CITY OF
CITY OF JACKSON
City Council Meeting Minutes
JACKSON June 26th, 2023
ALIFORNIA
Mayor and Council Members John Georgette, City Clerk
Steve McLean, Mayor
Chad Simmons, Vice Mayor Staff Members:
Max Godde, Council Member Josh Nelson, City Attorney
Connie Gonsalves, Council Member Yvonne Kimball, City Manager Bob Stimpson, Council Member Bree Wilder, Public Works Superintendent (Absent) Dale Fishback, Interim Fire Chief
ABSENT: None Chris Mynderup, Police Chief
Carleen Kirkpatrick, Administrative Assistant
Mayor McLean called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
Mayor McLean led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.
Motion to approve the City Council Agenda date June 26, 2023 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Stimpson, seconded by Councilmember Gonsalves, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
2. PUBLIC MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
Discussion items only, no action will be taken. Any person may address the Council at this time on any subject within the jurisdiction of the City Council. Please note - there is a three (3) minute limit.
Dave Drummond (resident) - Offered an apology and explanation of his demeanor in the last meeting, stating he was nervous and has the utmost respect for the fire and police departments, highway patrol, and sheriffs. Councilmember Stimpson empathized, recognizing Mr. Drummond's comments likely bothered him much more than anyone else. Mr. Drummond requested the curb at the corner of Hoffman and Pine to be painted again due to safety reasons. Councilmember Gonsalves advised one corner was painted since the last meeting and asked if he is referring to the other corner. Gonsalves clarified with Dave the remaining corner in question is to the left exiting Pine Street, and stated Public Works will be advised to put it on the schedule.
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Robert Swett (residential landlord) - Requested to be notified when a tenant is 30 days behind on their water/sewer bill. Councilmember Stimpson asked if the tenant's bill comes in his name and Mr. Swett advised it does not. Finance Manager Dalacie Blankenship clarified the process for past due billings:
first billing mailed, second billing/late notice mailed, third billing/shut off notice mailed, 48-hour door tag/shut off mailed. Property Owners are notified when tenants are 60 days past due (third notice), and advised if Mr. Swett would like other communications, it can be noted on the owner account for his property. By the time water is shut off, tenants will have received six separate notices to pay as well as direct contact attempts requesting payment arrangements to be set up. Property owners are notified again when water is shut off. Mr. Swett advised this bill went over those timelines, and Blankenship advised that is possible if the tenant made payment arrangements and later did not keep them. Mayor McLean acknowledged there is a process in place to keep property owners notified.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR.
Items listed on the consent calendar are considered routine and may be enacted by one motion. Any item may be removed for discussion at the request of a Council Member. a. Approval of the June 12, 2023 Meeting Minutes.
b. Approval of Expenditure Reports in the amount of $325,866.84. c. Receive Jackson Police Department Monthly Report for May 2023. d. Resolution No. 2023-22 Continue FY 2023/24 budget.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar date June 26'h, 2023 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Godde, seconded by Vice Mayor Simmons, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
4. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.
This section is to provide staff an opportunity to present oral status reports on issues. No legal action is expected to be taken by the Council.
Public Works Superintendent, Bree Wilder - Absent.
Police Chief, Chris Mynderup - 2/10/23, Incident at 14 Starks Lane (Update)- residential burglary with approximately $17,500 property stolen (computers, TVs, antique collectibles, sports memorabilia, etc.) and several Jackson PD officers were involved in responding. Detective Gray conducted a Geofence warrant (which allows LE to search a database and find active mobile devices in a polygon shaped area around the crime scene), and this resulted in locating a storage unit in Jackson with stolen property. The person owning the storage unit was on probation, and upon searching the unit this morning approximately $10,000 worth of the victim's property was recovered. This search also led PD to a few other potential suspects that may be involved. The subject was picked up at his place of employment, and according to his terms of probation was on an 8-9 year suspended sentence which June 26, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes
means he may be going to prison for a couple years. Councilmember Stimpson inquired if the amount of the items stolen results in a felony charge, and Mynderup advised anything over $950 is a felony.
