111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024
Mayor Rodriguez 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, Vice Mayor Gerardo Gonzalez and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; James Conner, Interim Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
• Virginia Stranske expressed concern over the lack of lighting in the Wood Street Parking Lot. Mayor Rodrigues asked if City Manager Bender would give an update on this issue.
City Manager Bender stated that the lights in the Wood Street Parking Lot have been looked at by staff and determined would be a big expense and if Council wants to agree to it the City would budget for it.
3. Public Matters
a. City Council 2024 Committee Appointments.
Appointments will stay the same as they were in 2023.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Finance Committee Saprina Rodriguez
3rd Wednesday 9:00 am Greta Kanne
Water & Wastewater Systems Committee Gerry Gonzalez
3rd Thursday 10:00 am Larry Stranske
REGIONAL BOARDS
Gerry Gonzalez
League of California Cities / Redwood Empire Division Alternate: Larry Stranske Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) Greta Kanne
1s Monday 1:30 pm Alternate: Larry Stranske
Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC)
2nd Thursday 2-4 pm Madge Strong
Madge Strong
Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) Alternate: Gerry Gonzalez 3rd Thursday 9:00 am
Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) Saprina Rodriguez
Last Wednesday 1:30 pm
MENDOCINO COUNTY CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS
Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) Gerry Gonzalez 1s Monday 9:00 am
Mendocino County Museum Advisory Board Greta Kanne
AD HOC COMMITTEES
Gerry Gonzalez
Willits Frontier Days Advisory Committee Larry Stranske Measure K Saprina Rodriguez
Meets Quarterly Greta Kanne
Transportation Greta Kanne
4th Thursday 9:00 am Saprina Rodriguez
Sonoma Clean Power Madge Strong
1st Thursday 9:00 am
CITIZEN COMMITTEES
Gary Martin
Art in Public Spaces Margi Guhde
Meets as needed Dan Miller
Judy Fisch
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried 4/0- with Kanne absent to approve that the 2024 City Council Committee Appointments will remain the same as they were in 2023.
e. Commercial Street Master Plan (Draft) Presentation
Sam Bickel of Terrain Landscape Architecture presented a Draft Plan for the Commercial Street Master Plan. The PowerPoint presentation showed potential plans and concepts for the Commercial Street Master Plan. Mr. Bickel stated that Terrain Landscape Architecture is working with the City Manager's Office and Planning to identify and pursue grant opportunities through the Federal Government, the State and the County. These possible grant opportunities are the main focus on how to fund the improvements. Mr. Bickel stated that one of the focuses of the is to look at ways to provide safe and easy transportation for bikes, pedestrian and vehicles while maintaining access for industry and commerce in the area. Also looking at ways to improve the streets, parks as well as the public buildings such as the museum and City Hall.
Willits City Council Minutes of January 10, 2024 Page 2 of 6 During the Open House sessions about 40 citizens attended the two sessions, there were a lot of good comments on the initial designs that Terrain Landscape Architecture was able to incorporate into the draft that was presented.
Public Comment: Several members of the public expressed concerns about the project and many stated that they liked the concepts.
b. Little Lake Fire District Department - Update is available in the agenda packet. c. Mendocino County Third District Supervisor John Haschak provided the following update.
Community Development Block Grant Meeting was held on Monday, January 8, 2024, at the meeting the County expressed an interest in proposals for developments on housing. Supervisor Haschak announced that there is anyone interest in pursuing any of the Community Development Block Grants to let him or Kelly Hanson at the County know. Mayor Rodriguez asked what allowable projects would be and what benefits the City can take from it.
• County is turning the corner on finances with 10 million is cuts and revenue enhancement ideas that are being implemented. The County is attempting to have a balanced budget in June.
• The next meeting of the Great Redwood Trail is on January 25'h at 10:00 am in the Board Chambers in Ukiah.
• The County is exploring the option of another entity to run the Museum rather than the County of Mendocino.
* The Standing Committee of the General Government is asking what the Council would like the committee to be advocating for at the State of Federal Level. The first meeting of the year is on January 24th
• County applied for the Local Transportation Climate Adaptation Program Grant and was awarded twelve million dollars towards the second access route in Brooktrails and 12 million dollars for Redemeyer Road in Ukiah.
• The tax sharing agreement is coming to the Board of Supervisors on January 23rd Expressed his gratitude to the Willits Chamber of Commerce for organizing the State of the State, City and County that is happening on January 18'h at the Willits Community Center, starting at 5:30 pm.
• Mr. Haschak stated that he appreciates the monthly meetings with the City Manager and Mayor.
