Willits City Council
June 28, 2023

111 E. Commercial Street
Willits, California 95490
Tel | 707.459.4601
Fax | 707.459.1562
www.cityofwillits.org

WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
JUNE 28, 2023 | 6:30 PM | CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1. OPENING MATTERS
a. Call to Order. | b. Pledge to Flag. | c. Roll Call.

2. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The City Council welcomes participation in its meetings. Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes per person so that everyone has an opportunity to address the Council. To expedite matters and avoid repetition, whenever any group of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, the Mayor may request the group appoints a spokesperson. This item is limited to matters under the jurisdiction of the City Council, which are not on the posted agenda. Public criticism of the City Council, Commission, Boards and Agencies will not be prohibited. The City Council will take no action.

3. PUBLIC MATTERS
a. The Great Redwood Trail Master Plan Presentation.
b. Little Lake Fire Protection District Update.

4. ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES
a. None.

5. CONSENT CALENDAR
The City Council considers matters listed under the Consent Calendar as routine. The Council will take action with a single motion and roll call vote. A Councilmember may request the removal of an item(s) from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion and subsequent action.

The following items as presented are before the City Council for approval or denial:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. June 14, 2023

6. MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORTS
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Business License Activity Report – May 2023.
b. Building Activity Report – May 2023

7. COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES
The Willits City Council meets concurrently as the City of Willits Planning Commission & City of Willits Successor Agency.

8. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Review and Acceptance of the East Commercial Street Corridor Community Outreach and Program Development Document and Authorize City Manager to Prepare a Master Plan for City Council Adoption.

Willits City Council Agenda – June 28, 2023.

b. Adopt a Resolution Approving a Non-Binding Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Willits and the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians Regarding Water Service Extension.
c. Verbal Reports – No Action.
i.

9. DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS (ACTION ITEMS)
a. Adopt a Resolution to Approve the June Revise Budget Adjustment for the Fiscal Year 2022- 23 and 2023-24
Presenting staff member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director.

10. DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORTS – (presented at the second meeting of each month) a. Airport. b. Community Dev. c. Engineering. d. Finance. e. Police Dept. f. Public Works. g. Utilities.

11. CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS

12. GOOD & WELFARE

13. CLOSED SESSION NOTICE
a. None.

14. ADJOURNMENT
Right to Appeal - Persons who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the City Council may have the right to a review of that decision by a court. The City has adopted Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which generally limits to 90- days, the time within an individual and/or entity may judicially challenge the decisions of the City Boards and Agencies.

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that I posted the foregoing Agenda on the bulletin board at the main entrance of the City of Willits City Hall, located at 111 East Commercial Street, Willits, California, not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting set forth on this Agenda.

Dated this 23rd day of June 2023.

Delores Pedersen, City Clerk
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance
If you need assistance to attend or participate in a City Council meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (707) 459-7113 or Fax (707) 459-1562. Notification at least 48-hours prior to the meeting will assist the City Clerk in assuring the implementation of reasonable accommodations to provide accessibility to the meeting. Our meeting room is wheelchair accessible and ADA parking is available.

Additional Meeting Information for Interested Parties
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Willits City Council, Planning Commission, or Community Development Agency after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at City Clerk’s office at 111 E. Commercial Street, Willits, during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday 9 AM to 5:30 PM.

February 8, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Great Redwood Trail
Master Plan
City of Willits
June 28, 2023
• The Great Redwood Trail (GRT) is
envisioned as a 316-mile, multi-use
rail-trail project connecting San
Francisco Bay and Humboldt Bay.
• Follows the former, inactive North
Coast Railroad Authority rail line.
• Transforms the rail corridor into a
community asset and economic
engine for the North Coast.

Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
What is the
Great Redwood Trail?
• Multi-use public paths created
from former railroad corridors
• Model used across the country:
• Over 25,000 miles in the US
with over 1,000 miles in CA
• Rail trails support recreation,
economic development,
tourism, and environmental
restoration in towns and rural
areas
Olympic Discovery Trail
Biz Johnson National Recreational Trail
What are rail-trails?
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
1998 – NWP RR ceased operations
2001 – Humboldt Bay Trail Feasibility Study
2018 - SB 1029 - Feasibility Reports
2021 - SB 69 Great Redwood Trail Act Passed
• Transferred Sonoma & Marin to SMART
• Created the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA)
• Required the rail corridor be preserved via
railbanking
2022 - Present
• Railbanked from Willits north (October)
• Kicked Off the Master Plan (October)
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
How did we get here?
February 8, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Great Redwood Trail
Master Plan & Community
Engagement Plan
Community Engagement
Jen Rice
Master Plan
Master Plan Project Team
The master plan will provide
a high-level roadmap on:
• Operations & maintenance
• Trail design
• Cultural & natural resource
protection
• Habitat restoration
• Project prioritization
• Funding sources
Great Redwood Trail
Master Plan
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
The master plan will be informed by a
Community Engagement Plan including:
• Tribal engagement
• In-person and virtual community
meetings
• Small group stakeholder meetings
• Online surveys, comment forms, and
interactive website
• Tabling events
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Community Engagement In The Master Plan
• Concerns include:
• Trespassing & Security
• Fire Hazards
• Encampments
• Impacts to working lands
• Opportunities and desires include:
• River access
• Neighborhood connections
• Economic development opportunities
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
What are we hearing so far?
February 8, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Great Redwood Trail
Economic Impact
• Completed January 2023
• Assessment estimated benefits of a
complete trail by:
• Using benchmarks for economic
growth from similar trails around the
US
• Estimating local and visitor trail use
• Estimating benefits by
jurisdiction, including cities and
unincorporated county areas
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Economic Benefits
Assessment
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Benefits of the Complete Trail
Economic benefits for Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt
Counties are estimated to be $102,568,000 annually
$61,693,000

RECREATION, TOURISM,

AND RETAIL BENEFITS
$38,455,000

HEALTH BENEFITS
$2,420,000

TRANSPORTATION

BENEFITS
Source: Great Redwood Trail Economic Benefits Assessment (2023) Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Recreation and Tourism
Benefits
• Benefits come from tourists and visitors,
an estimated one-third of total
estimated trail users
• $5,490,000 in annual tax revenue
estimated from sales and transient
occupancy tax
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Health Benefits
Source: Great Redwood Trail Economic Benefits Assessment (2023) • Estimated annual health
benefits come from:
• New opportunities for physical
activity and exercise
• Health care cost savings
• Reduced burden on regional
health care system
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Transportation Benefits
Source: Great Redwood Trail Economic Benefits Assessment (2023) • Estimated annual
transportation benefits come
from:
• Reduction in Vehicle Miles
Travelled (VMTs)
• Reduction in CO2 emissions
• Reduction in road
maintenance & congestion
costs
• Household vehicle operation
savings
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan Source: Great Redwood Trail Economic Benefits Assessment (2023) Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Benefits of the Complete Trail – Mendocino County
Economic benefits for Mendocino County are estimated to be $49,181,000 annually
$29,662,000

RECREATION, TOURISM,

AND RETAIL BENEFITS
$18,485,000

HEALTH BENEFITS
$1,034,000

TRANSPORTATION

BENEFITS
Source: Great Redwood Trail Economic Benefits Assessment (2023) February 8, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Great Redwood Trail
Get Engaged
7/26 – Community Workshop #4
Alderpoint
5:30 PM
Volunteer Fire Hall
7/27 – Community Workshop #5
Hopland
5:30 PM
Brutacao Cellars
8/02 – Online Workshop #6
Online via Zoom
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Upcoming Events Summer and Beyond
Our team will be tabling at:
• Eureka Fourth of July
Festival
• Willits Frontier Days
• Big Time(s)
• Humboldt County Fair
• Mendocino County Fair
Visit our website for details
on future events.

Getting Involved

WEBSITE NEWSLETTER SURVEY WEBMAP
Leave us a voicemail: (707) 440-9445
Send us an email: [email protected]
CALL
www.GreatRedwoodTrailPlan.org
Louisa Morris (SCC)
[email protected]
(707) 357-3664
Jen Rice
[email protected]
(707) 227-2818
Carol Vander Meer (RCAA)
[email protected]
(707) 269-2068
Jeff Knowles (Alta)
[email protected]
(510) 788-6878
Great Redwood Trail Master Plan
Project Contacts
Questions &
Comments
Little Lake Fire
Protection District __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 74 E Commercial Street
Willits, California 95490
(707)459-6271
Fire Department Update
We are finishing up our state-mandated inspections, the schools, hotels, and motels are almost completed, and we will get started on the apartment complexes soon. Our 95th annual fundraiser was a great success. We had our 2nd annual cornhole tournament and 1st chicken BBQ. Thank you, City of Willits, for allowing usage of the City Park. We will continue our event o include cornhole and BBQ in the future. We have had several out-of-control burns and encourage weed abatement to property owners.

The hot weather is upon us, and fire season is here. We had 39 fire calls in May. 111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
(707) 459-1562 FAX

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 16th to July 4th, 2023.

Mayor Kanne read the proclamation for the record, Recognizing June 16th through July 4th, 2023, as Western Wear Days.
b. 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 Willits City Council Minutes of June 14, 2023 Page 2 of 6 (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 item(s) 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 item(s) (a).

6. 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 3 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 to 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 4 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 5 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 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 form 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 6 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 18th 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 successful event this year. She then thanked Councilmembers Rodriguez and Gonzalez who volunteered for Sober Grad.
 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. _____________________________
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
__________________________

DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
BL# Business Name Name Address Date Issued Type of Bussiness 7178 Coleman Plumbing Patrick Coleman 7960 Uva Dr Redwood Valley, CA 95470 5/24/2023 Plumbing Contractor
7179 Rigo's Best Roofing Rodrigo Hernandez Martinez PO Box 307 Ukiah, CA 95482 5/24/2023 Roofing Contractor 7180 Iium Energy Solutions Robert Dean 4135 Northgate Blvd #4 Sacramento, CA 95834 5/24/2023 Solar Contractor
7181 Breakthrough Fitness by Brittani Brittani Epperson 21581 Lois Lane Willits, CA 95490 5/24/2023 Online Personal Training
7182 Super Food Services William Jacobs 4228 S 72nd St Omaha, NE 62127 5/30/2023 Wholesale Food Distribution
7183 Matz Law Mendocino Robert C Matz 234 S Main St, Ste. 3 Willits, CA 95490 5/30/2023 Attorney Office
New Business License - May 2023
6a
 





    






 

  

 !"#"$"
#"



 !"#"# $"
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b
 






  





!"

#


$
" 

$   
%$


  


   %$
&

$   %$

'



$   
(
$
$)
 
   *
+
$
$,-%

$


.   *
+
$
$,
$

.   






    





 

#


$
 

/



$   
%$


"!0! " 


 "!0! " %$
&

$ "00"0 !0 %$

'



$   
(
$
$)
 
   *
+
$
$,-%

$


. 0! " *
+
$
$,
$

.   






   "!! "





 

#


$
"  1
$  " 
%$


"" " 


 "" " %$
&

$ 0" 0" %$

'



$   
(
$
$)
" 
 "  *
+
$
$,-%

$


.  " *
+
$
$,
$

. !  






    





 

#


$
  #
2#3
$  "! " %$


0""0" 0! 


 0""0" 0! %$
&

$ "00""0! 0 %$

'



$000!0 (
$
$)
!"
"" *
+
$
$,-%

$!""00!"
  




  



 






 
!!" # $%
&  !
!
  $%
' 

#! 
(""
"" $)
*
%

&
   
+
   
   +
,
  +
$-
   
. 
/   $    



0+&

    




   



     $% &  $%
' 
  $ &

" "#
( +
 (

#

1
#"


1!#
1

(
( 
 (

#

1
#"


1!#
1

(
( +
,
"#1!1"(
(

1 (((# !""1!
#

+
$-
   
. 
/ 
##
  $ ""!  ""  



0+&

 (
1

1 (  1   





1!#   



   !
"
"! #
!" 
(
"( $%
&!""  $%
' 
!
!
!(
" 


 +
&
 "

(#

+
 !1
(
#!1
!""!

1"
(
#
1"# !" +

 !1
(
#!1
!""!

1"
(
#
1"# !" +
,
"!
1( ("1#
#1(#
1""
! (1#
1(
!! +
$-

1(

1 ("#1
"

!1#
 +
. 
/
##!
(
"(
"
1"
#
"
1 
" +
$ "!


"# !! +
 



0+&

 
1#(
1#

#1 

1  +
 




 "!(
1 #"(

1 "!

(1#"

+
 



!1
#!  

 +
 !"#!
"#



1 "#( #1
"# +
$%
& ""!
1( " 
1


+
$%
' 
"# 
!(
! ((
!!#((
Item No. 8a
Meeting Date: June 28, 2023

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Brian Bender, City Manager
Agenda Title: REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE EAST COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDOR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENT AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE A MASTER PLAN FOR CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 10 min Summary of Request: Staff retained Terrain Landscape Architecture on December 29th to provide professional services relating to the identification of community enhancement opportunities along the E.

Commercial Street Corridor (from the intersection with Main Street to the City’s eastern boundary). These opportunities focused on the athletic fields/parks, Museum/Library facilities, wayfinding/signage, transportation/pedestrian features, and streetscapes.

The origins of this project date from September 1, 2021, special City Council session when the members discussed various elements of the City’s Water Program including the Park Well. From that discussion, staff presented to the Council at their September 29th meeting, a policy outlining guidelines for the Park Well’s utilization including the establishment of a new revenue fund supported by the sale of bulk water.

The Council accepted the policy including a proposal to make improvements at the sports complex.

Subsequently, staff realized the discussed improvements required additional planning and sought the necessary design expertise. From the initial limited scope of reconfiguring a parking area, the project gained momentum resulting in a more comprehensive perspective to include the entire corridor to ensure planning connectivity.

Terrain Landscape Architecture facilitated a public forum on May 18th to obtain comments regarding the document’s contents and suggestions for programmatic elements for use as the basis in a Master Plan.

Staff acknowledges the effort Terrain applied to this project and encourages the City Council to authorize the City Manage to continue onwards with a second phase consisting of the completion of a Master Plan.

Attached is the Community Outreach and Program Development document for your review.

Recommended Action: Adopt the accompanying Resolution thereby accepting the East Commercial Street Corridor Community Outreach and Program Development and authorize the City Manager to prepare a Master Plan for adoption by the City Council.

Alternative(s): Accept the presented document but do authorize the City Manager to prepare a Master Plan or decline to accept the presented document and do not authorize the City Manager to prepare a Master Plan.

Fiscal Impact: Currently, Terrain has billed the City $11,040 to date for provided services. The signed proposal listed an expense of $15,154 for the first phase of work and an estimate of up to $20K for the Master Plan component. The existing Fund 450 contains approximately $241K.

Personnel Impact: Minimal on the Administration Department. 2021 Adopted Goals: This item helps to achieve Goal #2 for Public Works…Increase public use of facilities over the next three years to foster civic pride, improve health, and support recreation efforts for greater involvement in local government, dependent on financing.

Reviewed by: City Manager City Attorney Assistant City Manager City Clerk Finance Director Human Resources Risk Manager
Council Action: Approved Denied Other: ________________________________________ Records: Agreement Resolution #_________ Ordinance #_________ Other _________

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDOR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
June 19, 2023

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Prepared for
City of Willits, California
City Manager
Prepared by Terrain Landscape Architecture
Piper von Chamier, PLA
Samuel Bickel
Zachary Walrod
Candace Gutridge
Acknowledgments:

City of Willits, California
Brian Bender, City Manager
LACO Engineering
Rodney Wilburn, PE, JD, QSD, USA Remote Pilot
Mendocino County Museum
Karen Mattson, Museum Administrator
Lindsey Dick, Museum Curator
Land Acknowledgment:

The project site is located in Willits, CA, the present and ancestral homeland and unceded territory of the Pomo Tribe and People. Tribes and Nations in Mendocino County include the Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria, Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, Guidiville Indian Rancheria, Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, Manchester Band of Pomo Indians, Pinoleville Pomo Nation, Potter Valley Tribe, Redwood Valley Little River Band of Rancheria of Pomo, Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Round Valley Indian Tribes, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians. We make this land acknowledgment in recognition that our words must be matched by action and approach.

EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | iii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report represents an initial step by the City of Willits in developing a holistic perspective along the East Commercial Street Corridor (ECSC). This report’s area of study stretches from Main Street to Highway 101. Our objective is to identify critical areas of improvement and provide actionable recommendations with a phased approach that fit the City of Willits in both scope and investment.

Through meeting with City staff, data collection, and community outreach, we have developed a report that represents the existing conditions along East Commercial Street, provides recommendations for development, and accounts for the community’s input. The focus areas were identified as creating connectivity, promoting safety, and activating the existing amenities and businesses, focusing on signage, aesthetics, streetscape, athletic field expansion, conservation, and access.

