111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JuLY 26, 2023
Mayor Kanne called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30 p.m., in Council Chambers. The meeting was preceded by the pledge to the flag.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Madge Strong, Larry Stranske, Saprina Rodriguez, Vice Mayor Gerardo Gonzalez and Mayor Greta Kanne were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager; Davey Bowles, Building Official, Nicole Caldwell, Sewer Plant Operator; Olivia Grupp, Services and Facilities Director; Jordan Walstrom, Police Sargent; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
Mayor Kanne called for a moment of silence in honor of past, City Councilmember Victor Hanson
2. Public Communications
• Community member Mark Walker expressed concern for the condition of the street at the railroad crossing on East San Francisco Street.
3. Public Matters
a. Little Lake Fire Protection District - Update is available in the agenda packet. b. Quarterly Update by the Willits Chamber of Commerce - presented by Chamber Coordinator Susan Mahoney.
• Reported on the two chamber mixers that were held during the last three months, one sponsored by Rotary Club and the other sponsored by the Lions Club. • This year's 41s Annual Car and Bike show on Memorial Weekend was a great success.
The show brought together a total of 120 cars and bikes. • June brought planning for a series of three Art Walks as well as participation in Frontier Days and the Hometown Celebration to promote buying locally and supporting our town. • The Chambers Website has been updated and is now able to accept event postings to promote other organizations. The final step in updating the website is to list members by categories with hyperlinks to represent them to the public.
Ms. Mahoney has participated in several committees including the Walkable Willits Signage Group, this group is represented by Blue Zones, Rotary, Sparetime Supply, the County Museum, Willits Art Center and the Chamber of Commerce. The group has developed a digital sign of Willits, the project is now at the point of hiring a graphic designer, out of the bids received, the group has selected Braggadoon Signs and Graphics. The map will include all of Willits. The signage will be available for all to use as a marketing tool.
• Harvest Moon is planned for Sept 30t* from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm, the plan is to close Main Street for the event.
• The summer has been busy with visitor inquiries and plans for future events still to come this year.
Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
City Council Minutes:
June 21,2023.
ii. June 28, 2023
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items) (a).
b. Designate councilmembers as the League of California Cities 2023 Annual Conference Voting Delegate and Alternate(s).
Public Comment: None presented
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Rodriguez and carried unanimously to name Councilmember Gonzalez as the Voting Delegate and Councilmember Stranske as the Alternate Voting Delegate at the League of California Cities 2023 Annual Conference.
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. None presented
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations+
a. Willits Frontier Days Ad Hoc Advisory Committee.
Mayor Kanne to appoint, with Council confirmation, less than a majority of the Council to serve on the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee. The Ad Hoc Advisory Committee will hear and discuss issues of concern expressed by the Willits Frontier Days Board.
BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR a Willits Frontier Days Advisory Ad Hoc Committee was formed, appointing Councilmember Gonzalez and Stranske.
Public Comment: Community member Mark Walker spoke in support of the Groundwater Flow Model.
b. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Proposal from EBA Engineering to Create a Groundwater Flow Model for the Little Lake Valley Groundwater Basin.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried 4/1 (with Strong dissenting) to adopt Resolution No. 2023-45 to review and accept the proposal from EBA Engineering to create a groundwater flow model for the Little Lake Valley Groundwater Basin.
Willits City Council Minutes of July 26, 2023 Page 2 of 7 After further discussion, Mayor Kanne requested that a plan to monitor the potential movement of arsenic in the wells be brought back for discussion at a future council meeting.
c. Verbal Reports - No Action.
Responses to public inquiries recently received by the City Council. * City Manager Bender gave updates on the status of the railroad cars on Railroad Avenue. California Western Railroad recognizes that it is not in their best interest to keep the rail cars there. They are looking into options to relocate or remove what they can. The city will be requesting a set schedule, from Western Railroad, on what to expect. They City still has the ability to pursue either federal or legal action through the district court through the nuisance abatement process.
Davey Bowles gave an update on weed abatement activities throughout the city.
