CITY OF MONTAGUE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA MINUTES
August 7, 2025
6:30 P.M.
Council Chambers, 230 S. 13th Street, Montague, CA 96064
I. CALL TO ORDER: @ 6:30 PM
II. ROLL CALL: Vela, Dooley, and Murakami present. Jackson absent.
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 under New Business or Old Business 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. Mr. Pearson of 820 Old Montague Rd.
Wanted to express his gratitude for making sure the brush was cleared off and properties were secured for the fireworks this year. Melissa Cummings, Executive Director of the Siskiyou County Local Transportation Commission. Requesting to add an agenda item regarding waiving the Community Hall fee for an upcoming public workshop that they have related to one of the commissions profits.
V. AGENDA APPROVAL: There is an item that is repeated on agenda under new business item number 5. This will be replaced with. Consideration of waiving the fee for the community hall for public workshop for Siskiyou County Local Transportation. Approved with changes discussed. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley.
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. The City Clerk recommends approval of the following consent calendar items:
1. Approval of City Council Meeting minutes for 6/5/25, 6/23/25, AND 4/29/25. Approved as is. Motion made by Dooley. Seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
VII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
1. Sheriff’s update for July 2025 -No report.
2. City Engineer’s update for July 2025 -Presented by Dunn. The paving of 12th and 14th Street is completed.
They are preparing to pave 9th to city limits and West Prather Street. Construction is projected to start FY 26-
27. 3. Planning Commission’s update for July 2025 -No meeting last month.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Consideration of approval of GENERAL PLAN INTRODUCTION, LAND USE ELEMENT, AND
ZONING CODE UPDATES
a. Staff Report. Presented by Rico. Report in packet.
b. Public Hearing. No public questions.
JACKSON present @ 6:45 PM.
c. Decision. -Move to make the finding of the project does not have the potential to result in a significant adverse effect on the environment and is exempt from environmental review persona to CEQA guideline section 15061B3. Approved. Motion made by Dooley. Seconded by Jackson. All Ayes. -Move to adopt resolution 25-04 updating the City of Montague’s general plan introduction of the land use element. APPROVED. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes. Move to introduce the ordinance 25-01 an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Montague amending titles 12, 14, 15, and 17 of the Montague municipal code by title only. Approved. Motion made by Jackson. Seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
2. Consideration of approval of Resolution 25-01 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Montague adopting the updating the General Plan Introduction and Land Use Element Updates. -Move to waive future readings of ordinance 25-01 and that we direct staff to bring the ordinance back for adoption at the next regular meeting. Approved. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
3. Consideration of approval to allow Mercedes Billingsley rent Diggle field for the Montague slow pitch softball games. -Presented by Jordon Billingsley. Asking to rent Diggle field from August 17 to October 26 for little league. Approved. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
4. Consideration of approval of Resolution 25-06 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MONTAGUE ADOPTING A LIST OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 FUNDED BY SB 1:
THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACY OF 2017. Presented by Dunn. In 2017 the tax payers voted to have a certain portion of gas money goes towards road repair projects in cities. How much money the city receives is based off fuel sales. The city typically makes between $28,000.00 and $32,000.00 per year for projects, so it takes several years to save enough to do a project. The proposed project that is in the resolution is redoing the sidewalk around the school. We are aspiring to have enough money next year to do part of it.
Approved as discussed. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
5. Consideration of approval to waive the Community Hall fee for an upcoming public workshop by the Siskiyou County Local Transportation Commission. -Presented by Melissa Cummings. The public workshop is about evacuation preparedness being held at the Rotary Room on September 8th at 5:30 pm. Approved.
Motion made by Dooley. Seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
6. Consideration of approval of appointment of Abdeirahaman, Sajad Marquis-Abou Khulil ,Connor Tuffanelli, Tyrell Bryant, and Mason Mercier to the Montague Volunteer Fire Department. -Presented by Murakami.
Sajad is pending work visa. Tabled. Conner, not present for interview due to training class. Approved.
Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Jackson. All Ayes. Tyrell was interviewed. Approved. Motion made by Jackson. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes. Mason was interviewed. Approved. Motion made by Vela.
Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes. Tyrell and Mason are sworn into the Montague Volunteer Fire Department.
IX. COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS for July 2025
1. Fire Department: Presented by Murakami. Report in packet.
2. Public Works/City Administrator: Presented by Dunn. Report in packet.
3. Animal Control/ Code Enforcement: Presented by Hopkins. Report in packet.
4. City Clerk: Presented by Smith. Report in packet.
5. Treasurer: Report in packet.
6. Library: No report.
7. 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. -Jackson is concerned about the lack of advertisement on social media about the pool. -Murakami is interested in possibly looking into a different law enforcement agency to patrol Montague. -Vela is wanting the Freedom Festival detailed report available for next council meeting for review.
X. ADJOURN: @ 8:00 PM Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.