Agenda — Willits City Council, September 11, 2024

111 E. Commercial Street
Willits, California 95490
Tel | 707.459.4601
Fax | 707.459.1562
www.cityofwillits.org

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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 | 6:30 PM | CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1. OPENING MATTERS
a. Call to Order. | b. Pledge to Flag. | c. Roll Call.

OFF AGENDA ITEM
(Amendments to the agenda require a 4/5ths vote of the City Council).

Motion to add item 9e - To Amend the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Project’s Budget Table to Allow for the Asbestos Remediation and Flooring Upgrade Project at the Community Center.

2. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
The City Council welcomes input from the audience. If there is a matter of business on the agenda that you are interested in, you may address the Council when this matter is considered. If you wish to speak on a matter that is not on the agenda, you may do so at this time. In order for everyone to be heard, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes per person. The Brown Act regulations do not allow action to be taken on audience comments in which the subject is not listed on the agenda.

Members of the public are asked to observe the rules of decorum. While the City Council welcomes public criticism of policies, procedures, programs, or services of the agency; behavior that disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting and that includes, but is not limited to use of profanity, slurs, yelling from the audience, threatening remarks, physically threatening conduct, or physical or verbal displays of disrespect, will not be tolerated and the individual will be removed immediately.

3. PUBLIC MATTERS
a. Proclamation and Moment of Silence in Remembrance of September 11, 2001. b. Recommend Olga O’Neill for the Library Advisory Board. c. Update from Third District County Supervisor John Haschak. d. Noticed Public Hearing: Review and Possible Adoption of the City of Willits’ Emergency Operations Plan | Part 1 Base Plan.

Presenting Staff Member: Logan Shine, Contract Planner. e. Notice Public Hearing: Presentation and Discussion of General Plan Land Use Element Update with a Focus on Proposed land Use Designations and Land Use Maps.

Presenting Staff Member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director, and consultants from Planwest Partners.

4. ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES
a. None.

5. CONSENT CALENDAR
Willits City Council Agenda – September 11, 2024.

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The City Council considers matters listed under the Consent Calendar as routine. The Council will take action with a single motion and roll call vote. A Councilmember may request the removal of an item(s) from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion and subsequent action.

The following items as presented are before the City Council for approval or denial:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. August 28th.

6. MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORTS
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. None.

7. COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES
The Willits City Council meets concurrently as the City of Willits Planning Commission & City of Willits Successor Agency.

8. CITY MANAGER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
a. Verbal Reports – No Action.
i. Project Updates:
 2023 Pavement Preservation.
 2024 Pavement Preservation.
 2024 Underground Utilities.
 Main Street Fiber Optic.

9. DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATIONS (ACTION ITEMS)
a. Approval of a Services Agreement Between the County of Mendocino and the City of Willits for After-Hours Police Services, in an Amount not to Exceed $18,000 and Budget Amendment to Fund 100.2000.65400 in the Amount $18,000.

Presenting Staff Member: Chris Dewey, Interim Police Chief. b. Discussion and Acceptance of an Explanatory Addendum to Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget.

Presenting Staff Member: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director / City Treasurer. c. Adoption of Resolution Identifying the Proposed Project List for SB1: Road Repair and Accountability Act for Fiscal Year 2024/2025.

Presenting Staff Member: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director. d. Approval of the City of Willits Local Road Safety Action Plan (LRS/AP) completed September 2024.

Presenting Staff Member: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director. e. Adopt a Resolution to Amend the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Project’s Budget Table to Allow for the Asbestos Remediation and Flooring Upgrade Project at the Community Center.

Presenting Staff Member: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director.

10. DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORTS – (presented at the second meeting of each month) a. Airport. b. Community Development. c. Finance. d. Police e. Services & Facilities. f. Utilities.

11. CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS

12. GOOD & WELFARE

13. CLOSED SESSION NOTICE
a. None.

14. ADJOURNMENT
Willits City Council Agenda – September 11, 2024.

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Right to Appeal - Persons who are dissatisfied with the decisions of the City Council may have the right to a review of that decision by a court. The City has adopted Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which generally limits to 90- days, the time within an individual and/or entity may judicially challenge the decisions of the City Boards and Agencies.

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that I posted the foregoing Agenda on the bulletin board at the main entrance of the City of Willits City Hall, located at 111 East Commercial Street, Willits, California, not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting set forth on this Agenda.

Dated this 10th day of September, 2024.

Delores Pedersen, City Clerk
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance
If you need assistance to attend or participate in a City Council meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (707) 459-7113 or Fax (707) 459-1562. Notification at least 48-hours prior to the meeting will assist the City Clerk in assuring the implementation of reasonable accommodations to provide accessibility to the meeting. Our meeting room is wheelchair accessible and ADA parking is available.

Additional Meeting Information for Interested Parties
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Willits City Council, Planning Commission, or Community Development Agency after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection at City Clerk’s office at 111 E. Commercial Street, Willits, during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday 9 AM to 5:30 PM.

Item No.3d
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Logan Shine, Contract Planner
Agenda Title: CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PRESENTATION AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF THE 2024 CITY OF WILLITS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (EOP) PART 1: BASIC PLAN TO FACILITATE COORDINATED RESPONSE AND RECOVERY TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL HAZARD INCIDENTS.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 20 minutes Agenda Summary: The City of Willits Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Part 1: Basic Plan is a foundational document for emergency management for staff, key partners, and the community. The City Manager serves as the City’s Office of Director of Emergency Services and is responsible for the review, revision, management, and distribution of the EOP annually.

With the EOP, staff intends to minimize losses and ensure the most successful allocation of resources before, during, and after a hazard event. The EOP complies with the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the State Emergency Plan and the California Emergency Services Act (Gov. Code § 8550 et seq.), and Willits Title 2, Chapter 2.44: Emergency Services.

The objective of the EOP is to incorporate and coordinate all the facilities and personnel of the City into an efficient organization capable of responding effectively to any emergency. The EOP will be reviewed and evaluated periodically and revised as needed to meet changing conditions.

Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services reviewed the EOP and suggested several edits. After adoption, staff is required to forward the adopted plan to Cal OES.

The Willits Weekly published the hearing notice in the September 4th edition.

Recommended Action: Adopt the accompanying Resolution and instruct the City Manager to maintain the Emergency Operations Plan as required.

Alternative(s): None.

Fiscal Impact: There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.

Personnel Impact: City staff will review and practice response and recovery roles and procedure at least once per year through tabletop exercises, or other practice drills.

Identified City Council Conflict of Interest: None.
2021 Adopted Goals: This item supports Goal #2 for the Police Department…Interact with the City’s Emergency partners to complete the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that will reflect the City Manager as Chief Emergency Officer.

California Environmental Quality Act: The adoption of an Emergency Operations Plan does not represent a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) subsequently, no further action is necessary.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
September 202 4
PART 1: BASI C PLAN
September 2024
Reviewed by:

Mendocino County OES July 2024

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONTINUUM
EOP* = Emergency Operations Plan
Original Image: Boccardo, Piero. (2013). New perspectives in emergency mapping. European Journal of Remote Sensing. 46. 10.5721/EuJRS20134633.

REVISION

HISTORY
Section(s) of Plan
Revision Date Revised Revised By

CERTIFICATION OF ANNUALREVIEW
The Office of Director of Emergency Services has reviewed this Emergency Operations Plan and hereby certifies the review.

Date Name/Department/Agency Signature

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
i September 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................1

2.0 CITY DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................................................2

3.0 PREFACE...................................................................................................................................3

4.0 DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION....................................................................4

5.0 CITY COUNCIL ADOPTION BY RESOLUTION .............................................................................4

6.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................4

6.1 PURPOSE..............................................................................................................................4

6.2 SCOPE ..................................................................................................................................5

6.3LIMITATIONS ........................................................................................................................5

6.4SITUATION............................................................................................................................5

6.5PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS ...................................................................................................5

7.0 CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS.......................................................................................................6

7.1 FIELD-LEVEL COORDINATION ..............................................................................................6

7.2 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE-LEVEL COORDINATION ...................................................... 6

7.3 FEDERAL COORDINATION................................................................................................... 7

7.4MUTUAL AID ....................................................................................................................... 8

7.5EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION.................................................................... 9

8.0 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PHASES....................................................................................10

8.1PREPAREDNESS ................................................................................................................. 10

8.2RESPONSE ......................................................................................................................... 11

8.3RECOVERY ......................................................................................................................... 11

8.4MITIGATION...................................................................................................................... 12

8.5 WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH .................................................................................... 12

9.0 ALERT AND WARNING ...........................................................................................................15

10.0 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC) ...........................................................................16

10.1PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE EOC LOCATIONS................................................................... 16

10.2EOC ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION ........................................................................... 16

10.3EOC COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION................................................................ 17

10.4COORDINATION WITH THE FIELD RESPONSE LEVEL........................................................ 17

10.5COORDINATION WITH THE MENDOCINO COUNTYOPERATIONAL AREA ....................... 18

10.6 EOC ORGANIZATION....................................................................................................... 19

10.7 CITY DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EOC STAFFING ............................................ 20 City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
ii September 2024

11.0 KEY RESPONSE FUNCTIONS..................................................................................................21

11.1 SAFETY ASSESSMENT...................................................................................................... 21

11.2 DAMAGE ASSESSMENT................................................................................................... 21

11.3 WATER AND WASTEWATER OPERATIONS...................................................................... 22

11.4 EMERGENCY DEBRIS CLEARANCE................................................................................... 22

11.5 MASS CARE & SHELTER................................................................................................... 23

12.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES .............................................................................................24

12.1 CITY ATTORNEY .............................................................................................................. 24

12.2 ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ............................................................................................ 24

12.3 CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE................................................................................................ 24

12.4 CITY CLERK...................................................................................................................... 24

12.5 FINANCE ......................................................................................................................... 24

12.6 FIRE................................................................................................................................. 24

12.7 HUMAN RESOURCES ...................................................................................................... 25

12.8 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ........................................................................................ 25

12.9 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT....................................................................................... 25

12.10 POLICE .......................................................................................................................... 25

12.11 SERVICES & FACILITIES.................................................................................................. 25

12.12 WATER/WASTEWATER................................................................................................. 26

12.13 CITY COUNCIL/MAYOR ................................................................................................. 26

13.0 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATIONS/DECLARATIONS.................................................................27

14.0 CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT...........................................................................................29 ATTACHMENT 1: AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES ......................................................................31 ATTACHMENT 2: SAMPLE PROCLAMATIONS...............................................................................32 ATTACHMENT 3: HAZARD ANALYSIS............................................................................................35 ATTACHMENT 4: ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................37 ATTACHMENT 5: GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................39 City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
1 September 2024

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Willits, its government, stakeholder agencies, community-based organizations (CBO), business community, and residents coordinate their response to major emergencies and disasters as outlined in this Emergency Operations Plan Basic Plan (EOP).

The Basic Plan element is adopted through a City Council Resolution and shared with Mendocino County OES. City staff updates this plan annually and shares the updated EOP with County OES and local partners.

If significant revisions are made, another formal adoption of the EOP is recommended for official recognition.

The EOP lays out operational strategies and plans for managing complex and potentially catastrophic events.

The City acknowledges that its assets, resources, and departments are potentially vulnerable and may become overwhelmed. Therefore, the EOP promotes flexibility whenever possible and does not intend to limit the use of good judgment and common sense.

The City of Willits has officially adopted and integrated:
 Incident Command System (ICS)
 Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)
 National Incident Management System (NIMS)
 Mutual Aid Agreement with five cities
The EOP addresses the four phases of emergency management:
 Preparedness
 Response
 Recovery
 Mitigation
The City has adopted a “Whole Community” approach, actively promoting the inclusion and integration of community partners, neighbors, and other stakeholders in all phases of emergency management. These collaborative efforts better prepare the City to meet the needs of its residents and visitors alike, especially those with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) serves as a centralized location for supporting emergency management coordination and decision making during a critical incident, major emergency, or disaster. When activated, the EOC supports critical tasks related to communications, coordination, resource management, and executive leadership.

If the City of Willits finds that an emergency’s effects are, or may become, beyond the capability of local resources, the City can proclaim a local emergency. This proclamation allows the City Manager and the Director of Emergency Services to take necessary measures to protect and preserve public health and safety and supports requests for state and federal aid. It also grants City staff added powers and authorities to increase the speed and effectiveness of City response activities.

The Continuity of Operations Plan and Continuity of Government Plan (COOP/COG) are vital functions of emergency management during an emergency/disaster situation. The “City of Willits’s COG Plan” provides lines of succession for key City staff positions.

This EOP includes attachments such as a summary of authorities and references, a sample proclamation of local emergency, a summary of hazards facing the City, selected acronyms, and a glossary.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
2 September 2024

2.0 CITY DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Table 1 (below) details City department responsibilities for EOC functions. More detail provided in Section 12 (Roles and Responsibilities).

Table 1: City Department Emergency Response Function Responsibilities (Sample) Function
City ManagerAsst. City Mgr./ClerkCityAtt
orney
()Finance Dept.HR Dept.Planning Dept.Building Dept.

IT
(contract)S&F EngineeringS&F MaintenanceS&F Water/WastewaterLittle Lake FireDist.Police Alert & Warning S S P
Communications S P S S S
Situation Analysis S S S S P S S S S P P
Management P S S S
Public Information P S S S S S
Legal Considerations S P S
Fire Suppression P
Search & Rescue S P S
Emergency Medical P
Law Enforcement P
Movement &
Evacuation S S S S S P
Access Control S S S S P
Care & Shelter P S S S S
Construction &
Engineering S P P S S
Supply &
Procurement S S P S
Personnel S S P
Transportation S P
Utilities P S P
Finance &
Administration S P
Damage Assessment S P S S S S
Debris Clearance S S P S
Recovery Planning P S S S P P S S S S S S
Note: Job titles may change, be added, or subtracted and disaster duties my change as needed P = Primary
S = Secondary
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
3 September 2024

3.0 PREFACE
The City of Willits, its government, stakeholder agencies, CBOs, business community, and residents coordinate their response to major emergencies and disasters as outlined in this Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). The plan also shows how the City meets and implements the requirements of the California Emergency Services Act, NIMS, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to protect the lives, property, and environment of Willits residents.

The EOP is organized and defined as follows:
• Part I: The Basic Plan (also referred to as EOP in this document) outlines the planning assumptions, policies, and concept of operations that guide the City of Willits’ responsibilities for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

The City can create a number of plans, procedures, and other documents that support or relate to this Basic Plan. These plans can offer added detail and guidance for specific hazards, functions, or operations.

They include key Hazard Annexes or Functional Annexes:
• Part II: Hazard Annexes
o Earthquake
o Storm/Flood
o Wildfire
o Terrorism/Active Shooter
• Part III: Functional Annexes
o Mass Care and Shelter
• Supporting Plans
o Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
o Emergency Operations Center Manual (includes EOC Position Checklists) o Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)
o Recovery Plan
o Emergency Public Information Plan
o Department Emergency Plans and other related procedures

THIS PLAN IS INTENDED TO BE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BY CITY OF WILLITS STAFF

PRIOR TO A MAJOR EMERGENCY OR DISASTER
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
4 September 2024

4.0 DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION
The City Manager, with the help of the City’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (EPC), reviews, revises, manages, and distributes the EOP. A biennial review of the EOP is best practice, but post-incident or postexercise evaluations, or changes in responsibilities, procedures, laws, or regulations can trigger modifications at any time.

The City Council periodically reviews and approves EOP Part I: Basic Plan as needed. Revisions are made to Parts II and III (Hazard Annexes and Functional Annexes), which do not require formal review. These annexes extend the EOP. City staff and key stakeholder organizations receive the EOP. It is also posted on the City’s website for public reference.

5.0 CITY MANAGER ADOPTION
This shall be the official “Emergency Operations Plan for the City of Willits” which supersedes earlier plans.

We should not interpret anything in this plan as limiting the use of good judgment and common sense in situations not anticipated or addressed by the elements of the plan or any of its annexes and appendices.

6.0 INTRODUCTION
The EOP for the City of Willits outlines authorities, organizational structures, and procedures used to coordinate activities related to local emergencies or disasters.

A variety of hazards, including natural disasters, human-caused events, technological failures, and pandemics, pose a risk to the City and the surrounding region.1 To ensure the City’s ability to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all potential hazards and critical incidents as much as possible, the EOP adopts an “all-hazards” approach.

The City of Willits is committed to the preservation of life, property, and the environment.

6.1 PURPOSE
The primary purpose of the EOP is to:
1) Provide the framework, concepts and policies that will ensure the effective management and coordination of the City’s response to major emergencies and disasters. 2) Show roles and responsibilities for City departments as they pertain to preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.
3) Codify the City’s understanding and adoption of state and federal policies and guidance2 through which operational coordination, mutual aid, and other requests for support are integrated. 4) Serve as a foundational document for supporting City plans, as well as support emergency plans of other governments, CBOs, and others (e.g., private businesses, etc.). 5) Follow state and federal laws and regulations such as the California Emergency Services Act. 3 1 The primary document that provides an assessment of local risk is the LHMP. 2 For example: This EOP is based on the functional elements of SEMS. SEMS is established by State Law (Chapter 1 of Division 2 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations). 3 California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
5 September 2024

6.2 SCOPE
The City’s EOP acts as the foundational document for its emergency management activities. The EOP Basic Plan and associated annexes outline specific departmental responsibilities, and all City resources stand ready for deployment as needed. To ensure adequate preparation, all City departments must actively take part in preparedness and planning activities. These activities include the development and review of departmental plans, policies, procedures, resource information, and contact information necessary to fulfill their assigned roles and obligations.

The EOP adopts the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) “Whole Community” approach to emergency management. It recognizes the roles of not only City resources but also special districts, NGOs, CBOs, faith-based organizations (FBO), private-sector businesses, educational organizations, and other stakeholders. The EOP aims to reflect the diverse support that residents, visitors, and businesses may need, including those with disabilities and others with access or functional needs. The City will consider people with disabilities, access, or functional needs in all aspects of its emergency planning.

6.3 LIMITATIONS
The EOP designs many of its elements for flexibility, allowing their use as needed to address a variety of emergency and non-emergency events. However, some activities need special activation or a formal disaster proclamation by the City Council. The EOP does not intend to outline procedures for routine incidents or minor emergencies that existing processes can adequately address.

The EOP lays out operational strategies and plans for handling inherently complex and potentially catastrophic events. City assets, resources, and departments may become vulnerable and overwhelmed.

