Alturas City Council
Special Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
December 20, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
The Alturas City Council Pro-Tem Mayor Nelson called the regular meeting to order at 3:00 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 Clerk Tacie Wheeler, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Acting Police Chief Marc Muller, Director of Public Works Warren Farnam, Fire Marshal Eric Hunter, Fire Chief Jimmy Lloyd, Officers C.Widby, F.Widby, C. Harrison, A. Garcia, C. Landaverde, Admin Clerk H. Banks, D. Garcia, Dispatch W.Vierria Public attending: 10. All present joined together in Pledge of Allegiance.
Carol Madison stood up to thank the officers for setting up the procession for Chief Sid Cullins, commending them on a job well done.
Councilmember Crosby would like to move agenda items 5 and 6 to items 3 and 4, as she has an obligation to get to and would like to get items 5 and 6 done while she is here.
Mayor Cox would like to add to agenda item # 6. Attorney Hedlund explains the agenda item encompasses everything that would be added already.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to move agenda item #’s 5 and 6 to items # 3 and 4. ALL AYES.
MOTION by councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve agenda. ALL AYES.
Councilmember Minchella recuses himself and leaves the room.
Officer Cody Widby introduces himself. He states that he disagrees with the intention of flying the Chief position outside of our agency. He summarizes the letter of support that he submitted on behalf of the Alturas Police Officer’s Association, about Muller’s experience and what he has been able to accomplish so far in these few months as Acting Chief. He also states that Ken Barnes supports Muller for the Chief of Police position, and that Mr. Barnes has offered to come here to help train Muller in the administrative duties.
Fire Chief Jimmy Lloyd introduces himself. He states that Muller helps the fire department on medical and fire calls, and he feels that the fire department has a great working relationship with the police department. He is afraid that hiring externally could potentially ruin that relationship. The fire department also submitted a letter of support for Muller.
Pat Cullins introduces herself. She is Chief Cullins’ wife. She thanks the department for everything they have done for her in this difficult time. She says that Sid always talked about this great group of officers that he has. She states that she thinks Marc is doing a great job, making Chief Cullins proud. She believes in Marc and thinks that he should be appointed to the Chief position.
Carol Cullins introduces herself. She is Chief Cullins’ sister. She states that she agrees with Pat. Carol works for TEACH, and says that they depend on the police department and she has been on several calls with Marc and says he is always calm, professional and level headed on those calls.
Mayor Cox states that he recognizes the support for Muller.
Mayor Cox states that he is the one who suggested to fly the position externally. He says that Widby was promoted to Sergeant several months ago, but has yet to attend supervisor training, and has to do that within his first year. He recognizes that Muller has sent some officers to trainings, like Harrison to SWAT, but not necessary trainings, like Widby to supervisor training. He states that we have two brand new officers that have no experience, and we pulled someone from the DA’s office, so our department is growing, but lacks experience. Mayor Cox states that yes, Marc has done the things mentioned in the letters of support, but that they were all things that Chief Cullins had started, and Marc followed through.
He also said he did pick up the DOJ audit, but that Mayor Cox also helped and talked with the auditors for quite a while. He states that the City should interview for professional reasons. Interviewing goes over all education, experience, background and citizen complaints, if any. He adds that Marc would be eligible to interview, and he hopes that he would interview. Cox says that we have a young department, with very little experience, and we need strong leadership. He is strongly opposed to not flying the position outside of the department. What he’s asking for is a time table and a work session.
Councilmember Crosby disagrees. She says she hears what Mayor Cox is saying, but does not agree with him. She states that we heard more about Mayor Cox and his experience than we did about Muller. She wants to get an item on the agenda to appoint Marc Muller as Chief.
Councilmember Wood states that she agrees with Councilmember Crosby.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to make an agenda item for a special meeting to appoint Marc Muller as Chief of Police and approve a contract within two weeks. 3 AYES, 1 NAY
MOTION by Councilmember Wood, SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby to end the discussion on this item. 3 AYES, 1 NAY
Mayor Cox expresses how disappointed he is and how unprofessional this meeting was. He states that he has prior obligations and is leaving the meeting.
Councilmember Minchella comes back to the meeting.
Director of Public Works Farnam explains that this item is just to expand the description in what they need for this position.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Wood to approve the updated job description for the Assistant Public Works Director with intention to advertise for the vacancy. ALL AYES
Treasurer Long states that the updated MOU along with the proposals that were agreed upon were attached in the agenda packet for the Council to review a decide on.
MOTION by Councilmember Crosby, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2023-61, approving the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Public Employees of California Local 792 Alturas General Unit and the City of Alturas. ALL AYES.
With no further business to come before City Council, MOTION by Councilmember Wood to adjourn the meeting at 3:50 p.m. SECONDED by Councilmember Crosby. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Tacie Wheeler
City Clerk