08-22-2023 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
MINUTES OF THE SECOND REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRINIDAD CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2023 (LIVE/HYBRID)
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kelly called the live-hybrid meeting to order at 6:00pm. Council members in attendance: Kelly, Ladwig, West, Tuttle, Breckenridge. City Staff in attendance: City Manager Eli Naffah, City Clerk Gabriel Adams, Administrative Assistant Anton Souza. Approximately (5) participants were present by video-conference at the beginning of the meeting.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. CLOSED SESSION
1. Personnel Exception 54957 - City Manager Performance Evaluation IV. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – No reportable action taken.
V. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion (Ladwig/West) to hear Animal Control Item first, CERT second, Traffic Calming third, and approve the agenda as amended. Passed unanimously.
VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – 07-25-2023 cc
Motion (West/Tuttle) to approve the minutes as submitted. Passed unanimously.
VII. COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
West: Attended HCAOG, discussing housing issues, safety corridor improvements currently underway, and trails.
Ladwig: Attended RREDC exploring housing needs in the County, and providing loans to local businesses.
HTA continues to work on bringing in zero carbon transportation, and the Earth Center, leading the way for others in the State to follow. Annual transportation needs hearing will take place here in Trinidad in the future, but comments are always welcome.
Breckenridge: Attended the Mercer Fraser meeting regarding Trinidad Quarry activities.
Kelly: Attended the League of CA cities meeting. Discussed offshore wind project, wildfire impacts on the home insurance market, and reassured the public that Trinidad is monitoring wildfire activity closely. Website is up and running. Everyone is encouraged to sign up for announcements through the site.
VIII.STAFF REPORTS – City Manager & Law Enforcement
City Manager Naffah highlighted accomplishments summarized in the staff report included in the meeting packet, including Del Norte County hosting the upcoming Coastal Commission meeting where the Van Wycke Trail appeal hearing will take place. Also met with CIRA Insurance representative to view the current condition of the trail. Attended the Trinidad Rancheria Interchange meeting last week and summarized the options presented. Chamber mixer will be held at the Beachcomber, and investigating PG&E utility undergrounding process. There may be a future agenda item on this topic. He introduced current Water Treatment Plant Chief Operator, Phil Godman from Coleman Engineering. Coleman gave a brief report of water system activities.
Mayor Kelly asked if the current staffing plan and strategy is adequate, and expressed an important need to dive deep into the subject in the coming months.
Phil summarized a schedule of daily and quarterly activities, and named Lyle (Grade II Certified) and Dereck (scheduled to test in November) as the local staff. Godman explained that he is only coming up once per month, and utilizes local staff for in-town operations while he operates the Plant remotely.
City Manager Naffah felt it would be important for Coleman Engineering to remain as a permanent part of the consulting staff after the local staff takes over.
Public comment by Larry Goldberg regarding the importance of working together with the Rancheria for a very rare opportunity to improve the safety of Scenic Drive. May be the only way it happens in our lifetime. County, State, Rancheria, and the City must work together and get the money needed to do it. 08-22-2023 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
IX. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
(Three (3) minute limit per Speaker unless Council approves request for extended time.) Paula Levine – Trinidad Area Resident
Interesting that the City/County Animal Control contract references a prohibition of doing business with anyone involved in nuclear activity. Also, a careful financial analysis comparing the cost to maintain the Luffenholtz Water Treatment Plant and connecting to Humboldt Bay Water should be performed. The Water Advisory Committee should be actively pursuing these topics, as well as increasing the number of representatives.
Mike Morgan – Trinidad Resident
Regarding appeal of Council decisions, there should be a section on the new website informing the public how to appeal not only Planning Commission decisions, but also decisions made by the City Council, with a goal of providing a buffer before decisions bring the City into lawsuits.
X. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Staff Activity Report – July 2023
2. Financial Statements – June 2023
3. Law Enforcement Report – July 2023
4. Application for Outside City Water Connection
5. Contract with Daniel Dimmick to Provide Building Inspector Services to the City of Trinidad.
6. Appoint City Manager as Voting Delegate for the Upcoming CalCities Conference.
7. Procurement of Engineering and Planning Consultant Services
8. Discussion/Decision regarding Introduction/First Reading of Ordinance 2023-03; correcting and reaffirming codification of the City of Trinidad Zoning Ordinance, Title 17 of the Trinidad Municipal Code.
9. Discussion/Decision regarding Introduction/First Reading of Ordinance 2023-04; reaffirming codification of the City of Trinidad Zoning Ordinance and amendments thereto that were not submitted to the CA Coastal Commission for certification.