Based on evolving needs and available resources, deviations from the organizational and response structures outlined in the EOP may be necessary. Keeping this in mind, the EOP aims to promote flexibility whenever possible and does not intend to limit the use of good judgment and common sense in matters not foreseen or adequately addressed by elements of the EOP and its associated annexes, appendices, or plans.

6.4 SITUATION (See Attachment 3)
Emergency management is based on an understanding of community risk. The City will undergo multiple hazard analysis processes per FEMA's “Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 201 (CPG 201).” This current best practice places risk into three categories: natural, technological (accidental), and human- caused (deliberate).

A summary sample of major hazards and threats can be found in Attachment 3 (Hazard Analysis) of this EOP. The City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) will contain detailed information about local geography, demographics, and potential hazards. The LHMP will be revised in 2025.

6.5 PLANNING ASSUMPTIONS
The following assumptions used during the development of the EOP and are recommended for the readers’ own plans:
• The City of Willits is susceptible to hazards and risks that may result in critical incidents. • Critical incidents include natural, technological, or human-caused emergencies and disasters. • Emergencies may occur at any time with little or no warning and may exceed the capabilities of local, state, federal, and tribal governments, and the private sector in the affected areas. • All City departments will take part in planning and preparedness activities as needed. • City personnel will train to perform the roles in which they are assigned. • The City’s EOC may be partially or fully activated to support operations during critical incidents.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
6 September 2024
• City personnel may be unable or unavailable to report to work or as assigned. • Non-essential City operations may be reduced or cancelled to prioritize resources. • The City will commit its resources to a reasonable degree before requesting mutual aid assistance. • Emergencies may result in casualties, fatalities and displace people from their homes. • Communications equipment and infrastructure may be damaged or disrupted. • Transportation infrastructure disruption may happen and access to critical facilities may be blocked. • Critical infrastructure and utilities (natural gas, water, and electricity) may be severely affected. • Residents, businesses, and other entities may need to be self-sufficient for one week or more. • More planning, resources, and support is needed to support people with disabilitiesand others with access and functional needs.

7.0 CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
Following state and federal laws, the City of Willits has officially adopted and integrated the following emergency management, response, and coordination systems:
• Incident CommandSystem (ICS)4
• Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS)5
• National Incident Management System (NIMS)6
Together, these operational systems outline how critical incidents, emergencies, and disasters are coordinated in the field, at the local level, and up through the county, region, state, and federal levels.

7.1 FIELD-LEVEL COORDINATION: ICS
Both SEMS and NIMS mandate that the City uses ICS to manage response activities in the field and in the EOC. ICS ensures common terminology, processes, and position titles, and allows subordinate positions to take on delegated functions (or tasks) to promote proper span of control and unity of command. ICS can adapt to any size incident and expand or contract as the needs of an incident change.

7.2 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE-LEVEL COORDINATION: SEMS
SEMS unifies all elements of California’s emergency management community into a single integrated structure, using the concepts and principles of both NIMS and ICS. The State requires jurisdictions to adopt its use. SEMS allows local communities to keep the authority and responsibility for managing and coordinating responses within their jurisdictions, while promoting situational awareness and facilitating the prioritization of resource requests.
4 More information can be found at http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/icsresource 5 State authority is to be found, in part, in California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code). California State and local jurisdictions use SEMS as outlined in California Code of Regulations (Title 19, Divisions 2, Chapter 1) and the California Government Code (§8607). 6 Federal authority is found in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121) and in Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 5, "Management of Domestic Incidents" and HSPD 8, "National Preparedness." The emergency management system used nationally isNIMS.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
7 September 2024
The five SEMS coordination levels expand outward from the impacted area at the field level, with each successive level standing for a larger geographic area.

The five coordination levels include:
1) Field Response,
2) Local Government,
3) Operational Area,
4) Regional,
5) and State.

7.2.1 Field Response
Field response includes on-scene activities and coordination, consistent with ICS, and includes the use of an Incident Command Post (ICP). Resource requests and situation reports move from the field to the next SEMS organizational level, either through participating response agencies orthe localEOC if activated.

7.2.2 Local Government
The City of Willits, as the local government, keeps the responsibility and authority for managing response activities within its jurisdiction. To support these efforts, the City may activate its EOC and Department Operations Centers (DOCs). The EOC provides agency coordination, provides logistical support, sets up common operating procedures, names overarching priorities, and prioritizes available resources.

Additionally, the EOC coordinates with the County Operational Area (OA)/County EOC.

7.2.3 Operational Area (OA)
The City of Willits is part of the Mendocino County OA and coordinates closely with the County Office of Emergency Services (OES). The City participates in County OA planning and, during a critical incident, coordinates with the OA through either the County OES or the County EOC, if activated.

The OA provides response coordination for all political subdivisions within the county’s geographic borders.

The OA coordinates response activities within the county’s geographic area through the County EOC, if activated. The OA also serves as a link to regional level and all other OAs within the region.

7.2.4 Regional
The State of California divides into three regions, each supporting Regional Emergency Operations Centers (REOC) to coordinate resource requests, support mutual aid, and promote situational awareness between their respective OAs. The City of Willits and the Mendocino County OA are within the Coastal Administration Region.

7.2.5 State
When required, California’s State Operations Center (SOC) activates to ease state agency response, mobilize mutual aid, and coordinate with other regions, states, and the federal government.

7.3 FEDERAL COORDINATION: NIMS AND NATIONAL RESPONSE FRAMEWORK (NRF) NIMS offers a comprehensive national framework for incident management applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across all functional disciplines. The adoption of SEMS satisfies most NIMS requirements applicable to the City of Willits, including the adoption of ICS. Other elements of NIMS outline coordination between federal agencies and the use of federal assets and resources.

The National Response Framework (NRF) is based on the premise that incidents are managed at the lowest City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
8 September 2024
jurisdictional level. The NRF provides the framework for federal interaction with state, local, tribal, private sector, and non-governmental entities in the context of domestic incident management to ensure prompt and effective federal support.

7.4 MUTUAL AID
The California Mutual Aid System runs within the framework of the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement (MMAA) and under the authority of the California Emergency Services Act. The system enables the mobilization of resources to and from emergency response agencies, local governments, OAs, regions, and the state with the intent to provide requesting agencies with adequate resources. Mutual aid is used by four primary response disciplines:
• Fire and Rescue
• Law Enforcement
• Coroner
• Emergency Management
The California Mutual Aid System includes six mutual aid regions to ease the coordination and flow of mutual aid requests. As part of the Coastal Administration Region, the Mendocino County OA and the City are part of Mutual Aid Region II.

The system includes discipline-specific mutual aid systems that work through designated mutual aid coordinators at the OA, regional, and state levels. Mutual aid requests are coordinated within their geographic area before unfilled requests are sent to the next level. See Figure 1 (Mutual Aid Request Process) below.

Mutual aid requests that do not fall into one of the discipline-specific mutual aid systems are overseen through the emergency services mutual aid system and by emergency management staff at the local government, OA, regional, and state levels.

The City will assume responsibility for the support of mutual aid personnel and their equipment.

Figure 1: Mutual Aid Request Process
7See the California Master Mutual Aid Agreement (Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code). 8 See the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

California Office of Emergency Services
STATE – Sacramento (Cal OES)
California Office of Emergency Services
REGION – Alameda (Region II)
County Operational Area
OPERATIONAL AREA –County
City of Willits

LOCAL GOVERMENT
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
9 September 2024

7.5 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION
The City’s emergency management organization includes:
• All officers and employees of the City
• All volunteer forces enrolled to aid the City during an emergency (properly registered Emergency Services Volunteers)
• All groups, organizations, and persons who (by agreement or operation of law) are charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in the City

7.5.1 Director of Emergency Services
The City Manager, acting as the City’s Director of Emergency Services, receives added authorities during a proclaimed “local emergency.” When the EOC activates during an emergency, the City Manager directs all aspects of the City’s emergency response and recovery operations and can delegate authority and tasks to staff. If the City Manager is absent, the City’s COOP/COG Plan allows designated staff to assume that role.

7.5.2 Assistant Director of Emergency Services
Willits can create the position of Assistant Director of Emergency Services, who reports to the City Manager. The Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (EPC) fills this role, directing the City’s daily preparedness activities, including planning, training, and exercises. With the help of department heads, the EPC helps in developing emergency plans, annexes, operating procedures, and other assigned powers and duties.

To fulfill this mandate, the EPC leads or coordinates planning, intelligence, and coordination, both internally and with allied agencies such as the County OES, the private sector, and the community.

This collaboration promotes, coordinates, and advances the four phases of emergency management:
preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

7.5.3 City Employees
Employees of the City are one of its greatest resources. The California Government Code designates all public employees as Disaster Services Workers (DSWs).9 Any employee of the City of Willits may be assigned to perform activities which promote the protection of public health and safety or the preservation of lives and property. These assignments may require service at locations,times, and under conditions that are significantly different than the normal work assignment and may continue into the recovery phase of the emergency.

As Disaster Service Workers, the City has set up the following two policies for its employees:
• If a no-notice emergency such as an earthquake during regular business hours, City employees are directed to remain at their workplace until released by the City Manager. Department heads may exercise discretion and release employees on a case-by-case basis in extraordinary circumstances.
• In the specific instance that an earthquake of magnitude 5.5 or greater occurs during nonbusiness hours and telephone service is disrupted, and if not contacted by mass media or alerting systems, non-public safety City employees are directed to report to work at their next scheduled shift. Employees will need to check local radio stations, secure their homes, and prepare to report for work.
9 Per California Government Code (Section 3100), “It is hereby declared that the protection of the health and safety and preservation of the lives and property of the people of the state from the effects of natural, manmade, or warcaused emergencies which result in conditions of disaster or in extreme peril to life, property, and resources is of paramount state importance requiring the responsible efforts of public and private agencies and individual citizens.

In furtherance of the exercise of the police power of the state in protection of its citizens and resources, all public employees are hereby declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.”
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
10 September 2024

8.0 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PHASES

8.1 PREPAREDNESS
The preparedness phase of emergency management involves activities undertaken before an emergency to enhance the City’s ability to coordinate, respond, and recover from a critical incident. These activities aim to support or improve capabilities used in the response or recovery phases. The City emphasizes emergency planning, training, and exercises, as well as public education and outreach in its preparedness activities. The City regularly conducts drills and exercises to confirm ongoing activities, find areas for improvement, and prioritize or justify future effort and funding.

8.1.1 Planning
Emergency planning encompasses a variety of plans at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Strategic plans include the EOP and its associated hazard-specific or functional annexes, while operational and tactical planning includes more detailed information such as standard operating procedures (SOP), checklists, personnel assignments, notification rosters, resource lists, and forms.

All City departments must take part in developing relevant strategic and operational plans and ensure that internal tactical planning meets the needs of their outlined roles and assigned goals. This participation includes developing department-specific SOPs needed to meet the goals outlined for each department.

8.1.2 Training
Training is a crucial component that affects preparedness and impacts the City's ability to respond to, and recover from, a critical incident. The City collaborates with City departments and other stakeholders to provide staff training.

The City actively manages training activities and distributes funding in relation to fluctuating needs, personnel turnover, and availability. In addition, the City consistently prioritizes training that promotes staff understanding and familiarity with the following concepts:
• ICS
• SEMS
• NIMS
• California Disaster Service Worker(DSW)
• EOC functions
The City can also partner with residents through organizations such as the Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies (COPE) program, Volunteer Fire Corps program, local businesses, CBOs, and other entities to develop and provide training and public safety public education.

Exercises serve as the primary tool for assessing preparedness activities and finding areas for improvement.

They allow all levels of personnel to simulate their response and recovery roles in a learning environment. The City adheres to the best practices of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), including the building block concept of seminars, small-scale tabletop exercises, functional exercises, and fullscale exercises.

8.1.3 Public Awareness and Education
The City and its partners actively promote public awareness and education to strengthen overall preparedness and community resilience. By providing community education, outreach, training, and coordination, the City enables community members and organizations to prepare for and meet their own needs adequately. By promoting self-reliance and individual preparedness, the City reduces the overall burden on limited resources and competing needs that appear during critical incidents.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
11 September 2024

8.2 RESPONSE
The response phase includes any actions taken at once before, during, or directly after a critical incident to minimize the potential or existing impacts of the incident.

8.2.1 Pre-Event Response
Some incidents may provide sufficient warning to allow for pre-event or precautionary measures. Depending upon the probability and likelihood of significant impacts, pre-event response activities may include:
1) Public Warning
2) Evacuations/ or Shelter in Place
3) Resource Mobilization
4) Staging
5) Mutual Aid Requests
6) Proclamation of a Local Emergency

8.2.2 Emergency Response
Emergency response activities are actions taken during or immediately after a critical incident to reduce actual impacts. While these activities are most often associated with traditional response agencies including law enforcement, fire protection, EMS, utilities, and Services & Facilities, the size and complexity of an incident may require robust support from more governmental agencies, NGOs, and other partners.

When coordinating emergency response activities and addressing competing needs and goals, the City has established the following broad response priorities:
1) Support Life and Safety
2) Protect Property and Infrastructure
3) Reduce Impacts to the Environment
Emergency response may also include activities related to short-term recovery and often overlaps with longterm recovery operations.

8.3 RECOVERY
The recovery phase includes short and long-term activities focused on returning the community to preincident conditions. In some instances when a state or federal disaster declaration is made, recovery activities include the critical task of identifying, documenting, and quantifying response, and recovery costs eligible for reimbursement.

8.3.1 Short-term Recovery
Short-term recovery operations begin during the response phase and may include activities such as the restoration of essential services, rapid debris removal, and the reestablishment of City services.

8.3.2 Long-term Recovery
Long-term recovery operations address extensive damage to infrastructure. Activities include the restoration and reconstruction of public facilities and disaster response cost recovery. Long-term recovery operations are addressed in the City’s Recovery Operations Plan (ROP).

8.3.3 Damage Assessment
Damage assessment activities involve finding, recording, compiling, and analyzing damage information to figure out the type of recovery help needed. Following major disasters, the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process is used to figure out preliminary eligibility for certain state and federal financial assistance City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
12 September 2024
and reimbursement programs.

8.3.4 Disaster Assistance Programs
If the disaster is significant enough to warrant a state and federal disaster declaration, additional state and federal assistance may become available.10 If determined to be eligible, the City and its residents may be able to participate in state and federal disaster assistance programs for the following:
• Individuals - may be eligible for loans and grants for housing assistance programs (for homeowners and renters), and uninsured disaster-related necessities (including private property, medical, dental, and transportation expenses). Other Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) programs including crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, and legal services, may beavailable.
• Businesses - may be eligible for low-interest loans to help with uninsured physical damage through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
• Government - aid may be available through state assistance under the California Disaster AssistanceAct (CDAA), and federal programs including the FEMA PublicAssistance (PA) Grant Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
• Non-profit Organizations - aid may be available through the state CDAA, as well as federal programs including FEMA PA Grant Program for eligible non-profit organizations.

8.3.5 Recovery Documentation
Documentation is key to recovering eligible emergency response and recovery costs. Damage assessment documentation will be critical in proving the basis for eligibility of disaster assistance programs. Various state and federal assistance programs require distinct types of documentation for eligible costs and in addition to structural damage, may include staff time, equipment, and materials used in response to the incident. City departments and agencies must find and support internal mechanisms for tracking and documenting proper costs for the maximum recovery of eligible reimbursement.

8.3.6 After Action Report
As part of the recovery phase, and in accordance with SEMS, the State of California requires any city and/or county proclaiming a local emergency for which the Governor proclaims a State of Emergency, to complete and transmit an after action report (AAR) to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) within 90 days of the incident period.

8.4 MITIGATION
The mitigation phase includes actions and measures taken to reduce the degree of long-term risk from natural and technological hazards. Whereas preparedness activities increase the City’s ability to respond to the impacts of a hazard, mitigation activities reduce the potential for those impacts in the future, thereby reducing overall risk.

The City participates in local and regional mitigation activities such as the development of risk assessments and mitigation plans. The City’s LHMP has detailed hazard assessments and potential mitigation strategies.

The City’s Comprehensive Plan (General Plan) also includes mitigation approaches and elements. 9 Note: a local disaster proclamation does not automatically warrant the provision of state or federal assistance. The City will have to qualify for these additional resources. Most disasters do not rise to this level of significance and often insurance is the only resource available.

8.5 WHOLECOMMUNITYAPPROACH
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
13 September 2024
The City actively plans for the unique needs of its residents, commuters, and visitors to ensure effective response and recovery from major emergencies and disasters. By adopting a “Whole Community” approach, the City promotes the inclusion of community partners, neighbors, and other stakeholders in all emergency management phases. This collaborative approach enhances the City’s resilience and preparedness, particularly for residents and visitors with disabilities and other access and functional needs.

8.5.1 Residents
Willits residents are essential in emergency management, as they are often the first responders – helping neighbors and family. The City recommends that residents prepare for disasters by taking first aid and CPR training, keeping disaster supplies stocked and in good condition, and safeguarding personal documents.

The COPE program further encourages self-sufficiency after an emergency. In a major disaster, residents may not have access to City services for days. Individual preparedness will ensure that the City’s limited resources can go where they are most needed. These actions will better prepare residents to evacuate or shelter-in-place for up to a week. Residents with disabilities and other access and functional needs should plan for emergencies. This includes arranging assistance for communication, health supplies, independence, support, and transportation.

8.5.2 Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies (COPE) (Sample of citizen-based group)
The COPE program encourages family, neighborhood, and community preparedness for emergencies such as earthquake, fire, flood and other major events by training individuals and families to be self-sufficient after an emergency. COPE also educates participants to have food, water, tools, and medical supplies to help family and neighbors survive even if electricity, gas, water, phones, and other utilities are disrupted.

8.5.3 People with Disabilities
People with disabilities may need additional planning and support, as required under the Stafford Act11 and the ADA of 199012. Covered disabilities are not always apparent and may include impairments of mobility, vision, and hearing as well as cognitive disorders and mental illnesses.

