Fort Jones Town Council
Regular Meeting
October 9, 2023
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING AGENDA
1, Carolin Hoefer, Customer Service Clerk, for the Town of Fort Jones, hereby certify that the agenda for ne Uctober 9, 2023 regular meeting of the Town Council was posted at the Town Hall, near the door of he Town Council Chambers. Ray's Food Place, outside Ace Hardware, on the front window of the For Jones Post Office and on the Town's website www.fortjonesca.org on October 5, 2023.
I declare under the penalty of perjury that the forgoing is true and correct. • Un
Carolin Hoefer, Customer Service Clerk
ROLL CALL:
The regular meeting of the Fort Jones Town Council was called to order in person by Mayor Mercedes Garcia at 6:00 p.m. Before roll call was taken Mayor Garcia explained that councilmember LaRiviere would be joining the meeting by teleconference, per state law, due to a medical appointment out of town.
In addition to the mayor, councilmembers present were Kathye Banks, Mark Eayrs, Julia Collie-Mason, and Alexander LaRiviere by teleconference.
Staff present: Everett Hullquist - Public Works, Chief Josh Short - Etna P.D., and Kelly York - Code Enforcement.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Mayor Garcia
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Bill Beckwith: Called for councilmembers Garcia and Banks to resign from council because of bad administration; the office being closed all the time; losing staff; for losing a grants; that nothing is being done with the Complete Streets Project; and the budget.
Suzie LaMarr: Asked for a status on housing compliance from Kelly York our code enforcement officer.
She also wanted to know about the fire Van Anderson had and if he was sited. She would also like the Town to send out the questionnaire for the CDBG loans.
Karen Whitehead: Asked why the Town has not given her the loan balances on Tim/Lindsey Whithead's and Chris Whitehead's loans.
Madeleine Ayres: States that she wants to be helpful to the town and that she would like the council to seek help. She inquired if Adam Cox did the work that was required of him.
Celeste McFall: Asked why the council has not signed the county MOU for the library.
Kevin Hullquist: Concerned that the minutes for the council meetings have not been posted to the Town's website since May. He would like to see the town move forward with the abatement process on the properties that Kelly York has been working on. To do this, we need to hire a hearing officer. He wants council to reconsider returning the money for the park grant and would like to know why he was not informed of the last two L.O.L.A. meetings.
DISCUSSION / REPORTS CORESPONDENCE: NON-ACTION ITEMS:
A. Presentation: Fire Prevention Grant - by Larry Alexander Larry Alexander from the Northern California Resource Center discussed the fire prevent grant that they were awarded from the state for a fire break on the ridge above town and fuel management on the east side of town. He also discussed the process of the grant, how it worked and the area in which the grant covered. A map of this area was in the agenda packet.
A public Q/A followed the presentation.
B. Audit Report - by Charlie Pillon
Charlie Pillon, a local government auditor, gave an update on the Town's audit status. Charlie is doing the pre-audit work with Dave Wallace, CPA. Ingrid Sheipline, CPA with Richardson and Company, LLP will be performing the actual audits.
Charlie explained that Mr. Drexel had the audits done for years 2015-2018, but audits were not to government standard due to the accounts not being broken down properly by the auditor, and that auditor found no "findings". He said that it is strange that there were no findings.
It was suggested that the Town send out letters to all those who have loans receivable with Town as to obtain what balances the customers have as of 6/30/2018 to compare with Town's balances so that the auditors can receive proper figures for the 2019 audits.
Having the Town's accounting software upgraded was highly recommended by Charlie. He said a town is not capable of being adequately ran on QuickBooks.
A public Q/A followed the presentation.
C. Police Monthly Report
A written report appears in the October 9h agenda packet. Chief Short gave a verbal update on the Van Anderson fire and informed everyone that Mr. Anderson was cited for this incident.
Kelly York, code enforcement, reported that the problem with dogs being on Main Street is getting resolved; Violations were sent to residents of 101 Butte Street; the cat spay/neuter project is starting tomorrow; Asked about status with Motel.
Kelly suggested that someone on the council reach out to Chuck Kelly about being a hearing officer.
D. Fire Department Monthly Report
A written report appears in the October 9 agenda packet. Chief Hess gave a verbal about the FEMA grant that was awarded. He said this grant was a partial award and that he is working on federal paperwork for the difference.