Seventeen letters were sent to residents and there are currently four that have not yet responded to the letters.
• There will be a public forum related to shoplifting for the local Business Owners hosted by the Willits Chamber of Commerce, Willits Police Department and the City on August 2, at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall. This forum is open to all members of the public.
" Wilits Police Department will respond to barking dog complaints if they are not on other calls.
• August 1st, Willits Police Department will be having their first National Night Out Event at Snyder Park from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday August 6, 2023, will be Large Item Dump Collection Day at Solid Waste of Willits.
Mayor Kanne called for a recess at 8:30 p.m. and returned to open session at 8:38pm.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt a Resolution Awarding a Contract to BAS Roofing, Inc. for the Replacement of Roofs at City Hall and the Art Center, for a Total Amount Not to Exceed of $334,370 and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Contract Documents and Change Orders up to 10-Percent of the Total Amount of Construction.
Presenting staff member: Davey Bowles, Building Official.
Public Comment: Mark Walker spoke in support of the project.
Moved by Stranske/seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-46 awarding a contract to BAS Roofing, Inc. for roof replacements at City Hall and the Art Center for a total amount not to exceed of $334,370 and authorize the City Manager to execute contract documents and change orders up to 10-percent of the total cumulative amount of construction. b. Adopt a Resolution Awarding a Contract to Redwood Electrical Service, for the City Hall Power Resiliency Project a 20-KW Photovoltaic System with Battery Backup, for a Total Amount not to Exceed of $148,163.93 and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Contract Documents and Change Orders up to 15-Percent of the Total Amount of Construction.
Presenting staff member: Davey Bowles, Building Official.
Public Comment: None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of July 26, 2023 Page 3 of 7 Moved by Strong/seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-47 awarding a contract to Redwood Electrical Service for installing a 20-Kw Photovoltaic System with Battery Backup for a total amount not to exceed of $148,163.93 and authorize the City Manager to execute contract documents and change orders up to 15-percent of the total cumulative amount of construction. c. Adopt a Resolution Awarding a Contract to Precision Concrete Cutting for the Sidewalk Remediation Project.
Presenting staff member: Olivia Grupp, Services & Facilities Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved By Gonzalez/seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-47 awarding a construction contract to Precision Concrete Cutting, of Burlingame, California, in an amount not to exceed $35,088, for the sidewalk remediation project.
This Item was moved and presented earlier in the meeting after Consent Calendar.
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 6:43PM
d. NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING - Proposed Water and Wastewater Rate Increases.
Presentation by Erik Helgeson of Bartle Wells Associates.
Erik Helgeson of Bartle Wells Associates presented a Power Point presentation on the Proposed Water and Wastewater Rate Increases.
e. Discussion and Possible Action by Accepting the Water and Wastewater Rate Study Report and Adopting a Resolution Directing Staff to Proceed with Adjustments to the Water and Wastewater Service Charges Pursuant to Proposition 218.
Presenting staff member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director.
Public Comment: Community members spoke in support of the of the Rate Study and the Water and Wastewater Service Charges. The city received two letters in opposition to the Rate Increase of the Water and Wastewater Services Charges.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:47 P.M.
Moved By Rodriguez/seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-44 Adopting the proposed Proposition 218 Water and Wastewater Rate Increases, Effective August 1, 2023, with the contingency that after year two then each year going forward there will be a council presentation to assess that the money is being spent at the rate that was expected to confirm that rates are not raised more than needed and that the city is providing the services that are needed.
10. Department Monthly Reports
Airport - No further comments.
Airport Manager Moorhead invited the council to visit the airport to see the new hanger that is being built.
b. Community Development Department
• Rail Trail construction will start in the Spring of 2024. Working with State agencies to obtain the proper permits and then complete the design work. Mitigation work will Willits City Council Minutes of July 26, 2023 Page 4 of 7 cost $300-$500 thousand to complete, this is not eligible to be included in the Active Transportation Program Grant (ATP), the Community Development Team expects to have an alternate source of grant funding in place to support the mitigation effort. " The city is seeking an extension of time from the State to complete the General Plan Land Use Element. The expectation is to have a final product to council in the spring of 2024.