Motion (Ladwig/West) to approve consent agenda as submitted. Passed unanimously.
X. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
1. Continued Discussion/Decision regarding Traffic Calming Measures for View Street, Ocean Avenue, and Underwood Drive.
City Manager Naffah explained that City Engineer Josh Wolf is unable to attend a Council meeting until October, but submitted information in his staff report to address some issues discussed, summarizing the cost of installing temporary, pilot project speed humps. It will be important to do as much public outreach ahead of any temporary installation.
City Clerk Adams agreed that outreach is important. Streets are paid for by the general public through transportation funds and taxes, not only by the residents that live in front of the area of concern. Wolf provided recommendations that will give the Council opportunity to move forward on some element of the process tonight instead of tabling it until October.
Ladwig: We have had 2 City meetings without much input. Ocean and View should have temporary humps installed, not just one street, if we opt for the pilot.
Tuttle: Can we keep it permanent?
Ladwig: Life expectancy of temporary hump is approximately 5-7 years.
City Manager Naffah recommended the option to put up the public notice first, mail notices to all residents on affected streets, and continue this to a future meeting before authorizing purchase of the temporary humps. We want to be on the safe side by warning the public, and helping the public. Putting in a crosswalk isn’t too impactful. Speed humps may cause noise.
Breckenridge: The more you put up signs, the more encouraging it is that this is something to be concerned about.
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Kelly: We don’t provide this level of notification for other improvements, and because it’s temporary it will give people a chance to provide feedback.
Ladwig: We are considering spending city money that comes from all residents, whether or not they live on those streets or not. We also may be affecting the School, and they need to be notified as well.
Public comment included:
Karin Reese – Trinidad (Ocean Ave)
Appreciate the thoughtfulness of the conversation. A small change is the right thing to do. If people use Ocean Avenue in their travel pattern, a speed bump isn’t going to change it. Watching out my front window, most people that use it don’t live there. If they don’t like it, what’s the worst thing that could happen? They slow down.
Put the hump in front of my house, but make it go all the way to my fence so they don’t drive around it and damage my property. There’s an accident waiting to happen. I worry about trying to garner too much feedback.
People that might not support it are people fishing, or parents dropping off the kids. The people that live in Trinidad make the difference. That’s the feedback that counts, not from anyone else driving over 15 mph.
Mike Morgan – Trinidad
RV’s on Ocean seem to be the biggest issue. Everyone on those streets should be notified. The temporary humps cost a lot of money. If the community wants them, there should be a traffic study and comprehensive notification.
Aaron Hakenen – Trinidad (View)
All of our streets have speed issues and without law enforcement, passive improvements should be implemented. I don’t understand why this project has different notification and trial period processes than other projects. Meetings and notices are the standard operating procedure. Hope that the City partners with the School to make parents aware of the desired route and speeds in town.
Council comment included:
Kelly: Staff recommendation is a pilot project on View and Ocean. Naffah suggested additional notification (direct and on-street) be completed, and ensure the humps are installed so driving around them is not an option.
I’m worried about getting started on this too late, and think we can move forward with the pilot project.
Ladwig: We don’t want to create unintended consequences, but we can learn this with the pilot project.
West: I like the idea but would like to have a better idea of what this will cost and scope of the project, which needs more clarification, hopefully by September. Agree that additional notification and outreach should be completed as soon as possible.
Tuttle: Don’t forget including Underwood in the pilot project too.
Naffah suggested waiting until October when we can get clarity from the City Engineer, or get more input first before spending $10-20k.
By consensus, the Council directed Staff to continue public outreach and input gathering, and return at the September meeting with more detailed cost information to implement the pilot project.
2. Discussion/Decision regarding Contract with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to Provide Animal Control Services to the City of Trinidad.
City Manager Naffah introduced Andra Hale, HCSO Animal Control Supervisor/Facilities Manager. Hale explained she is able to answer any contract related questions.
Kelly: If contract is complete, will Animal Control proactively patrol Trinidad? Hale explained that officers primarily respond to calls for service. There are four officers for the entire County. Due to the size of Trinidad, I felt it wouldn’t burden the department too much to add the City to our responsibility area. Depending on the location of the officer during a call, they may be able to respond quickly if they are close but if not, HCSO Deputies will be called.
08-22-2023 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
Kelly: We have had a few recent attacks. Is there anything proactive we can do to help mitigate these issues? Hale explained that apparently the poodle owner was in town frequently and known for his dogs being loose.
Animal Control should have been called to warn him. The other two incidents were owner accidents, allowing dogs without routine or ongoing history to escape and attack another dog.
