CITY OF MONTAGUE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
August 6, 2026
6:30 P.M.
Council Chambers, 230 S. 13th Street, Montague, CA 96064 I. CALL TO ORDER: @ 6:30 PM
II. ROLL CALL: Vela, Murakami, 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.
Alex Hopkins says the MVFD has some very serious issues. On a very recent event Murakami allowed a very inexperienced firefighter with no training to run on a medical call with two juvenile explorers by themselves. Bylaws have been violated. All three engines were out of service all last week and this is the second time that this has happened. He also wants to know why Schroeder got appointed Captain when there was no vote to vote him in as Captain and he lacks experience. Chaz Jones wanted to know why he was in charge of two juvenile explorers for a fall assist when he had no certification and should have supervision. When he called Murakami for direction on the situation he was told to respond to the call and that Takeshi would meet him there. EMS responded before Murakami arrived. He was distraught over the incident and how it was handled. Rick Deavilla was very concerned and shocked that Council did not have a meeting about the Grand Jury Report and wanted to know why there was not a meeting about it. Amanda Hopkins says that Murakami is in violation of ordinances. There was a complaint requesting information on two different fires. She received Vela’s report. When she tried to retrieve Murakami’s report for the requests, he stated that he would write a report then asked her to rewrite her report for these requests.
She provided the Council with copies of the reports. She was given the reports back per her request. May 14th Murakami was made aware that there were no working radios at the station/on the engines. That night she responded to a fire with no radio because it was in our district. Elizabeth Stillman wanted to address some complaints about the pool. She explained that they took their jobs seriously and wanted to provide a safe environment and in order to so that they had to enforce the rules. Samantha Nichols had a complaint about the pool closing early due to lack of attendance on a free swim day. Katelyn Canahan wanted to speak on the complaints about the pool and explain that the rules were being enforced to ensure the safety of everyone.
V. AGENDA APPROVAL: Approved as presented. Motion made by Jackson. Seconded by Dooley.
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 July 9, 2026. Approved as presented. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Dooley. All Ayes.
VII. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
1. Sheriff’s update for July 2026. Presented by Sgt. Amezcua.
2. City Engineer’s update for July 2026. The Pickel Ball Association wants to do a park grant to update the park at City Hall.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Discussion of the results of the CDBG Housing Rehab and Income Survey. Presented by Brandy of Great Northern.
2. Discussion of the Siskiyou Economic Developments nomination of Montague as part of California’s Opportunity Zone 2.0 application process. Tabled.
3. Discussion of approval of Resolution No. 26-11. A resolution of the City of Montague adopting a list of projects for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 funded by SB 1: The road repair and accountability act of 2017. Adoption approved. Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
4. Discussion possible approval of MOU between the City of Montague and the Rotary Club of Montague. Approved. Motion made by Dooley. Seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.
5. Pool Coordinator update on Fundraiser Dinner for the Montague Pool. Presented by Johnson.
IX. COUNCIL AND STAFF REPORTS FOR JULY 2026:
1. Fire Department: Presented by Murakami. Murakami is stepping away from Assistant Fire Chief and has appointed Schroeder as Captain.
2. Public Works/City Administrator: Presented by Dunn. Report in packet.
3. Animal Control/ Code Enforcement: Report in packet.
4. City Clerk: Report in packet.
5. Treasurer: No report.
6. Library: Report in packet.
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.
Dooley wanted to clarify that she was available for the special meeting scheduled on July’s meeting to discuss the Civil Grand Jury’s report. It was the attorney that was not available and this is why it was cancelled. Vela had questions for the attorney who was not in attendance this meeting. He also stated the need to recruit and vote on a new Chief for the MVFD since it should have been done when Chief Vela resigned. He also asked for the attorney be put on the next agenda for employee review, council agreed to put this item on the agenda for October.
X. ADJOURN: @ 8:21 PM Motion made by Vela. Seconded by Jackson. All Ayes.