CITY OF CORNING
CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2026
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
794 THIRD STREET
A. CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Snow at 5:00pm.
B. ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers present:
Dave Demo
Shelly Hargens
Jose “Chuy” Valerio
Lisa Lomeli
Mayor- Robert Snow
Absent: None
Staff present: City Manager-Brant Mesker
City Attorney- Collin Bogener
City Clerk Rubi Ordaz
Public Works Director Eli Stanley
Planner/Rec. CoordinatorChristina Meeds
Fire Chief Tom Tomlinson
Police Chief Craig Bassett
C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by the City Manager.
D. INVOCATION: Led by Councilor Hargens.
E. PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, APPOINTMENTS, PRESENTATIONS: None.
F. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR:
Opened: 5:31pm
Brooke Smith-The Senior Center has been doing fundraisers to re do the kitchen floor. She would like Council to consider funding the rest of the flooring in the upcoming budget.
Closed: 5:33pm
G. CONSENT AGENDA: It is recommended that items listed on the Consent Agenda be acted on simultaneously unless a Councilmember or members of the audience request separate discussion and/or action.
1. Waive reading, except by title, of any Ordinance under consideration at this meeting for either introduction or passage, per Government Code Section 36934.
2. Waive the reading and approve the Minutes of the February 24, 2026, Closed Session and Regular City Council Meeting with any necessary corrections.
3. February 19 to March 4, 2026, Claim Warrant in the amount of $ 344,040.66.
4. March 4, 2026, Business License Report
5. February 2026 Treasurer’s Report
6. February 2026 Wages & Salaries: $ 474,414.47
7. February 2026 Building Permit Valuation Report in the amount of $ 537,747.
8. February 2026 City of Corning Wastewater Operations Summary Report.
9. Consider waiver of special event permit fees for four annual Chamber of Commerce community events.
Item: G-2
10. Second reading of Ordinance 717, an amendment to create standards for detached structures.
Councilor Valerio moved to approve consent items 1-10; Councilor Hargens seconded the motion.
Ayes: Snow, Valerio, Demo, Hargens, Lomeli
Absent: None
Abstain/Opposed: None
Result: Motion was approved by a 5-0 vote
H. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA: None
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MEETINGS: None
J. REGULAR AGENDA:
1. Declare the Corning Community Easter Egg Hunt a community event and consider waiver of special event permit fee for the fifth annual Corning Community Egg Hunt event.
Councilwoman Lomeli recused herself from the meeting due to a conflict of interest, for this event will be ran by her.
Presented by Public Works Director, Eli Stanley. Staff received a request from Lisa Lomeli for the City Council to waive the special event permit fee for the annual Corning Community Egg Hunt at Clark Park on March 28, 2026, and to provide a $500 donation. The event is a free, familyfriendly community activity for local children and is expected to attract up to 1,500 youth. This request has been approved in prior years, and the City Council must declare a community benefit to authorize the donation. Adequate funding is available in the Community Events Materials and Supplies budget line item
Councilor Demo moved to approve the waiver of the special event permit fee for the annual Corning Community Egg Hunt event to be held on March 28, 2026; declare the Corning Community Easter Egg Hunt a community event; and:
a) request that the City be recognized as a donor to the event; and b) authorize the donation with the requirement that purchase receipts showing the use of the donated funds be presented to the City.
Councilor Snow seconded the motion.
Ayes: Snow, Valerio, Demo, Hargens
Absent: None
Abstain/Opposed: Lomeli
Result: Motion approved, 4-0, with 1 abstention (Lomeli).
2. Request for Council input and consideration on the proposed water and sewer rate study.
Presented by City Manager, Brant and Consultant Alison. The City Council reviewed the draft Water and Sewer Rate Study on proposed rate schedules presented by LT Municipal Consultants. The study recommends a five-year rate structure to support operating costs, maintain debt coverage, and fund approximately $4.1 million in water and sewer capital improvements. It also proposes changes to the rate structures to better comply with Proposition 218 and simplify billing categories for customers.
Mayor Snow recommended implementing a smaller rate increase initially and deferring a larger increase to a future date. This approach would allow staff additional time to pursue grant opportunities and identify alternative funding sources for water and sewer capital improvements, with the goal of potentially avoiding the need for a more substantial increase later.
Item: G-2
Corning resident, Susan Price, suggested a few other options for the consultant to look into to help lower the initial increase.
Council reached a consensus to direct staff to revise the rate structure as proposed. The rate consultant will return on April 14th with revised results for the City Council to review and formalize the revised rates into a draft rate study report.
3. Annual Mid-year budget review and general discussion for fiscal year 2025/2026.
Presented by City Manager, Brant. He presented the mid-year budget update to the City Council to review the City’s financial status as of December 31, 2025, and provided any necessary budget adjustments. The report notes projected revenues and expenditures, highlights the City’s reliance on sales tax particularly from fuel and auto sales and discusses upcoming considerations such as water and sewer rate increases, employee contract negotiations, and major projects like the Recreation Center and City Plaza. The update also includes a request to amend the Position Allocation List to allow more flexibility in hiring lifeguards for the summer pool season without increasing costs. Also, the School Resource Officer was added in since it was noticed that it had been left out.
Councilor Demo moved to approve mid-year budget report and discussion and, approve the proposed budget adjustments as depicted in exhibit a, and authorize staff to make necessary changes and, approve the amended position allocation list (exhibit b); Councilor Valerio seconded the motion.
Ayes: Snow, Valerio, Demo, Hargens, Lomeli
Absent: None
Abstain/Opposed: None
Result: Motion was approved by a 5-0 vote
4. Approve contract with Beard’s Custom Cabinets, Inc. for the construction and installation of new cabinets in the Police department.
Agenda item removed from the agenda.
5. Accept the Notice of Completion for the well drilling project with Well Industries, INC.
Presented by Public Works Director, Eli Stanley. The Well Drilling Project has been completed, inspected, and approved by City staff. The City Council is being asked to accept the Notice of Completion and authorize staff to file it with the Tehama County Clerk and Recorder.
The project was originally awarded on August 26, 2025, to Well Industries, Inc. for $995,190.00.
Three change orders totaling $38,516.00 brought the final project cost to $1,033,706.00.
Funding for the project comes from a $2,000,000 grant through the State of California Department of Water Resources under the Small Community Drought Relief Program. Of this, $1,033,706.00 was allocated to the well project, contributing to a total project funding allocation of $1,999,068.
Councilor Hargens moved to accept and direct the Public Works Director to sign the Notice of Completion and authorize the City Clerk to file notice with the Tehama County for recording; Councilor Valerio seconded the motion.
Ayes: Snow, Valerio, Demo, Hargens, Lomeli
Absent: None
Abstain/Opposed: None
Result: Motion was approved by a 5-0 vote
Item: G-2
K. ITEMS PLACED ON THE AGENDA FROM THE FLOOR: None
L. COMMUNICATIONS, CORRESPONDENCE, AND INFORMATION: None M. REPORTS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Demo: Attended a Senior Center meeting.
Valerio: No meetings.
Lomeli: No meetings.
Hargens: The Tehama County Landfill meeting was cancelled. She attended the Cal Cities Sacramento division meeting.
Snow: No meetings.
N. ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Snow adjourned the meeting at 6:52pm.
Attest:
______________
Rubi Ordaz, City Clerk
Item: G-2