CITY OF MONTAGUE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 4, 2024
6:30 P.M.
Council Chambers, 230 S. 13th Street, Montague, CA 96064 PARTICIPATION: 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 WebEx at:
• Meeting number (access code): 2630 874 0065
• Telephone at:,1-650-479-3208 When prompted, enter Meeting ID: 26308740065 Passcode: *89335983 AGENDA PACKET: Copies of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to any item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection 72 hours before each regularly scheduled meeting at the City Clerk’s office at City Hall, located at 230 S. 13th Street, Montague, California, during normal business hours. Any writing that is subject to disclosure that relates to an agenda item for open session distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s office during normal business hours. Materials distributed to a majority of councilmembers less than 72 hours before a meeting will be available for public inspection on the City’s website at www.cityofmontagueca.com.
SPEAKERS: Speakers, please stand at the podium and speak loudly so the entire room can hear you. The chairman 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.
Please silence your cell phones. Thank you!
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA:
I. CALL TO ORDER: @ 6:30 PM
II. ROLL CALL: Murakami, Vela, Jackson, and Dooley present III. PLEDGE OF ALLIGIANCE:
IV. 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 within the authority of the City Council. If your comments concern an item noted on the Regular Agenda, please address the City Council when that item is open for public comment.” (The Brown Act requires the public be given the opportunity to address the City 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 City Council has the right to reasonably limit the duration of each speaker to three minutes. Speakers may not cede their time. The City 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. Chief Vela asks if the council would move the fire department report up in the agenda. Granted.
Dwayne Downin reporting. On the corner of Julian and 14th street there is a culvert that is collapsed and he has tried calling the Public Works Dept and the City Clerks Office and has had no one come to fix the problem. The water is pooling in front of his house. Mayor Murakami says that he will look into it.
V. AGENDA APPROVAL: Approved with changes of moving the fire department report to the end of department reports instead of council and staff reports. Motion made by Vela, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
VI. 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 12/7: Approved. Motion made by Dooley, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
https://cityofmontague-454.my.webex.com/meet/clerk
VII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
1. Sheriff’s update for December 2023: Nowdeshea presenting. Report included.
2. City Engineer’s update for December 2023: No report.
3. Planning Commission’s update for December 2023: No meeting.
4. Fire Department: Chief Vela presenting. Report included.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Review of Montague Balloon Fair presented by Joan Freeman, President of Montague Rotary Club: Diane Torpin presenting. Joan is currently in the hospital with her husband. Report included. Says they are donating $2,000 to the Community Hall for outside lights. The balloon fair dates for next year will be September 21-23 of 2024. Diane asks for the Balloon Fair MOU to be on next months agenda.
2. Consideration to approve Owen Oster, Micah Nicols, and Westlee Ward as a Montague Fire Department Volunteer Firefighter: Owen could not be present due to illness. Approved. Motion made by Jackson, seconded by Vela. All Ayes. Micah has 6+ years of experience in firefighting. Approved. Motion made by Dooley, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes. Westlee wants to help citizens in the community, and help his experience to make firefighting a career. Approved. Motion made by Jackson, seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
3. Consideration of approving the 2nd addendum to the memorandum of understanding & agreement to provide law enforcement services: Council asks why new substation is not listed on contract. Thos addendum is a one year extension. Approved. Motion made by Dooley, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
4. Consideration to approve amended employee wage table for 2024: Approved. Motion made by Jackson, seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
5. Consideration of pay out of 40 hours of vacation and Fridays off for David Dunn: Council tells Dave they would like him to use the time for vacations if possible. He says that he has a couple trips that he is taking next year but he doesn’t want to lose any vacation in the meantime. Approved. Motion made by Jackson, seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
6. Consideration of approval of City Event employee compensation: Approved. Motion made by Vela, seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
7. Consideration of approval of Resolution 23-10- Montague Housing Rehab + PI: Clerk Monday presenting. This resolution is to change the title of Jessica Monday from Assistant City Clerk to City Clerk for the approval to sign on the city’s behalf for this grant. Approved. Motion made by Jackson, seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
8. Consideration of accepting contract with company to update city website: The council approves the contract with Town Web with a financial review. Motion made by Dooley, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS for December 2023
1. Fire Department: Moved to Department reports.
2. Public Works: Dunn presenting. Interviews next Tuesday for new maintenance worker I
3. City Administrator: Dunn presenting. Went through all of the applicants for the event coordinator. Needs to set a date with council for interviews
4. Animal Control/ Code Enforcement: Report included.
5. City Clerk: Clerk Monday presenting. Interviews Wednesday for new account clerk.
6. Treasurer: No report.
7. Library: Report included.
8. Commissioner/ Council Statements and Requests: Members of the council may now make brief announcements, reports, or request staff to report to the council on any matter at a subsequent meeting.
1. ADJOURN: @7:40 PM
Motion to adjourn made by Vela, seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.