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WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 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, Greta Kanne, 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; Davey Bowles, Building Official; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
ublic Communicatior
• one oresente
Public Matters
None
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. January 10, 2024
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously 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. Business License Activity Report - December 2023.
b. Building Activity Report - December 2023.
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations
. Verbal Reports (Updates) - No Action
County Museum.
City Manager Bender reported that County Supervisors are trying to decide how to proceed with operational parameters of the Mendocino County Museum. The Board
of Supervisors have formed an Ad Hoc committee, with hopes of addressing concerns of what to do with the museum what is in the best interest of the public? The city is involved and attempting to be part of these discussions as they are going to impact the County and the Willits community. The Board of Supervisors are working with the museum staff, the Mendocino Community Foundation (overseers of the Bittenbender Endowment Fund). There is a proposal being explored of a non- profit community based foundation taking over the overseeing of the museum. The county has not presented a clear plan as to what the direction will be. This will come back before to a future meeting as the City Council will need to provide directions and take action. There needs to be a clear message to the Board of Supervisors of the Councils intent on what the future is for the facility. This item is slated to be on the agenda at the Board of Supervisors meeting on February 6.
Council member Kanne added - she believes that there are supervisors looking to cut funding to the museum, it is not known if it will be partially or completely.
Museum Staff and Advisory Board are very concerned. Supervisory Gjerde has commented that the City of Willits needs to step up and say what it is going to do to help preserve the Museum. Discussion proposed by Museum staff is to look at a new model organization for the museum, this has been done by museums all across the state and country to move out of the government model.
This gives a lot more flexibility to the museum entities to raise funds and to increase museum programming. To move into a differently structured model could be a win for the museum and the county. Councilmember Kanne's concern that in the attempt to save money the County Board of Supervisors are asking the museum to cut their budget for the current fiscal year and will ask for additional cuts for the next fiscal year. Councilmember Kanne asked, at the meeting she and Mr. Bender attended, that the Supervisors come back with a strong statement asking for a continued commitment from the County to fund the museum wholly while they figure out how to transition into a new structure.
Mayor Rodriguez added that for five years the Museum has been on the chopping block with the County because of budget difficulties. It is not fair for the county to assume that a non-profit partner is going to assume the financial liability, and that saying the City of Willits should step up, the City is making a contribution, the museum is on City Property as well as other support services that are not being acknowledged by the County.
Councilmember Strong asked for the community members of Mendocino County that support the museum, to send a letter of support to the County and or contact your Supervisor and express your support.
ii. Master Tax Sharing Agreement (Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Committee).
County Attorney and Ukiah's Attorney are working on the agreement, as it was configured it, over a year ago, to make sure it meets the needs of the City of Willits intent for annexation. The holdup is the untangling of the Ukiah Valley development without the county loosing too much tax revenue generating properties and making sure Ukiah does not have a windfall. The current goal is to have a final document to the Board of Supervisors by the end of February for a presentation and possibly adoption. Once adopted the document will be routed to the other jurisdictions of the County by March or April of 2024. ili. 2023 Pavement Preservation Project (Lenore/Boscabelle).
City Manager Bender reported that the 2023 Pavement Preservation Project will start in roughly two months. The city's intent is to get information out in advance Willits City Council Minutes of January 24, 2024 Page 2 of 6 to the community and residents to minimize impacts that will be experienced during construction. S. Lenore and Boscabelle will be subject to 37,000 sq. ft. of pavement rehabilitation, approximately 2,000 sq. ft. of sidewalk replacement, ADA pedestrian ramps will be installed, and addressing some driveway aprons.
The other phase of the project is approximately 11,000 sq. ft. of dig outs on Baechtel Road.
Councilmember Stranske asked about what is going to happen to the red curbing? City Manager Bender responded that the project is construction focused and that later on the parking configuration will be reassessed.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt a Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Community Development Services for Assistance with Implementing a Permanent Local Housing Program for an Amount not to Exceed $35,263 through Grant Reimbursement.
Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt resolution No. 2023-03 approving a professional services agreement with Community Development Services for assistance with implementing a Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program for an amount not to exceed $35,263 and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
b. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Construction of the City Hall and Art Center Roof Replacement Project, Project #2023-02, and Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion. The Completed Project Totaled $333,819.18.
Presenting staff member: Davey Bowles, Building Official.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Kanne/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-04 accepting construction of the city hall and art center roof replacement project, project no. 2023-02 and authorizing filing the Notice of Completion. c. Adopt a Resolution Accepting the Construction of the City Hall Power Resiliency Project, Project #2023-05, and Authorizing the Filing of the Notice of Completion. The Completed Project Totaled $163,463.
Presenting staff member: Davey Bowles, Building Official.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Kanne/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2023-05 accepting construction of the City Hall Power Resiliency Project, Project No. 2023-05 and authorizing filing the Notice of Completion. d. Request for Proposal for Energy Services Including On-Site Solar Photovoltaic System Design, Engineering, and Build. The Proposed Project Consists of a 38.0 Kw Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Carport SystemS) at City Hall Staff, and a 821.1 Kw Ground-Mount Willits City Council Minutes of January 24, 2024 Page 3 of 6 and Carport PV Systems at the Sports Park. The Intent is to Offset Energy Consumption of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Library, Museum, and City Hall.