The City has a diverse population which includes people with disabilities. To meet the needs of these individuals, the City is committed to supporting efforts and activities designed to develop and improve capabilities in support of people with disabilities, including but not limited to:
• Notification and warning procedures (ex. non-verbal communications for the deaf and hard of hearing community)
• Evacuation, transportation, and sheltering considerations (ex. use of proper vehicles and transportation for those with mobility issues or special equipment) • Accommodations for service animals (ex. shelter or mass care settings when safety of others can be developed)
• Accessibility to information (ex. use of existing community and social networks to extend communications beyond social and traditional media systems) The City requires vendors and third-party vendors providing services in an emergency to follow Title II of the ADA. In addition, the City looks to integrate people with disabilities and their advocates directly into preparedness activities such as plan development and review. These efforts have included targeted outreach to publicize the development of this EOP and ask for input and participation in the subsequent development and review of associated operational annexes and appendices. 11 See Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121) 12 See Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat. 328 [1990]) City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
14 September 2024

8.5.4 Individuals with Access and Functional Needs
In addition to people with disabilities, the City recognizes that supplementary or adjusted support may also be needed to support those persons with access and functional needs. Access and functional needs are not necessarily related to a specific condition, diagnosis, or impairment and are based upon functional areas such as:
• Maintaining independence
• Effective communication
• Transportation
• Supervision
• Medical care
Individuals with access and functional needs may not have access to support networks outside of their immediate communities or may not be able to self-evacuate. As a result, they may have added needs before, during, and after an incident. Those with functional needs often include children, the elderly, tourists, and other segments of the population, including:
• People with disabilities
• People living in institutionalized settings
• People with limited English proficiency
• People without transportation
• People who are economically disadvantaged
The City collaborates with County Emergency Management and other organizations to improve resources for individuals with Access and Functional needs. When the City EOC is activated, an Access and Functional Needs Liaison may be established in the Management. The EOC Public Information unit will provide messaging in multiple formats and coordinate messaging with community stakeholder organizations. The City may use paratransit resources to conduct evacuations if needed.

8.5.5 Considerations for Pets and Other Animals
As a result of deficiencies in emergency planning uncovered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the federal government passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act in 2006 as an amendment to the Stafford Act. The PETS Act directs that state and local preparedness plans address the needs of individuals with pets and companion animals during a disaster or emergency.

The City includes considerations for pets and companion animals in its plans, as directed by the PETS Act.

Additional resources for evacuating larger animals may be available through the County although not required under the PETS Act

8.5.6 Private Sector
The City of Willits is home to a diverse business community including traditional retail, entertainment, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors. The business community serves as a foundation for economic prosperity and supports the City’s local population and visitors.

The City actively engages with the private sector to better understand their needs, identify resources, and develop partnerships. Many of the City’s private sector partners proactively address preparedness planning internally to minimize business disruptions, to support the wellbeing of their employees City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
15 September 2024
and offer their resources to the larger community. The City acknowledges this valuable support and will continue collaborative efforts with the private sector as an integral part of the City’s overarching emergency management program.

Much of the City’s critical infrastructure is owned or maintained by businesses and must be protected during a response to ensure a quick and complete recovery from an emergency. This includes communications, utilities, medical care facilities, transportation, and food supplies. These businesses provide valuable resources before, during and after an emergency and play a critical role in meeting the needs of those affected by an emergency.

The City recommends businesses to develop comprehensive emergency plans that include employee injury and illness prevention programs, business resumption and continuity of operations elements.

9.0 ALERT AND WARNING

9.1 EMERGENCY ALERTSYSTEM (EAS)
The EAS is a public warning system that may be used by authorities to provide emergency information and notification to citizens. Activation by request of the City Manager, Police Chief, Fire Chief, or EPC. This system allows use of existing media (radio, TV) resources to communicate to residents in case of a widespread emergency.

9.2 INTEGRATED PUBLICALERTANDWARNINGSYSTEM(IPAWS)
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is a modernization and integration of the nation's alert and warning infrastructure. IPAWS provides public safety officials with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies using the EAS, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and other public alerting systems from a single interface. Activation may be requested through the County OA.

9.3 ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY INFORMATION SYSTEMS
More emergency information systems or pathways are available to the City, including:
• City of Willits Emergency Information website: insert link • City of Willits Emergency Information Line:
• Local Media
• SocialMedia: insert link
• Future technology: insert link
The City also has various means to (1) notify, recall, and mobilize staff (including those off-duty) and (2) communicate and coordinate with such staff and other government and NGO partners.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
16 September 2024

10.0 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)
The City of Willits EOC serves as a centralized hub for emergency management coordination and decisionmaking during critical incidents, major emergencies, or disasters. When activated, it supports critical tasks related to communication, coordination, resource management, and executive leadership.

10.1 PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE EOC LOCATIONS
The primary EOC is in the Willits Police Department. The primary EOC is where key equipment for operations is stored, not limited to staffing vests, ID badges, radios, Satellite phones, and up-to-date copies of the EOP. Practice drills will be conducted in the EOC every two years or in the event of an update to the plan.

If the primary EOC becomes threatened, inoperable, or inaccessible, an alternate EOC may be established at another facility, such as the Little Lake Fire Station 54 at 74 E. Commercial Street.

10.2 EOC ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION
The EOC facility and equipment are regularly maintained and used by City EPC and other EOC staff for coordination and monitoring activities, even without formal activation (“steady state”). However, official EOC activation may occur based on specific needs and circumstances, including:
• Fieldresponse
• Pre-planned events
• Local Proclamation of Emergency
• Governor’s Proclamation of Emergency
• Presidential Declaration of a National Emergency
• State of War
EOC activation and notification criteria and procedures are contained in the City of Willits’s EOC Manual.

10.2.1 EOC Activation Authority
The EOC may be activated by the following City officials:
• City Manager
• Assistant City Manager
• Police Chief
• Other City Department heads in consultation with the EPC • Little Lake Fire District in consultation with the EPC

10.2.2 EOC Activation Levels
EOC activation levels are scalable, and staffing is decided by the EOC Director. Partners, including the County OA, are notified when the City’s EOC is activated. The City may also establish DOCs for specific departments (e.g., Services & Facilities, Water, etc.), as required to support field operations and coordinate other functions within their respective departments.

Similarly, the deactivation of the EOC will be scaled based on the decreasing needs of the city.

Appropriate EOC functions and roles will be demobilized as the situation permits.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
17 September 2024

10.3 EOC COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION
The EOC communicates and coordinates with internal stakeholders (field personnel, incident commanders, DOCs) and external partners (response agencies, critical infrastructure, and outside organizations). City EOC equipment supports communication via amateur band short-wave radio with City staff and partners.

10.3.1 Notification and Mobilization
When necessary, the City will notify needed emergency response personnel using available communications systems (information technology systems, two-way radios, etc.) and in accordance with applicable response plans, such as the EOC Manual, its Annexes, and department emergency plans.

10.3.2 Internal Communications and Coordination
EOC coordination with field elements occurs through relevant DOCs or directly with Incident Commanders.

Additionally, the City EOC will communicate and coordinate with the County OA EOC and other cities within the County OA. Each city, including Willits, will provide situational awareness and relevant resource status to the County OA EOC, and in turn the County OA EOC will push aggregated county-wide information back to each city.

Mutual aid systems are used for disciplines like law enforcement and fire suppression. In other cases, commonly known as single-point ordering, the requests will go from the City EOC Logistics section to the County OA EOC.

10.3.3 External Communications and Coordination
The City EOC also coordinates with special districts, utilities, volunteer organizations, and private agencies as needed. These agencies will communicate directly with the City and may provide a representative to the City EOC, as outlined in the City of Willits’s EOC manual. The level of involvement of special districts, public utilities, volunteer organizations, and private agencies will vary depending upon the type of incident.

EOC staff utilize existing voice and data systems with backup options like the Auxiliary Emergency Communications Service (AECS) or Satellite phone service in the event communication system failure.

10.4 COORDINATION WITH THE FIELD RESPONSE LEVEL
During a major emergency, field responders may activate the City EOC to support and coordinate the overall response using ICS. The most senior officer of the first responding agency will initially serve as the Incident Commander. The responding agencies will decide which agency and officer should assume Incident Command. The Incident Commander leads field coordination at the ICP.

Incident Commanders for Services & Facilities, water, fire, and police communicate with their respective DOCs, which will then coordinate with the City EOC. Incident Commanders may also report directly to their counterpart in the Operations Section of the City EOC. When the City EOC oversees Incident Command teams directly, it operates in a centralized coordination and support mode.

Agencies may set up a Unified Command at the field response level when more than one agency has incident jurisdiction or when incidents cross jurisdictional boundaries. This is an application of the NIMS/ICS.

Through the designated members of the Unified Command, agencies work together to set up their designated Incident Commanders at a single ICP and develop a common set of goals and strategies. This forms the basis for a single Incident Action Plan (IAP).

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
18 September 2024

10.5 COORDINATION WITH THE MENDOCINO COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA Coordination and communications should be set up between the activated City of Willits EOC and the Mendocino County OA EOC. For the County Operational Area, the common communications links to the City EOC are telephone, fax, cellular phone, email, radio, amateur band radio, and in-person representatives.

When developing response and recovery operations, Mendocino County uses an Operational Area Multi Agency Coordination System (MACS) concept. Mendocino County will include jurisdictional representatives in planning for jurisdictional support where possible.

Figure 2 below illustrates the distinct levels of government emergency response during large-scale disasters and their relationships under SEMS (lines of communications and coordination).

Figure 2: SEMS Communications/Coordination
Federal
(FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center)
State
(State Operations Center)
Region
(Coastal Region)
Operational Area EOC
(Mendocino County OES)
City of Willits EOC
Department
Operation Center
(DOC)
Incident Command (IC)
IC/UC = Incident Command or Unified Command at incident site(s)

FIELD RESPONSE
Unified Command (UC) ________________
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
19 September 2024

EOC ORGANIZATION
The EOC is organized by the five major functional areas outlined in SEMS:
• Management
• Planning/Intelligence
• Operations
• Logistics
• Finance/Administration
See the “City of Willits EOC Manual” for position descriptions. Key EOC positions are outlined in Figure 3 below.

FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION
Section Chief
Finance Director

LOGISTICS
Section Chief
Services & Facility Director

PLANNING/INTELLIGENCE
Section Chief
Community Development Director

OPERATIONS
Section Chief
Police Chief
Public Information Officer
• Media Center
• Rumor Control
Emergency Preparedness
Coordinator
• Agency Reps
• CBOs

MANAGEMENT
EOC Director
City Manager
Access & Functional Needs
Liaison
Law Enforcement Branch
• L.E. Operations
• Search and Rescue
• Fatalities Mgmt.

Fire and Rescue Branch
• Fire and Rescue Unit
• Emergency Medical
Unit
• Hazmat Unit
Construction/Engineering
Branch
• Utilities Unit
• Services & Facilities
Unit
• Damage/Safety
Assessment
Human Services
Advance Planning Unit
Documentation Unit
Situational Analysis Unit
Technical Specialists
Communications Branch
• Communications Unit
• Information Systems
Unit
Facilities Unit
• Personnel Unit
• Supply/Procurement
Unit
• Resource Tracking
Unit
• Transportation Unit
Time Keeping Unit
Cost Accounting Unit
Compensation and Claims
Unit
Purchasing Unit
Recovery Unit
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
20 September 2024

10.6 CITY DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EOC STAFFING
Table 2 (below) summarizes City department responsibilities for staffing key EOC functions.

Table 2: City Department EOC Function Responsibilities
Position
City
Manager
Asst. City
Manager/City Clerk
City Attorney
(Contract)
Finance Dept.Human
Resources
Planning Dept.Building Dept.IT (Contract)S&F EngineeringS&F MaintenanceS&F Water/WastewaterLittle Lake Fire Dist.Police EOC Director P S S S
Public Information Officer S P P P
Emergency Manager P P S
Legal Officer P S
Safety Officer S S
Access & Functional Needs S S S S
Operations Section Chief P P
Fire & Rescue P
Law Enforcement P
Services & Facilities S P P S
Water P S P
Care & Shelter S S S S
Planning & Intel Section Chief P
Situation Analysis S S P S
Damage Assessment S S P S S
GIS / Mapping P S S
Advance Planning S P S S
Logistics Section Chief P
Communications S S P
Supply/Procurement P
Transportation S P
Human Resources S S P P
Volunteers S S P
Facilities S S P P S
Resource Status P
Finance & Admin Section Chief S S P S
Payables P S
Time Keeping / Claims P S P
Documentation & Cost P P
P = Primary
S = Secondary
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
21 September 2024

11.0 KEY RESPONSE FUNCTIONS

11.1 SAFETY ASSESSMENT
The Planning/Intelligence Section conducts safety evaluations of affected buildings, structures, and areas, including landslides, following procedures outlined in ATC 20-2. Qualified City staff, mutual aid personnel, and volunteers working under the direction of the Building and Planning department and the Code Enforcement Division conduct safety evaluation operations. These operations consist of rapid, detailed, or engineering evaluations. Safety evaluation inspections will determine the safety of the structure/area for reentry and/or occupancy and will post appropriate red, yellow, or green placards.

Assessments should prioritize dams/water storage, essential services facilities, critical infrastructure facilities, transportation systems, and residential/commercial structures.

Following the safety assessment effort, damage assessment is conducted. Damage estimates communicate the impact’s severity and gauge the scope and quantity of resources needed to stabilize and restore the community. Multiple City departments, including Planning & Building, Transportation & Services & Facilities, Recreation & Parks, Housing and/or Community Services, and Water, will be involved in damage assessment efforts. A major emergency will require two key initial damage assessment efforts.

11.2 DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
Following the safety assessment effort, we conduct a damage assessment. We need damage estimates to communicate the impact’s severity and help gauge the scope and quantity of resources necessary to stabilize and restore the community. Multiple City departments, including Planning & Building, Services & Facilities, Recreation & Parks, and Water, will take part in the damage assessment efforts. In a major emergency, we conduct two key initial damage assessment efforts:

11.2.1 Initial Damage Estimate (IDE)
Developed in the first 72 hours of an event, the IDE is a rapid evaluation of buildings and infrastructure to provide an approximate estimate of the extent of damages within the impacted area. This includes an approximate number of impacted housing units, commercial properties, as well as impacts on infrastructure such as roads and utilities. The IDE includes an estimate of the monetary damages topublic and private infrastructure as well as the City’s response costs. The IDE can be developed by conducting windshield surveys, assembling reports from field staff, or using a computer model such as FEMA’s HAZUS system.

11.2.2 Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA)
After the IDE, the City will prepare a more deliberate and detailed inventory of damaged structures and infrastructure. A FEMA/Cal OES team will then visit to view damages first-hand and confirm the City’s damage inventory. The State uses the results of the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) to find if the situation is beyond the combined capabilities of the State and local resources and to verify the need for supplemental Federal aid. The PDA also shows any unmet needs that may require immediate attention.

This process could take a few days to a week depending on the severity of the event.14

11.2.3 Other assessments
City departments may also use internal damage assessment procedures for infrastructure elements such as TPW’s Post-Disaster Evaluations. The American Red Cross may also conduct an independent windshield damage survey to estimate the potential number of residents that may seek their services. Input from other stakeholders will be needed to develop a full damage assessment (ex. school districts). 13 See the Cal OES Safety Assessment Program 14 See also the FEMA Damage Assessment Manual, 2016 City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
22 September 2024

11.3 WATER AND WASTEWATER OPERATIONS
Potable water serves as a fundamental element of the critical infrastructure for City residents and acts as the primary source of water for fire suppression. The Water Department assesses damage to the system, prioritizes the supply of available water, and ensures the safety of the water provided. In an emergency, the key response actions for potable water include:
• Monitor dams
• Secure water leaks
• Maintain supply and pressure for fire suppression
• Prioritize supply for critical functions including medical services and mass care & shelter operations • Monitor storage levels
• Monitor pump status
• Make system repairs
• Provide analytical water sampling testing and certification services • Develop boil water notices and other safety communications as needed Similarly, the Wastewater Department provides critical wastewater collection and treatment services to the City’s public and environmental health. The inspection of sanitary/treatment of wastewater is critical and should be conducted as needed. In an emergency, the key response actions for wastewater include:
• Document overflow locations
• Locate and assess damaged collection system pipe
• Monitor lift stations
• Maintain treatment plant operations
• Manage flow diversions if necessary
• Manage all non-storm water runoff into waterways
• Make system repairs
• Provide analytical wastewater sampling and testing services • Continue to regulate commercial discharges
• Continue to provide recycled water delivery to users

11.4 EMERGENCY DEBRIS CLEARANCE
The Services & Facilities Department clears debris from all public facilities and roadways in an emergency to allow for emergency vehicle access. This is distinct from the more deliberate debris management effort which sorts, removes, and disposes of the debris.

The “Mendocino County Operational Area Catastrophic Earthquake Debris Removal Plan” outlines the eligibility and administrative procedures for applying for federal grants to assist in defraying costs incurred in performing emergency debris clearance, in accordance with the State Disaster Assistance Procedural Manual and the FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide.15 15 The FEMA Public Assistance Guide https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/111781 City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
23 September 2024

11.5 MASS CARE & SHELTER
The City of Willits acts on behalf of the health, welfare, and safety of its residents. In a major emergency or disaster, the City expands the scope and level of services it provides to its residents. The City may partner with non-governmental and community-based organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, to quickly provide the best possible resources to those with the greatest need. However, the City retains the primary responsibility for the care of its residents.

Mass care provides unique services and resources needed by large numbers of residents affected by an emergency or disaster. These include potable water, food, sanitation, clothing, communications, information, household pet care, social services, and behavioral health services.

Shelter provides short-term housing services for those whose homes have been damaged or for those who cannot return home.

Recreation and Parks leads the coordination of care and shelter services. A variety of other City staff, volunteers, community organizations, and vendors will be engaged to identify needs and deliver resources.

Mass Care and Shelter operations must integrate and provide resources for individuals with Access and Functional Needs.16
The Mass Care & Shelter Annex to this plan contains additional policies and procedures. 16 See also FEMA’s Guidance Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters, 2010
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
24 September 2024

12.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following lists summarize the primary and significant disaster response roles and responsibilities for each City department and stakeholder organization. To the extent resources are available, departments may help other departments.