• The city has successfully executed a standard agreement with the Housing and Community Development will be setting up a meeting with the consultants next week to begin setting up program goals and creating the housing rehab program for the city.
• Staff will be bringing the close out report for the Community Development Block Grant Business Loan to council, we successfully allocated $470,000, which was loaned to local businesses, all the loans have been forgiven and the program is being closed out.
• The staff is looking to define the roles of responsibility of the City and property owners in the Sidewalk Ordinance.
c. Finance
* Still moving forward with the Springbrook implementation. d. Police Department
Nothing further.
e. Services and Facilities
The start date for the West Mendocino Rehabilitation Project is delayed and is expected to start on August 21, 2023, the first day of school. Staff is waiting on submittals from Argonaut Contractors to make sure they phase the project appropriately to not block or hinder the school, especially during the first week of school.
• The flag on the Willits Arch became tangled in the pully system and has been removed. Paramount Signs will be repairing the pully system and re-hanging the The excavation and forming of the footing for the Highway 20 Pin Wheel Project has begun.
f. Utilities
The goal of the Sewer Department is to clean all 9,540 feet of sewer line by the end of the year.
• The Elias well upgrade pump installation was started today and should be complete tomorrow.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC)- Next meeting is Late August.
Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA)- Next meeting is Late August.
Sonoma Clean Power - Next meeting August 3, 2023.
Councilmember Rodriguez
Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)-
Willits City Council Minutes of July 26, 2023 Page 5 of 7 > Dan Gjerde announced during the MTA meeting that the Willts Library has an evergreen corner, this allows members of the community to come to the library and learn more about how to become green.
• Students at Mendocino College ride MTA Busses for free within Mendocino with their student school ID. Students may ride the bus to Santa Rosa with their student ID and an additional $5.
• Narrowed down locations for the MTA Transit Center are Mason Street, Perkins Street, and the location behind Kohls. The location behind Kohls has received the most support from the community feedback.
• On June 11, 2023, MTA received a letter from Mendocino Council of Governments • (MCOG), stating that due to reduction in sales tax that MTA would receive $600,000 less in funding. After a meeting with MTA's executive directors and two members of the MCOG's management team it was determined that MTA would have to spend their Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding.
Mendocino County appears to have been more impacted than the other surrounding counties when it comes to sales tax received. MTA is looking for ways to ensure that this does not happen again. MCOG has reserve funds that are for MTA, but there is a policy that MTA cannot access these funds until the Fall. MTA is seeking an alternative policy to avoid this situation from happening in the future. • Finance Committee Meeting
• Discussed financing procedures.
Councilmember Stranske
• Water/Wastewater Committee
• There will be a new Maintenance Shed built at the sewer plant to store heavy equipment to protect from the weather changes. The finishing pond at the waste- water plant will need to be dredged.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Meets on August 18, 2023. • Water/Wastewater Committee
• The Maintenance Shed at the Sewer Plant will be purchased through a cooperative bidding process and will be brought back to council in the near future.
The foundation pad will be built separately from the Shed. • Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) - Meets on August 7, 2023. • Mendocino County Museum -
• Reviewed their budget.
• Discovered a painting that they did not know they had, it was painted by Al Sondag in 1939.
> There was discussion about changing bylaws due to lack of a quorum for their meeting. Changing the number of required members would allow for a small quorum to approve items in their agenda.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Gonzalez - Attended the Compete Streets Forum at the Community Center. Was very impressed with Taylor Perry, City Planner, and the background work that she did for the forum.
• Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager - Debie Tonelli, Dispatch Center Supervisor is Retiring after working with the Willits Police Department for 39 years, her last day is August 7, 2023, Retirement Party at the Broiler on August 19. Ms. Stevenson will inform the council when her final sign off will be.
Willits City Council Minutes of July 26, 2023 Page 6 of 7
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willis
ATTEST:
Dalenes Pedera
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of July 26, 2023 Page 7 of 7