SUSANVILLE CITY COUNCIL
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024 – 4:30 PM
Mayor Schuster called the meeting to order at 4:31pm.
Roll Call of Councilmembers Present: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller
Absent: Patrick Parrish
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Moved by Dawn Miller; seconded by Russ Brown to approve.
Motion Carried: 4 - 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
Absent: Parrish
2. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS (if any): No comment.
3. CLOSED SESSION:
The City Council met in closed session at 4:32pm to discuss the following:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS - pursuant to Government Code Section §54957.6
1. Admin Unit
4. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION: The Council reconvened in open session at 5:00pm. The Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation were provided.
Dan Newton, City Manager, stated that prior to meeting in closed session, the Council approved the agenda as presented. The Council then met in closed session to discuss the abovementioned item. Direction was provided to staff with no reportable action taken; however, the Council will reconvene in closed session at the conclusion of open session.
Bob Godman, Public Works Director, introduced Michael Wolstenholm, the city's newest Maintenance Worker and Alex Dominguez who recently promoted to the Water Operator position.
5. BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR: No comment.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR:
6.A Minutes of the City Council December 4, 2024 regular meeting. 241204.cc.min.draft.pdfa
Motion to waive the reading of and approval to receive and file the City Council's minutes from the December 4, 2024, regular meeting.
Moved by Russ Brown; seconded by Dawn Miller to approve.
Motion Carried: 3 - 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Dawn Miller
Voting Against: None
Abstain: Bortle
Absent: Parrish
6.B Vendor and payroll warrants
11-21-24.pdf
11-26-24.pdf
11-27-24.pdf
Moved by Russ Brown; seconded by Dawn Miller to approve.
Motion Carried: 4 - 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
Absent: Parrish
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
7.A Consider Resolution No. 24-6389, Accepting FY 2023-24 Annual Report of Development/Mitigation Fees
Mayor Schuster opened the public hearing at 5:04pm.
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the item and requested Council approval of Resolution No. 24-6389.
David Teeter, public, inquired as to how much a stop light cost to which Mr. Newton responded that he would project somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000.
Mayor Schuster closed the public hearing at 5:13pm.
24-6389.pdf
Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-6389, Accepting Annual Report of Development/Mitigation Fees for Fiscal Year 2023-24
Moved by Dawn Miller; seconded by Russ Brown to approve.
Motion Carried: 4 - 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
Absent: Parrish
8. COUNCIL DISCUSSION/ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilmember Bortle provided the land acknowledgement statement.
Mayor Schuster offered thanks to everyone who participated in the Uptown Magical Christmas event.
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9.A Community Garden Report
Mr. Teeter of the Local Area Revitalization Project (LARP) provided information regarding the community garden and stated that the items presented to the Council consist of the updates but not yet a full report.
Mayor pro tem Brown inquired as to the number of users of the garden and if those users are returners or new community members and requested the latest audit. He stated his interest in seeing if there is turnover or return users.
Mr. Teeter stated that they aim to help the low-income community but there is a garden community advisory committee now and they will be presenting and best able to respond to questions.
Mary Piowaty, LARP, provided her experience with the garden as well as a story written by Mimi Rena.
Mark Northrop, LARP, also provided his experiences in the garden. He added that one family uses it as a home-schooling area. He also read two letters from other supportive community members.
9.B Economic Development Update
Tamra Spade, Economic Development Director, provided an update on the city's economic development endeavors.
No less than seven public members expressed their concern with the potential projects, including the water usage and the biomass plant that was previously abandoned.
City of Susanville presentation 12.12.24.pdf
9.C Consider the rescheduling or canceling of the regularly scheduled January 1, 2025 (New Year's Day) City Council meeting.
By motion, determine reschedule date or cancel the regularly scheduled January 1, 2025 (New Year's Day) City Council meeting.
Mr. Newton provided an explanation of the item and requested Council direction.
