SUSANVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022 – 4:30 PM
Mayor McCourt called the meeting to order at 4:30pm.
Roll Call of Councilmembers Present: Quincy McCourt, Kevin Stafford, Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown
Absent: Thomas Herrera
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Moved by Schuster; seconded by Brown to approve.
Motion Carried: 4 - 0
Voting For: McCourt, Stafford, Schuster, Brown
Voting Against: None
Absent: Herrera
2. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (if any): No comment.
3. CLOSED SESSION:
The City Council convened in closed session at 4:30pm to discuss the following:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - existing litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1): Case number 63745, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Kathleen Allison, Gavin Newsom Vs. city of Susanville.
B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATIORS – pursuant to Government Code §54957.6:
1. SPOA Unit
The Council reconvened in open session at 5:06pm.
4. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION:
Mayor McCourt requested Tony Ardito, Planning Commissioner, to start the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilmember Schuster to offer the Invocation.
Mr. Newton stated that the council met in closed session to discuss the above-mentioned items, that direction was provided to staff, but no reportable action was taken.
Mayor McCourt offered a proclamation for Veteran's Day.
5. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR:
No less than seven members of the public voiced their concerns with the proposed cannabis item being proposed in the upcoming election.
Catherine Wooster, public, provided information regarding a reforestation grant program and wanted to let the public know that they can come by the Honey Lake Valley Resource Conservation District for more information.
Jim McCarthy, public, voiced his concern regarding the lack of enforcement of abatement orders as well as the lack of Planning Commission meetings. He also added his concern with those who are being selected to fill committees as it appears that many people are on many boards. He expressed that it appears that there is another "good ole boy system" starting.
Patricia Littrel, Lassen Family Services, stated that they would like to partner up with the city to create additional events that are family friendly such as the recent Safe n Sane Halloween event.
Member of the public thanked the Police Department for setting up the radar by Cypress as he stated it was a problem he voiced at the last Council meeting.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR:
6.A Minutes of the City Council's October 19, 2022 regular meeting. 221019.cc.min.draft.pdf
Motion to approve the minutes of the City Council's October 19, 2022, regular meeting Moved by Stafford; seconded by Schuster to approve.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: McCourt, Stafford, Schuster, Brown
Voting Against: None
Absent: Herrera
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
7.A Consider Ordinance No.22-1038, adopting by reference the 2022 Building Code and applicable appendices.
Bob Godman, Public Works Director, provided an explanation of the item and requested Council to waive the first reading and introduce the Ordinance.
Mayor McCourt opened the public hearing at 5:58pm.
Amy Holley, public, inquired as to whether or not this change would help cannabis businesses in town.
Mayor McCourt responded that this is in respect to the Building Code and that it is on a 3-year cycle and it is done on the state level, not a local level.
Mr. Newton provided additional information on the item.
Mayor McCourt closed the public hearing at 6:07pm.
22-1038 Building Codes Reg updates (002).pdf
Motion to waive first reading and introduce.
Moved by Stafford; seconded by Brown to approve the motion as written in the agenda.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: McCourt, Stafford, Schuster, Brown
Voting Against: None
Absent: Herrera
8. COUNCIL DISCUSSION/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Councilmember Schuster offered thanks to all agencies involved to make the Safe n Sane Halloween event. She also thanked the city staff, HUSA and the Chamber specifically.
Mayor McCourt offered the Land Acknowledgment Statement as well as the city's Mission Statement.
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9.A Vendor and payroll warrants.
Councilmember Schuster stated that she is recusing herself from item 9A as her family owns a business that is listed on the agenda.
check cut 09-29-22.pdf
check cut 09-30-22.pdf
check cut 10-06-22.pdf
check cut 10-13-22.pdf
check cut 10-18-22.pdf
check cut 10-20-22.pdf
Motion to receive and file
Moved by Brown; seconded by Stafford to approve.
Motion Carried: 3- 0
Voting For: McCourt, Stafford, Brown
Voting Against: None
Abstain: Schuster
Absent: Herrera
9.B Historic Uptown Susanville Association (HUSA)
Mr. Newton provided an update on where staff is regarding HUSA, HUSA's history, what they do for the community and requested direction to staff regarding how to proceed.
Melanie Westbrook, HUSA President, stated that she put together the budget presented if there were any questions from the council.
David Teeter, business owner, provided information regarding the assessments and stated that the money for HUSA should be funded through general fund monies, not one-time ARPA funds.
He added that there needed to be more buy in from the city.
Councilmember Schuster recalled there being a council meeting where many uptown businesses stated that they were not seeing any benefit from being a part of HUSA. She added that another council member suggested that it be a club who collected donations instead of the city levying assessments.
Councilmember Brown suggested that it be made voluntary, not mandatory.
Mayor McCourt inquired as to whether or not the survey to determine whether or not it should continue as talked about last year was conducted.
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of why the item was brought forward tonight as the survey was for determining if the assessments should or should not be continued. However, we wanted to check in with the uptown businesses to see if they desire to continue with the district, as it could help increase sales depending on the improvements made.
Mayor McCourt asked how the council felt about bringing the item back at the next meeting to consider the payment to HUSA.
