CITY OF CALIFORNIA CITY
CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday February 22, 2022
MEETING MINUTES
CLOSED SESSION @4:00 PM
REGULAR MEETING @ 6:00 PM
CLOSED SESSION 4:00PM
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor O'Laughlin called the meeting to order at 4:00PM.
ROLL CALL
City Clerk Sutton called roll:
Present: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch, Mayor O'Laughlin
Absent: None
ADOPT AGENDA
Motion to adopt the agenda:
Motion by: Councilmember Kulikoff
Second by: Councilmember Creighton
Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Don Parris spoke in regard to CS5.
Al Hutson spoke in regard to CS1, CS2, and CS3.
Shawn Bradley spoke in regard to CS1, CS2, and CS3.
CLOSED SESSION
CS 1. Public Employee Evaluation
Title: City Attorney
CS 2. Public Employee Dismissal and Release
Title: City Attorney
CS 3. Public Employee Appointment.
Title: City Attorney
CS 4. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION Name of case: Guzman v. City of California City; Case # LA-CE-1480-M
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION
Claim by Adrian Duque
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor reported out of closed session. Regarding CS1, Acceptance of City Attorney Bettenhasuen's resignation on a vote of 4-1. CS3 council voted 5-0 to appoint Victor Ponto as Interim City Attorney and City Manager will prepare a contract to bring to next meeting. CS4 and CS5, no final action was taken.
REGULAR MEETING 6:00
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor O'Laughlin called the meeting to order at 6:00PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / INVOCATION
Councilmember Creighton led the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Mohr from New Life Assembly gave the
ROLL CALL
City Clerk Sutton called roll:
Present: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch, Mayor O'Laughlin
Absent: None
CITY CLERK REPORTS / LATE COMMUNICATIONS
None
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
• Airport
Councilmember Macedonio - Questioned fuel sale amounts and sq ft invoiced and amounts collected. • i Building
• City Clerk
• Fire
• Human Resources
• Police
Councilmember Macedonio - Question regarding animal license fees and confusion on due dates.
Public Works
• Treasurer
Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch - Spoke regarding the difference between the January report and the end of Decembers report.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
• Al Hutson spoke in regard how many feet of waterline replacement remains. Also had a question on the Treasurer's report.
Interim City Manager Ambrose - Will put together an email regarding the waterlines and send to Al and to the council.
CITY MANAGERS REPORT
We have had three director's hearings and four are scheduled. We are working to finalize our internal process to allow projects to continue forward until the standards are updated and adopted by the council. Anticipating three months to finish the ordinance updates to have the requisite public hearings between the Planning Commission and the Council, and then bring forward that work to codify the changes. For plan checking, staff has already prepared a list of plans that need to go for Plan Review. The City continues to make progress on our PIP. To date, the city has met all benchmarks outlined in the performance improvement plan. We're beginning our negotiations. We're currently in negotiations with the Miscellaneous Employees Association.
The other unions have been contacted to set dates. Met with Todd Broussard from the Little League to discuss the project to complete the replacement and construction of a new set of dugouts for the little league.
Parks and Recreation staff have begun advertising for vendors and participants to the Tortoise Days Parade.
The parade will be on Saturday, April 23 at 10am.
Councilmember Creighton - When do you think this council can get a new CIP list to review? Interim City Manager Ambrose - Work with staff to clarify the projects that are most needed right now, as well as those that are required within the next five years and what the budget requirements are for those projects.
Councilmember Macedonio - Interwest performance agreement and midyear budget? Interim City Manager Ambrose - I will email it to the council and put it on the agenda. We are working on the budget schedule.
Mayor O' Laughlin - We need a master calendar. We have not received the January financials? Interim City Manager Ambrose - Working on providing an updated report in Caselle.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
• Al Hutson - spoke in regard to the prison expansion.
• DJ Twohig - commented on the entitlement process, new process for plan check and the virtual review.
PRESENTATION
Certificate of Appreciation - Ann Richardson
CIVIC/COMMUNITY/ORGANIZATIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Mohr from New Life Assembly - We have been approved by the Red Cross to be a blood donation site. Our first blood drive will be on June 20th.
Councilmember Creighton - February 26' from 10-noon there is a gathering to learn about the plants there.
March 12* at the library they are having a book exchange bring a book take home a book.
Aleisha Coulter - We Got Next Sports on April 9 we're going to have a fundraiser and we ask the community to come out and support the kids. It's a three-on-three basketball tournament for the for adults, but it's really a fundraiser for the kids in the community. Its from 1-6 at Central Park in the Strata Bldg.
PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
• Shawn Bradley - Had a question about the prior meetings recording and municode updates. • Al Hutson - Sharing some ideas for reducing the special tax.
Don Parris - Looking for an accounting of the money from the Chamber of Commerce budget.
Amanda Adolf - (via email) Resolution 09-19-2806 "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF CALIFORNIA CITY AMENDING THE ACCOUNTING POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL"
• Mary Wady - Had questions regarding the Christmas gift giveaway.
CONSENT CALENDAR
All items on the consent calendar are considered routine, non-controversial and will be approved by (1) one motion if no member of the Council, staff, or public wishes to comment or ask questions.
Public comments to be limited to (3) three minutes. Roll call vote required.
CC 1. Approve City Check Register dated 02/04/2022 through 02/17/2022.
CC 2. Approve Minutes from the February 8th, February 9th and February 15th, 2022, City Council Meetings.
