Orland City Council Minutes – March 21, 2023 1 | P a g e
MINUTES OF THE ORLAND CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING HELD MARCH 21, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order by Mayor Chris 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, Mayor Chris Dobbs
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: City Manager Pete Carr; Police Chief Joe Vlach; City Engineer Paul Rabo; City Clerk Jennifer Schmitke
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Warrant List (payable obligations)
B. Approve City Council Minutes for March 7, 2023
C. Glenn County Education Center Agreement for Regional Sanitary Sewer Station D. Maverik Commercial Development Agreement Bonds and Deposit E. Receive and file Economic Development Commission Minutes from November 8, 2022 F. Receive and file Economic Development Commission Minutes from January 10, 2023 Councilmember Tolley mentioned that on the November 8, 2023 Economic Development Commission Minutes it stated he was present but he would like it to be known he was not in attendance at that meeting.
Action: Councilmember Tolley moved, seconded by Councilmember McDermott to approve the consent calendar. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
A. AB 742 (JACKSON) LAW ENFORCEMENT: POLICE CANINES
K9 Officer Thomas Roenspie briefed Council on an Assembly Bill that is threatening K9 officers, AB 742, sharing that the intent is to rob officers of an essential, non-lethal, highly effective law enforcement resource for capturing violent offenders. Officer Roenspie spoke about the history of arrests and captures with his K9 partner Dutch as well as the training (25 hours a month) he and Dutch go to all over the State. Officer Roenspie explained the impacts the bill would have on the Orland Police Department (OPD), how valuable K9 Dutch is to the OPD and community and expressed his concerns for all officers that work alongside himself and K9 Dutch if AB 742 is passed. Officer Roenspie reminded Council that the K9 unit is completely community funded and shared it would be a huge disservice to remove this program. Officer Roenspie asked Council to send a letter of opposition to the author, co-author, and State representatives in opposition of AB 742.
Item 4.B.
Orland City Council Minutes – March 21, 2023 2 | P a g e Vice Mayor Roundy asked how many K9’s the Orland Police Department has had. Officer Roenspie shared that there have been three (Ruger, Mickey and Dutch). Vice Mayor Roundy spoke about how important the K9 unit is to the Orland community and shared his thoughts on AB 742 stating his opposition.
Sgt. Sean Johnson spoke to Council about his 10 years of experience being the K9 Supervisor for OPD.
Sgt. Johnson gave statistics from the Orland K9 officers over the last 10 years: 47 surrenders without a use of force and 3 apprehensions where the K9 was utilized to apprehend the suspect. Sgt. Johnson reminded Council that the K9 is a great tool, one that is less lethal and is recallable.
Councilmember Tolley thanked Officer Roenspie and Sgt. Johnson for coming forward and speaking against AB 742. Councilmember Tolley voiced his opinion on AB 742 and stated his opposition.
Councilmember Romano stated that the K9 unit is a very important law enforcement tool that reduces risk for officers, makes for a better police force and stated it is a tool the community cannot afford to lose.
Earl Megginson, Orland resident, expressed his support to the Orland Police department and the K9 unit and recommended that Council write the letter that the department is requesting.
ACTION: Vice Mayor Roundy moved, seconded Councilmember Tolley, to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter of opposition to AB 742. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
B. ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE – LINWOOD PARK SUBDIVISION PHASE 2 Paul Rabo, City Engineer shared that the improvements at Linwood Park subdivision unit 2 have been inspected by the Public Works Director and himself and explained that the improvements meet the City standards and shared that the roads and utilities are acceptable for Council to accept.
Councilmember Romano asked questions about the Linwood Park subdivision and stated his concerns with the City accepting the liability of maintenance and operations of the subdivision. The City engineer and City Finance Director offered thoughts on how street maintenance is funded.
Rick Massa, Manager of Orland Unit Water Users Association (OUWUA), shared his thoughts and concerns with Council about a section of lateral 51 that was undergrounded to create a bike and pedestrian path, sharing his perspective that in the contract with the Bureau of Reclamation the section is not completed.
ACTION: Vice Mayor Roundy moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley, to accept the completed public improvements for Linwood Park Subdivision Phase 2 for operation and maintenance by the City of Orland. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-1.
AYES: Councilmembers McDermott, Tolley, Vice Mayor Roundy and Mayor Dobbs NOES: Councilmember Romano
Orland City Council Minutes – March 21, 2023 3 | P a g e C. ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTRE – ORLAND PARK SUBDIVISION PHASE 1 Mr. Rabo spoke about Orland Park subdivision phase 1 which is 63 residential lots. Mr. Rabo shared that the subdivision was approved back in 2005-2006 but has been sitting dormant for the last 18 years. Mr.
Rabo stated that a developer developed all the lots, constructed all the roads which have been inspected by the Public Works Director and himself. Mr. Rabo explained that the improvements meet the City standards and shared that the roads and utilities are acceptable for Council to accept. Mr. Rabo asked that the Mayor sign a maintenance bond; the developer is putting up a bond for 50% of his construction cost to be warrantied for the first year.
Mr. Rabo explained that as the bike path crosses Hambright (site of a future ADA-accessible thru road that will have higher speed limits), he and City Staff decided due to a potential safety issue it was best to have pedestrians and bicyclists not cross directly across the street but to travel to the closest intersection where Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements are available. Mr. Rabo verified that the City does have an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation and the City is working on landscaping with drought tolerant plants and cleaning up the area. Mr. Carr shared that the City Attorney’s interpretation of the agreement is that it is at the City’s option how much, how and when to put in the landscaping.
Mayor Dobbs shared that he felt it is important that the City and OUWUA continue to work together.
Councilmember McDermott thanked Mr. Massa and his crew for cooperating with the City and allowing rights-of-way to be crossed.