12.1 CITY ATTORNEY
• Support proclamations of local emergency
• Assess City operations and provide legal counsel as needed

12.2 ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
• Facilitate and administer proclamations of local emergency • Oversee preservation of vital records
• Monitor continuity of government
• Administer loyalty oath to Disaster Service Worker volunteers as needed

12.3 CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
• Coordinate incident management and response efforts
• Establish response priorities
• Issue mission assignments
• Authorize proclamations of local emergency
• Lead incident action planning
• Direct resources and staff
• Develop and maintain communication with Mayor and City Councilmembers • Lead emergency public information
• Manage media and community relations

12.4 CITY CLERK
• Assist with proclamations of local emergency
• Assist with preservation of vital records
• Assist with continuity of government
• Administer loyalty oath to Disaster Service Worker volunteers as needed

12.5 FINANCE
• Provide emergency procurement support for life-saving and emergency protective measures • Provide resource support (facility space, office equipment/supplies, contracting services,etc.) • Assist in establishing multipurpose staging areas
• Anticipate, obtain, and track resources for city staff, mutual aid resources, and volunteers • Develop financial mechanisms and contracts to support procurement • Oversee staff time-keeping
• Oversee compensation and claims
• Provide fiscal oversight and track expenses

12.6 FIRE
• Conduct wildland, rural, and urban firefighting operations • Conduct EMS operations and liaison with County EMS regarding hospital functions • Lead mass casualty/fatality management
• Conduct Search and Rescue operations
• Conduct hazardous materials response operations
• Support emergency public warning as needed
• Activate and coordinate EOC operations
• Conduct assessment of facilities with underground storage tanks with fuel • Conduct assessment of facilities with hazardous materials • Lead Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid coordination
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
25 September 2024
• Lead Emergency Management Mutual Aid (EMMA) coordination • Support damage assessment efforts
• Provide incident planning and management support as needed • Activate volunteers in the Auxiliary Emergency Communications Service (AECS) as needed

12.7 HUMAN RESOURCES
• Protect, restore, and sustain City staff
• Develop and coordinate human resources including contractors • Recruit, screen, provide, and track volunteers
• Identify any employee needs (ex. childcare, shelter)

12.8 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
• Protect, restore, and sustain City cyber and information technology resources • Oversee communications within the incident management and response structures • Coordinate with telecommunications service providers
• Restore and repair telecommunications infrastructure
• Supports GIS mapping and data management

12.9 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
• Manage and conduct post-event city facility safety assessments • Manage structural safety assessment function and establish structure re-entry standards • Coordinate and direct SAP resources
• Lead damage assessment efforts

12.10 POLICE
• Conduct law enforcement operations
• Lead evacuation operations
• Conduct emergency public warning as needed
• Provide facility and resource security
• Establish liaison with Coroner
• Lead Law Enforcement Mutual Aid coordination
• Conduct security planning and technical resourceassistance • Impose and enforce curfew as directed
• Provide public safety and security support
• Provide traffic control
• Provide support to access, traffic management, and crowd control at mass carefacilities

12.11 SERVICES & FACILITIES
• Conduct infrastructure protection and emergency repair • Conduct infrastructure restoration
• Support evacuation operations including individuals requiring assistance • Establish and support movement restrictions
• Conduct debris clearance and manage debris operations • Conduct flood fight operations
• Coordinate restoration/recovery of TPW Electrical Infrastructure • Lead Services & Facilities Mutual Aid coordination
• Provide engineering services and construction management • Provide facility repairs and maintenance in support of mass care and emergency shelter operations
• Coordinate with CalTrans regarding state and federal highways • Restore transportation infrastructure
• Support damage assessment efforts
• Manage City facilities and coordinate use of non-City facilities • Supervise transit safety and accessibility
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
26 September 2024
• Support transportation function

12.12 WATER/WASTEWATER
• Coordinate potable water system resources for prioritized public safety operations • Monitor potable water quality and perform sampling/testing as needed • Restore/maintain water and wastewater infrastructure
• Restore/maintain wastewater treatment plant operations • Coordinate with Mendocino County Water Agency regarding aqueduct operations within the City • Provide potable water in support mass care operations as possible • Support damage assessment efforts
• Ensure compliance with regulatory permits

12.13 CITY COUNCIL/MAYOR
• Support public information efforts as needed
• Support community engagement
• Attend public meetings as needed
• Review potential or threatened litigation as needed
• Serve as a liaison with other city, county, state, and/or federal representatives as needed • Review and approve the Proclamation of Local Emergency • Visit impacted areas, shelters, and other temporary facilities • Review requirements for special legislation and development of policy • Consider short- and long-term recovery staff recommendations City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
27 September 2024

13.0 EMERGENCY PROCLAMATIONS/DECLARATIONS

13.1 LOCAL PROCLAMATION
The State of California Government Code allows a city council, county, or an official appointed by ordinance adopted by the governing body to proclaim a local emergency.17 If the City of Willits finds that local resources may not be sufficient to manage the effects of an emergency, it can proclaim a local emergency. The Willits City Council has authorized the City Manager, as the Director of Emergency Services, to issue a proclamation of local emergency when the City Council is not in session.

This EOP includes a sample proclamation as an attachment (Attachment 2). Such a proclamation of local emergency becomes invalid after seven days unless the City Council ratifies it. To qualify for assistance under the CDAA, proclamations must be made within 10 days of occurrence and must be renewed every 30 days until termination.

A local proclamation of emergency empowers the City Manager and the Director of Emergency Services to take necessary measures to protect and preserve public health and safety and supports requests for state and federal help. A local proclamation communicates the severity of the emergency to City residents, staff, and other stakeholders. It also grants City staff additional powers and authorities to enhance the speed and effectiveness of City response activities.18
A local proclamation of emergency does not automatically qualify the city for state or federal disaster assistance. The City can proclaim a local emergency and request a gubernatorial (state) or presidential (federal) disaster proclamation/declaration simultaneously. See Attachment 2 for sample emergency proclamations.

Mendocino County can proclaim an emergency independently from the City. Their proclamation may also qualify the City for future participation in state or federal disaster response/recovery efforts.

13.2 STATE OF EMERGENCY
After proclaiming a local emergency, if the governing body of the City determines that local resources are insufficient to mitigate the situation, it may request by letter or resolution that the Governor proclaim a state of emergency19 in the area to fully commit state and mutual aid assistance and provide resources to assist the local government.

To support its request for a gubernatorial proclamation, the City must send an estimate of damage and financial loss to Cal OES through the Mendocino County OA as quickly as possible. Cal OES considers estimates of loss when deciding to proclaim a state of emergency and request a presidential declaration of emergency or disaster. The City must forward a copy of the request for a Governor’s proclamation, with the following supporting data, to the Mendocino County OA Coordinator for transmission to the Cal OES Director:
• Copy of the local emergency proclamation
• Initial Damage Estimate (IDE) summary that estimates the severity and extent of the damage Cal OES prepares a recommendation for the Governor’s action. If the action recommends a Governor’s proclamation, Cal OES prepares the proclamation. The Governor can also proclaim a State of Emergency without a local request if conditions of extreme peril threaten the safety of persons and property in the state, or if emergency conditions exceed the emergency response capacity and capabilities of local authorities. 17 See California Government Code (Sections 8630-8634) authorizing local government proclamations and Willits Municipal Code, authorizing the City Manager or Director of Emergency Services to declare a local proclamation of emergency, if the City Council is not in session. 18 See Emergency Proclamations: A Quick Reference Guide for Local Government, California OES, 2014 19 See California Government Code (Sections 8625-8629) authorizing actions and power of the Governor to declare a State of Emergency.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
28 September 2024

13.3 STATE OF WAR EMERGENCY
In addition to declaring a State of Emergency, the Governor can proclaim a State of War Emergency20 whenever the state or the nation is attacked by an enemy of the United States, or upon receipt by the state of a warning from the federal government indicating that such an enemy attack is probable or imminent. The provisions of the Governor granted under a State of War Emergency are the same as those granted under a State of Emergency.

13.4 PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION
Following the proclamation of a State of Emergency, the Cal OES Director may recommend that the Governor request a Presidential Declaration of a major disaster under the authority of Public Law 93-288, with or without the City’s request.21 The Governor submits the request to the President through FEMA. The Governor's request to the President is sent through FEMA. Supplementary justification data may be needed to go with the state and local proclamations and initial damage estimate. Note: A Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster is necessary to access the bulk of federal disaster assistance programs.

13.5 OTHER POWERS
Other local, state, and federal authorities such as public health emergencies or quarantines may grant broad powers to certain government officials to restrict movement or impose other restrictions in proclaimed emergencies.22

13.5.1 Curfew
The City Council, or an authorized individual, holds the primary responsibility for ordering an evacuation, quarantine, curfew, or other travel restriction during an emergency. 23 This authorization could take the form
of an enacted ordinance, resolution, or order. Depending on the disaster’s intensity and the level of damage sustained, curfews may be started as a crime prevention measure. The City Council decides whether to implement a curfew and its duration, but it should coordinate such curfews through the Mendocino County OA. Curfews may be implemented city-wide or within specific areas, depending on the emergency.

The Chief of Police also has the authority to enforce a curfew. For the suppression of riots, public tumult, disturbance of the peace, or resistance against the laws or public authorities in the lawful exercise of their functions, the Chief of Police has the same powers and protection as sheriffs under general law. Specifically, the Sheriff, or in this case the Chief of Police, must prevent and suppress any affrays, breaches of the peace, riots, and insurrections that come to their knowledge, and investigate committed public offenses. The Sheriff, or the Chief of Police, also has the responsibility to close areas to the public and consequently order an evacuation.24

13.5.2 Fire Marshal
In accordance with the California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9 the Fire Code Official/Fire Marshal is authorized to enforce provisions of the Fire Code and to render interpretations of the Fire Code, and to adopt policies, procedures, rules and regulations in order to clarify the application of those code provisions related to structures, processes, premises and safeguards regarding all of thefollowing:

1. The hazard of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling, or use of structures, materials, or devices.
20 See California Government Code (Sections 8620-8624) outlining the powers of the Governor under a State of War Emergency
21 See Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act (Public Law 93-288) as the statutory authority for most federal disaster response activities.
22 See Legal Guidelines for Controlling Movement of People and Property During an Emergency, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, 1999 23 California Government Code Section 26602
24 California Penal Code Sections 409, 409.5, 409.6
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
29 September 2024

2. Conditions hazardous to life, property, or public welfare in the occupancy of structures or premises.

3. Fire hazards in the structure or on the premises from occupancy operation.

4. Matters related to the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire suppression or alarm systems.

5. Conditions affecting the safety of fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

While the Fire Marshal’s authority does not expand in a proclaimed local emergency, their code enforcement efforts may be used to ensure public safety throughout the City except for Single Family Dwellings.

13.5.3 Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPA)
The County Hazardous Materials unit is the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) for the City of Willits.

As the CUPA, they regulate and enforces all laws that provide protection from hazardous waste and hazardous materials on behalf of five State agencies; Department of Toxic Substance Control, Water Board, Cal EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), State Fire Marshal’s Office and Office of Emergency Service.

Depending on the nature of the emergency or disaster, the department may gain access to facilities to ensure there are no threats to public safety or the environment.

14.0 CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT
The COG is an essential function of emergency management and is vital during an emergency/disaster situation. The COG is defined as the preservation, maintenance, or reconstitution of the civil government's ability to carry out its constitutional responsibilities. All levels of government share a constitutional responsibility to preserve the life and property of their citizens. The California Government Code and the Constitution of California provide the authority for state and local government to reconstitute itself in the event incumbents are unable to serve.25
For more detailed information see the City of Willits COOP Plan.

14.1 LINES OF SUCCESSION
When a role or function is essential to the City's ability to complete its critical missions, a successor must be named to assume the duties and responsibilities of that role. The COG lines of succession for selected essential City government positions are listed below:

14.1.1 Mayor
• Vice Mayor
• Stand By Officers

14.1.2 City Manager (Director of Emergency Services)
• Assistant City Manager
• Chief of Police

14.1.3 Chief of Police
• Lieutenant
• Sergeant
The City’s COOP details the relevant local and state authorities and processes for lines of succession.

The plan also further shows the lines of succession for City Council members, the Mayor, and all key City staff positions.
25 California Government Code Sections 8635-8644
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
30 September 2024

14.2 ESSENTIAL FACILITIES: ALTERNATE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT The primary seat of the City of Willits local government is:

City of Willits
111 E Commercial Street
Willits, CA 95490
Phone: 707-459-4601
Subject to the needs of the City and the situation and conditions present, an alternate site will be selected.

14.3 PRESERVATIONOFVITALRECORDS
City leadership will need certain vital records during a disaster. Vital records are the documents needed to continue the mission of City Departments and agencies during and after a disaster. The records will aid in providing services both to internal City departments and external customers, such as citizens, contractors, other government entities. Example documents may include:
• Public Records
• Computer system back-ups/servers
• Order of succession ordnances or resolutions
• Plans, policies, and procedures for critical processes • Payroll information
• Contracts and leases
• Legal and financial records
• Insurance documents
Protection of, and access to these and other vital records requires planning and is coordinated by the Willits City Clerk. Each City department handles identifying vital records, coordinating with the City Clerk, and assigning internal responsibility for their preservation.

City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
31 September 2024
ATTACHMENT 1: AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES

LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES
Per Willits Municipal Code, this EOP put into effect under the authority of the City Manager and adopted by the City Council.

The following authorities and references are applicable:
• Willits Emergency Organization and Functions, STATE AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES State authority is found, in part, in California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code). California state and local jurisdictions use SEMS as outlined in Chapter 1 of Division 2 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations and the California Government Code §8607 et sec.

The following authorities and references are also applicable:
• Standardized Emergency Management System Regulations: California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 2, Chapter 1
• Disaster Assistance Act Regulations: California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 2, Chapter 6 • Local Emergency Prevention Measures for County Health Official: California Health and Safety Code §101040
• California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement • CaliforniaDisaster Assistance Act
• Orders and Regulations that may put into effect by the Governor during a State of Emergency or a State of War Emergency

FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES
Federal authority is found in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 (Public Law 93-288), Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, “Management of Domestic Incidents” and Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, “National Preparedness”. The emergency management system used nationally is NIMS.

The following authorities and references are applicable:
• Robert T. Stafford Emergency Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. §5121 et seq., as amended)
• Code of Federal Regulations: Title 44, Part 206
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, Management of Domestic Incidents, National Incident Management System, February 28, 2003
• National Response Framework, Second edition, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, July 2014
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
32 September 2024
ATTACHMENT 2: SAMPLE PROCLAMATIONS
PROCLAMATION NO. 2024-

PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY BY DIRECTOR OF

EMERGENCY SERVICES
WHEREAS, Section 2.44.100 of the City of Willits Municipal Code empowers the Director of Emergency Services (City Manager) to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency when said City is affected or likely to be affected by a public calamity and the City Council is not in session, and;
WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Willits does hereby find; That conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the City, caused by
which began at a.m./p.m. on
(fire, flood, storm, mudslides, torrential rain, earthquake, drought, or other causes) the day of , 20 , and;
That these conditions are, or are likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, and facilities of the City; and
That the City Council of the City of Willits is not in session and cannot immediately be called into session;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY PROCLAIMED that a local emergency now exists throughout the said city; and
IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of said local emergency the powers, functions, and duties of the emergency organization of this city shall be those prescribed by state law, by ordinances, and resolutions of this City, and by the City of Willits Emergency Operations Plan, as approved by the CityCouncil on .

That this emergency proclamation shall expire in 7 days after issuance unless confirmed and ratified by the governing body of the City of Willits.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the CITY OF WILLITS to be affixed this day of 20 .

City Manager - Director of Emergency Services
ATTEST:

City Clerk
33 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
PROCLAMATION NO. 2024-

PROCLAMATION REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR PROCLAIM

A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THAT THE GOVERNOR REQUEST

A PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF A MAJOR DISASTER
WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services of the City of Willits (City Manager) found that due to ______________________________, which commenced on the ____________________, a condition of extreme peril to life and property did exist in the City of Willits, and
WHEREAS, in accordance with state law and Willits Municipal Code, the Director of Emergency Services proclaimed the existence of a local emergency throughout said City effective the day of ___________, 20 , and
WHEREAS, it has now been found that local resources are unable to cope with the effect of said emergency;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that a copy of this
proclamation be forwarded through the Director of the Office of Emergency Service to the Governor of California with the request that he proclaim the City of Willits to be in a state of emergency; and that he authorize assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act; and further that the Governor request a Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that , is designated as
the local Hazard Mitigation Coordinator of the City of Willits for the purpose of assessing damage within said county and consulting with Federal/State survey teams about hazard mitigation actions.

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that , City Manager, is
hereby designated as the authorized representative of the City of Willits for public assistance and that , City Manager, is hereby designated as the
authorized representative of the City of Willits for individual assistance for the purpose of receipt, processing and coordination of all inquiries and requirements necessary to obtain available state and federal assistance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the CITY OF WILLITS to be affixed this day of 20 .

City Manager - Director of Emergency Services
ATTEST:

City Clerk
34 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
ATTACHMENT 3: HAZARD ANALYSIS
The City of Willits is vulnerable to a wide range of threats and recognizes that the planning process must address each hazard that threatens the City. There are three broad categories of hazards: (1) natural, (2) technological or human-caused, and (3) national security. The natural hazards and technological or man- made hazards include the following:

Natural Hazards
• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Wildland or interface fires
• Landslides
• Extreme weather/storm
• Public health emergency
Technological/Man-made Hazards
• Dam or water storage failure
• Hazardous materials
• Mass casualty incident
• Building collapse or explosion
• Train/Bus accident
• Airplane crash
• Civil disturbance
• Active shooter/terrorism
• Cyber incident
• Natural gas line and electrical failure
Earthquakes
In 1906, the bay area was devastated by an earthquake on the San Andreas Fault, measuring

8.2 on the Richter scale. The California Geological Survey estimates the probability of a 7.0 or larger earthquake at 62% in northern California before 2050.

Winter Storms
The city is subjected to winter storms yearly, sometimes severe storms which cause major problems from high winds and heavy rains. Downed trees and power lines resulting in power disruption, localized flooding and some street closures disrupt the normal operations of the City.

Dam Failures
There are dams located nearby, potentially directly affecting the City of Willits. The failure of any of these dams, while not necessarily a significant threat to human lives, could result in flooding homes and businesses, significantly disrupting the activities of the citizens of Willits and resulting in extensive damage to structures and infrastructure.

Wildland or Urban Interface Fires
With droughts and changing weather patterns, wildland and urban interface fires are becoming more common and more difficult to control.
35 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
Natural Gas Underground Lines and Electrical Power Failure PG&E provides natural gas and electrical power to and throughout the City of Willits. The city is served by a high-pressure gas main which runs through several areas of the city.

Hazardous Materials
The threat from hazardous materials has increased significantly in the City of Willits by the use, storage, and transportation of hazardous materials into, and through the city. Two major highways, US 101, and SR 20, carry hazardous materials tankers and trucks through the City of Willits.

Detailed natural hazard analysis is available in the City’s LHMP. Table A3-1 outlines notable threats and hazards and the corresponding potential for occurrence and severity. This is subject to change.

