111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 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 Larry Stranske, Saprina Rodriguez, Vice Mayor Gerardo Gonzalez, and Mayor Greta Kanne were present. Councilmember Madge Strong (Absent) Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent: Olivia Grupp, Director of Services and Facilities; Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager; Kenan O'Shea, Streets and Parks Superintendent; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
None
3. Public Matters
a. The Great Redwood Trail Master Plan Presentation
Louisa Morris of the State Coastal Conservancy, Project Manager of the Great Redwood Trail presented a PowerPoint Presentation of the Great Redwood Trail Master Plan. • When complete there will be over 25,000 miles in the United States with over 1,000 miles in California with a 316-mile trail connecting San Francisco to Humbolt Bay. 28 miles are currently complete in California. These Rail Trails support recreation, economic development, tourism and environmental restoration in towns and rural areas.
Findings of the economic impact report. Economic benefits for Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt Counties are estimated to be $102,568,000 annually with Mendocino County estimated to be $49,181,000 annually.
• Recreation, Tourism, Health, and Transportation were all listed as benefits, for Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt Counties, in the Master Plan. b. Little Lake Fire District Department.
There was no representative from Little Lake Fire District available to attend, the department report is available in the agenda packet.
Mayor Kanne read a memo reminding the public that fireworks are illegal throughout the County of Mendocino.
Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. June 14,2023.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried 4/0 - (with Strong absent) to approve Consent Calendar items) (a).
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Business License Activity Report - May 2023
b. Building Activity Report - February 2023.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
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.
Councilmember Rodriguez recused herself, she owns a business along the East Commercial Street Corridor, she left the Council Chambers during the discussion section of the agenda item. She returned after the vote.
Sam Bickle of Terrain Landscape Architecture presented a PowerPoint presentation of the East Commercial Street Corridor Outreach and Program Development Document.
Public Comment: Louisa Morris of the Great Redwood Trail asked if there was going to be any signage directing travelers to the Great Redwood Trail in the East Commercial Street Corridor Project? Sam Bickle responded that there are multiple projects going on coinciding with Terrain's efforts and they do want to engage with the other project coordinators to make sure that whatever Terrain does incorporates their efforts into the final master plan.
Moved By Gonzalez/Seconded by Kanne and carried 2/1, (with Stranske dissenting, Rodriguez recused and Strong absent) to adopt Resolution No. 2023-42 accepting the East Commercial Street Corridor Community Outreach and Program Development Document and authorize City Manager to prepare a master plan for city council adoption.
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.
Public Comment: None presented
(MOTION FAILED 2/2)
Motion to adopt a Resolution approving a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Willits and the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians regarding water service extension and authorizing the City Manager to sign said MOU.
c. Verbal Reports -
The Blue Zones group will be partnering with the city to hold a Complete Streets Workshop on July 21s' from 8:00am - 4:30pm at the Wilits Community Center. • City Manager Bender commended the actions of all City staff and Wipf Construction during the water line breaks that took place on Thursday June 22nd.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 28, 2023 Page 2 of 4 * Encouraged the community to attend, enjoy, and be safe at this year Hometown Celebration.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt a Resolution to Approve the June Revise Budget Adjustment for Fiscal Years 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Presenting staff member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried 4/0 (with Strong absent) to adopt Resolution No. 2023-43 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.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport
• Airport Manager Moorhead wanted to reassure the council that the city is working through the recent challenges at the airport and to have faith that it would all turn out the way it should.
b. Community Development Department
• Community Development Director Duley reported that there were a significant number of Code Enforcement cases opened last month, most of them are related to vegetation abatement fire hazard matters, with many of them already being resolved. Continued code enforcement actions are being taken for the few property owners that still have work to do.
• The Community Development Department has been working to finish up the submission of the Caltrans Clean California Local Grant. Bathrooms, Basketball Courts, Public Art, a Pavilion to Support the Farmers Market are just some of the uses identified for that grant. Ultimately came out to $2.7 million dollars in estimated improvements for the city. This is a very highly competitive grant series, due to the fact that the council has vested in the Community Development Department with a full staff, they have put together an application, where we are competing with Los Angeles, San Diego all big cities across the state, the department has put together an application that meets the intent of the grant. As Caltrans is reviewing all the submitted applications, ours has an opportunity to shine. The City hopefully find out whether we were awarded the grant in September.
With the help of Finance Director Orozco, they identified funding for the downtown Caltrans signage and submitted the application to Caltrans.
Engineering
In the future the Services and Facility reports will include both Public Works and Engineering Departments.
d. Finance
Auditors will be onsite in mid-July.
e. Police Department
• Due to the upcoming Hometown Celebration our Main Street will be closed from Wood St. to Commercial St. with a detour to North Street rounding back to Commercial St.
• The Department will have a booth at the celebration and will have giveaways for kids.
• No parking signs will be going up on Friday and completed on Saturday in preparation for the 4 of July parade.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 28, 2023 Page 3 of 4 f. Public Works
• Kenan O'Shea, Streets and Parks Superintendent added that the detour route for the Hometown Celebration would include a detour on Humbolt Street as well. Being that this is the first attempt at closing Main Street, there are kinks to work out, but we feel that it would be for the betterment of the community if we can make this happen and it will open the door for further events in the future. He asked that everyone bear with us while we work through this process and look for better checks and balances in the future.
g. Utilities
• Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent reported that the new Chevy trucks will be delivered on June 29th ', after waiting for over a year.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Rodriguez
• Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)- Discussions included what the vision is for MTA.
How can eco-friendly buses be purchased.
MTA is facing a potential 5% reduction in their budget. Looking into what services may or may not be cut. Should MTA oversee providing the services to other areas of the county, if 5% is taken away from MTA and given to other organizations, will those organizations be able to provide the transportation services? In the middle of Labor negotiations, working on transit plan, actively working on making sure MTA can meet zero emissions goals that are being set forth by the state.
Mayor Kanne
• Finance Committee - Finance Director Orozco reported on upcoming audits and policies he would like to enact.
• Transportation - Lenore Street project is happening over the summer. Happy that the input from the Council has been implemented into the project.
Public Comment: None presented
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
* Councilmember Rodriguez - The Arts Walk will be taking place on Saturday, July 1s' on Commercial Street. A subsequent event will take place on August 5th.
13. Closed Session Notice
None
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Anta lu
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Wilits
ATTEST:
Debores Pedess
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of June 28, 2023 Page 4 of 4