CITY OF
111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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MILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, DEcEMBER 14, 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 Manager; Scott Herman, Public Works Director; Andrea Trincado-Slater, Project Manager; Kenan O'Shea, Public Works Superintendent; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
None presented.
3. Public Matters
a. City Council 2023 Assembly and Reorganization.
City Clerk Pedersen administered the Oath of Office to appointed Council Members Larry Stranske and Greta Kanne
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2022-69) of the Willits City Council Reciting the Fact of the Appointment of Unopposed Incumbents for City Council, the Absence of a Municipal Election on November 8, 2022, and Installing Appointed Incumbents to the City Council.
Nomination and Appointment of Mayor.
Moved by Gonzalez/Second by Stranske and carried unanimously to nominate and appoint Greta Kanne as Mayor.
Nomination and Appointment of Vice Mayor.
Moved by Kanne/Second by Strong and carried unanimously to nominate and appoint Gerardo Gonzalez as Vice Mayor.
b. Update from Little Lake Fire Chief Carter -
Fire Chief Carter discussed what is allowed to be burned on your property with a burn permit.
The Fire Department has had a Fuel Tank installed at the Baechtel Road sub-station for use by the fire department.
• Howard Foundation has allowed Little Lake Fire District, Brooktrails Fire and Ridgewood Ranch Fire to have a training event at the old hospital site before the building is completely removed. The training event takes place this next weekend • The Fire District received a grant to allow them to acquire new equipment and return what is on loan from the Federal Government. Through a PG&E Grant they were able to purchase a Utility Vehicle.
c. Update from Mendocino County Third District Supervisor John Haschak - Supervisor Haschak gave updates on Measure O (Library Tax) and Measure P (Funding for Fire Districts). It is expected that Measure P will generate about four million dollars a year. Ninety percent of which will go to the fire districts. Ten percent will go to the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council.
• During the Mendocino District Supervisors Board meeting there has been discussions about the Budget. The County was able to balance most of the Budget, still looking at healthcare deficits which will need to be balanced in the coming year.
Supervisor Haschak also went over the possible changes to the TOT tax There was discussion about the Great Redwood Trail and the extra rail cars that are on the tracks.
d. Presentation by Karen Mattson, Mendocino County Museum - Ms. Mattson introduced the Museum Survey that is on the Museum website. • The museum has a new curator, her name is Lindsey Dick, this will allow Ms. Mattson the ability to change her position to Museum Administrator, this allows her the ability to do more community outreach.
Museum staff has been working for the last five years taking care of the Museum's collection, all of the work they have done has led them to a place where they are now participating in the strategic plan, to plan for the future of the museum. • Ms. Mattson asks that everyone go to the Museum website and take the survey. • There are seven forum events planned in the spring, Ms. Mattson invited everyone to participate in the forums.
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. November 9, 2022
ii. November 28, 2022 - Special Meeting
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items) (a).
Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Business License Activity for November 2022.
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of December 14, 2022 Page 2 of 5 will be reviewing the RFP's (Request for Proposals) for Municipal Accounting Software.
e. Police Department - Mentioned that this Saturday there will be a Lighted Christmas Truck Parade, starting at the Evergreen Shopping Center and turning right on Commercial Street where it will end.
Public Works - Public Works has been focusing on streets, there are lot of pothole patching and sidewalk treatments being done. The street sweeper has been running two days a week on double shifts.
Utilities - Public Works Director Herman congratulated Adam Simental for passing his Grade I Wastewater Exam.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Stranske - Attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting, attempting to get the businesses on the North and South side of town to blend in with each other better than it has over the past few years.
Councilmember Strong - Expressed her disappointment with Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA). The contracts with the private company (C and S), to get the hazardous waste service up and running again, have not be produced.
Multiple meetings have been cancelled or postponed. Councilmember Strong is hoping that in the new year MSWMA will have the contract and will be able to provide the service to the entire county.
• Economic Development & Finance Corporation (EDFC) is doing very well, they are reviewing a lot of loans.
• Sonoma Clean Power has been doing remarkable work in providing sources of electricity that is greener than what PG&E provides.
• Councilmember Rodriguez - Nothing significant to report on the committees she is on but she did want to take the opportunity to thank the City for planning the holiday party.
She appreciates the willingness of the staff to see that there are different ways to get things accomplished and there is opportunity for growth. She sees that we are all working towards a vision of making this community that we all can be proud of and enjoy living in.
Councilmember Gonzalez - Reported that he is no longer an Alternate on the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo), the Point Arena representative stepped aside and that left a vacancy.
Public Comment: None presented
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
• Councilmember Strong reported that Sunday was the Church of Latter Day Saints rekindled the annual Christmas Coral that hasn't been done since the beginning of the pandemic.
Councilmember Strong announced that December 21, 2022, will be the 33d annual Spiral Dance at the Grange.
Adjourned to closed session at 8:03 p.m.
Willits City Council Minutes of December 14, 2022 Page 4 of 5
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Discussion and Possible Action to Allow Solid Wastes of Willits, Inc. to Apply a Cost- of-Living Adjustment of 10.81% to all Service Accounts Within the City of Willits Starting January 1, 2023.
Public Comment: None presented
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2022-70) of the City Council of the City of Willits Approving a Cost- of-Living Adjustment of 10.81-Percent for Solid Wastes of Willits, Inc. for all Their Service Accounts within the City of Willits Starting January 1, 2023. b. Verbal Reports - None presented.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adoption of Resolution Extending the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program Presenting staff member: Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Resolution No. 2022-71 of the City Council of the City of Willits Establishing Service Authority for Abandoned Vehicle Abatement
b. Adopt Resolution Accepting the Construction Completion of the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase I, Project No. 2022-03, and authorizing the filing of the Notice of Completion.
Presenting staff member: Andrea Trincado.
Public Comment: None presented
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2022-72) of the City Council of the City of Willits Accepting Construction of the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase I, Project No. 2022-03, and Authorizing Filing the Notice of Completion.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport - Assistant City Manager/Airport Manager Moorhead added that they will be starting the new year with quarterly tenant meetings, the first being scheduled for January 19, 2023, 5:00 pm at the Willits Municipal Airport. b. Community Development Department - City Manager Bender added that as the General Plan Amendment/update specializing on the land use development gains strength, we are putting together a working advisory committee and would like to have two council members participate on the committee. City Manager Bender asked interested council members to contact him or Community Development Director Duley for more information.
C. Engineering - No further comments.
d. Finance - Manuel Orozco, Finance Director added that we have hired a new accountant within the Finance Department. January 19, 2023 the finance department Willits City Council Minutes of December 14, 2022 Page 3 of 5
13. Closed Session Notice
a. Conference with Legal Counsel Pursuant to Government Code §54956.9 - Existing Litigation: Alexis Blaylock vs the City of Willits; Mendocino County Superior Court, Case No. 21CV00310.
Council reconvened to open session at 9:03 p.m. with no action to report from Closed Session.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. tant Mayor Kanne
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delores Pedason
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of December 14, 2022 Page 5 of 5