Minutes of the Blythe City Council Meeting
July 9, 2024
The July 9, 2024, 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 Halby and Burton. Mayor DeConinck was excused from the meeting. 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 Vice Mayor Rodriguez.
The Invocation was led by Councilman Burton.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION:
City Attorney Roberto stated there is no reportable action from Closed Session.
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 5, 2024.
2. Approval of the Warrant Register.
Recommendation: Approve 7/9/24, warrants numbered 10678 through 10709 and 78248 through 78317 in the amount of $838,616.63; 7/9/24, Utility Billing Refund warrants numbered 78318 through 78338 in the amount of $2,079.76; 7/9/24, warrants numbered 10710 through 10713 and 78339 through 78365 in the amount of $143,719.69, and 7/9/24, warrants numbered 10714 through 10716 and 78366 through 78367 in the amount of $121,666.83.
3. Approval of the Payroll Register.
Recommendation: Approve 7/9/24, warrants numbered 54503 through 54525, and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 59049 through 59117 in the amount $293,185.93; 7/9/24, warrants numbered 54526 through 54527 in the amount of $15,800.36; 7/9/24, warrants numbered 54528 through 54529 in the amount of $144.91; 7/9/24, warrants numbered 54530 through 54536, and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 59118 through 59153 in the amount of $163,263.71; 7/9/24, warrants numbered 54537 through 54558, and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 59154 through 59222 in the amount of $290,375.91, and 7/9/24, warrants numbered 54561 through 54573, and Direct Deposits warrants numbered 59236 through 59332 in the amount of $84,588.81.
4. Minutes of the June 11, 2024, City Council Meeting.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the June 11, 2024, Meeting.
5. City of Blythe Permits Issued for the Month of June 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
6. City of Blythe Fire Department Monthly Activity Report for June 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
7. City of Blythe Police Department Monthly Activity Report for June 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
8. Quality of Life Program Activity Report for June 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
9. Continued Participation in the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team (RCCET).
Recommendation: Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the required update of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue the Blythe Police Department’s participation in RCCET, once reviewed and approved by the City Attorney.
10. Acceptance of Work: Recreation Center Floor Repair Project, Wastewater Treatment Plant Door Replacement Project and EVCS Power Relocation Project.
Recommendation: Accept the work performed by Dobbs Flooring America for the Recreation Center Floor Repair Project, Blythe Glass Doors and More for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Door Replacement Project and Cyle Johnson Electric, Inc. for the Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) Power Relocation Project, authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and file the Notice of Completions for the projects and authorize the Interim City Manager to release retention payments once the Notice of Completions are recorded and release project bonds once appropriate.
11. Special Assessment for Prior Year Delinquent Utility Charges.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-023
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.
12. Levy of Special Taxes within Community Facilities District No. 2004-1 (Hidden Beaches).
Recommendation: The Council, in their capacity as acting legislative body for Community Facilities District 2004-1 (Hidden Beaches) adopt Resolution No. 2024-024 authorizing the levy of special taxes within Community Facilities District 2004-1 (Hidden Beaches) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.
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 THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 2004-1 (HIDDEN BEACHES) FOR FISCAL YEAR.
13. Adoption of Successor MOU for the Non-Sworn Personnel Represented by the Blythe Police Officers’ Association.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2024-025:
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-025. A RESOLUTION 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 NON-SWORN PERSONNEL REPRESENTED BY THE BLYTHE POLICE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2026.
14. Ordinance Adopting Amended Military Equipment Use Policy Pursuant to AB 481.
Recommendation: Adopt Ordinance No. 930-24:
ORDINANCE NO. 930-24. 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 AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PURSUANT TO CEQS GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(B)(3) (COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION).
Interim City Manager Crecelius stated in 2022 Council adopted a Resolution to allow participation in the RCCET. The City Attorney has advised that recommendation No. 9 should be amended to include the adoption of Resolution No. 2024-026. Copies of the Resolution were provided to Council and made available to the public.
