CITY OF
111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
WILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 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 Madge Strong, Gerardo Gonzalez, Larry Stranske, and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Taylor Perry, City Planner; 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
• Durriya Syed, Outreach Analyst for California Department of Insurance gave an update on work that the Department of Insurance has been doing on behalf of the City of Willits Community.
• Larry Olsen expressed his gratitude for the Council starting an Ad Hoc Committee regarding the Tobacco Retail Ordinance.
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. August 24, 2022
C. Approve Contract with Michael Ceratto's Cleaning Service and Janitorial Services at City Hall and Public Works/Engineering Department, in an Annual Amount not to Exceed $22320 Per Year, for Fiscal Years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. d. Approve Contract with David Edgar (Mendocino Janitorial) for Janitorial Services at the Willits Police Department, in an Annual Amount not to Exceed $19, 800 Per year, for Fiscal Years 2022-2023 to 2023-2024.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried (4/0 - Kanne Absent) to approve Consent Calendar items) (a, c & d).
b. Resolution Ratifying and extending for an Additional 30-days, Approval of Continuing Virtual City Council, Commission, and Committee Meetings pursuant to AB 361. • After Council and Staff discussion it was decided to go back to in person meetings starting October 12, 2022.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried (4/0 - Kanne Absent) to approve Consent Calendar items) (b).
Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Business License Activity for August 2022.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Discussion and Possible Action to Change 1.0 FTE Office Assistant III to 1.0 FTE Administrative Specialist.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Rodriguez and carried (4/0 - Kanne Absent) to approve Consent Calendar items) (a).
b. Verbal Reports
• ( City Hall Renovations - Contractor will be here next week to finish up the last remaining items and install the security gates for the service counters.
The milled counter tops may be ready for installation by the middle of October. Local contractor Jay Fraser will be doing the wall in the City Clerk office.
Update on Athletic Field Usage - Currently Soccer use is in progress at the fields. The City recognizes that we have limited field space and is looking into a new policy that addresses need and gives us the ability to manage use requests. Hope to have the policy out in October so it may be in place in January 2023.
City Manager Bender reported on the Walker Fire incident at the Water Treatment Plant. Water Department staff under Justin "Rowdy" Vigil and Scott Herman put in long hours and were put in questionable situations during the fire. Not only did they ensure that the Surface Water Facility was protected but staff provided assistance to CalFire and the Little Lake Fire District Personnel, Drew Gillespy was helping and coordinating fire efforts through CalFire and Little Lake Fire District. There were no damages sustained at the Water Treatment Plant. The fire agencies did a great job creating a line of defense around the facility, we recognize that we are going to have to do some tree thinning to enhance the protection of the facility.
Public Comment: None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of September 14, 2022 Page 2 of 5 Department Recommendations (Action Items)
None presented.
10. Department Monthly Reports (ONLY SECOND MEETING OF EACH MONTH None presented.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Stranske - Would like a raise for the Council to be put on a future agenda. Mayor Rodriguez asked if he has spoken to City Manager Bender or City Attorney Lance. There are limitations on how much Council can be paid based on the size of the city population.
• Councilmember Gonzalez - Attended the Cal Cities League Conference September 7 - 9. We share a lot of the same issues across the state, water is one of the big issues all over.
Attended LAFCO on Monday, there was a joint workshop with the City of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District. They were in a legal situation similar to us and Brooktrails, they are working together now and moving forward. Ukiah is in the middle of updating their General Plan. A lot of this has to do with them cross pollinating Ukiah Valley with the services they both provide. They are trying to figure out how Ukiah and the Sanitation District moves forward with annexation and realigning services.
Mayor Rodriguez asked if at the next meeting Councilmember Gonzalez could give more of a report on the Hot Topics that were at the Conference. City Manager Bender responded that Housing was a big topic and what the state is going to do with the billion- dollar surplus, will this be funneled back to local jurisdictions? This did not seem to attract a lot of interest. They also went over some of the more questionable bills that are on the governor's desk for review and possible signature. There was a lot of good discussion relating to a meeting that both Councilmember Gonzalez and City Manager Bender attended on Development and Impact Fees, we agreed we need to look at them here on several fronts. City Manager Bender attended a session on mobile vendors and parklets and the importance of codifying them. The overall theme was housing, economic development, good governance. Making sure Councilmembers are informed in relationship to managers, administrators, and key staff. How to get the media involved and how to engage the public. Councilmember Gonzalez added that there were sessions on the Paradise Fire and the Santa Rosa Fire, this was part of the social media topic. They mentioned managing the message of social media so that it is coming from the city and not individual councilmembers because of the laws pertaining to social media. Mayor Rodriguez asked if some of the conversations were the same as what they had talked about when they attended the Mendocino County Housing Summit or was there topics that were missed, and we should think about them.
