03-12-2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRINIDAD CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2024 (LIVE/HYBRID)
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kelly called the live-hybrid meeting to order at 6:00pm. Council members in attendance: Kelly, Tuttle, Ladwig, West, and Breckenridge. City Staff in attendance: City Manager Eli Naffah, City Clerk Gabriel Adams, Administrative Assistant Anton Souza, and Project Manager Jennifer Hakenen. Approximately (3) participants were present by video-conference, and (10) were present live at the beginning of the meeting.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. CLOSED SESSION – No closed session
IV. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – No closed session to report on.
V. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion (Ladwig/West) to approve the agenda as amended, removing Discussion 1 at the request of the Trinidad Rancheria. Passed unanimously.
VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – 01-09-2024 cc, 01-23-2024 ccpcstr, 02-13-2024 cc Motion (West/Kelly) to approve the 01-09-2024 cc minutes as written. Passed 4-0-1 (Ladwig abstain due to absence).
01-23-2024 ccpcstr & 02-13-2024 cc will be prepared and reviewed at the April meeting.
VII. COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
West: Trails Committee meeting will be held on March 19. Town Hall improvement plan being developed.
Ladwig: Coastal Resiliency Plan meeting was small. Public is encouraged to attend the next meeting.
Breckenridge: Any information about the Axel Lindgren Trail reopening? City Manager Naffah noted the trail should be open by July.
Kelly: Email thread with HARP organization regarding establishing a loading and unloading zone at the harbor launch beach. Rancheria plans to address signage when the Lighthouse, Stormwater, and Cultural Center projects are complete. Rancheria intends to cooperate with people that use the area as its intended for – loading and unloading – not for parking. Water Advisory Committee discussed upcoming rate increase, staffing, and recruiting a full-time T-3 operator. Also concerned with PWA invoicing from last year, financial issues, and source water options.
Tuttle, Breckenridge: Nothing to report.
VIII.STAFF REPORTS – City Manager & Law Enforcement
City Manager Naffah highlighted accomplishments summarized in the staff report included in the meeting packet, including Mercer-Fraser beginning Water Tank and Pipeline project construction, and CPUC hearing for AT&T landline service. Traffic calming update includes cost of traffic counts ($5,000), and Ocean and View Street signage/markings will be added when the HSIP construction project happens this summer. Community Yard Sale in June, Trinidad Chamber update, Water Rate study underway, and Coleman Engineering monthly invoice update. Provided rough calculations comparing in-house staffing vs. contract staff cost for water plant operations. Water reserve fund balance will be determined when the financial statements are confirmed.
Current grant projects underway make up for capital improvement funds spent to cover operating expenses. I believe the reserve balance is approximately $800,000, but we’ll know more when the financial statements are reviewed.
HCSO Lt. McCall was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. Naffah stated no update was provided for Marc Brodell dog incident.
Tom Davies: Water Fund reserve balance figures presented by the City Manager do not make sense. Naffah explained his comparison between how much the contract staff costs, vs. the true cost of in-house staffing.
Concerned how these last few years of expenses will be incorporated into the new rate structure. It should be communicated clearly to the rate payers how this will be calculated. Ocean Avenue striping plan should be shared with the residents.
03-12-2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2
IX. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
(Three (3) minute limit per Speaker unless Council approves request for extended time.) Lori Keating – Trinidad Area Resident
Outside water customers pay more than inside city customers and don’t get to vote on it.
Ted Pease – Trinidad Area Resident
Marc Brodell didn’t show up to the vicious animal hearing. EPD is investigating, but has not been able to track him down.
Patti Fleschner – Trinidad Museum
Boardmember Scott Baker suggested a Trinidad Time Capsule and the Museum is seeking contributions for it.
Des Johnston – Trinidad Area Resident
Celtic Fair organizer. Wife and I moved here from Merced. Not much was happening here, so I thought about a Celtic Fair my family attended annually in Sonora and wanted to organize one for Trinidad. Art, Music, and goats are part of the festivities, scheduled for mid-May.
Dick Bruce – Trinidad
In February Caltrans issued EIR for Rancheria Interchange. March 15 is the deadline for public comments on the alternatives proposed. The Rancheria has held 2 public scoping meetings. The City has not sponsored a public meeting to discuss this project. I recommend the City hold a meeting to help frame comments to be provided to Caltrans.
