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111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
8 WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
MILLIT (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 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, Saprina Rodriguez, and Mayor Greta Kanne were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Taylor Perry, City Planner; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Scott Herman, Public Works Director; Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager; Andrea Trincado-Slater, Project Manager; Kenan O'Shea, Public Works Superintendent; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
• Lisa Kvasnicka, President of the Willits Chamber of Commerce gave an update of Chamber activities for the last quarter of 2022. Ms. Kvasnicka also introduced the Chamber Board Members that were in attendance as well as Susan Mahoney as the newly hired Chamber Coordinator.
• Susan Mahoney reported that the chamber has been able to secure new computers which were donated by the hospital. The Chamber of Commerce office is now fully staffed during the week, Ms. Mahoney is only there between four and six hours each day. Volunteers are working to update the current membership list; the last update was from 2021. Bookkeeping and Accounting is up to date and taxes have been filed with the help of Brad Walton. Ms. Mahoney mentioned that the Chamber is in the process of trying to update their website. The Chamber has scheduled Mixer's for throughout the year, they are planning the normal activities such as the Car Show, Harvest Moon and Frontier Days activities. They are also looking into a Spring Fling activity on the south side of town in the Evergreen Shopping Center; a family-oriented Halloween event at the park then use the Skunk Train parking lot for a Trunk-or-treat event, and a well-organized Chamber supported Christmas Parade.
3. Public Matters
a. A Proclamation of The Willits City Council Recognizing Edith Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli Willits' Own Super Centenarian.
Mayor Kanne read and presented it to Chuck and Evelyn Persico, Edie's cousins.
Public Comment: Evelyn and Chuck Persico, cousins of Ms. Ceccarelli, thanked the community and the City of Willits for the honor of presenting Edie with the Proclamation. b. Little Lake Fire District Department Update.
Fire Chief Carter was unable to attend, his update is available in the Agenda Packet.
Vloved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (2023-06) of the City Council of the City of Willits Approving a Non- Emergency Covid-19 Prevention Plan.
b. Adopt a Resolution to Approve the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule 22-23 and Administrative Budget for July 2022 Through June 2023.
Presenting staff member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Rodriguez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution (No. 2022-07) 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.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport - No further comments.
b. Community Development Department
• Dusty Duley, Community Development Director, expressed his appreciation for the leadership of the City Council and City Manager Bender for the investment, in staff and resources, that is being made in the Community Development Department.
With that investment they recognize that there are some opportunities to further assist the Willits Community.
• Mr. Duley also stated that he expects to be working closer with the Chamber this year to assist the local businesses.
• Wrapping up several grants, which creates an opportunity to seek additional funds.
Mayor Kanne expressed her gratitude of Mr. Duley for continuing to work on the City's application to establish signage for downtown Willits. She is hopeful we will get signs on the highway someday directing travelers into Willits. • Councilmember Strong mentioned she is glad that there is continued oversight on the vacant building compliance.
c. Engineering
• Andrea Trincado, Project Manager, added that Engineering has been working with the on-call Engineering Consultants to develop projects for the upcoming construction season. Those projects include the Annual Striping and Pavement Preservation Projects, the W. Mendocino Drainage Project, Railroad Ave Water Trestle Relocation Project, and the next phase of the Groundwater Project which includes the construction of the 250,000-gallon contact tank. • Thursday, January 26 and Friday, January 27 the northeast corner of the Wood Street Parking lot will be closed to traffic due to the installation of some samplers as part of the ongoing remediation of the old dry cleaner. • There will be storm drain work to repair a sinkhole on Camp Lane, most of the work will be done in a private driveway, but it is very close to the entrance of Brookside School, we expect impacts to school traffic to be minimal to none. Wipf Construction will be scheduled to work around school pick up and drop off times. • Vice Mayor Gonzalez asked if the traffic safety assessment would include any speed surveys in the community? Ms. Trincado responded that there will be some speed study but not extensive and nothing from an enforcement standpoint. The primary focus will be to provide safety recommendations for reconstruction design Willits City Council Minutes of January 25, 2023 Page 3 of 5 Governments applied for and is receiving two EV Chargers at five different locations from Redwood Valley to Hopland.
Vice Mayor Gonzalez
• League of Cities Public Safety Committee will have a virtual meeting on January 26, • Next Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) meeting is February 3, 2023. • The Tobacco Ad-hoc is meeting on February 2, 2023, at 9:00 am, Vice Mayor Gonzalez asked for Councils input, to please send suggestions to City Manager Bender.
Mayor Kanne
" Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) will be meeting at the beginning of February. The Museum Board is meeting in March.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong
• The Chamber of Commerce is having a "2023 Financial Strategies for Entrepreneurs & Business Owners" event on January 26, 2023, for local businesses and the Willits Community Center starting at 5:00 p.m.
• Willits Economic Localization (WELL) is having a Building Community Event on Sunday February 4, 2023, at 4:00 pm, at the Little Lake Firehouse.
13. Consed Session Notice
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Sta Kanne
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Wilits
ATTEST:
DelorsPedeser
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of January 25, 2023 Page 5 of 5