CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024
THIS MEETING WAS CONDUCTED IN-PERSON AT 33 CHURCH STREET, THE PUBLIC WAS ABLE TO VIEW FROM HOME:
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6:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR REGULAR MEETING Council members present:
Feist, Riordan, Sierk and Gunselman
Vicky Runquist, City Treasurer
Absent: Swift
Staff Present:
Tom DuBois, City Manager
Derek Cole, City Attorney
Karen Darrow, City Clerk
Erin Ventura, Planning Consultant
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
3. ELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR FOR 2024
Recommendation:
1. Elect a Mayor for 2024.
M/S Council member Sierk/Riordan to re-appoint Council member Claire Gunselman as Mayor for 2024.
AYES: Feist, Riordan, Sierk and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Swift
MOTION CARRIED
2. Elect a Vice Mayor for 2024.
M/S Council member Riordan/Feist to re-appoint Council member Julia Sierk as Vice Mayor for 2024.
AYES: Feist, Riordan, Sierk and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Swift
MOTION CARRIED
4. PUBLIC FORUM – None.
5. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager DuBois presented an overview highlighting:
The new City Council meeting time is 6pm.
The new City logo design contest kick off.
Looking at the City sponsoring some events in town.
He has been spending time making connections within the county.
Staff working to be more active with code enforcement.
Public Works took down the Christmas decorations.
Staff were able to publish the agenda earlier in the week and is working to continue to do that.
6. PRESENTATIONS- None.
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. City Council Minutes of December 18, 2023.
Recommendation: By motion approve minutes as presented.
M/S Council member Riordan/Feist to approve the City Council Minutes of December 18, 2023, as amended.
AYES: Feist, Riordan, Sierk and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Swift
MOTION CARRIED
8. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve Amador County Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022/2023
M/S Council member Sierk/Riordan to Adopt Resolution 23-34-19 Approve Amador County Regional Traffic Mitigation Fee Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2022/2023.
AYES: Feist, Riordan, Sierk and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Swift
MOTION CARRIED
9. ORDINANCES & PUBLIC HEARING- None.
10. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENDA
A. Amador Unified School District Draft EIR Response Letter- discussion and staff direction.
Planning Consultant Erin Ventura gave an overview and noted that this was previously presented to the Planning Commission.
City Manager Tom DuBois distributed a copy of a summary of potential impacts to be considered.
The Council directed staff to collect more information and bring back a draft letter for approval on consent at the next meeting.
B. Community Satisfaction and Priorities for Budget Planning- discussion and staff direction
City Manager Tom DuBois presented a recommendation providing options for long-range financial forecasting.
Council member Riordan commented that the consultants’ expense appears to be justified.
Mayor Gunselman suggested that a lesson can be learned from the School Boards failed measure.
Council member Sierk noted her concern about the expense.
Member of the public, Sandy Anderson commented that 30% of the city’s income comes from tourism.
M/S Council member Sierk/Riordan to Authorize the City Manager to retain consultants to assist with preparation of a long-range financial forecast and conduct community polling on resident satisfaction with local government and City priorities.
AYES: Feist, Riordan, Sierk and Gunselman
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Swift
MOTION CARRIED
11. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
Council member Riordan reported that ACTC is putting together a letter about the school consolidation and noted that he is working with Council member Sierk on the Bike/Ped committee.
Mayor Gunselman noted that the SCCBF is working on a response to the SCHOOL EIR and noted that a popular lecture series is starting again at the Grammar School. She also reported that Fire Chief Dominic Moreno confirmed that the Fire department is working on the emergency sirens.
Council member Sierk noted that she has been out of state for a few weeks. She also reported that the Air District met and discussed the low turn in rate of the small exhaust producing yard equipment and that they are offering a $250 rebate to incentivize electric equipment purchases when spending $350.
Council member Feist noted her interest in bringing back the duck races and hosting a 4th of July event.
12. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
14. 15.
16. INFORMATION/CORRESPONDENCE
A. Monthly Police Report
B. Monthly Public Works Report
C. Treasurer’s Report
D. Monthly Administrative Services Report
E. Monthly Finance Department Report
F. Warrants- Jan 1st & 16th, 2023
G. Monthly Engineer’s Report
H. Monthly Planning Report
So noted.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned into closed session at 7:31 p.m in honor of Pearl Campbell for her contribution and service to the City of Sutter Creek.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATIONINITIATION OF LITIGATION Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2). Three potential cases.
B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Gov. Code Section 54956.9) SEIU Local 1021 v. City of Sutter Creek, Pub. Emp. Rel. Bd.
Case No. SA-CE-1244-M
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action.
_________________________________
Claire Gunselman, Mayor
___________________________________
Karen Darrow, City Clerk
Date Approved: February 5, 2024