Fort Jones City Council
Regular Meeting
December 12, 2022
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING AGENDA
, Celeste Mcfall, City Clerk for the Town of Fort Jones, hereby certify that the agenda for the December 12, 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 Frontier Hardware, the Post Office, the Laundromat and on the City's website www.fortjonesca.org on December 9, 2022.
I declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Celeste McFall, City Clerk
The regular meeting of the Fort Jones City Council was called to order in person by City Clerk Celeste McFall at 7:00 p.m. At the beginning of the meeting, the only seated Council Member was Kathye Banks.
Also present: Deputy City Clerk Rachel Agron, Fire Chief Joseph Hess, Public Works Supervisor Everett Hullquist and Police Chief Josh Short.
City Clerk Celeste McFall led the flag salute.
1. Oath of Office Administered to:
• Mercedes Garcia
• Mark Eayrs
2. Review Letters of Interest for vacant counsel seats. Approve selection by majority vote. (Banks)
The candidates, Trevor Eastlick, Mark Gepford, Julia Collie-Mason and Amy Stacher each introduced themselves and spoke about why they want to be on the Council.
City Clerk Celeste McFall distributed ballots to the three seated council members, and once completed collected the votes. The vote was unanimous:
• Julia Collie-Mason
• Amy Stacher.
The City Clerk thanked all the candidates and then administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected Council Members, who then seated themselves at the council table. 1 3. Election of Officers: Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem for two-year terms Mark Eayrs makes a motion nominating Mercedes Garcia for the position of Mayor and Kathye Banks for the position of Mayor Pro-Tem, Amy Stacher seconds the motion.
AYES: M. Garcia, K. Banks, J. Collie-Mason, M. Eayrs, A. Stacher.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes.
Appointment of Commissioners
Mayor Garcia, noting that the tradition has been the Mayor has the ultimate decision over ommissioner assignments, she welcomed those council members who had a particular intere l a certain Commissions. Discussion followed. Commission assignments as follow Public Works (Sewer and Water) - Kathye Banks
Streets and Roads- Julia Collie-Mason
Public Safety (Fire and Police) - Mark Eayrs
Parks and Building- Mercedes Garcia
Administration - Amy Stacher
Public Comment:
Suzie LaMarr asks Rachel Agron about the Department of Transportation, Thriving Communities Project matching Non-Profit workers. Rachel reports that she submitted a letter of interest for capacity expansion for the Economic Development program. She has not received a response from the Dept. of Transportation yet.
Madeleine Ayres addresses the Council, thanking them for stepping up. She wants them to be the model of decorum and integrity in public, in email and on the Internet. She urges them, when someone comes up and tells them "I heard..." to smile politely and check out the facts.
She would like to look at her City Council with pride. She asks that the Council behave better and that the members of the public will behave better.
Michelle DeCausmaker announces that she has filled out her paperwork to be a Volunteer with the Town of Fort Jones. She is still working on the Little League Park and the Paul Garrison Park Pavilion. She is also researching the family names who donated the trees in the park and continuing to upgrade the Scout Hall.
Kevin Hullquist would like the Council regarding, he is asking the Council to waive the sewer hookup fees for his Coffee house at Douglas and Main. The fee is $7500.00. Mayor Garcia directs staff to place the item on the agenda for the next meeting. 2 Discussion/Reports: Non-Action Items:
A) Police Department Monthly Report
Police Chief Josh Short provided a full report for the month of November in the council packet.
He invites the new Council Members to go on "ride a longs" with the department.
By Fire Department Monthly Report
Fire Chief Joseph Hess provided a report and stats for the month of November in the council packet. The Rescue truck is back after a long wait for parts. Another truck has gone up for its annual servicing. Bids for the brush truck purchase through the CDBG funds are due by end of December to keep that project moving along. He reports that Scott Valley Rescue Fire Alliance scheduled a mini-fire academy for the all the departments in the Valley.
CalFire would like to put a fire break just outside city limits as there are fewer private residences in those areas. Josh Shorts says he has a contact with OES who knows about a grant for the fire break. He will report back.
C] Code Enforcement Report
Code Enforcement Officer Kelly York was not present and did not supply a report. Josh Short reports that the Motel should have something substantial action early next year. If anyone sees any code violations, the program is complaint driven, so please report it. The Gwinn house has action coming due in March of 2023, Bill Beckwith asks if Kelly is working on the situation. Josh Short promises that he will address it with Kelly York and report back.
Di Public Works Monthly Report
Everett Hullquist provided a report in the council packet for the month of November and was present. He noted that he has an open-door policy, and he invites the council members to visit and share any questions, concerns or suggestions.
Consent Calendar:
1. A). Approval of Minutes Regular meeting November 14, 2022, and Special Meeting November 28, 2022.
B). Ratification of disbursements
C). December payables
Kathye Banks motioned to approve the Consent Calendar. Mark ayrs seconded the motion.
AYES: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs,
NOES: None
ABSTAIN : J. Collie-Mason, A. Stacher
ABSENT: None
Motion passes
Discussion/Reports: Action Items:
2. Review and Approve Hiring Interim City Administrator.
Kathye Banks makes a motion to secure Sectaris Partners for City Administrator services until such time that the City can hire a full-time Administrator. Mark Eayrs seconds the motion.
3 AYES: M. Garcia, K. Banks, J. Collie-Mason, M. Eayrs, A. Stacher.
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Motion passes.
STAFF COMMENTS:
Celeste McFall asks the council to choose signers for the bank account, and to include Samantha Hess, Accounting Clerk to the list.
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS:
The Council Members discuss their availability and desire to accept the task. They decide that Mayor Mercedes Garcia will continue as a signer and that Mayor Pro-Tem Kathye Banks, and Council Member Amy Stacher, along with Accounting Clerk Samantha Hess will be the signers on all the Town of Fort Jones Bank accounts.
Adam Cox joins the meeting and introduces himself. He says he is looking forward to getting to He st he Council is movingise Tone of and ores forward in the waitin chey sea fid that he would schedule meetings with staff and the counsel. He notes that communication is key to success in any environment.
Meeting adjourned 8:10 p.m.
Mutenerale
Celeste McFall, City Clerk
Approved:
Mercide M. Lana
Mayor Mercedes Garcia