Orland City Council Minutes – January 17, 2023 1 | P a g e
MINUTES OF THE ORLAND CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING HELD JANUARY 17, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order by Mayor Dobbs at 6:30 PM.
Meeting opened with Pledge of Allegiance
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: Matt Romano, John McDermott, Jeffrey Tolley, Vice Mayor Bruce Roundy, and Mayor Chris Dobbs
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: City Manager Pete Carr; Assistant City
Manager/Director of Administrative Services Rebecca
Pendergrass; City Attorney Greg Einhorn; Public Works
Director Ed Vonasek; Police Chief Joe Vlach; City Clerk Jennifer Schmitke; City Engineer Paul Rabo (via Zoom)
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Warrant List (payable obligations)
B. Approve City Council Minutes for January 3, 2023
C. 2
ND Quarter Report – City Projects
D. Receive and file Arts Commission Minutes for November 16, 2022 E. Approve and adopt second reading of Ordinance 2023-01: Reasonable Accommodation Councilmember Romano asked about an item on the warrant list for Logic Engineering. Assistant City Manager Rebecca Pendergrass explained that the expense was the retention fee from the Caltrans funded pedestrian crossing project that was recently completed.
Action: Vice Mayor Roundy moved, seconded by Councilmember Romano, to approve the consent calendar as presented. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
PRESENTATIONS
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND ENGINEERING ANNUAL REVIEW – ED VONASEK, PUBLIC WORKS
DIRECTOR AND PAUL RABO, CITY ENGINEER
Mr. Vonasek presented an annual review of the Public Works Department. Mr. Vonasek explained that during the past year the department has continued to oversee and maintain water and sewer mains & lines, streets, parks, storm drains, building maintenance, fleet vehicles, and tree removal/replacement.
Item 5.B.
Orland City Council Minutes – January 17, 2023 2 | P a g e Vice Mayor Roundy shared with Council that the current drainage system that Orland has is based on a 25-year event and that the system is not built to drain water quickly. Mr. Vonasek agreed that when the City gets storms that produce large amounts of water quickly the current system isn’t able to drain quickly but explained that the City has very porous soil which does help with water drainage.
Highlights and accomplishments for this past year include the completion of the Linwood Park fitness stations which were donated by Orland Rotary, the completion of the pickleball courts in Vinsonhaler park, installation of a water bottle filling station at the pool as well as updates to a storage shed at the Orland Pool that was sponsored by the Orland Otters. Mr. Vonasek shared that City crews continue working with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) on connecting City and County residents to City water. Mr. Vonasek explained that he has also been working with Caltrans and a local artist on the Caltrans interchange art project and that it should be installed on I-5 in April 2023. Additionally, Mr.
Vonasek stated that the City of Orland is loaning out one mechanic, on an as-needed basis, to help the City of Willows as their emergency vehicle mechanic is out.
Councilmember McDermott asked if Public Works needed any additional help with regards to the DWR project and stated he understands that the City has their own day-to-day work and wants to make sure that the Public Works Department has enough support. Mr. Vonasek shared that the State will be providing additional support in construction. Mr. Carr shared that any future water main installations will be completed by a contractor and the Public Works crew will connect the laterals.
Councilmember Romano asked what the next steps are regarding the DWR project. Paul Rabo explained the order of the project phases and is hopeful the bids will be able to go out by end of January for the pipeline (phase 2a and 2b).
Goals for 2023 include: working on new connections for people who are participating in the DWR Orland area water project, completing the Caltrans interchange art project, and beginning on Road M ½ street reconstruction project.
Joyce Bippus, Orland resident, asked about the Caltrans art project and stated concerns she had with the project. Mr. Carr confirmed that the project is 100% paid for by Caltrans and shared that the art is part of the Clean California project.
Amanda Samons, Orland resident, stated her concerns for Lely Park and mentioned that during the last rainstorm she noticed people were driving through the water near the Rec Center at Lely park and asked if there is a way that the City could block the Rec Center parking lot so that when the park becomes flooded people cannot drive into the park creating damage to the park. Mayor Dobbs asked staff if they would work together on a solution to this situation and Mr. Carr thanked Ms. Samons for her suggestion.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
A. MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW – PETE CARR, CITY MANAGER
City Manager Carr presented Council with a mid-year budget review for fiscal year 2022/2023. Mr. Carr shared that General Fund revenues are 6% over budget with sales tax and property tax providing the bulk of the income and shared that expenditures are 5% under budget.
