Orland City Council Minutes – June 6, 2023 1 | P a g e
MINUTES OF THE ORLAND CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING HELD JUNE 6, 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; Recreation Director Joe Fenske; Police Chief Joe Vlach; Fire Chief Justin
Chaney; City Clerk Jennifer Schmitke; City Attorney
Greg Einhorn
Staff present online: Public Works Director Ed Vonasek
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Warrant List (payable obligations)
B. Approve City Council Minutes for May 16, 2023
C. Receive and file Library Commission Minutes from March 13, 2023 D. Sale of Surplus Fire Equipment – Engine 25
E. Award contract for replacement of City Hall/PD Roof, Library Roof, and HVAC F. Award contract for Traffic Safety Study on Newville at 9th Street/Tehama Street Action: Vice Mayor Roundy moved, seconded by Councilmember McDermott, to approve the consent calendar. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
PRESENTATION – Tim Olson, Vice President, Financial Center Manager, Merchants Bank (Orland Branch)
Mr. Olson presented a check to Mayor Dobbs in the amount of $1,000 for the “Every Child Swims” program. Mayor Dobbs thanked Mr. Olson and stated the community appreciates the donation.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
A. Habitat for Humanity Purpose Place Phase 2
City Manager Pete Carr shared with Council that Habitat for Humanity staff is requesting support for an expansion of the Purpose Place project. Mr. Carr briefly updated the Council on the status of construction and resident applications. Mr. Carr explained that Habitat for Humanity is proposing a Phase 2 of the project. Phase 2 would include two new properties which would add 16 additional units with a mix of studio and 2-bedroom units and an office building to provide extra services for tenants. Mr. Carr stated that the Phase 2 application is influenced by the State’s program for Homekey Round 3 funding, which has a deadline of July 28th.
Item 4.B.
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Vice Mayor Roundy mentioned that Glenn County Board of Supervisors voted to support the proposed Phase 2 of this project.
Councilmember McDermott asked if the City Chiefs had any concerns with the project. Chief Chaney stated he is neutral on the project but shared that with the increase of units there will be more of a demand on city services.
Councilmember Romano asked about the prospective tenants and what services they are provided through the County. Chief Vlach shared that the tenants that he interviewed were all from Orland or the Glenn County area. Councilmember Romano shared his concerns about the small amount of green space the tenants have and would like to see a better area with more landscaping and trees, with less asphalt.
Councilmember Romano suggested that the office building on Newville be moved closer to the road with parking in the back of the building.
Mayor Dobbs shared that he as well as other Councilmembers have received a lot of push back from the community about this project. Mayor Dobbs expressed that he would like time to prove to the community that this project is a success before adding another phase. Mayor Dobbs stated that without the community’s support this project would not succeed. Mayor Dobbs explained that the Council all unanimously supports the project, but he would like to see it be successful before expanding.
Vice Mayor Roundy shared he had the opportunity to visit a similar Habitat four Humanity project with the previous council. Vice Mayor Roundy stated he understands that the new councilmembers may have questions and concerns about the project, and shared that he wished that the newer council could also go for a tour where their questions or concerns would be answered.
Councilmember Tolley shared his experiences with talking to the community about the project and stated he supports and believes in this project but knows it will take time for the citizens of Orland to agree and trust this project.
Joseph Hale, Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer, introduced the team working on the Habitat for Humanity Purpose Place project and spoke briefly about the County services that will be provided for residents and training that the management team goes through to help residents. Mr. Hale spoke about Phase 2 of the project and shared Habitats plans to help be a community partner regarding additional services that the City may have to provide. Mr. Hale shared that most residents are from Orland with a handful coming from Willows.
Additional Habitat staff shared success stories from another site, spoke about the landscaping concepts and activity areas for the project and thanked Councilmember Romano for sharing his ideas about adding more greenspace and moving the office building forward.
Two new residents of the Purpose Place project came forward, shared their stories, and thanked Council and the community for allowing them to be part of the project and giving them a chance to give back to the community.
Grant Carmon, Orland resident, shared his positive experience working with Habitat for Humanity and stated his support for Phase 2 of the project.
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Rebecca Pendergrass, Orland resident, shared she is supportive of the project but stated her concerns about expanding Purpose Place into a Phase 2 before Phase 1 is completed and shown successful.
Billy Irvin, Orland resident, stated his concerns about adding more residents to the area and whether there would be a cost to the City for Phase 2 reminding Council that the City waived impact fees for the project.
Councilmember Tolley shared he is not against the project, he stated that many people will benefit from the program and facility. Councilmember Tolley explained that the Phase 2 addition could possibly be a yes in the future, but not right now.
Councilmember Romano and Vice Mayor Roundy stated they wanted to see the project completed and beautiful for the community and new residents.
Councilmember McDermott shared his concerns about the City waiving fees for Phase 1. City Manager Carr stated the City waived $112k in impact fees.
