1 JANUARY 09, 2024, MINUTES
REGULAR WHEATLAND CITY COUNCIL MEETING
WHEATLAND COMMUNITY CENTER
101 C STREET, WHEATLAND, CA
6:00 – 6:55 P.M.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: A. Teter, L. McIntosh, R. Coe, R. West P. Shelton
OTHERS PRESENT: B. Zenoni, City Manager
S. Wong, Finance Director
J. Buckman, City Attorney
A. Paquette, Fire Chief
B. Wittmer, Police Chief
L. Thomason, City Clerk
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor R. West led the pledge of allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
COUNCIL REORGANIZATION AND SELECTION OF MAYOR
City Manager Bill Zenoni presented the staff report for City Council reorganization and selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor.
Vice Mayor R. Coe motioned to nominate Mayor Rick West as the Mayor for 2024, Seconded by Council Member L. McIntosh. With no other nominations, vote called – AYES: R. Coe, L. McIntosh, R. Coe and A.
Teter. Motion carried.
Council Member P. Shelton nominated Council Member A. Teter as Vice Mayor for 2024, Seconded by Vice Mayor R. Coe. Vote called: AYES: P. Shelton and R. Coe. Motion failed. Council Member L. McIntosh nominated R. Coe as the Vice Mayor of 2024. Seconded by A. Teter. Vote called – McIntosh, Teter, Shelton.
Motion carried.
COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND BOARD APPOINTMENTS
City Council unanimously agreed to the proposed City Council Committees and Board Appointments with the exception of Sacramento Atea Council of Governments. Council Member A. Teter will serve as the member and Mayor R. West will serve as the alternate.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member A. Teter commented on the Building Code related to sidewalks and responsibility of sidewalk repairs.
It was moved by Vice Mayor R. Coe, Seconded by Council Member A. Teter to approve minutes from the regular City Council meeting on December 12, 2024, and Ordinance No. 495 Amending Title 15 of the 2 Wheatland Municipal Code Relating to Buildings and Construction. Vote called – AYES: R. Coe, A.
Teter, L. McIntosh, and R. West. ABSTAIN: P. Shelton. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING
1) City Manager Bill Zenoni presented the staff report for consideration and adoption of resolutions establishing water and sewer service rates. The last utility rate study was completed in January 2019. In March 2019, the City Council approved a series of adjustments to water and sewer utility rates beginning in April 2019. The last rate adjustment was implemented in October 2022. The City Council, in November 2022, approved an agreement with ClearSource Financial Consulting to prepare an updated analysis of the City’s water and sewer utility rates. City staff from the Engineering, Public Works, Finance and City Manager Departments have worked with ClearSource Financial Consulting to review the current water and sewer rates, identify current and projected future revenue requirements and to develop a rate structure which will generate sufficient revenue to cover the water and sewer utilities expenses, while minimizing the fiscal impact to the City’s ratepayers. The City Council Utility Rate Review Ad Hoc Committee (Mayor West and Councilmember Teter) reviewed the preliminary results of the water and sewer rate analysis with ClearSource Financial consulting on September 11, 2023. The Ad Hoc Committee met again on September 26, 2023, with City staff to develop a recommendation to bring forward to the City Council for discussion.
The recommendation of City staff and the Council Ad Hoc Committee is a five-year water and sewer rate adjustment strategy beginning in March 2024. On October 24, 2023, City Council reviewed in detail the water and sewer utility rate study and adopted Resolution No. 38-23 receiving findings of the water and sewer rate study, declaring the City Council’s intention to adjust water and sewer rates, setting a public hearing for January 9, 2024 and directing staff to proceed with mailing the required notice of the proposed water and sewer rate adjustments. Notices of the proposed City Council action were mailed to all property owners and ratepayers in November. The notice was prepared and mailed to all current water and sewer utility customers and/or owners of property served by the utilities informing them of the proposed rates and of their right to protest and providing instruction that all written protests must be received by the close of the Public Hearing. At the conclusion of the public hearing, and assuming written protests have not been received from a majority of the property owners or rate payers, the City Council may consider adoption of a resolution adjusting water and sewer rates effective March 1, 2024. There were four written protests received from utility customers and/or property owners.
City Council Comments
Mayor R. West commented that council does not want to raise rates however no CIP funds are in the rates and financing requires reserves.
Council Member P. Shelton commented on current and proposed water and sewer rates.
Public Comment
Linda Prieto, 702 Carpenter Way commented on the amount she is currently charged on her water/sewer bill and flood insurance.
Taylynn Sewell, 111 Hudson Way commented on the cost of the rate study and questioned if her bill will go up. Sewell also commented on a water leak adjustment amount.
Chris Walsh commented on past funds.
It was moved by Council Member P. Walsh, Seconded by Vice Mayor R. Coe to adopt Resolution No. 01- 24 Establishing Water Service Rates. Vote called – AYES: All. Motion carried. 3 It was moved by Council Member 02-24, Seconded by Vice Mayor R. Coe to adopt Resolution No. 02-24 Establishing Sewer Service Rates. Vote called – AYES: All. Motion carried.
REPORTS
Fire Chief reported on water consumption, automatic aid with Beale Air Force Base and Smartsville, two firefighters are attending the Yuba Firefighting Academy, WFA Station No. 1 work begins in two weeks and the JPA consultant.
Police Chief B. Wittmer reported on the new MILO machine training, replacement for former employee Glenda Hyde, processing two grants, January 18 at Wheatland High School sentencing for DUI fatality on Spenceville Road and DUI Classes.
Finance Director S. Wong reported on receiving the draft audit and no information has been received from CalPERS.
City Manager B. Zenoni reported on ARPA funding for WFA to award contract and the second council meeting in February will include a workshop regarding current economic development activities.
Vice Mayor R. Coe report on an upcoming Sesquicentennial meeting on January 22.
Mayor R. West reported on the upcoming MAC meeting in Sheridan.
There being no further business, Mayor R. West adjourned the meeting in memory of Calvin 'Cal' Hendrix at 6:55 p.m.
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Rick West, Mayor
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Lisa J. Thomason, City Clerk