111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 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; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Scott Herman, Public Works Director; Kenan O'Shea, Public Works Superintendent; Andrea Trincado- Slater, Project Manager; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
Public Communications
Ed Beals - Expressed concerns about a home that is occupied by squatters in his neighborhood.
Public Matters
a. Presentation of a Proclamation - Recognizing May 21-27, 2023, as National Public Works Week.
Mayor Kanne read the proclamation for the record and presented it to Public Works Superintendent Kenan O'Shea recognizing May 21-27, 2023, as National Public Works Week.
b. Little Lake Fire Chief Carter - presented department updates.
The Little lake fire department received fifty calls during the month of April. Twelve were fires, twelve others were emergency rescue medical calls, fourteen traffic collisions, one hazardous condition with no fire, two service calls and nine false alarms.
• Updated the Mutual Aid Agreement with Brooktrails Fire Department. Recently both fire departments have moved to respond to all fires in the Willits 95490 zip code. • Chief Carter wanted to remind the public that we are moving into the dryer season, responsible. Make sure to burn safely and only on burn days. Local burns permits are suspended on May 31, 2023, CalFire and Air Quality Control permits are still valid until burn ban goes into effect.
A new solar array was installed on top of the main fire house. Waiting for PG&E to sign off on it so that it may be turned on.
• The Little Lake Fire Department Annual Fundraiser is on June 17, 2023. • Finished up the Wildland Training Series with the Pack Test, a three mile walk with a 45-pound weight in 45 minutes.
• Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) is fully outfitted and ready for service. There are things that they will be able to do with the UTV Vehicle that they were never able to do before.
Will be traveling to Utah on May 25, 2023, to pick up the new U Type 6 vehicle (Medium-duty Commercial Truck).
Vice Mayor Gonzalez asked if someone wanted to volunteer for the fire department where should they go? Fire Chief Carter stated that interested people should go to the Main Fire House on Commercial St. and fill out an application.
Enactment of Ordinances
a. Review and Consider the Adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-02 Repealing and Replacing the Current Title 6 of the Willits Municipal Code Entitled Animals with a New Title 6 Entitled Animals Incorporating the Provisions of Mendocino Code Title 10.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to waive the second reading and adopt Ordinance 2023-02 Repealing and Replacing the Current Title 6 of the Willits Municipal Amending Title 12 of the Willits Municipal Code, Adding Chapter 12.10, Entitled To Approve or Deny Abandonments of City Right-Of-Way. b. Review and Consider the Adoption of Ordinance 2023-03 Repealing and Replacing Chapter 8.24 of the City of Willits Municipal Code with Chapter 8.26 Regarding Licensure of Tobacco Retailers.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to waive the second reading and adopt Ordinance 2023-03 Repealing and Replacing Chapter 8.24 of the City of Willits Municipal Code with Chapter 8.26 Regarding Licensure of Tobacco Retailers.
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
і. May 10, 2023.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Rodriguez 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 - April 2023.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports - No Action.
i. Business License administration update.
The decision was made to not increase the Business License Rates because it is a tax and would need to be put on a ballot as a ballot measure. Avenue is preparing a proposal for the city to give Avenue the ability to verify that businesses are reporting to the city their true gross receipts.
ii. Results from the E. Commercial Street Corridor public forum.
Willits City Council Minutes of May 24, 2023 Page 2 of 5 The East Commercial Street Corridor Public Forum was well attended. The city received good input from many of the local groups and entities from the community.
City Manager Bender met with the consultants on May 23, 2023, the goal is now to present a finalized document to council for consideration and adoption at the June 28, 2023, meeting. The intent will be to start Phase II, which would take the conceptual items identified and illustrated in the plan and move them forward into a more formalized content.
ili. Possible transfer of the Baechtel Grove Gym to the Willits School District In discussions with School Superintendent, Mark Beebe, to transfer the ownership of the Baechtel Grove Gym over to the Willits Unified School District. Superintendent Beebe is asking for records that the city has or was able to acquire through research efforts with the State Department of Parks and Rec. The records were turned over to Mr. Beebe with hopes that this satisfies the School Boards concerns, and the city can facilitate the transfer. The city would seek to make the transfer so that the property is utilized for the intended purpose of school educational programs as well as the community at large.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Presentation by Bartle Wells Associates Regarding the 2023 Water and Wastewater Rate Study. With Discussion and Possible Authorization from Council to Mail California Proposition 218 Notices to Property Owners of Proposed Rate Adjustments and the Date and Time of the Public Hearing.
Presenting Staff Member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director Erik Helgeson, Vice President of Bartle Wells Associates presented a PowerPoint presentation of the 2023 Water and Wastewater Rate Study.
