Minutes of the Blythe City Council Meeting
February 13, 2024
The February 13, 2024, meeting of the Blythe City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers by Mayor DeConinck. Also in attendance were Vice Mayor Rodriguez and Council Members Reynolds, Halby, and Burton. Staff in attendance included: Interim City Manager and City Clerk Crecelius, City Attorney Roberto, Chief Building Official Brown, Police Chief Dale and Fire Chief Hasler.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor DeConinck.
The Invocation was led by Councilman Burton.
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, February 9, 2024.
2. Approval of the Warrant Register.
Recommendation: Approve 2/13/24, warrants numbered 10488 through 10524 and 77678 through 77734 in the amount of $571,065.97; 2/13/24, Utility Billing Refund warrants numbered 77735 through 77741 in the amount of $668.44 and 2/13/24, warrants numbered 10525 through 10544 and 77743 through 77811 in the amount of $455,382.37.
3. Approval of the Payroll Register.
Recommendation: Approve 2/13/24, warrants numbered 54185 through 54205 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 57790 through 57860 in the amount of $286,023.86; 2/13/24, warrants numbered 54206 through 54207 in the amount of $321.52; 2/13/24, warrant numbered 54208 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 57861 through 57862 in the amount of $6,245.23; 2/13/24, warrants numbered 54209 through 54227 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 57863 through 57932 in the amount of $280,362.34 and 2/13/24, warrants numbered 54228 through 54242 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 57934 through 58028 in the amount of $79,765.81.
4. Minutes of the January 9, 2024, City Council Meeting.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the January 9, 2024, Meeting.
5. Minutes of the January 9, 2024, Special Closed Session.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the January 9, 2024, Special Closed Session.
6. City of Blythe Fire Department Monthly Activity Report for January 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
7. City of Blythe Police Department Monthly Activity Report for January 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
8. Quality of Life Program Activity Report for January 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
9. Acceptance of Work – 2023 Citywide Slurry Seal Project.
Recommendation: Accept the work performed by American Asphalt South, Inc. for pavement treatment (Type III Slurry Seal) on various streets within Blythe and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and file the Notice of Completion for the project. It is further recommended Council authorize the Interim City Manager to release retention payments once the Notice of Completion is recorded and release project bonds once appropriate.
10. Application for Funding with State Water Resources Control Board.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-004 authorizing the filing of a financial assistance application with the State Water Resources Control Board for Hidden Beaches Water System Treatment, Filtration and Storage Project and, if awarded, authorizing and designating a representative to take actions required to receive and accept the financial assistance.
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-004. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER AS THE CITY’S AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE TO SIGN AND
FILEA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTOL BOARD FOR
THE HIDDEN BEACHES WATER SYSTEM TREATMENT, FILTRATION, AND STORAGE PROJECT, EXECUTE
ALL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND TAKE ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
11. Adoption of Tentative Agreement Regarding Successor MOU for the Mid-Management Unit.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-005:
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-005. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF THE SUCCESSOR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF BLYTHE AND THE MID-MANAGEMNT UNIT FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025
12. Adoption of Tentative Agreement Regarding Successor MOU for the Laborers’ International Union of North America, Local 1184 (LIUNA).
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-006:
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-006 - A RESOLTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA,
ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SUCCESSOR MEMORADUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF BLYTHE AND THE LABORERS’ INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, LOCAL 1184 (LIUNA) UNIT FOR THE PERIOS OF JULY 1, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025.
13. Ordinance No. 927-23 Repealing Chapter 17.78 (Environmental Evaluation) of Title 17 (Zoning) of the Blythe Municipal Code.
Recommendation: Adopt Ordinance No. 927-23:
ORDINANCE NO. 927-23. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, REPEALING CHAPTER 17.78 (ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUTION) OF TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE BLYTHE
MUNICIPAL CODE AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3) (COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION)
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 provided an update on the City’s efforts to “Save Chuck”, an upcoming visit to Sacramento to meet with legislators, the Kosmont Presentation and an article released by the Watson Institute related to the partnership between the City and Professor Eason at Brown University.
No public comment. The item was received and filed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Abatement of 226 and 228 S. Main Street- Final Report. Interim City Manager Crecelius reported this is a receive and file item related to the completion of the abatement efforts at 226 & 228 S. Main Street. As Council is fully aware, this property has been a nuisance for many years, with multiple active codes cases on the property. Numerous fires have further deteriorated conditions on site. As staff worked to abate the nuisance, the property sold several times, requiring staff to start the process over after each sale. After a significant amount of time and effort, the City was prepared to apply for an abatement warrant to clean the property at the end of last year. In anticipation of receiving an abatement warrant from the court, Council awarded an abatement agreement to R&L Watkins at the December Council meeting. In late January, the City Attorney was issued the warrant and R&L Watkins went to work. The work was completed to the satisfaction of the City on February 8 th
, well within the 14-days granted by
the Court. City staff would like to again commend Leslie Watkins and team at R&L Watkins for their efforts. Their ability to complete these projects within very tight parameters allows the City to continue these abatement projects. This is the third abatement project completed by the City in a little over a year. Staff have identified the next round of projects to continue these abatement efforts.