Breckenridge: One dog was known to be aggressive, but no calls were ever made to Animal Control or Town Hall. Hale explained that County and City Ordinances are being looked at, and more authority and discretion given to Animal Control to take action on aggressive dogs. The residents should understand they should call County Animal Control to report nuisances as well. Dogs declared vicious are allowed to be kept under specific conditions and owners are charged double the license fee.
Ladwig: Appreciate aligning rules to be less confusing for residents.
City Manager Naffah asked if County Officers will enforce City Animal leash laws if they differ from County laws.
Hale confirmed, barking and leash laws will be followed. Declaring dogs vicious would defer to the County policy.
Motion (Breckenridge/Tuttle) to approve the contract with the County of Humboldt to provide Animal Control Services. Passed unanimously.
3. Discussion/Decision regarding CERT Program Participation.
Mayor Kelly explained that CERT presented their program to the Council in June. The cost of establishing a CERT team in Trinidad will cost approximately $4,500, including storage of an emergency supply trailer.
City Manager Naffah explained that a fund is available through CIRA, the City’s insurance pool, to cover $3,500.
That would bring the cost to the City down to approximately $500 if some of the cost could be shaved off through donations, etc.
Public comment included:
Jeff – Trinidad Area Resident
In favor of this program especially after what happened in Maui with the recent wildfires. Communication network failure may rely on CERT volunteers to spread information or direct people to resources when needed.
Larry Goldberg – Trinidad Area Resident
20’ Trailer stocked with emergency supplies, valued at approximately $15-20k, and is important for emergencies.
We should expect the day will come when we experience wildfire issues in Trinidad. WCSD Fire Chief would be able to work with Trinidad CERT Team if one is formed. Added benefit with partnership opportunity. I volunteer to utilize the trailer and table at Murphy’s to recruit volunteers. Councilmember should be appointed as liaison.
Kelly agreed to accept that role.
Aaron Hakenen – Trinidad Resident
(Written comment read by Councilmember Breckenridge)
Support CERT and casting a wide net beyond City limits to develop a network of emergency volunteers.
Council comments included:
West: How many people are already trained in Trinidad? Larry Goldberg estimated 6 or so. Net should be cast beyond City limits to acquire volunteers. Ladwig agreed. Wise use of resources.
Motion (Ladwig/West) to approve developing a CERT team in Trinidad, covering Sumeg to Little River. Passed unanimously.
4. Discussion/Decision regarding Appointments to Fill Vacant Positions on the Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee.
The City of Trinidad received a letter of resignation from STR Committee Member Jaques Beaupre several months ago. Beaupre represented the resident/or public position on the committee, therefore the vacancy to be filled must be from someone that lives inside the city limits and has no direct tie to the STR industry. The position has been vacant since his resignation.
08-22-2023 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5
The current committee members are:
Christopher Slay (pending) Planning Commission Liaison
VACANT City/General Public Representative
Dick Bruce City/General Public Representative
Jan Nash-Hunt STR Owner
Joe Moran STR Manager
The City Manager, or his/her designee, serves as primary staff liaison to the STR Committee.
The primary role of the STR Committee is to advise and provide recommendations to the City Council, staff, and Planning Commission on matters relating to Short Term Rentals in the City of Trinidad. The recruitment flyer and Resolution creating the STR Committee is attached for reference.
Past Planning Commissioner Diane Stockness termed out from the Commission in January 2023. The Commission appointed Christopher Slay to fill the Planning liaison seat.
The City received a letter of interest from Diane Stockness to serve as a City/General Public Representative. Upon review of the qualifications required to serve as a City/General Public Representative, she meets the criteria.
There were no public or Council comments:
Motion (Ladwig/West) to 1) Confirm Christopher Slay’s nomination by the Planning Commission to fill the Planning Liaison seat, and 2) appoint Diane Stockness, to serve as the resident position.
5. Discussion/Decision regarding City Manager Contract Renewal.
Mayor Kelly explained that the contract has been amended with non-substantive changes, approved for a 1-year extension, and will be brought back for Consent approval at the September meeting.
There were no public comments.
Motion (Ladwig/West) to include the revised 1-year contract renewal for Consent approval at the September meeting. Passed unanimously.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
- Council and PC appeal process
- Traffic Calming
- Volunteer Fire, Long Term Plan
- Exit Plan for Coleman Engineering as Chief Water Plant Operator - Dog Awareness
- General Plan Elements
- Community Survey
ADJOURNMENT: 8:00pm.
Submitted by: Approved by:
_____________________________ _____________________________ Gabriel Adams Cheryl Kelly
Trinidad City Clerk Mayor