Councilmember Gonzalez commented that at the state level there is a big issue with (Accessory Dwelling Unit) ADU's, while we may welcome them here, in some cities they have issues with infrastructure and planning them. It is not that they are against ADU's, in some areas it is causing issues because of the state making a broad law and it is coming back to the community they may not be able to support the infrastructure that is causes. The City of Willits may have lots of room on the lots here, but in the metropolitan areas they are built out. They are lamenting that it should not be a cookie cutter sort of thing because it is not.
Councilmember Strong - Had a meeting with the Economic Development Financing Committee (EDFC), continues to have a very good loan portfolio. Continuing to improve loans and receive federal funds available to them for the loans. EDFC needs to coordinate with other Economic Development entities not only within our county but also multi county. Sonoma Mendocino Economic Development (SMED) the WEST Company will be the Mendocino Agency that will interact with SMED. EDFC and WEST Willits City Council Minutes of September 14, 2022 Page 3 of 5 Company are trying to continue to keep lines of communication and collaboration open.
This is good news because we are aware of not duplicating the same tasks and the county gets the most benefit from both agencies.
Attending Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) tomorrow.
Councilmember Strong is disappointed that there is nothing on paper for tomorrow's meeting regarding the contracting out some of the basic tasks that MSWMA has done in the past, they are aware that they are not doing the tasks in the remote areas for re-election.
going. Jim Brown and Tim Ericson from the City of Ukiah are in the midst of negotiating with C&S for what will be happening with the private contracting out of those services.
She wants to emphasize to our Council that an absolute requirement will be that C&S restore all the services out to the remote communities, which includes the coast and north county. We need that as an essential part of what MSWMA is supposed to do.
She states that tomorrow's meeting will probably be just general discussion but is hopeful that the next meeting after that we will have a written contact for how these services are going to be provide. She stated that the one-time contribution that was approved has enabled MSWMA to have all the hazardous waste that was stored at the facility taken to where it could be disposed of properly. The one-time contribution also enabled a reserve which will allow MSWMA to receive grant funding. Jim Robbins is helping MSWMA receive grants for things that have been neglected. MSWA in the future should be able to be self-financed with grants and tipping fee. This is be looked at in the contract negotiations that is underway right now.
Mayor Rodriguez - Attended the Mendocino Housing Summit with City Manager Bender, Councilmember Gonzalez and several City Staff. She appreciated the effort that went into facilitating the opportunity to really brainstorm on the small and big ways that we can solve the housing issue within Mendocino County and how each city came together to collaborate.
Mayor Rodriguez attended the meeting in Brooktrails, it was an opportunity for people to come and talk about the need for transit in the Brooktrails area. This will be part of a report that will go to Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG).
Mayor Rodriguez attended the 9-11 ceremony; this is always an emotional moment to remember 9-11 and all the lives that were lost and take a moment to honor them.
She spoke with City Manager Bender about the increasing number of homeless that are particularly around the Safeway Shopping Center, back behind where the creeks are is becoming more of a growing problem. She is hearing from more members of the public; she wants them to know we are aware of it and will be talking more about it. City Manager Bender added that County Supervisor Haschak was also in attendance for this discussion where City manager Bender and Mayor Rodriguez conveyed their concerns to him, they asked for County assistance. The county has a thorough viable plan to deal with homelessness, not only throughout the county but here in Willits as well. Mayor Rodriguez asked Supervisor Haschak whether the shelter was open during the summer and if it was closed when would it be reopened for the winter months and what was the attendance in the prior months, where we are capacity. Attempting to get some sense of what resources are available throughout the county and if there has been any changes that could have potentially impacted or will impact our community.
Public Comment: None presented
No action taken.
Willits City Council Minutes of September 14, 2022 Page 4 of 5
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong announced that on September 22, 2022, Willits Economic Localization (WELL) is sponsoring an Energy Forum, Saving Money and Saving the Climate.
The ideas are ways that people can stop using fossil fuel and save money. The speakers will be Geof Syphers of Sonoma Clean Power, Keith Rutledge co-founder and Director of Renewable Energy Development Institute (REDI) and John Takas founder of North Bay Solar Electric in Willits. The meeting will be virtual on Zoom. On October 9*h WELL, League of Women Voters of Mendocino and the Mendocino Women's Political Coalition are sponsoring an election forum, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Little Lake Grange. There will be spokespeople for Measure O, Measure P and most if not all seven candidates for the Willits School Board
Mayor Rodriguez will be at the Bucket Challenge at Mendo Mill that is all day Saturday and Sunday, her time slot is 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. If you are looking for some home improvement projects head on over and support High School Boosters.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Jac
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delores belerse
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of September 14, 2022 Page 5 of 5