ORLAND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order by Mayor Chris Dobbs at 6:30 PM.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: Councilmembers Jeffrey Tolley, Matt Romano, John McDermott, Vice Mayor Bruce T. Roundy, and Mayor Chris
Dobbs
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: City Manager Pete Carr; Director of Administrative Services Rebecca Pendergrass; City Clerk Jennifer
Schmitke; Police Chief Joe Vlach; City Attorney Greg
Einhorn, City Engineer Paul Rabo
Staff present online: Recreation Director Joe Fenske; Public Works Director Ed Vonasek; Fire Chief Justin Chaney
Pledge of Allegiance led by City Attorney Greg Einhorn
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Warrant List (Payable Obligations)
B. Approve City Council Minutes for October 17, 2023
C. Receive and File Planning Commission Minutes from September 21, 2023 D. Annual Waste Collection Rate Adjustment
E. Treasurer’s Report
Councilmember Tolley pulled item 4.D. for Council to discuss.
Action: Councilmember Tolley moved, seconded by Councilmember McDermott, to approve the consent calendar without item 4.D. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
Councilmember Tolley stated he didn’t have any concerns with the item but felt that Council should discuss the issue as a group since it involves rates increasing. City Manager Pete Carr spoke about how the formulas are established and explained that the annual waste rate adjustment is part of the 10- year agreement that the City has with Waste Management.
Action: Councilmember Tolley moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Roundy, to approve item 4.D. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
A. Report and Proposal from Countywide Feline Task Force City Manager Pete Carr brought to Council a report and proposal from the Countywide Feline ad hoc Committee which met on October 30, 2023. Vice Mayor Roundy and Councilmember Tolley represented Orland on that Committee. Mr. Carr went over the recommendations from the Feline Committee which included –
1. City of Orland and Glenn County each contributing $25,000 to a rebate program (total $50,000) to help offset costs of reducing the cat population.
2. Residents could take any cat or kitten to any veterinarian in Glenn County and pay directly for spay, neuter or euthanasia services.
• Residents could then take their receipt to Glenn County Animal Control where they would be eligible for rebate/reimbursement of up to $100.00 of services provided and paid. • There would be a limit to reimbursement of up to four (4) cats or kittens per household.
3. Disposition of cats and kittens, including return of the felines to the place where they were captured, would be at the discretion of the resident presenting the animal for veterinary services.
4. The committee would reconvene annually to review progress in reducing the cat population and would consider adding dogs to the voucher program in the future.
Council discussed whether funding from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is one-time funding at City’s discretion, or if the City should use general funds which come from tax-revenues. Vice Mayor Roundy shared that the County has chosen to use ARPA funding. Councilmember Tolley clarified some of the recommendations from the meeting. The Council decided to pay the full $25,000 toward the voucher program and then have the committee meet after a year to review the program.
Jan Smith, Hidden Treasures board member asked Council questions about the rebate program and stated her concerns over Hidden Treasures not getting help from the City to keep the doors open for their non-profit organization. Mayor Dobbs explained that the goal of the Council is to spend the taxpayer money in the best way that they can and shared the City cannot subsidize local businesses.
Mayor Dobbs stated he felt that the Feline ad-hoc Committee was formed to help reduce the cat population and that the rebate program is a solution to help with the problem.
Carol Lewis, Hidden Treasures volunteer, asked if trappers would be limited to 4 vouchers.
Councilmember Tolley shared that households are limited to 4 vouchers per year.
Kristi Rumble, Hidden Treasures trapper, asked for clarification on how the voucher program works.
Action: Councilmember Tolley moved, seconded by Councilmember McDermott, to approve that the City contribute $25,000 to the Countywide feline voucher program, using ARPA funding.
Councilmember Tolley clarified that any facility used must be in good standing with the County and City regarding code enforcement and permits. Motion carried by a roll call vote 5-0.
Ayes: Councilmembers Tolley, Romano, McDermott, Vice Mayor Roundy, and Mayor Dobbs Nays: None
B. Proposed 2024 Rate Adjustments for Water & Sewer
City Engineer Paul Rabo presented to the Council the annual review and possible adjustments of water and sewer rates. Mr. Rabo briefly highlighted what utilities the Public Works Department is responsible for.
Mr. Rabo explained that the City can use two different indexes to adjust rates; one being the Consumer Price Index (focuses on maintenance and operation cost of utility systems) which has shown over the last year a 4.6% increase in water and sewer rates, and the other being the Engineering News Record (which focuses on construction costs) which has shown an increase of 2.4% over the last year.
