Minutes of the Blythe City Council Meeting
January 14, 2025
The January 14, 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 Halby, Burton and Spraggins. Staff in attendance included: Interim City Manager and City Clerk Crecelius, Finance Director Elms, Chief Building Official Brown, Public Works Director Elegores, Police Chief Dale and Fire Chief Hasler. City Attorney Roberto participated via teleconference.
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 agenda was 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 and on the City’s website on Friday, January 10, 2025.
2. Approval of the Warrant Register.
Recommendation: Approve 1/14/25, warrants numbered 10909 through 10930 and 79021 through 79082 in the amount of $512,475.64; 1/14/25, Utility Billing Refund warrants numbered 79083 through 79093 in the amount of $1,059.02 and 1/14/25, warrants numbered 10931 through 10942 and 79094 through 79155 in the amount of $602,285.85.
3. Approval of the Payroll Register.
Recommendation: Approve 1/14/25, warrants numbered 54881 through 54883 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 60635 through 60662 in the amount of $161,798.13; 1/14/25, warrants numbered 54884 through 54904 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 60663 through 60734 in the amount of $313,335.96; 1/14/25, warrants numbered 54905 through 54924 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 60735 through 60807 in the amount of $308,58.76; 1/14/25, warrant numbered 54925 and Direct Deposit warrant numbered 60808 in the amount of $71,176.05; 1/14/25, warrants numbered 54926 through 54937 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 60809 through 60906 in the amount of $88,870.31 and 1/14/2025, warrant numbered 54938 and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 60907 through 60908 in the amount of $18,412.48.
4. Minutes of the December 10, 2024, City Council Meeting.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the December 10, 2024, Meeting.
5. City of Blythe Permits Issued for the Month of December 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
6. City of Blythe Fire Department Monthly Activity Report for December 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
7. City of Blythe Police Department Monthly Activity Report for December 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
8. Quality of Life Program Activity Report for December 2024.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
9. Investment Report for Second Quarter FY 2024/25.
Recommendation: Accept and file the quarterly Investment Report.
10. FY 2023/24 General Fund Reserve Policy Update.
Recommendation: Designate as reserves, $3,142,753 of General Funds net increase in unassigned fund balance for FY 2023/24.
11. Acceptance of Donation- Firearms.
Recommendation: Accept the donation of six (6) firearms from the City of Imperial for use by the Blythe Police Department.
12. Continued Participation in the Operation Stonegarden Program (OPSG).
Recommendation: Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute Agreement(s) required to participate in the OPSG Program for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024, once reviewed and approved by the Interim City Manager and City Attorney and authorize staff to expend grant funding up to $163,901.88 as authorized under the agreement(s).
13. Acceptance of Work- 2024 Beautify Blythe Project Package I- Transit Center/Bus Stops/Solar Lights.
Recommendation: Accept the work performed by AZCA Drilling & Pump, Inc. for the 2024 Beautify Blythe Project Package I, authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and file the Notice of Completion for the projects and authorize the Interim City Manager to release retention payments once the Notice of Completion is recorded and release project bonds once appropriate.
14. Acceptance of Work- 2024 Beautify Blythe Project Package II- Miller Park.
Recommendation: Accept the work performed by AZCA Drilling & Pump, Inc. for the 2024 Beautify Blythe Project Package II, authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute and file the Notice of Completion for the projects and authorize the Interim City Manager to release retention payments once the Notice of Completion is recorded and release project bonds once appropriate.
No public comment. Vice Mayor Rodriguez moved approval of the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Council Member Burton with a unanimous aye vote.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Ordinance No. 934-24, Amending Title 17 of the Blythe Municipal Code (BMC) Relating to Changes Required by the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element Programs for Emergency Shelters, Employee Housing, and Reasonable Accommodation Procedures.
Interim City Manager Crecelius reported in November 2024, the Council, acting as the City’s Planning Agency conducted a Public Hearing regarding this Ordinance, which, if adopted, would make changes to the Blythe Municipal Code as committed by the City when it adopted the 6 th
Cycle Housing Element. The proposed Ordinance implements changes to three programs of the Housing Element: Program 2.D.3, 2.D.4 and 2.D.5. In Program 2.D.3, the City committed to amending the Zoning Code to expand the definition of emergency shelters per Assembly Bill 2339 to include interim housing options such as navigation centers, bridge housing, and respite and recuperative care, and amend parking standards for emergency shelters to be based solely on staffing pursuant to Assembly Bill 139. To implement this program, the proposed ordinance amends the definition of “emergency shelter” and provides that parking for emergency shelters will be based on the number of spaces required to accommodate staff. In Program 2.D.4, the City committed to amending the Zoning Code to comply with the Employee Housing Act which requires jurisdictions to deem employee housing providing accommodation for six or fewer employees a residential use subject to the same standards as single-family residences. To implement this program, the proposed ordinance adds a new definition for “employee housing” to Chapter 17.04 of the Zoning Code and amends the table set forth in Section 17.08.010 of the Zoning Code to reflect that employee housing is permitted in all zones that permit residential uses. In Program 2.D.5, the City committed to amending Chapter 17.84 (Reasonable Accommodation Procedure) of the Zoning Code to remove the finding for approval relating to “potential impact on surrounding uses,” as such finding was considered subjective. To implement this program, the proposed ordinance removes this finding. The proposed ordinance also includes a comprehensive update to Chapter 17.84. Additional amendments to the Zoning Code are required by other programs of the Housing Element. Staff will present those proposed amendments to the Council at a future meeting. The Blythe Municipal Code and State law require two public hearings regarding the proposed ordinance. Tonight is the second Public Hearing on this matter. Therefore, it is recommended the City Council, subsequent to the public hearing, introduce Ordinance No. 934-24.