An inventory of the existing conditions was established through on-site and remote data collection, including GIS, historical records, and news reports. The ECSC has been split into three sections based on their land use categories. Within these sections, we focused on the condition of existing amenities, the built environment, and hazards.

To address these conditions, we have developed six categories of design recommendations: Streets, Gateways, Parking, Park Facilities, Lighting, and Destinations. We have identified elements of improvement within each of these categories; our suggestions are based on the existing conditions and community feedback.

Street improvement elements include aesthetic improvements, such as planting and alternative pavements, and structural improvements for traffic calming. Raised crosswalks and traffic calming measures are recommended throughout, with a focus on the East end. We also recommend that streetscape improvements at the West end of the corridor be built to improve connectivity to the Main Street corridor. Overall, the community supported traffic calming measures, raised sidewalks, and streetscape improvements in that order.

Gateways are areas of transition that can be improved to provide visitors with clear directions down the ECSC.

Areas for strategic signage implementation have been identified at the land use transition zones mentioned above. We recommend that the city develop a signage package to improve the ECSC's character and connectivity to the greater City. Residents wanted new lights and banners, as well as signage.

Parking facilities in Willits are largely unshaded. We recommend the city develop standards and incentives to promote planting parking lot trees. Community members focused on striping improvements at the East end of the ECSC.

Park facilities recommendations were split into multiple categories, both existing and proposed. This includes but is not limited to playground and restroom facilities upgrades, basketball courts, shelters, gathering spaces, and community gardens. We recommend that most of the existing playground and restroom facilities be upgraded. Creating shelter and shade will also improve the character of the parks. The community focused on shade, lighting, and facilities upgrades.

Lighting is a significant concern across the ECSC. Improvements to sports fields, pedestrian, and street lighting were recommended. The community comments focused on sports field lighting, dark sky-friendly lighting, and crosswalk lighting.

Improvements to existing destinations ranged from relocating the farmer’s market to creating a new civic center, public art, and public murals. Public art, murals, and making an urban square were desired during the community meeting.

This report is a comprehensive start for future master planning efforts along the ECSC. Using the analysis, recommendations, and public comments in this document will enable the City of Willits to create a master plan that unifies the ECSC with the downtown core, increases public safety, and promotes its existing businesses and amenities.
iv | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

INTRODUCTION
Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds,
Exhilarate the spirit, and restore
The tone of languid nature.
~William Cowper
Along its historic blocks through decades of changes, the East Commercial Street Corridor (ECSC) has been a vital spine of civic life and commerce for Willits.

The importance of the ECSC started in the early 1900s. Around this time, the original train depot was constructed at the present-day railroad crossing. The Northwestern Redwood Company would establish its office across the tracks, which is still standing as part of the Sparetime Supply company. This was quickly followed by the Carnegie Library, dedicated in 1915, and the new train station, which now houses the Skunk Train Depot.

Civic life in Willits blossomed along East Commercial with the establishment of Recreation Grove Park in 1906 by the Willits Women’s Improvement Club. City Park, now called Snider Park, was established shortly after. The Willits Rodeo Ground held its first Frontier Day in 1927 at the end of East Commercial Street. In the 1970s, the new Willits Library and the Mendocino County Museum opened at the end of East Commercial Street. Roots of Motive Power was established shortly after 1982. Finally, the 1990s saw the establishment of the Willits Soccer and Baseball Complex, a mainstay of recreational activities for Willits and the surrounding area. This complex has seen field improvements, parking lot improvements, and the development of a skate park.

The ECSC has changed dramatically over the last 100+ years. Civic, economic, and residential growth has expanded significantly, making it a place where people of all backgrounds gather to live, work and play. Unfortunately, this organic growth occurred piecemeal, without a holistic vision or direction for development. Creating a plan that recognizes the importance of the institutions, businesses, and civic infrastructure along the ECSC will increase tourism, promote safety, and create a unifying character.

This report is the initial step in this endeavor. Within these pages, you will find an inventory and assessment of the existing conditions along East Commercial Street and recommendations for improvements.

The existing conditions inventory will highlight safety concerns, amenities, and the conditions of built elements owned by the City of Willits. It will attempt to organize this information around a framework of three sections along East Commercial Street using extensive onsite and remote data collection. Our recommendations are presented as a description of possible improvements applied to prescribed areas along the ECSC.

This report's inventory, recommendations, and public outreach will help the City of Willits identify subsequent Master Planning projects and developments.

EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | v HISTORIC IMAGES 01
[All photos property of the County of Mendocino, California, Museum Collections Online Database.] northwestern redwood company office in 1914
willits frontier days in 1934
carnegie library opening in 1915
willits auto park (recreation grove park) in 1924
willits skunk train depot in 1915
commercial street looking east in 1925
vi | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
HISTORIC IMAGES 02
[All photos property of the County of Mendocino, California, Museum Collections Online Database.] e. commercial street
main street main street
hotel van
w. commercial street
hotel van
willits high school train station
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY iii
INTRODUCTION iv

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDOR
Project Overview 1
Vicinity Map 2
Area of Study 3
Land Use 5
Community Feedback 7

EXISTING CONDITIONS
Section A: Map, Analysis, Site Photos 9
Section B: Map, Analysis, Site Photos 15
Section C: Map, Analysis, Site Photos 19
DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS 25
Streets, Alleys, and Crossings 27
Gateways and Transition Points 33
Public and Private Parking 37
Park Facility Improvements 41
Lighting Improvements 51
Destinations 59
1 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

PROJECT OVERVIEW

EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 2

VICINITY MAP

PROJECT OVERVIEW

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDOR
Area of Study
3 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET RAILWAY RAILWAY

MILL CREEK

BROADDUS CREEK

AREA OF STUDY MAP

PROJECT OVERVIEW
14 13
10 11
12 08
09 06 07
05 04
03 02 01
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST

MADDEN LN

N LENORE AVE

STATE ST

N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

AREA OF STUDY AREA OF STUDY

AREA OF STUDY LEGEND
01 - NOYO Theater
02 - Willits Center for the Arts & Carnegie Library
03 - Willits Fire House #54.
04 - Snider Park
05 - City Hall
06 - Imagination Station Preschool & Toy Depot
07 - Ace Shipping & Copy
08 - The Skunk Train Depot
09 - Kemmy's Pies
10 - Historic Logging Office
11 - Sparetime Supply Distribution
12 - Mendo Mill & Lumber
13 - Mendocino College North Community Center
14 - Willits Elementary Charter School
15 - Willits Library
16 - Mendocino County Museum
17 - Roots of Motive Power
18 - Willits Public Works
19 - Recreation Grove Park
20 - Willits Rodeo Grounds
21 - Willits Youth Fields
22 - Willits Skate Park
23 - Mendocino County Public Works
24 - Baseball Overflow Fields

S LENORE AVE
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 4 BAECHTEL CREEK

BAECHTEL CREEK

AREA OF STUDY MAP

BROADDUS CREEK

PROJECT OVERVIEW
23 20
24 22
21 18
16 17
15 19

E S LENORE AVE

AREA OF STUDY
The East Commercial Street Corridor (ECSC)
Outreach & Development Report covers
the East Commercial Street corridor from
Main Street to Baechtel Creek. This study
does not strictly adhere to property lines. We
are concerned with the general land use
immediately adjacent to the corridor and what
can be seen from the corridor, including parks.

The City of Willits contracted Terrain Landscape
Architecture (TLA) to conduct an on-site analysis of
the corridor in April 2023. TLA conducted extensive

AREA OF STUDY
data collection and research into the history of
Willits and the civic spaces within the study area.

In the area of study, portrayed in the diagram
above, TLA will inventory the existing conditions,
analyze the built environment, and provide
recommendations for future development based
on the opportunities and constraints that arise
in the ECSC Outreach & Development Report.
5 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
section A
INCLUDES LAND USE ::

Recreation
Civic
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
section B
INCLUDES LAND USE ::

Industrial
Commercial
Residential
Recreational

LAND USE MAP

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

PROJECT OVERVIEW

ST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK

ST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK

RAILWAY

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
a A
S ZONING ::

Commercial
nd Industrial
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK

RAILWAY

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
a A
S ZONING ::

Commercial
nd Industrial
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK
north 0’
1 INCH = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::
dustrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,
MAP 03

BROADDUS CREEK
north 0’
1 INCH = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::
dustrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,
MAP 03

BROADDUS CREEK
H = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,
MAP 03
H = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,
MAP 03

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

LAND USE MAP LEGEND

RECREATION - GREEN

CIVIC - BLUE

RESIDENTIAL - YELLOW

COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL - VIOLET N. MAIN ST.

RAILROAD RAILROAD
N. MAIN ST.

The land uses within the Study Area include
recreation, civic, residential, commercial,
and industrial lots. Using land use data, TLA
has identified three sections along the ECSC
that will frame the organization of the ECSC
Outreach & Development Report and its
design recommendations. See the diagram
above for the extent of Sections A, B, and C.

The transitions between Sections A, B, and
C are visually and functionally disjointed.

Section A comprises recreation, civic, and

LAND USE STUDY

AREA OF STUDY AREA OF STUDY
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 6 section C
INCLUDES LAND USE ::

Recreation
Civic
Industrial
Commercial

LAND USE MAP

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

PROJECT OVERVIEW
LENORE ST. LENORE ST.
residential use zones along ECSC. Industrial
and commercial zones characterize the
transition to Section B before returning to
Section C's primarily civic and recreation zones.

Each section offers distinct challenges,
conditions, and approaches. For example,
Section A, which stretches from Main Street to
the railroad tracks adjacent to the Skunk Train
Depot, requires streetscape improvements,
destination considerations, and facility
improvements. Section B is between the
railroad crossing and Lenore Street. Section B
creates a visual and typological barrier along
the ECSC that will require special consideration
with wayfinding and street treatments to invite
visitors through Section B and into Section C.

Section C is from Lenore Street to the city
limits. Section C requires strategic planning to
meet the growing need for park facilities in Willits.

Refer to the existing conditions analysis of the
ECSC Outreach & Development Report for
a detailed analysis of Sections A, B, and C.

AREA OF STUDY
7 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

PROJECT OVERVIEW
This board served as an overview of the
study area. Though there was no place for
comments, we received two comments
from the community on this board:

AREA OF STUDY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

SECTION A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. Speed limit is too fast from Ball Fields to Main
Street.

2. No more liquor stores Willits is already saturated.

1. More benches in grass area at park.

2. Art + Education signage in park.

3. Improved Street Lighting on North Side of
street w/ old town look.

4. Take out old tree - not healthy [near skunk
train].

5. Community Garden here [at empty lot
between Marin + Madden].

6. Thanks for what you do. Would love to see
something happen w/ Carnegie library - even
housing better than nothing.

7. More shade trees along sidewalk.

8. Diagonal intersenction @ Main + Commercial.

9. Add Ace Copy, Toy Depot, Kimmy's Pie and
new business at 280 E Commercial [to map].

EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 8

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

PROJECT OVERVIEW

SECTION C COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

SECTION B COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. Safer crossing for activities on both sides of the
street.

2. We need better awareness of these cool
features - wayfinding signs.

3. People do drive to fast here! Speed bumps?

4. People drive fast here - road diet.

5. Crosswalk improvements! Streetlights! would
be great,

6. Disc Golf please.

1. Add Kimmy's Pie, Sparetime Supply Offices +
warehouse, and Mendo Mill [to map].

2. Shade trees.

3. People start driving fast here. Road Diet.

4. Widen sidewalk on North Side.

7. Speed bumps by ball fields & Parks.

5. Left turn off Lenore onto E Commercial is a
little scary.

6. Love this area.

7. I like shade trees too! Not sure about all the
empty lots.
9 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

EXISTING CONDITIONS // SECTION A
LEGEND
1 Carnegie Library
3 6
City Hall / Police Station
Ace Copy & Shipping
4 7
Imagination Station Preschool
The Skunk Train
5 8
Imagination Station Toy Depot
Kemmy's Pies
Hazards
2 Snider Park
Carnegie Library 1
Built in 1915, the Carnegie Library in Willits is
a brick, two-story structure with magnificent
architectural detailing around its entry. It is
owned by the City of Willits and functioned
as its library until 1989. It currently houses
the community TV station and is used as
storage. The landscape consists of turf,
several planter pots, and one tree. The tree
well pavers in front of the library present a
slight tripping hazard. A dedication plaque
Missing Street Trees
Section A is defined as the area of study
that extends along the ECSC from N
Main St to the railroad tracks. Five sites,
indicated on the map, have been included
in the inventory of the existing conditions.
*
Section A
Existing Conditions Overview
Section A Elements Analyzed

EXISTING CONDITIONS
section A

SECTION A MAP
1 3
4 5 6
2 EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
Bathroom
Monument
Playground
Police Station Sign
Upheaval
Upheaval
Abandoned
Curbcut
ADA Hazard

RAILROAD RAILROAD
N. MAIN ST. N. MAIN ST.
*
* *
* *
*
7 8

AREA OF STUDY AREA OF STUDY
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 10 City Park is located along ECSC, bordered
by N Humboldt St, N Marin St, and State St.

Built in the early 1900s; it has undergone
many revisions and iterations, with updates
when funding allows. It features magnificent,
mature evergreen trees and some youngadult trees in good condition. Unfortunately, many historic trees have been removed,
leaving much of the park unshaded (F1.1).

The public bathroom features male and
female sides entered through opposite
building ends. Short, barbed wire fences
have been constructed on top of the CMU
walls to limit access to the roof, leaving
it an uninviting aesthetic. The overall
condition of the bathroom could be
better. It needs renovations or rebuilding.

The existing playground features a Gametime
MRC play structure and miscellaneous play
implements. Features for both fine and
gross motor play are present. Replacing
the play structure would benefit the park,
as it is at the end of its lifespan (F1.6). The
play surfacing would also benefit from
adding wood fiber to supplement loss.

The park does not feature a shelter of any
kind. Parts of the concrete paving are spalling
and deteriorating (F1.7). A trip hazard is on
the park’s west side along N Humboldt,
adjacent to a demolished bus station. The
park does not feature any noticeable lighting.

The park does feature ample trash and
recycling receptacles, a bike station, and a
bus station. At the park’s center, the Willits
Centennial Monument was dedicated in 1988.

City Hall / Police Station 3
City Hall is in a repurposed grocery store
building. It houses multiple departments of
Willits, as well as a community center and
council chambers. It shares a parking lot with
the Police station. Unfortunately, the parking
lot does not feature trees or landscaping.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION A ANALYSIS
is set on a boulder at the front of the library.

Snider Park 2
11 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
The Skunk Train Depot 5

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION A ANALYSIS
Imagination Station Preschool 4
Consisting of two buildings, seven classrooms,
and an outdoor playground, the Imagination
Station Preschool provides enriching
activities and learning opportunities to early
learners in Willits. The public right of way
in front of the Preschool presents several
hazards, including heaving sidewalks and
abandoned curb cuts. The associated toy
store could utilize an enlarged pedestrian
thoroughfare with retail accommodations.

Built in 1885 to transport logs from the
backcountry of Mendocino County to the
coast, the Skunk Train continues to operate,
carrying passengers along its scenic routes.

The current depot replaced the original in
1915. The original depot was constructed
in 1901 and was located across the
street in what is presently a parking lot.

The adjacent streetscape along E
Commercial and Madden Lane needs to
be in better repair and presents several
hazards. The sidewalk at the corner of
Commercial and Madden is interrupted
by an old delivery bay curb cut. It needs to
be ADA-compliant. The sidewalk in front of
the depot is also heaving and needs repair.

An existing black chain link fence surrounds the
Skunk Depot itself. There is a lack of streetscape
plantings. There needs to be ADA access from
the Skunk Train Parking lot and entry to the
depot. A raised crosswalk and other traffic
calming measures should be considered.

The adjacent railroad tracks do not have
a safe pedestrian crossing. In addition, the
existing asphalt is spalling, deteriorating,
and is missing noticeable sections.

The Rails-to-Trails project, which is not a part
of this report, addresses some of these issues.

As part of the project, a new staggered
pedestrian crossing with a middle island is
being proposed across Commercial and
pedestrian crossing across the railroad tracks.

In the public right of way along the ECSC the
street trees are confined to planter cutouts
that will not support the health of mature
trees (F1.3). A raised planter along the
building has been covered with mortared
flagstone, though cutouts were provided for
two Nandinas, leafy evergreen shrubs (F1.4).

The police station sign, located on the East
side of the parking lot, is in poor condition
and is in the process of being replaced.

Section A is a powerhouse of civic function
but needs more comprehensive landscape
planning that supports a connected
public realm. Various civic programs have
grown organically in a few buildings that
Section A Analysis Summary
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 12

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION A ANALYSIS
F1.1 Unshaded areas at Snider park
F1.2 Barbed Wire at restrooms
F1.3 Trees closed in by hardscape
F1.4 Hardscape inside planters
vary significantly in their architectural
typologies. Additionally, corridor elements
such as street paving, tree planters,
and sidewalks are deteriorating (F1.5).

