CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2023
THIS MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AT 33 CHURCH STREET, THE PUBLIC WAS ABLE TO VIEW FROM HOME:
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Meeting ID: 956 852 0224
1. CLOSED SESSION-None
7:00 P.M. 2. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR REGULAR MEETING Council members present:
Feist, Peters, Sierk, Swift and Gunselman
Vicky Runquist, City Treasurer
Staff Present:
Sandra Spelliscy, Interim City Manager
Derek Cole, City Attorney
Karen Darrow, City Clerk
Jodi Steneck, Account Supervisor
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
4. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION - None
5. PUBLIC FORUM
Andrea Roberts of Sutter Creek voiced her concern about authority figures abusing their power. She cited an incident with her dog that took place at Independence High School. She asked if directional signs could be put up on Gopher Flat indicating that there are more businesses further down Main Street. She also mentioned that the city keeps taking down her sandwich boards that she is using to advertise her business.
Ron Antone asked if the Farmers Market location was going to be discussed. Interim City Manager Spelliscy suggested that he submit an application so that staff can review it. She noted that an update will be provided to the Council once it has been reviewed.
Lottie Tone of Sutter Creek asked if the FEMA application had been submitted. Interim City Manager Spelliscy noted that she would address that in the City Manager’s Report.
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. City Council Minutes of March 20, 2023.
Recommendation: By motion approve minutes as presented.
M/S Council member Peters/Sierk to approve the City Council Minutes of March 20, 2023, as amended.
AYES: Feist, Peters, Sierk, Swift and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
7. *
*
CONSENT AGENDA
Items listed on the consent agenda are considered routine and may be enacted in one motion.
Any item may be removed for discussion at the request of Council or the Public.
A. Budget Amendment #4 for FY 22-23.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 22-23-* authorizing budget amendment #4 to the fiscal year 2022-23 budget for storm damage projects.
B. Impact Fee ENR Adjustment
Recommendation: Direct staff to provide notice of a public hearing to hear public comments regarding a proposed impact fee adjustment to be effective July 1, 2023.
M/S Council member Peters/Swift to approve the Consent Agenda, as presented.
AYES: Feist, Peters, Sierk, Swift and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
8. ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARING- None.
9. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
A. City Manager Recruitment
Recommendation: For discussion and staff direction.
Interim City Manager Spelliscy reviewed the recommendation and outlined the three recruitment options.
M/S Council member Peters/Sierk to:
1- Direct City Attorney Cole to work with Interim City Manager Spelliscy to change references in the Municipal Code from City Administrator to City Manager and clean up related language.
2- Elect to use the hybrid recruitment option outlined in the staff report. 3- Form an Ad-Hoc committee of Council member Swift and Mayor Gunselman to work with Staff to hire a recruitment agency and assist staff in recruitment effort.
AYES: Feist, Peters, Sierk, Swift and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
B. Status of City/ARSA Operations Agreement and Relate Issues Recommendation: For discussion and staff direction
Interim City Manager Spelliscy presented an overview of the formation of the ARSA JPA up to the current status.
Mike Kirkley and Al Bierce of Sutter Creek commented.
M/S Council member Peters/Sierk to direct staff to look into different considerations for the ARSA loan repayment.
AYES: Feist, Peters, Sierk, Swift and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
M/S Council member Swift/Sierk to look into the current MOU between ARSA and the City of Sutter Creek for edits and suggestions to correct the vagueness and ensure the City is best represented.
AYES: Feist, Peters, Sierk, Swift and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
MOTION CARRIED
M/S Council member Feist/Gunselman to direct staff to begin a process of consultations regarding the continued operations of the ARSA JPA going forward.
AYES: Feist, Sierk and Gunselman
NOES: Peters and Swift
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
A roll call vote was taken by the clerk.
3-2 MOTION CARRIED
10. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Council member Sierk reported that the Finance Committee met to discuss the budget and the PARS program. She noted that they will meet again to work on the budget and that staff will be doing more research before they move forward with PARS.
Council member Sierk noted that the Air Quality Board donated $7500 to Sutter Creek Fire Protection District for a chipper to be used in the community. She also noted that the Marketing Committee met and discussed seasonal marketing strategies, the visitor center, the status of outdoor dining at Cavana’s and Hotel Sutter and the wayfinding signs that are being created for each end of Main Street.
Council member Peters reported that there is a stay of litigation in the ARSA lawsuit to allow for discussions with all involved parties and noted that another meeting is scheduled for April 6 th
. He also noted that there is an ACTC meeting on Thursday and that a prospective developer of the former Gold Rush Ranch site had contacted him.
Council member Peters reported that the Chamber mixer will be at the Foundry on Wednesday, April 12th at 5:30 p.m. and that the Foundry will be a stop on the AAUW Home tour on April 22nd and that there will be a metal casting workshop at the Foundry on April 26th.
Mayor Gunselman noted that the Grammar School is also a stop on the AAUW Home Tour and that same day there is a 5k Earth Day Run in Sutter Creek at Erickson Ranch. She also reported that the Native Sons will be doing the Shrimp Feed fundraiser again for the Grammar School.
11. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Interim City Manager Spelliscy gave a personnel update noting that Officer O’Brien will be moving at the end of the month and that recruitment to fill his position has begun. Karen Darrow will be relocating to North Carolina in June and will continue her role remotely. She also noted that she will being working on recruitment for a Public Works Director.
Interim City Manager Spelliscy noted that the transition from Google mail to outlook has been completed and that staff is looking into switching internet providers from Comcast to AT&T.
She noted that staff met with FEMA and OES and found that the flushing dam does not qualify for Public Assistance under the disaster declaration but is looking into a hazard mitigation program grant for cleanup and possible dam removal. She also reported that she has met with Dominic Moreno, Grant Reynolds, Larry McKenney, Mark Hildebrand and met with the group from ACES to discuss the franchise agreement.
Interim City Manager Spelliscy noted that she and Planning Consultant Erin Ventura will be meeting with applicants that have pending projects for status review and that she spoke with Council member Peters and Swift about filling the vacant role of ARSA General Manager and that they would be taking that recommendation to the ARSA Board.
She noted that she would like to schedule a workshop on April 17th at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the State Water Board grant.
12. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT- None.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS- None.
14. INFORMATION/CORRESPONDENCE-None.
15. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:44 p.m.
_________________________________
Claire Gunselman, Mayor
___________________________________
Karen Darrow, City Clerk
Date Approved: April 17, 2023