CITY OR
111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
MILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023
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, 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; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Taylor Perry, City Planner; Sergeant Walstrom and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
Public Communications
None presented
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. December 14, 2022
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a).
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Business License Activity for December 2022.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Adoption of a new Official City Logo.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Rodriguez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2023-01) of the City Council of the City of Willits Approving a New Official City Logo.
b. Verbal Reports.
i. Winter storm response and the City's level of preparedness. • Staff has responded to the challenge greatly, working overtime. Our community has fared extremely well compared to other communities. • The Public Works crew has been putting in extra hours, they have been held on standby on the weekends, and during the hours when we think the storm is going to be at its greatest intensity. Their main focus has been cleaning and clearing storm drains and debris from streets. They have also been coordinating with the School District to make sure school routes are clear for the morning and afternoon buses.
• The crews have been maintaining the sandbag station, which is located in the Residents both.
• Chief Lizarraga and City Manager Bender have been attending the Counties Area Operation calls each morning, we receive feedback and updates on the weather systems, and how the County is responding. The four City Managers are concerned for Point Arena, they are taking a severe beating, and already have declared an emergency. We have expressed to Paul Anderson, City Manager of Point Arena, that if he needs anything to let us know, we do have the Mutual Aid Agreement in place. There may be an opportunity where we need to supply materials, resources, or staff to aid them with this situation. something that will change. The Counties declaration does cover the City for the time being, the other municipalities are tracking to see if we need to do a declaration of our own. Willits is not there yet, we have not incurred significant damage, if that situation changes, we will respond.
• Our main concern, at this time, is the winds. We are expecting gusts up to forty- five to fifty mph. With saturated soils that is a problem with trees. The streams and creeks are staying in the channels, city crews are monitoring them on almost an hourly basis. City Manager Bender asks that if any resident sees excessive erosion or bank material by their property to please let the City know.
Dusty Duley led the coordination effort with the state to have the railroad trestle removed. It posed a significant risk to private property owners as well as city infrastructure. There will be after the fact permitting that will need to be done, hopefully the responsible parties will follow through.
Solid Waste of Willits has agreed to extend yard waste pick up on Fridays from now until February 3rd
Public Comment: None presented
Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Approve a New Description for a Compliance Officer for Placement in the Community Development Department, Effective January 17, 2023.
Presenting staff member: Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager Willits City Council Minutes of January 11, 2023 Page 2 of 4 Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2023-02) Approving a Code Compliance Officer Job Description and Corresponding Salary Range.
b. Approve A New Social Media Policy that Establishes Guidelines for the use of City of Willits Social Media Sites as a Means to Convey to Citizens of Willits Information, Effective January 12, 2023.
Presenting staff member: Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2023-03) Approving a Social Media Policy. c. Adopt a Resolution to Approve the Last and Final Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule 23-25 and Administrative Budget for July 2023 Through December 2024.
Presenting staff member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Strankse and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2023-04) of the Successor Agency to the Former Willits Redevelopment Agency Approving a Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule 23- 24 for July 2023 Through June 2024 and Approving a July 2023 Through June 2024 Administrative Budget.
d. Adopt a Resolution to Establish the Measure K Advisory Committee as Stated by Municipal Code Section 3.32.140 in Ordinance 2020-03.
Presenting staff member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2023-05) to Establish the Measure K Advisory Committee as Stated by Municipal Code Section 3.32.140 in Ordinance 2020-03.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. None Presented
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports a. Mayor's Appointments to City Committees, Boards and Agencies for 2023.
Mayor's Appointments will remail the same as they were in 2022 with the addition of the Measure K Committee, appointed members are Councilmember Rodriguez and Mayor Kanne.
• Councilmember Strong - Not sure if Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) will be prepared to meet this month. Economic Development and Financing Corporation (EDFC) meeting on January 12, 2023.
• Councilmember Rodrigues - Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) unfortunately had to cancel some routes over to the coast due to road conditions and safety. MTA did find Willits City Council Minutes of January 11, 2023 Page 3 of 4 alternative ways to meet the needs of those with medical transportation needs. All the inland buses are running.
• Vice Mayor Gonzalez - Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) Sanitation District and the City of Ukiah have ironed out their differences and are working together well now.
There are agreements in place with the City of Ukiah to provide sewer services in the county areas.
• Mayor Kanne - Museum Advisory Board elected Brent Walker as Chair and Rebecca Montez is Vice Chair. The Advisory Board is moving along with their strategic planning, and all is going well. The museum has sustained no damage from the storms.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
Good & Welfare
• Councilmember Strong reported that Willits Economic Localization (WELL) is having a public meeting at the fire station on Sunday Feb 5, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. This public meeting is for community groups to meet with each other and find out and support what each are doing.
• Councilmember Strong reported that on Sunday January 29, 2023, at 2:00 pm there will be a film at the Grange, Seeds of Vandana Shiva.
• Councilmember Rodriguez asked that once the fourth quarter sales tax comes in if the council could get that information so that if there is a significant decline council could start developing a strategy to try to help the business community. Mayor Kanne asked if Cannabis taxes would also be available? Finance Director Orozco stated that there is a market downswing on Cannabis.
• Mayor Kanne announced that long time Willits resident Eddie Ceccarelli is now the oldest woman in America at 114 and will be celebrating her 115t birthday next month, there will be a drive by community Birthday Party. She is also the 4t oldest person in the world.
13. Closed Session Notice
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Gate Kee
Greta Kanne, Mayor
ATTEST:
Delcres Pedersar
Delores Pedersen
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of January 11, 2023 Page 4 of 4