Section A would greatly benefit from a Civic
Master Plan that links the civic buildings
along the ECSC with a unified approach to
traffic control, planting, tree preservation,
memorization, and public use spaces.
13 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION A PHOTOGRAPHS
F1.10 Willits Justice Center
F1.9 Unused delivery bay at Skunk Train Depot
F1.11 Unused concrete Pads at Snider Park
F1.12 Sidewalk upheaval and abandoned planters in front of Imagination Station Preschool
F1.5 Aging asphalt
F1.6 Play Structure at Snider Park
F1.7 Aging concrete at Snider Park
F1.8 Carnegie Library dedication boulder
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 14

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION A PHOTOGRAPHS
Noyo Theater
Willits Center for the Arts
Carnegie Library
City Hall
The Skunk Train Depot
E Commercial Street
Willits Fire Station 54
Willits Centennial Monument (Snider Park)
Snider Park looking NE
Willits Centennial Monument (Snider Park)
15 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
section B

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION B MAP

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
Missing Street Trees
Mendocino College North
County Center
4 Mendocino College North County Center is a
small satellite campus. Built in 2013, the North
County Center is part of the Mendocino-Lake
Community College District and one of three
off-campus centers operated by Mendocino
College. The college features a lowmaintenance, waterwise landscape that can inform subsequent planting along the ECSC.

RAILROADN LENORE

RAILROADS LENORE
5 5
4 1 2
3 6

EXISTING CONDITIONS // SECTION B
LEGEND
1 3
5 Sparetime Supply Distribution
Mendocino College North County Center
Willits Elementary Charter School
Hazard
2 4
6 Historic Logging Office
Mendo Mill & Lumber
Broaddus Creek
*
ADA Hazard
No Sidewalk
Abandoned
Curb Cuts
ADA Hazard
*
* *
Section B
Existing Conditions Overview
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 16 The Broaddus Creek corridor can experience
periodic flooding during severe weather
conditions, which in turn, causes flooding
at the Broaddus Creek Bridge on East
Commercial Street. Although infrequent,
flooding has been seen running over the
creek bank and onto North Lenore Street.

Abandoned curb cuts (F2.1) located directly
across the street from Mendo Mill / Ace
Hardware should be replaced with a standard
six-inch curb and adjacent walk to match the
existing conditions of the surrounding sidewalks.

Lastly, consistent street trees and
Broaddus Creek is a tributary to Outlet Creek,
a tributary to the Eel River, which empties into
the Pacific Ocean. Broaddus Creek drains
an approximately 8 square mile watershed
dominated by mixed hardwood forest. The
watershed is privately owned and managed
as rangeland. Approximately one-fifth of
the watershed is within the Willits city limits.

The existing bridge has gatoring/spalling
asphalt and needs to be resurfaced. In
addition, there is an ADA hazard (F2.2) on
the Northeast side of the bridge, consisting
of an incomplete sidewalk and a 4” step.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION B ANALYSIS
Broaddus Creek 5
Section B Analysis Summary
pedestrian lighting would greatly benefit
this portion of Commercial Street while
providing a unified corridor feeling and
enhanced pedestrian experience.

F2.2 Sidewalk Upheaval at Broaddus Creek Bridge
F2.1 Remnant curb cut to be removed
17 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION B PHOTOGRAPHY
the skunk train depot
the skunk train depot
mendo mill and lumber company
mendo mill / ace
historic logging office
mendocino college north county center
willits elementary charter school
broaddus creek bridge crossing
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 18 This Page Left Intentionally Blank.
19 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
section C
Missing Street Trees

EXISTING CONDITIONS // SECTION C LEGEND
1 1
7 1
3 3
4 4
5 6
5 6
7 Mendocino County Museum
Roots of Motive Power
Willits Skatepark
Willits Youth Soccer and Baseball Complex
Recreation Grove Park
Hazard
2 2
Willits Library
Practice Fields South Complex
*

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
ADA Hazard
No Sidewalk
*
Willits Public Works
Mendocino County
Public Works
Willits Library 1

EXISTING CONDITIONS
SECTION C MAP LENORE ST. LENORE ST.

Section C
Existing Conditions Overview
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 20 The Willits Library entry lacks appropriate
entry signage and wayfinding. The library
landscape would benefit from supplemental
plantings along the street frontage, as
well as a new layer of mulch. Landscaping
areas adjacent to the entry (F3.4+F3.5)
are mostly bare and only contain a
layer of mulch, trees, and some shrubs.

The adjacent asphalt drive, which leads
to the Willits Public Works Yard, is severely
gatoring and is in need of resurfacing/
replacement (F3.3), along with the
curb cut at the West side of the library.

In 1989 the Willits Library moved out of the
Classical Revival Carnegie Library facility
to its current location and features public
computers, free Wi-Fi, print and copy
machines, special events for all ages,
as well as a seed lending library bank.

The Willits Library entry lacks appropriate
entry signage and wayfinding. The library
landscape would benefit from supplemental
plantings along the street frontage, as
well a new layer of mulch. Landscaping
areas adjacent to the entry (F3.4+F3.5)
are mostly bare and only contain a
layer of mulch, trees, and some shrubs.

The adjacent asphalt drive, which leads
to the Willits Public Works Yard, is severely
gatoring and is need of resurfacing/
replacement (F3.3), along with the
curb cut at the West side of the library.

Recreation Grove Park 2
Mendocino County Museum 3
In 1989 the Willits Library moved out of the
Classical Revival Carnegie Library facility
to its current location and features public
computers, free Wi-Fi, print and copy
machines, special events for all ages,
as well as a seed lending library bank.

The Mendocino County Museum is home to
over 50,000 artifacts and exhibits showcasing
the county's rich heritage for visitors to explore.

Historic agricultural and mining artifacts,
Native American Heritage, locomotive
history, rodeo history, and other memorabilia
can be observed and studied at the museum.

As with the Willits Library, the Museum
would greatly benefit from entry signage,
informational signage, as well as being
located on an overall wayfinding map.

The museum's landscape needs improved
plantings, gathering spaces, and access.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION C ANALYSIS
21 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Roots of Motive Power 4
Willits Youth Soccer and
Baseball Complex
Willits Skatepark 5
6 Roots of Motive Power is an all-volunteer
organization founded in 1982 to preserve
and restore steam and diesel-powered
equipment used in the northern California
coast logging industry from the 1850s
to the present. Roots of Motive Power
is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

As with the other institutions along Area C of the
East Commercial St corridor, Roots of Motive
Power lacks clear signage and wayfinding. In
addition, the historic artifacts along the street
would benefit from improved signage (F3.9).

Thinning of trees in vegetation on the E
Commercial St side would also help to give
the building more presence and identity.

As it stands, it is concealed from visitors.

Designed by Wormhoudt Inc. and
completed in 2004, the 18,500 squarefoot Willits skatepark includes an eight-foot bowl and multiple street obstacles. The
Skate Park became the first in Mendocino
County and can be used year-round except
during inclement weather. Unfortunately,
the skatepark lacks lighting and shelter.

Located at 600 East Commercial Street and
home to the Willits Youth Soccer League and
the California District 35 Willits Redwood Little
League team, the Willits Youth Soccer and
Baseball complex is an excellent resource
for local youth. It includes a perimeter
walking path which is heavily utilized yearround. Located near the Willits dog park and skatepark, the complex is a vital resource for
recreation for the entire Willits community.

The existing restroom facilities would benefit
from a retrofit to modernize and meet
the capacity needed during events. This
park lacks a playground for gross motor
play. Providing activities for users of all
ages and abilities is essential to creating
usable parks for the entire community. The
sports fields need additional seating for
events at the baseball and soccer fields.

Lighting is also absent in the sports complex
along the paths and the sports fields.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION C ANALYSIS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 22 This leg of East Commercial Street exhibits
some of the same conditions as the
previous two. Overall, the streetscape
infrastructure needs planting, wayfinding,
lighting, and traffic calming improvement.

The streetscape planting is either tired
and needs rejuvenation or missing entirely.

Several areas in planters are missing plants,
or the selected plants should be replaced
with more appropriate material. Due to
the flooding along East Commercial Street
at this location, several planters had the
mulch material washed out (F3.1). There are
treatment options for this condition of periodic
flooding, including groundcover plants that
will do a better job of holding mulch material
and heavier mulch that will not wash off.

No lighting exists in this area's parking
lot or streetscape (F3.2). Adequate
lighting is essential for security and
Practice Fields South Complex 7
pedestrian safety. Adding lighting would
improve visitation rates by expanding
the usable hours of the park facilities.

As mentioned in the previous sections,
wayfinding is a prevalent issue, especially
at this end of the corridor. As a result,
it is difficult to identify the location and
presence of the institutions and facilities.

Traffic calming is a major concern in this area.

According to a recent traffic study, around 30%
of vehicles exceed this section's 30 mph speed
limit. Reducing vehicle speeds through design
and structures would create a safer corridor.

Section C Analysis Summary
Overall, these fields appear to be in poor
condition. The facilities and buildings that
service them need major renovation (F3.10).

The adjacent restroom is in poor condition
and should be rebuilt. These fields need a
clear pedestrian crossing to the North parking
lot. Pedestrian paths should be installed to
create clear areas for circulation and access.

F3.2 Existing pedestrian crossing at Frontier Days.

F3.1 Washed out mulch beds at Frontier Days streetscape.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION C ANALYSIS
23 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
F3.4 Library West planter
F3.3 Library parking lot entrance.

F3.5 Library East Planter
F3.6 Recreation Grove Bandshell
F3.7 Recreation Grove Picnic Structure
F3.8 Drainage issues at Recreation Grove
F3.9 Steam Engine at Roots of Motive Power
F3.10 Overflow Fields structure and Paving.

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION C PHOTOGRAPHS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 24 rec grove picnic shelter
rec grove park
rec grove park
frontier days building facade
roots of motive power
roots of motive power signage
the willits skatepark
willits youth fields signage

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION C PHOTOGRAPHS
25 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

OVERALL MAP

E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

N LENORE A
Destinations / Gathering Spaces

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS LEGEND
Creating safe pedestrian cross-street access
is a major goal of this planning exercise.

We have identified multiple locations along
E Commercial St that would benefit from
new or upgraded pedestrian crossings.

Another objective is improving the livability and
walkability of the E Commercial St corridor. We
want visitors to turn down Commercial, drive to the
institutions, and park at the East terminus. Unified
wayfinding, improving streetscape infrastructure,
creating an identifiable character, increasing
pedestrian safety, and creating flexibility of
uses, are all factors that need to be considered.

Street Crossing Improvement
Street / Alley Improvements
Street Crossing Improvement
Street Improvement
Gateways / Transition Points
Parking Lot Improvements
Park Facility
Lighting Improvements
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 26

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

OVERALL MAP

E COMMERCIAL ST

S LENORE AVE
AVE
Gateways can provide clear visual cues that
draw visitors into and through the city. These
transition points are an essential component
of wayfinding, which helps visitors navigate
through the area. Providing gateways between
Main Street and the East end of Commercial
Street will help link these areas and guide
people from one destination to another.

Management and designing parking areas in lots
or on streets are integral to downtown planning.

Considering existing and new parking provides an
opportunity to meet the needs of visitors traveling
to the area and increases the attractiveness
and appeal of these challenging spaces.

Lighting is crucial in public areas, including increased community safety, crime prevention, improved
aesthetics, and multiple economic benefits.

Parks are the backbone of civic life, providing
an area for all citizens to interact through shared
activity and spaces. Improving these facilities
benefits residents’ health and wellbeing.

Identifying and considering possible new
destinations for the City of Willits was a primary
directive for Terrain. Through meeting with
the city, we have identified several locations
that have the potential to contribute to
the character and enjoyment of Willits.

Gateways / Transition Points
Public / Private Parking
Lighting
Park Facility Improvement
Destinations / Gathering Spaces
27 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS
Complete streets are designed to enable safe
use and mobility for all users. This principle applies
to all modalities of use for people of all ages
and abilities, whether in a car, on a bicycle, or
on foot. Many municipalities across the country
have adopted Complete Street policies,
but even in their absence, these guidelines
can create a framework for improvements.

On the subsequent pages, you will
find functional elements that together
work to create a Complete Street.

Complete Streets

E COMMERCIAL ST

E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

STREETS LEGEND
Street Crossing Improvement
Street Improvement
1 2 3
4 5
1 S Main St to the Skunk Train Depot
3 E Commercial Crossing at S Lenore
4 Recreation Grove + Institutions
5 Youth Fields + Rodeo
2 The Skunk Train Depot
Recommended Street Elements

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 28

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS
A streetscape is the totality of built elements
between vehicular thoroughfares and building
facades. A streetscape has many layers,
including parking, bike lanes, planter strips,
street trees, light poles, sitting places, hanging
baskets, and sidewalks. This interface between
public streets and buildings broadly defines
the character of a city to everyone passing
through. It can provide charm and setting.

The most present part of a modern streetscape,
trees provide countless benefits to cities and
have been shown to improve the health
and well-being of residents. Below are some
quick facts on the impact of urban trees:
• Trees increase commercial property resale
values by +/-15%-20%
• Trees improve business incomes +/-12%.
• Commercial districts that have trees have
lower crime rates.
• Urban trees reduce rainfall intensity by up to
52% and reduce runoff by 7%.
• Mature urban trees can lower a downtown’s
summer heat/temperature by 5-15 degrees.
• For each $1.00 invested in the urban forest
(planting of trees) there is a return of +/-$3.00.

Planting strips act as a frame for the street
and bring a natural element into an otherwise
hostile environment. Planter strips don't only
have to function aesthetically; they can
also integrate vital stormwater infrastructure,
providing increased stormwater retention,
collecting and treating stormwater pollution,
and lowering ambient heat for pedestrians.

Plants are typically designed to be lowmaintenance, utilizing hardy plants with low water requirements. Low, evergreen spreading
plants are preferred to fill out the available space.

Streetscape
Street Trees
Planting Strips

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
29 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS
Hanging basket programs have become
a popular way for cities to increase the
aesthetics of their downtown. Baskets usually
contain perennial flowers and are maintained
by the City staff or community volunteers.

At a minimum, paving should be scored
concrete. Special paving, like permeable
pavers or alternate concrete finishes, is often
used in special locations to delineate an
alternative use, entry, crossing, or refuge.

Hanging Baskets
Alternative Paving / Materials
Planter boxes provide a more vertical element
for the streetscape as an alternative to
planting strips or are used in conjunction.

They can have trees, shrubs, or perennials.

Raised planters can also be designed as
an aesthetic alternative to vehicle barriers.

Normally used in urban and residential areas, traffic
calming measures are physical features that reduce
vehicle speed. By reducing speed, and in some
cases traffic, the road becomes safer for all users.

A speed hump is a vertically rounded
raised area of pavement that keeps speeds
down by requiring drivers to reduce speed.

Typically used in urban and residential areas, traffic
calming measures are physical features that reduce
vehicle speed. By reducing speed and, in some
cases, traffic, the road becomes safer for all users.

Planter Boxes
Traffic Calming
Speed Hump
Raised Crosswalk

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 30

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS

E COMMERCIAL ST
1 This portion of the ECSC would most benefit from the
street treatment proposed in the Downtown Willits
Streets and Alleys Connectivity Study from 2017.

Reconfiguring the street will give it a
clear connection to the S Main St corridor
and invite visitors to continue East.
• Along this portion of the ECSC, widen the
pedestrian walkway using permeable
paving for the health of the existing mature
trees.
• Add a planting strip and raised planters.
• Provide on-street parking, bike lanes, and
traffic-calming vehicle lanes.
• Add improved street crossings at the fire
station, Snider Park, and Skunk Train Depot.

These crossings should include striping,
signage, and lighting.

See Destinations for further info.

The section of the ECSC identified above
represents an opportunity to create a unified
recreation complex experience to connect
the library, museum, and Roots of Power.
• Install signage for the library, museum, and
Roots of Power.
• Upgrade existing crossings with speed
tables to reduce speed in the recreation
complex.
• Install plantings in the existing streetscape
planters and the planting areas in front of
the library, museum, and roots of power.

