CITY OF 111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
WILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022
Mayor Rodriguez called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:35 p.m., via teleconference/video conference. The meeting was preceded by the pledge to the flag.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Madge Strong, Gerardo Gonzalez, Larry Stranske, Greta Kanne, and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; Kenan O'Shea, Public Works Superintend; Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager; and Cathy Moorhead, Deputy City Manager | City Clerk.
Due to the provisions of the Governor's new Executive Order N-15-21 (Assembly Bill 361) which continues to suspend certain requirements of the Brown Act, and the Order of the Health Officer of the County of Mendocino to continue to impose/recommend measures to promote social distancing to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the City Council will be participating by tele/video conferencing.
2. Public Communications
• Larry Olson from the Mendocino County Tobacco Prevention Coalition thanked City Manager Bender and City Attorney Lance for working on bringing forward a new tobacco ordinance to a future meeting.
3. Public Matters
None presented.
Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. None presented.
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest.
None presented.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. City Manager Bender gave a progress update on the Adopted Goals.
b. Verbal Reports - No action taken.
• Received a bi-weekly update regarding COVID-19 - mask mandate will stay in place until at least March 15th; in hopes that by summertime the county will be opening back up.
• Still encouraging folks to get vaccinated.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adoption of a Resolution establishing the Appropriations Limit for the 2020-21 Fiscal Year, pursuant to article XIIB of the Constitution of the State of California.
Presenting staff member: Finance Director Orozco
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution (No. 2022-53) establishing the appropriations limit for the Fiscal Year 2020-21.
10. Department Monthly Reports (ONLY SECOND MEETING OF EACH MONTH a. Airport - No further questions.
b. Community Development Department -
• Community Development Director Duley added to his report that there is a kickoff meeting on Tuesday March gth at 6:00 pm, in the Community Center, for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) loan program. He Encourages businesses that were impacted by Covid that are interested in receiving loans between $15,000 - $40,000 to attend.
• The California Conservation Corps (CCC) regional director is excited to give a project update at the April 13 City Council Meeting.
• The Community Development department held a stake holder meeting with the adjacent property owners to discuss the Willits Rail Trail Project, there is a public meeting scheduled for March 10" at 6:00 p.m., this is a virtual meeting.
We have finally gotten some meaningful action from the ChargePoint crew that services the city hall electric vehicle charging station, a technician will be visiting the site later this week or next week to get the charger back online. c. Engineering - Project Manager Trincado reported that they are focused on preparing Blosser with the aim to bring to Council by late March. d. Police Department - Chief Lizarraga expand on the report changes in the statistics from, 2020 - 2021 arrests went from 212 in 2020 to 422 in 2021 and citations and cases increased by a sizable percentage. He has been asked by community members what happened, looking back on it 2020 was the height of covid and the department had to scale back as much public contact as possible, to handle anything they could over the phone and still respond to emergency or urgent situations. In 2021 we were able to ease back on the restrictions as well as give some clear direction to our staff as to what the needs of the community were. Direction was to be visible and interact with the community more. This year we are continuing the trend of being out there and available and responding to those situations where police presence is needed.
Councilmember Kanne, under staffing in the Police Department Reports, asked, is 6 total positions that the Police Department is looking for? Willits City Council Minutes of February 24, 2022 Page 2 of 4 Chief Lizarraga responded that yes, it is 6 total positions. There will be a Dispatch test soon. If anyone in the community is interested, please contact Police Department.
Public Works - Superintendent O'Shea updated the Council on the Project Blue Zones.
Blue Zones is a nationwide program, in Mendocino County that has been holding community summits, meeting with individuals in cities and counties to identify possible projects that they can help us with through funding. These include strengthening walk and bike ability, help us work towards completing the streets program, an open space and transportation plans. Blue Zones is getting ready to host a series of kick off events.
The first one is scheduled for Ukiah Saturday, March 19th 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the next is on May 21st in Fort Bragg and Willits sometime in June. If anyone is interested in finding out more about, what Blue Zones does you can look them up at www.mec.bluezoneproject.com, and check them out on Facebook as well. f. Utilities - Public Works Director Herman added they have started the flushing program and at this time have completed most of the south end of town and looking to do Main Street, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday of next week, this work will be done at night.
Notices are going out to all businesses on Main Street. He is anticipating a variance on early installation of the dam boards for March 1st
Councilmember Strong asked if there is a prediction of how much the flushing will alleviate the brown water complaints we have. Mr. Herman responded, about 90%. The main concern is that it hasn't been flushed in a few years, this year the groundwater plant is offsetting the surface water. The reservoir is still trickling over the spillway.
Councilmember Kanne added with the lack of rain is it time to consider voluntary water use reductions? Mr. Herman responded not at this time; we are keeping an eye on it. If we can add splash boards in on March 1s' that will be a big help.
Councilmember Gonzalez asked Mr. Herman if he had heard if there may be funding for drought or water resiliency. Mr. Herman stated there is a lot of funding for water and its being investigated. One of the grants is for the ground water treatment project, we have secured $550,000. As grants come up, we will investigate and utilize them.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Kanne - none presented
• Councilmember Strong - Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) met, and all is going smooth, but still looking to replace the director position.
Councilmember Gonzalez - Water-Wastewater Committee will be meeting soon.
Councilmember Stranske - none presented
Mayor Rodriguez - Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) met today and discussed routine business topics.
Public Comment: None Presented
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong - Willits Economic Localization (WELL) newsletter will come out next week, she will have an article and will summarize the department reports so that people know what is going on at the city. WELL is planning to sponsor fire preparedness meeting Willits City Council Minutes of February 24, 2022 Page 3 of 4 online. In May WELL is having a candidate forum for the election that will be taking place on June 7'.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Magal
CATHY MOORHEAD
Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Prepared By:
DELORES PEDERSEN, City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of February 24, 2022 Page 4 of 4