PD is also geared up and ready to protect and monitor the vehicle and pedestrian traffic for the upcoming July 3d Fireworks event at Detert Park.
Interim Fire Chief, Dale Fishback - Engine 6333 is fully repaired, inspected, and back in service. The replacement of truck 1 has not yet been approved for surplus from the outside agency's board. The chief from that agency is confident it will be approved but this is the first time this board has completed a surplus. The fire break line is cut at the Oro de Amador property along Jackson Gate roadside to residential properties, by the encampment below the dam, and is tied in over the top of the hill bordering the mobile home park property. On Saturday, FD responded to a wild land fire adjacent to the Jackson View Estates just outside Jackson's jurisdiction. It was contained to about a 30-foot spot within very dense manzanitas. There was no sign of any homeless activity. CalFire's investigation resulted in an unknown cause, though there were kids playing in the area. The fire was contained within 15 minutes.
Councilmember Gonsalves inquired if any of this brush area is planned to be removed. Fishback advised the property owner would like to do something, although the area is very steep, rocky, and difficult to reach. There is very steep drainage (12-13 feet deep) where the fire broke out which will have to be cut by hand as no equipment can get in there. Private property owners are working out how to clear the area. Councilmember Gonsalves and Vice Mayor Simmons expressed concerns for the new development bordering this property. Councilmember Stimpson inquired about a controlled burn at the location and Fishback advised the manzanita is too dense to burn safely.
City Attorney, Josh Nelson - No report.
City Manager, Yvonne Kimball - Public Works has completed clean up at the cemetery in response to public complaints about weeds/rubbish and should look much better now Three remaining large tree stumps at Detert Park that fell during the winter storms are scheduled to be removed Tuesday or Wednesday this week, just in time for the July 3º Celebrations. At 5:30PM today, the Oro de Amador ECRG Grant public hearing was held (Councilmember Godde attended) and the meeting was well attended. Staff will proceed with the project with expectation of Abram Gong's staff applying for Phase 2, leading to other necessary studies, and hopefully resulting in the desired recreation facilities. The city General Plan Update and Draft Environmental Impact Report begins the 45-day review period on June 30, 2023. The planning commission is scheduled to meet July 17* to hear and receive input from the public to be considered by our consultants and is expected to be brought back for council action sometime in August.
5. COUNCIL REPORTS.
This section is to provide Council members an opportunity to present reports on their activities and to request item be placed on future agendas.
Councilmember Gonsalves - Attended the Chamber of Commerce mixer on 6/14/23 at the Volcano Amphitheater. Looking forward to the July 3d Fireworks and Festivities hosted by Lions Club at Detert Park.
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Councilmember Godde - Attended the Chamber of Commerce mixer on 6/14/23 at the Volcano Amphitheater. Attended the Cemetery Committee meeting on 6/14/23- the commillee Chair requested he advise council the vinyl lettering is being ordered from Merzlak for the unmarked graves and will be placed before the end of summer. Cemetery Committee will be advertising for one open vacancy on the committee soon. After the meeting, he assisted staff with mapping some plots and doing weed eating for a couple hours.
Councilmember Stimpson - No report.
Vice Mayor Simmons - No report.
Mayor McLean - Attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting. On Friday in Stockton, as Mayor of Jackson he delivered a Proclamation by Senator Alvarado-Gil recognizing the outgoing President who is a resident of Amador County. Her parlor "Native Daughters of the Golden West" in in Jackson.
Councilmember Gonsalves advised it is parlor #1, and Mayor McLean added Ursula is the very first lady's parlor in the state, doing a lot of good work for children.
6. DISCUSSION CALENDAR.
For the record: Action minutes provide the necessary documentation of City Council actions and audio recordings are retained for those desiring more detail on particular agenda item discussions. These audio recordings provide an accurate and comprehensive backup of City Council deliberations and citizen discussion.
a. Receive and accept FY 21/22 Audit Report [reports are provided separately and available on website and at city hall].