Table A3-1: Potential Hazards – Frequency and Severity
Hazard
Frequency of Occurrence Severity of Potential Impacts
Infrequent Sometimes Frequent Low Moderate High
Dam Failure ■ ■
Earthquake
- Magnitude <5
■ ■
Earthquake
- Magnitude >5
■ ■ ■
Wildland Urban
Interface Fire
■ ■ ■
Flood ■ ■ ■
Hazardous Materials
Release
■ ■ ■
Landslide ■ ■ ■
Civil Disturbance ■ ■
Extreme Weather ■ ■ ■
Aircraft Crash ■ ■
Train Accident ■ ■ ■ ■
Mass Casualty Incident ■ ■ ■
Building Collapse ■ ■ ■
Active Shooter/
Terrorist Attack
■ ■ ■
Significant Cyber
Attack/Disruption
■ ■ ■ ■
Pandemic/Public Health ■ ■ ■ ■
Gas and Electrical
Failure
■ ■ ■ ■
36 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
ATTACHMENT 4: ACRONYMS
AAR After Action Report
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
AECS Auxiliary Emergency Communications Services (Amateur Radio) ARC American Red Cross
Cal OES California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services CBO Community-based Organization
CDAA California Disaster Assistance Act
COG Continuity of Government
COOP Continuity of Operations Plan
COPE Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies
CUPA Certified/Unified Program Agencies
DOC Department Operations Center
DSW Disaster Service Worker
EAS Emergency Alert System
EOC Emergency Operations Center
EOP Emergency Operations Plan
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EPC Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
FBO Faith-based Organization
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
HMGP Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
HSEEP Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program IAP Incident Action Plan
ICP Incident Command Post
ICS Incident Command System
IPAWS Integrated Public Alert and Warning System
JFO Joint Field Office
LBRICS Low Band Regional Inner-City System
LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
MACS Multi Agency Coordination System
NCRIC Northern California Regional Intelligence Center
NGO Non-Governmental Organizations
37 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
NIMS National Incident Management System
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOC National Operations Center
NRF National Response Framework
OA Operational Area
OES Office of Emergency Services
PA Public Assistance
PDA Preliminary Damage Assessment
PIO Public Information Officer
PETS Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, 2006 PG&E Pacific Gas & Electric
REOC Regional Emergency Operations Center
ROP Recovery Operations Plan
SAP Safety Assessment Program
SBA U.S. Small Business Administration
SEMS Standardized Emergency Management System
SOC State Operations Center
SOP Standard Operating Procedures
UASI Urban Area Security Initiative
USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture
WEA Wireless Emergency Alerts
38 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
ATTACHMENT 5: GLOSSARY
Action Plan
A plan prepared in a Disaster Field Office, Emergency Operations Center, Unified Command Center, or Incident Command Post, having the emergency response goals of a specific SEMS level reflecting overall priorities and supporting activities for a designated period.

Concept of Operations
A general notion of the methods agencies uses to organize their response to disasters (such as mutual aid and SEMS). Disasters typically progress through identifiable phases and certain responses are appropriate during each of these phases.

Disaster Service Worker (DSW)
Any persons registered with a disaster council or Cal OES to provide disaster service without pay. Disaster service workers include public employees, registered volunteers and persons pressed into service during an emergency by persons authorized to command such services.

Emergency (Federal Definition – see also Local Emergency and State of Emergency) Any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high-water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion or other catastrophe in any part of the United States which requires federal emergency assistance to supplement state and local efforts to save lives and protect public health and safety or to avert or lessen the threat of a major disaster.

Emergency Management
The provision of overall operational control or coordination of emergency operations at each level of the California emergency organization, whether by the actual direction of field forces or by the coordination of joint efforts of governmental and private agencies.

Emergency Manager
An individual duly appointed by state agencies, counties, cities and counties and cities of the State of California, following state authority, adopted ordinance, by resolution as provided for by ordinance, or section §26622 of the Government Code.

Emergency Organization
The operational forces considered necessary to meet the conditions of a local emergency. All officers and employees of this City, together with those volunteer forces enrolled to aid them during an emergency, and all groups, organizations and persons who may by agreement or operation of law, including persons pressed into service under the provisions of this title, be charged with duties incident to the protection of life and property in this City during such emergency, shall constitute the City Emergency Organization.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
A centralized location from which emergency operations are directed and coordinated.

Federal Assistance (Federal definition)
Aid to disaster victims or state or local governments by federal agencies under the Federal Disaster Relief Act (Public Law 93-288) and other statutory authorities of federal agencies.

Hazardous Material Incident
Any release of a material (during its manufacture, use, storage, or transportation) which can pose a risk to health, safety, and property. Areas at risk include facilities that produce, process, transport or store hazardous material, as well as all sites that treat, store, and dispose of hazardous materials.

Incident Command System (ICS)
The nationally used standardized on-scene emergency management concept specifically designed to allow 39 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
its user(s) to adopt any integrated organizational structure equal to the complexity and demands of single or multiple incidents without hindrance by jurisdictional boundaries. The ICS is the combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications working within a common organizational structure, with responsibility for the management of resources to effectively carry out statedobjectives.

Local Emergency (State definition)
The duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a county, city and county, or city, caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, earthquake or other conditions which are, or are likely to be, beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of a political subdivision and require the combined forces of other political subdivisions to combat.

Major Disaster (Federal definition) – see also Emergency Any hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, drought, fire, explosion or other catastrophe, which, in the determination of the President, causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under the Federal Disaster Relief Act.

Mass Care
The provision of shelter, water, food, emergency first aid, sanitary facilities, bulk distribution of emergency items, and disaster welfare information.

Master Mutual Aid Agreement
The California Disaster and Civil Defense Master Mutual Aid Agreement entered into by and among the State of California, its various departments and agencies and the various political subdivisions of the State.

The agreement provides for support of one jurisdiction by another.

Mitigation
Pre-event planning and other actions which lessen the effects of potential disasters. (See also Comprehensive Emergency Management.)
Mutual Aid
A statewide system, developed under the authority of the California Emergency Services Act, designed to ensure that adequate resources, facilities, and other support are provided to jurisdictions whenever their own resources prove to be inadequate to cope with a given situation.

Mutual Aid Region
A subdivision of the state emergency services organization was established to coordinate mutual aid and other emergency operations.

National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Established by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, NIMS is the mandated system for all states and subdivisions as well as the federal government to respond to disasters including enemy attacks.

Office of Emergency Services (California) (Cal OES)
Part of the Governor’s Office, the primary state agency responsible for the coordination and administration of statewide operations to support emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

Operational Area (OA)
An intermediate level of the state emergency organization, consisting of a county and all political subdivisions within the county.

Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA)
The PDA is used to figure out the impact and scale of damage caused by the disaster event and resulting unmet needs of the public sector and community. Joint Cal OES / FEMA PDA teams 40 September 2024
City of Willits
Emergency Operations Plan – 2024
will visit the impacted area to verify reported damages and identify any unmet needs.

Public Information Officer (PIO)
An official responsible for releasing information to the public through the news media.

Regional Emergency Operations Center (REOC)
The REOC is the first level facility of the California Office of Emergency Services to manage a disaster. It provides a single consistent emergency support staff working from a fixed facility, responsive to the needs of the operational areas and coordinates with the State of California Operations Center.

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief & Emergency Assistance Act, (Public Law 93-288 as amended) Gives the President broad powers to supplement the efforts and available resources of state and local governments in fulfilling their responsibilities to alleviate suffering and damage resulting from declared emergencies and major disasters.

Safety Evaluation (Assessment)
State-managed program using volunteers and mutual aid resources to provide professional engineers, architects, and certified building inspectors to aid local governments in safety evaluation of their built environment in the aftermath of a disaster. Evaluations are conducted following Applied Technology Council (ATC) publications 20, 20-1, and 4526.

Shelter
A facility and/or site with an existing structure or requiring the construction of a temporary structure using non-traditional material (e.g., tents, open air) for the purpose of providing relief and services to affected populations.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
A set of specific instructions for departments, agencies, and individuals to function in field or EOC positions.

Standardized Emergency Management Systems (SEMS)
The group of principles for coordinating state and local emergency response in California. SEMS provides for a multiple level emergency response organization and eases the flow of emergency information and resources within and between the organization levels.

State Coordinating Officer
The person appointed by the Governor to coordinate and work with the federal coordinating officer.

State of Emergency (State definition)
According to §8558 (b) of the Emergency Service Act, a State of Emergency means: “Other duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property with the State caused by such conditions as air pollution, fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, drought, sudden and severe energy shortage, plant or animal infestation or disease, the Governor’s warning of an earthquake or volcanic prediction, or an earthquake, or other conditions other than conditions resulting from a labor controversy or conditions causing a “state of war emergency”, which conditions, by reason of their magnitude are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat ….” State Operations Center (SOC)
A facility set up by Cal OES headquarters in Sacramento to coordinate state operations and the coordination of federal resources in support of the REOC during emergencies. 26 See Cal OES Safety Assessment Program
Resolution No. 2024-__ Page 1 of 1 September 11, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS ADOPTING THE 2024 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (EOP), PART 1: BASIC PLAN.

WHEREAS, protecting life and property by way of emergency preparedness is one of the primary responsibilities of a local municipality; and
WHEREAS, an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) provides the framework for emergency response and emergency management during disasters; and WHEREAS, the Office of Director of Emergency Services (City Manager) is responsible for reviewing this plan on an annual basis; and
WHEREAS, the Emergency Operations Plan is a requirement of the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS); and
WHEREAS, adopting the City’s Emergency Operations Plan is consistent with City Council’s goals as follows: Police Department Goal #2…Interact with the City’s Emergency partners to complete the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that will reflect the City Manager as Chief Emergency Officer.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Willits City Council Does hereby authorize and approve the 2024 Emergency Operations Plan, Part 1 : Basic Plan and instructs the City Manager to provide annual review to the City Council with the first due by September 10, 2025.

The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember seconded by Councilmember , and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the 11th day of September, 2024, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ATTEST:
__________________________
_________________________________
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits
DELORES PEDERSEN, City Clerk
Item No. 3e
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Dusty Duley - Community Development Director
Agenda Title: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF GENERAL PLAN LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 30 minutes.

Summary of Request: Receive a presentation from staff and project consultants, Planwest Partners on proposed changes to the City Land Use Diagram as part of the Public Draft Land Use Element Update project. Prospective amendments to the City of Willits Land Use Diagram identifying changes to property land use designations are proposed for one or more of the reasons found below:
(1) Potential change to the Land Use Designation will create opportunities for new residential, commercial, or mixed-use development.
(2) Potential change was prompted by property owner’s request. (3) The property could benefit from a Land Use Designation and/or Zoning Designation change that are identified as “clean ups” where the long-time, established land uses are inconsistent with the Land Use Designation and Zoning Districts applied in 1992 or earlier. For example, you have a residential use (i.e., single-family home) on a commercial zoned property. The purpose of these “clean ups” are to match up the Land Use Designation and Zoning District with the current land use and therefore support the continued use of the land for such existing use.

The objective of this public hearing is to provide an opportunity for the City Council and members of the public to consider and provide comments on proposed changes to General Plan Land Use Designations and the proposed changes to the General Plan Land Use Map. Public comments on the project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) are also welcomed at this meeting. A final hearing to certify the EIR and approve the Land Use Element is scheduled for October 23rd.

Recommended Action: Review presentation and provide comments on the Land Use Element Update.

Alternative(s): None recommended.

Fiscal Impact: Grant funds are available to support the remaining costs to adopt the Land Use Element and the Environmental Impact Report.

Personnel Impact: Significant staff time will be required to implement the various Land Use Element policies.

Identified City Council Conflict of Interest: None.
2021 Adopted Goals: Community Development Goal 1…Complete an update to the City’s General Plan to be used to guide future development within the City including encouragement of housing opportunities and sustainable economic development.

California Environmental Quality Act: This is a discussion item. Adoption of the LUE will be subject to CEQA.

The Draft Environmental Impact Report was made available on July 25, 2024, and is available for review at the project website https://willitslanduseupdate.com or a physical copy is available at the Community Development Department or Willits Library.

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 11, 2024 AGENDA ITEM NO:

TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
PREPARED BY: Planwest Partners, Inc.

ITEM: Land Use Element Update Discussion
REQUEST: To receive a presentation, hear public opinion on the matter, and to provide feedback and direction to staff regarding the Public Review Draft Land Use Element Update Proposed Land Use Designations and Land Use Maps,

SUMMARY
This is the second of two public hearings to review the Draft General Plan Land Use Element Update and Sphere of Influence (SOI). The Land Use Element is one of seven required General Plan Elements and serves a framework that uses maps, goals, and policies to guide how land should be developed and conserved. On August 28th your Council heard a presentation from staff regarding proposed amendments to Land Use Element (LUE) policy and the proposed expansion to the City SOI. Your Council heard public comments, in particular regarding a portion of the proposed SOI area in the Exley Road/Mill Creek area and relating to the State Route 20 area, and comments on LUE policy regarding environmental protections and creation of open space, preservation of the downtown character, and importance of coordination with local communities, in particular the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians. Staff is completing revisions to the LUE based on public comments and Council direction to present at the October 23, 2024 Council meeting.

The objective of this public hearing is to provide an opportunity for the City Council and members of the public to consider and provide comments on proposed changes to General Plan Land Use Designations and the proposed changes to the General Plan Land Use Map. A final hearing to certify the EIR and approve the Land Use Element is scheduled for October 23rd.

Your Council received a presentation regarding most of the proposed Land Use changes on June 21, 2023. The proposed Land Use changes can be generally divided into three categories: (1) changes to create potential opportunities for new residential or mixed-use development; (2) changes that are prompted by property owner land use requests; and (3) land use “clean ups” where the long-time, established, land uses are inconsistent with the Land Use Designation applied in 1992 or earlier. During tonight’s meeting each of the proposed changes will be presented and the public will be able to comment on each proposed change.

A Public review draft of the Land Use Element was published on June 26, 2024, and a draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH No. 2023030321) was published on July 25, 2024. Both documents are available on the he City of Willits Land Use Element Update project website at https://willitslanduseupdate.com. A copy of both documents is also available at the Community STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 2
Development Department and Willits Library. The proposed Land Use changes are described and shown in Section 2.0 Project Description of the Draft Land Use Element and can be viewed using interactive web geographic information system tool on the City of Willits Land Use Element Update project website by clicking the map on the “Get to Know Willits Land Use & Zoning” page.

BACKGROUND
WILLITS GENERAL PLAN VISION 2020 (1992):

The Willits General Plan Vision 2020, the current City of Willits General Plan, contains text and diagrams that expresses the goals, objectives, and policies intended to guide the community toward achieving its vision for development. City decision makers rely on the General Plan as the basis for making decisions on matters such as land use, transportation, open space and conservation, the provision of public services, and environmental quality and safety. It is also a policy document that guides decisions related to protecting and enhancing what the community values most, such as protecting and enhancing the character of the community. The City of Willits’ General Plan was last comprehensively updated and adopted in 1992. Since then, the City's land use needs have changed to some degree due to demographic and economic conditions and updates are also required to comply with state guidelines and laws. General Plans are intended to be comprehensively updated at least every 20 years.

LAND USE ELEMENT DESCRIPTION:

The proposed amendments to the City of Willits Land Use Element and Land Use Diagram are comprehensive and also includes proposed changes to the City Zoning Map, which will follow the approval of the Land Use Element. The update includes:

ZONING AMENDMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE LAND USE ELEMENT:

The changes described above will trigger the need to amend the Zoning Map to implement the Land Use Element and changes to regulations, such as the addition of mixed-use zones. A draft Zoning Map has been prepared and the anticipated mixed-use zone is being developed.

Additional amendments will also be required to fully implement the Land Use Element.

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE UPDATE:

The Land Use Element also involves a proposed expansion to the City’s SOI, which was discussed during the August 28th City Council meeting.

PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT LAND USE ELEMENT:

Staff is bringing the Land Use Element Update to your Council in two parts. The August 28th meeting focused on the proposed amendments to Land use Element policy and the expansion to the City SOI. Tonight, the public hearing will focus on the proposed modifications to the Land Use Designations land use changes. Attachment 1 to this staff report is the Public Review Draft Land Use Element and the Draft EIR can be downloaded at the following link https://willitslanduseupdate.com.

STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 3

DISCUSSION DRAFT LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AND PROPOSED

CHANGES TO THE LAND USE MAP
The essential elements of the Discussion Draft Land Use Element are modifications to existing Land Use Element policy to reflect new information and changes that have occurred over time, new policy to reflect changes in state land use law, and proposed changes to the General Plan Land Use Map. The purpose of this hearing is to provide an opportunity for the City Council and members of the public to consider the proposed modifications to Land Use Designations and land use changes and provide direction to staff.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO LAND USE DESIGNATIONS:

A General Plan Land Use Designation and a Zoning Classification is applied to each parcel of land within the City on the adopted General Plan Land Use Map and Zoning Map. Both the Land Use Element and the Zoning Regulations control how land may be developed but do so in different ways. The General Plan Land Use Element, among other things, identifies the range of land uses that are allowed on a property and the density of residential uses (defined in dwelling units per acre) and intensity of commercial uses (defined in a ratio of building floor area to parcel area – floor area ratio). Zoning regulates development, consistent with the General Plan, through specific development standards such as lot size, building high and setbacks from property lines, and the uses that may be permitted and how they may be permitted. Uses are either “principally” permitted, where a property only need apply for a building permit to realize the use, or “conditionally” permitted, where a property owner needs discretionary approval by the planning agency to realize the use. The permitted uses in the Zone must be consistent with the General Plan Map, where principally permitted uses typically reflect the dominant uses of a land use designation (e.g., a single-family dwelling in the Residential-Low Density (R-L) Land Use Designation) and conditionally permitted uses are secondary uses that may be allowed subject to discretion (e.g., .neighborhood commercial uses in a residential area).

General Plan Land Use Designations are defined in Goal LU-10, which is intended to apply appropriate Land Use Designations to areas within the City to protect resources, foster a sense of community, and to facilitate economic development. The Land Use Element update adds Table 3-1: General Plan Land Use Designations, identifies the range of allowable uses for each designation, which is required by state law, as well as the development density/intensity for each designation, and defines the Zones that are clearly consistent with each designation. It should be noted that a public comment made during the August 28th public hearing identified an error in Table 3-1, where the density of Residential-Suburban was incorrectly shown as a change to 0.5 dwelling units per acre or one dwelling unit per two acres. The correct maximum density of the Residential-Suburban Land Use Designation is “2” dwelling units per acre, as it was defined in 1992. Table 3-1 also contained an error for the density of Agricultural – General, which incorrectly shows as a change to 0.05 dwelling units per acre or one dwelling unit per twenty acres, when the correct maximum density of the Agricultural – General Land Use Designation is one dwelling unit per five acres or “0.2.” A revised Table 3-1: General Plan Land Use Designations, can be found in Attachment B to this staff report.

STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 4
Land Use Designations are grouped within the following six policies:

LU-10.1, Residential Land Use Designations, each of which have been applied within the City since at least the 1990’s. The only proposed changes are to more fully define the range of allowable uses and to reflect that the maximum allowable density for the Residential-Low Density (R-L), which is applied within urbanized portions of the City, is 15 dwelling units per acre.

Residential-Suburban (R-S) is intended to provide a transition from rural to urban areas where soils, topography, and site conditions are more appropriate for large lot residential uses.

Residential-Low Density (R-L) is applied in areas where City services are available or planned and single family residential is the dominant use.

Residential-Medium Density (R-M) is applied where all urban services are available and close to services, recreation, schools, and employment and is suitable for mixed density residential uses allowing a variety of housing types.

LU-10.2, Mixed Use Land Use Designations, which is a new group of land use designations that, consistent with Policy LU-3.3, Mixed Use Areas, are intended to encourage development within specific areas that creates vibrant and walkable places and generates benefits for the community such as enabling the flexible use of existing structures and vacant land and reducing vehicle trips and greenhouse gas emissions.

Main Street Mixed Use (DM-U). This designation is intended to be applied to Willits’ core downtown area to stimulate the adaptive reuse of existing buildings and the development of new pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use buildings that are consistent with the character of this area.

General Mixed Use (GM-U). This designation is intended to be applied to specific areas within neighborhood and commercial centers where the existing or planned transportation alternatives, utilities, and services allow for mixed-use development that encourages walking, biking, and transit use. Allowable uses include retail, administrative office, general commercial, and a variety of housing types.

LU-10.3, Commercial Land Use Designations, includes only the Commercial-General (CG) land use designation, which has been applied to many areas within the City since at least the 1990’s and provides for a broad range of commercial uses. The prior Land Use Element did not define a maximum intensity for commercial use, which is required by state law. Table 3-1 lists the allowable uses for the Commercial-General land use designation, defines a minimum and maximum density for multifamily residential uses (which has been allowed pursuant to the Housing Element) and sets a maximum floor area ratio of 2.0, which means that a commercial building can occupy up to twice the lot area, as limited by the specific standards applied by the Zoning Map and Regulations.

LU-10.4, Industrial Land Use Designations, includes only the Industrial -General (M-G) land use designation, which has been applied to many areas within the City since at least the 1990’s and provides for a broad range of industrial uses that have existing in Willits due to the east-west and north-south rail lines and state highways. The prior Land Use Element did not define a maximum intensity for industrial use, which is required by state law. Table 3-1 lists the allowable uses for the Industrial -General land use designation and does not define a minimum and maximum density for residential uses (given that only linework residential uses are intended) and sets a maximum floor area ratio of 1.0, which STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 5
means that a commercial building can occupy up to the entire lot area, as limited by the specific standards applied by the Zoning Map and Regulations.

LU-10.5, Resource and Public Land Use Designations, defines land use designations that are applicable to land planned for agricultural, open space, and public uses. The Land Use Element does not make changes to these land use designations, other than to clearly define the allowable uses.

Agricultural - General (A-G). This designation is for application to areas which are suitable for agricultural production because of historical use or future potential based on soil capability. Allowable uses include general agriculture, agriculturerelated visitor serving activities, and rural residential uses that support agricultural operations.

Public - Service (P-S). This designation is for application to public sites of schools, parks, civic centers, fairgrounds, airports, museums, libraries, auditoriums, utilities and infrastructure, corporation yards, hospitals, social service centers, and similar uses, and may be applied to investor-owned utility and quasi-public sites.

Open Space - Recreation (O-S). This designation is for unimproved land in its natural state which is to be conserved for open space and/or recreation purposes.

Allowable uses include natural resource protection and restoration, outdoor recreation, and general agriculture.

LU-10.6, General Plan Land Use Map Overlay Designations, are applicable, in addition to the primary land use designation to certain areas, to ensure protection for important resources, including streamside and historic areas, and hazards, such as floodways and floodplains.

Natural Hazard Area (-G). This overlay designation is intended for information purposes and is applied to lands subject to hazards that may include to excessive slopes, erosion, soil stability, seismic hazards, wildfire, periodic inundation and other similar natural hazards to life, property, and the natural environment. for the protection of persons and property.

Conservation - Floodway (-FW). This General Plan overlay designation is intended for information purposes and is applied to waterways and primary drainage channels to indicate the need to protect channels for the free flow of storm waters and to indicate the presence of adjacent floodplains for the protection of persons and property.

Historical Resources (-H). This General Plan overlay designation is applied, for information purposes, to historical resources within the community. The intent of the Historical Resources classification is to encourage the preservation and enhancement of unique historical resources in the City of Willits.

Riparian Areas (-R). The purpose of this designation is intended to identify important stream and riparian areas where reasonable buffers should be applied to indicate the need to protect, as part of development review, sensitive fish and wildlife habitats and to minimize the potential for erosion, runoff, and interference with surface water flows and that balance to the greatest extent feasible resource protection and property rights. (Source: New Overlay)
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 6
Urban Reserve (-UR). The purpose of this designation is to protect from premature subdivision and development, urban lands or land within the Sphere of Influence not now developed to urban densities or adequately provided with urban services but expected to develop to urban uses and densities when services are available. This designation is used where annexation is required for urban services and full build-out. (Source: New Overlay)
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE GENERAL PLAN LAND USE MAP:

The General Plan Land Use Map, which is a central component of the Land Use Element, applies the Land Use Designations described above to all property within the City and to the prosed SOI.

The proposed Land Use Map includes a number of changes from the 1992 Land Use Map. The first significant change is to apply the new Mixed Use Land Use Designations to portions of the City. In addition, various land use changes are proposed in other parts of the City. The terms land use change is being used to signify where a change is occurring to the General Plan Land Use Designation and in almost all instances to the Zoning Classification as well.

The Land Use Map and Zoning Map are both proposed to be changed as separate actions as part of this process. First the updated General Plan Land Use Map would be approved by resolution amending the General Plan following public hearings and the certification of an environmental impact report defining potential impacts and required mitigations to lessen impacts.

Then the Zoning Map, updated to be consistent with the General Plan Land Use Map, would be approved by ordinance, considering the certified environmental document which evaluated the potential environmental impacts of both maps.

In general, the land use changes can be divided into three groups:

1. Proposed changes to the Land Use Map create potential opportunities for new residential or mixed-use development.

2. Potential changes that are prompted by property owner land use requests.

3. Land use “clean ups” where the long-time, established, land uses are inconsistent with the Land Use Designation applied in 1992 or earlier.

Owners of property whose General Plan Land Use is proposed to be changed have been notified by mail by the City and provided with information regarding the proposed change and how to provides comments or concerns to the City. Attachment A to this staff report contain general maps showing the proposed land use changes within the City. The proposed land use maps can be viewed on line by clicking the image of the land use map on the following website:
https://willitslanduseupdate.com/get-to-know-willits-land-use-zoning/.

The following table summarizes the proposed land use changes within the City. During the public hearing detailed maps will be presented to your Council and public:

STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 7
Change
Number Acres Site Description
Change
Type
Current Proposed
General Plan Zone General Plan Zone
2 1.7 N Main Street east and
west Commercial/Industrial
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General /
(M-G) Industrial-General
C1/MH (R-L) Residential-low Density R1
3 0.43 N Main Street east and
west Commercial/Industrial
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General /
(M-G) Industrial-General
C1/MH (GM-U) General Mixed Use GU
4 0.34 N Main Street west Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 6 0.78 Bittenbender Lane Clean-Up (R-S) Residential-Suburban R1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 7 1.07 N Main Street accross from
High School
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 8 0.01 Sherwood Road Clean-Up (R-L) Residential-low
Density
R1 (R-S) Residential-Suburban RE
9 0.16 Bittenbender Lane Clean-Up (R-S) Residential-Suburban R1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 10 2.09 Bittenbender Lane Clean-Up (R-S) Residential-Suburban R1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 11 1.79 N Main Street General
Mixed Use
Opportunity (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (GM-U) General Mixed Use GU 12 1.43 State Street and N
Humboldt Street
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 13 1.67 Sanhedrin High School Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General / (R-L) Residential-low
Density
C2/R1 (P-S) Public - Service PF
14 0.13 N Main St residential Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 16 0.16 Little Lake FPD property
adjacent to station
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (P-S) Public - Service PF 17 1.18 Brookside Elementary
School
Clean-Up (R-L) Residential-low
Density
R1 (P-S) Public - Service PF
18 0.87 Goines, Matt East -
Commercial Street
Land Use
Request
(C-G) Commercial-General /
(P-S) Public - Service
C1/PF (GM-U) General Mixed Use GU
19 0.64 Brookside Elementary
School
Clean-Up (R-L) Residential-low
Density
R1 (P-S) Public - Service PF
20 0.17 LUCIER THOMAS A Opportunity (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R3
21 0.21 Mendocino Co Sherrif Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General CO (P-S) Public - Service PF 22 0.78 Madden Street Residential Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R-3
23 0.72 Schol St and W Mendocino Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 24 1.78 E Mendocino South of City
Hall
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 8
Change
Number Acres Site Description
Change
Type
Current Proposed
General Plan Zone General Plan Zone
25 2.25 Downtown Main Street Opportunity (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (GM-U) General Mixed Use GU 27 4.06 Mendocino County Facility Clean-Up (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R2
29 0.88 Schol St and Wood St Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R3
30 0.28 Madden St and Tuttle At&T
Cent Office and SFDs
Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
31 0.38 Madden St and Tuttle At&T
Cent Office and SFDs
Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (P-S) Public - Service PF 32 28.38 Downtown Main Street Opportunity (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (DM-U) Main Street Mixed Use
DU
34 0.66 Madden St and Tuttle At&T
Cent Office and SFDs
Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 35 0.3 S Side E Valley Street Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 36 0.32 Coast St and W Valley St Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 37 0.24 Railraod Ave Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 38 0.36 California Street ara Opportunity (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R3
39 2.1 N or E San Francisco W or
Railroad Ave SFDs
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 40 1.16 #2 South of E San
Francisco SFDs industiral
area
Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
41 0.73 #1 South of E San
Francisco SFDs industiral
area
Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
42 19.65 East San Francisco /
Barbara Lane
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R-2
43 2.97 Downtown Main Street Opportunity (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (GM-U) General Mixed Use GU 46 4.9 State Route 20 Residential Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 47 1.13 Highway 20 Linear Park Clean-Up (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (P-S) Public - Service PF
48 0.39 Franklin Ave Opportunity (R-L) Residential-low
Density
R1 (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R2
49 0.4 Franklin Industrial Clean-Up (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (M-G) Industrial-General MH
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 9
Change
Number Acres Site Description
Change
Type
Current Proposed
General Plan Zone General Plan Zone
50 0.73 South of Franklin Ave W of
Harmon Ln
Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General MH (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 51 1.94 Franklin Ave Residential Opportunity (R-L) Residential-low Density
R-1 (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R2
53 0.67 West side S Main Street
SFDs S of Safeway
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General CO (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 54 0.3 West side S Main Street
SFDs S of Safeway
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General CO (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 55 2.48 Locust Street Residential Opportunity (M-G) Industrial-General MH (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R-2
56 3.96 Medical Office next to
Former Hospital Site
Opportunity (P-S) Public - Service PF (C-G) Commercial-General C1 57 1.3 West side S Main Street
SFDs S of Safeway
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General CO (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 58 6.15 W side of Locst St 2 Opportunity (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R2
59 12.14 Baechtel Road Opportunity (M-G) Industrial-General MH (GM-U) General Mixed Use GU 60 13.5 Blosser Lane Elementary
School
Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (P-S) Public - Service PF 61 0.88 W side of Locst St 1 Opportunity (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R2
64 1.96 Baechtel Road Opportunity (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (GM-U) General Mixed Use GU 65 0.42 97 Baechtel Road
Residential
Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
66 0.57 E Side of Baechtel Rd Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General ML (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
68 0.66 1471 South Main Street
Commercial
Clean-Up (R-M) Residential-Medium
Density
R2 (C-G) Commercial-General C2
69 4.57 US 101 or CCC Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General MH (P-S) Public - Service PF 70 2.33 #2 E Side of S Main Street Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C2 (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
71 1.13 East Hill Road Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General IP Agricultural - General (A-G). A 72 1.74 #3 E Side of S Main Street Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
73 9.53 East Hill Road Clean-Up Open Space - Recreation (O-S)
OS Agricultural - General (A-G). A
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 10
Change
Number Acres Site Description
Change
Type
Current Proposed
General Plan Zone General Plan Zone
74 22.68 US 101 or CCC Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General IP (P-S) Public - Service PF 75 2.48 #1 E Side of S Main Street Clean-Up (C-G) Commercial-General C2 (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R2
76 4.76 South Main Street Vacant
Commercial
Opportunity (C-G) Commercial-General C1 (R-M) Residential-Medium Density
R3
77 2.62 East Hill Road Land Use
Request
Open Space - Recreation
(O-S)
OS (R-L) Residential-low Density R1
79 5.39 Haehl Creek Trail Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General IP (O-S) Open Space - Recreation
OS
80 0.07 Haehl Creek Trail Clean-Up (M-G) Industrial-General IP (R-L) Residential-low Density R1 81 7.67 Haehl Creek Trail Clean-Up (R-L) Residential-low Density
R1 (O-S) Open Space -
Recreation
OS
83 11.14 Haehl Creek area Clean-Up (R-S) Residential-Suburban RE (R-S) Residential-Suburban RE 84 59.93 South Haehl Creek Area Opportunity (R-S) Residential-Suburban RE (R-M) Residential-Medium Density-Urban Reserve (UR)
RE
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 11
Attachment A Land Use Change Index Maps
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 12
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 13
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 14
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
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STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 16
Attachment B: Table 3-1: General Plan Land Use Designations (Revised) Land Use R-S R-L R-M GM-U DM-U C-G M-G A-G O-S P-S
Residential
Single Residence ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Duplex Dwelling ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Multiple Dwellings, up to four ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Multiple Dwellings, four or greater ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Mobile Home Parks ✔ ✔
Live/Work ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Commercial
Neighborhood Commercial ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Office and Professional Offices ✔ ✔ ✔
Retail Services ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Retail Sales ✔ ✔ ✔
Wholesaling, Storage and Distribution ✔ ✔
Heavy Commercial ✔ ✔
Visitor Accommodation
Hotels, Motels, Inns ✔ ✔ ✔
Campgrounds and RV Parks ✔ ✔
Community Assembly ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Industrial
Research and Development ✔ ✔
Light Industrial ✔
Heavy Industrial ✔
Other
Agriculture ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Health Care Services and Hospital ✔ ✔
Private Institutions ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Public Facilities and Essential Services ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Resource-Related Recreation ✔ ✔ ✔
STAFF REPORT : LAND USE ELEMENT UPDATE DISCUSSION
PAGE 17
Land Use R-S R-L R-M GM-U DM-U C-G M-G A-G O-S P-S
Habitat Restoration and Management ✔ ✔ ✔
Development Density/Intensity Standards
Maximum Density
(dwelling units per acre) 0.52 15 30 30 30 30 N/A 0. 205 N/A N/A Minimum Density
(dwelling units per acre) 0 0 15 15 15 15 N/A 0 N/A N/A Maximum Floor Area Ratio
(building area ÷ lot area) N/A N/A N/A 2.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 N/A N/A N/A Consistent Zones
Agricultural (A) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Residential Estates (RE) ✔
Single-Family Residence (R1) ✔
Residential Medium-Density (R2) ✔ ✔
Multiple-Residence (R3) ✔ ✔ ✔
General Mixed-Use (GU) ✔ ✔
Main Street Mixed-Use (DU) ✔
Community Commercial (C1) ✔ ✔ ✔
Heavy Commercial (C2) ✔
Limited Industrial (ML) ✔
Heavy Industrial (MH) ✔
Industrial Park (I-P) ✔ ✔
Open Space (OS)
Public Facility (PF) ✔ ✔

111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
(707) 459-1562 FAX

Page 1 of 5 ends

WILLITS CITY COUNCIL

MINUTES
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28, 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; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.

1. Little Lake Fire District Chief Alvarez gave a report of the Little Lake Fire Districts activities for the month of July.
 There were 99 calls for service in the month of July.  Held their Annual Open House was a success.
 Applying for Grants to help fund smoke and carbon dioxide detectors for seniors and families with children.
 The department participated in the following fires: Sites, Blue Nose, Pepperwood, Miner and Park Fires.
 Completed the EMT Recertification. This is done monthly.  Regular drill was radio etiquette and radio operations.  The fire department has a new Wildland Fires Rig. Engine 5469.  Had a fundraiser to hopefully purchase new Turnouts. Also looking for grants to help with this expense, a new set of Turnouts costs between $8,000 and $10,000 a set.

2. Public Communications
 None presented.

3. Public Matters
a. Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing Laurie Burghardt and her commitment to the community and kindness.

Mayor Rodriguez read the Proclamation and along with Councilmember Kanne, Lisa Kvasnicka, Chamber President and Misty Johnston, Chamber Coordinator, presented Ms.

Burghardt with flowers and certificates from the Chamber.

Willits City Council Minutes of August 28, 2024. Page 2 of 5 b. Noticed Public Hearing - Presentation and Discussion of General Plan Land Use Element Update and Land Use Diagram.
 Dusty Duley; Community Development Director presented a Power Point presentation on the General Plan Land Use Element Update and Land Use Diagram.  Objectives: Accommodate growth, encourage infill, expand the City’s Sphere of Influence (SOI), provide adequate facilities and services, provide expanded parks, provide for vital downtown and S. Main Street, provide a logical land use map, streamline permitting, and protect natural resources.

Public Comment: Citizens of the community spoke for and against expanding the City’s Sphere of Influence (SOI) with emphasis on Exley Lane being removed from the SOI Map.

Council direction to Community Development Director, Dusty Duley is as follows:
 Language added to Goal LU4 regarding protecting the character of Main Street, North of Hwy 20 to the High School as well as the Commercial Street corridor.  Remove Exley Lane from the Sphere of Influence map.

Public Hearing closed at 8:59 pm.

4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.

5. Consent Calendar
The following item(s) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. August 14, 2024.

Public Comment: None presented.

Moved by Strong/Seconded by Stranske 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. Business License Activity Report – July 2024.
b. Building Activity Report – July 2024.

