Fort Jones City Council
Regular Meeting
November 14, 2022
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING AGENDA
I, Celeste McFall, City Clerk for the Town of Fort Jones, hereby certify that the agenda for the Dity obe a berstiay bertia food lace, Socit valley Famin Resource Center, Outside Ace Hardware and on the City's website www.fortjonesca.org on November 10, 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, Bill Beckwith, Mercedes Garcia, and Mark Gepford.
Also present: City Clerk Celeste McFall, Fire Chief Joseph Hess, Police Chief Josh Short and Public Works Supervisor Everett Hullquist.
Mayor Michelle DeCausmaker led the flag salute.
Public Comment:
Jacob Hargett, High School Ag Department Chair? Teacher?, High School children were asked to create the Barbecue for the Paul Garrison Park Pavilion, he provided a cost estimate, as well as drawings that the students drafted. Recommending a steel frame, stainless steel insert. Half inch round stock, Kathye Banks inquires to the "stop", he replies 6-inches. Both classes designed their own versions, 5th and 6th periods. Mark Gepford suggests ¾ inch or 1 inch round stock for the grill. Should weigh about 1,000 pounds.
Discussion/Reports: Non-Action Items:
Aj Police Department Monthly Report
Police Chief Josh Short provided a written report. Staffing shortage at the County has negatively impacted the stat reporting, and they have been covering some of their calls. He believes there are only 12 deputies for the County. The department is seeing an uptick in Domestic Violence, and there were three such incidents in one day. He attended the CalTrans meeting today regarding safety issues along Highway 3, in Fort Jones and Etna. He has been working on securing a new software system so that the department can run license plates and dispatch. CLETZ.
B) Code Enforcement Report
Code Enforcement Office Kelly York provided a written report.
C) Fire Department Monthly Report
Fire Chief Joseph provided a written report. ISO rating for 2023 is 04/4Y, which is a good ratira redes Cacien do her the down dude tet to the 0g, sy ratiat le respired. there are points to be garnered through Prevention, and now that the Fire Chief does Code Enforcement. He and his wife recently had a second son and they are congratulated on the addition to their family.
Dj Public Works Monthly Report
Everett Hullquist provided a written report. Recent issue at Rays, although it was Ray's issue, ublic Works has been worki
for the winter. Mark Gepford questions a situation on Allison Way where there is standing water. It is a situation that is ongoing.
EJ City Administrators Report
City Administrator Karl Drexel provided a written report. Mayor DeCausmaker reads the report and notes the highlights of the different projects.
F). Economic Development Report
Deputy City Clerk Rachel Agron, who put the report together, explains the report to those assembled and notes the ongoing projects.
G). A special thank you to Julie Morgan for her dedication to attending the City Council meetings and her work with for the town over the years.
Consent Calendar:
1 a). Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting October 10, 2022 b). Approval of Minutes: Special Meeting October 20, 2022 c). Ratification of Disbursements: October 1 through October 31, 2022 d). Approve Payables for November 2022
e). Receive and Review YTD P&L
Mercedes Garcia moves to accept the Consent Calendar, Mark Gepford seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, K. Banks, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT:
Motion passes
Discussion/Reports: Action Items
2. Fort Jones Church Donation. Rachel Agron recommends that the Council apprise the Church of the situation and request a formal invoice. Kathye Banks questions how we paid for the LOLA dinner at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall and it was explained to her that we signed a contract with their fees clearly stated.
Bill Beckwith makes a motion to make out an Invoice for $100 for the use of the Hall. Mark Gepford seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford NOES: K. Banks,
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
3. Hullquist Use Permit. Kevin Hullquist presents his proposal to the council Kathye Banks asks about a drainage ditch. He responds that the ditch is being engineered with the help of CalTrans at this time. Mercedes Garcia asks for a plot map, and Kevin provides it to her.
Mark Gepford makes a motion to approve the Use Permit, 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 letter from Janet Martinez
Mayor DeCausmaker reads the correspondence between Janet Martinez and the Town of Fort Jones City Council Hiring Committee.
Bill Beckwith makes a motion to decline Janet Martinez' offer to negotiate and Mercedes Garcia seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, K. Banks, W. Beckwith, M. Gepford NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT:
Motion passes
5. Review Letter from Adam Cox, Possible Action
Mayor DeCausmaker reads the background for the Hiring of a City Administrator. Kathye Banks says she called Etna City Hall and they reported that they typically use his services two to three days a week. Bill Beckwith would like to see a formal proposal from Adam Cox after he has seen the list of projects and their scope.
Bill Beckwith notes that it should be up to the new City Council what they want to do. That is why it is important to have a formal proposal from Adam Cox for them to consider.
Josh Short suggests that the Council speak to the Etna City Council regarding their thoughts on Adam Cox. He feels that Fort Jones has good Department Heads and they do the day-to-day operations.
Everett Hullquist notes that City Staff has been in contact with all the powers that be for all the grants.
Madeleine Ayers, incoming Council Member, says she is extremely apprehensive about the situation she is seeing, and notes a recent situation at the School Board level. She said she is frightened that the City Council will be held to pay someone that amount of money when we don't even know what he needs to do. She is nervous that she doesn't know what all needs to be done and that she doesn't believe that the Council does either.
Tori Hall asks them to think about it as a business. She notes that it would not be prudent to hire someone that you haven't vetted. She suggests that the full council interview the candidates.
Bill Beckwith notes that he and Michelle DeCausmaker will meet with Adam Cox within the week and provide him with a list of the ongoing projects and ask for a formal proposal for the upcoming Council.
6. Compensation for Town Council
Mercedes Garcia states that current council members cannot vote to compensate themselves so that if they table the item at this time, it won't take effect until two years from now.
Discussion follows.
Kathye Banks makes a motion to compensate council members $100 per month, Mark Gepford seconds the motion.
AYES: M. DeCausmaker, M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Gepford
NOES: W. Beckwith
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT:
Motion passes
STAFF COMMENTS:
Celeste McFall notes that she is stepping down as City Clerk and Office Manager in January of 2023.
Joshua Short asks if the Council needs to do something for the Christmas Parade. It is not on the agenda. He notes that Mark Eayrs usually takes care of everything for the Parade.
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
Kathye Banks wants to make sure that we need to do whatever it is needed in order to have the Parade.
Mayor DeCausmaker said that she was dismayed that there was no copy of the letter that Mercedes Garcia gave to Karl Drexel at the October 20, 2022 FJCC Special Meeting. She reads the letter. It is signed "Town of Fort Jones Council" and Mayor DeCausmaker notes that she had never seen the letter before it was given to Karl Drexel Meeting adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
Celeste McFall, City Clerk
Approved:
Mercede M. Harro
Mayor