CITY OF
CITY OF JACKSON
City Council Meeting Minutes
JACKSON June 24, 2024
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 (attended remotely) Connie Gonsalves, Council Member
Bob Stimpson, Council Member Chris Mynderup, Police Chief Bree Wilder, Public Works Superintendent (absent)
ABSENT: None
Carleen Kirkpatrick, Deputy City Clerk
Mayor McLean called the meeting to order at 6:30 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 dated June 24, 2024 as presented. Moved by Vice Mayor Simmons, seconded by Councilmember Stimpson, 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.
None.
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 June 10, 2024 meeting minutes.
b. Approval of Expenditure Report in the amount of $363,944.16.
C. Resolution No. 2024-16 Intending to Extend the Passage of the FY 23/24 Final Budget to After July 1, 2024.
d. Approval of Special Events application for Lions Club July 3rd Fireworks show and festivities at Detert Park.
June 24, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar dated June 24, 2024 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Godde, seconded by Councilmember Gonsalves, 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.
Interim Fire Chief, Dale Fishback - Fire truck #1 is fully in service/available for dispatch. The first wildland fire in the area was the end of last week above the top of the Electra Canyon; two pieces of Jackson equipment and 6 personnel responded. Great experience for some of the new staff. Pancake Breakfast is returning at the downtown fire department on the second Sunday in October, kicking off Fire Prevention Week. Second interview with Fire Chief candidate is Friday 6/28/24. Vice Mayor Simmons inquired about fire abatement near the radio tower on the Oro de Amador property. Fishback advised it is currently too hot and dry but if weather allows it may be scheduled. Fishback advised not to mow the property right now.
Police Chief, Chris Mynderup - Police Clerk interviews are complete-position offered and accepted by applicant lesha Graham - currently in backgrounds, family has background in law enforcement. High heats seem to be impacting public behavior and there has been an increase in calls for service this month.
City Attorney, Josh Nelson - Provided an update on an initiative approved to be placed on the November ballot that would have fundamentally changed the way both the state and local governments raise taxes and charge fees, specifically changing standards for our water and sewer rates from recovering our reasonable cost to being the lowest possible cost. This language could have invited further litigation, given its ambiguity. The Legislature and others filed a litigation to remove the initiative from the ballot, arguing it was beyond the scope of voters to approve, and this is one that actually goes straight to the California Supreme Court which issued a decision last week removing the initiative from the November ballot, determining it would fundamentally change the way the government is structured in California such that it was beyond the ability of the voters to approve in a simple initiative. CalCities has great resources available to read on the item further.
City Manager, Carl P. Simpson - No report.
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.
June 24, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Gonsalves - No report.
Councilmember Godde - Attended the Kennedy Min Foundation meeting, Amador Council of Tourism monthly meeting, and the Amador Water Agency mixer.
Councilmember Stimpson - The last LAFCO meeting was cancelled. The Air District Board has not met for a little while but Herminia Perry advised there is another program coming up soon similar to the one done previously with small engines and police vehicles. Stimpson will continue to provide updates.
Vice Mayor Simmons - Attended ACRA meeting- PW Supt Wilder and City Manager meeting with ACRA Director Michael Rock soon to discuss partnering to fix up the Scout Hut.
Mayor McLean - Attended the Amador County Chamber of Commerce board meeting, the Amador County Transportation Commission and Transit meetings. Attending a ribbon cutting at the new Caliber Tires center on Hwy 49 this week.
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. Presentation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding clean-up activities at the Argonaut Mine Superfund Site [John Hillenbrand, US EPA Project Manager].
John Hillenbrand presented on the topic. (The PowerPoint is available on the City Website under meeting minutes, for more details.) A public meeting will be held on Thursday 6/27/24 from 3PM-8PM in the Civic Center at City Hall to answer questions and provide the full-length presentation.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion. Councilmember Stimpson inquired if the goal of the clean-up is to keep people safe and alive, what cost is placed on a human life? Hillenbrand advised clean-up versus risk reduction evaluation resulted in spending up to $2 million per person to reduce/remove risk of potential of someone getting cancer.