The main concern for this stretch
of the ECSC is traffic calming.
• Relocate the existing rodeo crossing and
add a crosswalk at the proposed dog park.
• Install speed humps and utilize speed table
crosswalks in this section of the ECSC.
• Add a pedestrian path to connect the
youth field and skate park parking lots.
1 S Main St to the Skunk Train Depot
4 Recreation Grove + Institutions
5 Youth Fields + Rodeo
2 The Skunk Train Depot
An improved street crossing and railroad crossing
are proposed as part of the rail-to-trails project.
• Improve the street frontage at the Skunk
Train Depot by adding a wider pedestrian
sidewalk with planter strips.
• Remove chainlink fence surrounding the
depot at the street.
4 Library
Museum
Roots of Power
5 Youth Fields
Rodeo Grounds
Locations and Recommendation of Elements

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
3 ECSC Crossing at N Lenore Ave
The oblique angle of the intersection at
N Lenore Ave and the ECSC creates a
hazardous pedestrian crossing situation.
• Add an improved crossing at this location,
including striping, signage, and lighting.
• Consider adding median island as
pedestrian refuge and traffic director.
31 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
The largest discussion topic during the
community meeting was street improvements
and direction. We had multiple comments
about traffic calming due to speed on East
Commercial.

Community members did select several images
on this board, including the following:
(4) - Traffic Calming
(2) - Raised Crosswalk
(1) - Streetscape
(1) - Planting Strips / Hanging Baskets
The following comments were attached to the
board:

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. With as little industry as we have left in this town.

The last thing we need on this street is to make
restricted truck traffic by making smaller lanes
or turns that a 43' semi trailer can't travel. In
the near future, 53' semi trailers will be coming.

2. Fix Bridge at Lenor St.

3. As far as speed bumps, the one on West
Commercial is a disaster. Everyone hates it.

The one on Humboldt it good.

4. Must maintain commercial access for all
commercial vehicles.

5. A new post office needs to be build on the
corner of Main St and West Commercial St.

The existing Post Office has hardly any parking
and 3 intersections make it dangerous.

6. Seems like all crossings in Willits need fresh
paint. In parking areas too!

7. I live a block from Commercial St. For me there
are too many cars racing down Commercial
St as well as E Valley. Would like to see some
police ticketing.

EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 32

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
This Page Left Intentionally Blank.
33 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS LEGEND S LENORE AVE

E COMMERCIAL ST

N LENORE AVE
3 E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE
1 3 2
Gateways / Transition Points
Gateways, or transition points, use a variety of
elements in the public realm to guide visitors through
the city while providing clear destination points
and wayfinding. Leading visitors through and to
each gateway along E Commercial St is one of the
foundations of this study. This wayfinding provides
clear visual keys that, through materials and
design, link key destination points along the route.

There is no apparent link between Main St and the
recreation complex located at the East end of
Commercial St. We intend to create clear visual
elements that will guide visitors down Commercial
to discover the varied amenities at its terminus.
1 S Main St and E Commercial St
2 Skunk Train Depot Railroad Crossing
3 E Commercial Recreation Complex
Recommended Gateway Elements

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 34

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS
The first gateway is located at the
intersection of S Main St and E Commercial
St. Currently, there is no indication of all of
the amenities located along E Commercial.
• Provide signage and wayfinding at the
intersection.

This gateway transitions between Section
A and Section B in our zoning diagram. It
is an important location for wayfinding the
E Commercial Recreation Complex, as
it appears only to contain industrial and
commercial establishments from this point on.
• Provide wayfinding signage and
information kiosk adjacent to the Skunk
Train parking lot.

The final gateway marks the entrance to what
we are calling the E Commercial St Recreation
Complex. This location would function to mark
as a final transition point and would contain
signage directing visitors to all the amenities
located along the remainder of E Commercial St.

The most prominent and easiest way to improve
wayfinding is to provide clear signage at each
transition. These signage elements should have
a clear and consistent visual motif that reflects
the city’s character while giving readable
instructions, directions, and information.

Willits has a unifying element and motif in the
Gateway to the Redwoods sign. It provides a
great starting point for other signage designs.

Information kiosks can be interactive or
non-interactive. In this setting, they would
provide essential information, wayfinding, and
history related to the E Commercial corridor.

Signage
1 S Main and E Commercial
2 Skunk Train Railroad Crossing
3 E Commercial St Recreation
Complex
Information Kiosk
Street view of E Commercial St looking East at the Gateway 2 Skunk Train Railroad Crossing.

Locations and
Recommendation of Elements

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
35 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
Comments on gateways and transitions
were sparse. On other boards signage was
mentioned.

Community members selected several images
on this board, including the following:
(2) - Signage
(1) - Information Kiosk
The following comment was attached to the
board:

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. New lights + Banners.

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 36

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
This Page Left Intentionally Blank.

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS
37 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

PARKING LEGEND

PARKING LOTS

SHADED PARKING
Private Parking Lot Tree Improvements
Public Parking Lot Tree Improvements
The first off-street parking lots started to appear
in American cities in the 1920s as a reaction
to a drastic increase in vehicle ownership.

Over time, parking lots have evolved to
meet the needs of motorists, cities, and
private owners. Today, while parking lots
are a necessary component of modern city
life, they can be unsightly and negatively
impact the environment and a city’s livability.

Trees are beneficial to a vibrant downtown in that
they provide visual relief, encourage pedestrian
and shopping activities, and provide shade during
the summer and fall months. Trees in parking

ADAPTIVE

USE PARKING

E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE
Elements to be Proposed

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 38

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING

ADAPTIVE USE PARKING
Adaptive-use parking lots are designed to fulfill
additional functions. For example, in many cities,
parking lots are utilized for outdoor community
events. By changing materials, scale and
increasing shade, these spaces can be functional
as parking lots and less hostile for humans.

E COMMERCIAL ST

PARKING LOT TO BE

DEVELOPED

EXISTING FILL STATION,

UNSAFE LOCATION

NEW FILL STATION

LOCATION, SAFER FOR

PUBLIC, BETTER ACCESS,

S LENORE AVE N LENORE AVE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
lots specifically offer visual comfort and shade
for visitors. Currently, most public parking lots in
Willits are either unshaded or need more shade.
• Create incentives to encourage business to
upgrade parking lots with plantings, trees,
and upgraded paving materials.
• Adopt city standards to ensure that future
parking developments achieve 70% tree
canopy coverage.

Private Parking Lot Improvements
Locations and
Recommendation of Elements
• Uniformly install trees to provide 70% tree
canopy coverage.

Public Parking Lot Improvements

NEW LOCATIONS FOR THE PARK WELL

WILL BE EXPLORED TO PROMOTE
SAFETY, ACCESS, AND USABILITY.
39 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
Comments on public and private were sparse.

On other boards signage was mentioned.

No images were selected on this board. During
discussion, it was mentioned that parking lot
trees would be a nice addition.

The following comment was attached to the
board:

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. I work at the museum and would like to see
lines painted for parking in the lot between
the museum and the library.

2. The Rec District needs to incorporate
additional parking to accommodate more
participants.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 40

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
This Page Left Intentionally Blank.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING
41 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

PARK FACILITIES LEGEND
Park Facility
1 2
1 Snider Park
Recreation Grove Park
3 Youth Fields, Dog Park, Skatepark
4 Youth Field Expansion
5 Legacy Youth Fields
6 Broaddus Creek Park
PARKS
Parks have been woven into the fabric of our
cities for thousands of years. For example,
ancient Rome had areas for recreational
activities and solace. In the Middle Ages,
European parks and gardens were created in the
walled compounds of monasteries and castles.

In 1858, the first American public park was
created by Frederick Law Olmsted in New
York City. Since the creation of Central Park,
the model of public parks has been integral
to the development of cities worldwide.

American parks continue to evolve and grow.

While once they were only seen as ornamental,
Recommended Park Elements

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

E COMMERCIAL ST E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 42

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
2 4
5 6
parks now provide critical ecological habitat,
promoting biodiversity, while also promoting
biodiversity, providing green space, and
improving the quality of our air and water.

The history of parks in Willits begins in 1906, with
the founding of Recreation Grove Park by the
Willits Women's Improvement Club. The club
purchased land along Baechtel Creek to provide
residents with an area of respite and gathering.

Since its founding, the park has grown and
improved. The dance pavilion was added in
the early 1920s, increasing the park's popularity
for gatherings and events. The WPA built a
rock amphitheater in the 1930s. After years of
disrepair, the park was revitalized in the 1980s
and continues to be a popular destination.

The sports fields, located to the East of Recreation
Grove Park, began as youth sports fields adjacent
to the Willits Rodeo Grounds. Then, in the early
1990s, Bud Snider, a city council member,
made it his mission to create a place for the
youth of Willits to gather safely and have fun.

The park’s creation was a community
effort, with donations of furnishings, gravel,
concrete, fencing, and more offered by
the community. Volunteers spent countless
hours making Snider's dream a reality in 1998.

In 2004, the skate park was constructed. In
addition, new youth fields were built on the
North side of Commercial, as well as a dog park.

The park is used year-round by residents and
visitors, with a peak during Frontier Days in July.
04 05
06 07
08 09
03 01
02 DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

E COMMERCIAL ST

WILLITS
RODEO

GROUNDS
Skate Park
Dog Park
Youth Fields

S LENORE AVE N LENORE AVE
Proposed
Disc Golf
3 43 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

NATURE PLAY
Modernizing playground equipment is essential
because it provides children with a safe and
stimulating environment to play, explore, and
learn. In addition, modern play equipment
is designed to be safe, inclusive, enhance
physical fitness and body awareness, and
promote cognitive development in children.

There are numerous advantages to including
shelters in public open spaces and parks.

Shelters protect people from the elements,
increase opportunities for socializing, and
increase the comfort of park spectators by
providing benches and tables where users
can sit comfortably while enjoying a meal,
playing games, or simply people-watching.

Nature play is unstructured, imaginative play
in natural outdoor settings such as parks and
designated open spaces. Nature play has several
advantages for kids, including improved physical

MODERN PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

PARK SHELTERS
Universal design is an approach to creating
products, environments, and systems that
people of all abilities and ages can use
without needing adaptation or specialized
design. Some advantages include increased
accessibility, cost-effectiveness, safety,
greater user convenience, and improved
visual appeal or environmental aesthetics.

UNIVERSAL DESIGN health, enhanced cognitive development, increased social skills, reduced stress and
anxiety, and better environmental awareness.

Including creek access in a public park increases
recreational and educational opportunities for
surrounding community members while providing
additional habitat for native wildlife. In addition,
creek access can enhance the park's aesthetic
appeal providing a peaceful and relaxing
environment for visitors.

CREEK ACCESS IN PARK SPACE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 44

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
Overall, an amphitheater or bandshell in a
park can provide a range of benefits, from
entertainment and community gatherings to
cultural enrichment and increased park usage.

It can also add value to the park and the
surrounding area by making it more attractive
as a destination for visitors and residents alike.

Some reasons to include a modern restroom shelter
in a public park include: improved sanitation and
hygiene, user convenience, enhanced safety,
accessibility, and protection from the environment.

Some advantages to having a bike pump track in
a community include promoting physical activity,
encouraging social interaction, enhancing
the local economy due to visitors and tourists
and can improve environmental sustainability
because pump tracks are often built using ecofriendly materials and methods. Additionally, surrounding areas can be landscaped
with native plants to promote ecological
sustainability and native ecosystem health.

PARK AMPHITHEATERS/ BANDSHELLS

MODERN RESTROOM FACILITIES

BIKE PUMP TRACK
Including basketball courts in a public park
promotes physical activity, encourages
community interaction, and provides a safe and
accessible recreational space for community
members to enjoy. In addition, the exercise,
social interaction, and community engagement
provided by the courts are all well known
to have positive effects on mental health.

BASKETBALL COURTS

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
45 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
Community gardens provide access to fresh
produce, enhance community building,
provide opportunities for educational programs,
and are well known to include multiple
therapeutic benefits, including reducing
stress and improving overall mental health.

Disc golf has grown in popularity in the
last 10 years. It is a sport in which players
throw a disc at a target using rules like golf.

Public gathering spaces provide space for
social interaction, community building, cultural
expression, and recreation and can play an
essential role in sustaining democracy. Public
gathering spaces create a venue for people
to unite and engage in political discourse
and debate. This is particularly important in
countries with democratic systems where
public opinion and participation are essential
to the functioning of the political system.

Growing in popularity during the pandemic,
pickleball is a sport that combines tennis,
badminton, and ping pong. The game is played
with a paddle and ball on a small court with a
lowered net. It is played in doubles or singles.

Like tennis, the ball is hit over the net, with the
objective of preventing your opponent’s return.

It is a low-impact sport that is easy to learn and
can be adapted to both indoor and outdoor
environments.

Providing space for multi-generational activities
bring people of different age groups together,
providing a variety of benefits, including promoting
understanding and respect, sharing knowledge
and skills, building community bonds, reducing
ageism, and promoting physical and mental health.

COMMUNITY GARDENS

DISC GOLF

GATHERING SPACES

PICKLEBALL MULTI-GENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 46

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
Snider Park has been a cornerstone of civic life
in Willits for over 100 years. It has a prominent
position on the East Commercial Street Corridor
and has daily traffic due to adjacent uses and bus
stops. Our recommendations for programmatic
improvements to Snider Park are as follows:

The youth fields, dog park, and skatepark facilities
are some of the most popular park facilities in
Willits. They represent the most modern facilities.

We recommend the following interventions:

To meet the increased demand for sports
fields, it is recommended that the city develop
this area into an additional baseball field
and improve the adjacent restroom facility.

Improvements to pedestrian circulation,
facilities, bleachers, and field surfaces.

Currently, part of the Willits Facilities Yard,
this triangle of land has access to Broaddus
Creek and could provide residents with
an area of creek access. By creating
gathering spaces and pedestrian circulation,
we can allow the residents of Willits to
enjoy the creek in a contemplative area.

Recreation Grove has a unique character with its
ample shade and forest feel. The nature of this park
gives it an air of rest and relaxation. We want to
capitalize on this character in the following ways:
1 Snider Park 3 Youth Fields, Dog Park, Skatepark
4 Youth Field Expansion
2 Recreation Grove Park
• Modernize the existing playground
structures for safety and inclusiveness.

Thematically these improvements can be
with traditional play elements or nature
play.
• Improve the safety play surfacing under
playground equipment.
• Provide shade and shelter integrated into
a new gathering area that centers around
and celebrates the centennial monument.
• Replant the trees around the perimeter of
the park to increase open space's shade
and appeal.
• Create a better pedestrian connection to
the Community Center.
• Build a modern restroom facility that better
fits the size and capacity of this park. It can
be a smaller structure than the one present.
• Retrofit the existing bathroom structure to
accommodate increased needs.
• Add a playground between the existing
ball fields for families between games or
handling multiple children at sports events.
• Install the proposed disc golf course to
increase year-round visitation to the park.
• Install pickleball courts to increase
opportunities for multi-generational activity.
• Develop a community garden to take
advantage of the ample sun in the park.
• Create improved gathering spaces for
families during sports events.
• Explore adding a pump track to the park to
complement the existing skatepark.
• Explore converting the North baseball
field to soccer while taking the following
interventions to meet baseball capacity:
• Replace the existing restroom facility with a
modern structure.
• Provide multi-generational activities that
involve gross motor play and promote
safety.
• Improve the existing shade structure with
small renovations and finish improvements.
• Create a stone amphitheater.
• Rebuild the existing circulation system,
elevating it above adjacent grades.
• Improve the existing gathering spaces
around the existing grill, pavilion, and
bandshell.
5 Legacy Youth Fields
6 Broaddus Creek Park
Locations and Recommendation of Elements

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
47 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
Community members did selected several
images on this board, including the following:
(5) - Park Shelter
(4) - Park Lighting
(3) - Modern Playground Equipment
(3) - Multi Generational Activities
(2) - Nature Play
(2) - Park Trees
(2) - Seating
(2) - Modern Restroom Facilities
(1) - Gather Spaces
(1) - Raised Crosswalk
The following comments were attached to the
board:

SNIDER PARK COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. Shade, Lighting, Modern Equipment.

2. Shade Canopies over playground equipment.

3. Shade should be a priority.

4. Shade is big! Maybe more seating.

5. Community Gardens.

6. Shade.

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 48

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
Community members did selected several
images on this board, including the following:
(7) - Modern Restroom Facilities
(4) - Park Lighting
(3) - Park Shelter
(2) - Modern Playground Equipment
(2) - Multi Generational Activities
(2) - Park Drainage
(2) - Seating
(2) - Basketball Courts
(2) - Raised Crosswalk
(1) Gathering Spaces
The following comments were attached to the
board:

RECREATION GROVE PARK COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. Rebuild the BBQ.

2. Plant new oak trees to ensure the same "feel"
for the park.

3. Should improve the existing theater / stage
area.

4. Rec Grove, I think it is one of the best things in
Willits. Improvements should be welcome for
the restrooms.

5. Shade Trees.

6. Spruce up the horseshoe area.

7. Rebuild BBQ.

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
49 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
Community members selected several images
on this board, including the following:
(10) - Disc Golf
(5) - Sports Field Lighting
(4) - Field Expansion / Improvements
(3) - Seating
(2) - Community Garden
(2) - Pump Track
(2) - Park Shelters
(2) - Modern Restroom Facilities
(1) - Basketball Court
(1) - Raised Crosswalk
The following comments were attached to the
board:

YOUTH FIELD + BASEBALL COMPLEX COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. A free 9-hole disc golf course would be
inexpensive and completely (mostly)
community driven. Utilize studies and plans
already proposed and work w/ Blue Zones
Project to engage volunteer work parties. A
free place to play will encourage families and
lower income folks to get out an enjoy outdoor
activity. We have a course in Brooktrails and
KOA - the fee is $18 per person. A free course
would open the sport to more people.

