Minutes of the Blythe City Council Meeting
July 11, 2023
The July 11, 2023, meeting of the Blythe City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers by Vice Mayor Rodriguez. Also in attendance were Council Members Reynolds, Halby, and Burton. Mayor DeConinck was excused from the meeting. Staff in attendance included: Interim City Manager and City Clerk Crecelius, City Attorney Roberto, Finance Director and City Treasurer Elms, Chief Building Official Brown, Lieutenant Walnoha and Fire Chief Hasler.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Rodriguez.
The Invocation was offered by Councilman Burton.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION:
City Attorney Roberto stated there was no reportable action.
CONSENT CALENDAR: Items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted with one motion of the Council. If any item requires individual consideration, it will be removed from the consent calendar and acted upon separately.
1. Posting of the Agenda.
The summary of agenda items were posted on the bulletin boards on the outside of the public entrance to the Council Chamber and near the inside entrance of the Council Chamber on Friday, July 7, 2023.
2. Approval of the Warrant Register.
Recommendation: Approve 7/11/2023, warrants numbered 10260 through 10280 and 76816 through 76892 in the amount of $483,276.65; 7/11/2023, Utility Billing Refund warrants numbered 76893 through 76904 in the amount of $1,422.10 and 7/11/2023, warrants numbered 10281 through 10287 in the amount of $123,414.56.
3. Approval of the Payroll Register.
Recommendation: Approve 7/11/2023, warrants numbered 53663 through 53679 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 56137 through 56198 in the amount of $269,096.21; 7/11/2023, warrants numbered 53680 through 53717 and Direct Deposit warrant numbered 56199 in the amount of $130,827.26; 7/11/2023, warrants numbered 53718 through 53731 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 56200 through 56260 in the amount of $236,918.69; 7/11/2023, warrants numbered 53732 through 53733 in the amount of $7,024.57 and 7/11/2023, warrants numbered 53734 through 53750 and direct deposit warrants numbered 56261 through 56350 in the amount of $66,391.93.
4. Minutes of the June 13, 2023 City Council Meeting.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the June 13, 2023 Meeting.
5. City of Blythe Permits Issued for the Month of June 2023.
Recommendation: Receive and file this monthly report.
6. City of Blythe Fire Department Monthly Activity Report for June 2023.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
7. City of Blythe Police Department Monthly Activity Report for June 2023.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
8. Quality of Life Program Activity Report for June 2023.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
9. Investment Report for Third Quarter FY 2023/23.
Recommendation: Accept and file the quarterly Investment Report.
10. Acceptance of Work- City of Blythe Golf Course Water Supply Line Project.
Recommendation: Authorize an increase of $2,800 to the project budget, authorize the Interim City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement between the City and The Holt Group increasing total compensation from $14,750 to 17,550, authorize a Change Order to Radco, Inc. in the amount of $22,950, accept the work performed by Radco, Inc. for the Golf Course Water Supply Line Project, authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and file the Notice of Completion and authorize the City Manager to release retention payments and project bonds once appropriate.
11. Financial Audit Engagement for FY 2022/23.
Recommendation: Authorize an engagement with Teaman, Ramirez & Smith, Inc. for audit services.
12. Renewal of General Lease- Boat Launch at Quechan Park.
Recommendation: Authorize the Mayor to execute a Lease with the California State Lands Commission for the City’s use of sovereign land located in the historic bed of the Colorado River for a boat launch at Quechan Park and authorize the City Manager to file any and all documents necessary to renew the lease.
13. Public Works Director Employment Agreement- Kenneth McLaughlin.
Recommendation: Authorize the Interim City Manager to enter into an Employment Agreement with Kenneth McLaughlin for the position of Public Works Director.
14. Cooperation Agreement for Urban County Qualification 2024-027.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2023-016 confirming participation in the County of Riverside’s Urban County Program for fiscal years 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 and authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the Cooperation Agreement.
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-016. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE’S URBAN COUNTY PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEARS 2024-25, 2025-26 AND 2026-27.
15. Special Assessment for Prior Year Delinquent Utility Charges.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2023-017:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-017. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE ADOPTING THE
REPORT OF THE DELINQUENT UTILITY ACCOUNTS AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO FILE SAID
REPORT WITH THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE AUDITOR AND REQUEST THE AUDITOR PLACE THE DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS ON THE TAX ROLL.
16. Levy of Special Taxes within Community Facilities District No. 2004-1.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2023-018:
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-018. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ACTING AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OF THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2004-1 (HIDDEN BEACHES) OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF SPECIAL TAXES WITHIN COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2004-1 (HIDDEN BEACHES) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024.
