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WILLITS
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 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, 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; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Chris Dewey, Interim Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
Rosamond Crowder thanked the Council for hiring EBA Engineering to study the possibility of arsenic migrating into the Alias Well and also expressed concern over the City's Water Rights for the Centennial Reservoir.
• Kirk Lumpkin expressed concern over the City being out of compliance with California Department Fish and Wildlife required dam releases required by the water rights.
3. Public Matters
a. None presented.
Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. March 27, 2024.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (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.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations+
a. Proposed ARPA Projects. A list of projects for the City Council to consider before adopting the final budget allocation plan - [see attached documents].
City Manager Bender asked the Council to make a list of viable projects. The City received $1.1 million in American Rescue Plan Funds (ARPA), the list consists of $1.9 million, City Manager Bender asked Council to reduce the list to $1.1 million.
Public Comment: Dave Bebee requested that the City upgrade the restrooms in the parks. • Dusty Duley, Community Development Director, provided an update regarding the Clean California Grant and that a potion of the funds will be used to rehab the bathrooms in the Rec Grove Park.
Moved by Kanne/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to give direction to the City Manager to accept the Proposed Ameran Rescue Plan (ARPA) Projects list with the following changes; reducing item 7, Land Use Plan Recommendation Implementation and Item 10, Rec Grove Facility Improvements to fit within the budget and eliminate item 5.4, $25,000 Contribution to Economic Development & Finance Corporation and item 17, West Van Lane Pedestrian Improvements with the understanding that Council will readdress item 17 under an alternate funding source at a later date.
b. Verbal Reports
City manager Bender gave an update on the Master Tax sharing agreement process.
The agreement was pulled from the Board of Supervisors Agenda at the last minute for the meeting on April 9, 2024. Due to the administration changes in both Point Arena and Fort Bragg there were concerns expressed by these two organizations about the intent of the agreement provisions and how it would affect their proposed annexations or relationships with the County. The City Managers will have a meeting the week of April 15th and reexamine what can be done to repackage the agreement and present it to the Board of Supervisors at a later meeting.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. None presented.
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 Kanne
Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Attending the MCOG Town Hall meeting being hosted in Fort Bragg on April 17th.
• Reported that she had an excellent meeting with City Manager Bender on April 10th, feels he is always willing to listen to questions that she has from the previous week and often responds with in day or two with answers.
Willits City Council Minutes of April 10, 2024 Page 2 of 4 • Councilmember Kanne also wanted to make the community aware that she and City Staff have not forgotten about the derelict train cars on Railroad Avenue. Staff is working diligently to have at least some partial resolution before summer is over.
Councilmember Strong
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) - Meeting May 9th Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Meeting May 16'h • Sonoma Clean Power - Doing fine financially, has a surplus going into reserves. Lot of the positive cash flow goes back to customers. Reminds the community that Sonoma Clean Power rates are 7% lower than PG&E rates.
• Shares the concern of the city being publicly transparent with how the City is meeting their Water Rights Obligations.
• Expressed her support over a resolution in support of calling for a cease fire in Gaza.
Councilmember Stranske
• Water/Wastewater Committee - Thanked the public for bringing up their water concerns.
• Visted the Airport with Assistant Manager Moorhead and Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director, Mr. Stranske stated that the work that has been done at the airport is very nice.
• Attended the walking tour of the E. Commercial St. Corridor and what will be funded with the Clean California Grant.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Meeting on May 3rd.
Mayor Rodriguez
• City Manager Bender and Robert Pinoli, Mendocino Railway President, meeting expressed concerns about overgrowth and lighting along the railroad tracks. • Chamber of Commerce - Annual Memorial Car Show was approved at the Chamber of Commerce's monthly meeting
• Caltrans - Went on the walking tour of the E. Commercial St. Corridor and what will be funded with the Clean California Grant. There was discussion on all the improvements that will be paid for by the Clean California Grant.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
• Councilmember Gonzalez - Sober Grad is currently selling tickets for their Tri-Tip Dinner Fundraiser on April 26"h.
Councilmember Kanne - Expressed her gratitude to the Public Works Crew that was out installing stop signs on North St. and Laurel.
The City Council Convened to Closed Session at 7:42 p.m.
13. Closed Session Notice
a. Conference with Labor Negotiator Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 - Agency Negotiator: Brian Bender City Manager and Patrick Clark, Patrick Clark Consulting.
Employee Organization(s): International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (BEW), Willits Police Officers Association (WPOA), and Management Team.
The City Council reconvened to open session at 8:49 p.m. report that no action was taken at Closed Session on item 13a.
Willits City Council Minutes of April 10, 2024 Page 3 of 4 b. Pursuant to Government Code §54957 - Public Employee (Annual) Performance Evaluation - City Manager. Phase III.
The City Council reconvened to open session at 8:49 p.m. and reported that in closed session the City Council issued the City Manager his performance evaluation.
Motioned by Gonzalez/Seconded by Kanne and passed with a vote of 4/1 - with Stranske dissenting to approve 1) extending the Employment Agreement to January 3, 2029. 2) updating Section 3 of the agreement - Termination of Employment Severance Pay was amended from six to nine months. 3) given a one-time Merit Increase of $5,000 which will be applied to City Manager Benders 457 Retirement Plan. 4) upon exemplary evaluation at the 5-year anniversary employee shall receive an additional Merit Increase of $5,000. The last sentence under Section 4 was stricken from the agreement.
Motioned by Gonzalez/Seconded by Kanne passed 4/1 with Stranske dissenting to remove City Manager Bender from the Management bargaining unit.
Motioned by Gonzalez/Seconded by Rodriguez and passed unanimously to give City Manager Bender a vote of confidence and a satisfactory evaluation.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Dekres klersen
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of April 10, 2024 Page 4 of 4