111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 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; Olivia Grupp, Director of Services & Facilities, Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; Taylor Perry, City Planner; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
Mayor Kanne asked to take a moment to mark the passing of William England IV, a true son of Willits, a young man from a family with deep roots and a long history of service to our community.
William was a volunteer with Roots of Motive Power, his parents Willie and Alexis are long time volunteers with Willits Frontier Days, Willie is a volunteer firefighter with Little Lake Fire Department and Alexis currently serves as President of Roots of Motive Power. Williams Great Uncle Benny worked for decades for the Willits Water Treatment Plant. To say that William is deeply mourned and missed is an understatement, I know there are many at the City and on the Council who know and love the England Family. It is my hope that love and support will offer some small comfort to Willie and Lexie and the entire England Clan in their grief. We are holding you in our hearts.
Mayor Kanne held a Moment of Silence Honoring
Mendocino County Justice Court Judge Galen Hathaway
2. Public Communications
• None presented.
3. Public Matters
a. Presentation of a Proclamation to Willits Frontier Days - Designating Western Wear Days June 16"to July 4n, 2023.
Mayor Kanne read the proclamation for the record, Recognizing June 16" through July 4th, 2023, as Western Wear Days.
Presentation of a Proclamation to the Hathaway Family - Honoring the Memory of Retired Mendocino County Justice Court Judge Galen Hathaway.
Mayor Kanne read the proclamation for the record and presented it to Judge Hathaway's Daughter Jennifer, Honoring the Memory of Retired Mendocino County Justice Court Judge Galen Hathaway.
c. Update - Mendocino County Third District Supervisor John Haschak.
Budget for the County is balanced with hopes that it will be passed at the next Board of Supervisors meeting on June 20, 2023.
Working on a renewable energy network as part of the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG). Received news that the California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) is moving the Network forward. This network is a collaboration including Humboldt, Mendocino and other rural counties. The purpose is to provide rebates for energy efficient appliances and home renovations.
• Countywide Economic Development ideas is to work with the City's and industries to make sure we are doing all we can for Economic Development. The first standing committee meeting will be on June 26, 2023, at 1:30 pm.
Funding for the Museum is secure for next year. The Mendocino County Museum is having an open house tomorrow June 15, 2023, at 5:30 pm.
Bittenbender trust fund has been moved to the Community Foundation.
Vice Mayor Gonzalez asked where the county stands on looking at groundwater use in the surrounding unincorporated areas of Willits. Supervisor Haschak responded that it is still in County Council offices, they do have a draft ordinance it needs to go to the County Planning Commission. The idea was regarding the selling of groundwater, and it being hauled out of the area, making sure it does not affect the neighbors. Mayor Kanne expressed concerns for the shared aquifer with the City and the county residents. Discussions with the City Council brought up a wish for some sort of partnership with the county to monitor the Aquifer, if the county had some way to monitor the use it would give a better picture of the little lake valley aquifer.
Councilmember Rodriguez asked if the County has any plans to find out how many wells there are within their spere of influence and how deep they are. Supervisor Haschak will check with Environmental Heath to see what kind of information is available.
d. Proposed Community Art Walk Update - Gary Martin.
• Gary Martin gave a brief description of the proposed Art Walk that will take place Saturday July 1, 2023, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The walk will be down both sides of E.
Commercial Street and will include face painting, craft sales and musicians located at the properties of the businesses located on E. Commercial Street. Mr. Martin asked if the City could be placed on the poster of the event as a sponsor. He also asked for $1200 for the event from the City to pay the five musicians $200 each as well as covering costs for the posters and banners for the event.
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. May 24, 2023
ii. May 31, 2023 - Special Meeting
Public Comment: None presented
Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Stranske 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. None presented.
RECESSED AS THE WILLITS CITY COUNCIL AND CONVENED AS THE WILLITS PLANNING COMMISSION @ 6:55 PM.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
Willits City Council Minutes of June 14, 2023 Page 2 of 6 a. SITTING AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION - Discussion and Possible Action on Application for Minor Subdivision #MLD 22-01 for Roberto Vazquez (Mi Mexico Mexican Restaurant).