Richard Johnson – Trinidad Area Resident
Regarding the Trinidad Sales Tax, I have 3 categories. I gladly pay the Trinidad tax when I purchase goods and services in Trinidad. I spent several days making calls to State tax officials and learned that the State has no way of preventing the incorrect rate from being charged for online purchases. The State understands it’s a problem, but admittedly cannot do much about it. 1) Ask the vendor to not charge the additional rate if you live outside the city. 2) If you are charged incorrectly, call credit card company and ask for a refund. 3) file a complaint against the vendor. The City can help retailers by posting boundaries and streets on their website.
The City should issue a letter to all outside city residents a letter exempting them from inside the inside city rate.
This is taxation without representation, and you may soon run out of runway. The City should make annexation a high priority.
Dave Hankin – Trinidad Area Resident
Everyone in 95570 has this tax issue. Many people are contributing to the City coffers and don’t know it.
They’re not getting any services for their contribution either.
X. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Staff Activity Report – February 2024
2. Financial Statements – January 2024
3. Law Enforcement Report – February 2024.
4. 30-Day Contract Extension with GHD for On-Call Engineering Services.
5. Award Construction Contract for Trinity Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project to GR Sundberg, Inc.
6. Approval of Resolution 2024-03; Authorizing Submittal of Ordinances 2024-01 and 2024-02 Amending the Zoning Ordinance to create Consistency between the Codified and Certified Versions.
Motion (Ladwig/West) to approve the consent agenda. Passed unanimously.
XI. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
1. Continued Discussion/Decision regarding Letter of Support for Trinidad Rancheria RAISE Grant for the 101 Trinidad Area Access Improvement Project.
Pulled from the agenda by the Rancheria.
03-12-2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
2. Presentation/Update from Trinidad CERT Team.
Mayor Kelly announced that 14 members have been sworn in, with 6 additional incoming for a total of
20. Teams have surveyed the 95570 zip code after the most recent storm. Good trial run for the team to do post-storm surveying. Quarterly team training prepared, along with a list of needs. Serious need for radio antenna replacement at the Fire Department. Money in the budget to replace it. Participating in Humboldt Cert, and look into getting a Ham Radio repeater as well to improve the signal strength.
April 14 is traffic control/safety training. Most excited about the Trinidad Disaster Preparedness Workshop on May 11, from 1-4pm.
West: Foggy Bottom Run in Ferndale benefited from CERT participation this past weekend.
CERT Volunteer Richard Johnson encouraged having the antenna on the Firehouse repaired. Also thanked the Humboldt Ham Radio Club for their assistance in getting the equipment repaired.
Jacque Hostler-Carmeson – Trinidad Rancheria
The Rancheria would like to be partners in Trinidad’s CERT emergency preparedness, and looking for opportunities with coordination. Please add us to the CERT email information list.
Presentation/Update only. No decision made.
3. Conduct Short-Term Rental License Lottery for Applicants on the Waitlist through February 2024.
City Manager Naffah explained that the Short-Term Rental (STR) Ordinance calls for a wait list and lottery to fill vacancies. There is currently one vacancy in the Urban Residential (UR) zone.
The City will follow the procedure stated in the STR Ordinance:
“The City will randomly draw a name from the waiting list for the appropriate type of license and zone. If the property meets the applicable location standards, that owner will have 45 days to submit a complete STR License application, along with any other associated license or permit applications (Use Permit, OWTS Operating Permit, etc.) that may be required. If the property owner does not obtain an STR License within 90 days, or if the property does not meet the applicable location standards, the City will draw another name from the waiting list for that zone and STR type.”
The Mayor drew the numbers associated with the names on the wait list from a professional bingo wheel at the Council meeting in the following order:
1) Abdul Rhaman
2) Katie Donnelly
3) Taylor and Lisa Leferve
Staff will notify the first name drawn and offer them the opportunity to have an application submitted within the specified timeframe.
4. Discussion/Decision regarding Resolution 2024-02; Authorizing Creation of the Animal Control Advisory Committee.
City Manager Naffah explained all the steps taken by the City over the last year following several dog incidents that occurred in the City. In addition, the proposed Animal Advisory Committee was recommended to make recommendations to promote awareness and assist the Council with aligning the ordinances with the County for more efficient enforcement, among other things.
Public comment included:
Jacque Hostler-Carmeson – Trinidad Rancheria
Would like to have a Rancheria representative included on the Committee. 03-12-2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
Erin Quinlan – Trinidad Area Resident
Hard to exercise dogs on the beach on a leash. Will this be complaint driven? Council comments included:
Ladwig suggested 2-year member terms, and adding the Rancheria as a voting member.
Breckenridge volunteered to Chair the committee. Tuttle volunteered as Co-Chair.
