SUSANVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023 – 4:30 PM
Mayor McCourt called the meeting to order at 4:30pm.
Roll Call of Councilmembers Present: McCourt, Stafford, Herrera, Brown
Absent: Schuster
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Moved by Stafford; seconded by Herrera to approve.
Motion Carried: 4 - 0
Voting For: McCourt, Stafford, Thomas Herrera, Brown
Voting Against: None
Absent: Schuster
2. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (if any): No public comment.
3. CLOSED SESSION:
The City Council convened in closed session at 4:31pm to discuss the following:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS – pursuant to Government Code §54957.6:
1. Admin Unit
2. Miscellaneous Unit
3. Public Works Unit
4. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION: The City Council reconvened in open session at 5:08pm.
Mayor McCourt requested that Dave Martin, Golf Course Manager, start the Pledge of Allegiance and a member of the public to provide the Invocation.
Mr. Newton stated that the agenda was approved with no changes. He added that the Council met in closed session and direction was provided to staff with no reportable action taken.
5. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR: Bob Tyndall, public, stated that he is here in order to provide an update on the airport as he is on the Airport Commission and will do so monthly. He stated that the helicopter in the hangar has a potential buyer and, while he knows that there are legal issues that must be addressed but, he requested that it keep moving forward as the interested person wants to purchase the helicopter, rent hangar #3 and start a helicopter school. All of these items are good for the city.
Mimi Fraser, Lassen Family Services, stated that January 9, 2023, is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. She added that January is Human Trafficking and Abuse Awareness month.
She offered thanks to local law enforcement and provided information on the topic.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR:
6.A Minutes of the City Council's December 7, 2022, regular meeting. Minutes of the City Council's December 7, 2022, regular meeting.
221207.cc.min.draft.pdf
Motion to approve and file the minutes from the City Council’s December 7, 2022, meeting.
Moved by Thomas Herrera; seconded by Stafford to Approve.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: McCourt, Stafford, Thomas Herrera, Brown
Voting Against: None
Absent: Schuster
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: No business.
8. COUNCIL DISCUSSION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor McCourt offered the Land Acknowledge Statement and the City's Mission Statement.
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9.A Consider Resolution No. 23-6081, approving amended golf course fees at Diamond Mountain Golf Course
Mr. Newton introduced the item and introduced both Jolene Arredondo, his assistant, and Dave Martin, Golf Course Manager as they both work together regarding items at the golf course.
Mr. Newton continued by mentioning all the improvements that have been made to the course and the associated buildings. He added that due to COVID, some of the costs were reduced to promote play. However, now that COVID is winding down, the course is getting more play, more maintenance is being required as well as the cost of items needed. He stated that this item is being brought forward to bring those prices back to where they were prior to the cost reductions so, not a true increase.
No public comment.
23-6081 Amending Golf Course Fees.pdf
Attachment A.pdf
Motion to approve Resolution No. 23-6081, amending golf course fees at Diamond Mountain Golf Course
Moved by Stafford; seconded by Brown to approve.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: Stafford, Brown, Herrera & McCourt.
Voting Against: None
Absent: Schuster
9.B Consider fee adjustment for developer impact fees for Skyline Self Storage.
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the presented item, the history of mitigation fees and why the item was brought forward. He added that those who requested the change to their fees are present if the Council would like to ask more questions.
Mayor McCourt requested that Mr. Newton review the five findings being presented to them to which he responded, ultimately, that three findings would deny the request, one would approve the request and one would table the item to provide more time to work on an appropriate reduction including STONCO members.
Mr. Newton stated that the applicant did not address each mitigation account and that would be another item that would need to work out due to the restrictedness of some of the funds.
Mayor McCourt stated that, although it may not sound favorable, this is not an item that comes up often and it is a prime example of an opportunity to review the city's mitigation fee structure.
Gentry Standiford, STONCO, provided an explanation of why she brought the item forward and her thoughts on high industrial vs. low industrial or high retail vs. low retail, etc... and how the mitigation fees should be adjusted based on the usage as right now, it is only based on square footage.
Mayor McCourt inquired as to whether or not they would be willing to work with the variety of staff to work on this project to which Ms. Standiford agreed.
