Alturas City Council
City Hall Council Chambers
September 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
City Council Mayor Paul Minchella called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers.
Councilmembers present: Paul Minchella, Duanna Knighton, Jennifer Engel, Brian Cox and Jodie Larranaga. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Clerk Tacie Wheeler, City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Assistant Director of Public Works Dominic Budmark, Fire Chief Lloyd, Officer Frankie Widby. Public attending: 3. All present joined together in the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Public Forum
None
3. Approval or Additions/Deletions to Agenda
MOTION by Councilmember Minchella, SECONDED by Councilmember Engel to remove the closed session item from the agenda and postpone it until after the budget meeting and approve agenda as amended.
ALL AYES.
4. Consent Agenda
MOTION by Councilmember Cox, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to approve Consent Agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of August 19, 2025 meeting; b.) Councilmember Cox inquires about the payment for the Calafco conference, as we do not have a member attending that conference now. City Clerk will reach out to get a refund of the $700 registration fee for the conference, Approve City Warrants for August 2025 in the amount of $146,165.98; c.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for July 2025 in the amount of $636,182.63; d.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for August 2025 in the amount of $213,721.74; e.) Adopt Resolution #2025-24 removing inactive water & sewer accounts from June from the amount of $955.70. ALL AYES.
5. Discussion/Action Item
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Cox to accept the resignation letter from Tuli Toaetolu from the Planning Commission. ALL AYES.
6. Discussion/action Item
MOTION by Councilmember Larranaga, SECONDED by Councilmember Cox to appoint Cynthia Pena, Planning Commissioner alternate, to the vacant position on the Planning Commission. ALL AYES.
7. Discussion Item
Gena Long, representing the Modoc Crisis Center, requests permission to display cutouts representing the domestic violence victims that were helped at the Crisis Center last year. She explains that they want to change the location, as the park at Plumas Bank does not have a fence and wind was a problem last year.
They are hoping to get permission from the High School to put them up at the football field, but would like to request permission to put them on the fence of the ball fields if the High School falls through.
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to grant Modoc Crisis Center permission to put the cutouts on the fence of the ball fields. ALL AYES.
8. Discussion/Action Item
Treasurer Long states that the City’s Emergency Horn needs repairs and relocation.
Fire Chief Lloyd explains that the horn is down currently die to the roof repair on the building, and it has been requested that we not put it back on the roof. The air tanks that it takes to run the horn do not pass OSHA and need to be replaced with new ones. It will be put on a pole by the fire barn and will be automatic, rather than need to be run manually like the old one.
Councilmember Cox asks what the plan is for the old horn.
Fire Chief Lloyd is unsure what they will do with the old horn.
MOTION by Councilmember Larranaga, SECONDED by Councilmember Engel authorizing the use of Risk Management Accreditation Program (RMAP) funds, not to exceed $8,000, to repair the City’s Emergency Horn. ALL AYES.
9. Discussion/Action Item
Assistant Director of Public Works Budmark states that the current agreement with GHD is coming to a close and the City will need to get this RFQ out to find a new company to help us out.
MOTION by Councilmember Cox, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to grant permission to post a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for City Engineer Services. ALL AYES.
10. Discussion/Action Item
Assistant Director of Public Works Budmark says that this service agreement is for the splash pad.
Councilmember Cox states that Anderson engineering gave us nothing by grief with the pool and now they have joined SHN. He says that Anderson never hit a deadline and would not respond to the City and that is who we would be dealing with if we hire SHN. He also points out that if there are any disputes, the contract states it will be handled in Oregon and follows all Oregon laws, not California. He states the City would be making themselves completely liable for any damages, so there needs to be some adjustments to the contract before it gets approved.
ADPW Budmark states that they work well with Anderson and SHN, but if there are reservations about it, he can take it back to them and work on it.
Mayor Minchella suggests that City Attorney Kenny review it before it gets approved.
Councilmember Cox agrees.
MOTION by Councilmember Cox, SECONDED by Councilmember Minchella to table this item until the City Attorney reviews and advises on the agreement. ALL AYES.
11. Discussion/Action Item
Assistant Director of Public Works Budmark explains that the Pacific Power lease ends in November. In the past it has been 10% increase each time it comes back around. This time, they said up to 10% in November, then 10% five years after that.
MOTION by Councilmember Larranaga, SECONDED by Councilmember Cox to approve for the Public Works Director to sign the lease agreement with Pacific Power for the communication site on Tank Hill.
ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmember Knighton reports on the Main Street project and development program.
Councilmember Minchella reports that he attended the CHIP meeting, discussing the Main Street renovations. Also, the City has voted no on that project several times already, and still feels the same way about it.
Councilmember Cox does not have a committee report, but states the new skilled nursing facility was approved through the state, but it was also approved to keep the old one open, so that could potentially provide up to 50 more jobs in Alturas.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS
Fire Chief Lloyd reports that they had 2 fire calls and 32 medical calls. Both fire calls were false alarms.
Treasurer Long says that on the 23rd at 2:00 pm is the budget workshop. She has closed the books now for the previous fiscal year and the office is playing catchup. She is still waiting to hear back from the Tobacco Grant.
Officer Widby is asked about the verdict of the SRO position.
Widby explains that the school was able to find some funds. They have up to $20,000 to go toward the salary. They are ready to move forward with it, and it would be the same schedule they had before.
Councilmember Engel asks when the MOU will come to Council.
Officer Widby is unsure.
Officer Widby reports that the police department had 35 new cases, with 31 arrests. 12 of those were felonies, while 19 were misdemeanors. They have served several warrants and made big arrests lately.
Officer Morgan is attending an ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) training. There will also be a training in the next month or so specializing in DUI’s.
Assistant Director of Public Works reports that the paving on 6th street was kicked back a bit due to not being able to get asphalt right now. They are putting a thin layer over the road to make it better to drive on for now. The roof on the fire hall building is getting replaced next week. They are still spraying for mosquitos. Also, DPW Farnam did not support the Main Street renovations at the MCTC meeting.
With no further business to come before City Council, MOTION by Councilmember Engle, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to adjourn the meeting and to return in regular session on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 2:00 pm, City Hall. ALL AYES
Respectfully,
Tacie Wheeler
Tacie Wheeler
City Clerk