7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.

8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations+
a. Proposal to install Identification Signs at Babcock, Bud Snider, Haehl, & Recreation Grove Parks.

Council asked to have paid for with Measure K funds taken off of the signs.

Public Comment: None presented.

Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-44 authorizing the installation of identity signs at Babcock, Bud Snider, Haehl Creek, and Recreation Grove Parks.

Willits City Council Minutes of August 28, 2024. Page 3 of 5 b. Review of the End of Term Benchmarks as required by the September 28, 2022 Agreement between the Willits Chamber of Commerce and the City for the Allocation of Transient Occupancy Tax. The said benchmarks consist of the following: (a) Increase membership by 10-percent; (b) Develop a reporting system to track promotional and marketing efforts; and (3) A report compiling comments from all members noting what strategy is working and the ones that are not.
 Misty Johnston, Chamber Coordinator presented a PowerPoint presentation on the benchmarks.
 Developed Local First Willits – to support local businesses during an unprecedented event in human history.
 Created in 2020 – Love Local Mendo – Online gift cards.  Updated community events. The Car and Bike Show on Main Street in downtown Willits.
 Redesigned Website to better serve the members, community and those relocating to Willits.
 New membership software.
 Revitalized social media accounts.
 Utilizing Google Business Profile for better outreach.  Dedicated page on website for Volunteer Opportunities.

Public Comment: Tom Mann thanked the Chamber of Commerce and said that they are doing a good job.

City Manager Bender expressed his gratitude to the two volunteers that stepped up, after the last City Council meeting, to lock the park restrooms each day. c. Verbal Reports – No Action.
i. Update on the 2023 Pavement Preservation Plan.
 Walter Kolon, reports that the project is at 85% completion. Expect completion by the third week of September.
ii. Update on the 2024 Pavement Preservation Plan.
 Mr. Kolon reports that this project started a little over two weeks ago it is expected to be at 85% if completion of the project by the end of September. With hopes of being completed by mid-October.
iii. Update on the 2024 Underground Utilities Project.
 Mr. Kolon reports that the contractor is making very quick progress with hopes of completion within the next couple months.

Public Comment: None presented.

9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Presentation and Possible Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget.

Public Comment: None presented.
 Council expressed concern that there was no explanation of the changes made to the way that funds are tracked in the budget. The new layout makes it hard for the public to understand.
 City Manager Bender responded that an addendum would be added with notes on how changes were made internally.

Willits City Council Minutes of August 28, 2024. Page 4 of 5 Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Kanne and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-45 approving and adopting the Annual Operating Budget for the City of Willits for fiscal year 2024-2025.

10. Department Monthly Reports – (presented at the second meeting of each month). a. Airport.- Nothing more to add.
b. Community Development. - Nothing more to add.
c. Finance. - Nothing more to add.

d. Police Department. - Nothing more to add.
e. Services & Facilities.- Nothing more to add.

f. Utilities. - Nothing more to add.

No action taken.

11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Kanne
 Expresses her appreciation of Davey Bowles, Building Official, for information he was able to give her on a difficult situation she encountered.

Councilmember Gonzalez
 Water/Wastewater Committee –
 Reported that Groundwater was being used because of a crack in the clarifier which caused water levels to drop, a second use was due to power outage and the Scada system having a glitch. Water plant has had to increase security due to a break in.

Mayor Rodriguez
 Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)-
 Explored how secure they were at the MTA Grounds and on the buses.

Opportunities to increase security were identified.
 Mendocino College Route 9 will quit running at 11 pm. each evening.  Mendocino Council of Government (MCOG) may have the authority to take MTA’s share of CAREs funds.

Public Comment: None presented.

No action taken.

12. Good & Welfare
 Councilmember Strong –
 Willits Economic Localization (WELL) sponsored a garden tour open house at the Willits Integrated Service Center (WISC). The WISC has plots available for anyone that would like to grow plants.
 WELL along with the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Candidates Forum on October 6th at the Grange. 4:00 pm.
 September 21st – is the Harvest Moon Festival.
 Mayor Rodriguez
 September 7 & 8 – Roots of Motive Power event at the Rec Grove and Willits Youth Soccer Opening Day.
 Dusty Duley, Community Development Director, announced that the Brews and Blues event is Saturday, September 1, 2024 at the Recreation Grove Park.

Willits City Council Minutes of August 28, 2024. Page 5 of 5 Adjourned to closed session at 10:36

13. Closed Session Notice
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.

Council reconvened to open session at 10:50 p.m. with no action to report from Closed Session.

14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 10:50 p.m. _____________________________
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
__________________________

DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Item No. 9a
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Chris Dewey, Interim Police Chief
Agenda Title: APPROVAL OF A SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF MENDOCINO AND THE CITY OF WILLITS FOR AFTER-HOURS POLICE SERVICES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $18,000 and BUDGET AMENDMENT TO FUND 100.2000.65400 IN THE AMOUNT $18,000.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 15 minutes.

Summary of Request: Since September 2023, the Police Department has experienced staffing shortages. These shortages have limited the availability of Officers during nighttime hours. During these shortages, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has provided mutual aid for law enforcement services.

The Police Department has worked hard to recruit and train new personnel. One new Officer was sponsored through the POST basic police academy and is currently in training, and two more are scheduled to attend the POST basic academy in January 2025. In addition, several candidates are currently participating in the recruitment process.

Despite these efforts, the Department remains short-staffed, and ongoing regular assistance has been required from the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office to respond to public safety calls.

To address the ongoing delivery of service provided by the Sheriff’s Office, the Sheriff proposed a Services Agreement to help offset the costs associated with delivering a limited range of law enforcement services to Willits.

County Counsel and the City Attorney have reviewed and approved the proposed Services Agreement.

This Services Agreement provides for reimbursement to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement response to law enforcement calls for service where a response is needed due to an immediate threat to safety or in-progress reported violence. In situations that do not warrant an immediate response, the Sheriff’s Office will not respond, and a Willits Police Officer would respond when available. The Sheriff’s Office will not respond to traffic collisions.

The Sheriff’s Office has proposed a cost of $120.19 per hour for this service, with a minimum three-hour call-out of $360.57. Staff analyzed last year’s calls for assistance from the Sheriff’s Office. From July 15, 2023, to July 15, 2024, the Sheriff’s Office provided mutual aid 50 times. During the same period, the Willits Police Department provided mutual aid services in the County of Mendocino 18 times. Using these numbers to anticipate costs associated with this services contract, it is estimated that the cost to the City of Willits during the 2024/25 FY would not exceed $18,000. To calculate the estimated expense, 50 calls for assistance were multiplied by the 360.57 minimal call-out rate.

In creating this agreement, the Sheriff and the Interim Police Chief (or their representatives) have agreed to meet monthly, and review planned staffing shortages, service demands, and other mutual aid-type events to determine which events meet the intent of this agreement. The County Sheriff has sole discretion for final billing disputes. Both parties reserve the right to terminate the contract in the future.

Funding for this agreement would require a budget amendment to fund 100-2000-65400 (Police Professional Services).

Attached is the proposed Services Agreement for your review.

Recommended Action: Staff recommends the following actions: (1) Authorize the City Manager to execute this agreement with the County of Mendocino Sheriff’s Office, in an amount not to exceed $18,000; and (2) Amend the Willits Police Department budget, fund 100-2000-65400 (Professional Services), by $18,000.

Alternative(s): Provide staff with alternative direction.

Fiscal Impact: Budget amendment of $18,000 is necessary for fund 100-2000-65400 to support this item.

Personnel Impact: Administration oversight of the Services Agreement by the Chief of Police. 2021 Adopted Goals: This item is in line with Goal #1 for the Police Department…Maintain a Public Safety Agency capable of maintaining a safe community utilizing up to date law enforcement tools and delivering emergency services to the citizens and businesses of Willits in a responsive and proactive manner.

California Environmental Quality Act: Not applicable.

COUNTY OF MENDOCINO

SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into this _____ day of _____________, 2024, by and between the COUNTY OF MENDOCINO, a political subdivision of the State of California, hereinafter referred to as "COUNTY", and the City of Willits, a Municipal Corporation, located within Mendocino County, hereinafter called “City”.

RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Willits Police Department (“WPD”) provides law enforcement services within the city limit of CITY;
WHEREAS, due to staffing shortages WPD is unable to respond to all calls within the city limit of CITY;
WHEREAS, CITY is desirous of contracting with COUNTY for the performance of supplemental law enforcement services by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (hereinafter referred to as "Sheriff's Office"); and WHEREAS, COUNTY wishes to extend to the residents of the CITY certain services, which the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is equipped, staffed, licensed, and prepared to provide, to the extent that Sheriff’s Office personnel are available to provide such services; and
WHEREAS, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is willing and able to perform duties and render services; and
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed that CITY does hereby retain COUNTY to provide the services described in the Agreement, and COUNTY accepts such engagement, on the Terms and Conditions hereinafter specified in this Agreement. This Agreement contains the following sections:

1. General Terms and Conditions

2. Scope of Services

3. Personnel

4. Obligations of City

5. Payment Terms

6. Insurance Requirements
The term of this Agreement shall be from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. 2 The compensation payable to COUNTY by CITY hereunder shall not exceed $18,000 for the term of this Revenue Agreement.

1. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1 INDEMNIFICATION: To the furthest extent permitted by law (including without limitation California Civil Code sections 2782 and 2782.8, if applicable), CITY shall assume the defense of and indemnify COUNTY, at CITY’s sole cost and expense and with legal counsel approved by COUNTY whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, and hold COUNTY, its officers, employees, volunteers and agents harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs liabilities, injuries or death and all losses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation and losses occurring or resulting, or alleged to be occurring or resulting from CITY’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including the CITY’s active or passive negligence, unless arising out of the sole negligence or willful misconduct of COUNTY. Any insurance coverage shall in no way limit or circumscribe CITY’s obligations to indemnify and hold harmless COUNTY.

To the furthest extent permitted by law (including without limitation California Civil Code sections 2782 and 2782.8, if applicable), COUNTY shall assume the defense of and indemnify CITY, at COUNTY’s sole cost and expense and with legal counsel approved by CITY whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, and hold CITY, its officers, employees, volunteers and agents harmless from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs liabilities, injuries or death and all losses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation, and losses occurring or resulting, or alleged to be occurring or resulting from COUNTY’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including the COUNTY’s active or passive negligence, unless arising out of the sole negligence or willful misconduct of CITY. Any insurance coverage shall in no way limit or circumscribe COUNTY’s obligations to indemnify and hold harmless CITY.

COUNTY shall fully indemnify and hold harmless CITY, its officers, employees and agents, from any claims, losses, fines, expenses (including attorney's fees and court costs or arbitration costs), costs, damages, or liabilities arising from or related to (1) any workers' compensation claim or demand or other workers compensation proceeding arising from or related to, or claimed to arise from or relate to, employment which is brought by an employee of COUNTY or any contract labor provider retained by COUNTY, or (2) any claim, demand, suit or other proceeding arising from or related to, or claimed to arise from or relate to, the status or employment (including without limitation compensation, demotion, promotion, discipline,
3 termination, hiring, work assignment, transfer, disability, leave or other such matters) which is brought by an employee of COUNTY, or any contract labor provider retained by COUNTY.

CITY shall fully indemnify and hold harmless COUNTY, its officers, employees and agents, from any claims, losses, fines, expenses (including attorney's fees and court costs or arbitration costs), costs, damages, or liabilities arising from or related to (1) any workers' compensation claim or demand or other workers compensation proceeding arising from or related to, or claimed to arise from or relate to, employment which is brought by an employee of CITY or any contract labor provider retained by CITY, or (2) any claim, demand, suit, or other proceeding arising from or related to, or claimed to arise from or relate to, the status of employment (including without limitation compensation, demotion, promotion, discipline, termination, hiring, work assignment, transfer, disability, leave or other such matters) which is brought by an employee of CITY or any contract labor provider retained by CITY.

1.2. PAYMENT: For services performed in accordance with this Agreement, payment shall be made to COUNTY as provided in Section 5 hereto as funding permits.

1.3. NOTICES: All notices, requests, demands, or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing. Notices shall be given for all purposes as follows:

Personal delivery: When personally delivered to the recipient, notices are effective on delivery.

First Class Mail: When mailed first class to the last address of the recipient known to the party giving notice, notice is effective three (3) mail delivery days after deposit in a United States Postal Service office or mailbox. Certified Mail:

When mailed certified mail, return receipt requested, notice is effective on receipt, if delivery is confirmed by a return receipt.

Overnight Delivery: When delivered by overnight delivery (Federal Express/Airborne/United Parcel Service/DHL Worldwide Express) with charges prepaid or charged to the sender’s account, notice is effective on delivery, if delivery is confirmed by the delivery service.

Facsimile transmission: When sent by facsimile to the facsimile number of the recipient known to the party giving notice, notice is effective on receipt, provided that, (a) a duplicate copy of the notice is promptly given by first-class or certified mail or by overnight delivery, or (b) the receiving party delivers a written confirmation of receipt. Any notice given facsimile shall be deemed received on the next business day if it is received after 5:00 p.m. (recipient’s time) or on a non-business day.

Addresses for purpose of giving notice are as follows:
4 To CITY: City of Willits
111 E Commercial Street
Willits, CA , 95490
Attn. Brian Bender
To COUNTY: Mendocino County Sheriff Office
951 Low Gap Rd.

Ukiah, Ca. 95482
ATTN: MCSO Fiscal
Email: [email protected]
Any correctly addressed notice that is refused, unclaimed, or undeliverable because of an act or omission of the party to be notified shall be deemed effective as of the first date that said notice was refused, unclaimed, or deemed undeliverable by the postal authorities, messenger, or overnight delivery service.

Any party may change its address or facsimile number by giving the other party notice of the change in any manner permitted by this Agreement.

1.4. TERMINATION: Each party has and reserves the right to suspend, terminate or abandon the execution of any work by the COUNTY without cause at any time upon giving to the other party prior written notice. In the event that the CITY should abandon, terminate or suspend the COUNTY’s work, the COUNTY shall be entitled to payment for services provided hereunder prior to the effective date of said suspension, termination, or abandonment. Said payment shall be computed in accordance with section 2 hereto, provided that the maximum amount payable to COUNTY for its services as listed in Section 2, “Scope of Services,” shall not exceed $18,000 payment for services provided hereunder prior to the effective date of said suspension, termination or abandonment or lack of funding.

1.5. CHOICE OF LAW: This Agreement, and any dispute arising from the relationship between the parties to this Agreement, shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, excluding any laws that direct the application of another jurisdiction’s laws.

1.6. VENUE: All lawsuits relating to this contract must be filed in Mendocino County Superior Court, Mendocino County, California.

1.7. WAIVER: No waiver of a breach, failure of any condition, or any right or remedy contained in or granted by the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the party waiving the breach, failure, right or remedy. No waiver of any breach, failure, right or remedy shall be deemed a 5 waiver of any other breach, failure, right or remedy, whether or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver unless the writing so specifies.

1.8. ENTIRE AGREEMENT: This Agreement, including all attachments, exhibits, and any other documents specifically incorporated into this Agreement, shall constitute the entire agreement between CITY and COUNTY relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. As used herein, Agreement refers to and includes any documents incorporated herein by reference and any exhibits or attachments. This Agreement supersedes and merges all previous understandings, and all other agreements, written or oral, between the parties and sets forth the entire understanding of the parties regarding the subject matter thereof.

1.9. HEADINGS: Herein are for convenience of reference only and shall in no way affect interpretation of this Agreement.

1.10. MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT: This Agreement may be supplemented, amended or modified only by the mutual agreement of the parties. No supplement, amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be binding unless it is in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

1.11. SURVIVAL: The obligations of this Agreement, which by their nature would continue beyond the termination on expiration of the Agreement, including without limitation, the obligations regarding indemnification (Paragraph 1.1), shall survive termination or expiration for two (2) years.

1.12. SEVERABILITY: If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision of this Agreement to be illegal, unenforceable, or invalid in whole or in part for any reason, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions, or portions of them, will not be affected, unless an essential purpose of this Agreement would be defeated by the loss of the illegal, unenforceable, or invalid provision.

1.13 ELECTRONIC COPIES: The parties agree that an electronic copy, including facsimile copy, email, or scanned copy of the executed Agreement, shall be deemed, and shall have the same legal force and effect as, an original document.

1.14 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PRACTICES PROVISIONS: CITY and COUNTY certify that they will comply with all Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination in employment.

Services provided under this Agreement shall be rendered without discrimination on the basis of their race, creed, color, pregnancy, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, age, religion, Veteran’s status, political affiliation, or any other factor prohibited by law. 6 2. SCOPE AND PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES
COUNTY shall provide the following services:

2.1. COUNTY will furnish through the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office deputy sheriffs and all ancillary equipment needed to provide supplemental law enforcement services within the city limits of the City in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Agreement. WPD shall remain the primary law enforcement agency providing services within the city limits of CITY. All Sheriff personnel who provide law enforcement services to CITY pursuant to this agreement shall have met the minimum qualifications designated for their specific classification including a background investigation.

2.2. Services provided by COUNTY shall only encompass duties and functions traditionally handled within the jurisdiction of and customarily rendered by the Sheriff under the statutes of the State of California.

2.3. COUNTY will also make arrests and transport arrestees to the Mendocino County Jail in Ukiah, California.

2.4 COUNTY will respond to calls for service within the city limits of the CITY, when requested by CITY and only when Sheriff’s Office personnel are available to respond, as determined by the officer in charge, on-duty sergeant, or higherranking Sheriff’s Office official, at the time the call for service is received by the Sheriff’s Office.

2.5 COUNTY shall provide the services described in this Agreement subject to the following limitations:

2.5.1 COUNTY will respond only to call for which an immediate response is needed due to an immediate threat to the safety of residents of CITY, or a response to prevent imminent serious harm to residents of CITY, or to respond to an in-progress crime involving reported violence or a legitimate threat of violence.

COUNTY shall not respond to calls for service that do not warrant an immediate response.

2.5.2 COUNTY shall not conduct vehicle accident investigations, or be responsible for enforcement traffic violation, and will respond to vehicle accidentrelated calls only for the purpose of addressing life-safety concerns associated with the accident.

2.5.3 COUNTY will not enforce CITY municipal codes.
7 2.5.4 CITY will provide to COUNTY monthly schedules for WPD personnel so that COUNTY may effectively evaluate the frequency that CITY may request services pursuant to this Agreement.

2.5.5. Requests for Sheriff’s Office personnel to respond to calls for service within the city limits of CITY shall be made by the CITY though Sheriff’s Office dispatch.