Action: Councilmember Romano moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Roundy, to approve Phase 2 with the addition of more green space and moving the office space forward. Motion failed by a roll call vote 2-3.
AYES: Councilmember Romano and Vice Mayor Roundy
NOES: Councilmembers Tolley, McDermott and Mayor Dobbs
B. Letter to Caltrans – Traffic Calming on State Route 32/Walker St
City Manager Pete Carr spoke to Council about the letter that Council asked City staff to draft regarding improvements to Walker Street. Mr. Carr briefly discussed the traffic calming measures and Complete Street features that Council would like to see included in the Walker Street Streetscape Master Plan which was adopted by City Council in 2018 and will be funded by Caltrans.
Action: Councilmember McDermott moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley, to approve the letter as drafted and authorized the Mayor to execute. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
C. Project List for County Matching Grant
Recreation Director Joe Fenske shared with Council that the Glenn County Board of Supervisors offered the City of Orland $200,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding if the City would match the investment in recreation facility improvement projects.
Mr. Fenske explained that he shared the offer from the County with the Recreation Commission. Mr.
Fenske presented the Commission with an updated project list and results from the Recreation survey, which was sent out Fall of 2022, at the May 24th meeting for the Commission to review. Mr. Fenske reported that after reviewing the project list the Recreation Commission voted 3-0 to match the County if the funding would go to City ball fields.
The Recreation Commission also recommended spending $3,500 on a field feasibility study to help the City identify critical areas that need to be improved for the following fields: Bihler, Vinsonhaler, Lely West, Lely North, and Lely South. Mr. Fenske stated upgrades for the fields could consist of the following: new fencing, lighting, new dugouts, or infield improvements.
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Currently the City has budgeted $170,000 of ARPA funding for lighting at Lely North and South Fields and set aside $40,000 for Lely softball fields, those two combined would match the County $200,000.
Councilmembers discussed park areas that need improvements and asked questions about updates. Mr.
Fenske shared that the improvements would not just benefit softball and little league but the entire community.
Councilmember Tolley referenced the recreation survey that went out in Fall 2022 stating only 17% of the community responded and asked how the City will be helping the rest of the community that doesn’t play baseball. Mr. Fenske stated he was only presenting the Recreation Commissions recommendation on how the City should use the County funds. Mr. Fenske mentioned to Council a few improvements that the City has made over the last couple of years including upgrades to the pool, playgrounds, a new splash pad, upgraded basketball courts, new pickleball facility and upgrading the tennis courts.
Colleen Cecil, Orland Little League Board member, shared her appreciation of the support Orland Little League has received from the City or Orland over the past years and she stated her support of the City upgrading ball fields with the County funds.
Pete Rosales, Orland resident, shared his experience playing on the baseball fields in Orland from a young age to now watching his own kids play on the same fields. Mr. Rosales expressed his support in working with the County to get the fields the upgrades they need.
Billy Irvin, Orland resident, shared his thoughts about the conditions of the baseball fields and shared his support in getting the fields upgraded using the County funds.
Russell Pierce, Orland Little League Board member, stated his support for the City working with the County to upgrade recreation facilities that need improvements.
Debra Foggerty, Orland resident, shared her support for the ball fields upgrades.
Action: Councilmember McDermott moved, seconded by Councilmember Romano, to accept the Recreation Commission recommendation to leverage investments in ball field improvements for Glenn county match funding. Motion carried by a voice vote 4-1. Councilmember Tolley asked to go on record stating he does not agree with all the money going specifically to ball field upgrade, he would like the money to be split up because not everyone plays the sports that use the fields or facilities.
D. Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Adoption
Mr. Carr presented the fifth and completed proposed draft budget to Council for the next fiscal year 2023- 2024 which starts July 1. Mr. Carr briefly explained the changes Council asked to be made to the budget including updates to library labor expenses, rate adjustments made to the planning and engineering pages and reallocating certain expenditures from Street/Gas Tax fund to the General Fund Public Works Street account. Council asked questions and discussed budget items. City Staff was directed to amend the wording for the Chamber updates and quarterly amounts.
Action: Councilmember Tolley moved, seconded by Councilmember McDermott to adopt the proposed budget as presented for fiscal year 2023-2024 with an amendment on the Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly reports and payment amounts. The motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
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ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
Councilmember Romano:
• Nothing to Report;
Councilmember McDermott:
• Will attend the Planning Commission meeting on June 15th; Councilmember Tolley:
• Nothing to Report;
Vice Mayor Roundy:
• Suggested a future agenda item to Council regarding the possibility of a new path for the Honeybee Discovery Center location;
Mayor Dobbs
• Nothing to Report.
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION – NONE
CLOSED SESSION OPENED AT 8:37 PM
CLOSED SESSION ENDED AT 9:19 PM – No reportable action.
MEETING ADJOURED AT 9:19 PM
Jennifer Schmitke, City Clerk Chris Dobbs, Mayor