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WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 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, Larry Stranske, Saprina Rodriguez, Vice Mayor Gerardo Gonzalez and Mayor Greta Kanne 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; Taylor Perry, City Planner; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
None presented.
3. Public Matters
a. Presentation of a Proclamation - National Public Safety Telecommunications Week April 9-15, 2023.
Mayor Kanne read the Proclamation Recognizing April 9-15, 2023, as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and presented it to Willits Police Dispatcher Debra Tonelli. b. Little Lake Fire District Department Update.
Little Lake Fire District Chief Carter was unable to attend, the department report is available in the agenda packet.
Update - Mendocino County Third District Supervisor John Haschak. • The Great Redwood Trail Agency will be having an open house forum at the Willits Community Center Thursday March 23, 2023.
* The County had a meeting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on March 21, 2023, the county and state has done their disaster declaration from the snowstorms, and we are now waiting for the Federal Governments declaration. Once the declaration from the Federal Government is made there is hopes of public assistance from FEMA.
• Reminded everyone of the survey for the Museum that is on mendocinocounty.org/museum. The purpose of the survey is to let them know what the community would like to have in the museum and to make a better connection between the City, County and the people. The museum has been doing a lot of outreach sessions throughout the county in hopes of coming up with a strategic plan. • Supervisor Haschak thanked Councilmember Strong for the Building Community Initiative Forums.
• The Museum has a new exhibit that is starting next week called Gadgets Galore, transforming the American household
• Councilmember Strong asked about the Skunk Train wanting to abandon the line between Willits and Fort Bragg. Supervisor Haschak mentioned that this is a rumor.
There is an abandonment of the line from Willits to Cloverdale. d. Update - Troop 42 Scout, Annalee Gonzalez, Eagle Scout Project.
Scout Annalee Gonzalez gave a presentation and a slide show about her Eagle Scout Project of Community Pantries that she placed in the Recreation Grove Park and on Coast Street.
Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
. March 8, 2023.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items) (a).
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Building Activity Report - February 2023.
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Adopt Resolution Appointing City Council Members to Represent the City of Willits and to Vote on Behalf of the City at the League of California Cities' Redwood Empire Division Business Meetings and Division Legislative Committee Meetings.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved By Strong/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to Adopt Resolution No. 2023-16 Appointing City Council Members to Represent the City o Villits and to Vote on Behalf of the City at the Leaque of California Cities' Redwoo Empire Division Business Meetings and Division Legislative Committee Meetings. b. Athletic Fields Use Policy. The City Council reviewed the Policy on February 22nd. The Council sought to have different organizations meet with staff to provide their comments to the Policy. This version incorporates the discussed comments.
Councilmember Rodriguez recused herself, she is a volunteer member of Willits Youth Soccer, and left the Council Chambers during the discussion section of the agenda item.
She returned for Public Comment.
Public Comment: Members of the community spoke against the Athletic Field Use Policy.
By direction of the City Council, it was decided that staff would have one final meeting with representatives from different organizations to allow them all to provide input for the Athletic Field Use Policy.
Willits City Council Minutes of March 22, 2023 Page 2 of 7 No Action taken.
c. Verbal Reports
• City Manager Bender presented the Council with the First Edition of the City of Willits Newsletter. The newsletter will be produced quarterly.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adoption of County of Mendocino Services Agreement for Animal Control Services within the City and Inclusion of County Ordinances Regulating Animal Control into the Willits Municipal Code.
Presenting staff member: Police Chief Lizarraga.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-17 approving an agreement between the City of Willits and the County of Mendocino in the amount of $22,124.80 for Animal Control Services for the b. Consideration of Adoption of the State of California Governor's Designation of Applicant's Agent Resolution Allowing the City Manager to Apply for Public Assistance and Recovery Funding.
Presenting staff member: Delores Pedersen, City Clerk
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-18 designating authorized agents to act on the city's behalf for Disaster Financial Assistance.
c. Authorize the Purchase of Two 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4x4 Pickup Trucks with Regular 6% Foot Beds One for Each of the Water and Wastewater Departments for the State Contract Pricing of $52,659.59 Each (Total of $105,319.18) from Elk Grove Auto/Winner Chevrolet and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Purchasing Documents.
