ORLAND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order by Mayor Chris Dobbs at 6:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: Councilmembers Jeffrey Tolley, John McDermott, Matt Romano, Vice Mayor Bruce T. Roundy, and Mayor Chris
Dobbs
Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: City Manager Pete Carr; City Clerk Jennifer Schmitke; City Attorney Greg Einhorn; Police Chief Joe Vlach; City
Engineer Paul Rabo; Public Works Director Ed Vonasek
Staff present online: None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION – NONE
MEETING ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:02 PM
CLOSED SESSION ENDED AT 6:30 PM
RECONVENEVED TO REGULAR SESSION AT 6:37 PM
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION – No reportable action.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR
City Clerk Jennifer Schmitke requested nominations for Mayor for the 2023-2024 year. Councilmember McDermott nominated Mayor Dobbs. Vice Mayor Roundy nominated Councilmember Romano. With no further nominations, the nominations were closed.
ACTION: Mayor Dobbs was declared Mayor for the 2023-2024 year. The motion carried 4-1 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers McDermott, Romano, Tolley and Mayor Dobbs NOES: Vice Mayor Roundy
Mayor Dobbs thanked his fellow Councilmembers for voting for him.
City Clerk Jennifer Schmitke requested nominations for Vice Mayor for the 2023-2024 year.
Councilmember McDermott nominated Councilmember Romano. With no further nominations, the nominations were closed.
ACTION: Councilmember Romano was declared Vice Mayor for the 2023-2024 year. The motion carried 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers Tolley, McDermott, Romano, Roundy, and Mayor Dobbs Nays: None
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Mayor Dobbs presented the following City Council Appointments to Boards and Commissions for 2024:
City Commissions
Arts Roundy
3 rd Wed, monthly, 7 pm Romano (alternate)
Economic Development (EDC) Romano
2nd Tues, every odd month, 6 pm Tolley (alternate)
Library Dobbs
2 nd Mon, every other month, 5:00 pm McDermott (alternate) Parks & Recreation Roundy
4 th Wed, meets when called, 6:30 pm Tolley (alternate) Planning McDermott
3 rd Thurs, monthly, 5:30 pm Tolley (alternate)
Public Works/Safety Roundy
2 nd Tues, every even month, 4 pm McDermott (alternate) **************************************************************************************************** County Committees
Joint City/County EDC Romano and Tolley
LAFCo Roundy (member) appt. until May 2025,
Meets 2nd Monday, 9 am, monthly Alternate for 2024 (Orland) - County pays $25 monthly stipend McDermott
(Alternate switches between
Orland & Willows 2025 alternate
appointment will be from Willows)
Transit Committee Roundy and Romano
Meets with Local Transportation Comm. Tolley (alternate) County pays $50 monthly stipend
Transportation Commission Roundy and Romano
3 rd Thurs, monthly, 10 am,
County pays $50 monthly stipend
Solid Waste Management Regional Romano and Tolley
Agency Dobbs (alternate)
(2023 two rep year/2024 one rep year)
Air Pollution Control District Board Mayor and Vice Mayor, alternate Airport Land Use Commission Dobbs
No meeting schedule No alternates on this commission
**************************************************************************************************** Fire Department Liaison Dobbs
2 nd Mon, monthly, dinner 7 pm, McDermott (alternate)
meeting 8pm
Glenn County Groundwater Roundy
Sustainability Agency Pete Carr (alternate)
Ed Vonasek (alternate)
Golden State Risk Management (Orland does not have representation 2 nd Wed every other month, 6 pm at this time).
GSRMA pays $100 per meeting stipend
Cal Cities Roundy
(a.k.a League of California Cities) Romano (Alternate)
Orland Area Chamber of Commerce Romano
Board – 1st Thursday, monthly, noon Tolley (alternate)
Orland Unit Water Users’ Assoc Dobbs
Voting delegate
Code Enforcement Hearing Officer Tolley
Romano (alternate)
Queen Bee Capital Board City Staff
Resource Conservation District Roundy
Glenn County Senior Wellness Roundtable McDermott
Glenn County Continuum of Care McDermott
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Warrant List (Payable Obligations)
B. Approve City Council Minutes for November 21, 2023
C. Receive and file Planning Commission minutes from October 19, 2023 D. Agreement with Department of Water Resources for “Urban and Multi-benefit Drought Relief Grant” Funds
Councilmember Romano pulled item 10.D. and asked the City Engineer to explain fiscal impact for City.
Action: Councilmember McDermott moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley, to approve the consent calendar without item 10.D. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
City Engineer Paul Rabo briefly shared an overview of the new well project which will be located on Sixth Street and the fiscal impact it will have on the City.
Action: Vice Mayor Romano moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley, to approve item 10.D. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
PRESENTATION – Public Works Department and Engineering Annual Presentation Public Works Director Ed Vonasek presented an annual review of the Public Works Department.