Councilman Halby said this has been a point of contention for over to years. Good job everybody.
Public Comment. Leslie Jessop-Watkins thanked everyone. This effort was quite something to overcome. We had nine business days to complete with two of them being rain days. We have a lot of people to thank, at City Hall, the Police Department, CR&R and Brickley Environmental.
It was a huge collaborative effort. We look forward to the future potential to continue to clean our city.
The item was received and filed.
Purchase of Bus Shelters and Lighting for the Beautify Blythe Project. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated the City and Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency were awarded $2.9 million in Clean CA grant funds for the Beautify Blythe Project. The project proposes to improve existing conditions at several key city & transit facilities, including placement of twenty-four bus shelters and amenities across three underserved census tracts, a decorative wall and perimeter solar lighting at the Public Works Yard, a restroom at Transit’s CNG Fueling Station, landscaping, parking lot improvements and solar lighting at Miller Park, and an outdoor public space, iron fencing, decorative security fencing and solar lighting at the PVVTA Operations Facility and their Main Street Park n’ Ride. In addition to the infrastructure improvements, the project includes community engagement, clean up events and ribbon cuttings. To date, clean up events have resulted in the removal of over 120 cubic yards of debris from our community. In December, the City released a Request for Proposals for the Solar Powered Outdoor Lighting Systems and Bus Shelters for Project. On January 3, 2024, proposals were received from Technology International Inc., Smart Era Lighting Systems and Horizon Lighting, Inc. for the solar lighting systems. On the same day, proposals were received from Andrew Studer’s Extreme Iron and LNI Custom Manufacturing, Inc. for the bus shelters. After reviewing the proposals received, it was determined that a purchase order should be issued to Horizon Lighting, Inc. and LNI Custom Manufacturing. It is recommended Council authorize staff to issue a purchase order for the Solar Lighting systems to Horizon Lighting, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $128,925.80 and issue a purchase order for Bus Shelters to LNI Custom Manufacturing, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $181,490.38.
No public comment. Councilman Reynolds moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Rodriguez with a unanimous aye vote.
Central Garage Staffing. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated over the last few years, the City has sent more vehicles out for repair than repairing in house. Management has discussed restructuring Central Garage to include outsourcing of vehicle and equipment repair. In December, the City’s long-time Equipment Shop Manager retired, providing an opportunity to look at restructuring. However, until a long-term solution is in place, the Garage is short staffed and in need of personnel to assist with inventory, purchasing, parts running and vehicle maintenance scheduling. The City recently recruited several open positions in the Public Works Department. During interviews, staff identified someone who could assist the City with these needs until a permanent solution is in place. Staff would like to fill the Purchasing Warehouse position. As this position is not funded in the current budget, staff recommends Council fund the Warehouseman/Safety Officer position at Step 1 of Range 40 of the Mid-Management MOU.
The Equipment Shop Manager position will remain vacant until a long-term plan for the Garage is implemented. Salary savings from the Equipment Shop Manager vacancy will offset the costs of filling the Warehouse position.
No public comment.
Councilman Halby asked who will train this employee.
Councilman Reynolds moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Burton with a unanimous aye vote.
Chanslor Place Subdivision Sewer Repairs. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated the Chanslor Place subdivision was proposed to be constructed in three phases. Phase I construction was completed in 2005. The plans for Phase II and Phase III were approved by the City in August 2006. Phase II construction began in 2006 but was never completed due to outstanding issues with the sanitary sewer system. There are eight undeveloped lots in Phase II. In Phase III, there are two undeveloped parcels and 23 undeveloped lots. The City has not issued any building permits for Phase III due to the issues with the sanitary sewer system. The City Engineer prepared an estimate of the costs for the Chanslor Place Phase II Sewer Repairs Project. The Engineer’s Estimate is approximately $500,000, which includes roughly $250,000 to repair the sewer system and $250,000 to repave the street after the sewer repairs are made. Staff estimates the cost to design the project would be approximately $75,000. Funding for the proposed project would come from the Sewer Utility Fund. Staff believes repairing the sewer system in Phase II will enable the eight vacant lots to be developed, as well as correct defects that could impact current residents. If Council authorizes and directs staff to move forward with this project, staff will aim to issue the request for proposals for the design of the project within three months. Once staff has selected a proposed design consultant, staff will seek Council authorization for award of an agreement. Once the design work is complete, staff will issue a notice inviting bids for construction of the sewer repairs. Staff is also seeking Council’s direction to investigate the City’s options with respect to the Phase III sewer repairs. If such direction is provided, staff will return to Council at a later date for additional direction regarding the Phase III sewer repairs.