Mayor McLean asked for public comments. A member of the public inquired about methods for specific testing samples. Hillenbrand provided some detail and offered to meet with the resident after the meeting and advised of the public meeting later this week. He also provided his contact information.
Hillenbrand answered a question advising that the property owner controls the future of the property, except for activity that would affect specific contaminated areas that cannot be addressed. b. Review and possible award of FY 24/25 TOT Grants with recommendations from the Advisory Committee.
Councilmember Gonsalves introduced the proposals and advised the Amador County Chamber of Commerce could not be reviewed by the committee due to members of the committee having a conflict of interest. Vice Mayor Simmons also removed himself from the meeting during the chamber presentation and Council consideration for this reason.
June 24, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes
Matt Toma and Brad Barnard presented the chamber proposal to Council for consideration.
Motion to approve the award of TOT funds as requested from the Amador County Chamber of Commerce for $20,000, dated June 24, 2024 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 4 to 0 vote:
AYES: McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Simmons (recused himself during consideration and vote) Vice Mayor Simmons returned to the meeting. Councilmembers considered and discussed the proposals from Amador Council of Tourism, Amador Pickleball Club, Baker Street West, Historic Jackson Business Association and the Kennedy Mine Foundation.
Motion to approve the award of TOT funds as requested and recommended by the TOT Advisory Committee to Amador Council of Tourism, Amador Pickleball Club, Baker Street West, Historic Jackson Business Association, and the Kennedy Mine Foundation for a total of $35,552.36, dated June 24, 2024 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Stimpson, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Jamie and Patrick Macklin, owners of Restore Amador I.I.C, presented their request to Council.
Council considered the proposal and discussed potential stipulations to be added to the agreement prior to dispensing funds, and requested the updated agreement be returned to Council on a future consent calendar for final approval. Items of concern pertained to use of the parking lot, building use potentially being limited to activities promoting tourism, and possible return of funds to the City if property is sold within a certain amount of time. City Manager Carl Simpson to connect with owners after receiving further input from Council and the City Attorney to discuss the terms of the updated agreement and potential stipulations to be considered. Mr. & Mrs. Macklin expressed gratitude to Council for the consideration of their proposal and agreed to discuss updated stipulations for the agreement.
Motion to approve the award of TOT funds as requested for $25,000 to Restore Amador LLC, with stipulations to be discussed and determined, and an updated agreement to return to Council on an upcoming consent calendar, dated June 24, 2024.
Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Stimpson, and carried by a 4 to I vote:
AYES: McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Stimpson
NOES: Simmons
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
June 24, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes
c. Review and discuss public request for yield line/stop sign at Schober Ave./Allen St./Perry St.
Resident Anthony Stark (requested this item for discussion) was not present at the meeting.
Police Chief Mynderup presented information on the intersection on behalf of Public Works Superintendent Wilder. A couple complaints have been filed by the public about close calls at this intersection, which is currently a yielded intersection for traffic travelling west on Schober and turning left or right onto Perry Street and Allen Street. The City does not own a yield traffic stencil and would need to borrow one. Mynderup suggested replacing the yield sign with a stop sign. Mynderup recommends running this past our engineering firm, Weber-Ghio for a professional take on solutions.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion. McLean advised there is an overgrown tree near the current yield signs that could be cut back to make the signs a bit more visible and agreed it is a difficult intersection to see around corners. Vice Mayor Simmons inquired about where stop signs might be placed and there was some difference of opinion on which direction of travel they would best be placed
Mayor McLean asked for public comments. Debby Collins expressed that placing a stop sign on the uphill road would be tough for vehicles to resume power and continue up the road. McLean and Mynderup agreed it could be made into a three-way stop. One resident suggested making the downhill a one-way street. Council requested City Manager Simpson refer the item to our contract engineers for evaluation of the intersection and recommendation.
7. REGULAR MEETING ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor McLean adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m. to 6:30p.m. on July 8, 2024.
8. CLOSED SESSION.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency designated representatives: Carl P. Simpson, Dalacie Blankenship; Josh Nelson Employee organization: Jackson SEIU, JPOA, & JPFA
9. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor McLean adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.
ATTEST:
1в 8/17/24
John Georgette, City Clerk Date Approved