Director 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.
Director Vonasek shared highlights and projects for this past year including the Active Transportation Project upgrades on East Street, Maverik construction, Commerce and Newville intersection and upgrades to the I5 off ramp. Director Vonasek also spoke about the improvements to City-owned buildings including the new roof on City hall, the library also got a new roof, new HVAC, ADA upgrades, new east side entry and covered reading area on the west patio of the library. Mr. Vonasek shared that City crews continue working with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) on connecting City and County residents to City water. Director Vonasek explained that the City is still working with Caltrans and a local artist on the Caltrans interchange art project and with WM on local clean-up days.
Goals for 2024 include: continuing to connect people to City water who are participating in the DWR Orland area water project, 1-million-gallon storage tank, completing the Caltrans interchange art project, and beginning on Road M ½ street reconstruction project.
Mayor Dobbs asked if there was a completion date for the bee sculptures and if the sculptures would be lit. City Manager Pete Carr shared an update on the project stating that there is no set completion date and lighting options are being explored.
Councilmember Tolley asked about the completion date of the new library entrance. Director Vonasek explained why the entrance was not opened yet but should be within the next two weeks.
Vice Mayor Romano asked about the Public Works portion of the DWR project and stated he would like to see the City focus on getting a road and sewer plan.
Mayor Dobbs thanked Director Vonasek and the Public Works crew for all they do for the City.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS
A. ARPA Budget Update
City Manager Pete Carr provided a recap of the November 21st City Council meeting and brought back to Council some suggestions/more information for the remaining funds which included:
A. Allocation of up to $20,000 to Public Works – Parks for acquisition of trees for City parks.
B. Allocation of up to $20,000 to Public Works – Facilities for façade improvement of the Cityowned buildings.
C. Allocation of up to $10,000 to bolster the very popular current phase of Queen Bee Bucks, supporting locally owned brick & mortar businesses.
Director Vonasek explained the City’s tree plan, shared that the City works with tree professionals and a tree committee to decide which trees to plant or remove and explained why trees were being replaced.
Councilmembers discussed the suggested projects. Councilmember Roundy expressed concerns about repainting and adding decorative façade treatment to the City Hall building. Vice Mayor Romano suggested re-launching the Bee Bucks with buy $100 get $50.
Downtown business owner, EDC member and Chamber President Dee Dee Jackson shared she likes the Bee Bucks program and stated Bee Bucks encourages money to stay local.
ACTION: Councilmember Tolley moved, seconded by Vice Mayor Romano, to allot $20k to Public Works for trees, $20k to Public Works for façade improvements on City owned buildings and $23k to into the Queen Bee Bucks program. Motion carried by a roll call vote 4-1.
Ayes: Councilmembers Tolley, McDermott, Vice Mayor Romano, and Mayor Dobbs Nays: Councilmember Mayor Roundy
B. Consider Opposition to Proposed “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” November 2024 Ballot Measure
Mr. Carr briefly gave the Council background on the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” initiative and spoke about ACA1 and ACA 13, two bills that are challenging the measure. Mr. Carr explained that CalCities asserts numerous downsides to the CRBT measure for cities including that it is “anti-local control” and makes it harder for local governments to provide vital services for their residents. Mr. Carr provided a draft letter of opposition, legislative Analyst Office (LAO) analysis of the proposes measure and recent CalCities statements on the topic for Council review and consideration.
Councilmembers briefly discussed the need to protect local control.
Orland resident Earl Megginson stated the City needs to maintain local control.
ACTION: Councilmember Roundy moved, seconded by Councilmember Tolley to oppose the “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” by signing the opposition letter. Motion carried by a voice vote 5-0.
ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Orland resident Stefanie Halsey expressed her support for the proposed local sales tax stating the funds would not only benefit our highly valued Orland Recreation Department but also the outlying schools who also use the facilities.
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
Councilmember McDermott:
• Will be attending the Planning Commission Meeting December 21st, • Thanked Dee Dee Jackson and Orland Chamber of Commerce for all they did on the Cowboy Christmas event December 2nd.
Councilmember Roundy:
• Attended the Cowboy Christmas event;
• Thanked the Arts Commission for decorating the downtown Christmas tree.
Vice Mayor Romano:
• Attended the Cowboy Christmas and shared that the comments he heard were that the downtown area needed more lights.
• Asked about the OJ500 maintenance project and asked if the City could pay for the bump outs on Hwy 32 or if the City Council should send a letter to ask them to reconsider putting in the bump outs. Mr. Carr shared that City staff could put it on the next agenda for the Council to discuss more in depth.
Councilmember Tolley:
• Nothing to report;
Mayor Dobbs:
• Thanked Chamber of Commerce for having him speak at Cowboy Christmas; • Attended the Fire Department awards meeting;
• Will be attending the December Fire Department meeting.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:01 PM
Jennifer Schmitke, City Clerk Chris Dobbs, Mayor