17. Ordinance Adopting Amended Military Equipment Use Policy Pursuant to AB 481.
Recommendation: Council introduce Ordinance No. 922-23:
ORDINANCE NO. 922-23. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING AN AMENDED MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY GOVERNING THE USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL 481.
No public comment. Councilman Reynolds moved approval of the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Councilman Burton with a unanimous aye vote.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
Save Chuck. Interim City Manager Crecelius gave an update on Save Chuck. The County of Riverside through the CEO’s office and various department heads are meeting with City staff on a quarterly basis to coordinate Save Chuck efforts. To date, 54 community support letters have been sent to our legislators.
No public comment. The item was received and filed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Flash Vote Survey Results. Interim City Manager Crecelius reported on the results of the Flash Vote Survey #2- Priorities. The survey was sent to 234 participants who have enrolled to receive the Flash Vote Surveys. The survey was released on June 20th and closed June 22nd.
Ninety-six people participated. When the local filter was applied, 68 participants lived within the 92225-zip code. The survey’s purpose was to identify the community’s priorities, identify street projects to design in the current fiscal year and identify problems the City should prioritize solving. 51% of respondents believe sense of community was a strength, followed by 27.9% stating local recreation options and 25% stating community events and entertainment are a strength of Blythe. Comments including our location, proximity to metro areas, a logistic hub, river, tourism, and college were also highlighted as strengths. 81.5% of voters feel the conditions of our streets and sidewalks is most important, followed by 69.2% wanting the community to be clean and have visual appeal and 66.2% felt physical safety and security was most important.
Respondents were asked to identify from a list which streets were most important in need of rehabilitation. 46.2% selected 1
st street from Chanslorway to Hobsonway and Murphy Street from 3
rd Street to Main Street. 41.5% votied for West Hobsonway from Florence Blvd. to city limits. There was a third-place tie at 33.8% between W. Chanslorway from Highway 95 to Olive Lake Blvd and those selecting other. The streets most selected in the other category were 7 th
Street and Defrain starting from various locations up to the Golf Course. The Survey asked residents what problem(s) the City should prioritize solving and top responses were abandoned and rundown buildings, homelessness and poorly maintained streets and sidewalks. Based on the survey results, it is recommended Council prioritize the First and Murphy Street project and 7 th
Street project in the current fiscal year. Due to the size and cost of the W. Hobsonway Project, fund the design in the following fiscal year. This year we are also partnering with the County to pave 10th avenue and 6th avenue.
Councilman Reynolds asked if CalTans was ever contacted and discussed that W. Hobsonway is the old Highway 60. If there is an issue on the I10, that’s the detour route. I believe CalTrans should provide some type of funding to help with the project.
No public comment. Councilman Burton moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Reynolds with a unanimous aye vote.
Agreement with County of Riverside for Use of the Public Safety Communication (PSEC) System. Lieutenant Walnoha stated over the last year staff investigated ways to upgrade the current public safety radio system to provide safe and reliable communication to our public safety personnel. This includes providing communications to other law enforcement agencies in Riverside County. The PSEC system provides critical countywide communication among County public safety agencies. The goal of PSEC is to have interoperability among all City and County public safety groups to enable a coordinated response in the event of a multijurisdictional emergency or disaster. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has utilized the PSEC System since 2014. Several other law enforcement agencies in the County have joined or are in the process of joining the PSEC System. Many fire departments are being added as well as Federal Law Enforcement. On February 16, 2023 the City Council held a Study Session on the PSEC System. On May 18, 2023 the City Council held a Budget Study Session in which support for joining the PSEC system was expressed. Funding for the proposed PSEC system was included in the FY 2023/24 Operating and Capital Budget which was approved on June 13, 2023.
The proposed radio system will include Police, Fire and Code Enforcement. This proposal also includes a new repeater to operate the Fire Department’s pager system. It is anticipated the installation, training and testing will take approximately three months once approval is obtained and the agreement has been executed.
No public comment. Councilman Burton moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Reynolds with a unanimous aye vote.
ORAL REPORTS:
Councilman Reynolds reported on the Blythe Fire Department’s 4 th of July Fireworks show. The
kids had a great time. Hats off to the Department. There were some technical issues, but they did a great job.
Councilman Burton reported on the Little League Girls Senior Softball All Star Tournament that has been hosted in Blythe over the last five days.
Councilman Halby stated it’s a State tournament so there are teams from all over Arizona here in Blythe.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
ADJOURN: The City Council meeting was adjourned at 6:21pm. ________________________________
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Mallory Crecelius, City Clerk