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8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022
Mayor Rodriguez called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:31 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.
Public Communications
Jay McCubbrey of Tobacco Free North Coast, and Greg Damron spoke in support of the Tobacco Initiative.
3. Public Matters
None presented
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. July 27, 2022
City Clerk Pedersen reported that Councilmember Strong requested that the following be added to the minutes of July 27, 2022:
"Councilmember Strong raised a question about the interpretation of the Councils April 13 action approving the Operational Use Plan (regarding 'circumstances of use' vis-à-vis monthly average usage) and requested the Council agendize an item to clarify the policy, but no other Councilmembers concurred."
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item (a) with addition of Councilmember Strong's request to add to the minutes of July 27, 2022.
Public Comment: None presented.
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.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports - Renovations at City Hall are proceeding, there was an update this afternoon regarding some slight changes that we are incorporating into the final plan.
We should have the project finalized by the mid to end of September.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt a Resolution Approving Final Plans and Specifications for the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase I, (Project No. 2022-03), and Awarding a Construction Contract to Wahlund Construction, Inc., in an Amount not to Exceed $466,880, Contingent on the Issuance of 401 & 404 Permits for the Project and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Contract and Approve Construction Change Orders up to a Cumulative Total of 10-percent of the Total Contract Amount Presenting staff member. Project Manager, Andrea Trincado.
Public Comment: None presented.
Councilmember Strong is very glad we have a backup system for water supply, and she does feel that the prior capacity prior to completion of this project provides that backup system adequately for emergencies. However, she is concerned about expanding the capacity without any guidance on possible restraints due to the hydrology which has not been completely updated or in her opinion adequately studied. Both the environmental document and the operational use plan do not, in her opinion, provided the kind of caution that she believes is warranted given the possibility of how the aquifer can be tainted if we overdraw. It is one of the things we will not know until it might happen, it is unsettling to her. She would like to have everyone thinking of the idea of the targeted hydrologic aquifer study that was mentioned during the hearing, she believes it costs about $10,000 and it looks at the cone of depression which effects whether it is a closed or open aquifer and that determines how big the circumference of the potential impact that drawing water down would have. She is also very glad that we are doing a lot of monitoring so that by the end of this year we might have some additional data, but if there is value in getting the Hydrologic Study, she would like to have the staff consider it.
Councilmember Kanne mentioned that she shared in some of Councilmember Strong's concerns, she appreciates that this is being paid for by grant money, she appreciates staff's efforts, and she has nothing against the contractor that submitted the reasonable Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried (3/2, with Kanne and Strong dissenting) to approve Resolution No. 2022-50 Approving Final Plans and Specifications for the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase I, Willits City Council Minutes of August 10, 2022 Page 2 of 5 (Project No. 2022-03), And An Award Of A Construction Contract To Wahlund Construction, Inc., Of Eureka, California, In An Amount Not To Exceed $466,880, Contingent On The Approval Of 401 & 404 Permits For The Project, And Authorize The City Manager To Execute The Contract And Approve Construction Change Orders Up To A Cumulative Total Of 10% Of The Total Contract Amount. b. Presentation and Possible Action on Adopting an Investment Policy and the Implementation of a Proposed Investment Strategy for Idle City Funds.
Public comment: None presented
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution No. 2022-51 adopting an Investment Policy to Manage the Long-Term Obligation of City's Funds and Resolution No. 2022-52 authorizing the Finance Director/City Treasurer to Implement the Presented Investment Plan and Ensure its Adherence with the Investment Policy.
10. Department Monthly Reports (ONLY SECOND MEETING OF EACH MONTH a. None presented.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Kanne - Attended the Museum Advisory Board meeting via Zoom, it was very upbeat, the Museum is functioning and open, has not been shut down by the county. The advisory board was very excited about that, they were also happy to report that they have had an uptick in attendance and therefore revenue. The community is showing its support of the museum which feels great to the staff. Councilmember Kanne expressed to the Museum staff comments from City Manager Bender, that the City of Willits is firmly behind the Museum and proud to have them as a partner here in our city and that we are hopeful that the County will stop dangling them as a possible easy target in future budget discussions, they mean a lot to our community and to the County as a whole.