• Councilmember Strong stated that insurance has been a devastating problem within the County. This is a Legislative Concern she is wanting taken to the Standing Committee meeting on January 24th
d. Update - Quarterly Willits Chamber of Commerce.
Susan Mahoney - Chamber Coordinator gave the following updates:
• There were 2 mixers in October, one was at the Mendocino Community College in Willits, was a fundraiser sponsored by the North County Friends of the College on behalf of the Student Fund. This was a successful mixer, funds were raised to buy calculators and text books. The second mixer was a ribbon cutting at Flourish and Flow, a new wellness business located in the Evergreen Shopping Center in Willits.
In November the Chamber partnered with the County Museum to present Stone Stories at the Little Lake Cemetery. Research was provided by the Museum and Library which enabled them to choose a number of headstones to have volunteer actors at the headstones to reenact portions of the person's life. About sixty citizens attended the event.
• There was also a celebration recognizing the Roots Restaurant, located at Howard Hospital, as a Blue Zone Restaurant.
Willits City Council Minutes of January 10, 2024 Page 3 of 6 • Ms. Mahoney participated in a series of seminars sponsored by the Mendocino Community Foundation that focuses on the operations of non-profits. She also participated in an Economic Development Forum that was also sponsored by the Mendocino Community Foundation and was facilitated by the Economic Development & Financing Corporation.
The State of Things will be held at the Community Center starting at 5:30 p.m. This will be an opportunity for the citizens to come and meeting their representatives and hear some of the highlights of last year and possibly some of what is proposed to come up in 2024.
i. Willits Wayfinding Signage Project Update.
• Crystal Shiffbauer-Bowles presented a PowerPoint presentation on the Willits Wayfinding signage project update. Businesses would need to pin their business on google maps in order to show up on the Chamber Map. The paper map will be available and will only have the key locations in the city like the Library, Museum, the Chamber, City Hall etc. The purpose of the Wayfinding Signage Project is to make the City easier for walkers to navigate.
Item 3e was moved and presented earlier in the meeting after Item 3a in Public Matters.
e. Commercial Street Master Plan (Draft) Presentation
Presented by Sam Bickel of Terrain Landscape Architecture.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. December 13, 2023.
Councilmember Strong requested that motions include the total approved expenditure for adopted resolutions.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried 4/0 - (with Kanne absent) to approve Consent Calendar items) (a).
Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. None presented.
7.. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented
City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports - Nothing to report.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
Willits City Council Minutes of January 10, 2024 Page 4 of 6 a. Adoption a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Grant Agreement with the State Coastal Conservancy to Receive Grant Funds to Support Construction of the Willits Rail with Trail Project.
Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Strong and carried 4/0 - (with Kanne absent) to adopt Resolution No. 2023-01 approving the Grant of Funds from the State Coastal Conservancy for the Construction of the Willits Rail with Trail Project. b. Traffic Calming Measures for Pine/Maple and Laurel/North Street Intersections.
Presenting staff member: James Conner, Interim Police Chief.
Public Comment: Citizens expressed their concern for the rate of speed that drivers go on North and Laurel Streets.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Strong and carried 4/0 - (with Kanne absent) to adopt Resolution No. 2023-02 authorizing the conversion of the intersections of Pine Street with Maple Street, and Laurel Street with North Street, to four-way-stop controlled intersections.
10. Department Monthly Reports - (presented at the second meeting of each month). a. None Presented
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Strong
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) - meets January 11, 2024. * Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - meets January 11, 2024.
• Sonoma Clean Power:
Energy bills will be going up. Sonoma Clean Power has ways citizens can reduce their power use on their website. There is also a tool kit available at the library explaining different energy saving improvements citizens can do. There will be a climate bond on the ballot in November. There are lots of conversations happening now with California Legislature and the California Public Utilities Commission on how to get more infrastructure for electricity. Sonoma Clean Powers annual report is available on their website.
Councilmember Gonzalez
League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division -
Councilmember Gonzalez sits on the Public Safety Committee, next meeting is January 19, 2024.
Water/Wastewater Committee
Updates on State asking the city to allow the Little Lake Mobile Home Park connect to City water.
Mayor Rodriguez
• The community has concerns about Redwood Solid Waste and would like the council to stay on top of the concerns. Missed days, trash cans being left open after being emptied during rainy days.
Public Comment: None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of January 10, 2024 Page 5 of 6 No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
• Councilmember Strong - Willits Economic LocaLization (WELL) having a 20 year anniversary celebration on Sunday, February 4*, 4:00 pm at the WELL Office - 630 S.
Main St.
13. Closed Session Notice
a. None
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Sa extra
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Couricil for the City of Wiis
ATTEST:
Delores Pederan
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of January 10, 2024 Page 6 of 6