2. Develop Sport Complete that allows for
Tournaments. Willits Redwood Little League
will help with grant writing. Please follow up
with us.

3. Need a Baseball Complex and Soccer
Complex with lighting. Include facility
improvements. Improved drainage. Lighting is
essential.

4. More soccer fields.

5. Disc gold would be a great addition.

6. Community Garden would be amazing too.

7. Love the idea of a community garden added
along comm. st, but this is too far out from
neighbors to be successful. Put one @ John's
Place (empty lot).

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 50

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
This Page Left Intentionally Blank.
51 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

LIGHTING LEGEND

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
Lighting plays a crucial role in the
function of urban environments. It is
essential to safety, navigation, aesthetics,
sustainability, and health and well-being.

TLA identified opportunities for lighting
improvements across seven categories of light
layers. The light recommendations address three
goals: improving safety, visually unifying the
ECSC, and providing novel light experiences at
public spaces and gateways. The primary light
recommendations addressing safety include
streetlights, pedestrian lights, and safety lighting.

Landscape lighting and streetlights will provide
a visual anchor for the ECSC. Civic gathering
light features will highlight public functions.

Recommended Lighting Elements
1 2 Pedestrian Lights
3 Sport Field Lights
4 Parking Lot Lights
5 Landscape Lights
6 Civic Gathering Lights
Street Lights
7 Safety Lighting
2 1 5
6 7

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 52

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
2 2
3 3
4 1 5
Switching from traditional incandescent
or fluorescent bulbs to LED lights can
significantly reduce energy use, as LED
bulbs consume far less electricity while
producing the same amount of illumination.

Installing motion sensors or timers on LED
lights can reduce energy consumption by
ensuring the lights are only on when needed.

U.S. Department of Energy Studies have
shown that energy savings can range from
40-70% compared to traditional streetlights.

REDUCED ENERGY LEDS
3 DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
53 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
Using solar power for outdoor lighting can bring
numerous benefits to a city. First, it is a renewable
energy source, which can reduce a city's carbon
footprint and promote sustainability. Also, solarpowered lighting can significantly reduce energy costs, as solar-powered lights do not
require grid electricity. Because solar lights do
not have to be grid-connected, they can be
relatively easy to install and maintain, saving time
and resources. Finally, solar lights can enhance
safety and security in public spaces that are
difficult to reach with traditional power sources.

SOLAR POWERED LIGHTING
Light pollution can significantly impact wildlife,
disrupting natural behaviors such as migration
patterns, feeding, and reproduction. Also,
excessive artificial light can negatively affect
human health and degrade the aesthetic
quality of natural nightscapes. In response, many
areas have designated Dark Sky Reserves to
preserve the night sky and reduce light pollution.

Several measures can be taken to reduce
light's impact on wildlife and dark sky reserves.

Firstly, outdoor lighting should focus on reducing
glare and light spillage, using fixtures that direct
light downward and shields that limit light
emission to the intended area. Secondly, the

DARK SKY FRIENDLY LIGHTS
color temperature of outdoor lighting should
be considered, with warm white lights (around
2700K) being preferred over cooler blue lights
(over 5000K), as they have been shown to have
less impact on wildlife. Finally, motion sensors
and timers can be implemented to ensure
outdoor lighting is only used when necessary.

Lighting can be a powerful tool for highlighting
community features and creating a sense of place.

By illuminating key landmarks, buildings, or public
spaces, lighting can draw attention to important
community assets and help residents and visitors
feel more connected to their surroundings.

ARCHITECTURAL ACCENT LIGHTING
Pole banners are a visually appealing and costeffective to enhance a city's streetscape and promote community events or initiatives. Pole
banners can be customized to feature a variety
of designs, including seasonal themes, cultural
celebrations, or civic messages. In addition to
their marketing potential, pole banners can
help create a sense of community pride and
spirit. They serve as a visual reminder of the

POLE BANNERS

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 54

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS

CROSSWALK LIGHTS
Using bollards for pedestrian lights offers several
advantages over traditional pole lights. First,
Bollard lighting is significantly cheaper than
conventional pole lights because of the reduction
of material, engineering, and labor costs during
installation. Second, bollards are more compact
and can be placed closer to the pedestrian
walkway, providing more targeted and focused
lighting. Third, bollards are more durable and
resistant to damage from weather or accidents,
making them a more reliable option for lighting.

Overall, using bollards for pedestrian lights offers
a range of benefits, from increased safety and
visibility to enhanced aesthetics and sustainability.

BOLLARD PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING
city's unique identity and cultural heritage.

Crosswalk lighting is critical to pedestrian
safety. Proper lighting illuminates the crosswalk
for pedestrians. Also, it provides motorists with
an essential visual cue to help them identify
pedestrians and reduce the risk of collisions.

Properly lit crosswalks also help promote pedestrian
activity by making walking more accessible and
safe, especially for vulnerable populations like
children, older adults, and people with disabilities.

There is a wide range of products that can be
utilized at crosswalks. Options include overhead
streetlights, in-road lighting, and pedestrianscaled lighting. Traditional streetlights can be used to illuminate crosswalks. These lights
are usually mounted on poles above the
road, providing a broad illumination area. Inroadway lighting systems use lights embedded in the pavement to create a lighted crosswalk.

Typically, low-level LED lights flash or remain
steady to increase visibility. Finally, pedestrianscale lighting systems use taller poles to create a more focused area of illumination. These
lights can be mounted at or near the crosswalk
and are designed to provide pedestrians with
more lighting while reducing light pollution.

Sports fields with lighting have several benefits
that make them a worthwhile investment.

Lighting allows for extended playtime, enabling
athletes to practice and compete during early
mornings or late evenings when natural light is
insufficient. Lighting can increase the usability
and flexibility of sports fields by allowing multiple
teams to use the same space at different times.

SPORT FIELD LIGHTING

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
55 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
Landscape lighting, such as tree up-lights and
planter accent lights, provide a range of benefits
to a city, from improving aesthetics and safety
to promoting economic growth. Tree up lights
can enhance the beauty of trees and other
landscaping features in public areas, making
them more visually appealing and attractive.

By improving the appearance of public spaces,

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

LIGHTING ART
Special lighting experiences can draw users
through to key areas along the ECSC. Custom
light art can highlight gateways, special events,
and civic use spaces. Light art can enhance the
visual appeal of public spaces, making them more
attractive and inviting for residents and visitors alike.

In addition, it can create unique and memorable
experiences contributing to a city's cultural identity.

PUBLIC GATHERING LIGHTS
When lighting public gathering spaces, broad
illumination for large areas is essential. Using a
novel lighting approach to meet that need will
highlight spaces intended for public use, either
permanently or temporarily. A popular option is
bistro lights. Bistro lights create a warm and inviting atmosphere by providing a sense of scale and
intimacy to large public spaces. This encourages
people to spend time in the space, even after
dark. They can also create a festive atmosphere
for special events, such as festivals and street fairs.

Novel lighting experiences can stimulate
economic growth. Lights can attract more
people to public areas, encouraging them
to spend time and money at nearby cafes,
restaurants, and shops. This can help stimulate
local economic growth and generate more
revenue for small businesses in the area.
landscape lights can help stimulate local
businesses and promote economic growth.

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 56

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
The first step to achieving a unified
lighting experience along the ECSC
is choosing street lighting that will
extend the full length of the corridor.
• Uniformly place pole streetlights along the
entire ECSC and choose a lantern-style
pole light that reflects the character of
Willits.
• Use pole banner signage, primarily in
Sections A and C of the ECSC.
• Reduce light pollution by considering a
shielded or low intensity fixture.

Create an aesthetically pleasing and
vibrant nightscape through the use
of landscape lighting and light art.
• Add tree up lights to the existing mature
trees along the ECSC in Section A.
• Add accent lighting to raised planters as
they are installed along the ECSC.
• Highlight the three transition gateways
identified in the ECSC Community Outreach
and Program Development report with
light art. A versatile and economic
option is sidewalk projectors that can be
programmed to display many colors and
patterns.
• Provide a lighting strategy for the existing
memorials along the ECSC.

Welcome visitors into public gathering
areas with novel lighting experiences.
• Provide many available outdoor outlets for
temporary event lighting in the adaptive
use parking lots, Snider Park, and the Willits
Rodeo Grounds.
• Identify key areas along the ECSC where
dining can be lit with bistro lighting.

Additional lighting will be needed along
pedestrian-only routes. In the past,
cities traditionally utilized pole lights
to fill this need; however, many more
lighting options are available now.
• Ensure that all park paths are uniformly lit.
• Chose a standard lighting option to be
utilized on all public pedestrian paths.
• Consider reducing energy use by choosing
a lighting option that is solar and/or LED.
• Reduce installation costs by choosing a
bollard lighting system.
• Reduce light pollution by choosing an
automated light system.
1 Street Lights
2 Pedestrian Lights
5 Landscape Lights / Light Art
6 Public Gathering Lights
Locations and Recommendation of Elements
Extend the use of high-demand areas
such as soccer fields, baseball fields,
and the skatepark with field flood lights.
• Reduce energy use and light pollution by
choosing a field lighting system that is timer
based or programmable.
3 Sport Field Lights
Reduce accidents by providing lighting in
areas where different modes of traffic interact.
• Provide pedestrian-responsive lighting at all
crosswalks along the ECSC.
• Consider traffic warning lights at the
intersection of the ECSC and Humboldt for
the adjacent fire station.
7 Safety Lights
Well-lit parking lots are fundamental for public
safety. In public parking lots, use standard
pole lights to provide lighting economically.
4 Parking Lot Lights
• Consider reducing energy use by choosing
a lighting option that is solar and/or LED.
• Reduce light pollution by considering a
shielded or low-intensity fixture.

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
57 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
Community members selected several images
on this board, including the following:
(3) - Dark Sky Friendly Lights
(2) - Crosswalk Lights
(2) - Pedestrian Lighting
(1) - Pole Banners
(1) - Sport Field Lighting
A dot was placed at the sport field complex.

No comments were given, though multiple
lighting comments were included on other
boards.

LIGHTING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 58

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
This Page Left Intentionally Blank.

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
59 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

DESTINATIONS LEGEND
DESTINATIONS: CIVIC SPACES
Destinations
Civic spaces are integral to the fabric of
every city. These are spaces where everyone
can celebrate significant life events and
connect with their surrounding community,
regardless of their background or upbringing.

Civic spaces are where people come together
for public events, express their opinions, and
advocate for causes in civic spaces. These spaces
play a crucial role in a democratic society by
fostering engagement, increasing social cohesion,
and enabling people to exercise their rights.

These spaces are community centers, parks, civic
campuses, libraries, museums, and institutions.

Our goal is to celebrate these locations,
identify opportunities for improvements,

DESTINATIONS
1 1
2 2
Civic Campus Opportunity
Community Center Plaza
3 3
The Skunk Train
4 4
Library
5 Mendocino County Museum
6 Roots of Motive Power

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 60

DESTINATIONS
5 6
and enhance the character of Willits.

Civic spaces foster social connections by
providing neutral ground where people from
different backgrounds and communities
can interact with one another. These social
connections break down social barriers and
help promote a sense of unity in communities.

Civic spaces include parks, community centers,
libraries, plazas, public markets, gardens,
museums, and galleries. These spaces house the
cultural wealth of communities. They are open to
the public and provide opportunities for all people.

Civic spaces can be multi-purpose, and in
the case of rural communities, that is often
the key to creating and sustaining successful
civic destinations. By stacking purposes
and creating multi-purpose opportunities,
increasing visitation and civic involvement.

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
61 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

DESTINATIONS
Farmers markets provide community members with
access to fresh, locally grown produce, provide
support for local farmers and agriculturalists,
enhance community building, and can be
used to promote education and awareness
through offering cooking classes, workshops,
and opportunities to learn about the benefits of
organic and sustainable farming practices.

Large scale paintings or artworks have a long
history in American society, providing social
commentary, community empowerment, and
celebrations of local history and culture. They
beautify public spaces and can convert unsightly
or bland surfaces into vibrant and engaging
works of art.

Large scale paintings or artworks have a long
history in American society, providing social
commentary, community empowerment, and
celebrations of local history and culture. They
beautify public spaces and can convert unsightly
or bland surfaces into vibrant and engaging
works of art.

FARMERS MARKETS PUBLIC MURALS

PUBLIC ART

URBAN SQUARE / PUBLIC CIVIC SPACE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 62

DESTINATIONS
As designers, we are often consumed by a need
to provide something new and modern. This
influence blinds us to cultural references within
the communities we serve. At Terrain, we believe
in creating touchstones within proposed designs
that reference the history and culture of an area.

For Willits and much of the West Coast, logging
and railway history is undeniable. By referencing
these design elements, we can create grounded
spaces that profoundly relate to communities.

Public art is an integral part of a city's cultural
landscape and has numerous benefits for the
community. Some benefits include beautification,
cultural enrichment, social engagement, and
economic development. Public art can also
inspire and educate residents to think about
and engage with their surroundings in new and
meaningful ways.

HISTORICAL INFLUENCE ON DESIGN
Railroad Park - TLS Landscape Architecture
The Golden Spike - Ashland, OR
Railyard Park - Ken Smith Workshop
Railway Square - Place Laboratory

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
63 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
1 Civic Campus Opportunity
2 Community Center Plaza
3 The Skunk Train
4 Library
5 Mendocino County Museum
6 Roots of Motive Power
The civic infrastructure of Willits, comprised
of its departments and council, has a home
inside the repurposed Purity Grocery Store.

This space is shared with the Community
Center and does not provide a sense of
destination or actual "seat" for the municipality.
• Utilize the vacant lot at the corner of
Commercial and Main to create a civic
campus to house all of the departments
of the City of Willits, as well as the police
department and its fleet yard. This would
increase the productivity of the City and free
up the Community Center for other civic
functions.

Increase the library’s presence on the ECSC
with a small gathering space. In combination
with improvements to the adjacent institutions,
there is an opportunity to activate a recreation
complex along the ECSC.
• Activate the library frontage with a plaza,
new plantings, and signage.

The County Museum suffers from the same
treatment as the Library and Roots of Power;
it does not have a presence along East
Commercial. To bring in visitors, we envision
creating a row of community gathering spaces
incorporating new signage, art, and plantings
to draw in visitors.

Roots of Motive Power preserves the history of
the timber industry in Mendocino County by
protecting the antique machinery that shaped
it. Roots has over fifty different types of machines,
not counting individual units, on display around
the youth fields and along its street frontage.

There is a massive opportunity to display
this history and inventory along the East
Commercial Street corridor. By creating
a public "Motive Power Plaza" on the East
Commercial side of the museum, we could
better tell the story of the timber industry in
Mendocino. This plaza could incorporate the
existing machinery and be informed by the
forms and functions of the industry through its
overall design. This plaza could also connect to
the Skunk Train, celebrating these two railwayfocused institutions that call Willits their home.

The existing Community Center can be
repurposed to provide more space for members
of the Willits community to congregate and
interact. Moving the departments of Willits
to a new location would achieve this within
the building by freeing up those spaces for
classrooms, meeting rooms, and storage.

The Community Center's parking lot could
be converted into a more pedestrian-friendly
adaptive-use parking lot that can host events,
such as farmer's markets, conventions, and
concerts. Creating a better pedestrian
connection to City Park would also allow
events to spill over into that space, activating
Commercial Street in new and exciting ways.

Reinventing the Skunk Train's presence
on the ECSC would help to draw
visitors further down the corridor.
• Connect the Skunk Train Depot and Roots
of Motive Power with railway influenced
design elements and art.
• Improve streetscape with elements from

DESTINATIONS
Locations and Recommendation of Elements
Street, Alleys, and Crosswalk Design
Recommendations.

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
EAST COMMERCIAL ST CORRIDOR - OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT | 64 Community members selected several images
on this board, including the following:
(2) - Public Murals
(2) - Urban Square
(2) - Public Art
A dot was placed at Snider Park, with the
following comment:

DESTINATIONS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

DESTINATIONS

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Put Farmer's Market Back.
65 | TERRAIN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Thank you.

This document represents the beginning of a 2-phase project that intends to provide the City of Willits with practical solutions for the ECSC. Through public participation and staff guidance, the preceding recommendations represent the collective effort of the community to improve its built environment and character.

