CITY OF AMADOR CITY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, January 18,2024,7:00 p.m.
Closed Session ● None
Roll Cali - Kel-ArHnIan, Bragstad, Staples, Sherrill present, Robinson absent Pledge of Allegiance
Report from Closed Session > None
Public Forum - City Manager reported on conversation wHh citizen regarding poor visibility on by-pass at Amador City turn off which Is out of our jurisdiction; AAUW sponsoring a candidate’s forum on January 25,2024.
Consent Agenda - Minutes of December 21,2023, Financial Statements ~ none (Michael, of H &R Block will prepare in the future), Agenda of January 28,2024, Motion to approve by Bragstad, second by Staples - approved unanimously
Ordinances and Public Heating
A. State of the City Address - Mayor Kel-Artinian (See attached) B. Mayor and Vice Mayor sworn in. Sandy Staples Is Mayor and Anne Kel-Artinlan Is Vice Mayor
C. Resolution #623 - Housing Element - Kel-Artinian moved, second by Bragstad, approved unanimously - Must be certified by State.
Administrative Agenda
A. School Park - Striping on basket ball and pickle ball court to be done when rainy season Is over, some pruning of trees and bushes to be done, Kei-Artlnlan will work on application for reimbursement.
B. PG&E Energy Audit - Possibility of new windows and Insulation of entire building C. Apartment Fire Up-Date - Demolition and removal of toxic material nearly completed. Engineer to meet with Larry White January 25,2024, regarding re construction. Weatherby, Reynolds & Fritson to draw plans. Also there was water damage to the basement.
D. Measure K - Support of ACBCA will be helpful to Insure passage of Measure K. John Gedney to hold meeting here February 2 to explain measure.
E. Short Term Rental Parking - Alaina Lyons provided pictures of parked vehicle blocking thru traffic on Church Street across from a shortterm rental property. A letter will be sent to owner of property setting forth parking requirements.
F. Electric Charging Station Installation Quotes - Three received - Councilman Sherrill prefers Amador Electric bid, $950 would be our part of bill; If Hall accepts some changes we would accept his bid, if not then we go with Amador Electric.
G. Sidewalk Repairs on Main Street - Sidewalk In front of Moonrlse Pizza should be ground down and re-poured. City Manager to find contractor to do work.
9. Committees:
1. 2.
3. 4.
5. 6.
7. 8.
ARSA ● 18 acres offered to Sutter Creek for facility, Amador City should have a contract with ARSA/Sutter Creek
CIRA - Nothing
RTMF - Decision to help Amador City rerversed. City Manager Groth to work on it
LAFCO - New community member
ACRA - Nothing
Air-Covered in 8F
Homeless Task Force -
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g-
h. FIRE - Fire Chief Moreno In discussion with Kel-Artinlan abouf burn pile In park, Hwy 49 from Mine House to City Limits clean up, downed trees pushed aside for now, more trees coming down soon, Fire Dept, has a chipper I. Museum - Closed for January
j. Short Term Rental and Design Review ordinances to be clarified k. Maintenance - Ian to monitor play ground equlpmenmt area and tidiness.
I. Cemetery - Signs need to be Installed.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT -
CITY AnORNEY REPORT - Not present
STAFF REPORT-NOTHING
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Powder House, Sewer plant alternatives -Grant Reynolds Disaster Council Emergency Plan
Adjourned - Next meeting February 15,2024
assure
10. 11.
12. 13.
14. compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, If you are a disabled person and you need a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate In this meeting, then please contact Joyce Davidson at (831 )333-6702 or e-mail [email protected]. Requests must be made as early as possible, and at least two full business days before the start of the meeting.
In
oiT-y OF oity
INCORPORATCD JUNC 2. 191S
Cetlif omia
Amador City’s State of the City
Prepared by Mayor Anne Kel-Artinian
January 18, 2024
Tonight’s State-of-the-City address, has three components: Finances, 2023 accomplishments, and 2024 aspirations.
