CITY OF CALIFORNIA CITY
CITY COUNCIL/HOUSING AUTHORITY/SUCCESSOR AGENCY
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 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 O' Laughlin
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch.
ADOPT AGENDA
Request from council as to that the subject matter of each of the items below in the closed session be identified are: CS1 is a current employee. CS2 is a current employee. CS3 is regarding a grievance from the union, current employees and CS is conference with labor agency designated representative regarding negotiation with one of your unions.
Motion to adopt the agenda pulling NB1 to bring back at the next meeting:
Motion by: Councilmember Creighton
Second by: Councilmember Kulikoff
All in favor.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Al Hutson spoke in favor of adding detail to the closed session agenda.
CLOSED SESSION
CS 1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 (One Case) CS 2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 (One Case) CS 3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 (One Case) CS 4. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9 (One Case) CS 5. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
Agency Designated Representative: Roger Crawford
Employee Organizations: The Firefighters Association, Miscellaneous Employees Association, California City Police Officer Association.
CS 6. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL— EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of Case: Guzman v. City of California City; Case # LA-CE-1480-M CS 7. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) Three Claims by John Boston, Adrian Duque and Leo Rodarte.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Interim City Attorney Ponto - Council went into closed session tor Cs1-Cs/. For each ot those item's direction was given. There is no reportable action at this time.
REGULAR MEETING 6:00
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor O'Laughlin called the meeting to order at 6:07PM.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE / INVOCATION
Councilmember Creighton led the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Mohr from New Life Assembly gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL
City Clerk Sutton called roll:
Present: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor O'Laughlin
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
CITY CLERK REPORTS / LATE COMMUNICATIONS
None
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
• Finance
Mayor O'Laughlin - I am still looking for a cash report. • OHV
• Parks and Recreation
Councilmember Macedonio - Please post the information on the summer program on the website.
Mayor O'Laughlin - Please replace the flag. Also, I would like the Parks and Recreation commission chair to provide us with a quarterly report.
• Planning
Jim Creighton - Under the revenue chart, if we could put a bottom line with totals for monthly and year to
PUBLIC COMMENT
• Al Hutson - Spoke about the possibility of having equipment people can check out for use at the park.
• Ron Smith - Expressed his excitement about hearing what's going on for the kids at the park this summer.
• DJ Twohig - Spoke in regard to the City Manager's office eliminating unnecessary impediments. • Carolinda Fleming - Parks Dept is doing a tremendous job and gave a shout out to Theresa Oaks.
CITY MANAGERS REPORT
Interim City Manager Ambrose - I've started to work with our new City Manager trying to help get him on boarded as quickly as possible. Some of the key things that we have been talking about have been the opening of bids for the Surplus Land Act properties that have been put out for bid. We are looking at and bringing in a property management company for Desert Villas and the Legends. There are Waste Management franchise rate increases that will be coming up and then the budget process. I conducted second interviews for the Cannabis Program Manager being that this is a direct appointment by Mr. Dunford, he asked to review the candidates. Mr. Dunford has been hitting the ground running. The areas that the council has been anxious to take advantage of is more grant opportunities. Mr. Dunford has sent letters of support for federal funding for infrastructure improvements for water and wastewater systems. The Council of Governments gave us an award of $170,530 from the Transportation Development Act Article 3 Program for the construction of new sidewalk curb and gutter, curb ramp and related pedestrian improvements on Hacienda Boulevard, between South Loop and Manzanita. This was Grant according to our city engineer, and we're thankful for that. We are in ongoing bargaining discussions with the union. And one other really good bit of news, our new computers have finally arrived. Also, we're working with both Diamond and Spectrum on the infrastructure projects, and engineering and spectrum are working on timelines of them coming out to do some work that they need to do and the permitting that they need to do that. As far as I o do some work hat to ye to daci
understand, I think they've filed for their encroachment permit. Councilmember Macedonio - The next meeting can we get a timeline on the completion of the fiber optics? Interim City Manager Ambrose - Yes.
PRESENTATIONS
Development of the 2022 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, Key Land Use and Planning Assumptions and Public Outreach - Rob Ball, Director of Planning, Kern Council of Governments - website www.kerncog.org/2020/RTP
CIVIC/COMMUNITY/ORGANIZATIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Anthony Meyers, Safe Have Kids League - We are having a Kids Bash April 16. There is going to be a lot of kids there. We are a nonprofit and have been doing a lot of pop ups. Everybody come out.
Carolinda Fleming - California City Basketball Inc. and California City Community Services are partnering together for a BBQ cookoff. The deadline to participate in the contest is this Friday 6:00PM, I will be at the Strata Center.
Councilmember Creighton - Sniff is having a mobile spay neuter clinic on 25 April. Pastor Ron Smith has graciously offered up the church parking lot for them to set up. This program is for California City residents only and has been funded by Greenstone Cannabis, Cal City Animal Outreach Foundation, Bissell Pet Foundation and High Dessert Development. Additionally, Traditional and California City Animal Outreach Foundation have an ongoing low cost spay neuter for pets $20 for cats $40 for dogs. And do you do have some limitations as it is done that the vet clinic.
PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
• Al Hutson - Expressed a need to access the city archives. Feels there used to be a way to do this. • DJ Twohig - Spoke in regard to unnecessary impediments. • Shawn Bradley - Commented about the extension of the application for the open seats. • Mary Wady - Asked about those that are 100% disabled and the taxes they are exempt from paying.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CC 1. Approve City Check Register dated 03/18/2022 through 04/07/2022.
CC 2. Approve Minutes from the July 1st, 2021 and March 22nd 2022, City Council Meetings.
CC 3. Approve Adoption of Resolution No. 04-22-2913, a Resolution of the City Council Ratifying the Proclamation of State of Emergency by Governor Newsom on March 4, 2020, and Making the Legally Required Findings to Continue to Authorize the Conduct of Remote "Telephonic" Meetings During the State of Emergency for the Period from April 12, 2022, through May 12, 2022 - Interim City Manager Ambrose
CC 4. Approve AC Unit Replacement for Senior Center - Theresa Oaks Parks and Recreation CC 5. Approve Contract for Using Carnival Services for Tortoise Days Festival - Theresa Oaks Parks and Recreation
CC 6. Accept Federal funds in the amount of $392,778.00 for the roadway rehabilitation of Hacienda Blvd. from California City Blvd. to Eucalyptus Ave. - STPHIPL - 5399 (030), and authorize the City Manager to sign the Project Authorization Request for the construction phase - Interim City Manager Ambrose
CC 7. Accept the TDA Article 3 Grant and to authorize the City Manager to approve BHT Engineering, Inc. for the design and construction management of the Hacienda Blvd Pedestrian Improvements Phase 1 Project - Interim City Manager Ambrose Mayor O'Laughlin - Would like the Finance Manager to sign off where it says fiscal impact and give us the balance in that account. Also, the council would like to see the city develop a city-wide deferred maintenance program. For everything we own, we should have a plan for when it needs to be replaced.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Al Hutson - Had questions on CC1.
• Duane Vasquez - Had comments on the Telephonic resolution. • DJ Twohig - Commented it is required under a government accounting standard board to depreciate your assets.
• Ron Smith - Appreciated Mr. Vasquez's comments.
• Tami Johnson - Expressed her thoughts I on the City Council was supposed to be A political and entertaining anything that is political seems like a contradiction. • Mary Wady - Spoke in regards to the road work to be done on Hacienda. • Shawn Bradley - Also spoke about the road work to be done on Hacienda. • Al Hutson - Had questions on the cooling center temperature requirement. • Carolinda Fleming - Would like to see us come up with a plan to fix the very bad streets.
Interim City Manager Ambrose - One way for the public to provide input is to participate in the Kerncog Regional Transportation Planning discussion for the public to provide input because Kerncog looks at regional needs so make sure that the community is expressing input on their local needs and ideas about roadway improvements so that as a region, dollars are being presented and that the needs of California city are prioritized.
Council and staff discussed the item.
Motion to approve CC1-CC7 pulling CC8:
Motion by: Councilmember Creighton
Second by: Councilmember Macedonio
AYES: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor O'Laughlin NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
ABSTAIN: None
VOTE: 4 Yes 0 Nays 0 Abstain 1 Absent Motion Carried
CC 8. EMERGENCY PURCHASE FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT - Lt. Hightower
PUBLIC COMMENT
• Shawn Bradley - Feels that this is for public safety and feels it should be approved.
Council and staff discussed the item.
Motion to approve CC8:
Motion by: Councilmember Kulikoff
Second by: Councilmember Creighton
AYES: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Mayor O'Laughlin NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
ABSTAIN: Councilmember Macedonio
VOTE: 3 Yes 0 Nays 1 Abstain 1 Absent Motion Carried
PUBLIC HEARING
PH 1. Introduced and read by title only ORDINANCE NO. 22-796, TO CONSIDER A MUNICIPAL CODE
AMENDMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ZONE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS BY THE CITY OF CALIFORNIA CITY - Contract Planner Paul Junker
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council introduce and waive first reading of Ordinance No. 22-796, thereby repealing and replacing in entirety Section 9-3.303 - Final Maps, Section 9-3.405 - Street Dedication and Improvement and Section 9-3.702 - Certificate of Compliance
PUBLIC COMMENT
• DJ Twohig - Stated he is not in favor of the 1000ft standard for curb, gutter and sidewalk.
Brian Glidden - Also Stated he is not in favor of the 1000ft standard for curb, gutter and sidewalk.
Ron Smith - Feels there should be a reasonable solution to the 1000ft for curb, gutter and sidewalk standard
• Mary Wady - Commented on properties where utilities are available and the cost effectives people to come out here and build.
