111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
WILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 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; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager; Olivia Grupp, Services Facilities Director; Fabian Lizarraga, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
• Brittney Ponikvar-Dolney Willits Police Officer Association (WPOA) President - Read a statement expressing a vote of no confidence of City Manager Bender by the Willits Police Officer Association.
Mark Walker brought up concerns about the speed of vehicles on Central Ave. • Larry Aguilera inquired about the air raid alarms that the city used to have, and asked why they are no longer used.
3. Public Matters
a. Little Lake Fire Protection District - Update is available in the agenda packet.
Public Comment: None presented.
b. Presentation and Discussion of the Caltrans Willits Bicycle Safety Enhancement and Road Diet Project on State Highway 20.
Andreas Krause, Project Sponsor of Caltrans presented a Power Point on the Project.
Public Comment: Citizens of the community spoke in opposition to and in favor of the Caltrans Willits Bicycle Safety Enhancement and Road Diet Project. Concerns that were expressed were: Increase in traffic, more data needed, study was done during Covid and included counts of vehicles that go to the north side of town, not enough notice was given to the City and its citizens.
The council expressed their concern over the lack of communication that has taken place.
They all would have liked this to have been started six months ago.
Council gave direction to City Manager Bender bring the Willits Bicycle Safety Enhancement and Road Diet back to the next City Council meeting of September 13, 2023, for formal
Mayor Kanne called for a recess at 8:26 pm. The meeting was reconvened at 8:35 pm.
Mayor Kanne opened the Public Hearing at 8:35 pm.
c. PUBLIC HEARING - Regarding the Closeout of the State Community Development Block Grant that Funded the City of Willits Business Assistance Loan Program. - Dusty Duley, Community Development Director gave a report of what was accomplished with the State Community Development Block Grant. The City of Willits was awarded $541,551 in grant funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, this was distributed through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, $470,000 was activity funds, this was used to assist small businesses within Willits. $71,000 was used for grant administration. Of the thirteen businesses that received loans through the program, the loan helped create six jobs and retain seventy-three in our community. The State allowed the city to set the loans up to be 100% forgiven provided that the businesses retained their employees for the three months after the loan was awarded. All businesses that received loans had them forgiven.
Mayor Kanne thanked Community Development Director Duley for bringing this grant money to the City of Willits for the benefit of our business community.
Public Comment: None presented.
Mayor Kanne closed the Public Hearing at 8:40 pm.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
City Council Minutes:
i. August 9, 2023.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously 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. None presented
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations+
a. Resolution to Terminate the Declaration of a Local Emergency for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic.
Public Comment: None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of August 23, 2023 Page 2 of 5 Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Rodriguez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-52 terminating the declaration of a local emergency for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic effective August 23, 2023. b. Verbal Reports - None presented
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Presentation of Prospective Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation (RCHDC), Haehl Creek Village Housing Project at 275 and 285 Margie Drive.
Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director.
Daniel MacEntire, Chief Operations Officer of RCHDC gave a Power Point presentation on the project.
Public Comment: Mark Walker asked if there would be any kind of onsite security at the housing complex. Daniel MacEntire commented that RCHDC provides onsite security cameras. RCHDC cannot guarantee that they will be free of problems, but they do address them.
b. Adoption of a Resolution Establishing the Appropriations Limit for the 2022-23 Fiscal Year, Pursuant to Article XIIIB of the Constitution of the State of California.
Presenting staff member: Manuel J. Orozco, Finance Director/City Treasurer.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-53 approving the appropriations limit for fiscal year 2022-23 pursuant to Article XIII B of the Constitution of the State of California. c. Adoption of Resolution Establishing the Appropriations Limit for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year, Pursuant to Article XIIIB of the Constitution of the State of California.
Presenting staff member: Manuel J. Orozco, Finance Director/City Treasurer.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-54 approving the appropriations limit for fiscal year 2023-24 pursuant to Article XIII B of the Constitution of the State of California.
10. Department Monthly Reports
a. Airport - No further comments.
Mayor Kanne expressed her appreciation of the mentioning of all Fire Extinguishers being inspected at the Airport. Many forget how much it takes to maintain facilities. She expressed her thanks for the inclusion of even the small details. b. Community Development Department - No further comments. c. Engineering - No further comments.
c. Finance - No further comments.
d. Police Department
Willits City Council Minutes of August 23, 2023 Page 3 of 5 Police Chief Lizarraga announced that he will be leaving his position effective September 7, 2023. Chief Lizarraga wanted to let the community know it has been a privilege to lead the men and women of this Police Department. It has been a pleasure working with the City Department Heads. Chief Lizarraga thanked the community and everyone that supported the members of the Willits Police Department. e. Services and Facilities - The W. Mendocino Project is waiting for supplies to be received in order to begin.
f. Utilities - Olivia Grupp, Services and Facilities Director updated the council on the Maintenance Equipment Storage Facility at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mayor Kanne announced that the current Reservoir Capacity is at 90%. This shows a decrease in our water usage compared to July of 2022.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) - Met but had nothing to report
• Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Did not meet due to an error on the agenda when it was posted. Next meeting will be September 14, 2023. • Sonoma Clean Power - Next meeting is on October 5, 2023.
Councilmember Rodriguez
• Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Attended because the meeting was about mobility solutions with regards to Brooktrails, Hopland, Covelo, and Laytonville.
Councilmember Stranske
Water/Wastewater Committee - Reported on the Equipment Maintenance Building at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division
• The Fortuna Police Department gave a presentation on their K9 Unit. The K9's are being trained in Fentanyl Detection.
> There was a presentation by RWE on the Redwood Coast Offshore Wind Farm. • Presentation on Wildfire impacts on the California Insurance Market, from Yana Valachovic, County Director - Forest Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. • Water/Wastewater Committee
• Water Quality Self-Diagnostic Tool was discussed at the committee meeting and how it will help customers check if brown water is on their side of the meter or if it is on the City's side.
Public Comment: None presented
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong - Art Walk on Saturday September 2, 2023. • Councilmember Gonzalez mentioned School is back in session and asked the community to slow down.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of August 23, 2023 Page 4 of 5
14. Adjournment
Mayor Kanne declared the meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
Alta Kenne
GRETA KANNE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Deferes Pedeser
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of August 23, 2023 Page 5 of 5