SUSANVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Special Council Meeting Minutes
TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2024 – 5:00 PM
Mayor Schuster called the meeting to order at 5:00pm.
Roll Call of Councilmembers Present: Mayor Schuster, Mayor pro tem Brown, Council Member Bortle, Council Member Parrish, Council Member Miller
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: (Additions and/or Deletions)
Dan Newton, City Manager, requested that item 10A be heard prior to Business from the Floor as most of the audience was in attendance for that item.
Moved by Mayor pro tem Brown; seconded by Council Member Bortle to approve as modified.
Motion Carried: 5 - 0
Voting For: Schuster, Brown, Bortle, Parrish, Miller
Voting Against: None
2. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (if any): No closed session.
3. CLOSED SESSION: No business.
4. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION: (recess if necessary) The Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation were provided.
5. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR: Item moved to immediately follow Item 10A.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR: No business.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: No business.
8. COUNCIL DISCUSSION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor pro tem Brown commended the Lassen Community College Men’s Baseball team and Coach Avilla as they have been doing work out on the greens at the golf course the past few days.
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9.A Consider Resolution No. 24-6303, amending the Susanville City Council Committee List Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-6303, amending the Susanville City Council Committee List.
Dan Newton, City Manager, provided an explanation of the item and requested council approval of Resolution No. 24-6303.
Council Member Bortle requested that the Lassen County Coordination Council be removed as it is no longer active as well as the Abandoned Vehicle JPA.
Mayor Schuster inquired of Mr. Newton if there were any issues with the requested changes to which he responded that he thought Council Member Bortle was correct, so he saw no harm in removing them.
24-6303.pdf
Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-6303, amending the Susanville City Council Committee List.
Moved by Council Member Bortle; seconded by Mayor pro tem Brown to approve with the requested amendments.
Motion Carried: 5- 0
Voting For: Schuster, Brown, Bortle, Parrish, Miller
Voting Against: None
10. CONTINUING BUSINESS:
10.A Consider Resolution No. 24-6304, approving expenditure of ARPA funds for infrastructure improvements, general plan update, and marketed as presented in proposed ARPA Expenditure Plan. Consider direction to staff regarding providing ARPA funds for private non-profit entities for community benefit.
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the item and requested council discussion, and possible approval, of Resolution No. 24-6304. He specified that the presented resolution is only accounting for $1.204 million, as listed in categories 2-4 on the resolution. He also stated that the remaining funds would be either set aside for a public benefit, to pay off a city debt, or for the purchase of a needed engine for the Fire Department.
Mr. Newton continued by stating the additional items were requested as part of the community engagement process. He added that there are many items on the list that would require more research to come up with costs and requested that council provide five projects to move forward so staff can begin researching those chosen to bring back for consideration.
Council Member Miller inquired as to whether or not the engine would be new or used to which Chief Bollinger responded that more research would have to occur to determine the best option.
Mayor Schuster invited community members to speak on the item stating that each person would have five minutes.
Thomas Braun, public, stated his support for a performing arts center.
Julianne Pepetone, public, also stated her support for a performing arts center. She added that if the city provided the funds to purchase the building, they would be able to get the volunteers, the fundraising, etc... going.
Holly Egan, public, wanted to remind the city council that the pickleball club, approximately 14-16 months ago, requested funds to refurbish the tennis courts. She added that when they approached the council at that time, there were about 60-70 people in the club. She stated that there are now 167 people. She stated that $100,000 may complete this project.
Carolyn Smith, Sierra Theatre owner, stated that the theatres have not yet recovered, and will never recover, from Covid. She requested the city consider the idea of the performing arts center.
Abby Gerdts, performing artist and arts educator for Julliard in New York, stated that there are no full-time arts teachers in the city. She added that the arts should not be considered a luxury item, as it is essential for growth and much more. She requested city assistance in funding the place where this can occur.
Chris Van Deventer, public, stated his concern with the potential spending of funds to specific groups and stated that the city should be utilizing the funds to take care of its infrastructure. He added that police patrolling should be increased as well as code enforcement.
Larry Rogers, Elks Lodge, welcomed the new council members and reminded them of the needs of the Elks Lodge.
Linda Alberico, public, stated that she would love to see younger families move here.
However, if the city were to purchase the "performing arts center" they should run it to ensure that performances are geared towards younger families and not just the symphony.
Jason Rona, public, stated his experience with fixing fire trucks and knows the cost associated with them. He also works on the haunted House for Best of Broadway. He would love to see everyone get everything they are asking for; however, he would like to ensure that city infrastructure and the Fire Department are taken care of first as there will be no city if it burns down.
Phil Fetterman, public, stated that there are so many untapped resources in the city and there is a wide array of options to choose from. There are a ton of young people involved in Best of Broadway (150 people), a drum line, a choir at the high school and more.
Tom Tinell, public, stated that the last City Council asked the City Manager to find money for the Elks Lodge and yet it is not on the proposed list. He asked that the Elks Lodge not be forgotten.
Eileen Richard, public, stated that movie theatres are a for profit business and provide sales tax, etc... for the city. She shared her concern that if the theatres are taken over by a nonprofit organization, does that mean that the city will lose out on sales tax money, etc...
She requested those who are requesting money stay to listen to see who else is requesting funding, so they hear what the competition is as it is currently a contest. The performing arts will continue, even without a new venue.
Chris Gallagher, Lassen County Board Member and part of the Susanville Symphony, provided a story of a place in San Jose that looked very much like the Sierra Theatre where they charge $40+ per person and then they also serve food and beverages. He stated that his family of four people spent over $650 for two hours on entertainment and that this place was packed. He added that he has been in the Golden Poppy and that is a great asset for the uptown area. Mr. Gallagher also thanked Chief Bollinger for his efforts as the Public Safety Chief.
