Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
May 19, 2026
The Alturas City Council Mayor Minchella called the regular meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers. Councilmembers present: Duanna Knighton, Jennifer Engel, Paul Minchella, Brian Cox, and Jodie Larranaga. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Treasurer Dorothy Long, Public Works Director Warren Farnam, Chief of Police Jonathan Morgan, and Fire Marshal Eric Hunter.
Public attending: 18. All present joined together in an invocation led by Pastor Lynn Culp followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC FORUM
Abby DePaul, President of the Junior Livestock Show Board along with Katie Erkiaga, Aubree Knighton, and Maddie Moltzen invited the City Council to this year’s Junior Livestock Show which will be held the week of June 15 – June 19, 2026.
APPROVAL OR ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to approve the agenda as presented. ALL AYES.
CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
MOTION by Councilmember Knighton, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to adopt the consent agenda as follows: a.) Approve minutes of April 21, 2026 meeting; b.) Approve City Warrants for April 2026 in the amount of $171,632.93; c.) Approve ACH reconciliation report for April 2026 in the amount of $142,870.30; d.) Adopt Resolution #2026-11 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $170.84. ALL AYES.
Public Works Director Farnam informed the Council of the two vacancies on the Planning Commission and let them know it is the Council’s duty to appoint the members who serve on the commission. The City received four letters of interest to select from.
Councilmember Engel inquired about the potential postponement of appointing one seat until the seat actually becomes available. Councilmember Cox recommended to view the letters that they have and make the appointments based on what has been presented. Councilmember Engel adds that she likes getting people involved who aren’t those who are typically involved.
MOTION by Councilmember Engel to appoint James Lloyd to serve on the Alturas Planning Commission, SECONDED by Councilmember Cox; MOTION by Councilmember Knighton to appoint Tara Yarberry to serve on the Alturas Planning Commission, SECONDED by Councilmember Cox. ALL AYES.
Kristin Chambers, Modoc Art Council Executive Director presented to the council a proposal for a Community Beautification Mural in collaboration with the Modoc Arts Council. Chambers provided a brief background of the Art Council programs and informs the council of a SLP grant she was awarded along with a $21,000 Impact Grant. She stated the benefits of the impact grant and the potential plans of a mural on main street. Ms. Chambers touched on the intent to hire local artists to do the work and relayed the youth aspect along with the cultural side of the project for the community. Chambers proposed the idea of using Modoc County’s Public Health Building and stated that coming to the Council first to get permission to move forward is one of the many steps to making the mural happen. The mural would promote culture, landmarks, nature, and the history of Modoc. In addition to the Main Street Mural Project, Kristin provided a brief presentation on the community rock snake being something to add around different areas in town.
Councilmember Engel inquired about how many local youth artists would be used for the project.
Chambers stated at least 10 or more. Councilmember Minchella asked about any liability for the City regarding the potential project. DPW Farnam said that there wouldn’t be any City liability.
Councilmember Engel followed up with a question about the proposed building being a County building, not a City Building and rock snake maintenance and whose responsibility that would be. Ms. Chambers responded to let the council know that they would be very intentional about where the rock snake would be so it wouldn’t be in the way. She informed the Council that Public Health recommended she start with City Council to get permission to move forward. Councilmember Cox asked if the final mural draft would come back to the council for approval and Chambers confirmed.
MOTION by Councilmember Cox, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to move forward with the Community Beautification Mural process. ALL AYES.
Councilmember Knighton informs the council that she attended a Superior California Economic Development District (SCEDD) meeting and is requesting reimbursement for mileage.
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to reimburse Councilmember Knighton for mileage to attend the SCEDD meeting. ALL AYES.
Councilmember Larranaga explained she and Councilmember Minchella met with Warren to negotiate his new contract to include City Manager. She explained the changes reflected in the updated contract.
Councilmember Cox congratulated Warren.
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Knighton to approve a two-year Employment Agreement for Director of Public Works/City Manager Warren Farnam. ALL AYES.
Public Works Director Farnam presented the Council with an updated Organizational Chart that reflected the new structure to include City Manager and modified it to look less like a personnel allocation table.
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to adopt the updated City of Alturas Organizational Chart. ALL AYES.
Sean Buie addressed the council to inform them the status of his existing IT services contract expiring soon. He provided a brief history of the IT services that are performed at the City and his role in doing so.
