Fort Jones City Council
Regular Meeting
July 11, 2022
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING AGENDA
I, Celeste McFall, City Clerk for the Town of Fort Jones, hereby certify that the agenda for the July 11, 2022 meeting of the City Council was posted in City Hall, near the door of the City Council Chambers, Ray's Food Place, Scott Valley Family Resource Center, Outside Ace Hardware and on the City's website www.fortjonesca.org on July 7, 2022.
I declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Celeste McFall, City Clerk
ROLL Call
The regular meeting of the Fort Jones City Council was called to order in person by Mayor Michelle DeCausmaker at 7:00 p.m. In addition to Mayor Michelle DeCausmaker council members present were Kathye Banks, Mercedes Garcia, Bill Beckwith and Mark Gepford.
Also present: City Administrator Karl Drexel, City Clerk Celeste McFall, Fire Chief Joseph Hess.
Mayor Michelle DeCausmaker led the flag salute.
Public Comment: Julie Morgan talks about changing speed limits on the roads in town. Police Chief Josh comments regarding CalTRANS protocols regarding for speeding tickets to be issued legally the roads must be surveyed every five years. He will check into it and report back Karen Whitehead asks about Community events such as Movies in the Park or Dances in the Streets and if they are going to be happening any time soon. The Police Chief mentions that he and Deputy City Clerk Rachel Agron have been working on having a Movie in the Park, but that timing hasn't been correct yet.
Cookie Hunt expresses her concerns that when they had their event at the Park Pavilion that there wasn't handicap access. She was assured that handicap access was going to be installed.
Pauline Cramer asks Police Chief Josh Short about a woman who drives around town and sleeps at the park near her mother's home and should they be worried about her. Josh apprises her of the situation. He assures her that she is not a danger, but if there are other reasons they have concerns, he asks that they please call the police department.
Discussion/Reports: Non-Action Items:
Aj Police Department Monthly Report
Police Chief Josh Short provides a full report in the Council packet. He notes that there have been a lot of staffing changes at the City of Etna, including the fact that the City Clerk (and her father, a council member) have both vacated their positions. Council Member Bill Beckwith asks about staffing. There are four full-time, two-part time community service officers and a part time detective. He further notes that the grant will pay for another full-time officer. He also mentions that they have been working with the schools to be prepared in the event of an emergency shooter situation. They are dispatched through the Sheriff's office, who are extremely short staffed, but they ask that citizens please call the 841-2900. Councilmember Beckwith asks about the identify of the Police Department regarding Fort Jones and Etna Police Departments and Josh reports that the patches provided will be used, but that auto decals are extremely expensive, and they are still sourcing them.
Police Chief Shorts notes that on the upcoming Wednesday they will be going to the Marble View Motel for the required inspections, along with the building inspector for the electrical, plumbing and structural to find out how much it will cost to bring the building up to code so that the owner can decide if he wants to try to get the funds to repair the building or sell it, as he has had multiple offers.
Bj Fire Department Monthly Report
Fire Chief Joseph provided a report in the Council packet. There are two new volunteers at the department. Seasonal Fire fighters: there is one who is in the process who is to start Wednesday no thev are sull lookır
ind they and i be minder hireher on. Callie is hiring everyonor ndrestrelpened anothe equipment, along with the Fire Department Association. There were some questions regarding trucks filling up at the CalFire station, this water is being stored at tanks on Scott River Road, it is only for fire use in a strategic area.
C) Code Enforcement Report
Code Enforcement Officer Kelly York was not present, a Code Enforcement report was included in the Police Department report.
Dj Public Works Monthly Report
Kevin Hullquist provided a monthly report in the Council packet. He notes that water is a big concern. The well is at 22 feet currently. Discussion regarding how far it dropped last year. He is monitoring it closely. He notes that the location is an excellent area for the well. Tank cleaners were there all day. Tank is staying full. Everyone agrees that the town looks really nice. He has been cleaning the sidewalks in front of businesses.
E) City Administrators Report
City Administrator Karl Drexel provided a monthly report in the Council packet. He adds that we did have a tank inspection, MIT divers from the central valley. Three men spent the day, and there is a report, with pictures and a video which will be in the August packet. Everything is looking good.
Branding Report: Michelle DeCausmaker notes that Rachel Agron did a great job on the Branding Report. We have been working with RCAC on the topic of Economic Development for businesses in Fort Jones. The next step is to create a brand for the Town of Fort Jones to bring in tourists and businesses to support the community. Historic has been the driving concept. The Town is supported by sales tax spent by those coming into this community. There will be more meetings, and the dates will be announced.
The Town of Fort Jones is also working on the Community Pedestrian Bicycle Safety Training in order to improve the safety of our streets. There will be a public workshop on August 4, 2022.
The sesquicentennial of the incorporating the Town is this year and we are looking at having an event in October.
