RIDGECREST CITY COUNCIL
SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
FINANCING AUTHORITY
HOUSING AUTHORITY
MINUTES
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 Closed Session - 4:30 p.m.
Regular Session - 6:00 p.m.
This meeting was recorded and will be on file in the Office of the City Clerk for a certain period of time from date of approval by the Ridgecrest City Successor Agency/Financing Authority/Housing Authority. Meetings are recorded solely for the purpose of preparation of minutes.
ROLL CALL - 4:30 p.m.
Council Present: Mayor Eric A. Bruen; Mayor Pro-Tem Solomon P. Rajaratnam; Vice Mayor Kyle Blades; Council Member Skip Gorman; Council Member L. Scott Hayman
Absent: None
Staff Present: City Attorney M. Koczanowicz (WebEx) open & closed session; City Attorney K.
Lemieux (WebEx) closed session; City Manager Strand; City Clerk Charlon; Chief Scott; Public Works Director Reed; Finance Director Freese APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Motion To Approve Agenda - Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes NOTE: The vote is displayed in bold below each item. For example, Blades-Rajaratnam denotes Council Member Blades made the motion and Council Member Rajaratnam seconded the motion.
Ayes, Noes, Absents, Abstentions follow.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION - None
CLOSED SESSION - CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNCIL
Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation (GC § 54956.9) - two cases Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (GC Sec. 54956.9) Mojave Pistachios, LLC v Indian Wells Valley Water District, et al.
Orange County Superior Court Case No. 30-2021-01187275-CU-OR-CJC California Government Code Section 54957 Subpart (b)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION - City Attorney
REGULAR SESSION - 6:12 p.m.
ATTORNEY REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION - unanimous denial of Ocampo claim; no other reportable action
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA - R. Blackwell; R. Catlin; M. Neel
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS/DIRECTION
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Proposed Action To Approve Draft Minutes Of The Ridgecrest City Council Regular Meeting Dated December 6, 2023 Charlon
2. Review And Approve Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) 2024-25 And Administrative Budget For Fiscal Year 2024-25 Of The Successor Agency To The Ridgecrest Redevelopment Agency And Approval Of Resolution Freese
Motion To Approve Consent Calendar - Rajaratnam - Blades 5 Ayes
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS
3. Discussion Regarding The Board Of The Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority (IWVGA) Hayman
• Public comment - M. Neel
4. A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Approving Increased Appropriations Of Unallocated General Fund Reserves In The Amount Of $83,163.00 For The Construction Of The Splash Pad Drainage Infrastructure Improvement Project Wegener • Pulled by staff due to bid process issues
5. A Resolution To Amend A Professional Services Agreement With Willdan Engineering Inc. For $32,000.00 To Provide Additional Design For The Extended Project Limits For The Bowman Channel Between S. Norma St. And S. China Lake Blvd.
Public comment - None
Motion To Approve Item 5 - Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
6. A Resolution Of The Ridgecrest City Council Approving Increased Appropriations For Intersection Reconstruction On La Mirage St. And Palm Drive For $100,532.44 As Submitted By Lyles Utility Construction LLC., And Allocate Funds For A 10% Contingency. A Maximum Total Of Up To $110.585.68; And Authorize The City Manager, Ronald Strand, To Execute All Agreements To Construct The Project Reed
• Public comment - None
Motion To Approve Item 6 with Resolution to reflect today's date - Blades - Hayman 5 Ayes
7. A Resolution To Accept The Base Bid (Sch. A+B) As Submitted By Contractor To Be Named.
Allocate ARPA, Clean Cal, & Any Additional Funds If Necessary For The Base Bid, And Up To An Amount To Be Named For A Ten Percent (10%) Construction Contingency. A Maximum Total Of Up To Amount To Be Named. Award A Construction Contract To Contractor To Be Named To Construct The Clean California Leroy Jackson Park Improvement Project In The Amount Of Amount To Be Named, And Authorize The City Manager, Ronald Strand, To Execute The Contract Reed
From Supplemental Agenda: A Resolution To Accept The Base Bid (Sch. A+B) As Submitted By Griffith Company; Allocate Clean California, American Rescue Plan Act, & Unallocated General Fund Reserves For The Base Bid, And Up To Three Hundred And Seventy-Two Thousand Four Hundred And Fifteen Dollars And Fifty Cents ($372, 415.50) For A Ten Percent (10%) Construction Contingency. A Maximum Contract Total Of Up To Four Million Ninety-Six Thousand Five Hundred And Seventy Dollars And Fifty Cents ($4,096,570.50). Award A Construction Contract To Griffith Company To Construct The Clean California Leroy Jackson Park Improvement Project; And Amend A Professional Services Agreement With Willdan Engineering In The Amount Of One-Hundred And Thirty Thousand Dollars ($130,000.00), And Authorize The City Manager, Ronald Strand, To Execute The Contract And Amendment • Public comment - None
Motion To Approve Item 7 - Hayman - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - December 20, 2023
8. Proposed Approval For A New Salary Schedule For The Police Chief Position Strand • Public comment - None
Motion To Approve Item 8 - Blades - Rajaratnam 5 Ayes
COMMITTEE REPORTS
City Organization and Services Committee ('City Org')
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Skip Gorman
Meeting: 1st Thursday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Report from 12/07/23 - Canceled
Finance Committee
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Scott Hayman
Meeting: 2nd Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Report from 12/12/23
Infrastructure Committee
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Kyle Blades
Meeting: 4th Thursday each month at 5:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Next meeting TBD due to holiday
Economic Development Committee
Members: Kyle Blades and Solomon Rajaratnam
Meeting: 1st Monday of the month @ 5:15 p.m
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
• Next meeting TBD due to holiday
Parks, Recreation, and Quality of Life Committee
Members: Mayor Eric A. Bruen and Skip Gorman
Meeting: 1st Tuesday each month at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Kerr McGee Center Meeting Rooms
• Next meeting TBD due to holiday
Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitor Bureau (RACVB)
Members: Solomon Rajaratnam and Megan McKenzie (staff)
Meeting: 4th Wednesday each month at 9:00 a.m.
Location: California Welcome Center
Next meeting 01/24/2024
OTHER COMMITTEES, BOARDS, OR COMMISSIONS
CITY MANAGER REPORT
• WWTP @ 60% design, anticipate full design by 3rd quarter of 2024 Pool at 75% design and hope to be under construction by summer time 2024
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT - 8:10 p.m.
MINUTES - CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY / FINANCING AUTHORITY / HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR - December 20, 2023