City Auditor Carrie Schroeder of Smith & Newell CPAs presented on the 2021/2022 Audit Report available on the website for reference). Page 1- is the independent auditor's report where they provide an opinion on the financial statements as a whole. The city received an unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of opinion a city can receive. Page 13- is the Statement of Net Position with all the assets and liabilities (including long-term), and she covered these items in great detail. The city equity increased over the referenced fiscal year by about 3% to $35.4 million. Page 16- is the balance sheet which breaks down governmental funds by major funds. The cash in the general fund is $2.5 million. The governmental finance accounting office recommends at least two months' worth of expenditures in the unrestricted account (which is about 16%) and the city has approximately double that at 33%. Page 18- has the revenues and expenditures for the general fund. Total revenue is about $4.2 million. Total expenditures are about $3.8 million. The net change and fund balance increased by $636k during the year. Detail on all other governmental funds in the general fund are located in the back of the report on a tab labeled "combining nonmajor fund statements". Page 20-22- is the enterprise funds (water and sewer funds). Page 63- compares the final amended budget to the actuals, and Jackson budgeted for $4.3 million while receiving $4.8 million. Expenditures were budgeted at $4.6 million and city spent $4.4 million. Overall, the city received more revenues and did not go over the expenditure budget which is a great outcome for the end of the year.
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Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion. Mayor McLean thanked City Manager Yvonne Kimball, Finance Manager Dalacie Blankenship, and city staff for doing a great job and taking care of the city's money. Councilmember Stimpson recognized and credited the financial success of the city and city budget to City Manager Yvonne Kimball. Kimball expressed gratitude for the compliment and thanked the city team effort, especially Finance Manager Dalacie Blankenship and her team. She expressed sincere gratitude to the City of Jackson team. Mayor McLean stated he is happy to leave Kimball's position open for awhile in case she changes her mind and wants to come back. All council members expressed their desire to see Kimball stay in the city, thanking her for her service and commitment.
Mayor McLean asked for public comments and received none. b. Continued discussion of regular City Council meeting time. (Continued from the May 22, 2023 council meeting.)
Mayor McLean revisited this topic, advising the change to 6:30PM would require an ordinance change. City Attorney Josh Nelson advised the new time can be changed on an interim basis without an ordinance change if desired. At the end of this meeting, the mayor can adjourn the meeting to 6:30PM at 7/10/23 (the next council date), to avoid setting two meetings as previously discussed. No vote required. Council agreed to this trial period for the next meeting. c. Kennedy Mine Foundation / Jackson Rotary Club funding request for Wheel #1 restoration of city matching up to $20,000. [verbal presentation, and council discussion and direction] Pat Crew of Jackson Rotary - The rotary had a presentation by Bill Brawn regarding the condition of Wheel #1 about six months ago and he demonstrated concerns for the wheel making it through the winter. He stated it would probably be $30k to complete the project, which could increase to $40k.
Rotary Club has about $10-12k net from county fair to contribute. Bill does not believe the wheel can take another year without restoration to allow for more fundraising efforts.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion. Council members were all in agreement to preserve this valuable piece of our history. Council briefly discussed possible city funds to pull from. City Attorney Nelson advised that City Manager Kimball pointed out that the Wheel Park is included in the Nexus study for the park and lieu fees and this is adjacent to that, and the city owns the wheel. With a little cleanup, this is a way the city can move forward with funding the project.
Pat Crew advised Rotary Club will put the money in the Amador Community Foundation fund next week. Mayor McLean asked how soon work can start on the wheel Crew stated he hopes in the next 30 days.
Thornton Consolo stated the Kennedy Mine is in the county but Wheel #1 is in the city. He expressed his concerns for the historical sites in Jackson slowly disappearing and support for the city funding this project.
Mitch Betts (Amador resident, 2 years / Rotary Club) - Views the Kennedy Mine as an attraction and center point to draw visitors/tourism. Councilmember Stimpson agreed it is a great historical landmark that needs to be saved.
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Mayor McLean asked for additional public comments and received none. Mayor requests a motion.
