111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 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; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk. • City Manager Bender requested continuation of item 9d, Presentation and Possible Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget, until the Council Meeting of August 28, 2024.
Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to table item 9d, Presentation and Possible Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget, until the August 28, 2024 meeting.
2. Public Communications
• David Partch extended an invitation to the council to an event highlighting Deveaux Baker, the First Poet Laureate of Mendocino County.
Robin Leler asked Council to allow volunteers to help with creating the Tree Ordinance. • David Pollin asked council to pass an ordinance that would allow property owners the right to vote on potential annexation of their property.
Mark Walker expressed concern over who will take liability over trees if they fall and damage properties or people, and the train cars that are on Railroad Avenue that have become a public nuisance.
3. Public Matters
a. Presentation by the FFA of their 2024 Holiday Light up the Park Event.
Rex Davidson, Willits FFA, made the Council aware of the Holiday Light up the Park Event.
Mayor Rodriguez and Vice Mayor Gonzalez both expressed their thanks to the Willits FFA for organizing this event.
b. Noticed Public Hearing - Conduct Annual Review of Rates and Charges for Various City Services and Adopt the Accompanying Resolution Approving Changes in Certain City Fees and Charges, Effective September 1, 2024.
Public Comment: Banning Galten, airport hangar tenant, expressed concern over the amount of the projected increase of the hangar rent. Mr. Galten stated that they are not against an increase but would like it to be $32 and not the suggested $76.
City Manager Bender reported that Assistant City Manager Moorhead contacted multiple Municipal Airports to inquire about their fees to help come up with a comparable increase.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-39 approving city fees and charges effective September 1, 2024.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
City Council Minutes:
i. July 24, 2024.
b. Adoption of Resolution Changing the Authorized Signatures for the City of Willits Checking Account, Payroll Account, and Safe Deposit Box at Savings Bank of Mendocino County.
c. Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Specific City Staff to Transfer Funds Between the Local Agency Investment Fund and Savings Bank of Mendocino County.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a, b, c).
6. 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.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Discussion and Possible Approval of the First Amendment to the Scout Hut Lease dated April 15, 2016.
Public Comment:
• Rich Ford, Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 42, thanked the City Staff and Council for working with the Scouts to ensure that the changes were made to the Scout Hut Lease.
Nicole Caldwell spoke in support of the Scout Hut Lease and commented that the Scout Hut has been the Scout Hut for many years and needs to stay the Scout Hut.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve the First Amendment to the City of Willits Scout Hut Lease Dated April 15, 2016. b. Verbal Reports -
• City Manager Bender reported that due to the repeated costly vandalism incidents at Bud Snider and Rec Grove Parks, until new doors and locks could be installed the bathrooms would be closed each day at 2:30 pm, when Parks Staff leave for the • Councilmember Kanne inquired if there could be a volunteer group that may help by locking the bathroom doors in the evening.
Willits City Council Minutes of August 14, 2024 Page 2 of 4 Public Comment:
• Mark Walker spoke in support of security cameras as ways to discovering who the vandals may be.
• Bear Kamoroff and Charles Cully volunteered to lock the restroom doors in the evenings at the parks.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Presentation of Proposed Park Improvements Located within Bud Snider - City Park Funded by the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP). • Community Development Director Duley presented a power point presentation on the proposed park improvements within Bud Snider Park.
• Due to conflicts of interest this was a presentation of the proposed park improvements and not an item up for discussion by Council.
Public Comment:
• Susan Peers, neighbor of Bud Snyder Park, spoke against the pavilion being placed at the proposed location on the east side of the park.
• Michael Foley, Manager of the Willits Farmers Market, requested that Famers Market vendors be able to park onto the pavilion and set up behind their vehicles.
Current design is not big enough. Would like to allow some vendors on the State Street side to back up over the wood chips and set up.
• Bear Kamoroff suggested that the pavilion be placed right next to State Street, it would take up a lot of usable space.
Mark Walker gave a brief history of the park and suggested that the play area be moved to the southeast corner of the park and the pavilion be placed in the north corner of the park.
b. Discussion and Possible Adoption of Resolution of Acceptance and Dedication of the Improved Haehl Creek Trail.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-42 to accept the Frank R. Howard Foundation offer of dedication of the Haehl Creek Trail together with all improvements, fixtures and amenities located thereon.
c. Adoption of a Resolution of a Project Planned for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 with Funding from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Revenues.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Kanne and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-43 identifying a project planned for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 with funding from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Revenues. d. Presentation and Possible Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget.
Tabled until the August 28, 2024 City Council meeting.
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) - Surface transportation block grant for 24/25 was approved, $150,000 will go to Willits.
Willits City Council Minutes of August 14, 2024 Page 3 of 4 Joining the Rual Regent Energy Network (RREN). Will be able to offer regional rebates for energy improvements.
Councilmember Strong
• Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA)- Councilmember Strong is concerned about the lack of transparency with the budget. A Tipping fee increase, from $6.50 to $9.50 was approved at the August meeting. Next meeting is in October. There will be a Hazmobile event September 5" and 6t in Willits. • Sonoma Clean Power - Most interesting discussion was on Geo Zones. Geo Zones have a low impact on the environment and lowers the cost of electricity.
Councilmember Stranske
• Water/Wastewater Committee - Meets 8/15/2024
• The Chamber of Commerce City Wide Yard Sale was successful, for everyone that participated they received a coupon for taking a load to the transfer station.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
Good & Welfare
Councilmember Strong
Willits Economic Localization (WELL) has reactivated with new members. • Sponsored the group that has been singing in town.
• August 24" there will be a Garden Open house at the Willits Integrated Service Center (WISC). WELL is also doing fiscal sponsorships for the Willits Shelter Action Group. Considering sponsorship of the Wellness Collective. Working with the Renewable Energy Development Institute (REDI) to assist low income with utilities and housing improvements. Having a Candidates forum for City Council Election and School Board Election on October 6th
Councilmember Gonzalez
• School is opening up on August 19t, please be mindful and patient with the traffic. • City Clerk Pedersen
• Announced that today, August 14th , was the closing period for turning in paperwork to run for City Council, there were four Candidates that turned in paperwork.
13. Closed Session Notice
None
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
AbrasPedersen
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of August 14, 2024 Page 4 of 4