Mr. Rabo shared that City staff recommends increasing the bi-monthly water rates by 4.5% this year from $66.35 to $69.34 (for two months) for residents inside City Limits and from $132.71 to $138.68 (for two months) for residents outside City limits. Mr. Rabo shared that for sewer rates staff is recommending increasing the bi-monthly sewer rates from $64.57 to $67.48(for two months) for residents inside City limits and for residents outside City limits rates would change from $129.13 to $134.94(for two months). Mr. Rabo asked Council to direct staff regarding reviewing and updating the current rate study that was done to see if any additional adjustments need to be made or if the City should continue with the CPI increase each year.
Mr. Rabo shared that 5 years have passed since the City’s last Prop 218 rate study which is where any increases in rates needed to be put before the voters. Mr. Rabo asked the Council to direct staff on whether they would like the City to conduct a Prop 218 utility rate election. Mr. Carr and Mr. Einhorn explained the Prop 218 process (opportunity to protest).
The Council discussed rate increases and the 218-protest process and agreed to put the decision for the rate increases into the hands of the property owners.
Trish Saint-Evens, Orland resident, asked about the Blue Frog at the Sewer ponds. Mr. Rabo shared that the City sewer ponds are currently operating under capacity and there is currently ongoing maintenance that Public Works is working on.
Action: Mayor Dobbs moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley, to direct City Staff to conduct a Prop 218 process on the rates as proposed. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
C. Consider Local Transactions Tax for Specific Local Purposes City Manager Pete Carr recapped with Council that at the October 3, 2023 meeting staff brought forward the suggestion to consider of an additional ½ ₵ of new local add-on transactions and use tax, and shared a possible recommendation of how the tax could be structured:
R Tax: 1/4₵ Road maintenance
RRR Tax: 1/4₵ Rescue (EMS transport/ambulance)
Reading (Library facilities and programs)
Recreation (Parks and Rec facilities programs)
Mr. Carr said that the total potential add-on: ½ ₵ resulting in total 1₵ local tax on a $1 taxable purchase, would result in an effective local sales tax rate of 8.25% (current sales tax rate in Orland is
7.75%).
Mr. Carr noted that library and recreation services are highly valued as quality-of-life amenities in Orland, but both are substantially reliant on the same General Fund that supports police and fire operational services. Mr. Carr shared that any new tax revenue funding made available to the library and recreation would help ease the pressure on the General Fund.
Councilmembers discussed how the City would get information out to the voters about the new tax measure and talked about how the City would ask voters to approve additional taxes. Mr. Carr shared that the City would need to know by February if the Council wanted to put the additional tax measure on the November 2024 ballot. The Council and staff discussed when a measure would go into effect and when the City would start to see revenue.
Vice Mayor Roundy stated that getting the community educated was key to getting Measure A passed and shared that the “City Council needed to be in lock step” when bringing this new tax measure forward to the voters, sharing that he believes the town hall meetings and information that was sent out was what helped Measure A pass in 2016. Councilmember Tolley shared that he has heard from many constituents that are opposed to any new taxes. Councilmember McDermott shared his concern with the City of Orland and Glenn County paying the bill for the new ambulance service and shared that the County ad hoc Committee has discussed a countywide tax to support the new ambulance.
Councilmember McDermott stated that polling the community through their water bill is a good way to hear what voters are feeling. Councilmember Romano shared that he would like to hear from the City’s largest revenue partners on how they feel about the tax increase and if they would feel an impact.
The Council asked City staff to come back at a future meeting showing projects, plans and revenue that the City has in mind to help share vision and value to the community so they can see how the tax addition would benefit the town in the long run.
Brandon Smith, Orland resident, shared he would be supportive of the additional tax and liked the suggested structure and asked about sales tax on electric charging stations. Mr. Carr shared that the State does not allow for taxing of electric charging stations.
Ms. Saint-Evans shared that she would like to see the City Council have town hall meetings for the additional tax so that the community can hear the Council’s opinions on all the current issues and problems, so that residents understand what is needed.
Tyra King, Orland resident, shared she would like to see the tax measure broken down more to see exactly where her money would be going.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Ms. Rumble shared her concerns and frustrations about the new striping on East Street.
Ms. Lewis shared her concerns about the striping on East Street and asked if the project was completed.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
Councilmember McDermott:
• Attended the Planning Commission Meeting, October 19th; Councilmember Romano:
• Attended the monthly EMS meeting with the County November 7, 2023.
Vice Mayor Roundy:
• Transportation and Transit meeting for October was cancelled; • Attended Senator Dahle’s meeting;
• LAFCo meeting in November was cancelled.
Councilmember Tolley:
• Attended the Glenn County Waste Management meeting;
• Attended the Feline ad hoc Committee.
Mayor Dobbs:
• Attended the 150 year celebration for the Orland Baptist Church; • Will attend the Fire Department meeting in November;
• Will attend the Library Commission meeting, November 13th.
MEETING ADJOURED AT 8:24 PM
Jennifer Schmitke, City Clerk Chris Dobbs, Mayor