Presenting staff member: Leiloni Shine, Contract Planner with Community Development Public Comment: Raghda Zacharia expressed the following concern with this project: cost of the project is going to increase the sewer rates; taking care of the streets should be a priority; and concerns over the City hiring consultants.
Councilmember Stranske would like to see the solar panels installed at the Wood Street Parking lot, not at the City Hall staff parking area.
Councilmember Strong stated that the goal is to save money. Installation of the panels would cut the cost of electricity.
Councilmember Kanne added that she understands that the cost of electricity was going to continue to increase causing the Council to possibly increase rates again in the future due to the cost of operations at the sewer plant. By transitioning to solar at the wastewater treatment plant, the city could avoid the scenario and not have to come back to increase the rates again.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried 4/1 with Stranske dissenting to adopt Resolution No. 2023-06 authorizing issuance of a Request for Proposal for Energy Services Including on-site Solar Photovoltaic System Design, engineering, and build. The proposed project consists of a 38.0kw solar photovoltaic (PV) carport systems) at City Hall staff parking area, and a 821.1kw ground-mount and carport PV systems at the sports park. The intent is to offset energy consumption of the wastewater treatment plant, and City Hall.
10. Department Monthly Reports - (presented at the second meeting of each month). a. Airport - No further comments.
b. Community Development
- Dusty Duley, Community Development Director, reported that entering into a contract with BPR was mistakenly left on the report from a previous draft. • A handout was given to council highlighting the E. Commercial Street Corridor Plan and the "Beautify Willits" Project funded by the Clean California Grant. This handout will be put on the city Website, Facebook Pages and with paper copies available at City Hall. • Davey Bowels, Building Official, announced that the period to apply for the Earthquake Brace and Bolt Program ends February 21st. Mr. Bowles reported, community members that need help with the application to please contact him.
c. Finance - No further comments.
d. Police Dept. - No further comments.
e. Services & Facilities
Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director added that he is working with Mr. Duley to identify areas of the community that need lighting improvements or lights fixed. He asked that the community contact him regarding any out lights, and explained where a member could locate the light number on the pole.
• Utilities. - No further comments.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Vice Mayor Gonzalez
Willits City Council Minutes of January 24, 2024 Page 4 of 6 • League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - League of Cities if focusing on Retail Theft. There is a push from a lot of cities to have something done about this.
The City will be hosting the Redwood Region of League of California Cities, Division Meeting, on March 8".
Water/Wastewater Committee - Received updates during the meeting on the Wastewater equipment storage facility: site work still needs to be completed; received current unaudited fund balances for water and wastewater; and the Memorandum of Understanding for Railroad Avenue Project, the city is still waiting on the Railroad to sign. The S. Main Street Water Valve replacement, the valve should be here in mid- February and will be installed right after it is received. Staff is seeking a budget amendment for Laco to proceed with the Reservoir Water Modeling Proposal Flow Releases. Staff is meeting with the State Agency in a month regarding the Inflatable Dam. Laco is currently working on the design for the Steel Tank, with hopes that the project will go to bid in the spring. The City has sent a letter of interest to the State Water Board regarding hooking up the Little Lake Mobile Home Park into the City water system. The state has received the letter, we are just waiting for the state's next steps to proceed.
Councilmember Kanne
• Mendocino County Museum - Reported earlier in the meeting. • Finance Committee - The city is moving forward on completing the remaining 2 years of audits with plans to have them complete by the end of the fiscal year. It was requested that the City go back to an annual budget rather than a bi-annual budget until audits are complete. Mayor Rodriguez added that there was discussions about sales tax and having the City reach out to the top 25 local sales tax generators, she also reported that the state was up by 2% in sales tax generation but locally it was does an average of 10.8%. The biggest factor that affected our sales tax was fuel sales.
Councilmember Strong
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) - is adjusting to not being an official County Entity, is no longer having to follow the Brown Act. They are revising bylaws. The business of the EDFC is providing loans to businesses throughout Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma Counties.
Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA - All board members are asking for more information on how C&S addresses all the remote and onsite collections and how that compares with what is expected and what the cities used to have. There is another meeting in February to get more detailed reports, • Sonoma Clean Power - Feb 1st
Mayor Rodriguez
Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) - Humbolt County Transit has a bus that runs from Eureka to Ukiah for an introductory amount of $2.00, made possible through grant funding. The layover in an hour. The goal is to be able to continue the run for $10 or less.
• Mayor Rodriguez reported that she has sent an email to Redwood Solid Waste Solutions with the community concerns and has not yet received a response. She will follow up with another email.
• Transportation Committee - Meets January 25th.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong - February 4'h at 4:00 pm. WELL is hosting an open house.
Willits City Council Minutes of January 24, 2024 Page 5 of 6 There are several candidate forums planned for the Assembly District in Willits and the Mayor Rodriguez - Mentioned the event that the Chamber had at the Community Center, the State of Things.
Hopes to see everyone Friday night for the Chili Cook off at the Senior Center.
February 4th is the Celebration for Edie Ceccarelli 116th birthday and parade.
13. Closed Session Notice
None
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m.
ATTEST:
Delores Pedersen
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of January 24, 2024 Page 6 of 6