E. Public Works Monthly Report
A written report appears in the October 9th agenda packet CONSENT CALENDAR:
1. a) Approval of Minutes:
i. Special Meeting September 18", 2023
ii. Special Meeting September 29", 2023
b) Ratification of Disbursements: September 1 through 30, 2023 c) Review Budget vs. Actual for July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023 Kathye Banks questions the "call to order" and "adjournment" times on the September 18, 2023 special meeting minutes. Call to order should be at 6:00 p.m. and adjournment at 6:57 p.m.
Motion: Eayrs moves to accept the consent calendar with the above corrections to the September18, 2023 special meeting minutes.
Second: Collie-Mason
Ayes: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs, J. Collie-Mason, A. LaRiviere Nyes: None
Motion: Passes
DISCUSSION / REPORTS: ACTION ITEMS:
2. Law Enforcement Contract 2023/2026
Discussion:
Who is the detective we are paying for? Answer: Nate Mendez. He is in Redding; Council wants work schedules for each month sent to the Town Hall.
Motion: Collie-Mason moves to accept the Etna P.D. contract for 2023/2026.
Second: Eayrs
Ayes: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs, J. Collie-Mason, A. LaRiviere Nyes: None
Motion: Passes
3. Appointment of Interim Town Clerk
Discussion:
Public concerned about her qualifications and not being the office. Mayor Garcia explained that the Town's legal counsel said that the Town must have a clerk in the position by law. Because this is temporary and needed for legal reasons that the council did not have much choice but to appoint Carolin Hoefer as the Interim Town Clerk.
Motion: Eayrs moves to appoint Carolin Hoefer at the Interim Town Clerk.
Second: Collie-Mason
Ayes: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs, J. Collie-Mason, A. LaRiviere Nays: None
Motion: Passes
Oath of Office was given by Mayor Garcia
4. MOU with the Fort Jones Community Church
Discussion:
Public Works states that we have an ordinance that requires people to keep their own property, the Town should not be responsible for this. Plus, it takes a long time to mow that area; It was suggested that the club or individual putting on the event at the ball field should be required to mow the weeds; Concerns about the church property being private property and the Town is using public funds to pay Public Works to mow; It was proposed that the church block off their property if they are concerned about people parking there.
Motion: Eayrs moves not to accept the MOU with the Fort Jones Community Church.
Second: Collie-Mason
Ayes: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs, J. Collie-Mason, A. LaRiviere Nays: None
Motion: Passes
5. Advertising Agreement for Walker Field
Discussion:
An audience member explains some history about Walker Field and that there were plans to have a sign with "Walker Field" put on the building and that the advertising signs would not look good. She wants advertising on the ball field fencing. Another member feels that the history of the Walker Field should be explained to the policy/ordinance committee; More discussion continued.
Other members feel that $500 for year-round advertising is too cheap and that content should be approved before going on the building.
Motion: Eayrs moves to have agreement sent back to the policy/ordinance committee for changes.
Second: Banks
Ayes: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs, J. Collie-Mason, A. LaRiviere Nays: None
Motion: Passes
6. Correction of August 8, 2022 Minutes
Discussion: No public discussion
Motion: Eayrs moves to accept the corrected minutes for August 8, 2022 meeting.
Second: LaRiviere
Ayes: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs, J. Collie-Mason, A. LaRiviere Nays: None
Motion: Passes
7. Sectaris Partners Invoices - Adam Cox
Discussion:
The public was appalled by the amount due on the invoices presented. They are wanting to know what the money is going to, because invoices do not explain this; Has Mr. Cox done the work to deserve the amount he asking for; Is the council going to pay this and why; Should the Town take him to court verses paying the invoices; More discussion continued.
Motion: Eayrs moves to pay the overage on the invoices presented.
Second: LaRiviere
Ayes: M. Garcia, K. Banks, M. Eayrs, J. Collie-Mason, A. LaRiviere Nays: None
Motion: Passes
STAFF COMMENTS: NONE
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Eayrs would like to give more money to the Essex spay/neuter project to meet their goals.
Garcia explained that would have to go on an agenda for a special meeting and by the time that could happen the project would be over and the funds would not go to the Fort Jones project.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m. The next regular town council meeting is scheduled to be held on November 13, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Attest:
i. m
Carolin Hoefer, Customer Service Clerk
Approved:
Mered. M. Saro
Mercedes Garcia, Mayor