Council and staff discussed the item.
Jim Creighton - There needs to be a couple of administrative changes made on Section 9-3.405 (d)(3)(b) Streetlight Improvements. It should read "applicant shall install an area light". Additionally, in Section 9-
3.405 (d)(4)(d) under Storm Drain Improvements, there is some redundant verbiage that needs to be corrected. (Corrections to be made)
Motion to approve PH1 ORDINANCE NO. 22-796 with the change from 1000 foot standard for curb gutter and sidewalk to 200 foot standard for curb gutter and sidewalk and to also make the corrections as stated above:
Motion by: Councilmember Kulikoff
Second by: Councilmember Creighton
AYES: Councilmember Creighton, Councilmember Kulikoff, Councilmember Macedonio, Mayor O'Laughlin NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Lessenevitch
ABSTAIN: None
VOTE: 4 Yes 0 Nays 0 Abstain 1 Absent Motion Carried
CONTINUED BUSINESS
CB 1. City Council Appointments - Boards/Agency's/Commissions/Committees - City Clerk Sutton
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council I review the boards and commissions and direct staff if there are:
1. Any changes to City Council representation on current board or commission assignments.
2. Any City boards or commissions that need to be discontinued.
3. Any City boards or commissions that need to be activated.
DIRECTION
Mayor O'Laughlin - We need to institute/reactivate the Disaster Council and the Airport Advisory Commission. We need to make the necessary provisions for reactivating.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Al Hutson - Talked about the Citizens Advisory Board and reactivating it.
Carolinda Fleming - Agreed with Mr. Hutson that the Citizens Advisory Board should be reactivated.
Brian Glidden - Spoke in regard to the Traffic Committee.
Shawn Bradley - Commented on the status of the committees and the ones that are not active.
CB 2. Council Compensation - Interim City Attorney Ponto
RECOMMENDATION
Review information provided by staff and provide direction to staff on any desired changes to the Municipal Code regarding Council compensation.
DIRECTION
Motion to table CB2:
Motion by: Councilmember Macedonio
Second by: Councilmember Creighton
All in favor.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT
• DJ Twohig - Stated he feels the council should get the maximum amount. • Ron Smith - Encouraged them not to do an increase.
• Shawn Bradley - Feels everyone deserves a max.
NEW BUSINESS
NB 1. Introduced and read by title only Adoption of Proposed Ordinance No. 22-797, an Ordinance Amending Section 2-3.209 (Powers and Duties) of Article 2 (City Manager) of Chapter 3 (Management) of Title 2 (Administration) of the California City Municipal Code - Interim City Attorney Ponto
***NB1 was pulled to bring back at the next meeting.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS, AGENDA REQUESTS, AND AB1234 REPORTS Councilmember Creighton - Has anything done on my request for the accounting of the TDA grant for $14,000? Finance Manager Cooper - We report that to the county monthly or quarterly, how much they've expended. Councilmember Creighton - can we have BHT look at the work done on Poppy? It looks like it's starting to peel apart. It may not have been compacted right. Also, staff should start thinking about funding for pavement assessment citywide. I want to take a look at changing the greenhouse allowances as far as what can or cannot be constrained
Councilmember Kulikoff
Councilmember Macedonio - Need to take a serious look at odor control. What are we doing to swear in our new City Manager? Interim City Manager Ambrose - We can arrange to have it take place on his first day. Councilmember Macedonio - Would like us to consider using Docupet as our animal shelter software.
Citizens can make payments and renew dog licenses online. I attended a SB218 Utility Rate Study and it was an unbelievable. I will be bringing back more questions about what learned and about the ideal way versus what we're doing. And I will be bringing those back in AB 1234. Last item, Saturday night East Kern Health Care had a fire in the northwest corner of the building which caused very minimal down damage.
The term mutual aid has taken on an entirely new meaning to me, it was amazing to watch and I just wanted to tell everybody that right now I am in awe of our emergency response. I am also in awe of the treatment that I'm getting from the City to get a permit and inspection and all kinds of other things.
Mayor O'Laughlin - I want to also talk about the temporary greenhouses. They were supposed to be temporary, and I think we really need to change that ordinance. People have found alternatives to electrical power, so we definitely need to address that. The other thing I want to say is we had our first wedding here in City Hall last Friday. Someone approached me about getting married at City Hall, and City Clerk came in on the Flex Day off no less and we had a happy couple that got married here in City Hall. They had about what 12 or 15 of their friends that came and they have some other friends that want to get married in City Hall as well. So that was kind of a first for us and it was exciting and I just want to give kudos to City Clerk for coming in on her day off to perform a wedding.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to Adjourn: 1ST Councilmember Creighton 2ND Councilmember Kulikoff. Meeting adjourned at 09:01PM on April 12, 2022.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 26th day of April 2022.
Guana Ohan 8
Jeanie O'Laughlin, Mayor
ATTEST:
Laurie sutton, CAty Clerk