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WILLITS
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2024
Mayor Rodriguez called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:31 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.
Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Walter Kolon, Services and Planner; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
• Virgina Stranske expressed concerns over abandoned vehicles located on various streets within the City.
Off Agenda Item - Urgent
(Amendment to the Agenda requires at 4/5th votes by the City Council) ADD Item: 13b CLOSED SESSION - 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): Willits Police Officers Association (WPOA).
Motion Strong/seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to add the following item to the agenda:
13b - 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): Willits Police Officers Association (WPA), and Management Team.
Mayor Rodriguez held a Moment of Silence Honoring the Memory of Linda Buletti-Burton wife of Past Mayor Bruce Burton.
• Assistant City Manager, Cathy Moorhead announced that the Memorial Service would be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 2:00 at Bruce and Linda Burtons Barn.
Councilmember Kanne asked that once the fountain at Babcock Park is repaired fully if the it could be dedicated to Linda Buletti-Burton.
3. Public Matters
a. Presentation of a Proclamation to Willits Frontier Days - Designating Wester Wear Days June 215 to July 4, 2024.
Mayor Rodriguez delayed reading the proclamation in hopes that someone from Frontier Days would be in attendance. Later in the meeting City Clerk Pedersen received notice that Frontier Days would not be in attendance. Mayor Rodriguez read the Proclamation under Item 12.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
May 22, 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 - May 2024.
b. Building Activity Report - May 2024.
Public Comment: None presented.
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports - No Action.
i. Memorial Day Car Show Recap.
City Manager Bender reported that the Memorial Day Car Show was successful. Services and Facilities staff worked to help with preparing Main Street for the event, Community Development was coordinating the street closure. The City encourages other events to be held on Main Street. ii. Master Tax Sharing Agreement.
• City Manager Bender provided an update on the agreement; the Board of Supervisors adopted the agreement at their last meeting. The agreement will come to the Willits City Council at the June 26th Council Meeting for approval. • Councilmember Kanne asked if City Manager Bender would explain the importance of a Tax Sharing Agreement. Mr. Bender responded that a Tax Sharing Agreement with the County of Mendocino is the first step needed when the city seeks annexation.
ili. Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Scheduling.
• Having first Budget Workshop on June 13". Focusing on General Fund Performances as well as Enterprise Funds and Special Revenue Accounts.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 12, 2024 Page 2 of 6 Update on the 2023 Pavement Preservation Project.
• Walter Kolon, Services & Facilities Director reported that the 2023 Pavement Preservation project is on schedule. Boscabelle and S. Lenore are nearly complete, stripping is being done in early July.
• Councilmember Strong inquired if PG&E would be having the power shut off on June 22? Mr. Bended reported that yes, it is scheduled and will be happening on Saturday June 22nd starting at 11:30 pm through 5:30 am.
Public Comment: None presented.
Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Continuation of Municipal Operations Based upon the Biennial Fiscal Year 2022-2024 Budget.
Presenting staff member: Manual Orozco, Finance Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-24 authorizing continuation of municipal operations based upon the Biennial 2022-2024 Budget.
b. Presentation and Acceptance of Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022.
Presenting staff member: Manual Orozco, Finance Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-25 accept the Audited Financial Statements for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2022.
c. Adopt a Resolution to Approve a Revised Injury and Illness Prevention Program that Provides all Reasonable Safeguards for Employee Health and Safety and to Ensure Employees Perform their Assigned Tasks in a Safe Working Manner and Developing a Safety Awareness Among the Staff, Effective June 13, 2024.
Presenting staff member: Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager.
Public Comment: None presented.
• ed by ape/Seconded by String undear us rivers order Resolution d. Adopt a Resolution to Approve a New Workplace Violence Prevention Program that Outlines how the City will Protect Employees and Prevent Workplace Violence within Spaces Under its Control, Effective June 13, 2024.
Presenting staff member: Karen Stevenson, Human Resources Manager.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Rodriguez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-27 Approving the New Workplace Violence Prevention Program.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 12, 2024 Page 3 of 6 e. Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Funding for Street Safety Improvement Projects and Authorize $5,000 from Fund 200 as the City's Contribution (10-Percent of the Project's Costs).