No public comment. Vice Mayor Rodriguez moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Council Member Spraggins by a unanimous aye vote ORDINANCE NO. 934-24. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE BLYTHE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO CHANGES REQUIRED BY THE CITY’S 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAMS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS, EMPLOYEE
HOUSING, AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURES 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) NEW BUSINESS:
Committee Appointments. Mayor DeConinck made the following Committee Appointments:
Economic Development Sam Burton Summer Spraggins
Budget and Finance Joseph Halby Summer Spraggins
Parks and Recreation Johnny Rodriguez Joseph Halby
Art in Public Places Johnny Rodriguez Jospeh Halby
Energy Development Joey DeConinck Johnny Rodriguez
Planning PRC Joey DeConinck Jospeh Halby
Palo Verde Transit Agency Jospeh Halby Johnny Rodriguez Mesa Bluffs Joey DeConinck Johnny Rodriguez
Blight Elimination Joseph Halby Johnny Rodriguez
Open Communication Summer Spraggins Johnny Rodriguez
2+2+2+2 Committee Joey DeConinck Johnny Rodriguez
CVSP Closure Committee Joey DeConinck Johnny Rodriguez
Animal Shelter Johnny Rodriguez Sam Burton
MDAQMD Joey DeConinck Johnny Rodriguez
RCTC Joey DEConinck Johnny Rodriguez
Cal Cities Joey DeConinck Johnny Rodriguez
Palo Verde College Joseph Halby Sam Burton
CVAG Executive Joey DeConinck Johnny Rodriguez
CVAG Transportation Joey DeConinck Sam Burton
CVAG Energy & Sustainability Joey DeConinck Joseph Halby CVAG Homeless Committee Johnny Rodriguez Sam Burton
Public Safety Johnny Rodriguez Sam Burton
Award of Agreement for the ChanslorPlace Sewer Repair Project. Council Member Spraggins recused herself from the meeting due to a potential conflict of interest. Interim City Manager Crecelius reported the ChanslorPlace 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. Construction on Phase II began in 2006 but was never completed due to outstanding issues with the sanitary sewer system. There are currently eight undeveloped lots in Phase II. The City has not issued building permits for the vacant lots in Phase II due to the issues with the sanitary sewer system. No permits have been issued for Phase III. Contract documents and specifications were prepared to solicit bids to repair defects in the Phase II sanitary sewer system. The City issued a Notice Inviting Bids for the project in July 2024. Unfortunately, no bids were received by the deadline. In September 2024, staff re-released the Notice Inviting Bids for the Chanslor Place Sewer Repair project. Bids were originally due October 31, 2024. That deadline was extended to December 12, 2024, to allow staff time to accommodate questions about the project that arose during the pre-bid meeting with contractors.
Bids were received from Cholla Construction in the amount of $158,580, Radco Inc. in the amount of $208,119 and Rove Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $81,219. It was determined that the apparent low bidder, Rove Engineering, Inc., submitted a responsive bid. Rove Engineering, Inc. is an A licensed contractor operating in El Centro, California. Their contractor’s license is active and in good standing with the State of California. Rove has performed work for the City in the past, including street improvement projects and repairs at the WasteWater Treatment Plant. Therefore, it is recommended the Council award an agreement to Rove Engineering, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $81,219; authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the agreement once all bonds and contract documents are approved as to form by the City Attorney; authorize an additional $15,000 in contingencies; authorize an additional $15,000 for plan reviews and inspection services; establish a project budget not to exceed $111,219; and authorize the Interim City Manager to approve and execute change orders and approve expenditures for engineering and project inspection services during construction within the approved project budget.
No public comment. Vice Mayor Rodriguez moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Council Member Burton with a unanimous aye vote. Council Member Spraggins re-joined the meeting.
Request to Waive Temporary Use Permit Fees (TUP) for the Desert Sound Live Music and Art Show. Council Member Halby recused himself from the meeting due to a potential conflict of interest. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated Desert Sound is hosting a free Art and Music Show this Saturday, January 18th from 4-10pm at 135 N. Commercial Street.
A Temporary Use Permit was submitted for the event. As this is a free community event, open to all ages, staff recommends Council waive the $262. TUP fee for this event.
No public comment. Vice Mayor Rodriguez moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Council Member Spraggins with a unanimous aye vote. Council Member Halby re-joined the meeting.
ORAL REPORTS:
Police Chief Dale introduced newly hired Blythe Police Officers Jonahtan Thompson, Arley Olivas and Emilio Arista. They are going through the FTO Program now and will be part of our community.
Interim City Manager Crecelius reported on the Recreation Center’s Christmas event. She thanked everyone for coming, Jones Mayer for their donation, Chris Peters for bringing Santa to the event, all the volunteers who made it possible and the Sheriff Department’s Grinch for stopping by. She announced that kitchen counter pails for organic waste collection are available at City Hall on a first come, first served basis.
Councilman Burton reported on the Saila Show held at the fairgrounds this past weekend. He would like to acknowledge those children who are working hard and representing Blythe.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Alejandro Clark of 326 S. 4
th Street thanked Council Member Spraggins for coming to the Colorado River Consortium’s retreat to develop their strategic plan.
Cathy Urmaita with Oasis for Children, a local non-profit stated they are looking to recruit and appoint CASA’s to work with foster children in the community. The CASA’s advocate for the safety and welfare of youth while in foster care. They currently have 12 youth on a waiting list for a CASA.
ADJOURN: The City Council meeting was adjourned at 6:25pm. ________________________________
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Mallory Crecelius, City Clerk