Larry Standiford, STONCO, stated that he is not here to cause any issues as the city has been extremely helpful during this entire project and wanted to compliment the city on how they have been. He agreed that the discussion occuring is what he felt is the right direction.
It was added that they want to pay mitigation fees since it helps the businesses and city overall but, they want to ensure they are paying fair mitigation fees since there is a lesser impact on the area. She stated that this is not a new issue as many areas are dealing with the same issue and requested a sub-category of commercial.
Mayor pro tem Herrera requested that staff move forward with STONCO’s suggestions since it prevented them from being open. He added however, that the city has policies that need to be updated and this could be a good time.
Stafford likes option number one but, number five only if staff can work more quickly on it.
Brown stated that he liked option five although he was not sure if he agreed with the fee proposed by STONCO. He added that he would like staff to sit down with STONCO to determine a fair fee.
Mayor McCourt asked Mr. Newton if something could move forward rather quickly as he wanted to treat every request the same but, that he knew it was time sensitive.
Councilmember Brown inquired as to whether the city can collect the full rate now, let them open, work with them to work on a fee structure and then provide a refund if the amounts are lowered.
Mr. Standiford inquired of Mr. Newton, how long would it take to complete the anaylsis and bring it back.
Mr. Newton stated that, if provided direction from the council, staff can make it a priority if needed but, he added that there are a lot of different areas that will need to be addressed.
Mr. Newton stated that, staff may be able to get the item back to the council on the first February meeting. He added that there is a way for them to open, by code, but they will have to pay upfront and there could be a bond requirement.
Mr. Standiford stated that bonds are more difficult to obtain and acknowledged how they could have moved forward differently to prevent this. However, he added that a lot of other jurisdictions have done this and may already have a percentage breakdown for the departments for staff to review if they wanted to do so. He added that they will try to obtain a bond however, if they do not get it, it would only be because it's hard to get one, or a line of credit and not that they didn’t try.
Mayor McCourt inquired of the department heads if they were all willing to review the fee schedule to which they all agreed.
Application for Fee Reduction.pdf
It was the consensus of the council to move forward with finding number five, to accept the application and for staff to work together, with the Standiford's, to work on an updated schedule.
Motion by Brown, seconded by Herrera, to move forward with option five. Motion carried.
Motion Carried: 3-1
Voting For: Brown, Herrera & McCourt
Voting Against: Stafford
Absent: Schuster
10. SUSANVILLE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: No business.
11. SUSANVILLE MUNICIPAL ENERGY CORPORATION: No business.
12. CONTINUING BUSINESS: No business.
13. CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORTS:
13.A Department Reports
Mr. Newton provided a brief update on the warmer weather over the New Year's holiday and offered his appreciation to James Moore, Fire Chief, for being very well prepared for the potential flooding.
Mr. Newton also provided a brief update on the homeless issue and stated that the housing grant has been submitted. He added that the County is moving forward with the permanent housing project on N. Mesa Street however, he has not had conversations with them regarding the project recently.
Chief Cochran stated that he and Chief Moore walked the river in case there were camps that would need to be vacated for safety reasons due to the potential flooding. He added that there were no encampments on the city side of the river. He also stated that he is still working with County to set up a meeting time to discuss the animal shelter.
Chief Moore stated that the squad has arrived and can be used for medical calls and that it will be a great addition to the department. He stated that the end of year response numbers was 1700, which came out to more than four calls a day and that is right in line with other fire departments.
Chief Moore offered that additional information was provided to all departments related to the potential flooding and how flooding works. He stated that there are a few more storms lined up and feels that the city is ready to help the public if needed. He concluded by stating that was even a moment where they jumped in and helped the County as well.
14. FUTURE COUNCIL ITEMS:
14.A Future Council Items
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the item.
No additional items requested or discussed.
20230104 Items from the Podium.pdf
15. ADJOURNMENT:
Moved by Brown; seconded by Herrera to approve.
Motion to adjourn at 6:40pm.
Motion Carried: 4 - 0
Voting For: McCourt, Stafford, Herrera, Brown
Voting Against: None
Absent: Schuster
__________________________
Quincy McCourt, Mayor
Respectfully submitted by:
______________________________ Approved on January 18, 2023 Heidi Whitlock, City Clerk