• Councilmember Stranske brought up that you cannot go to Brookside School to allow their grandchildren to use the equipment during the summer and that the city park is controlled by the bigger kids. The 3-4-year-olds cannot compete with the older kids. • Councilmember Gonzalez - attending the Housing Summit on August 25, 2022. Is attending the League of City's Redwood Division Meeting on August 19, 2022 in Point Arena.
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Councilmember Strong - Visited the Sonoma Clean Power Advanced Energy Center in Santa Rosa, she suggests that if anyone is in Santa Rosa and has an hour it is a wonderful tour. The Economic Development Finance Committee Meeting is August 11, 2022, at 2:00 pm. Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) is meeting on August 18, 2022. She requested that we agendize the Flavored Tobacco Ordinance. Would like to hear pros and cons from the public, so that council can decide whether we want to adopt or not. No other councilmembers supported putting the ordinance on the agenda. There was support for having the topic on the agenda for informational purposes so that council can express concerns or ask questions.
Direction was given to City Manager Bender to bring it forward as an informational piece for council discussion. City Manager Bender asked Councilmember Strong if the City of Willits should be sending any correspondence to MSWMA acknowledging the change and making sure there is no drop-in services as a reminder or ask them once the transfer has taken place to come back to the City Council with confirmation of what they will provided based on the agreements. Councilmember Strong responded that Willits City Council Minutes of August 10, 2022 Page 3 of 5 she believes that if we entered a contract or propose to enter a contract that all four entities that compose the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) for Solid Waste Management would have to have it on their agenda and approved. Not ready yet for a formal review.
Councilmember Kanne mentioned that she has had a few constituents concerned about not having the hazardous waste days, asked Councilmember Strong to convey to MSWMA board that the hope for the Hazardous Waste pick up days to be re-instituted quickly would be appreciated by members of the Willits community. Councilmember Strong said she would check on it. Councilmember Kanne added that she had a meeting with Supervisor Haschak, Howard Dashiell from County Department of Transportation and Tamara Alaniz from the Brooktrails Township and there is some forward motion on the cleanup and potential closing of the cul-de-sac's in Brooktrails she is willing to speak with Madge outside a council meeting since it is not a city issue.
Councilmember Strong mentioned that MSWMA has not had the staff to be able to do the hazardous waste days remote sites, that people can take their hazardous waste to Ukiah.
Mayor Rodriguez - Had the opportunity to meet with Senator McGuire and discussed water resiliency in the region, Senator McGuire offered to meet with City Manager Bender and Public Works Director Herman to discuss potentials for any water projects that might benefit the City of Willits or our neighbors in need of water as well. Mayor Rodriguez and Senator McGuire spoke a lot about housing and the need for annexation, he wanted to know how things were coming with our general plan. Senator McGuire was curious about how much housing potential the City of Willits had in the area in terms of investors that might be interested in exploring investments in our area.
They also spoke significantly about businesses and the economy, he stated that there is going to be a disbursement of $9.5 billion during the fourth quarter, hoping to boost sales tax, the way it would roll out is similar to how we have seen it before. Checks would be between $350 and $1,200 in the fall. There was a conversation about economic development and wanting to know how we can help small businesses; she mentioned that the city received a CBG Grant to support small businesses and how the State level, Senator McGuire then asked about homelessness. This is one of the top three topics as he talks to Mayors from each of the cities, homelessness is at the top of their concerns. Fortunately for us homelessness is not at the top, it is a concern but not in our top three.
Public Comment: None Presented
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong announced that her daughter had a baby boy on July 30, 2022, his name is Owen, and he is healthy and thriving.
13. Closed Session Notice
a. None presented
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
Willits City Council Minutes of August 10, 2022 Page 4 of 5 Sap
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor l
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
DELORES PEDERSEN S
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of August 10, 2022 Page 5 of 5