Alturas City Council
City Hall Council Chambers
February 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
Alturas City Council Mayor Kelly Crosby called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers. Councilmembers present: Paul Minchella, Cheryl Nelson and Kelly Crosby.
Councilmembers absent: Brian Cox and Samantha Wood. Staff present: City Clerk Tacie Wheeler, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Director of Public Works Warren Farnam, City Attorney Jeff Hedlund, Chief of Police Marc Muller, Officer Frankie Widby. Public attending: 18. All present joined together in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Jake Luba introduced himself. He states that he is a delivery driver for Meals on Wheels, and the street signs around town need to be addressed. He said there are some streets that don’t have any signs, other signs are faded, peeling and unreadable. He suggests a survey to see what signs around town need to be addressed. This is throughout all of the town of Alturas and going out into the County.
Councilmember Minchella states that the Post Office has also made complaints of the signs.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to approve the agenda. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve Consent Agenda items as presented. ALL AYES.
Director of Public Works Farnam states that this one is pretty self-explanatory, and asks Kyle Weber from Waste Management if he had anything to add, as Weber was present at the meeting. Mr. Weber adds that this is just another year extension of the contract.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson. ALL AYES.
Sarah DeForest, from Morrison Grants, stood up to go over her Power Point presentation on the Feasibility Study that was done for a meat processing facility in Alturas. Overall, they received great feedback from the community for the study.
Director of Public Works Farnam says that this agreement with the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office is one we’ve had in the past and defines our role in the relationship between the City and the County in the event of an emergency.
Renae Sweet, Director of the Office of Emergency Services at the Sheriff’s Office, stood up to explain the contract. She states that this comes up every 5 years, and this is just to renew the previous contract.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the MOU with the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services and the City of Alturas.
Mayor Crosby stood up to read the full resolution to recognize the dedicated service of passed Police Chief Robert “Sid” Cullins. New Police Chief Marc Muller stood up to present a shadow box to Chief Cullins’ wife Pat.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adopt Resolution #2024-4 to recognize and honor the dedicated service of passed Police Chief Robert “Sid” Culling. ALL AYES.
Director of Public Works Farnam states that Mr. Budmark was the most exceptional candidate for this position. It did include an interview panel of 5.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve a 3-year employment agreement for Dominic Budmark as Assistant Public Works Director. ALL AYES.
Director of Public Works Farnam explains that we are required to have a grade II Operator at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. We had one hired, but he left. We have an employee currently in training, who had just received his Grade I, but we need to extend this contract while that employee works on his Grade II.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2024-5 extending the Personal Service Agreement with Jeffrey Nield for one year. ALL AYES.
Director of Public Works Farnam says that this property just recently came up for sale, and it’s in the City’s best interest to purchase it. Due to the drainage at the property, it would make building on it extremely difficult for anyone else who bought it, but it has potential for another well site for the City.
He would like there to be a contingency on a clear title, and authorization for execution by the Director of Public Works and the Mayor.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the purchase of the property located at APN 001-168-001-000 and APN 001-168-002-000 to secure easement access for drainage maintenance on the west side of town, not to exceed $9,500.00. ALL AYES.
Treasurer Long states that this budget amendment reflects changes for insurance stipends and increases, among other things. Also says that there are amendments to the revenue budget as well to reflect the increase in revenue. This is just the standard mid-year budget review amendment.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt Resolution #2024-6, approving the first amended budget for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 in the amount of $10,358,324.00.
ALL AYES
Mayor Crosby states that she rearranged the representatives on the committees based on requests and complaints. Director of Public Works Farnam points out that Tom Romero needs to be removed and Rosemary Nelson needs to be added to the Planning Committee. Also suggests adding Treasurer Long to the Street Enhancement Maintenance Committee.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the changes to those appointed to the City committees, including the suggestions by Director of Public Works Farnam.
ALL AYES
City attorney Hedlund states we are treating this like a claim, and nothing in the letter is in our jurisdiction.
He recommends the Council send a denial to the claim, that he will prepare and send on the City’s behalf.
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson for City Attorney Hedlund to prepare and send a denial to the Civil Action Petition from Ian A. Leipper on the City’s behalf.
ALL AYES
Councilmember Cox is no longer attending the League of Cities Leadership Summit Conference, and the City should send a member in his place. Councilmember Minchella suggest Mayor Crosby attend, and it is a leadership conference. Mayor Crosby states that as Council, they are all leaders and suggest that Councilmember Minchella go in place of Councilmember Cox.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson to send Councilmember Minchella to the California League of Cities Leadership Summit Conference, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella. ALL AYES COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Minchella says that he attended the LaFco meeting, where they discussed a contract for Jennifer Stevenson taking over for John Benoit when he retires June 30th. He also attended the MCTC/MTA meeting where they are still working closely with CalTrans, and also got a new bus.
No other reports.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Police Chief Muller informs Council that they have had 56 reports, 4 of which were felony reports. States that Officer Harrision was promoted to Sergeant. Also says they are waiting for classes to open up to get their trainings done.
Treasurer Long states that she worked with Director of Public Works Farnam with Covid funding and they were able to get $51,000 for the Airport.
Director of Public Works Farnam says the airport hangar is still in discussion with insurance. The Jet A tank is very old and wants to look into upgrading it. A larger tank would cut the cost of fuel down by buying in bulk, and will reduce the chance of a leak. This will probably be about a 3 year process. The public works staff is going well with training. Mr. Eames is working on getting certified to train our lifeguards for the pool, that will save us in having to hire someone from someone outside of our county to come here to train.
For the Millsite, Shane Starr’s train car lease is a small portion. Will need a licensed contractor to get things fixed that will be brought to council. They really want the lease extension, but will be upon completion of all upgrades so they can get a functioning business license. The new WWTP is going well, and there is a meeting with other vendors, and so far everything has been very positive. For the West 8th Street and N.
Court Street, we are just waiting on the signed contract from the bidder. Potholes will be filled with the new shipment we received, as the previous shipment was unusable. At the pool, all fiberglass repairs are done, the decking is done, piping is done and geothermal is all on track. The pool committee worked on a grant application to hopefully put a new roof and heating and lighting, plus paint for the current pool. The grant is up to $30,000. We do have a plan to open the pool this year.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to go to a short recess at 3:45 p.m. ALL AYES
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to reconvene and go into closed session under G.C. Section 54956.9(d)(2) at 3:45 p.m. ALL AYES Reconvened back to open session at 4:07 p.m.
Attorney Hedlund was authorized to solicit bids for 3 firms to investigate the FEHA issue, and to issue directive to Councilmember Cox to have no contact with Council or staff during the investigation, other than official business.
With no further business to come before City Council, MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to adjourn the meeting at 4:08 p.m. and to return in regular session on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 2:00 pm, City Hall. ALL AYES Respectfully,
Tacie Wheeler
City Clerk