Orland City Council Minutes – May 16, 2023 1 | P a g e
MINUTES OF THE ORLAND CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING HELD MAY 16, 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: Councilmembers John McDermott, Jeffrey Tolley, Matt Romano, Vice Mayor Bruce Roundy, Mayor Chris Dobbs
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: City Manager Pete Carr; Director of Administrative Services Rebecca Pendergrass; Chief Joe Vlach; City
Clerk Jennifer Schmitke; Public Works Director Ed
Vonasek
Staff present online: City Attorney Greg Einhorn; Fire Chief Justin Chaney
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Warrant List (payable obligations)
B. Approve City Council Minutes for May 2, 2023
C. Receive and file Arts Commission Minutes from April 19, 2023 D. Receive and file Economic Development Commission Minutes from March 14, 2023 E. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-02 Annual Assessment for Glenn County Solid Waste Operations Action: Vice Mayor Roundy moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley, to approve the consent calendar. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
PRESENTATION - GLENN COUNTY CARE COURT
Glenn County Behavioral Health Director Joe Hallett spoke to Council about a new State program known as the Community Assistance Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court. Mr. Hallett explained that the program is a new civil court process designed to link individuals who have specific mental health diagnoses to county behavioral health services, under the oversight of a judge, for up to 24 consecutive months. The program includes a clinically indicated, individualized treatment plan, with supportive services and dedicated team. Mr. Hallett spoke briefly about the criteria, eligibility for individuals needing mental health assistance and how individuals can be referred to the CARE Court program. Mr.
Hallett explained that Glenn County has until October 2023 to implement the program as one of the seven test pilot counties for the State.
Councilmembers asked questions and stated concerns and asked Mr. Hallett to come back after 6 months to a year to update Council on how the program is doing.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
A. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Discussion#4: General Fund Expenditures, Street Fund and Projects
Item 4.B.
Orland City Council Minutes – May 16, 2023 2 | P a g e
City Manager Carr presented the third part of the proposed draft budget to Council for the next fiscal year (2023-2024) which starts July 1. Mr. Carr summarized the expected reserve and previewed expenditure plans for General Funds by department and function.
Vice Mayor Roundy asked about significant jumps on a few specific proposed budgets. Mr. Carr explained budget increases.
Mr. Carr reminded the Council about the Chamber of Commerce’s requested increase which was added to the proposed budget.
Councilmembers unanimously agreed that they all support the Orland Area Chamber of Commerce but would like to see the Chamber be more accountable and self-sufficient. Council members stated they would like to see more from the Chamber as to where the money is going to go, how it will be used and what the benefits to the community will be.
Mr. Carr shared that the Economic Development Commission (EDC) spoke about this topic at their last meeting and voted unanimously 3-0 to encourage City Council to approve the Chamber’s request. Mr.
Carr acknowledged that the Chamber President is one of the EDC Commissioners. Mr. Carr shared examples of what some nearby cities do or do not do to support their chambers.
Director of Administrative Services Rebecca Pendergrass reminded Council that they can budget a certain amount as a place holder, but they do not have to expend that amount.
The Council agreed to budget the $32,500 but they would like to see the Chamber come back before each quarterly check to update Council on events and speak about how they are going to use the funds to benefit the community.
Mr. Carr reviewed Street/Gas Tax Funds and spoke about street maintenance (primarily funded through the General Fund) and street projects (typically funded through the Street/Gas Tax fund) revenues and expenditures.
Director of Public Works, Ed Vonasek, suggested Staff can bring a list of streets that they feel need attention.
Councilmember Romano reminded Council that there was a study done back in 2020 that recommended it would take $18M over the next 10 years to make City roads average. Councilmember Romano spoke about the City’s street maintenance issues and suggested moving everything that isn’t capital improvements out of the Street Fund budget and put it into General Funds, so that it becomes a capital improvement fund where the City focuses on improvements.
Councilmembers asked questions and shared their concerns for moving the Street Funds to General Funds and made suggestions on how City streets can be upgraded.
Action: Councilmember Romano moved, seconded by Mayor Dobbs, to move the expenses out of the Orland Street Funds for Street Wages, Street Lighting, Utilities and Equipment Maintenance into the General Fund. Motion carried by a voice vote 4-1. Councilmember Tolley asked to go on record stating the topic was too new and he would like to have more information before voting.
Orland City Council Minutes – May 16, 2023 3 | P a g e
Mr. Carr reviewed the projects and objectives for Fiscal Year 2024 sharing two additional capital projects that have been added since the April 4th discussion, one for a Rec Center roof repair and the other is for the M ½ reconstruction project.
Councilmember McDermott asked staff about the possibility of maintaining alleys, repairing one a year and also asked about upgrading/adding streetlights around town and asked for a price to do these repairs.
Mr. Carr stated staff could bring a report back to the Council at a future meeting.
Councilmembers asked to add the sewer ponds project to the projects and objectives list.
B. Customer Request for Waiver of Late Fees
Director of Administrative Services, Ms. Pendergrass, presented a customer’s request to have late fees on their water bills waived. Ms. Pendergrass gave the Council a brief overview of how and when bills are sent out, how payments can be made to the City, and when late fees and notices are assessed. Ms. Pendergrass explained that City policy/practice is that each customer can have late fees waived one time.
Councilmember McDermott shared his concern that this item was brought before City Council and stated he believed the customer should pay the late fees for his properties. Vice Mayor Roundy agreed. Mayor Dobbs asked if Staff should put on a future agenda this item to discuss establishing the one-time waiver and establishing there is no appeal process.
City Attorney Greg Einhorn stated putting practices of the one-time late fee waiver and that there is no appeal process in writing would be best for the City.
Action: Mayor Dobbs moved, seconded by Councilmember McDermott, to deny the customer’s appeal to Council for the late fee waiver and to also add to a future agenda the establishment of a one-time late fee waiver and no appeal process to City Council policies. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
Councilmember Romano:
• Directed Staff to draft a letter to Caltrans to include traffic calming measures in their upcoming project with the City for the June 6th meeting;
• Will attend the Transportation and Transit meeting May 18th; Councilmember McDermott:
• Will attend the Planning Commission meeting May 18th; Councilmember Tolley:
• Expressed his gratitude to Assemblyman Gallagher’s office for help with a personal matter.
Vice Mayor Roundy:
• Will attend the Art Commission meeting May 17th;
• Will attend the Transportation and Transit meeting May 18th; • Will attend the Fair Parade as the Grand Marshall May 20th.
Orland City Council Minutes – May 16, 2023 4 | P a g e
Mayor Dobbs
• Nothing to Report.
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION – NONE
CLOSED SESSION OPENED AT 8:37 PM
CLOSED SESSION ENDED AT 9:01 PM
MEETING ADJOURED AT 9:02 PM
Jennifer Schmitke, City Clerk Chris Dobbs, Mayor