111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 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; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Kenan O'Shea, Public Works Superintendent; Andrea Trincado, Project Manager; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; Rod Wilburn, Contract Engineer; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk
2. Public Communications
None presented
Public Matters
a. 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.
b. Willits Chamber of Commerce Update, presented by Chamber Coordinator Susan Mahoney. • First email to members when out in March 2023, summarizing membership status and upcoming events. There are monthly newsletters, to members, in the works. • The first Chamber Mixer was sponsored by the Wilits Rotary and was held April 14, 2023, at Willits Furniture Center. There are plans to hold Chamber Mixers every month throughout the year; Ms. Mahoney invited those interested in sponsoring a Mixer to give her a call to have them scheduled. The next Mixer is scheduled for May 18, 2023, sponsored by the Willits Lions Club at the Scout Hut in Recreation Grove Park. The June mixer is being sponsored by Sparetime Supply; date to be determined • Plans for the 41st Annual Car Show, on May 28", are well underway, entry forms and vendor applications have been mailed. Trophy sponsors commitments have been secured. Advertisements for the Car Show have been posted on Visit California and Visit Mendocino event portals, Facebook, Instagram, the Chamber Website, and the Chamber has reached out to the other Chambers in the area and publications. • The Willits Chamber is working to emphasize the Buy Local theme to help strengthen the local economy. Strategies include possibly having a brown bag lunch meeting to discuss concerns and strategies, a roundtable lunch with twelve to fifteen business owners with a city representative to keep the business community informed of major city matters. The Chamber is revisiting the Local First Program
• There has been a significant increase in requests to help promote events. Community event organizers are encouraged to contact the Chamber for any support they may provide.
c. Sonoma Clean Power Presentation
Leif Christiansen, Commercial Accounts Manager of Sonoma Clean Power presented a PowerPoint presentation on Sonoma Clean Powers program EverGreen.
Public Comment: Donna Cash asked if the Care Program is available to Sonoma Clean Power customers. Mr. Christiansen stated that the Care Program is available to both Sonoma Clean Power and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Customers.
Councilmember Strong asked to have the EverGreen Program placed on a future agenda for discussion and consideration of upgrading City Hall to the EverGreen program.
Councilmember Rodriguez supported this request.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
City Council Minutes:
i. March 8, 2023.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez 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. Building Activity Report - March 2023.
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations+
a. Adopt a Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Armstrong Consultants for Professional Planning and Engineering Services for the Willits Municipal Airport.
Mike Dikun, Western Territory Manager and Dave Dietz, Senior Planner for Armstrong Consultants gave a background statement of Armstrong Consultants.
Public Comment: None presented
Moved By Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-28 approving a Professional Services Agreement with Armstrong Consultants, Inc. for Professional Planning and Engineering Services for the Willits Municipal Airport (028) and authorize the City Manager to Execute the Agreement.
b. Verbal Reports
City Manager Bender gave an update on the Willits Frontier Days grounds repairs.
Willits City Council Minutes of April 26, 2023 Page 2 of 5 Portable restrooms are in the process of being secured. Demolition of the roof on the Margarita Shack is set to begin May 1, 2023, then installation of the temporary roof will begin once demolition is complete.
Councilmember Rodrigues requested that when an update is given on the Frontier Days grounds repair to please mention who is financially supporting the repair.
She expressed the concerns that the community has had regarding the repairs being paid for by Willits Frontier Days and Taxpayers.
City Manager Bender recognized that today was Administrative Professionals Day.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt Resolution Awarding a Contract to Superior Tank Company, Inc., to Design, Fabricate, and Install a 250,000-Gallon Contact Tank for the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase Il, for a not to Exceed Amount of $319,986 and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Contract Documents and Approve Change Orders for up to 10-Percent of the Total Contract Amount.
Presenting staff member: Andrea Trincado, Project Manager.
Public Comment: Tamara Alaniz is grateful the council is moving forward with this project.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-29 awarding a contract to Superior Tank Company, Inc., to Design, Fabricate, and Install a 250,000-Gallon Contact Tank for the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase II, for a not to exceed amount of $319,986 and authorize the City Manager to execute contract documents and approve change orders for up to 10-percent of the total contract amount.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport - No further comments.
b. Community Development Department
• The Caltrans sign coordinator informed the city that there will be an estimate and plan for installation of the downtown Willits signage.
Plans to bring the Flood Emergency Response Plan to council on May 24, 2023. • Update to the Land Use Element coming to the council meeting on May 10, 2023. • There is a follow up interview with a Code Compliance Officer on April 27, 2023. • Actively recruiting a Senior City Planner.
C. Engineering
• West Mendocino Project plans and specifications are currently under review.
Anticipating it to go out to bid the week of May 1, 2023. • The City Hall roof project with BAS Roofing fell through. The Engineering Department turned around an informal bid and are planning a bid opening on May 3, 2023. They expect to have another award of contract at the May 10, 2023, City Council Meeting.
• Annual Report for groundwater coming forward during the May 24, 2023, City Council Meeting.
• The technical issues with the groundwater monitors that were reported on in the Department reports, has been repaired and they are once again operational. • Request for Proposals (RFP) for City Hall Solar Project going out April 27, 2023.
Willits City Council Minutes of April 26, 2023 Page 3 of 5 d. Finance
Next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled for May 17, 2023. e. Police Department - No further comments.
• Sargent Brady is doing reserve work for the Willits Police Department, his first task is the National Night Out on August 1, 2023.
f. Public Works
• Bittenbender steel waterline was replaced.
• Irrigation at the City Facilities and Parks has started.
Working with Engineering to purchase a tow behind variable message board, goal is to purchase one during this fiscal year and to budget for a second one next fiscal year.
g. Utilities - No further comments.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong
• Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Approved contract with Ukiah Waste Inc., who will run the hazmat operation and a contract with the City of Ukiah, to administer and manage the Contract with Ukiah Waste Inc. City of Ukiah will report directly to MSWMA.
Councilmember Rodriguez
• Requested to have the list of various City meetings added to the city website calendar.
• Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) - Willits has the only two electric buses in the fleet, MTA is looking to add 4 more in February and March of 2024, two for Fort Bragg and two for Ukiah. Jacob King, Executive Director, received unanimous support from the MTA Board in his performance review. The MTA Board has concerns about the Unmet Needs Study that Mendocino Council of Governments had done. Their concerns are about where the funds are going to come from to meet the needs in the study.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Meets May 12, 2023. • Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) - Meets May 1, 2023.
Mayor Kanne
Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Meets May 1, 2023. : Mendocino County Museum - Held an emergency meeting to approve the strategic planning document and approve a letter to the Board of Supervisors to request the transfer of the Bittenbender Endowment to the Community Foundation.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
None presented.
13. Closed Session Notice
No Closed Session items presented at tonight's meeting.
Willits City Council Minutes of April 26, 2023 Page 4 of 5
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
Lta Kanne
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delores Pedeser
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of April 26, 2023 Page 5 of 5