Buie stated that overall, things are going well. He stated that he takes care of everything that is not operated by a third party service such as software systems. Buie informed the council of the budgeting process and the financial aspect of his contract. He explained that the equipment the City purchases for IT related duties through Computer Haven is not a direct benefit to him. The City gets to use his wholesale pricing. Then Buie went in to explain the transfer of phone services and provided a background on the hurdles with the third party entity involved there and the issues regarding the fiber upgrades.
Councilmember Engel clarified that the Fire and Police Department radios aren’t under IT for maintenance. Buie responded to confirm and explained the IT related duties being networks, servers, and daily backups. Councilmember Engel followed up with Public Works related IT such as the telemetry system. Councilmember Minchella concurred with Engel’s question. Public Works Director Farnam informed the Council that Aqua Sierra is the company who handles telemetry and that it’s a third party service.
Following the IT history and generalized overview, Sean Buie addressed the council stating it was reprehensible for members of this council to violate the brown act and defame him during the last city council meeting regarding his appointment to City Council. Buie stated his knowledge of the FPP (Fair Political Practice) and his intentions moving forward. Councilmember Knighton responded that she does not recall anyone defaming him during that conversation. Councilmember Cox stated that it was a good question to have due to Sean’s access to personnel records. He stated that it’s a good discussion to protect the City. Buie responds that it was not on the agenda for discussion and explains in further detail why his access is not a concern due in correlation with the City’s infrastructure. Councilmember Cox stated that it’s not a question of his character and that it is good to look at City liability. Councilmember Larranaga thanked Sean for the information he provided.
Public Works Director Farnam explains that the existing IT contract expires at the end of June and requests permission to solicit a Request for Proposal (RFP) so there isn’t a lapse in services or operations.
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to solicit an RFP for City IT Services. ALL AYES.
Director of Public Works Farnam informs the council that with the new structure at the City with a City Manager, Department Representatives are no longer needed. Councilmember Engel questions that she can still talk to department heads if she has a question pertaining to their department. Farnam confirms that council can talk to department heads about their departments.
MOTION by Councilmember Cox, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to dissolve Mayor Appointments for Department Representatives. ALL AYES.
City Treasurer Long presents the amended budget to the Council. Treasurer Long explains that the amendment before the council includes modifications to adjust for power costs, the emergency sewer upgrades, and covers the legal expense line item within the budget. Long adds that this amendment should get most of the departments over through the fiscal year. Public Works Director Farnam adds that there may be an amendment to update the pool’s operating budget due to unforeseen issues with a pump.
Councilmember Cox asks about General Fund revenues and inquires about the differences in expenditures from the Budget Workshop compared to the amended budget before them. Public Works Director Farnam adds that the spreadsheet that he provided during the budget workshop was to give the council a different
way to look at General Fund, not the whole City. Councilmember Cox inquired about the current sewer fines and where those fit. Farnam responded that he’s working to see if those fines can be used as a compliance project with the Water Board. Farnam continued to explain the efforts he’s been taking with the sewer issues that are arising as well as the construction application for the new facility.
Councilmember Cox mentioned an additional budget meeting being necessary and plans to produce a balanced budget. Councilmember Engel explained amended budget 1 versus the amended budget before them. She informed Councilmember Cox of the differences between the them to include a projected increase of fund balance at the end of the fiscal year. City Treasurer Long added that the spreadsheet from the budget workshop was used to inform the council of trends and expenses within the General Fund moving forward. Long stated that it was her understanding that departments would use that information during the planning of the 26/27 budget cycle to produce the balanced budget. Councilmember Cox restated his concerns with the existing budget and agreed that there may have been a miscommunication from the budget workshop.
MOTION by Councilmember Engel, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to adopt Resolution 2026-12 the second amended budget for FY 25/26 in the amount of $7,748,136.00. ALL AYES.
City Treasurer Long informed the council of the updated Return to Work/Modified Duty Policy being recommended by GSRMA through the RMAP process. She stated the policy has been reviewed by the City Attorney.
MOTION by Councilmember Cox, SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga to adopt Resolution 2026-13 approving the updated Return to Work Policy. ALL AYES.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilmember Knighton reported that she attended the MEDC Focus Meeting as well as the SCEDD Meeting. She commented on all the different communities involved in SCEDD. She additionally informed council that she is attended the MEDC meeting tomorrow and spoke of their efforts to support local businesses with hosting their meetings.