Orland City Council Minutes – January 17, 2023 3 | P a g e Measure A revenue is coming in at 6% ahead of the budget and expenditures are running 33% ahead of budget. Mr. Carr mentioned a correction in the budget requested by administration, $55K was presented and approved for Fire Department “Facility & Equipment Maintenance & Improvements” but when edits were made $15K was misprinted to the final budget adoption. Mr. Carr shared that $55K is the correct number needed for this expense for repairs to the fire building and fire engines.
The water and sewer funds are both on track for fiscal year. The water fund has about $1.06M in revenues covering water system and storm drainage operating, expenditures are about $.8M and will help accomplish planned necessary capital projects. Revenue so far, this fiscal year is 3% better than planned budget, expenditures 4% under budget. The sewer fund expenditures of $586K are running 6% below budget against revenue which is almost right on plan at $650K.
Councilmember Romano asked what the reserves were set at for the water fund. Mr. Carr referred to the 2022/2023 (page 29 of budget) stating the water fund has $198K in revenue above expenditures and stated there is over a million in reserves that has been accumulated over the past years, showing (page 4 of budget) on summary page the water enterprise fund balance of $3.2M as of June 2022.
ACTION: Vice Mayor Roundy moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley to approve the $40k adjustment to Measure A to increase the budget for the Fire Department and direct staff to continue for the balance of this fiscal year as previously authorized and directed. The motion was carried 5-0 by a voice vote.
B. VERBAL UPDATE ON DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND WATER SUPPLY PROJECT City Manager Pete Carr shared that the City is at 77% of a normal year’s precipitation so far. Mr. Carr showed a graph of precipitation showing that Orland has received 15 inches of rain so far this year. Mr.
Carr reported that as of this morning Black Butte Lake is at 55% full and discharge is 12,876 cubic feet per second.
Mr. Carr shared that the City wells haven’t seen a noticeable change since September and stated Glenn County is still in a drought. Mr. Carr provided an update on reported dry wells, stating there has only been one new at-risk well reported since the last update at the December 6th Council meeting. Currently the total number of dry or at-risk wells being reported this year is at 127 and the total number of wells affected for this drought is now listed at 427 in Glenn County.
Mr. Carr reminded Council that the ground water project that the City is working on with DWR will be connecting about 185 Glenn County residents to City water. A mobile home park near Orland is now interested in connecting to City water and we are in the process of looking into funding to help them get connected.
Mr. Carr stated that City wells continue to get tested weekly for well levels and quality, well levels remain stable, and the City continues to produce good drinking water.
Councilmember Tolley asked if staff had an idea of how long it would take to see a difference in well levels. Mr. Vonasek stated there isn’t really a way to predict that. Mr. Vonasek shared that the water being pushed down Stony Creek will probably be more helpful to recharge the groundwater more than the rainfall when it comes to see a difference in well levels. Councilmember Tolley asked if staff could provide an updated chart to show the currently well levels at the next Council meeting. Mr. Carr shared Orland City Council Minutes – January 17, 2023 4 | P a g e that the City’s shallow wells are 50-60 feet below the surface and the deeper wells are 120-140 ft below the surface.
Joyce Bippus, Orland resident, asked about the testing of the City wells and stated her concerns for the quality of water at her home. Ms. Bippus asked if the testing is posted anywhere for residents to view and Mr. Vonasek stated that the annual report is posted on the City website. Mr. Rabo explained the State’s requirements for reporting and stated that the Consumer Confidence Report that is published shows when there are areas of concern. Mr. Rabo stated nothing shows in the report that suggests that the City water is contaminated or proposes a threat to residents.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
Councilmember Tolley:
• Shared the reason he was absent from the last meeting was because of a medical emergency he had resulting in him having to have brain surgery. Councilmember Tolley stated he is on the road to recovery and thankful for all the support from the City and Orland residents.
Vice Mayor Roundy:
• Will be attending the Transportation and Transit meeting January 18th. • Recommended getting a letter from the City of Orland to Caltrans stating concerns about getting the Streetscapes project moving.
• Glenn County Water Authority will be meeting on February 13th. • LAFCo will be meeting on February 13th.
Mayor Dobbs:
• Mayor Dobbs shared that he will be attending a new Mayors and Councilmembers seminar in Sacramento January 18th ,19th and 20th with Councilmembers Romano and McDermott. • Will be attending the County appointments meeting next week.
Councilmember Romano:
• Asked for an update on the status on the new roof, new doors, and HVAC upgrade for the Library. Mr. Vonasek gave Council an update on the upcoming projects. • Attended the Chamber Buzz on January 12th.
Councilmember McDermott:
• Nothing to report.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:29 PM
Jennifer Schmitke, City Clerk Chris Dobbs, Mayor