and
working on hot patching pot holes. Someone has inquired about building a new house in City limits.
Informs Council that the bids for the Pool project are due tomorrow, and he is confident in the contractors he met with last week. Farnam also commented on the recreation ad hoc committee meeting and the AYSO Soccer league requesting to use a baseball field that is not currently being used. Need for discussion on use fees for the ball fields and showgrounds to cover the costs incurred by the City, including power and vandalism.
At 2:50 pm, Mayor Cox announced the Council would be meeting in closed session under G.C. Section 54956.9 – Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation – One Potential Case.
Reconvened back to open session at 2:59 pm.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to deny the FEHA claim. ALL AYES.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Crosby to adjourn the meeting at 2:59 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall. SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Tacie Wheeler
City Clerk