Presenting staff member: Taylor Perry, City Planner
Public Comment: John Kvasnicka asked how they were allowed to bypass the sewer lateral rules of sharing a single sewer lateral with two entities? Utilities Superintendent Herman responded that if fell under the State Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) rule to allow to create more housing.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Rodriguez and carried unanimously to approve Resolution No. 2023-41 of the Planning Commission of the City of Willits, Approving Minor Subdivision Mld-22-01 at 140, 142, 144 North Main Street, Willits, CA; APNS 005-150-004 & 005-150-005.
ADJOURNED AS THE WILLITS PLANNING COMMISSION AND RECONVENED AS THE WILLITS CITY COUNCIL @ 7:10 PM.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
Item 8d(i), introduction of Olivia Grupp as the Services and Facilities Director, was moved and presented earlier in the meeting before City Managers reports and Recommendations.
City Manager Bender introduced Olivia Grupp, Director of Services and Facilities. a. Adopt a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Willits and the Pine Mountain Mutual Water Company Regarding Installation of an Emergency Intertie.
Public Comment: Robin Leler asked if Willits would be supplying water to Pine Mountain or would Pine Mountain be supplying water to Willits?
City Manager Bender responded that the City would be sending water into Pine Mountain system if the need arises.
Moved By Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried 3/2, with Stranske and Kanne dissenting adopt Resolution No. 2023-37 to approve Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Willits and the Pine Mountain Mutual Water Company regarding installation of an emergency intertie and authorizing the City Manager to sign said Memorandum of Understanding.
b. Accept the Recommendation by the Art in Public Spaces Committee to Receive the Donation of an Art Sculpture for Placement at Highway 20 Park.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved By Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-38 accepting the recommendation by the Art in Public Spaces Committee to receive the donation of an art sculpture for placement at Highway 20 Park
c. Presentation of the Annual Groundwater Report and Discussion of Continued Use of Groundwater Under the Current Groundwater Operational Use Policy and Provide Direction on Potential Water Modeling Effort.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 14, 2023 Page 3 of 6 • Brian Wallace, Project Engineer of EBA Engineering, presented a Power Point presentation on the Annual Groundwater Report.
• The results of the Annual Report indicate that:
• Groundwater monitoring and reporting was performed during the 2022-23 monitoring period and collaborative surveying, data analysis, field measurements, and pressure transducer calibration efforts were made. • The Elias Test Well groundwater levels recharged to pre-pumping conditions during the 2022-23 monitoring period.
• Indications of interconnectivity between the City's primary production well (Elias Replacement Well) and both the Elias Test Well and the Long 20 Test Well (deep) were observed during the 2022-23 monitoring period • Indications of interconnectivity between the City's primary production well (Elias Replacement Well) and the Long 20 (shallow) well were not observed during the 2022-23 monitoring period.
• EBA Recommendations:
• Install telemetric flow meters on the Elias Replacement Well to provide a direct correlation of fluctuations of water levels within monitoring wells as a response to pumping from the Elias Replacement Well.
• Utilize routine groundwater level measurements collected from MCRCD monitoring wells and record production rates for MCRCD wells that are being used for irrigation to support the Wetland Mitigation Project. Information regarding well depth, screened interval, and pumping rates of MCRCD wells should be field verified prior to incorporating these wells into the groundwater monitoring program.
In order to better characterize groundwater flow, surface water-groundwater interactions, well interference, estimates of total aquifer capacity, and effects of Elias Replacement Well groundwater production on the Little Lake Valley Groundwater Basin as a whole, EBA recommends a numerical groundwater flow model utilizing MODFLOW be developed. The model would execute on a monthly timestep to simulate groundwater levels for the entire basin based on recharge from precipitation, streamflow, evapotranspiration, pumping, and recharge/discharge from adjacent fractured bedrock aquifers. • Why Build a Groundwater Model?
• Better understand impacts of groundwater pumping on surface water such as creeks and wetlands
• Characterize impacts of pumping on neighboring wells and provide regional drawdown estimates.
: Estimate total aquifer complex capacity and define sustainability objectives. Characterize fate and transport of water quality constituents over space and time.