Presenting staff member: Scott Herman, Public Works Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-19 approving the purchase of two 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500s from Winner Chevrolet of Elk Grove, one for each of the Water and Wastewater Deprtments, at a cost not to exceed $105,319.18.
d. Update on the Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations in the City Parking Lot between Mendocino Avenue and Wood Street.
Presenting staff member: Taylor Perry, City Planner
City Planner Perry presented the council with a PowerPoint presentation on the Electrical Vehicle Charging Station on Wood Street.
• Councilmember Gonzalez asked, What keeps drivers without electric vehicles from parking in the Electric Vehicle (EV) Station? Chief Lizarraga responded that once Willits City Council Minutes of March 22, 2023 Page 3 of 7 the EV parking only signage was installed it allowed the Police Department to issue warnings. There are now fewer violators.
• Vice Mayor Gonzales supports the city renewing the Charging Station Service Agreement.
• Councilmember Strong supports renewing our service agreement. Would like to have signs on Main Street directing travelers to the EV Charging station. • Councilmember Rodriguez does not feel we are getting enough use to invest the time into the rate structure. Supports renewing the service agreement. • Mayor Kanne supports the three first recommendations and not the fourth noted in the PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comment: Community members asked questions regarding enforcement of use of the Electric Vehicle Charging station and the net data that is provided by ChargePoint.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport
• Assistant City Manager Moorhead added the deadline has passed for the Airport Consultant, the city has received two responses, a meeting has been scheduled for Monday, March 27, 2023 for staff to review and move forward with the selection. • Assistant City Manager Moorhead also reported that she has received calls from retired airport managers and pilots to do the third-party assessments to make sure the city is doing things correctly with regards to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and CalTrans Guidelines.
b. Community Development Department
• Community Development Director Duley clarified that the Rail Trail Meeting that is taking place on March 23, 2023, is a joint meeting with the State and the City of Willits. The community is encouraged to attend to get an update on the Willits Rail with Trail, this trail will be about 1.6 miles and will extend from East Commercial Street down to East Hill Road. Mr. Duley clarified that the Willits Rail with Trail will not interfere with the Skunk Train. The trail is in the is located entirely within the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) right of way, it does cross over city streets, but it does not rely on private property to support the trail. • Director Duley reported that the Community Development Department is in the process of updating the Land Use Element for the General Plan. There will be a meeting in the Community Center on March 29, 2023. There will be an afternoon and evening session. The meeting is open to the public, the public is encouraged to provide feedback on what they would like the future of Willits to look like.
C. Engineering
• Project Manager Trincado added that the plans and specifications are done for the Railroad Trestle Watermain Relocation Project. They are now working on the last details for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU's) with the property owners, they are expecting the project to move forward, and construction is anticipated in later half of May.
The West Mendocino Rehabilitation Project plans and specs are targeted to be completed in April, the Engineering Department is anticipating being able to bring the permission to advertise for bids forward in early April.
Annual Pavement Preservation Project has plans and specs on the way. Project looks to be happening in the fall.
• The contact tank for the Groundwater Project is currently out to bid, it is anticipated that the bids will be due back on April 5, 2023.
Willits City Council Minutes of March 22, 2023 Page 4 of 7 * The city has received two separate Grant Awards from the Highway Safety Improvement Program to upgrade or install traffic safety improvements on a variety of street throughout town. The total award amount is $416,070.00. • Councilmember Strong asked if the city will meet the application deadline to commit to the to the existing solar rate. Project Manager Trincado responded that the city is on target with four applications for the solar locations the city has planned. d. Finance
• Finance Director Orozco reported that the city is continuing with the start-up of Springbrook implementation. Approximately halfway through developing the new chart of accounts. Pooled cash system also needs to be developed. Director Orozco also reported on the cleanup of the current system, he explained that the clean-up of fund 690 consists of about 2,000-line items that each need to be reviewed to find out what fund number they need to be credited or debited to. e. Police Department
• Chief Lizarraga reported that Officer John Gale welcomed a baby girl into their family. Mom and baby are doing well.
f. Public Works
• Public Works Superintendent O'Shea reported moving forward with shade canapes at the skate park as well as at the soccer field. Will also be putting in a second set of bleachers at the soccer field. All will be paid for with the Prop 68 Grant. • The lights on the Arch have been repaired and the flag has been changed.
