CITY
111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
WILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2022
Mayor Rodriguez called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:31 p.m., in Council Chambers. 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; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Scott Herman, Public Works Director; Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Analysist; Taylor Perry, City Planner and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
None presented
Public Matters
a. Jerry Ward of Solid Wastes of Willits, Inc., discussed the feasibility of providing City residents with an annual collection service of bulk items.
There was lengthy discussion and Mr. Ward answered questions of the Council.
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. 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
a. Discussion and possible action on Conditional Use Permit Application No. UM-16-01/22 for Lissy's LLC. (John's Place Bar). The petitioner seeks approval to expand an existing full-service bar, by 600 square feet for a proposed combined footprint of 1,749 square feet. The purpose of this addition is to accommodate space for an ADA accessible restroom, additional occupancy, pool tables, darts, and arcade games. The bar will continue to operate between the hours of 9 AM to 2 AM each day.
Public Comment: Members of the community spoke in support of the project.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution (No. 2022-64) of the Planning Commission of the City of Willits, approving modification to a Conditional Use Permit No. U-16-01/22 to allow a 600-foot expansion of an Existing Full-Service Bar at 377 South Main Street (APN 006-046-42).
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports
• City Manager Bender gave a report clarifying that the Swimming Pool is not a City facility. The Pool was constructed and initiated by the City in the early 60's, at that time the City entered into an agreement with the School District, the City oversaw the construction and then handed over the facility to the School District for their oversight, management and operations. Lately the City has been operating the Pool for the summer months to accommodate public usage during the summer and for swim lessons. This arrangement still stands, and we would like to extend an invite to the School Superintendent, Mark Beebe, to review the arrangement and the discrepancy on what the terms are. The City recognizes that the community deserves to have a pool and swimming facility and we would like to accommodate that. In turn this is going to require us to work with the School District to put a better agreement in place so that we can accommodate the needs of the public for swimming activities. Potentially extending it out beyond the summer months.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt Resolution Accepting the Construction Completion of the Blosser Lane Rehabilitation Project, (Project No. 2022-02), and Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion.
Presenting staff member: Andrea Trincado, Project Manager.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution (No. 2022-63) to accept construction of the Blosser Lane Rehabilitation Project, (Project No. 2002-02) and authorizing filing the Notice of Completion.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport - No further comments.
b. Community Development Department - No further comments. c. Engineering -
• Project Manager Trincado added that construction on the Groundwater project was completed, and the Notice of Completion will be forth coming. Councilmember Strong mentioned that the City saved $116,700 last fiscal year for having purchased the Solar Array at the Water Plant.
d. Finance -
• Finance Director Orozco reported that the audit has officially started, and we have received three RFP proposals for a new City accounting software company.
Willits City Council Minutes of October 26, 2022 Page 2 of 4 e. Police Department -
• Sergeant Gray reported that the new Patrol Officer is patrolling solo, New Hire completed second week of field training. The Police Cadet position we were looking to fill did not pan out. We have pending interviews for the Community Service Officer (CSO) position and a dispatch position. The new Sergeant and one of the officers have taken on an Instagram Page for the department to do community outreach. f. Public Works - No further comments.
g. Utilities -
• Public Works Director Herman added that we gained about nine-acre feet during the rains we received this month. The Morris Dam Valve was changed out by Wipf Construction. He also explained that the clarifier at the sewer plant had a steel ring that had separated from the concrete causing a short circuit. This project is currently in process with hopes to be complete before the rains come.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong - Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC), there are still funds in the Small Business Covid Relief loan program available to businesses that would like to apply. EDFC is also paying off the investors of the Ukiah Wool Mill. Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) keeps reassuring Councilmember Strong that the contracts they have been waiting on have all been written and will cover all the required information, but she has not seen them. Councilmember Strong is hoping they will be produced at the next meeting.
These contracts are for privatizing the Solid and Hazardous Waste services. One contract is for the services being taken over by C and S in Ukiah, the other contract is regarding the property which is going to be retained by MSWMA and a third contract is with the City of Ukiah to be the administrator of the arrangements. The MSWMA board will continue to oversee the services.
Mayor Rodriguez - Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) - At the last meeting they discussed the acceptance of the tri-annual audit. Discussion was had about the Ukiah Transit Center Feasibility Study. There is $150,000 in the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) budget to study the feasibility of what location would work best for the Transit Center. The MTA Mobility Solution Study is happening in five local communities trying to figure out what the local transit needs are. The big topic at the MTA meeting is that public transportation is not being utilized as much as it was before the Covid Pandemic started. Willits is down about 50% in ridership. MTA is having to use their 5311 Funds to offset some costs due to the lack of ridership.
November is No Fee November, doing this in hopes of bringing people back to riding public transit.
Public Comment: None present.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Gonzalez announced that he will be cooking at the Willits High School Football game on Friday.
Councilmember Strong attended the virtual Senator McGuire Town Hall meeting.
Some day we will have a wonderful trail that goes from Willits up to Eureka. Election day is November 8, 2022.
Willits City Council Minutes of October 26, 2022 Page 3 of 4
13. Closed Session Notice
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Saps Rochea
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayo
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delires Pederse
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of October 26, 2022 Page 4 of 4