CC 3. Approve ANNUAL AWOS (AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM) CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT. - Interim Public Works Director Meza
CC 4. Approve FIREFIGHTING PPE PURCHASE - Chief Kosick
CC 5. Authorize EMERGENCY MATERIALS PURCHASE - WELL # 14 VFD - Interim Public Works Director Meza
Mayor O'Laughlin - Looking for information on ck# 110763. Have questions regarding software purchases and would like to see us use local vendors.
PUBLIC COMMENT
• Al Hutson - Had questions regarding attorney's fees.
Council and staff discussed the item.
Motion to approve CC1-CC4 and CC6 pulling CC5:
Motion by: Councilmember Creighton
Second by: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
AYES: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch, Mayor O'Laughlin
NOES: None
VOTE: 5 Yes 0 Nays 0 Abstain 0 Absent Motion Carried
NEW BUSINESS
NB 1. Term Limits for Members of City Council - Councilmember Kulikoff
PUBLIC COMMENT
• Ron Smith - Commented that we are a small community and we know who it is that we want making decisions for us.
• John Fisher - Stated that we should inform the people so that they can make informed decisions. • Aleisha Coulter - Feels that change is needed and understanding that change is not needed, it's required
• Mary Wady - Had questions regarding the districting and also feels things need to change.
Tami Johnson - Doesn't feel term limits are necessary.
• DJ Twohig - Spoke in regards to stipend compensation rather that term limits. • Shawn Bradley - Commented on districting and that we are going to have to discuss term limits and how that will affect districting.
• Connie Reeks - (comment is attached below)
Council and staff discussed the item.
Motion to direct the Interim City Manager bring back a workshop or study session where we could have community engagement, get feedback, and based on that feedback. make a determination on how to move forward.:
Motion by: Councilmember Kulikoff
Second by: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
AYES: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch, Mayor O'Laughlin
NOES: None
VOTE: 5 Yes 0 Nays 0 Abstain 0 Absent Motion Carried
NB 2. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 02-22-2909 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CALIFORNIA CITY, CALIFORNIA, CENSURING COUNCILMEMBER KELLY KULIKOFF - City Attorney Bettenhausen
PUBLIC COMMENT
• Ron Smith - Spoke in regards to the possibility of the two parties coming together to come to a resolution.
• Al Hutson - Feels that the censuring should be tabled until the two parties can work things out.
• Shawn Bradley - Doesn't think this item needs a resolution. • Carla Conry - Had concerns regarding the content of the email that is listed regarding this item.
• DJ Twohig - Feels the words could have been said differently to qualify what the message was intended to imply.
Mary Wady - We do need to get back on track to what the city needs.
Jason Meister - Feels that although he should not be censured that there needs to be a change and to start portraying the city in a good light and be more welcoming to businesses. • Josh Meister - Agrees that he should be censured
• Connie Reekes - (comment is attached below)
• Amanda Adolf - (comment is attached below)
Council and staff discussed the item.
Parties involved recessed for discussion at 8:20PM. Meeting resumed at 8:53PM.
Motion to table the item at this time:
Motion by: Councilmember Creighton
Second by: Councilmember Macedonio
AYES: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch, Mayor O'Laughlin
NOES: None
VOTE: 5 eYes Nays 0 Abstain 0 Absent Motion Carried
NB 3. Adopt RESOLUTION NO. 02-22-2911 OPPOSING INITIATIVE 21-0042A1 - Interim City Manager Ambrose
Motion to table the item at this time and bring it back as a public conversation:
Motion by: Councilmember Macedonio
Second by: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
AYES: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch, Mayor O'Laughlin
NOES: None
VOTE: 5 Yes Nays 0 Abstain 0 Absent Motion Carried
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS. AGENDA REQUESTS, AND AB1234 REPORTS This portion of the meeting is reserved for Council Members to present information, announcements and items that have come to their attention, request a discussion be placed on a future agenda, or ask brief questions of staff on items of public interest to which a brief answer may be provided. The Brown Act precludes Council, Staff, or Public discussion. Short staff responses are appropriate. The Council will take no formal action.
Councilmember Creighton
• Will be attending the East Kern Air Pollution Control District meeting next week and will hopefully bring back a contract for the engine replacement for the fire department. Would like to see an accounting of the $14,000 dollars for free dial-a-ride funds from the TDA grant.
Councilmember Kulikoff
Councilmember Macedonio
• Posted a letter from Ryan Alsop, Chief Administrative Officer for Kern County regarding soliciting feedback from residents. (attached below)
Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
• Had a meeting with the Golf Course subcommittee and approx. 45 people showed up and give their opinions about the golf course and where it's going. I will prepare a report to submit to the council. But the only reason we're having a discussion about the golf course is because we've had a gentleman volunteer to be the pro at the golf course, Pastor James. If he didn't volunteer his time and dedicate himself to the ministry like he does, there would be no golf course. I want to shout out to him that I am just so grateful that he came in and volunteered for us.
Mayor O'Laughlin
• Was also at the golf subcommittee and have spoke with 5 local developers who want to look at the plans on finishing the pro shop. There is a lot of support to get that done and we all realize the importance of it. I think that with all of us pulling together that we can make this happen. Also, the Mayor's Pastoral Council met last week and we're working on a nonprofit. We want to make sure that we have a good functioning nonprofit for our city so that we're able to apply for grants, take donations and do things to better our city. I was on the Cannabis Control call, and I want to make sure that all the cannabis people are on top of the changing regulations and the emergency regulations, because one of the things that's going to go away in July is the temporary provisional permits for non-cannabis and then in September for cannabis. So, it's going to be really critical if you want one of those that you get your city permit started.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn: 1ST Councilmember Creighton 2ND Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch. Meeting adjourned at 9:03PM on February 22, 2022
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 8i day of March 2022. eanie O Laughlir
Laurie Sutton, City Clerk