Paramount Sign did the light repair and changed the flag while they were there.
There are still a few small pieces of neon that they need to fabricate, they will be completing the project in about a month.
• A solar powered illuminated stop sign has been installed on Central Street where it intersects with East San Francisco Street.
g. Utilities
• Utilities Superintendent Herman reported that the reservoirs levels are impressive for the first time in his 11 years with the city. The city has submitted a Spring Operations Plan to the Division of Dam Safety.
• Night flushing has started on Main Street. Once Main Street is completed the department will move on to the side streets.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Stranske
• Reported that he has been approached by community members questioning if the city is prepared if there were to be a major earthquake or other catastrophic event.
Water/Wastewater Committee - Reported on Pine Mountain emergency water request and Sherwood Rancheria's Reservation on East Side Road request to hook up to city water for 100 homes. Vice Mayor Gonzalez added that the committee authorized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to begin talks with Pine Mountain so that they may proceed with an application for a study. City Manager Bender added the committee advised staff to prepare an MOU that does not lock the city into a long-term commitment, it starts the process that states that the city would agree to help Pine Mountain and the Tribe to pursue exploratory steps on how this would play out. City Manager Bender clarified that the committee advised staff to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that does not lock the city into any type of long-term commitments, it states the city will agree to help Pine Mountain Willits City Council Minutes of March 22, 2023 Page 5 of 7 and the Sherwood Rancheria Tribe to pursue exploratory steps in how this would play out. The MOU will allow Pine Mountain and the Sherwood Rancheria Tribe to seek technical assistance from the State Water Resources Control Board.
Councilmember Strong
• Land Use Element Advisory Committee - had a meeting and Rod Wilburn presented a report to them on infrastructure development and land use constraints • Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Meets March 23, 2023. • Sonoma Clean Power - Meets April 6, 2023
Councilmember Rodriguez
• Land Use Element Advisory Committee - Councilmember Rodriguez's understanding of the meeting is that the city will need to invest in some water infrastructure or consider the possibility of more groundwater use.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) - Meets April 3, 2023 • League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Meets March 24, 2023 • Public Safety Policy Committee for League of California Cities - They had a presentation on Fentanyl. Speakers were Joann Jennis, committee member with a family member that is an addict and Sam Quinones, an author and journalist.
Mayor Kanne (Via City Manager Bender)
• Mendocino County Museum - The museum received an endowment of $500,000 from Mr. Bittenbender. The County of Mendocino currently has the funds, the Museum advisory board made a request to the Board of supervisors that the funds be transferred to the Community Foundation where it will not only earn more interest and create an annual revenue stream for the museum to work on programs but will also make the funds available to more community organizations. Mayor Kanne has asked that the City Council make the recommendation to show our support for the museum and its vital cultural role it plays here in Willits. • Meeting with Supervisor Haschak - The Mayor and City Manager questioned Supervisor Haschak what the county's role in weather emergencies, everything from providing additional sand for the sandbag station, help or assistance during road closures. Mr. Haschak will get back to them with answers at the next meeting.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
• Councilmember Stranske announced that as of today he and his wife, Virginia, have been married for 64 Years.
Councilmember Strong - Building Community event had 40 attendees. Topics were warming center.
Adjourned to Closed Session at 9:47 p.m.
13. Closed Session Notice
a. Pursuant to Government Code §54957 - Public Employee (Annual) Performance Evaluation - City Manager
The Council reconvened to open session at 10:39 p.m. and reported that in closed session the Council issued the City Manager his performance evaluation and unanimously gave him a vote of approval and on a 4/1 vote with Stranske dissenting to approve a 5% merit increase.
Willits City Council Minutes of March 22, 2023 Page 6 of 7
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 10:40 p.m.
Juta Kanne
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delores Peelersen
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of March 22, 2023 Page 7 of 7