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDOR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
June 28, 2023
northwestern redwood company office in 1914
willits frontier days in 1934
carnegie library opening in 1915
willits auto park (recreation grove park) in 1924
willits skunk train depot in 1915
commercial street looking east in 1925 e. commercial street main street
w. commercial street

CONTEXT MAP
Area of Study

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDOR

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET RAILWAY RAILWAY

MILL CREEK

BROADDUS CREEK

BAECHTEL CREEK

BAECHTEL CREEK

AREA OF STUDY MAP

BROADDUS CREEK
14 13
10 11
12 08
09 06 07
05 04
03 02 01 23
20 24
22 21
18 16 17
15 S MAIN ST.
19 S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST

MADDEN LN

N LENORE AVE

STATE ST

N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

AREA OF STUDY AREA OF STUDY

AREA OF STUDY LEGEND
01 - NOYO Theater
02 - Willits Center for the Arts & Carnegie Library
03 - Willits Fire House #54.
04 - Snider Park
05 - City Hall
06 - Imagination Station Preschool & Toy Depot
07 - Ace Shipping & Copy
08 - The Skunk Train Depot
09 - Kemmy's Pies
10 - Historic Logging Office
11 - Sparetime Supply Distribution
12 - Mendo Mill & Lumber
13 - Mendocino College North Community Center
14 - Willits Elementary Charter School
15 - Willits Library
16 - Mendocino County Museum
17 - Roots of Motive Power
18 - Willits Public Works
19 - Recreation Grove Park
20 - Willits Rodeo Grounds
21 - Willits Youth Fields
22 - Willits Skate Park
23 - Mendocino County Public Works
24 - Baseball Overflow Fields S LENORE AVE

AREA OF STUDY
section A
INCLUDES LAND USE ::

Recreation
Civic
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
section B
INCLUDES LAND USE ::

Industrial
Commercial
Residential
Recreational
section C
INCLUDES LAND USE ::

Recreation
Civic
Industrial
Commercial

LAND USE MAP

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET EAST COMMERCIAL STREET EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK

RAILWAY

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
ea A
UDES ZONING ::
al, Commercial
and Industrial
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK

RAILWAY

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
ea A
UDES ZONING ::
al, Commercial
and Industrial
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK
north 0’
1 INCH = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

AST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK
north 0’
1 INCH = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

AST COMMERCIAL STREET

BAECHTEL CREEK
area B
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Industrial, Commercial, Residential,
and Recreational
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BROADDUS CREEK
NCH = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,
MAP 03
NCH = 300 FEET
300’ 600’ 900’ 1200’

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,
MAP 03

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

BAECHTEL CREEK
area C
INCLUDES ZONING ::

Recreation, Civic, Industrial,
and Commercial,

LAND USE MAP LEGEND

RECREATION - GREEN

CIVIC - BLUE

RESIDENTIAL - YELLOW

COMMERCIAL

INDUSTRIAL - VIOLET
N. MAIN ST.RAILROAD RAILROAD
LENORE ST. LENORE ST.

N. MAIN ST.

AREA OF STUDY AREA OF STUDY

AREA OF STUDY
• (3) Sections based on land use.
• Clear division in use space.
• Outlines where we need to focus wayfinding.

Noyo Theater
E Commercial Street
Willits Fire Station 54

EXISTING CONDITIONS // SECTION A LEGEND
1 Carnegie Library
3 6
City Hall / Police Station
Ace Copy & Shipping
4 7
Imagination Station Preschool
The Skunk Train
5 8
Imagination Station Toy Depot
Kemmy's Pies
Hazards
2 Snider Park
Missing Street Trees
*

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION A MAP
section A
1 3
4 5 6
2 EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
Bathroom
Monument
Playground
Police Station Sign
Upheaval
Upheaval
Abandoned
Curbcut
ADA Hazard

RAILROAD RAILROAD
N. MAIN ST. N. MAIN ST.
*
* *
* *
*
7 8

AREA OF STUDY AREA OF STUDY
mendo mill and lumber company
willits elementary charter school
broaddus creek bridge crossing
section B

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION B MAP

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
Missing Street Trees

EXISTING CONDITIONS // SECTION B LEGEND
1 3
5 Sparetime Supply Distribution
Mendocino College
North County Center
Willits Elementary Charter School
Hazard
2 4
6 Historic Logging Office
Mendo Mill & Lumber
Broaddus Creek
*

RAILROADN LENORE

RAILROADS LENORE
5 5
4 1 2
3 6
ADA Hazard
No Sidewalk
Abandoned
Curb Cuts
ADA Hazard
*
* *
section C
1 1
3 4 5
6 7
2 Missing Street Trees

EXISTING CONDITIONS // SECTION C LEGEND
1 7
3 4
5 Mendocino County Museum 6
Roots of Motive Power
Willits Skatepark
Willits Youth Soccer and Baseball Complex
2 Recreation Grove Park Hazard
Willits Library Practice Fields South Complex
*

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
ADA Hazard
No Sidewalk
*
Willits Public Works
Mendocino County
Public Works

EXISTING CONDITIONS

SECTION C MAP
mendocino county museum
willits library
recreation grove park
LENORE ST. LENORE ST.

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

PROJECT OVERVIEW

AREA OF STUDY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

SECTION A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

SECTION C COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

SECTION B COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. Speed limit is too fast from Ball Fields to Main Street.

2. No more liquor stores Willits is already saturated.

1. More benches in grass area at park.

2. Art + Education signage in park.

3. Improved Street Lighting on North Side of street w/ old town look.

4. Take out old tree - not healthy [near skunk train].

5. Community Garden here [at empty lot between Marin + Madden].

6. Thanks for what you do. Would love to see something happen w/ Carnegie library - even housing better than nothing.

7. More shade trees along sidewalk.

8. Diagonal intersection @ Main + Commercial.

9. Add Ace Copy, Toy Depot, Kimmy's Pie and new business at 280 E Commercial [to map].

1. Safer crossing for activities on both sides of the street.

2. We need better awareness of these cool features - wayfinding signs.

3. People do drive to fast here! Speed bumps?

4. People drive fast here - road diet.

5. Crosswalk improvements! Streetlights! would be great,

6. Disc Golf please.

7. Speed bumps by ball fields & Parks.

1. Add Kimmy's Pie, Sparetime Supply Offices + warehouse, and Mendo Mill [to map].

2. Shade trees.

3. People start driving fast here. Road Diet.

4. Widen sidewalk on North Side.

5. Left turn off Lenore onto E Commercial is a little scary.

6. Love this area.

7. I like shade trees too! Not sure about all the empty lots.

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

OVERALL MAP

E COMMERCIAL ST E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE
Destinations / Gathering Spaces

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS LEGEND
Street Crossing Improvement
Street Improvement
Gateways / Transition Points
Parking Lot Improvements
Park Facility
Lighting Improvements
• Six Categories based off staff meetings and data
collection.
• Provides a framework for recommendations and future
phasing.

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS

E COMMERCIAL ST E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE
1 2 3
4 5

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
• Add a planting strip and raised
planters.
• Provide on-street parking, bike lanes,
and traffic-calming vehicle lanes.
• Add improved street crossings that
include striping, signage, and lighting.
1 S Main St to the Skunk Train Depot
2 The Skunk Train Depot
• Improve the street frontage at the
Skunk Train Depot by adding a wider
pedestrian sidewalk with planter strips.
• Remove chainlink fence surrounding
the depot at the street.
3 ECSC Crossing at N Lenore Ave
• Add an improved crossing at this
location, including striping, signage,
and lighting.
• Consider adding median island as
pedestrian refuge and traffic director.
4 Recreation Grove + Institutions
The main concern for this stretch
of the ECSC is traffic calming.
• Relocate the existing rodeo crossing
and add a crosswalk at the proposed
dog park.
• Install speed humps and utilize speed
table crosswalks in this section of the
ECSC.
• Add a pedestrian path to connect
the youth field and skate park parking
lots.
5 Youth Fields + Rodeo
• Upgrade existing crossings with
speed tables to reduce speed in the
recreation complex.
• Install plantings in the existing
streetscape planters and the planting
areas in front of the library, museum,
and roots of power.

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Community members selected
several images on this board,
including the following:
(4) - Traffic Calming
(2) - Raised Crosswalk
(1) - Streetscape
(1) - Planting Strips / Hanging
Baskets

STREETS, ALLEYS, AND CROSSINGS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. With as little industry as we have left in this town. The last thing we need on this street is to make restricted truck traffic by making smaller lanes or turns that a 43' semi trailer can't travel. In the near future, 53' semi trailers will be coming.

2. Fix Bridge at Lenor St.

3. As far as speed bumps, the one on West Commercial is a disaster. Everyone hates it. The one on Humboldt it good.

4. Must maintain commercial access for all commercial vehicles.

5. A new post office needs to be build on the corner of Main St and West Commercial St. The existing Post Office has hardly any parking and 3 intersections make it dangerous.

6. Seems like all crossings in Willits need fresh paint. In parking areas too!

7. I live a block from Commercial St. For me there are too many cars racing down Commercial St as well as E Valley. Would like to see some police ticketing.

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS LEGEND

E COMMERCIAL ST E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LNS LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE
1 3 2
Gateways / Transition Points
• Provide signage and wayfinding at the
intersection.
• Provide signage and wayfinding at the
intersection.
• Provide wayfinding, signage, and
information kiosk adjacent to the Skunk
Train parking lot.
1 S Main and E Commercial
1 S Main St and E Commercial St
2 Skunk Train Railroad Crossing
2 Skunk Train Depot Railroad Crossing
3 E Commercial St Recreation Complex 3 E Commercial Recreation Complex

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

SIGNAGE

INFORMATION KIOSK

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. New lights + Banners.

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS
Community members selected
several images on this board,
including the following:
(2) - Signage
(1) - Information Kiosk

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING

PARKING LEGEND
Private Parking Lot Tree Improvements
Public Parking Lot Tree Improvements

PARKING LOT TO BE

DEVELOPED

ADAPTIVE

USE PARKING

EXISTING FILL STATION,

UNSAFE LOCATION

NEW FILL STATION

LOCATION, SAFER FOR

PUBLIC, BETTER ACCESS,

E COMMERCIAL ST E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
• Create incentives to encourage business to
upgrade parking lots with plantings, trees,
and upgraded paving materials.
• Adopt city standards to ensure that future
parking developments achieve 70% tree
canopy coverage.

Private Parking Lot Improvements
• Uniformly install trees to provide 70% tree
canopy coverage.

Public Parking Lot Improvements

NEW LOCATIONS FOR THE PARK WELL

WILL BE EXPLORED TO PROMOTE
SAFETY, ACCESS, AND USABILITY.

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

GATEWAYS / TRANSITION POINTS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. I work at the museum and would like to see lines painted for parking in the lot between the museum and the library.

2. The Rec District needs to incorporate additional parking to accommodate more participants.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARKING
No images were selected on
this board. During discussion, it
was mentioned that parking lot
trees would be a nice addition.

PARK FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

PARKS LEGEND
Park Facility
1 2
1 2
4 5
6 Snider Park
Recreation Grove Park
3 Youth Fields, Dog Park, Skatepark
4 Youth Field Expansion
5 Legacy Youth Fields
6 Broaddus Creek Park
04 05
06 07
08 09
03 01
02 DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

E COMMERCIAL ST

WILLITS
RODEO

GROUNDS
Skate Park
Dog Park
Youth Fields

E COMMERCIAL ST E COMMERCIAL ST

STATE ST
S MAIN ST. S MAIN ST.

S HUMBOLDT ST N HUMBOLDT ST

N MARIN ST

MADDEN LN

S LENORE AVE

N LENORE AVE
Proposed
Disc Golf
3 DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

SNIDER PARK COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

SNIDER PARK

1. Shade, Lighting, Modern
Equipment.

2. Shade Canopies over
playground equipment.

3. Shade should be a priority.

4. Shade is big! Maybe more
seating.

5. Community Gardens.

6. Shade.
1 Snider Park
• Modernize the existing playground structures
for safety and inclusiveness. Thematically
these improvements can be with traditional
play elements or nature play.
• Improve the safety play surfacing under
playground equipment.
• Provide shade and shelter integrated into a
new gathering area that centers around and
celebrates the centennial monument.
• Replant the trees around the perimeter of
the park to increase open space's shade
and appeal.
• Create a better pedestrian connection to
the Community Center.
• Build a modern restroom facility that better
fits the size and capacity of this park. It can
be a smaller structure than the one present.

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
Bathroom
Monument
Playground
Community members did selected
several images on this board, including
the following:
(5) - Park Shelter
(4) - Park Lighting
(3) - Modern Playground Equipment
(3) - Multi Generational Activities
(2) - Nature Play
(2) - Park Trees
(2) - Seating
(2) - Modern Restroom Facilities
(1) - Gather Spaces
(1) - Raised Crosswalk

RECREATION GROVE PARK COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. Rebuild the BBQ.

2. Plant new oak trees to ensure
the same "feel" for the park.

3. Should improve the existing
theater / stage area.

4. Rec Grove, I think it is one
of the best things in Willits.

Improvements should be
welcome for the restrooms.

5. Shade Trees.

6. Spruce up the horseshoe area.

7. Rebuild BBQ.

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

RECREATION GROVE PARK

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
Bathroom
Shelter
Bandshell
Playground
2 Recreation Grove Park
• Replace the existing restroom facility with a
modern structure.
• Provide multi-generational activities that
involve gross motor play and promote safety.
• Improve the existing shade structure with
small renovations and finish improvements.
• Create a stone amphitheater.
• Rebuild the existing circulation system,
elevating it above adjacent grades.
• Improve the existing gathering spaces
around the existing grill, pavilion, and
bandshell.

Community members did selected
several images on this board, including
the following:
(7) - Modern Restroom Facilities
(4) - Park Lighting
(3) - Park Shelter
(2) - Modern Playground Equipment
(2) - Multi Generational Activities
(2) - Park Drainage
(2) - Seating
(2) - Basketball Courts
(2) - Raised Crosswalk
(1) Gathering Spaces
YOUTH FIELD + BASEBALL COMPLEX COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

1. A free 9-hole disc golf course would be inexpensive and completely (mostly) community driven. Utilize studies and plans already proposed and work w/ Blue Zones Project to engage volunteer work parties. A free place to play will encourage families and lower income folks to get out an enjoy outdoor activity. We have a course in Brooktrails and KOA - the fee is $18 per person. A free course would open the sport to more people.

2. Develop Sport Complete that allows for Tournaments. Willits Redwood Little League will help with grant writing. Please follow up with us.

3. Need a Baseball Complex and Soccer Complex with lighting. Include facility improvements.

Improved drainage. Lighting is essential.

4. More soccer fields.

5. Disc gold would be a great addition.

6. Community Garden would be amazing too.

7. Love the idea of a community garden added along comm. st, but this is too far out from neighbors to be successful. Put one @ John's Place (empty lot).

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
YOUTH FIELD + BASEBALL COMPLEX
Community members selected
several images on this board,
including the following:
(10) - Disc Golf
(5) - Sports Field Lighting
(4) - Field Expansion /
Improvements
(3) - Seating
(2) - Community Garden
(2) - Pump Track
(2) - Park Shelters
(2) - Modern Restroom Facilities
(1) - Basketball Court
(1) - Raised Crosswalk
3 Youth Fields, Dog Park, Skatepark
• Retrofit the existing bathroom structure to
accommodate increased needs.
• Add a playground between the existing ball
fields for families between games or handling
multiple children at sports events.
• Install the proposed disc golf course to
increase year-round visitation to the park.
• Install pickleball courts to increase
opportunities for multi-generational activity.
• Develop a community garden to take
advantage of the ample sun in the park.
• Create improved gathering spaces for
families during sports events.
• Explore adding a pump track to the park to
complement the existing skatepark.
• Explore converting the North baseball
field to soccer while taking the following
interventions to meet baseball capacity:

EAST COMMERCIAL STREET
Bathroom
Skatepark
Bathroom
Practice
Fields

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS

OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

NODES LEGEND

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
1 2 Pedestrian Lights
3 Sport Field Lights
4 Parking Lot Lights
5 Landscape Lights
6 Civic Gathering Lights
Street Lights
7 Safety Lighting
2 2
2 3
3 4
1 5 1 5
6 7
3 DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
No comments were given, though multiple
lighting comments were included on other
boards.

LIGHTING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS
Community members selected
several images on this board,
including the following:
(3) - Dark Sky Friendly Lights
(2) - Crosswalk Lights
(2) - Pedestrian Lighting
(1) - Pole Banners
(1) - Sport Field Lighting

DESTINATIONS LEGEND
Destinations

DESTINATIONS
1 2
1 Civic Campus Opportunity
2 Community Center Plaza
3 3 The Skunk Train
4 4 Library
5 5 Mendocino County Museum
6 6 Roots of Motive Power

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
urban square farmers market public art

DESTINATIONS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

DESTINATIONS

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Put Farmer's Market Back.

