CITY OF 111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
MILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022
Mayor Rodriguez called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30 p.m., via teleconference/video conference. The meeting was preceded by the pledge to the flag.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Gerardo Gonzalez, Larry Stranske, Madge Strong, Greta Kanne, and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Scott Herman, Public Works Director; Kenan O'Shea, Public Works Superintend; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; Davey Bowles, Building Inspector; Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager; and Delores Pedersen 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
• Gary Martin on behalf of the Willits Cultural Arts Center (WCA) thanked Brian Bender and Jim Lance for putting together the new Art Policy. The WCA would like to present a Sculpt and Show in 2023 or 2024 for and with the City of Willits.
3. Public Matters
a. Little Lake Fire Department Updates - Presented by Fire Chief Carter. • Recently had a fundraiser for the Little Lake Fire Fighters Association, there was a great turn out for the event. Chief Carter wanted to thank all who attended and the businesses that gave for the event.
• Chief Carter reported that they have received final completion on the New Fire House.
• The Little Lake Firefighters have completed their annual pressure training.
Public Comment: Mayor Rodriguez asked Chief Carter if anyone has approached the Little Lake Fire Department about needs, with regards to the new Sales Tax Initiative.
Chief Carter responded that no one has approached him, but that he is excited about the Initiative and the opportunities I will give the Fire Department.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. June 8, 2022
Resolution ratifying and extending for an additional 30-days, approval of continuing Virtual City Council, Commission, and Committee meetings pursuant to AB 361.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items) (a & b).
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. None presented
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports - No Action.
• City Manager Bender gave an update on the City Hall Renovations. Announced that City Hall would be closed to the public until Monday June 27, 2022. • Reported that the County IT has been very helpful with the transition to APEX for our IT needs. Looking at upgrades to internet access for City Hall and the Police Department.
• There is a Budget Meeting scheduled for Monday June 27 at 9:30 am.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Discussion and Possible Action Approving a Resolution to Adopt the Local Road Safety Plan for the City of Willits and Authorizing the Submission of Two Project Applications.
Presenting staff member: Project Manager Ronco.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Councilmember Gonzalez/Seconded by Kanne and carried unanimously to approve Resolution No. 2022-42 of the City Council of the City of Willits Adopting the City's Local Road Safety Plan.
b. Discussion and Possible Action Adopting a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Trout Unlimited Establishing the Framework for a Pilot Study to Determine the Benefit of a Proposed Flow Release from Morris Reservoir to Davis Greek for the Native Anadromous Fish.
Presenting staff member: Public Works Director Herman.
Item was tabled until a future meeting.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 22, 2022 Page 2 of 4
10. Department Monthly Reports (ONLY SECOND MEETING OF EACH MONTH Airport - Assistant City Manager Moorhead reporting that the Public Works Crew has been busy at the airport doing weed abatement. Caltrans Department of Transportation (DOT) did an inspection and requested that the City top a few trees at the airport. There has been a decline in fuel sales at the airport. We are at a higher price right now due to our purchase of the fuel at the peak of the price of fuel. We are continuing to work on the new hangar leases with City Attorney Lance. There are only a few more hangar inspections left to do, this will be completed for the first time in several years. b. Community Development Department - City Manager Bender reported that Community Development has been working with the new City Planner Taylor Perry getting her assignments with applications. We have released the RFP for the General Plan Amendment. Pending the Budget Hearing we modified the Budget under Community Development to apply additional funds for some planning work that needs to be done in the next few years and that will support the General Plan Amendment.
Mayor Rodriguez requested that an update on the Building Vacancy Ordinance at the next meeting.
C. Engineering - Project Manager Ronco reported that he has been busy with the Blosser Lane Project. The Curb and Gutter has started being installed on Blosser and it looks good. PG&E will be starting Traffic Control on East Hill Road next week and maybe the week after.
d. Police Department - Police Chief Lizarraga reported we will be swearing in New Officer John Gale on Monday June 27th ' We started the Racial Identity Profile Act (RIPA) reporting in January. As of June 12th, we have made 1019 entries into the system. This encompasses all the stops that the officers make. The Frontier Days Celebrations kicked off last weekend with the Hometown Celebration. The Sheriffs, Parole and Fish and Game will be lending us some additional bodies, we anticipate that everyone will have fun. Monday we are interviewing for the Vacant Sargent Position. The candidate has 8 years of experience.
e. Public Works - Public Works Director Herman reported that we will be getting our tractor mower back early next week and the first goal is to hit Sherwood Road. f. Utilities - Still at 100% capacity at our reservoirs.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong reported there have been two meetings of the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority in the last seven days. The first was a regularly scheduled meeting and then there was a special meeting this morning because they have not been able to find a new General Manager, they are looking at what their options are.
Mayor Rodrigues reported that Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) met on Monday, there was lots of discussions about their budget. There was a request for a bus stop at the Golden Rule. A south bound bus stop is not a major issue, but unfortunately passengers can not be picked up if they can not be dropped back off. There is no way Willits City Council Minutes of June 22, 2022 Page 3 of 4 to drop passengers off at the Golden Rule area heading northbound. She will be contacting the Willits Senior Center to see if they are providing services there and if not, how can we get that going. Loretta from Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) informed the MTA board that the study was approved for a needs assessment for public transit which impacts us because it would potentially provide for services in Brooktrails, Laytonville, Covelo, Potter Valley and Redwood Valley. The assessment will take about a year.
Public Comment: None presented
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Mayor Rodriguez stated that she is looking forward to seeing everyone during the 4" of July and asked that everyone be Covid safe.
13. Closed Session Notice
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor/
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
cres Peeleise
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of June 22, 2022 Page 4 of 4