City Council Meeting Minutes
Monday, December 02, 2024 at 6:00 PM
33 Church Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
The agenda can be found on the City’s Website: www.cityofsuttercreek.org The City of Sutter Creek City Council Meeting was available via Zoom and in person.
1. Call to Order and Establish a Quorum for Regular Meeting CM Feist, Gunselman, Riordan and Swift present in chambers, CM Sierk on Zoom due to medical issue Staff present included Derek Cole, Mason Peters, Dan Lafontaine, Tom DuBois and Vicky Runquist
2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
3. Public Forum
Victoria Boitano - Spoke about her concern about school drop-offs on the upper lot of the primary school using Randolph Street. issue w parent drop-off. Request a Speed bump and handed a petition to staff.
4. City Manager’s Report
A. 2024 Year in Review - The City manager reviewed events and accomplishments in the city during 2024.
Council members appreciated the review, asked for comparison metrics in future reviews and clarified a couple of items through questions.
5. Approval of Minutes
A. City Council Minutes of Nov 18, 2024
Recommendation: By motion approve minutes as presented with corrections to types and switch Council Report about bike ped from CM Swift to CM Sierk Motion to approve by CM Riordan, Seconded by Swift
Passed 5 - 0 on a roll-call vote.
6. Consent Agenda
No items
7. Presentations
No items
8. Ordinances and Public Hearing
A. Approval of Resolutions to Implement 1% Local Transaction and Use Tax (Measure P) Action item to approve two resolutions authorizing agreements with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to Implement the City's 1% local transaction and use Tax (Measure P) City Attorney Cole explained the item, local translation and use tax will be administered by California Department tax and fee administration. Resolutions and agreements are standardized across the state. Council needs to adopt them and staff needs to complete paperwork during December to implement the tax.
CM Riordan asked about fee not to exceed $175,000 for preparation of the tax. CM Riordan and Sierk asked how the operating fee is determined. CM Riordan asked how funds will be reported to the city and what section on page 14, E “shall give no preference” meant. Staff agreed to get answers from CDTFA.
CM Feist pointed out we may want to notify small businesses about the upcoming tax change.
Mayor Gunselman asked about enforcement if businesses don’t pay the tax.
Motion to approve both resolutions (8A) was made by CM Feist, seconded by CM Sierk Motion Passed on 5-0 vote by roll call vote.
9. Administrative Agenda
A. Notice of upcoming hearing on Solid Waste rate increases Information report on multiyear rate increase
City Attorney Cole explained the item, a Mult-year approval of solid waste rates. Republic recently did their once every 4-year audit of costs. Process is the same, but they are asking for a multi-year approval to avoid multiple 218 Mailings and protests.
CM Riordan asked why there was a 40% increase over 4 years. Paul Molinelli Jr explained that this was a “not to exceed” rate. The actual rate would follow the established Refuse Rate Index increase and could be less each year. CM Riordan followed up by asking what highest RRI increase had been? It was 9.6% in 2022 due to large fuel price increases.
CM Sierk asked why the rate increase and annual rate didn’t add up? Because the 12-month rate increase is starting in March, it must be paid in 9 months, so the effective monthly rate in 2025 is higher, accounting for the difference.
CM Feist asked about what green waste wasn’t collected like in Sacramento? Amador County and other rural areas have a 10-year exemption from the state.
CM Swift pointed out we do recycle, just not food waste at this time.
Council accepted the information; this was not an action item.
B. Capital Infrastructure Plan (CIP)
This Item has been continued to date uncertain. It is continuing to be updated and refined, and should be available early in 2025
10. Mayor and Council Member Reports
This section is to provide Council members an opportunity to present updates on their activities and to request items be placed on future agendas.
A. Proposed plan for Bike/Ped Route
Update to Council from Council Member Sierk showing proposed road markings.
Cm Sierk gave an extensive update on an updated plan to focus on road markings rather than signs on poles.
Extensive discussion ensured. ACTC/BPAC should return once a detailed plan is completed.
CM Feist noted that Mike Kirkley volunteered to help with Tree planting and also establish connections with the High school environmental club
CM Swift mentioned that the Fire district meeting discussed Measure P, want to see funds for fire fuel mitigation
11. City Attorney’s Report
No report
12. Future Agenda Items
CM Feist mentioned she’d like to have a discussion on fuel mitigation, alternative methods for preventive burns such as using goat herds.
13. Information and Correspondence
A. Draft Response Letter to Regional Water Board
City Manager DuBois discussed the draft letter, going over the system figure and his impressions of the water balance results. Council members were urged to read this report, it is a primer on the ARSA system.
14. Closed Session
A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
15. Report from Closed Session
No reportable action
16. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Dec 16th, 2024