Motion to approve the funding request of matching $20,000 for Wheel #1 restoration by Kennedy Mine Foundation/Jackson Rotary Club, and funds to come from the park and lieu fund. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Stimpson, and curried by a 5 to O vote:
AYES: McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
d. Possible appointments of Economic Development Committee appointments. (Continued from the June 12th, 2023 meeting.)
City Manager Kimball provided an update on last meeting results. Out of the seven applicants, Erika Simmons, Tracy Tonnesen, and Wayne Garibaldi each received four votes. Jason Mulford received three votes, and Duane Venhuizen and Eric Butow each received two votes. Emma Jackson received no votes. Kimball advised council can change their positions or redo the entire selection process at council's discretion.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion. Councilmembers each agreed to maintain their previous positions, defaulting to Mayor McLean to make the final decision on Duane Venhuizen or Eric Butow. Mayor McLean selected Duane Venhuizen as the final appointee.
Mayor McLean asked for public comment and received none.
City Attorney Nelson advised there would need to be two motions, one for the five appointees and one for the two councilmembers appointed to the committee. Councilmembers Connie Gonsalves and Bob Stimpson expressed interest in the committee, and Councilmember Max Godde expressed interest in being an alternate. City Attorney Nelson clarified there are no alternates for this committee.
Motion to approve Economic Development Committee member appointment of Wayne Garibaldi, Jason Mulford, Erika Simmons, Tracy Tonnesen, and Duane Venhuizen. Moved by Councilmember Stimpson, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 4 to 1 vote:
AYES: McLean, Simmons, Godde, Stimpson
NOES: Gonsalves
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
June 26, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve Economic Development Committee council member appointment of Connie Gonsalves and Bob Stimpson. Moved by Vice Mayor Simmons, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
e. County Board of Supervisors invitation to participate in discussions to develop a ballot measure for a self-help sales tax for roads. [Expected action: council discussion regarding willingness to participate and possible council designation of representatives.] City Manager Kimball advised the city received a letter last week from Amador County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Brown, looking to form an ad hoc committee between cities and county to consider the possibility of a self-help tax initiative for roads. The letter is seeking city participation and appointment of a representative to participate in discussions.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion. Councilmember Stimpson advised this discussion previously came about just before COVID and was placed on hold. He expressed interest in rejoining these discussions. Mayor McLean advised one of the main concerns at ACT meetings is on the conditions of roads in our county. He empathized with residents concerns over increased taxes and whether they will be spent accordingly.
Mayor McLean asked for public comments.
Supervisor Pat Crew reminded council the previous discussions had to do with the city addressing road problems alone in Jackson or unify with the county. Sutter Creek has intimated they may want to handle it alone. There are positives and negatives on going alone, as a city on its own has a smaller base of votes to get the tax approved but would control all the money. If cities join in with the county, the majority of the money goes to county although the majority of the money comes from the city. Councilmember Stimpson advised they previously wanted a unified campaign as it was much more cost effective. Crew advised the point of the conversations now is to make a decision and begin public education sooner rather than later. Crew advised a study was completed in 40, and the more torn up the roads get the more money it costs to fix them. With the $1.8 to $2.1 million received from SB1 and $880k from county each year, we only get about half of what is needed for roads each year, so progress is moving backwards. Cities do not generate enough to take on road projects themselves typically, so a unified solution seems to make the most sense.
June 26, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes
Motion to join in discussions with the County Board of Supervisors to develop a ballot measure for a self-help tax for roads and appoint Councilmember Stimpson as city representative. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Vice Mayor Simmons and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: McLean, Simmons, Gudde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7. REGULAR MEETING ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor McLean adjourned this meeting at 8:08 p.m to 6:30 p.m. on July 10th, 2023.
City Manager Yvonne Kimball advised the Civic Center is expected to be complete on July 17i, 2023, and council meetings may resume there in August.
8. CLOSED SESSION.
Public Employment pursuant to Government Code 54957. Title: City Manager
9. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor McLean adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m.
ATTEST:
hol 7/10/23
Joha Georgette, City Clerk Date Approved