CITY OF MONTAGUE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
December 4, 2025
6:30 P.M.
Council Chambers, 230 S. 13th Street, Montague, CA 96064
I. CALL TO ORDER: @ 6:30 PM
II. ROLL CALL: Murakami, Vela, Dooley, and Jackson 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 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. Rick Deavilla of 531 W. Webb St. On Monday morning, December 1, 2025, there was a buck off Buell St. that was injured and sick. He feels that it was not the City Manager’s nor the city’s Animal Control’s responsibility to humanely take the buck down. The buck was lying against the fence about 10 feet from his grandson’s bedroom. The 3 shots that were fired were in the direction of that bedroom. The buck was removed from his grandson’s neighbors’ yard by Dunn and Hopkins.
Fish and Game sent an officer to investigate, and the City Manger and Animal Control were interviewed. He wants to know since when are any city employees allowed to carry a gun. He doesn’t care if they have a concealed weapons permit. It doesn’t make it okay to carry a gun with you on the job. He feels there needs to be an investigation and he wants some answers. The incident happened on the corner of 5th and Buell. The owner of the home had called the previous Tuesday about the buck in her back yard. It took almost an entire week for someone to come take a look at the buck, it was in very bad shape and needed to be dispatched, but it wasn’t the responsibility of the City of Montague to do that without notifying the proper authorities. Rick Deavilla’s daughter, mother of the grandson. She is very upset. She couldn’t make it through work that day. She felt that her son could have been injured, she felt that the city did not handle the incident professionally and she filed a Sherrif’s report.
V. AGENDA APPROVAL: Approved as is. 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. The City Clerk recommends approval of the following consent calendar items:
1. Approval of City Council Meeting minutes for November 6, 2025. Approved. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
VII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
1. Sheriff’s update for November 2025. St. Yates presenting. November report in packet.
2. City Engineer’s update for November 2025. Jose presenting. See new business number 1.
3. Planning Commission’s update for November 2025 (no meeting in September). Dunn presenting. Meeting was an update from Code Enforcement, presented by Hopkins.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Consideration of approval of DRAFT of Water and Sewer Rates. Jose presenting. Approved to send out a public hearing letter outlining the proposed rate increase draft. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley.
Murakami, Aye. Jackson, No.
2. Discussion of Flagpole and Planter Box at Welcome to Montague Sign. Approved. Stan Sears and Mike Peters donation. Motion made by Dooley. Seconded by Vela. All Ayes.
3. Consideration of approval of updating pay scale for 2026. Approved. A .90 cent increase for all employees across the board to accommodate the increase of minimum wage effective January 1, 2026. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
IX. COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS FOR NOVEMBER 2025:
1. Fire Department: Murakami presenting.
2. Public Works/City Administrator: Dunn presenting.
3. Animal Control/ Code Enforcement: Dunn presenting.
4. City Clerk: Smith presenting.
5. Treasurer: Not present. No report.
6. Library: Susie presenting.
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.
There was a discussion about electing a 5th Council Member. Decision was made to put the topic on the next regular council meeting agenda under closed session. It was decided to move the January 2026 council meeting to January 15th at 6:30pm. Decision was made that the Christmas Bazaar for the City of Montague will be held the Saturday after Black Friday going forward.
1. ADJOURN: @ 7:24 PM Motion made by Dooley. Seconded by Vela. All Ayes.