Community members selected
several images on this board,
including the following:
(2) - Public Murals
(2) - Urban Square
(2) - Public Art

NEXT STEPS

NEXT STEPS - MASTER PLAN PROCESS

1. Create a comprehensive report detailing contextual issues, drivers, and opportunities (complete).

2. Acceptance of Master Plan Scope and Action Plan.

3. Establish a unified framework for the ECSC as a whole.

4. Develop Guidelines for lighting, furnishings, and wayfinding.

5. Engage with committees and community members.

Thank you.

Resolution No. 2023- June 28, 2023
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-__

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS TO ACCEPT THE EAST

COMMERCIAL STREET CORRIDOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PROGRAM

DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENT AND AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE A MASTER PLAN FOR CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION.

WHEREAS, the City of Willits maintains several facilities including the Recreation Grove Park and athletic field complexes along E. Commercial Street; and WHEREAS, besides the City’s facilities, E. Commercial Street features other public facilities and attractions including the Willits’ Branch of Mendocino County Library, the County Museum, the North Campus of Mendocino College, and Roots of Motive Power; and WHEREAS, the Willits City Council adopted Resolution 2022-29 on April 27, 2022 to earmark revenue generated by bulk water sales for operations, maintenance, and improvements to City Parks; and
WHEREAS, the Willits City Council instructed the City Manager to compose a plan to improve the functionality and aesthetics of City parks and athletic fields; and WHEREAS, the City Manager retained Terrain Landscape Architecture to produce a planning document identifying enhancement opportunities along the E. Commercial Street Corridor from its intersection with Main Street to the City’s eastern boundary; and WHEREAS, Terrain Landscape Architecture crafted a Community Outreach and Program Development Document for the E. Commercial Street Corridor containing comments gained through a May 18th public forum; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager will provide timely updates to the City Council on the creation of the Master Plan and will ensure the Plan’s final draft contains an implementation schedule with obtainable benchmarks; and
WHEREAS, the Willits City Council acted on the City Manager’s recommendation to accept the Community Outreach and Program Development Document and authorize the completion of a Master Plan for the E. Commercial Street Corridor.

NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Willits accepts the E. Commercial Street Corridor Community Outreach and Program Development Document and authorizes the City Manager to prepare a Master Plan.

The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember __________ seconded by Councilmember ____________ and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the, 28th day of June 2023, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:
______________________________
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
ATTEST: City Council of the City of Willits
____________________________

DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Item No. 8b
Meeting Date: June 18, 2023

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Brian Bender, City Manager
Agenda Title: ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A NON-BINDING MEMORANDUM OF

UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF WILLITS AND THE SHERWOOD VALLEY BAND OF POMO INDIANS REGARDING WATER SERVICE EXTENSION.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 20 min Summary of Request: The City Manager seeks the City Council to adopt the accompanying Resolution approving a Non-Binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians and the City regarding the supply of potable water.

A representative of Sherwood Valley approached staff regarding the feasibility of the City providing potable water to their fifteen-dwelling, residential development at Mitomkai Way and a proposed community center in the vicinity on a tract of land to the west side of Eastside Road.

The MOU allows both entities to explore the practicality of the request through coordination with various governmental agencies/units and pursue the necessary grant funding to support the project. The City will utilize grant funds to implement upgrades to the Water Distribution System to ensure its ability to supply current needs and needs estimated for the Sherwood Valley request.

The MOU contains a provision that allows either entity to forsake any further participation with the MOU if they consider it is in their best interest to do so.

The Water & Wastewater Committee reviewed the MOU at their May 18th meeting. The Committee found no concerns with the MOU as presented and agreed to advise the City Council to adopt.

Josh Gravier, the Tribal Administrator only requested updates to the agreement’s designated signatories.

Recommended Action: Adopt the accompanying Resolution and authorize the City Manager to sign the MOU.

Alternative(s): None recommended.

Fiscal Impact: The fiscal effect is minimal at this initial phase as the City’s commitment consists of assisting Sherwood Valley staff and their consultants as they pursue funding to support the project. The City Council must provide approval to continue with subsequent project obligations and at that time, staff will provide a thorough fiscal analysis of a proposed project.

Personnel Impact: Staff time coordinating with the various assigned to the project. 2021 Adopted Goals: This item supports Goal #1 for Public Works…Maintain and improve infrastructure systems of water, wastewater, public facilities and streets capable of managing future growth while responding to current City needs.

Reviewed by: City Manager City Attorney Assistant City Manager City Clerk Finance Director Human Resources Risk Manager
Council Action: Approved Denied Other: ________________________________________ Records: Agreement Resolution #_________ Ordinance #_________ Other _________ 1 NON-BINDING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN THE CITY OF WILLITS AND

THE SHERWOOD VALLEY BAND OF POMO INDIANS

REGARDING WATER SERVICE EXTENSION
This Non-Binding Memorandum of Understanding ("Agreement") is entered into as of ____________(the “Effective Date”), by and between the City of Willits (the "City") and the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians (the "Tribe") (referred to herein collectively as "the Parties" and as to each as a "Party"). The terms "City" and "Tribe" as used herein shall include the Parties' governmental entities, departments and officials unless otherwise stated.

RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Tribe owns land southwest of the City of Willits, which is held in federal trust, (referred to herein as the “Tribal Property”); and
WHEREAS, the Tribal Property is currently developed with a residential development and the Tribe proposes the construction of a new community center (referred to herein collectively as the “Development”); and
WHEREAS, the Development requires potable water services; and WHEREAS, the Tribe has requested potable water from the City by extending service to the Development (referred to herein as the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, both Parties agree it is in their best interests to mutually define the Development as a viable project and pursue funding opportunities to support the required infrastructure upgrades; and
WHEREAS, the City has provided services to the Tribe on other federal trust land in the past; and WHEREAS, the Mendocino County Local Agency Formation Commission (referred to herein as “LAFCO) has previously approved of the City providing water and sewer services to federal trust land west of they City; and
WHEREAS, the Tribe has agreed to initiate coordination with LAFCO in an effort to obtain approval of the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Tribe seek to work together to expand potable water services to the Development, consistent with the aims of the Project; and WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed that the Tribe will seek funding for the Project and implement the Project at its sole cost and expense; and
WHEREAS, the City will use received funding to improve its water production and distribution system to ensure its capacity to supply the Development and future community needs; and 2 WHEREAS, this MOU is not intended to create a binding agreement between the parties, but instead is simply a non-binding statement reflecting the present intentions of the Parties to proceed in good faith as described herein. Each Party has the right to terminate this MOU and to cease the intent of this MOU at any time if a Party determines that it is not to the party's advantage.

AGREEMENT

1. RECITALS
The above recitals are true and correct and incorporated into this Agreement as though stated herein.

SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE
3 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is executed by the City and the Tribe as of the Effective Date.

CITY TRIBE
City of Willits Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians
a California Municipal Corporation
By:_________________________ By:_________________________ Brian P. Bender, Hazel Ramirez,
City Manager Sherwood Valley Chairwoman
Date: _______________________ Date: _______________________

ATTEST: ATTEST:

By: ___________________________ By: ___________________________ Delores Pedersen, Buffey Bourassa,
City Clerk Tribal Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:

By ________________________________
Jim Lance, City Attorney
Resolution No. 2023- June 28, 2023
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-__
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS TO APPROVE A NONBINDING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF WILLITS AND

THE SHERWOOD VALLEY BAND OF POMO INDIANS REGARDING WATER SERVICE

EXTENSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN SAID MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

WHEREAS, the City of Willits operates a municipal water system and currently provides potable water to accounts outside its incorporation limits; and WHEREAS, the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians has a fifteen-dwelling, residential development at Mitomkai Way and is proposing a community center in the vicinity on a tract of land to the west side of Eastside Road; and
WHEREAS, the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians inquired if the City of Willits is willing and has the capacity to supply potable to the residential development and the proposed community center due to limitations with sourcing groundwater to sustain these uses; and WHEREAS, the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians agrees to pursue funding to delineate and implement the project at its sole cost and expense; and WHEREAS, the City of Willits will apply received funding to accommodate the request by upgrading its water production capacity and extend supply mains to the subject sites; and WHEREAS, both entities acknowledge this Memorandum of Understanding is nonbinding and either entity may forsake any further participation if they consider it is in their interest to do so.

NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Willits agrees it is advantageous to coordinate with the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians to mutually define a viable project and pursue funding opportunities to support the required infrastructure upgrades by approving the attached Non-Binding Memorandum of Understanding and authorizing the City Manager to sign the said MOU.

The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember __________ seconded by Councilmember ____________ and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the, 28th day of June 2023, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:
______________________________
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits
ATTEST:
_______________________________

DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Item No. 9a
Meeting Date: June 28, 2023

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director
Agenda Title: ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE JUNE REVISE BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 AND 2023-24 AS PROVIDED IN THE FOLLOWING REPORT ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT A.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 30 minutes Summary of Request: The City Council adopted the Biennial Budget for FY 2022-24 on June 27, 2022.

As part of the budget process, Departments were directed to review their budgets at specific times to identify operational issues or changes. These reviews identified potential situations having impacts on the remainder of this Fiscal Year and consequently, may need amendments at the start of the next Fiscal Year.

The proposed amendments are being brought forward for Council consideration today.

A specific appropriation is an act by which a named sum of money is set apart in the treasury and made available for the payment of claims or demands. The City may accomplish this by adopting a budget or passing an appropriations ordinance or resolution. If a proposed appropriation exceeds the amount estimated in the budget for such an expenditure, the City Council should amend the budget to allow for such an appropriation, except where the legal authority to make such amendments was delegated by the Council.

In addition to reviewing the June Revise Budget adjustment, staff also took the time to review the current state of the encumbrances that carried over from the prior year.

Recommended Action: Authorize the Director of Finance to adjust appropriations for FY 2022-23 within various accounts as incorporated in Exhibit A.

Alternative(s): Do not approve the recommended actions.

Fiscal Impact: As listed in both Exhibit A
Personnel Impact: N/A
2021 Adopted Goals: This item is inline with Goal #1 for Finance…Develop and implement a long-range Fiscal Sustainability Plan for City finances in order to promote the City’s economic health by balancing revenues and expenditures to solve systemic problems.

Reviewed by: City Manager City Attorney Assistant City Manager City Clerk Finance Director Human Resources Risk Manager
Council Action: Approved Denied Other: ________________________________________ Records: Agreement Resolution #_________ Ordinance #_________ Other _________ 1 CITY OF WILLITS

JUNE REVISION FOR THE BIENNIAL BUDGET

ECONOMIC SUMMARY
Last year the City of Willits adopted a Biennial Budget cycle that covers the Fiscal Years of 2022-23 and 2023-24. This process requires consistent review to track whether the budget is tracking with expenses during the two years. This first revise is a midpoint review of the appropriations and the tracking of the expenditures.

One component of note is an apparent mismatch of expenditures that were paid for out of the General Fund that are expenses of different Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds. During the year, as payroll is calculated, a common practice within other cities is to separate the costs of CalPERS retirement of the UAAL and Normal Cost Expenses for each actuarial plan. For the past four years, within the City of Willits, it appears that the general fund has been shouldering the burden of these costs in the General Fund. This revision will adjust those expense amounts to spread the costs to all departments.

As stated in the Cannabis Economic Report on March 8, 2023, the cannabis industry has declined over this past year resulting in a sudden drop in sales as disposable cash in not readily available within the community. This appears to have adversely affected the city’s Sales tax revenue with the
decrease in disposable cash.

Additionally, compounding this
issue were two contributing
factors, one the bypass of Highway
101 and the other the COVID-19
pandemic lockdowns. In the
figure shared on March 8, 2023, it
showed the declining gross
receipts from local businesses
from 2016 to 2019, then rise back
up, only to fall again in 2021/2022. This is our backdrop for the upcoming Fiscal year of 2023-2024. As we look toward FY 2023-2024 this economic report will also investigate how sales tax receipts are doing on a quarterly basis.

While this June Revision is not predicting a recession, it recognizes the increased risks to the budget since the economic downturn. This is also the stance of the State as it deals with an overall general state-wide reduction of sales tax, but Willits has the continued effects of the collapse of the cannabis industry. These impacts, which impacted the city quickly, are now showing signs of slowing down. However, unforeseen events could change the city’s fiscal trajectory further, as the state has itself stated there is an increased risk of a moderate recession.

REVENUES
This June Revision of the Biennial Budget will review the current budget and provide an overview of the current economic status within the City of Willits. To begin, for the General

THE CITY OF WILLITS

BIENNIAL BUDGET

JUNE REVISION
By
Manuel J. Orozco
Finance Director
Gross Receipts of Local
Businesses
Figure 1
2 Fund, current preliminary metrics continue to suggest a decline in Sales Taxes in the First Quarter of the Current Calendar year, which is the Third Quarter of the Fiscal Year of about 16.6%. With Sales Tax consisting of 49.3% of our budgeted revenues this amounts to an overall decline of 5.9% of our budget. The monetary value of this decline is estimated to be
approximately $400,000 Dollars. There are some good
metrics as the typical decline from the end of December rush to January is usually more significant, usually a 21.5% decline. As you can see from the figure to the left, First Quarter Sales Tax Receipts have increased slightly. It is unknown yet if this means we are looking at a slight
improvement that would continue in our geographical area.

However, we do appear to be hitting some volatility in
preliminary numbers coming from April and May
distributions appear to show some volatility, as indicated in the graph showing Figure 3, the driving factor being sales taxes. This could be outside influences showing a destabilization however we will not know until the June numbers come in with a reconciliation from the State for the quarter.

Measure K funding has also followed the same spikes and troughs that Sales Tax has experienced. However, the funding is still robust and began the year with an approximate pre audit balance of $1.6 million dollar balance. It shows that there is solid funding and with a transfer to the General Fund the ending balance should land at around $2 million dollars after the city audit.

EXPENSES
Additionally, staff has been due to conservative expectations, reduction of expenses, and mostly the salary savings from staff shortages we find that, upon preliminary review prior to audit, the expenses of the General Fund resulted in a decrease in estimated expenses that resulted in an over $700K reduction in planned expenditures.

With all these numbers considered, we find that the total decline of tax revenue was also offset by increases in expenses, this overall appears to require only half of the Measure K dollars originally budgeted, approximately $750,000, instead of the $1.5 million budgeted. Although this is good news budgetarily, it
does have one caveat, the Police staffing has been
stretched thin, and the City has been hiring staff to
accommodate the workload of the Police Department.

This will narrow the budget in future years and will
require revenues to begin rising within the next 2-
years to cover the cost of police services and the rest of the budget.

Finally, after review of the budget several needs were
discovered requiring adjustment of Appropriations to
ensure the coverage of expenses. Among the needs
were Increases in Appropriations for the Civic Plus
Website, adjusting appropriations for CalPERS,
increases in appropriation for the Prop 68 Shade
Structure, Professional Contracts, Vehicle costs for
police department and Emergency Appropriations
due to the damage caused by the storm events.

In response to the volatility of the revenue streams and in practice with keeping a conservative expectation of our resources the suggestion that the Finance Department will be making is to re-align the allocation of CalPERS Expenditures so that the General Fund does not unfairly carry the burden of CalPERS expenses that should be allocated to other Special Revenue Funds or Figure 2
Figure 3
3 Enterprise Funds. Additionally, Finance will review the practice of how the engineering allocations are set and may augment the methodology to directly charge each project or program the costs engineering services such as planning, review, and project inspection. This would also include a labor reimbursement methodology to apply fully loaded costs directly to the projects that are active. There is also a suggested roll of encumbrances for the Fiscal Year of 2022-23 to the Fiscal Year 2023-24.

The Finance Department seeks the following Budget changes:

CalPERS – Retirement Adjustment
Adjust Unemployment Insurance to cover cost
throughout other Departments as needed.

Prop 68 Sports Field Complex Improvements
Adjust appropriations to include an increase for shade
structure with bleachers including bathroom repairs.

Adjust appropriations and increase Federal grant
revenue to include $177,000 [450.1050.4003.406].

Police Department Vehicle Operations
This line item housed a purchase of five Police vehicles that include One (1) 2015 Dodge Charger, Two (2) 2021
Ford Explorers, One (1) 2021 Police Interceptor, and
One (1) 2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid. Although these
vehicles will be capitalized, staff believes that these expenses should be appropriated for fiscal prudence.

Total Additional appropriation for vehicles is $130,500. [100.1022.2044.000].

Civic Plus Website & APEX Server Build
Increase appropriations for Server Build in Police
Department for whole citywide operations to be
completed by APEX services and website Development to
be completed by Civic Plus. Allocate $45,000 for Server Build and $7,000 for the website [100.1007.2081.000].

Rail Trail Project Adjustment
Adjust Rail Trail Budget to move encumbrances to cover
current year costs with remainder of encumbrances
applied to FY 2023-24. In the amount of $1,257,427
[400.4000.4003.007].