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-026. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO INTERNET
CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN (ICAC) TASK FORCE PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER OR HER DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
There is one error in the Final Deal Points Memo attached to the Staff Report for Item No. 13.
Item No. 3 of the Memo should state “Public Safety Dispatcher/Records Technician”, not Records Supervisor.
No public comment. Councilman Burton moved approval of the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Councilman Halby with a unanimous aye vote.
PUBLIC HEARING:
City’s 6
th Cycle Housing Element Update. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated State law requires that each city adopt a General Plan to guide land use and development. The Housing Element is one of eight required elements of the General Plan. The Housing Element sets forth goals, policies, and programs that address the future housing needs for all income levels over an eight-year period that coincides with the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). RHNA quantifies the need for housing within each jurisdiction during specified planning periods. In February 2014, the City adopted the 5th Cycle Housing Element for the planning period of 2013 through 2021. The City is required by State law to update its Housing Element every eight years.
Every city and county in the Southern California Association of Governments is required to prepare a Housing Element update for the sixth planning cycle, which spans the 2021-2029. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviews each jurisdiction’s housing element to determine if it’s compliant with State law. A finding of compliance by HCD is referred to as “certification” of the Housing Element. Since February 2022, the City has been working toward compliance and certification of its Housing Element.
After two drafts of the 6
th Cycle Housing Element were submitted to HCD for review, the City contracted with Veronica Tam and Associates to bring the City over the finish line. VTA prepared subsequent drafts of the City’s Housing Element addressing HCD’s comments. After submittal of the fourth draft, HCD advised that the Draft Housing Element meets the statutory requirements of State Housing Element Law. The most significant changes between the original draft previously reviewed by the City Council and the current draft include restructuring the sites strategy for meeting RHNA consistent with the State Housing Element Law requirement of 20 units per acre as feasible for lower income units. The Housing Element now utilizes the commercial zone that allows multi-family housing to accommodate the lower income RHNA and developing a robust Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing analysis and including a set of meaningful actions to further fair housing. The Housing Element is required to include an analysis of potential housing sites in the City to accommodate the development of new housing units to meet the RHNA target. As outlined in the draft Housing Element, the City’s sites inventory identifies available vacant sites that can accommodate a total of 938 units comprised of 227 lower income, 173 moderate income, and 488 above-moderate income, meeting the RHNA allotment of 82 units for very-low income, 71 units for low-income, 96 units for moderateincome, and 245 units for above-moderate income. The draft 6th Cycle Housing Element and supporting documents are posted on the City’s website and available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office. This is the first of two public hearings to adopt the Housing Element. It is anticipated that the second public hearing will be conducted by the City Council on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. Therefore, it is recommended the City Council, acting as the City’s Planning Agency, conduct a public hearing regarding the City of Blythe’s 6th Cycle Housing Element for the planning period of 2021 through 2029.
No public comment. Councilman Burton moved approval. The Motion was seconded by Councilman Halby with a unanimous aye vote.
NEW BUSINESS:
License Agreement with County of Riverside for Use of City Building (Doris Morgan Community Center) located at 445 N. Broadway. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated the Riverside County Office on Aging has utilized the City’s Doris Morgan Blythe Community Center located at 445 N. Broadway for a Senior Nutrition Program for many years.
The prior agreement for that use expired on June 30, 2023. Staff has worked with the County over the last year to negotiate a new License Agreement for Office on Aging’s continued use of this City facility. The attached agreement largely mirrors past agreements. The agreement provides for a three-year term and includes an increase in the previous monthly fee from $530.45 per month to $900 per month with an annual 3% fee escalator. Office on Aging has funding they wish to use to make improvements to the facility to enhance their program. Due to alkalinity issues in the floor at the Community Center, which has caused the floor to bubble up, it was determined that a floor repair and replacement was necessary. Staff obtained bids from local contractors and identified MT Construction Team, Inc. as the successful bidder. The project includes the removal and replacement of flooring with treatment and repair of floor by applying a moisture vapor barrier epoxy to protect the new flooring. The installed flooring will have a 10- year light commercial warranty. The project also includes painting in the main hall and lobby.