Councilmember Schuster requested to not discuss the item yet as she wants to have the council discuss the spending of ARPA funds. She would also like to see the survey prior to discussing the payment being made. However, she does believe the Christmas event should be supported.
Mayor McCourt requested that staff bring the survey forward as requested. He inquired of Mr.
Newton as to what the timeframe was to make the decision as they would like more information.
Mr. Newton stated that he would like Ms. Westbrook to respond as she is the one keeping everything afloat.
Ms. Westbrook responded that it is time sensitive as she has been trying to get this item on the agenda for months. She also inquired as to where staff was on the HUSA ballots etc... as the board may completely change.
Councilmember Schuster would also like to request how much it cost the city in staff time this year to see the comparison.
Jim McCarthy, uptown business owner, stated that he has paid the assessments but, the assessment values will only be a drop in the bucket to what is needed because of the other failed businesses such as the Mt. Lassen and the St. Francis needing help.
Curtis Bortle, public, stated that these are two separate issues. 1) Does the city want to help fund the events put on by HUSA and 2) do the uptown businesses want to pay the assessments. He added that there is not enough staff time/resources to do the survey and it could cause analysis paralysis.
Councilmember Stafford suggested we make HUSA whole and provide the funding this year while we figure it out for next year. Councilmember Brown agreed.
Discussion continued on the item and the item will be brought back at the next meeting.
Annual Report 2021-2022.pdf
9.C Diamond Mountain Golf Course End of Season Update
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the item and presented Dave Martin, Golf Course Manager, to provide the update.
Mr. Martin provided information related to the tournaments, the annual memberships, punch cards etc... He also recognized all of the volunteers who help from a couple times a year to 4 hours every Tuesday as, without their help, the course would not be successful.
Mr. Martin also presented the needs for the upcoming season including the draining of the pond for well repairs, repairing the front 9 well and irrigation and the purchase of a rough mower.
The council thanked to Mr. Martin and the work he, staff and the volunteers have done.
Mr. Teeter reminded the City that there was a lot of red in the spreadsheet and there needed to be a representation of what the golf course should still owe the general fund.
Mr. Newton provided the amount that the general fund paid in 2017-2018 and the 2018-2019 fiscal years.
Mr. Teeter inquired about the amount paid by the city to acquire the back nine as that information is relevant to the topic.
2022 - Monthly Council -Golf Course Report.pdf
9.D Consider purchase of Hangar #27 at the Susanville Municipal Airport Provide direction to staff Mr. Godman provided an explanation of the item and requested council direction.
It was the consensus of the council to not purchase the hangar. 20-5747.pdf
Hangar Map.pdf
Letter of Intent to Sell.docx
ROI IF PURCHASED.pdf
10. SUSANVILLE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: No business.
11. SUSANVILLE MUNICIPAL ENERGY CORPORATION: No business.
12. CONTINUING BUSINESS:
12.A Consider the appointment of the final member to the Sales Tax Oversight Board Appoint final board member to the Sales Tax Oversight Board.
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the item and requested the fifth member of the Board to be presented for consideration.
Mayor McCourt stated that he nominated James Merchant at the previous meeting. However, he changed his mind and has since talked with Mr. Merchant. He would like to instead nominate Jan Newbold to ensure a variety on the board.
Motion by Mayor McCourt to appoint Jan Newbold, second by Stafford. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Stafford added that the individual he was going to nominate tonight stated that they were no longer interested so he will be bringing back another candidate at an upcoming meeting.
13. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORTS:
13.A Department Reports
Chief Cochran mentioned the Veteran's Day Parade and that five traffic surveys will be starting shortly.
Chief Moore stated that he and the City Planner are working with County staff on a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update.
Mr. Newton stated that he was notified that the broadband grant was accepted and thanked Tony Shaw, Lassen County, for the writing of the grant. He also provided an update on the Riverside Trail grant where Mr. Godman requested permission to submit a grant and this time, it was successful and funded for approximately $2.8 million.
Mayor McCourt requested an update on homelessness to which Mr. Newton provided a response and discussed the cleaning up of the trail.
13.B Code Enforcement Update
Mr. Newton stated that Mr. Loflin is the first full-time Code Enforcement Officer that the city has had since he has been with the city. He added that the workload that he has has increased with the SeeClickFix app and that he has been doing a great job.
Mr. Loflin provided an update of all the nuisances, abatements, etc... that he has been working on.
All council members thanked Mr. Loflin for all of his hardwork.
Jim McCarthy, public, stated that he liked/appreciated the SeeClickFix app to which other members of the public agreed.
14. FUTURE COUNCIL ITEMS:
14.A Future Council Items
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the future council item topic and inquired as to whether or not the council wanted to add anything to an upcoming agenda.
Councilmember Stafford requested an update on the animal shelter. Any information on costs. 20221102 ITEMS FROM THE PODIUM.pdf
15. ADJOURNMENT:
Moved by Stafford; seconded by Brown to approve.
Motion Carried: 4 - 0
Voting For: Stafford, Brown, Schuster, McCourt
Voting Against: None
Absent: Herrera
______________________________
Quincy McCourt, Mayor
Respectfully submitted by:
__________________________ Approved on: November 16, 2022 Heidi Whitlock, City Clerk