Public Comment: Raghda Zacharia asked the Council to consider having the sewer billing done monthly as opposed to having it on the Property Taxes.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-35 authorizing the Mailing of California Proposition 218 Notices to Property Owners of Proposed Rate Adjustments and the Date and Time of the Public Hearing.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport -
City Manager Bender mentioned that Thomas Gallops had done a great job on the improvements to the pilot's shack. The pilots that participated in the Fly-in over the past weekend were thankful for the improvements that have been made at the facility. • The city is still in the depths of processing the Part 16 Complaint, we have retained an attorney that is familiar with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) procedures. b. Community Development Department -
City Manager Bender thanked the council for their participation and contribution in the last meeting regarding the General Plan, the consultant received a lot of good input.
The consultant will be here during the Special Meeting on June 21, 2023, to formalize some of the concepts that were presented to the council. b. Engineering -
Willits City Council Minutes of May 24, 2023 Page 3 of 5 • Project Manager Trincado reported that they have started preparing a plan on the Striping Project to start in September, there are plans to double up to get two years' worth of striping done to catch up
• The City Hall Solar Project is out as a Request for Proposal (RFP), proposals are due May 31, 2023. This is a grant funded project.
• Bid openings for the West Mendocino Project is June 1, 2023. • The City Hall Roof Project did not receive any bids, we are working with some contractors, we have a positive path forward. There are hopes of bringing a contract forward at the next council meeting.
c. Finance -
• Finance Director Orozco reported that there will be a drop of approximately 14% in sales tax revenue for the 4th quarter of 2022.
d. Police Department -
• Chief Lizarraga attended the Graduation at Santa Rosa Public Safety Academy to see the New Recruit graduate. The new recruit will be starting next week, with a swearing in on Tuesday May 30, 2023, at City Hall.
• The department was successful in purchasing four used vehicles from a dealer in Portland Oregon, they are two to four years old.
e. Public Works -
• Public Works Superintendent O'Shea expressed his thanks to the Ojeda family for acquiring picnic tables for the Sports Complex, Amber Ojeda reached out to the owners of Burger King and inquired about the fate of the tables that were in their outside seating area during their remodel project. They relayed that they are first come first served, she then had her husband, owner of Ojeda Transport, pick them up and delivered to the Sports Fields, where Sparetime Supply was to unload and place the tables.
• City Manager Bender commented on the outstanding job that the crew did putting in the temporary roof on the Margarita Shed at the Rodeo Grounds. f. Utilities -
• The Annual Flushing Program has three to four more days left.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong -
• Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - They authorized money for clean up on illegal dump sites.
• Sonoma Clean Power - On target to reach a 10-month operation reserve. Looking forward to the reserves allowing them to lower their rates. • Would like to have the Mobile Vendor Ordinance readdressed.
Councilmember Rodriguez -
Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) - The returning board members have been focusing on training the new board members on decorum and what you can and cannot say during meetings.
• Bond Oversight Committee - has had to cancel meetings due to lack of quorum they have rescheduled again until June 12, 2023.
Councilmember Stranske -
The Willits Chamber of Commerce Car/Bike Show will be held on Saturday May 27, 2023. The Willits Lions Club will be having a Pancake Breakfast Sunday, May 27, 2023, at the Recreation Grove Park from 8-11:00 am.
Councilmember Gonzalez -
• League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Had a presentation on the Great Redwood Trail. Fort Bragg Police Department gave a presentation on their Willits City Council Minutes of May 24, 2023 Page 4 of 5 Crisis Response Unit. The Leagues Public Safety Committee will meet on June 22, 2023.
• Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) - Meets June 5, 2023, will be a closed session meeting to pick a new Legal Representative. • Water/Wastewater Committee - The committee received an update on the Ground- water tank project. Pine Mountain would like an emergency intertie with City Water and the Sherwood Tribe is interested in connecting to the city water system for housing on East Side Road. They are looking to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in order to pursue funding to have a study done. It does not oblige us to provide the water service.
Mayor Kanne -
• Measure K- Had the first meeting with the three community members in attendance.
Finance Director Orozco gave a report stating that we are waiting for the audits to be completed so that data can be given to the committee members. • Haehl Creek Trail - With City Manager Bender there was a meeting with Richard Willoughby and Arnie Mellow to discuss the Haehl Creek Trail. There is concern about the maintenance of the trail, the City and Howard Foundation are working together to come up with a solution for maintaining the trail.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
better than it already is. Next meeting is June 18, 2023, at 4:00 pm at the Willits Methodist Church.
Mayor Kanne - Wanted to acknowledge the three community members that stopped to help a blind dog that was running loose.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Gita Kanne
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Wilits
ATTEST:
Debores Pederan
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of May 24, 2023 Page 5 of 5