5a
CITY
111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
WILLITE (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022
Vice Mayor Kanne called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30 p.m., in Council Chambers. The meeting was preceded by the pledge to the flag.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Madge Strong, Gerardo Gonzalez, Larry Stranske and Vice Mayor Greta Kanne were present. Mayor Rodriguez was absent.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Scott Herman, Public Works Director; Davey Bowles, Building Official and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
homes built before 1980, that has a crawl space on permanent foundation that was not quite built to current code, seismically retrofit the home, and covers the cost up to $3,000. There is also a supplemental grant for low income. If the household makes less than $17,000, they could potentially qualify for a larger grant. There will be a link on the City of Willits Website.
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. September 28, 2022.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried (4/0 - Mayor Rodriguez absent) to approve Consent Calendar items) (5a).
Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest.
Business License Activity for September 2022
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Resolution in Support of Mendocino County Measure P (Proposed Sales Tax to Fund Fire Protection and Prevention).
Presenting Staff Member: Brian Bender, City Manager.
Public Comment: Fire Chief Bill Carter of Little Lake Fire Department, gave a description of what Measure P is and what the funds will be used for.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Strong and carried (4/0 - Mayor Rodriguez absent) to adopt Resolution (No. 2022-60) of the City of Willits Proclaiming its Support for Mendocino County Measure P, a Proposed Sales Tax to Fund Fire Protection and Prevention.
b. Resolution in Support of Mendocino County Measure O (Proposed Sales Tax to Support the County Library System).
Presenting Staff Member: City Manager Bender
Public Comment: Melinda Clarke of the Mendocino County Library gave a description of what Measure O is and what the funds will be used for.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Stranske and carried (4/0 - Mayor Rodriguez absent) to adopt Resolution (No. 2022-61) of the City of Willits Proclaiming its Support for Mendocino County Measure O, a Proposed Sales Tax to Support the County Library System.
Verbal Reports - No Action.
• City Manager Bender congratulated Sergeant Brady on his new career path.
Sergeant Brady introduced Office Cody Marler and thanked the Council and the Community for the past 4 years he was stationed here in the City of Willits. • City Manager Bender announced the changes and aesthetics of City Hall. We want to make the building a showcase for the community. In a few more weeks we will have the counters installed, more painting done and more artwork on the walls.
Vice Mayor Kanne thanked Karen Matson and Brent Walker of the County Museum for putting up the artwork in the Council Chambers from the Museum's collection.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Discussion and Possible Action Approving the Annual Water Distribution System Flushing Plan.
Presented by staff member: Scott Herman, Public Works Director Public Comment: None presented
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried (4/0 vote, Mayor Rodriguez absent) to adopt Resolution (No. 2022-63) approving an Annual Water Distributior System Flushing Plan to guide the efforts of the Public Works Department to reduce the episodes of Brown Water.
Department Monthly Reports (ONLY SECOND MEETING OF EACH MONTH) None presented
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Willits City Council Minutes of October 12, 2022 Page 2 of 4 • Vice Mayor Kanne - Requested that Finance Director Orozco share what he covered at the Finance Committee meeting.
Finance Director Orozco reported that during the Finance Committee meeting they reviewed the bi-annual budget, fiscal policies. Main topics were the Purchasing Policy, Escheat Policy, Cash Handling Policy, Fixed Asset Policy, Finance Crisis Policy and a Reserve Policy. There are plans with each Bi-annual budget the City will be re-updating those policies. With the reserves the City would like to implement multiple items which could operate in contingency, infrastructure, vehicle replacement and IT reserves. The Measure K Committee is still in the planning phase.
Councilmember Strong - Reported that Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) is meeting on October 13, 2022. There are grants available to Micro Businesses (businesses with fewer than five employees) and were affected by COVID.
Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - will have their meeting on October 20, 2022. The agenda does not include the contract for the privatization of services through C and S in Ukiah. MSWMA is hoping to make this transition by the end of the year. Services Contract, City of Ukiah to be administrator and the Facility that MSWMA owns are the three contracts that are needed for MSWMA. Because of the number of staff, MSWMA has not spent what was budgeted to spend and staffing is also the reason for the lack of services.
Councilmember Stranske - Will be attending the Chamber of Commerce Board meetings and will be reporting back to Council.
Vice Mayor Kanne - Attended the Museum Advisory Board meeting, they are very excited for the new activity at the Museum. The Museum has had several exhibits recently and activities on site with people from the community able to come and participate. The current exhibit is regarding Nuestra Alianza. The Museum Board is continuing to work on their strategic planning.
Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) meeting, a representative of CalTrans District 1 Clean California Program was in attendance remotely and announced that the second round of community grants in coming up. These grants are for small, underserved communities to help with clean up and beautification efforts. Community Development Director Duley stated that we are aware of the Beautification Grant being offered by CalTrans, and staff from the Community Development Department will be attending the seminar that will provide more details. Community Development Director Duley added that the City of Willits Planning Department is managing $8.8 million dollars in grant funding and has a good reputation with the CTC.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong - Reported that there was a Candidates Forum on Sunday October gth, there was a lot of good information on Measure O& P. Both Councilmembers Strong and Gonzalez attended the Candidates Forum and reported that seven of the eight candidates running for School Board were in attendance, all of them care about the community, the kids and the candidates all feel that the Teachers, Administrative and Support Staff need to be paid more because we are way behind other jurisdictions.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented
14. Adjournment
Willits City Council Minutes of October 12, 2022 Page 3 of 4 Vice Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Karna
GRETA KANNE, Vice Mayor
ATTEST:
Delores Pedersar
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of October 12, 2022 Page 4 of 4