John Shaw, public, brought up the river and that there was a river walk project started by a previous city administrator that should be revitalized. He also reminded the Council of the Rite Aid building being vacant, as well as the empty lot that was previously proposed to have a pocket park. He added that HUSA would assist in that effort as they had approximately $30,000.
Ray White, public, also provided his support for the performing arts center.
Ben Wade, public, stated that the Symphony does not want the Sierra Theatre, but rather the community wants and needs a performing arts center. He asked the Council to remember why they ran for council, as he was sure it was to make changes and asked how they wanted to build Susanville back up.
Maria Fregulia, public, stated her support for the Elks Lodge.
Council Member Parrish inquired as to what Tamra Spade, Economic Development Director, would need for the marketing plan, what it would include, and the cost to which she responded.
Council Member Miller stated that when she was looking at the list, specifically the introduction of the firetruck, she sees the necessities. She understands all of the requests, however she would like to consider a vault bathroom at the Little League Park.
Council Member Bortle stated that he agreed with the items presented on the Resolution.
He inquired as to whether or not the city hall remodel debt was taken off to help pay for the fire engine. He added that the engine is a need, not a want. He added that he sees two lists in front of them. One represents the needs as presented on the resolution and the other is a list of wants.
Mayor pro tem Brown is okay moving forward with the list on the resolution. However, he also would like to see Code Enforcement, improved museum storage, and the Elks Lodge on the list.
Council Member Parrish requested more information on the fire engine of the Public Safety Chief. He also asked if the city is responsible for running someone else's business or helping a business out. He stated his concern if the Council provided the funding and then the business fails to move forward.
Council Member Bortle responded that this is a great point and inquires as to what do we need to do to protect the community interest if something happens to the organization receiving those funds. He stated that he would be fine moving forward with a few of the proposed projects if there was a way to protect the community’s interest.
Council Member Parrish stated that he wants to see a business plan and asks why the businesses don't seek out a personal loan.
Mayor Schuster stated the following items were on her list to include; museum storage, tennis courts, little league fields (bathrooms and other improvements), golf course irrigation system, and now the firetruck. However, she also wants to know how the arrangements are made to protect the interest.
Council Member Bortle requested the city hall remodel debt money ($448,000) to be earmarked for the new fire truck.
Mayor pro tem Brown stated it may be better to get a new firetruck as Council Member Parrish stated.
Council Member Parrish stated his approval with Category 5, 4, 3, 2. However, he suggested that the $1 million in category 1 go towards the firetruck.
Council Member Bortle added that the city will need a way to make money which the city does through collecting sales tax. However, he also added that the Elks Lodge does seem to be a common interest among the Council. He suggested finding a firetruck but use the ARPA funds to invest in something that can bring in money.
Council Member Parrish agreed and requested a business plan to protect the community.
He stated he still stands with category 2, 3, 4, 5 and that paying off debt is always a good idea.
Mayor Schuster inquired of the members what categories they all agreed with, of which they all agreed with categories 2, 3, & 4.
Mr. Newton added that there are some additional funds, for instance, the Dixie Fire monies and Park Mitigation Funds, that the city may be able to use in addition to the ARPA funding if needed.
Mayor Schuster requested to discuss category 5 and asked how much the Dixie Fire monies were, to which Mr. Newton responded approximately $580k.
Council Member Bortle stated that he would like staff to move forward with potential costs of museum storage improvement, tennis courts and code enforcement and then work with symphony and Elk’s Lodge.
Mayor pro tem Brown stated that he would like to take category 5 money and put it towards a fire engine and requested that the Council choose two more projects on the list as staff requested five items and they have only been given three so far.
Mr. Newton stated that a bid was received for the tennis courts for $60,000 and park mitigation funds could potentially be used.
Council Member Bortle stated that we would like to approve the resolution as presented and then direct staff to gather more information on the other areas for future consideration.
Mr. Newton requested Council direction.
Council stated that the Council is in support of categories 2-4 and Mr. Newton is to work with the Susanville Symphony and the Elks Lodge. It was also requested that staff bring back information on the museum storage item, the tennis courts, little league bathroom, code enforcement costs and the cost of the firetruck.
Proposed ARPA Expenditure Plan.pdf
24-6304.pdf
Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-6304, approving expenditure of ARPA funds for infrastructure improvements, general plan update, and marketed as presented in proposed ARPA Expenditure Plan. Consider direction to staff regarding providing ARPA funds for private non-profit entities for community benefit.
Moved by Council Member Bortle; seconded by Mayor pro tem Brown to approve.
Motion Carried: 5- 0
Voting For: Schuster, Brown, Bortle, Parrish, Miller
Voting Against: None
5. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR: No comment.
11. CITY MANAGER REPORTS: Mr. Newton reminded the Council that there will be a special meeting occurring before the regularly scheduled meeting on May 1st in order to provide Council training . The special meeting will start at 2:30pm.
12. FUTURE COUNCIL ITEMS: Council Member Parrish requested discussion on proclamations and the city website. All in agreement.
13. ADJOURNMENT:
Moved by Mayor pro tem Brown; seconded by Council Member Bortle to adjourn at 7:22pm.
Motion Carried: 5 - 0
Voting For: Schuster, Brown, Bortle, Parrish, Miller
Voting Against: None
____________________________ ____________________________ Heidi Whitlock, City Clerk Mendy Schuster, Mayor
Approved on: May 1, 2024