Therefore, It is recommended that the Council authorize and direct staff to issue a request for proposals for the design of the Chanslor Place Phase II Sewer Repairs Project. It is further recommended that the Council direct staff to investigate the City’s options with respect to the repairs needed for the sanitary sewer system in Phase III of the Chanslor Place subdivision.
Councilman Halby asked if after this was done, will we certify the streets and they become City streets? Interim City Manager Crecelius stated we would accept all of the improvements, as would have been done had they been completed to the satisfaction of the City back in the early 2000’s.
Councilman Reynolds asked how will not doing the Phase III repair right now affect us later? Interim City Manager Crecelius stated as there are no homes there and as nothing has been built yet; we need to determine if we should do the Phase III improvements ourselves or down the road work with a developer.
A notice of defect will be recorded against every vacant property outlining the building restrictions related to the sewer defaults.
No public comment. Councilman Reynolds moved approval of staff’s recommendation and to further investigate the Phase III improvements. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Rodriguez with aye votes from DeConinck, Rodriguez, Reynolds and Burton and a no vote from Halby.
Transfer of an Armored Vehicle from the Law Enforcement Support Office. Police Chief Dale stated the Police Department has a 2000 Dodge Peacekeeper armored vehicle obtained from the Federal Law Enforcement Support Office. It’s on loan, long term from the Federal Government. We are using it, but it’s beyond its useful life and needs to be replaced. We had been searching for a new vehicle from LESO and came across an MRAP vehicle which could also be used for search and rescue operations. This vehicle can also access our riverbanks, which has been an issue for department vehicles. If this vehicle transfer is approved, we will return the Peacekeeper to LESO. The MRAP would also be a long-term transfer, where it is on loan to us. This vehicle is worth between $350,000 and $500,000. We are getting it for the cost of delivery and outfitting. We estimate annual costs at $2,500 for maintenance.
No public comment. Vice Mayor Rodriguez moved approval of the vehicle transfer. The motion was seconded by Councilman Halby with a unanimous aye vote.
ORAL REPORTS: None
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Tom Daly, 2591 Fairway Dr. introduced Commissioner Elizabeth Tucker. She is currently a commissioner at the Indio Court and is now running for Riverside County Judge. She is here today to present her platform and seek your support. I have known her for over 20 years working with her as both a District Attorney and Public Defender. Her reputation is well known, as hardworking and professional.
Elizabeth Tucker stated I have served the courts for the past 5 years as a Superior Court Commissioner. I have experience presiding over civil, criminal, juvenile justice, juvenile dependency, probate, and traffic. In addition to my experience on the bench as Commissioner I was a Riverside County Deputy District Attorney for 23 years. I have vast courtroom experience.
I have been a resident of the Coachella Valley since 1995 with a strong commitment to giving back to my community. One of my platforms is being fair to everybody. One of the motivating reasons for this is because what is going on in the eastern part of our county, Blythe and Needles courts is not ok. We have a Judge and Commissioner commuting from outside of the area. Our Governor is not appointing people from the eastern part of the County. I can’t promise to fix all the issues at the Blythe Court, but I will promise to care about Blythe.
Councilman Reynolds thanked her for coming. The court in Blythe is only open three days a week and I hope Tom has convinced you to get on the bandwagon and support it being open 5 days a week.
Mrs. Tucker stated we have talked about it, and as a Judge I will have a bigger voice. My plan would be to start with juvenile. Getting Blythe services in the juvenile area would be a really good start and give Blythe another day.
Jim Sergeant of 2204 Riviera Dr. stated I am the President of the Blythe Bass Club. We would like to build a partnership with the City. We would like to have a clean our river day with the Bass Club providing the boats, work with CR&R on bins and have the Bass Club provide lunch.
We have thought about a youth fishing day at Quechan Park. The purpose for me being here is to introduce myself. If there is anything you can suggest youth wise or river clean ups, we are open to suggestions.
Esai Sanchez of 233 S. 4
th street is here as a staff member of Escuela De La Raza, an outreach funded program from the Governor’s Officer. We are here to propose a change in stop signs that have the potential to cause an accident. At the stop sign at the corner of S. 5 th Street and Dekema,
the fence and sign block the view for oncoming traffic. Our proposed solution is moving the fence. The second stop sign is on the corner of E. Donlon and S. 7 th Street. The stop sign is far
back and the view from both sides is blocked. The solution is extending the sidewalk and stop sign, allowing vehicles line of sight.
Niko Lopez of 481 N. Eucalyptus Ave, Apt. 4E. stated I am here today to discuss issues we are having with stop signs. This one is on East Chanslorway and Highway 95. A brick wall is obstructing the view. The solution is to convert the stop sign into a signal light.
ADJOURN: The City Council meeting was adjourned at 6:40pm. ________________________________
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Mallory Crecelius, City Clerk