Consent Calendar:
1 a). Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting June 15, 2022. b). Ratification of Disbursements: June 1 through June 30, 2022 c). Approve Payables for July 2022
d). Receive and Review YTD P&L
Bill Beckwith moves to accept the Consent Calendar; Mercedes Garcia seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, K. Banks, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
Public Hearing: Ordinances and Resolutions
Mayor DeCausmaker calls a Public Hearing for the CDBG Housing Rehab and other Applications. Karl Drexel provides an overview of the CDBG program in the Town of Fort Jones, which provides loan interest loans for income-eligible homeowners. Currently there is approximately $500,000.00 in the accounts, which without having projects in the pipeline, the state is looking to take that money away. What has been proposed to the state is to use the money for infrastructure issues. The Council and the Loan Committee will decide what projects will be performed with these funds. One example is the four-inch pipeline on Dale Street, where there should be a six-inch flow, as the town has been spending money due to the inadequacy of the pipeline.
Discussion follows.
2. CDBG Public Hearing Discussion and Review and Approve Resolution 1108 Mark Gepford makes a motion to approve the Resolution with the change of 01 to 030; Kathye Banks seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Gepford
NOES: W. Beckwith
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
Mercedes Garcia makes a motion to approve the Resolution 1108 with the change of 01 to 030.
Kathye Banks seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, K. Banks, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
Discussion/Reports: Action Items:
3. Review and Adopt Emergency Drought Plan; the tank is currently at 22 feet, if drops to 30 then some restrictions will be instituted, if it drops to 40 feet, then more restrictions will be put in place. The Emergency Drought Plan is to educate residents, satisfy the State Water Board and have a plan before the state develops one for the Town of Fort Jones.
Mercedes Garcia expresses her concerns regarding the orange level and asks questions regarding the state requirements for Prop 218 hearing for water prices and a tiered water rate system.
Bill Beckwith talks about historic water levels in Scott Valley, and is pleased with having the yellow, orange and red levels in place in the event that the water situation worsens.
Kathye Banks makes a comment about other areas in California and how people in those areas have adapted to the water restrictions.
Mercedes Garcia makes a motion to approve the Emergency Drought Plan; Bill Beckwith seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, K. Banks, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
4. Review and Adopt Fireworks Resolution 1107 and associated temporary fee schedule.
Mercedes Garcia makes a motion to Adopt the Fireworks Resolution 1107 Bill Beckwith seconds the motion.
AYES: M. Garcia, K. Banks, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford, M. DeCausmaker NOES: None
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
5. Local Agency Biennial Notice of Conflict-of-Interest Resolution 1109 Mercedes Garcia makes a motion to re-Adopt the Local Agency Biennial Notice of Conflict Resolution 1109; Bill Beckwith seconds the motion.
AYES: M. Garcia, K. Banks, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford, M. DeCausmaker NOES: None
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
6. Police Services Contract Year 3 - Discuss Any changes Police Chief Josh Short provides an overview in addition to the information provided by the City Administrator in the Council packet. He notes that there has been a cost increase in the SCORE insurance coverage. He notes that the new Etna City Manager Adam Cox was ill last week, so he is not present this evening to provide a presentation.
Karl Drexel notes that there is a contract in place says that changes may be discussed, but he is unaware of what changes are being proposed. Once the Etna City Manager, Karl Drexel and Josh Short will meet and discuss any changes and bring them back to the City Council.
7. Discuss and take action on Administrator's Job Posting Karl Drexel provided an overview of this issue.
Kathye Banks notes that discussion has been ongoing for a year. Bill Beckwith notes that Karl Drexel is complying with the Council's wishes by reducing his hours and training staff to take over some of his job duties. He feels that it is too early to start looking for a replacement and establish a job posting.
Michelle DeCausmaker notes that Council members should put aside their personal feelings regarding Karl Drexel and put the Town first. She notes that the Town has never been in this great shape financially or infrastructure and it is largely due to Karl.
Bill Beckwith notes that this is the first time we have had a cohesive staff that works well together for the Town of Fort Jones.
Julie Morgan notes that she has never seen the Town staff working together so well and the great shape the town is in.
Mark Gepford says his main concern is that the Council has no say, that only Karl has say over everything. He is encouraged to talk to Karl one on one. He says that things are getting done that he doesn't know about.
Kathye Banks said that the reports Karl provided were not what she wanted.
Bill Beckwith encourages her to reach out to Karl with her concerns and be involved in the different projects.
Kathye Banks said that she thinks that it is time to post the job so that someone could be found that he can train before he leaves.
Mercedes says that she does have personal issues with Karl, but that this isn't why the issue is on the agenda. She said that she remembers that he said he was going to retire in a year or two ago, but that was a year or two ago. She said that they decided that now is the time to post the job description.
Bill Beckwith motions to table the motion, Michelle DeCausmaker seconds the motion.
Motion fails.
Mercedes Garcia motions to post the City Administrator position; Kathye Banks seconds the motion.
AYES: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Gepford
NOES: M. DeCausmaker, W. Beckwith
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes.
STAFF COMMENTS: None
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
Kathye Banks notes that town looks great, even with using less water.
Meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Attest:
Clute pructree
Celeste McFall, Cit
Approved:
Mayor Michelle DeCausmaker