Councilmember Engel stated that she also attended the MEDC Focus Meeting. She reported at the meeting about the City’s Nuisance Abatement efforts to include the meeting that was previously held. She noted that there hasn’t been a recent meeting due to scheduling conflicts. Councilmember Engel also reported that her husband, Bill Engel who works for the County Office of Education has been teaching crosswalk safety at the schools.
Councilmember Minchella attended the Cal LAFCO board meeting via zoom.
Councilmember Larranaga reported that Public Works Director Farnam took her on a tour covering all the public works related departments. She commended the City’s Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator for all the knowledge he had shared during her time seeing the waste water facility.
Councilmember Knighton inquired about how the crosswalk safety discussions were going in the schools.
Mr. Engel responded with the feedback he’s been getting from the different classes. The Council thanked Mr. Engel for doing that.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS:
Fire Marshal Hunter informed the council that since the last meeting the fire department has had 18 medical calls, 3 fire calls, and 3 trainings. He stated that this is average call volume for this time of year.
Fire Marshal Hunter also reported that he’d be attending an upcoming Arson Investigation Training in Henderson, Nevada. He informed the council that two grant applications have been submitted for equipment needed in the fire department and that Jim Porter, a longtime member of the Fire Department passed away. The President of the Fire Department will be giving a speech at the service. Councilmember Engel confirmed the date of the services.
Councilmember Engel wanted to thank the Police Department and the Fire Department for attending the 100th Birthday of community member Cordelia Rosendahl.
Police Chief Morgan updated the council on training efforts and catching up on policy updates. Morgan reported on his attendance at the IA Training and listed the benefits of the training as well as the resources gained by his attendance. Morgan also provided an update on recruitment efforts for his department.
Interviews have been held and they are moving forward in the background process. He provided stats of 54 new arrests, 16 arrests. Included in the statistics was recognition of Sergeant Widby’s methamphetamine seizure which was published in a press release. Chief Morgan also informed the Council that PD’s dispatcher is attending a Property and Evidence Training which will be really beneficial for the department. Morgan also reported on his efforts to improve department equipment to include tasers and cameras. Chief Morgan also reported on additional training taking place within the department to include perishable skills as well as updating the Lexipol module to include training to further advance the department.
City Treasurer Long reported on meeting with the actuary for CalPERS regarding the City’s Unfunded Liability. Long added that Public Works Director Farnam attended the meeting with her to be brought up to speed on different options as well as tools on the CalPERS platform to see different rates of return and trends. Treasurer Long stated that she also met with Finance Personnel from the City of Williams to discuss their efforts in completely paying off their PERS unfunded liability and how they accomplished it.
She stated that it could be a possibility for the City if the planning started now. Treasurer Long added that it is her long term goal to be one of the small city’s that pays off their unfunded liability. Long also reported on her involvement with the City’s STIP projects for the streets. She stated that she’s working with Caltrans to potentially be able to cover a chip seal project rather than modify the existing scope of a programmed project. Finally, Treasurer Long reported that the City will be having interviews on May 20th for Lifeguard positions.
Public Works Director Farnam provided an update on the millsite lease agreement. He stated that he’s still working on it and informed the council of some of the struggles he’s been dealing with pertaining to it.
Farnam reported out that he’s waiting on the appraisers now for the commencement of the new wastewater treatment plant facility. Additionally, he informed the council of the public works efforts on
paving potholes when they can. He stated that winter mix is inefficient so they are at the mercy of when asphalt is available to be able to make proper repairs. Farnam is also working on the issue of the sewer plant fines with the state and stated he’d be happy when the new facility is done. In the reporting of sewer fines, he informed the council of additional sewer issues that has required additional monitoring and that a sewer issue on oak street is on the radar for repair and will likely occur during the upcoming budget cycle.
Recreation wise, things are going good other than some issues with the pool that will likely result in budgetary modifications.
With no further business to come before City Council. MOTION by Councilmember Engel to adjourn the meeting at 3:59 p.m. SECONDED by Councilmember Larranaga. ALL AYES.
Respectfully,
Dorothy Long
City Treasurer