Presenting staff member: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-28 to delegate authorization to the City Manager the ability to execute master agreements, program supplemental agreements, funds exchange Agreements and/or Fund Transfer Agreements needed to be executed with the California Department of Transportation.
f. Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Advertisement of the Steel Water Tank Site Improvements Project 2023-04, Phase Ill of the Groundwater Resiliency Improvement Project for an Amount not to Exceed $152,475.00 with a Ten Percent Contingency.
Presenting staff member: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-29 authorizing an advertisement of the Steel Water Tank Site Improvements Project, Project No. 2023-04, Phase Ill at an expense of $152,475 with 10-Percent Contingency.
g. Discussion and Possible Execution of an Energy Services Agreement with Syserco Energy Solutions (SES) for the Completion of a Design and Installation of a Proposed Solar Photovoltaic (P.V.) System at Selected Sites within the City Consistent with CA Government Code §§ 4217, Et Seq, for an Amount not to Exceed $4,939,000.
Presenting staff member: Leiloni Shine, Contract Planner.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-30 Authorizing City Manager to execute an Energy Services Agreement with Syserco Energy Solutions (SES) for the completion of Design and Installation of Solar PV, consistent with Govt Code §§4217.10-4217.18, for an amount not to exceed $2,822,400.
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
Transportation Committee - Received updates on the 2023 Pavement Preservation roject, 2024 Pavement Preservation Project and a proposal for the 2025 Pavemen Preservation Project. Discussion regarding the Starbucks parking plan for the Mair Street and Highway 20 location. Was reported at the meeting that the guardrail on Sherwood Road right after it was repair was again hit by a hit and run driver. Because it was a hit and run the City will have to pay to have it repaired again, not able to file a claim with insurance.
Willits City Council Minutes of June 12, 2024 Page 4 of 6 • Measure K Committee - Received the news that Audit for Fiscal Year 2021/2022 was completed. The committee was excited to start allocating the funds and start implementing ideas that have been brought forth for the community.
Councilmember Strong
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) - Meeting June 13, 2024. • Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Councilmember Strong expressed her concern over the lack of information provided in the meetings that have been held. It was proposed to raise tipping fee from $6.50 per ton to $8.50 per ton, MSWMA approved a $9.50 per ton tipping fee. There was no explanation on what money is being spent on. Councilmember Strong expressed her dissatisfaction with the increase and lack of explanation.
• Sonoma Clean Power - 20% of Sonoma residents' income goes towards Transportation needs, assessment 31% in Mendocino County goes toward transportation. Sonoma Clean Power is funding a study on how surges and deficits in power are handled. SCP is lobbying the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and in Sacramento to protect energy customers.
Councilmember Stranske
• Councilmember Stranske reported that he felt the Car Show was done very well.
The people that attended reported to him how impressed they were with the event and how well it was put together.
Councilmember Gonzalez
League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Public Hearing on the Pacific Reefs Water District municipal review and sphere of influence. There was a public hearing on the final budget and work plan for Fiscal Year 2024/20255.
Budget was approved. Workshop on the Gualala Municipal Services Review and Sphere of Influence Study.
Amendment to policy for Outside Agency Services.
Mayor Rodriguez
Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)- Routine Business at regular schedule meeting.
Will be hosting the N. State Transit Symposium on July 10-11. Willy West of Willits was appointed to the MTA Board.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Wetfare Councilmember Kanne
There is discussion about extending the County of Mendocino Mobile outreach program in Willits.
Mayor Rodriguez
Mayor Rodriguez read the proclamation for the record, recognizing June 21s through July 4t 2024, as Western Wear Days.
Thanked Assistant City Manager for all the work that has gone into the city pool.
The City had 150 vouchers for waste disposal through the Clean California Grant, most of them have been picked up by Willits Residents. The ones that were left over were distributed by the City's Code Compliance Officer, Phil Davidson, to open compliance cases in the community.
Adjourned to Closed Session at 8:20 p.m.
13. Closed Session Notice
Willits City Council Minutes of June 12, 2024 Page 5 of 6 a. Conference with Legal Counsel - existing litigation (CA Govt. Code §54956.9 (d) (1)); in the matter of Craig Anthony Gelber vs City of Willits, et al, Case No. 3-23-cv-00681- JSC, United States District Court for the Northern California District. b. 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): Willits Police Officers Association (WPOA).
Council reconvened to open session at 9:45 p.m. with no action to report from Closed Session.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Debres Pederson
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of June 12, 2024 Page 6 of 6