• Forecast groundwater supply and long-term impacts of pumping using climate future scenarios (California Basin Characterization Model) over a desired planning horizon.
• Develop conjunctive surface water-groundwater planning models to provide cost savings and water supply scheduling between reservoir and groundwater supply allocations.
Develop operational models that optimize groundwater pumping rates to minimize the cost of groundwater production.
• Develop capacity expansion models to minimize the net discounted capital and operational costs of drilling new groundwater wells to increase production capacity.
Public Comment: None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 14, 2023 Page 4 of 6 Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to accept the Annual Report as prepared by EBA Engineering and instruct the City Manager to prepare a proposal to initiate a groundwater model with the accompanying budget adjustment to fund the modeling effort.
d. Verbal Reports - No Action.
i. Introduction of Olivia Grupp as the Director of Services & Facilities. ii. Introduction of Philip Davidson, Code and Compliance Officer.
Councilmember Rodriguez asked who is responsible for weed abatement along the railroad tracks. Community Development Director Duley responded that curtesy notices have gone out to those that need to do weed abatement on their property due to being a fire hazard The Great Redwood Trail Agency maintains that section of the railroad and they are aware of the needed weed abatement. The letters requested that the weed abatement happen by June 19, 2023, if the weed abatement does not occur a more demanding second notice goes out.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt a Resolution Awarding a Contract to Argonaut Constructors, Inc., in an Amount not to Exceed $656,542.00, for the Construction of the West Mendocino Rehabilitation Project, Phase I, (Project No. 2023-03) and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Contract and Approve Construction Change Orders up to a Cumulative Total of 10- Percent of the Total Contract Amount.
Presenting staff member: Olivia Grupp, Director of Services and Facilities.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-39 awarding a construction contract to Argonaut Constructors, Inc. of Santa Rosa, California, in an amount not to exceed $656,542, for the construction of the West Mendocino Rehabilitation Project, Phase I, Project No. 2023-03 and to approve final plans and specifications for said project. b. Discussion and Possible Action Adopting a Resolution Establishing the City's 2023/24 Project List for the Local Streets and Roads Program (SB1) Funding Requirements.
Presenting staff member: Olivia Grupp, Director of Services and Facilities.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Strong I and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-40 Establishing the 2023/24 project list for the Local Streets and Roads Program and reflect anticipated funding from Sb 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act.
10. Department Monthly Reports (Only Second Meeting of Each Month) None presented.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong -
Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Adopted an outlined torm budget. The contractors (Ukiah Waste Solutions, Branch of C&S) first priority has been to clean out the plant over the last two months due to all of the hazardous Willits City Council Minutes of June 14, 2023 Page 5 of 6 materials stored and not properly handled. They are now open for collections in Ukiah at the plant, the next steps will be to start remote collections. The truck they have to do the remote collections does not work and is not able to be repaired Although the remote collections in Mendocino County is a high priority it will not start for a few more months. Solid Waste of Willits and C&S are working together to hopefully provide onsite hazardous waste collection at the Solid Waste of Willits Transfer Station.
• Sonoma Clean Power - Looking forward to potentially reducing their rates that are already lower than PG&E.
Councilmember Stranske -
• The 4th of July is coming, and we will be having a lot of visitors coming to town, so asked that everyone to do their best to try and keep things clean and nice.
Councilmember Gonzalez -
• Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) - Voted on final budget then met in closed session to give direction to the executive officer regarding legal services.
Mayor Kanne -
• Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Approved final budget for the year.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
• Councilmember Strong - Willits Economic Localization (WELL) is sponsoring the Building Community gatherings. Sunday June 18" is the next gathering at the Methodist Church.
• Councilmember Rodriguez - The local businesses are excited and looking forward to the increase in tourism and the shop at home vibe atmosphere. Keep in mind that brick and mortar businesses are struggling, please shop local. • Mayor Kanne - Congratulated the Class of 2023. Sober Grad pulled off another so time or sober cal successful event this year. She then thanked Councilmembers Rodriguez and Gonzalez • Vice Mayor Gonzalez reminded everyone that the Fire Department Fundraiser is this coming Saturday June 17, 2023.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Mitr
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Deleres Pedesser
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of June 14, 2023 Page 6 of 6