Finances
City finances remain are mostly on track with our budget. The biggest area of concern is the same as it was last year: our sewer fund. As of the end of 2023, we were about $40,000 in the red when compared with expenses. About half of this is related to additional engineering costs and costs related to the pump replacement. But the remainder is of concern because it shows that our rate increase last year was not sufficient to cover ordinary operating costs. You will see this reflected in the discussion of focus areas below.
Other areas of note: In spite of some challenges collecting TOT {transient occupancy tax), we are tracking well against our budget. We also expect re-imbursement from the state to cover park expenses and re imbursement from our insurance company to cover the cost of rehabilitating the apartments. 2023 Accomplishments
In January of 2022,1 described 10 focus areas for the year. We’ve definitely had some high points this year, but we have struggled to make progress in several areas. The following chart summarizes our progress in these areas:
2023 Focus Area Minimal
Progress
Good Progress Excellent
Progress
Complete
1: Sewer study
2: Housing Element
3: City Hall Park ●'..U' .V
4: Short-Term Rental
Ordinance Updates
5: Fire Resiliency
6: Safety on Main Street
7: Road Maintenance <&
Repairs
8: BPAC Participation
9: Update Municipal
Code to Improve
Enforcement
10: Update Municodc &
Website
2023 focus area 1: sewer study. In March, we passed a sewer rate increase for a single year rather than the five-year plan recommended by our consultants. As a result, our sewer fund is still not breaking 2023 focus area 2: Housing Element. Tonight, I hope the City Council will approve the Housing Element. As for code updates related to the Housing Element, we are still awaiting the award letter for the LEA? grant that will fund the code updates.
2023 focus area 3: City Hall Park. Good news on this front! We completed the playground and poured the slab for the basketball/pickleball court. We have some work to go to complete this phase of the park, however.
2023 focus area 4: understand how Amador City is served or harmed by short-term rentals. We held not additional meetings on this topic in 2023.
2023 focus area 5: fire resiliency. While we made no progress on becoming a Firewise community, did pass a Fuels Management ordinance as recommended by Sutter Creek Fire. 2023 focus area 6: safety on Main Street. We have struggled to keep our radar speed signs operational.
Also, the County did not complete the promised speed study, although I have assurance from Frank Axe that it will be completed this winter.
2023 focus area 7: road maintenance and repair. We were able to put a measure on the ballot that would increase sales tax for the purpose of road maintenance. This in turn allows us to apply for $200,000 a year for road maintenance projects. We also continue to work with ACTC on funding for specific projects, although we were disappointed when our Main Street project was first approved by them and then disapproved.
2023 focus area 8: BPAC. We participated in a successful grant application for a planning grant with the BPAC team.
2023 focus area 9: Update Municipal Code to improve enforcement. We made not progress on this. 2023 focus area 10: Update MuniCode and website. We have made minor updates to our website but have not updated MuniCode.
In addition to working on these focus areas, we achieved some additional successes and faced some setbacks, including the following:
even.
we
Last year at this time, we noted the passing of Mary-Louise Nixon, our long-time accountant. I wanted to thank our Treasurer, Holly Groth, for continuing to provide us with financial statements while we are in the process of contracting with a new accountant. Although it has taken a year, we should have a new accountant in place by next month.
Our Building Department remained busy. While there are no new houses being built, many property owners are making updates and improvements to their properties that require permits and inspections.
We contract with the SherrifTs Department for protective services. I have been in touch with Sherriff Redman a number of times over the past year to make sure that we don’t get overlooked. His office provided us with an end-of-the-year summary that shows that the SherrifFs Department responded to 301 calls in Amador City during 2023. More information about this is attached.
There is one project that has not gotten a lot of attention that looks like it is going to be completed very soon. Under the shepherding of Council Member Sherrill (and Vice Mayor Bragstad before him), it looks like we will finally get our electric car charger!
Amador City Stale of the City page 2 of4