Office on Aging also requested a new commercial stove for the kitchen. City staff reached out to the Gas Company for suggestions on the installation of a gas range. With this information, staff obtained a quote from MT Construction Team, Inc. to provide and install a 48” Wolf Challenger Series 8 burner range. The City will manage the construction of both projects per the City’s adopted policies. The County will reimburse the City for 100% of the costs for both projects.
Therefore, it is recommended Council authorize the Mayor to execute the License Agreement for use of 445 N. Broadway for a Senior Nutrition Program; authorize the Interim City Manager to enter into an agreement with MT Construction Team, Inc. for the Floor Replacement Project in an amount not to exceed $76,939.84 once approved as to form by the City Attorney; authorize an additional 10% for contingencies, establish a project budget of $84,634, and authorize the Interim City Manager to approve change orders during construction within the approved project budget; and authorize the Interim City Manager to enter into an agreement with MT Construction Team, Inc. for the Stove Replacement Project in an amount not to exceed $17,295 once approved as to form by the City Attorney. The Agenda packet includes a facility diagram. After the Agenda was posted, the County of Riverside made a few minor adjustments to the diagram. A copy of the new diagram was provided to the Council and was made available to the public.
Councilman Halby asked about the cost of the floor.
No public comment. Councilman Burton moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Halby with a unanimous aye vote.
Hidden Beaches Water Supply System Improvements Project Design. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated as Council is aware, in August 2023, the City received a Compliance Order from the SWRCB regarding manganese levels in the existing well at the Hidden Beaches Water System. The City is required to demonstrate to the Water Board that with the implementation of a water treatment system, the concentration of manganese in the water delivered to customers will meet the State water quality standard by no later than August 10, 2026. In October 2023, the City engaged The Holt Group to prepare a Preliminary Design Report for the Hidden Beaches Well Site and Manganese Removal System. Until the City is compliant with the Order, the City is required to sample the water quarterly and provide notice to all customers served by the Hidden Beaches system. To address the Order, the proposed project includes the addition of a package treatment system to the existing water supply system to reduce manganese levels in the water source. The existing 330,000-gallon water reservoir that serves the Hidden Beaches Water System is more than 20 years old and has met its useful life. To address this, the water reservoir will be replaced as part of the water system’s improvement project. Due to their knowledge and previous work on the Hidden Beaches Water System, the Holt Group was asked to prepare a proposal for contract Civil Engineering Design and Bidding Services for the Hidden Beaches Water Supply System Improvements Project. This proposal will produce the engineering, design plans and bidding documents necessary to secure a contractor to perform the work to bring the City into compliance with the Board Order. Therefore, it is recommended the City Council authorize the Interim City Manager to execute Agreement No. 2024-038 A with The Holt Group in an amount not to exceed two hundred seventy-seven thousand and nine hundred forty dollars for design and bidding services for the Hidden Beaches Water Supply System Improvement Project, once reviewed and approved by the City Attorney.
No public comment. Councilman Burton moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Halby with a unanimous aye vote.
ORAL REPORTS:
Councilman Burton commended the Chief on his efforts the past few days.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Jason Rollo, Community Relations Program Manager for Metropolitan Water District stated I have been coming here since early 2022. MWD is now a substantial landowner in the Palo Verde Valley. It has been a blessing to learn about the valley and meet with community members. I want to make sure that my reach is not limited to those who know me. PVID and MWD are trying to help with future community-based programs and projects to generate economic activity.
I implore anyone with ideas or questions to contact me directly.
Tina Felix with daughter Layla Wade of 594 Bell Ln. stated I am here today as a representative of the Blythe Roadrunner’s Track Club. On Father’s Day weekend twenty of our runners went to Escondido, CA to compete in the regional championships. All of the runners did great, with seven of the runners qualifying for the Jr. Olympics in North Carolina. Two, one of which is my daughter will participate starting on July 27th. There are good things happening in the community. I invite you to come out in November when we start training in November.
ADJOURN: The City Council meeting was adjourned at 6:23pm. ________________________________
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Mallory Crecelius, City Clerk