MINUTES
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 4, 2023
6:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER: @ 6:30 PM
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
ROLL CALL: Vela, Rivera, Murakami, Dooley, and Jackson present PUBLIC COMMENTS: “This time is set aside for the public to address the City Council on matters listed on the Consent Agenda as well as other items not included on the Regular Agenda. If your comments concern an item noted on the Regular Agenda, please address the Council when that item is open for public comment.” (The Brown Act requires the public be given the opportunity to address the Council before action is taken. If there is a Consent Agenda, there is no other opportunity for public comment on items on the Consent Agenda.) The Council has the right to reasonably limit the duration of each speaker to three minutes. Speakers may not cede their time. The Council may ask questions but may take no action during the Public Comments portion of the meeting, except to direct staff to prepare a report, or to place an item on a future agenda.
Rob Hood presenting, His neighbor took in 5 litters of kittens, got them all fixed, kept them, and has passed away. The daughter has stepped in trying to take care of all the cats but does not live at the residence. Total cats that were counted were 28 fixed cats and 8 feral. Because they are not being fed on a regular basis they are going after the chickens and dogs that live around the neighborhood. Rob sees this as abandonment and would like to have something done. Council recommends filing a formal complaint with the City Clerks office. It was also stated that the city does not have the resources to deal with this issue. ACO says that the neighbor did not break any law. Rob says he knows there is a state law about animal abandonment, but the city only reinforces city laws. The council recommends he finds something in the City’s ordinance code or talks to the county about helping.
AGENDA APPROVAL: Approved. Motion made by Vela, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
SPEAKERS: Speakers, please stand at the podium and speak loudly so the entire room can hear you.
The mayor will recognize you and ask that you state your name and mailing address so that the City Staff can follow up on any issues requiring City action, or provide you with information, if appropriate.
CONSENT CALENDAR: Discussion/possible action - All matters listed under the consent calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one motion unless any member of the Council wishes to remove an item for discussion, or a member of the audience wishes to comment on an item. The City Clerk recommends approval of the following consent calendar items:
1. Approval of City Council Meeting minutes for 4/6 and 4/24: Approved. Motion made by Dooley, seconded by Rivera. All Ayes.
Pursuant to the Governor of the State of California’s Executive Order N-29-20, access to the Montague City Council regular council meeting can be accessed to the public by calling the following conference (phone) number and utilizing the conference (access) code:
Participants can attend in person, online, and/or by telephone, as follows:
In-person at: Montague City Council Chambers, 230 S. 13th St.
Online via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6722621496?pwd=STQxMG94em1CejZwbCthNmNnem1Tdz09 Telephone at: 1(669)444-9171 When prompted, enter Meeting ID: 672 262 1496 Passcode: *89335983 *9 to Raise Hand *6 to unmute
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Sheriff’s update for April 2023: Nowdesha presenting. Towers is injured and should be back on duty by next meeting.
City Engineer update for April 2023: No update.
Planning Commission update for April 2023: Cancelled meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Discussion/possible action to approve bid for Montague’s IT business: Vela presenting. Mountaineer IT is explained to be midlevel technology compared to Right Click Tech which was high level technology. Suggested to go with Right Click. Approved. Motion made by Dooley, seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
2. Discussion/possible action to update Yreka Little League MOU: New President of the Little League came into the office and signed the new MOU the day before the meeting. Approved. Motion made by Jackson, seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
3. Discussion/ possible action of processes for driving development for vacant housing: Murakami presenting.
Made calls to other cities that had similar ordinances. The other cities have been citing these properties, taking them to court to obtain ownership, and then calling a company that specializes in receiverships to clean up and auction off for the city. The companies are Griswold, Silver and Right, or Bay Area Receivership Group. It was recommended not to use Bay Area Receivership Group because they do not clean up, only auction off the property. The council asks the City Clerk to get ahold of the attorney and see if he can do a zoom meeting to have a discussion on this subject. Approved to move forward. Motion made by Rivera, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
4. Discussion/ possible action to approve payment for lifeguard training: City Clerk presents. City of Etna had backed out of teaming with the City of Montague and the City of Yreka to help train all lifeguards. We also were denied permission to use their pool so the Pool Coordinator had called City of Weed and was able to get all of the lifeguards and herself trained for a cheaper price. The City of Yreka is still willing to split the cost. $500 will be paid by the City of Montague and the City of Montague. Pool Coordinator comes in later into the discussion and takes over presenting. The Pool Coordinator would also like to have a car wash and a fundraiser for the funds that the city is paying and to raise awareness of the Pool Dinner on May 27th. Council member Vela suggests that we hold the car wash at the humane societies parking lot on Main Street in Yreka. Vela will take it to the board meeting for the Humane Society next week. Payment for lifeguard training approved. Motion made by Jackson, seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
NEW BUSINESS:
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS for April 2023
• Fire Department
• Public Works/City Administrator
• Water/Sewer
• Animal Control/Code Enforcement
• City Clerk
• Treasurer
• Library
• Commissioners/Council Statements and Requests: Members of the council may make brief announcements, reports, or request staff to report to the council on any matter at a subsequent meeting.
ADJOURN: @7:52 PM
Motion made by Vela, seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
ATTEST: CITY OF MONTAGUE:
X_____________________________ X_________________________________
JESSIE MONDAY, CITY CLERK TAKESHI MURAKAMI, MAYOR