City Manager suggested replacing Animal Control Officer with Rancheria representative (as voting member). Veterinarian and Animal Control Officer could remain as subject matter experts helping advise policy making.
Motion (Ladwig/West) to approve Resolution 2024-02; Authorizing creation of the Animal Control Advisory Committee with the following amendments; 1) Add 2-year term, 2) Add Trinidad Rancheria as voting member, 3) Make Animal Control Officer and Veterinarian as subject matter expert participants.
Passed unanimously.
Motion (Kelly/West) to appoint Breckenridge as Chair, and Tuttle as co-Chair. Passed unanimously.
5. November 2024 City Election & Sales Tax Measure Update City Clerk Adams explained that In April, 2004, the City of Trinidad voters approved a ballot measure to impose a 1% transactions and use tax (sales tax) for a period of four years, which took effect on January 01, 2005 and ended on December 31, 2008.
In 2008, the voters approved a .75% sales tax, effective April 01, 2009 for four years. Collection of this additional tax was scheduled to end on March 31, 2013, but was put before the voters again in November 2012, and approved for four more years. In 2016 the voters approved by a 63% majority to extend the tax another four years, and then again with 73% approval in 2020.
The additional tax has generated an average of approximately $200,000 per year, representing roughly 22% of the total General Fund revenue budget, and supplements (significantly) the core services that City government provides; Police, Fire, Public Works, park & trail maintenance, and public facilities such as the Library, Park, and Town Hall.
In order to continue either the .75% tax add-on or implement a different tax, a measure will need to be included on the November 2024 ballot. There would be no preparatory costs assessed by the Board of Equalization in the event the current tax add-on is continued. If the tax add-on lapsed and was subsequently approved at a later date, the Board of Equalization will assess an implementation cost of approximately $22,000.
Deadlines: If the Council decides to proceed with a sales tax measure, the November election ballot will ask the voters to decide on 1) the Sales Tax Measure, and 2) selecting 2 Councilmembers. There are deadlines shared with the Sales Tax Election decision, and others that are independent from the Sales Tax election schedule:
FIRST DEADLINE: June 11, 2024 Council meeting:
1. Final decision to proceed or sunset the Sales Tax Increase must be made.
SECOND DEADLINE: July 09, 2024 Council meeting:
1. If a decision is reached to continue the sales tax increase, the wording must be drafted and approved in a resolution. Staff will draft the resolution based upon the decision reached at the June (or earlier) meeting and include it for adoption at the July (or earlier) Council meeting. 03-12-2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5
2. A second resolution will be required at this meeting to approve requesting that the City and County consolidate their elections. Clerk will have the resolution prepared for discussion/approval at this meeting, regardless of the Sales Tax decision.
The next steps following the July Council meeting deadline will be advised after each benchmark decision is reached. The Clerk’s office will provide monthly updates and announcements to the Council regarding publishing deadlines and required notifications for both elements of the election.
Public comment included:
Barbara Kadelick – Trinidad Area Resident
40 year resident. Roughly 300 people’s vote affected the entire 95570 area. The State told us we would not be affected. This is taxation without representation. Everyone in the zip code should be able to vote and benefit from the tax. People outside the City have been harmed, and have no voice.
Tom Davies – Trinidad
Some of the figures presented are confusing. The deficit spending is concerning.
Patti Fleschner – Trinidad
In 2004 the Mayor went door to door pushing a 4-year tax. I support the tax and the citizens outside the City do benefit greatly from the tax. I also support annexation, and leaving the 4-year term in place.
Ladwig: We should have something on the City website showing the in-City streets and house numbers included by April or May.
City Clerk Adams noted that the tax is a general tax that can be used for expenses related to anything, such as CERT Ham Radio equipment improvements, that the neighboring community will benefit from.
Motion (Tuttle/West) to direct staff to prepare documentation for a ballot measure for the November election regarding the add-on .75% Sales Tax. Passed unanimously.
6. November 2024 City Election & Sales Tax Measure Update City Clerk Adams noted there are minor changes in scheduling, but this is informational only. No decision was made.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
- Trinidad Area Resident Richard Johnson requested a budget item for Ham Radio equipment to benefit outside area residents during emergencies.
- Water Fund deficit spending plan
- Rancheria Interchange Meeting/Workshop
- Annexation Presentation
ADJOURNMENT: 8:30pm.
Submitted by: Approved by:
_____________________________ _____________________________ Gabriel Adams Cheryl Kelly
Trinidad City Clerk Mayor