Councilmember Romano stated his concerns about Paigewood Drive not continuing through to Papst Avenue. Councilmember Romano shared his experience testing out the bike path in the Orland Park and Linwood Park subdivisions, stating it is a poor design and will be a hazard for thru traffic.
ACTION: Vice Mayor Roundy moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley, to accept the completed public improvements for Orland Park Subdivision Phase 1 for operation and maintenance and to authorize the Mayor to sign the Subdivision Maintenance Agreement. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-1.
AYES: Councilmembers McDermott, Tolley, Vice Mayor Roundy and Mayor Dobbs NOES: Councilmember Romano
D. AGREEMENT FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT WORK: QUIET CREEK
City Manager Pete Carr reminded Council that when an environmental report and/or other technical planning and engineering work are required for a development project, the City normally engages a consulting firm for the work. Mr. Carr shared that the City can work directly with its partner planning firm, ECORP Consulting, or solicit bid proposals for the work.
Mr. Carr discussed a proposed project, Quiet Creek Subdivision, in which Visinoni Construction proposes to develop a new residential subdivision in two phases in a currently undeveloped area immediately east of the Stony Creek Drive Subdivision and north of Bryant Street. Mr. Carr shared that the proposed project is on a 34.5-acre lot and envisions 65 market-rate single family homes, a large recreation area, storm drain basin and a proposed municipal well.
Orland City Council Minutes – March 21, 2023 4 | P a g e Mr. Carr spoke about the scope and the cost estimate of the project with ECORP for Quiet Creek Subdivision CEQA review.
Councilmember Romano asked why the City Council approves the CEQA contract on a project without seeing the project. Councilmember Romano stated his concerns with approving the first step in a development he doesn’t know anything about.
Councilmember McDermott stated that the developer is taking a risk to spend the money to go out and do the environmental, knowing the Planning Commission or the City Council could say no and the project would then be shut down.
Mayor Dobbs read an email from Orland resident Alex Enriquez, sharing his concerns with the proposed project and expressing his interest in the City becoming a more walkable town.
Councilmember Tolley shared his perspective that he feels the town is a very walkable town.
Councilmember Romano stated that Mr. Enriquez has done his research on a walkable town and asked Council to take into account the information that he provided when voting on this item.
ACTION: Councilmember Tolley moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Roundy, to approve the agreement between the City and ECORP for development services for the proposed Quiet Creek project, authorizing the City Manager to execute and proceed. The motion carried by a voice vote 4-1.
AYES: Councilmembers McDermott, Tolley, Vice Mayor Roundy and Mayor Dobbs NOES: Councilmember Romano
E. VERBAL UPDATE ON DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND WATER SUPPLY PROJECT City Manager Carr shared after all the rain the City has received over the last few months the City still remains in a moderate drought based on the last three years, according to the State and federal government. Mr. Carr reminded Council that the City remains in the stage 2 of the drought alert. Mr.
Carr shared that Black Butte Lake was sitting at 49% full as of 1 pm this afternoon.
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.
Mr. Carr updated the Council on the Groundwater Supply Project and reminded them that the ground water project that the City is working on with The Department of Water Resources (DWR) will be connecting about 180 Glenn County residents to City water. Mr. Carr shared with Council that the connections within City limits are slowly coming along and so far, no County residents have been connected yet. Mr. Carr shared that the requests for proposals for contractors is just about ready to go out within the next few weeks.
Mr. Carr shared well drilling will begin next week for the new well on Walker Street. Mr. Carr shared that the engineering on the million-gallon storage tank is over 50% completed.
Orland City Council Minutes – March 21, 2023 5 | P a g e F. ADVOCACY TO STATE FOR CITIES’ FISCAL PRIORITIES
City Manager Pete Carr shared that currently it is budget season at the State and The League of California Cities (CalCities) is encouraging member cities to each indicate support for three items where the League feels support is important, needed and will make a difference:
1. Provide $3B in ongoing funding to increase the housing supply and address homelessness;
2. Reimburse cities for $1 billion in unfunded State mandates;
3. Safeguard local revenues and support local sustainability.
Vice Mayor Roundy, Council Liaison to CalCities, shared his support for these items and believes these changes will help make the State more productive by allowing Cities to provide for what their community needs.
Councilmember Tolley shared his support.
ACTION: Councilmember McDermott moved, seconded by Councilmember Romano, to approve the draft letter as written and authorize Mayor Dobbs to endorse it. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
Councilmember McDermott:
• Attended Orland Fireman’s Ball March 18th, 2023 and shared his appreciation for the community’s support;
• Thanked the community for their support on voting for the Fire Truck Face Off on the Golden State Fire Apparatus, Inc Facebook challenge, where if the rural truck wins the department will get $1,000 donated to the Glenn County K9 Association.
Councilmember Romano:
• Attended Fireman’s Ball and thanked all volunteers for a great night; • Attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting.
• Presented a PowerPoint on downtown murals and street art and stated he would like the item agendized. Vice Mayor Roundy asked that Councilmember Romano bring it to the Arts Commission for their review and consideration.
Councilmember Tolley:
• Attended the Economic Development Commission;
• Attended Code Enforcement meetings at City Hall
Vice Mayor Roundy:
• Attended Resource Conservation District (RCD) meeting on March 20, 2023; • Will attend the LAFCo meeting March 27, 2023;
• Will attend the Transportation and Transit meeting for the month.
Mayor Dobbs
• Attended Chamber of Commerce meeting
• Attended Library Commission Meeting
Orland City Council Minutes – March 21, 2023 6 | P a g e • Attended the Fire Department Meeting
MEETING ADJOURED AT 8:13 PM
Jennifer Schmitke, City Clerk Chris Dobbs, Vice Mayor