Covid-19 Relief to Small Businesses
Adjust the budget to account for the movement of CDBG
funds from Fund 661 and Fund 662 to be transferred to
the new Fund 665 to facilitate the Business Loan
Program in Fund 665 $150,000 in total Appropriations.

This will include appropriation for expense in Fund 665 for loan forgiveness. Totaling approximately $270,000.

Engineering Contracts
Adjust budget for engineering contracts to allow for
$21,992.82 to stay in this years budget by encumbrance.

The second step is to move the remaining $140,000 to
the following year to cover increase in use of contracts [100.4012.2081.030].

Blosser Lane Project Adjustment
Adjust Blosser Lane Project to utilize encumbrances
meant to carry over from prior fiscal year to cover
remaining costs. A total of $1,050,999
[400.4000.4003.114].

Caltrans Downtown Willits Signage
Increase budget in Community Services to allow the
building of signage near Highway 20 for the benefits of Downtown. Allocation of $10,000
[100.1010.2081.030].

Tall Tree Contract Amendment
Increase Appropriation to amend the Tall Tree Contract
4 to Increase services for the West Mendocino. An
allocation of $ 75,000 [400.4000.4003.114].
“A balanced plan to close the shortfall.”

IN CONCLUSION
It is in the City’s best interests to adapt to new ways of doing business where we establish funding commitments into assigned fund balance line items that identify and move funding to minimize the impact of costs. Because of this there will be a staff report soon that will make a request for authority to utilize a series of account strings to set aside funding that will also provide an ongoing report from finance to show the balances of assigned balances.

Additionally, we will utilize the assigned balances in the CIP funding as well to set aside funds from prior years and build a balance that will not create such a shock to the budget when the project starts.

Resolution No. 2023-XX Page 1 of 1 June 28, 2023
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS AUTHORIZING AND

APPROVING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO ADJUST THE APPROPRIATIONS AS LISTED IN THE JUNE REVISE FOR FY 2022-23 AND FY 2023-24 WITHIN VARIOUS ACCOUNTS AS INCORPORATED IN EXHIBIT A.

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Willits adopted the FY 2022-24 Biennial Budget on June 27, 2022 and maintains the authority to amend the budget; and WHEREAS, the Departments were directed to review their budgets in conjunction with the Biennial Budget review process known as the June Revise and were asked to identify operational changes that would impact the remainder of the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the City Manager has reviewed and recommended the operational changes to be brought forward to the City Council for consideration; and WHEREAS, the restricted funds would only be used in a manner consistent with restrictions; and
WHEREAS, appropriation changes in Exhibit A would not exceed the appropriations limit for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Fiscal Years; and
WHEREAS, adjustments to the encumbrances as presented in Exhibit A are within the legal authority of the City Council to change; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Willits that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and that it does hereby authorize and approve the Finance Director to adjust appropriations for FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24 within various accounts as incorporated in both Exhibit A.

NOW, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is authorized to make any administrative adjustments necessary to process the amendments in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember ______ seconded by Councilmember ______, and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the 28th day of June, 2023 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ATTEST:

GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits

DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
1 Monthly Achievements & Activities
• Mike Smith’s Hangar #25 is well on its way. With the installation of form boards and a floor heater. The foundation pour is scheduled for June 29th. • If you recall last month, the City received a Part 16 Official Complaint filed with the FAA in Washington DC from airport tenant Paul Trexel. Therefore, the City obtained an attorney to assist with this process and in May filed for a response extension on behalf of the City, the response was extended to June 16th. After several discussions with the attorney, on June 16th the following documents were formally filed with the FAA: Answer to the Complaint and Memorandum of Law; and Affidavit of Cathy Moorhead in Support of Respondent’s Answer of Complaint.
• On the afternoon of June 16th, the City received a request for a response extension from Mr.

Trexel’s attorney, it was granted for July 7th.
• June 1st, City Manager Bender received a letter from Anderson Zeigler Law Firm in Santa Rosa on behalf of their client Mr. Trexel, regarding the Ground Lease Agreement – Airport Property between the City of Willits and Mike Smith. The attorneys’ client “respectfully requests the City immediately halt Hangar construction, unwind the Lease, and conduct CEQA review over this discretionary project”. When the Council reviewed and approved the Lease, staff questioned whether this project required a CEQA document, and it was unnecessary. Knowing the scrutiny, the facility is receiving, staff decided to file a Notice of Exemption with the County of Mendocino.

This has been completed.

Project Updates
• Thomas Gallups, Services & Facilities crew member continues to make beautification changes at the facility.
• We are proceeding with the discussion with REACH regarding the construction of their new hangar. Armstrong Consultants are assisting the City with the project. • Fuel Island is currently being installed; the project was going well until the contractors ran into an electrical issue. Therefore, we amended the contract to move forward by trenching the ground from the fuel island to the pilot’s shack for new electrical wiring. Trenching is due to start om Monday June 26th with the hopes of completing the project within the next week or so. • Finalized the contract with Garmen & Sons to relocate the spoil piles that are adjacent to the REACH complex with a start date of July 6th. The City prepared and filed a Notice of Exemption for the work.

Staffing Items
• No items to report.

Airport May 2023 | Report
2 Budget Status
• No items to report.

Focus for Next Month
• Removal of the spoil piles.
• Make the Fuel Island operational.
1 Monthly Achievements & Activities
• Issued 18 Building Permits.
• Opened 18 Code Enforcement cases (almost all are related to vegetation abatement/fire hazard). • Closed five Code Enforcement cases.
• Total of 33 active Code Enforcement cases.

Project Updates
• City Rail with Trail:
o Currently in the process of completing a license agreement with the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) to allow construction, maintenance, and operation of the project within the GRTA Right-of-way.
o Submitted applicable permits to State agencies including CDFW and RWQCB. o Working on grant application to submit to the State Coastal Conservancy to request an additional $550,000 to augment the Rail with Trail construction budget and support required mitigation work.
o Completed Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan.
o Sixty-percent design is complete. The team is working towards completing project final design.
• General Plan Land Use Element.
o Project workshop scheduled for June 21st Council Meeting. o Staff spoke at community meetings to discuss the project and promote public participation. o Currently in the process of developing Administrative Draft LUE Update. • Caltrans Clean California Local Grant.
o Submitted $2,772,000 grant request to Caltrans Clean California Local Grant Program.

Anticipate announcement of awards in September.
• Caltrans Downtown Willits Signage.
o Working with Caltrans to finalize Stand Agreement to purchase and install Downtown Willits signage at the northern Highway 101 Interchange.
o Caltrans has not identified a timeline to complete work. Update forthcoming. o Current work estimate is $6,120.
• Flood Emergency Response Plan.
o Anticipated having the consultant firm finalizing the FERP and completing staff report and environmental review pursuant to agreement with City. Due to their staffing issues, staff may need to pivot and take on these tasks to complete the project and bring FERP Final Draft to Council for consideration of adoption.
o Project is funded by a grant administered by the Department of Water Resources. • Sidewalk Ordinance
Community Development May 2023 | Report
2 o Held meeting with staff to discuss creation of a comprehensive ordinance to clarify sidewalk construction and maintenance requirements and responsibilities. o Researched ordinances from other jurisdictions.

Staffing Items
• Hired Phillip Davidson as the new Code Compliance Officer.

Budget Status
• No items to report.

Focus for Next Month
• Flood Emergency Response Plan.
o Finalize Plan and schedule for upcoming Council meeting. • General Plan LUE Update and SOI Amendment.
o Infrastructure and service needs report.
o Develop LUE administrative draft.
o Schedule 4th project Advisory Committee Meeting.
o Schedule special Council meeting to hold project workshop. o Continue to coordinate with LAFCO and Mendocino County. o Submit grant reimbursement request.
• Willits Rail with Trail Project.
o Submit grant application to State Coastal Conservancy. o Hold coordination meeting with CDFW and RWQCB.
o Develop cost estimates to complete required mitigation work. o GRTA License Agreement.
• Caltrans Downtown Willits Signage.
o Work with Finance Department to identify funding.
o Obtain project timeline.
• Sidewalk Ordinance.

Monthly Achievements & Activities
• Reviewing the Sidewalk Inventory Report.
• Utilizing the engineering on-call contracts for:
o Wastewater Discharge Permit preparation (EBA).
o Groundwater monitoring data management, analysis, and reporting (EBA). o Design of Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase II (LACO). o Assistance with grant reporting and administration for the Local Partnership Program (LACO). o Preparation of plans and specifications for the Railroad Ave Waterline Extension Project (SHN). o Preparation of plans and specifications for the Pavement Preservations Project 2023 (SHN). o Bid support, construction engineering, inspection, material testing on the West Mendocino Rehabilitation Project, Phase 1 (Tall Tree Engineering).

Project Updates
• West Mendocino Rehabilitation Project-Phase 1.
o City Council awarded the contract to Argonaut Constructors, Inc. o Preparing contractual documents.
• Pavement Preservation Project (2023).
o Design in progress. Draft plans for review expected by the end of July 2023. • Pavement Preservation Project (2024).
o Pending Local Partnership Project funding and time extension approval letter from CTC and Local Assistance.

Staffing Items
• No items to report.

Budget Status
• No items to report.

Focus for Next Month
• West Mendocino Rehabilitation Project-Phase 1: Prepare for construction. • Pavement Preservation Project 2023: Receive draft plans for review and comments. • Groundwater modeling and analysis: Execute contract amendment with EBA for modeling. • Present project list for LSR/SB 1 FY 23/24: Initiate design concept of proposed striping project. • Receive and evaluate proposals for City Hall Power Resiliency Project. • Execute contract with roofing contractor for City Hall & Arts Center Roof Repair.

Engineering May 2023 | Report
 The reformatted June Report will contain items
previously described separately in the Public
Works and Engineering Reports.

Monthly Achievements & Activities
• Completion of the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Audit and Financials. • Submitted the Trial Balance to Auditors.
• Continued development of the Chart of Accounts to accommodate the Springbrook transition. • Submitted the Water and Sewer Rate Study to the Council. • Re-engagement of the Landfill Project reconciliation to determine the level of default from the County of Mendocino which has neglected to compensate the City for post closure activities for the past twenty-years.
• Submitted the Brooktrails billing for sewer services. • Submitted “End of Year Revise” due to changes associated with reduced revenues in sales tax. • Established first Measure K Committee complete with overview of the status of revenue and the current state of the City.
• Continuing the preparation for the Springbrook implementation as noted last month.

Project Updates
• Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Audit continuing (long-term debt, current liabilities, fixed assets, compensated absences, Form 700s, and various other items submitted to auditors for review. o Currently pulling testing data for the audit for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.

Staffing Items
• Retained a sole proprietor to assist with the Springbrook implementation.

Budget Status
• Started the “End of Year Revise” to ensure adequate administrative adjustments needed to close the books for year end.

Focus for Next Month
• Continue with the processing of the FYs 2020-21 & 2021-22 Audits. o SEFA Testing for FYs 2020-21 & 2021-22.
 Expecting the need for a single audit for each year.
 GASB 68 Reporting.
 Bank Reconciliation.
• Prepare materials for the Finance Committee.
• Quarterly Budget Reports.

Finance May 2023 | Report
Monthly Achievements & Activities
May 2022 May 2023
• Calls for service (CFS) 694 671
• Cases 98 76
• Arrests 57 50
• Citations 31 97
Project Updates
• National Night Out is on August 1st and we have begun preparations for the event to further our community outreach program.
• Staff met with Frontier Days Committee members to solidify plans for the events happening during Frontier Days.

Staffing Items
• The Delta College Recruit joined the Department and is assigned administrative tasks to gain familiarity with the department and the community. The Department is waiting for the final background results.
• Santa Rosa Junior College Public Safety Academy Recruit graduated on May 24th and was sworn in on May 30th. The individual started the Patrol Field Training Program. • Accepting applications for the vacant Dispatcher position. • The Department is actively recruiting for the vacant Sergeant position. • Administrated interviews for the Community Service Officer position. No candidates received employment offers.
• The Department is encountering difficulties in attracting a suitable candidate for School Resource Officer.

Budget Status
• No items to report.

Focus for Next Month
• Preparing the newly acquired vehicles for inclusion in the operational fleet. • Continue to look to expand on our Community Outreach. • Recruitment for Sgt., SRO, and Dispatcher candidates.

Police Department May 2023 | Report
Monthly Achievements & Activities
• Order new trees to replace expired plantings or where damaged did not survive. One at the Dog Park, one at Snyder Park, and two on E. Commercial St. in front of the new Fire House.

Evaluated all street trees and new plantings as part of the close out of the CALFIRE grant that provided funding for the trees.
• Replaced several irrigation timers and sprinklers and aerated & seeded the Soccer Fields to prepare for the upcoming sports season (this is done annually). • Painted offices and the prepared the new Facilities and Services Director’s office. • Painted commercial kitchen at City Hall.
• Serviced multiple water leaks, including a valve replacement at the Senior Center on Baechtel Rd. • Approved the contract for the shade canopies at the Skate Park and Soccer Field. • Assisted with the FEMA grant applications for winter storm damage reimbursement. • Weeded and trimmed the Downtown section of Main St., refreshed chip beds, and repaired tree irrigation. Insured clear visibility for various signs.

Project Updates
• No items to report.

Staffing Items
• No items to report.

Budget Status
• The 2023 budget evaluation and project planning is underway.

Focus for Next Month
• Assistance for the Frontier Days and Hometown Events, by providing traffic control and barricades, extra street clean up and parks patrol before and after events. Much of the last part of June and the first part of July will be spent prepping and cleaning up after the multiple events hosted throughout the community.
• Finish vegetation management, with the late season rains this will be ongoing until August. • Form and pour the concrete footings for the Pin Wheel art installation at Hwy. 20 Park. • Ongoing Public Works Corp. Update yard clean up and signage. • Annual DOT, HAZMAT, and CUPA permit inspections when scheduled by the appropriate entities.

Public Works May 2023 | Report
1 Monthly Achievements & Activities
• Repaired double water service on Coast Street.
• Repaired water services on Furlong Road and Franklin Avenue. • Repaired water main leak on E. Commercial Street.
• Potholed for storm drain location on Exley Lane prior to W. Mendocino Ave. Project, Phase One. • Reconfigured combined turbidity meter connection and replaced tubing. • Replaced main electrical breaker in the Three Million Gallon Tank vault control panel. • Repaired the auto dialer for call outs at the Surface Water Treatment Plant (STWP) with assistance from Sky Valley Engineering and E&M.
• Replaced Ferric Chloride main feed line to the pump at the SWTP. • Seasonal grounds maintenance at both Water and Wastewater plants (mowing/weed eating) • Reset level control float at the Locust Street Distribution Tank to get longer pump cycles from the Meadowbrook Pump Station.
• Operators assisted on the Hi/Low List water meter re-reads for monthly billing. • Repaired sewer main between Hillside Drive and Northbrook Way. • Cleaned the sewer line at Recreation Grove in preparation for the July 4th festivities. • Annual inspection of the sewer lift station for the Rodeo Grounds office and bathrooms. • Cleaned 3,500 linear feet of sewer mainline.
• Annual spring mowing and fire abatement at various locations.

Project Updates
• Reservoir Capacity: Morris 662-acre feet and Centennial 638-acre feet equates to 100-percent of full capacity (June 19th).
• May 2023 Water Usage: SWTP: 15,531,601 MG. May 2022: 12,549,130 MG.

GWTP: 2,762,000 MG. May 2022: 6,300,000 MG.

Totals: 18,293,601 MG. May 2022: 18,849,818 MG.
• Non-Potable Water Usage [Truck Fill Station]: 103,057 K/Gals. May 2022: 298,141 K/Gals. • May 2023 Wastewater Treatment Plant Flows: 32,201,255 MG. • Completed the Main Zone’s Annual Flushing & Valve Exercising Program. Light flushing will occur in the various pressure zones.
• Delivery expected of two new service tracks (2500 pickups with cabinets) from the dealership.

Ordered in May of 2022 with one each for Water and Wastewater Programs.

Utilities May 2023 | Report
2 • Completed installation of new Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for the raw water pumps at SWTP with Watson Wells. Sky Valley Engineering is connecting the communications on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA).

Staffing Items
• No items to report.

Budget Status
• No items to report.

Focus for Next Month
• Railroad Avenue Water Main Replacement Project delayed until September due to the processing of the MOU agreements and to not to interfere with the peak of tourist season. • Replace water mainline valve on S. Main Street (Wipf Construction) scheduled at night to minimize the impacts to the Safeway Shopping Center.
• Schedule seasonal road maintenance (grading and dust control) at SWTP. • Complete the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for SWTP. • Continuation on the new Centennial Inflatable Spillway Gate Project. • Continuation on the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project, Phase II 250,000-gallon Contact Tank installation.
• Procuring the Wastewater Maintenance Shed.