Moved by Curtis Bortle; seconded by Russ Brown to cancel the January 1st meeting.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
Absent: Parrish
9.D Consider Resolution No. 24-6390, Authorizing the Finance Director to increase the budget for the Police Mitigation Fund in the amount of $30,000 for the purchase of a 2019 Dodge Durango for the Police Department.
Mike Bollinger, Public Safety Chief, provided an explanation of the item and requested approval of Resolution No. 24-6390.
Councilmember Miller inquired about the installation of the equipment on the vehicle and if it booked out prior to purchase to which he responded that yes, it is booked our prior and they install the equipment themselves.
Vehicle Quote
24-6390.doc
Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-6390, Approving the use of funds from the Police Mitigation Budget in an amount not to exceed $30,000 for costs related to purchasing of vehicle and outfitting for the Police Department's 2019 Dodge Durango Moved by Russ Brown; seconded by Curtis Bortle to approve.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
Absent: Parrish
9.E Consider Resolution No. 24-6392, authorizing the Finance Director to increase the budget for the Fire Mitigation fund in the amount of $100,000 for the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus.
Chief Bollinger provided an explanation of the item and requested approval of Resolution No. 24-6392.
24-6392.doc
Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-6392, authorizing the Finance Director to increase the budget for the Fire Mitigation fund in the amount of $100,000 for the purchase of selfcontained breathing apparatus.
Moved by Curtis Bortle; seconded by Dawn Miller to approve.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
Absent: Parrish
9.F Consider Resolution No. 24-6394, allocating General Fund and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to various projects.
Margaret Long, City Attorney, provided an explanation of the item and requested Council approval of Resolution No. 24-6394.
24-6370 Rescinding Elks Lodge Allocation.pdf
24-6334 Purchase of Fire Engine.pdf
24-6328 Allocating ARPA Funds.pdf
DMGC Potential Projects.pdf
24-6394.docx
Moved by Dawn Miller; seconded by Russ Brown to approve.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 24-6394, allocating General Fund and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to various projects.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
Absent: Parrish
10. SUSANVILLE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: No business.
11. SUSANVILLE MUNICIPAL ENERGY CORPORATION: No business.
12. CONTINUING BUSINESS:
12.A Consider waiving the second reading and adopting Ordinance No. 24-1047, temporarily suspending Title 3 Revenue and Finance Chapter 3.32 of the Susanville Municipal Code - Public Facilities Impact Fee for a period of five years.
Ms. Spade provided an explanation of the item and requested the adoption of Ordinance No. 24-1047.
24-1047.doc
Motion to waive the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 24-1047, temporarily suspending Title 3 Revenue and Finance Chapter 3.32 of the Susanville Municipal Code - Public Facilities Impact Fee for a period of five years.
Moved by Russ Brown; seconded by Dawn Miller to approve.
Motion Carried: 4- 0
Voting For: Mendy Schuster, Russ Brown, Curtis Bortle, Dawn Miller Voting Against: None
13. CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS:
13.A Department Reports - Department heads in attendance shared information regarding their departments.
14. FUTURE COUNCIL ITEMS:
14.A Future Council Items
Mr. Newton provided a brief explanation of the item and inquired as to whether the Council had any changes to the future items list.
Councilmember Miller stated that she receives comments regarding the quality of our sound system and requested discussion to fix it. Brown and Schuster support bringing it back.
Mayor Schuster requested bringing back the LARP agreement to review it since there is a new council. Miller and Bortle agreed.
Mayor Schuster requested the return of $50,000 for a CEQA that will not happen. Brown and Bortle agreed.
241218 Future Items List.docx
The Council took a short break at 6:47pm prior to going back into closed session.
The Council reconvened in closed session at 6:51pm.
The Council reconvened in open session at 7:09pm. No reportable action was taken and direction was provided to staff.
15. ADJOURNMENT: Adjourned at 7:10pm.
__________________________________ __________________________________ Heidi Whitlock, City Clerk Mendy Schuster, Mayor
Approved on: January 15, 2025