CITY will handle all dispatch responsibilities to including call taking and radio traffic for the CITY.

2.5.6 COUNTY will conduct investigations arising from the calls for service responded to by Sheriff’s Office personnel pursuant to this agreement, including authoring criminal investigative reports, securing and booking applicable evidence, and appearing in court for legal proceedings. /////////////////////////[END OF SCOPE AND PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES]////////////////////// 8 3. PERSONNEL

3.1. The rendition of the services performed by the Sheriff's Office, the standards of performance, the discipline of officers, and other matters incident to the performance of such services and the control of personnel so employed shall remain with the Sheriff.

3.2. In the event of a dispute between the parties to this Agreement as to the extent of the duties and functions to be rendered hereunder, or the minimum level or manner of performance of such service, CITY shall be consulted, and a mutual determination thereof shall be attempted by both the Sheriff and CITY. In an unresolved dispute the Sheriff shall have final and conclusive determination as between the parties hereto.

3.3. Any CITY employees who work in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Office pursuant to this Agreement shall remain employees of CITY and shall not have any claim or right to employment, civil service protection, salary, or benefits or claims of any kind from COUNTY based on this Agreement. Any COUNTY employees who work in conjunction with WPD pursuant to this Agreement shall remain employees of COUNTY and shall not have any claim or right to employment, civil service protection, salary, or benefits or claims of any kind from CITY based on this Agreement.

3.4. CITY shall not be called upon to assume any liability for the direct payment of any salaries, wages, or other compensation to any COUNTY personnel performing services hereunder for CITY. Except as herein otherwise specified, the CITY shall not be liable for compensation or indemnity to any COUNTY employee or agent of COUNTY for injury or sickness arising out of their performance of services made pursuant to this Agreement. ///////////////////////////////////////////[END OF PERSONNEL]///////////////////////////////////////////////////// 9 4. PAYMENT TERMS
CITY shall pay COUNTY per the following instructions:

5.1 For the services provided under this Agreement CITY shall pay COUNTY per hour of services provided by the Sheriff’s Office, based on an average hourly deputy rate of $120.19 per hour, with a three (3) hour minimum amount of $360.57, paid to COUNTY for all calls for which Sheriff’s Office staff are dispatched to and respond. At the sole discretion of the Sheriff, the three (3) hour minimum may be waived for calls requiring minimal Sheriff’s Office staff time.

5.2 COUNTY will invoice CITY on a MONTHLY basis. CITY shall pay invoiced amount within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice.

5.3 COUNTY will send invoices to:

City of Willits
Attn: Brian Bender, City Manager
111 E Commercial St.

Willits, CA 95490

5.4 CITY will send payments to:

Mendocino County
Sheriff-Coroner Office
951 Low Gap Rd.

Ukiah, Ca. 95482
Attn: MCSO Fiscal

5.5 Payment under this agreement shall not exceed $18,000 for the term of the agreement.
///////////////////////////////////////////[END OF PAYMENT TERMS]///////////////////////////// 10 5. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Insurance coverage in a minimum amount set forth herein shall not be construed to relieve CITY for liability in excess of such coverage, nor shall it preclude COUNTY from taking such other action as is available to it under any other provisions of this Agreement or otherwise in law.

CITY shall furnish to COUNTY certificates of insurance with Automobile Liability/General Liability Endorsements evidencing at a minimum the following for CITY owned property or CITY personnel:
a. Combined single limit bodily injury liability and property damage liability - $1,000,000 each occurrence.
b. Vehicle / Bodily Injury combined single limit vehicle bodily injury and property damage liability - $500,000 each occurrence.

CITY shall add the County of Mendocino, its officers, agents, employees and volunteers as additional insured to the insurance policies required by this Agreement, but only insofar as operations under this agreement are concerned. ///////////////////////////////////////////[END OF INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS]///////////////////////////// 11 IN WITNESS WHEREOF
DEPARTMENT FISCAL REVIEW:
___________________________________

DEPARTMENT HEAD DATE
Budgeted: Yes No
Budget Unit:

Line Item:

Grant: Yes No
Grant No.:

CONTRACTOR/COMPANY NAME
By:

Date:_____________________________
NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR:

COUNTY OF MENDOCINO
By: _____________________________
MAUREEN MULHEREN, Chair

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Date:_____________________________
By signing above, signatory warrants and
represents that he/she executed this Agreement
in his/her authorized capacity and that by his/her
signature on this Agreement, he/she or the entity
upon behalf of which he/she acted, executed this
Agreement.

ATTEST:

DARCIE ANTLE, Clerk of said Board
By: ____________________________
Deputy
I hereby certify that according to the provisions of
Government Code section 25103, delivery of this
document has been made.

DARCIE ANTLE, Clerk of said Board

By: __________________________
Deputy
COUNTY COUNSEL REVIEW:

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

By:________________________________

COUNTY COUNSEL
Date:_____________________________
INSURANCE REVIEW:

By: ______________________________
Risk Management
Date:______________________________
EXECUTIVE OFFICE/FISCAL REVIEW:

By: _________________________________
Deputy CEO or Designee
Date:_______________________________
Signatory Authority: $0-25,000 Department; $25,001- 50,000 Purchasing Agent; $50,001+ Board of Supervisors Exception to Bid Process Required/Completed ___________________ Mendocino County Business License: Valid
Exempt Pursuant to MCC Section: ________________________ Resolution No. 2024- Page 1 of 1 September 11, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-_______

RESOLUTION OF THE WILLITS CITY COUNCIL APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE

COUNTY OF MENDOCINO FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF SUPPLEMENTAL LAW

ENFOCEMENT SERVICES WITHIN THE CITY OF WILLITS BY THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
WHEREAS, the Willits Police Department (“WPD”) provides law enforcement services within the City of Willits (“City”); and
WHEREAS, due to staffing shortages WPD is unable to respond to all calls within the city limits of City; and
WHEREAS, City is desirous of contracting with Mendocino County (“County’) for the performance of supplemental law enforcement services by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office ("Sheriff's Office"); and
WHEREAS, County wishes to extend to the residents of the City certain services, which the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is equipped, staffed, licensed, and prepared to provide, to the extent that Sheriff’s Office personnel are available to provide such services; and WHEREAS, the Sheriff's Office is willing and able to perform the duties and to render the services as described and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the parties’ COUNTY SERVICES AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), and such terms and conditions are acceptable to City; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that City Council hereby retains County to provide the services as described and pursuant to the terms and conditions of the draft Agreement, authorizes the City Manager to make such additional minor changes to the draft Agreement as he deems necessary to finalize the Agreement with the County, and directs the City Manager to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City.

The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember __________ seconded by Councilmember _________, and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the 11th day of September 2024, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:
___________________________
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits
_____________________________

DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Item No. 9b
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Manuel Orozco, Finance Director/ City Treasurer
Agenda Title: DISCUSSION TO INCLUDE AN EXPLANATORY ADDENDUM TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 - 2025 BUDGET.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 30 minutes Summary of Request: At the August 28h meeting, the City Council passed the proposed budget for FY 2024-25.

There was a discussion regarding the changes to the Chart of Accounts and the difficulty of mapping from prior budget to the newly adopted budget. Staff has heard this and is requesting an Addendum to the Budget by attaching additional clarification to the document showing the changes and all the breakdowns of each line item with significant changes and how it changed from prior budgets.

Attached is the requested Addendum that shows a visual of how the old departmental funds merge into the new. The First Attachment shows where the old Fund numbers went to the new Chart of Accounts. The main reason for switching around the numbers was to have the Departments together, such as the Community Services Special Revenue Funds grouped together, and Police Services Special Revenue Funds grouped together as well.

The second attachment shows the new grouping of Departments and how that structure sets numbering for each department as an indicator of the departments, 1000 series is Administration, 2000 series is Police Department, 3000 series is Community Development, 4000 series is the Services and Facilities Department.

The third attachment shows the differences between the old system and the new Springbrook system. The old ACS system utilized 2 methodologies within the General Ledger (GL) under the Chart of Accounts. This is a very unique account structure as staff has not encountered this type of structure before. Simple explanation is that the balance sheet side of the GL only utilized 2 segments and the Revenue & Expenditure side, or Income Statement side, utilized 4 Segments. With segment 2 changing its identity between the two methodologies. This made our system difficult to translate to outside reporting software. The new Chart of Accounts follows standard practices.

The final attachment adds notes to the various line-item changes that were significant due to merging accounts, change in methodologies, or change in where we will apply the charges for services and supplies. Due to the switchover of the ACS system to the Springbrook system.

Recommended Action: Include the composed Addendum with its attachments to the FY 2024 - 2025 Budget.

Alternative(s): None recommended.

Fiscal Impact: None.

Attachments (list in packet assembly order):

1. Exhibit A – Addendum Narrative

2. Exhibit B – Fund Breakdown

3. Exhibit C – Department Breakdown

4. Exhibit D – Change in Account Structure

5. Exhibit E – Notes to line-item changes
Identified City Council Conflict of Interest: None.
2021 Adopted Goals: An annual operating budget is consistent with Goal #1 for Administration…Develop and implement a long-range Fiscal Sustainability Plan for City finances in order to promote the City’s economic health by balancing revenues and expenditures to solve systemic problems.

California Environmental Quality Act: None.

This Item Relates to the following General Plan Element : N/A Land Use Circulation Conservation and Open Space Noise Housing Public Services and Facilities, Parks and Recreation Economic Development
Reviewed by: City Manager City Attorney Assistant City Manager City Clerk Finance Director Human Resources
Council Action: Approved Denied Other: ________________________________________ Records: Agreement Resolution #_________ Ordinance #_________ Other _________ 1 City of Willits
Explanatory Addendum to Fiscal Year 2024 – 2025 Budget
Prepared for the September 11, 2024 City Council Meeting The intent of this Addendum is to explain how the FY 24-25 Budget functions as it is systematically different compared to previous budgets. The biggest reason for the change is the City’s transition to Springbrook Municipal Accounting Software. Fundamentally, Springbrook allows for even greater transparency and accountability for all financial actions.

The transition however required the creation of an entirely new Chart of Accounts and supporting Accounting Structure as defined below. Staff recognizes this format may be misleading and confusing especially relating to the internal transfers and project allocations, but it is a superior method in supporting the City’s strategic goals and long-term plans.

Accounting Structure
The Account string structure consists of four main sections. The Fund Section, the Department Section, an open section to be determined and finally the Object Section.

Fund Section
The Purpose of the Fund Section is to Segment the use of money. Within the category of Governmental Funds, there are five types: (1) General fund; (2) Special revenue funds; (3) Debt service funds; (4) Capital projects funds; and (5) Permanent funds. A subcategory of fund is the Internal Service Fund which is used to track goods or services shifted between departments on a cost reimbursement basis. These funds can also be used to smooth the overall costs of Vehicles, Equipment, Servers, and other specialized items necessary for the continued operations of the Government Wide Departments.

Department Section
The Purpose of the Department Section is the segmentation representing the day-to-day operations overseen by the City Departments. Because of this, balance sheet activity will not have a departmental designation and will be assigned a “0000” sequence to show no departmental delineation.
2 To Be Determined Section
The Purpose of this section is to allow for unforeseen problems within the system.

Although none is expected it is always good practice to allow for various solutions if a problem presents itself. The position of this section will allow for the segmentation by object type, further delineation of the departmental structure, project accounting, or further delineation of object structure. Because this section is not in use for the purposes of the budget it is omitted from the budget sheets.

Object Section
The Purpose of the Object Section explains the expense.

Structure of the Account String
The structure of the Account String consists of a 3 Digit Fund Section, a 4 Digit Department Section, a 4 Digit TBD Section, and a 5 Digit Object Section.

Fund Dept TBD Object
000 - 0000 - 0000 - 00000
Fund accounting is used with a priority to maximize accountability rather than profitability. As for the presentation of the budget we will omit the third section because it is currently not in use. Thus, the final presentation of the budget account structure will be as follows.

Fund Dept Object
000 - 0000 - 00000
Budget Methodology
Appropriations
The amounts listed at the final column of each department sheet are the FY 2024-25 budget by appropriations. All appropriations are the maximum expected amount in each line item. However, for auditing purposes the total appropriation for each fund is the total of all account strings. This means that the budget is not a line-item budget but a total Fund Budget. This is to encourage proper accounting practices of placing expenses in the proper line item instead of applying an expense to an improper line item because it has a remaining budget.

Transfers
Additionally, instead of separating out the expenses of personnel or other expenses into artificial categories, the City now places the actual expenditure of activities into a pooled area and allowing the transfers to reimburse the expenses incurred on the behalf of the Department.
3 This is most prominently shown in the Services & Facilities Administration budget where additional transfers are made from Water and Sewer to the administration account.

There the costs of Water and Sewer administration can be broken down at the actual expense level during the payroll cycle and the expenses are then reimbursed by the transfers from the Water and Sewer funds.

Capital Improvement Projects and Transfers
Finally, to account for the full cost of the Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) they all will be housed, along with other projects, in separate accounts and project numbers will be assigned to them so that there are tracked but the funding of the projects will then occur as a transfer from the paying fund to the CIP.

This process will allow for the tracking of grants and other project expenses. Importantly, this process allows for the accumulation of funding for larger projects over multiple years and the full reconciliation of a CIP project from start to finish. These projects will utilize the transfer from the Fund facilitating the project and fully apply revenues/transfers with the costs of the project.

The Fiscal Year 2024 – 2025 Budget Addendum includes the following documents:

1. An illustration of the reorganization of fund numbering going from ACS system to Springbrook.

2. An illustration of revised Departmental codes going from ACS system to Springbrook.

3. A graphic depicting the new Chart of Account Numbering Structure going from ACS system to Springbrook.

4. A list of line-item adjustments by Department and Program.

City of Willits
Breakdown of Funds
Fund
Number Description FundNumber Description
100 GENERAL 100 General Funds
110 ISF ‐ Information Technology
150 MEASURE K FUND 150 Measure K Tax
200 TRAFFIC SAFETY
201 GAS TAX
202 SALES TAX TRANSPORTATION IMP 245 Transportation Tax 204 HAEHL CRK TRAFFIC MITIGATION 238 Traffic Mitigation 206 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 230 General Plan Development 213 POSTCLOSURE MAINTENANCE 260 Landfill Dissolution
265 SUCCESSOR AGENCY‐WILLITS RDA 600 Sucessor Agency
400 CAPITAL OUTLAY 400 Citywide CIP
410 Wastewater CIP
420 Park Improvements
430 Water CIP
450 Airport CIP
407 HOUSING/COMM DEV P/TA GRANT 237 PLHA Housing Rehabilitation 416 COPS GRANT Added but may not need 220 Cops Program
431 LATERAL REPAIR LOAN PROGRAM 310 Lateral Repair Loans 500 AIRPORT ENTERPRISE 550 Airport Enterprise
501 SEWER ENTERPRISE 510 Wastewater Enterprise
503 WATER ENTERPRISE 530 Water Enterprise
220 11489 H&S Restitution Prgm
651 NARCOTICS FORFEITURE 222 Narcotics Forfeiture
653 HOUSING REHAB ‐ ADMIN 235 Housing Rehabilitation ‐ Admin 654 FEDERAL NARCOTICS FORFEITURE Not Active 221 Federal Asset Forfeiture 237 PLHA Housing Rehabilitation
655 DNA COST REIMBURSEMENTS 226 DNA Cost Reimbursements 661 11470.2 H&S RESTITUTION PRGM 223 11470.2 H&S Restitution Prgm 663 HOUSING REHAB RLA 232 Revolving Loan Prgm ‐ Housing 671 ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT 224 Abandoned Vehicle Abatement 681 LEAA PROGRAM 225 Law Enforcement Assistance Adm
690 PAYROLL TAX LIABILITY Move to 900
691 OTHER LIABILITIES FUND Move to 100 as Liability
800 GENERAL FIXED ASSETS 890 General Fixed Asset Acct Group 810 LONG TERM DEBT 895 Gen Long Term Debt Acct Group
900 Pool Cash ‐ Claim on Cash
240 RMRA & SB‐1
ACS Funds Springbrook Funds
Merged
City of Willits Breakdown of Departments
Department
Code Department Description DepartmentCode Department Description XXXX Not Applicable Added Balance Sheet Placeholder 0000 Balance Sheet 1000 Non Departmental 1000 Non Departmental
1001 City Council 1100 City Council / City Clerk
1002 Administration 1200 City Administration
1003 Finance 1300 Finance
1004 Legal Switched order 1500 Legal
1005 Human Resources Switched order 1400 Human Resources 1006 Elections 1600 Elections
1007 Information Technology Moved to house in separate fund as Internal Service Fund 1910 ISF ‐ Information Technology 1030 Pool 1230 Pool Operations
5001 Airport Enterprise 1210 Airport Enterprise
1010 Planning 3000 Planning
1011 Code Enforcement 3100 Code Enforcement
1012 Cannabis Moved lower in the set 3400 Cannabis Program 1015 Building & Safety 3200 Building Safety
1016 Building Maintenance 3300 Building Maintenance
1020 Police Admin 2000 Police Administration
1021 Dispatch 2100 Police Dispatch
1022 Field Operations 2200 Police Field Operations
1023 COPS Grant Officer No department listing for Grants 1025 Emergency Services 2900 Emergency Services
1040 PW Admin Public Works shifted to Services & Facilities Model 4000 Services & Facilities 1041 PW Operations 4100 Svcs & Fac Operations
1042 Engineering Engineering housed as line item in Services & Facilities Operations 1045 Landfill 4600 Landfill Dissolution
1050 Park Maintenance 4200 Park & Recreation
1070 Community Services Charitable Contributions to outside city agencies housed as line item 5010 Swr Administration Administration costs housed in Dept 4000 5011 SWR Maintenance 4111 SWR Maintenance
5013 SWR Operations Plant 4113 SWR Operations Plant
5014 SWR Engineering 4114 SWR Engineering
5015 SWR Septage Receiving 4115 SWR Septage Receiving
5030 Water Administration Administration costs housed in Dept 4000 4131 Wtr Distribution 5031 & 5032 Water Maint & Tx Plant
5033 Plant Operations
5034 Water Engineering No change 4134 Wtr Engineering
5038 Debt Service Can be housed in the Operations
2010 Street Admin Administration costs housed in Dept 4000 Street Maint 4300 Streets
Transportation Maint. 4310 Lighting
Trans. Storm Drains 4320 Storm Drains
213 Landfill
1097 Contingencies
1098 Debt Services
1099 Interfund Transfers
Break out costs by Streets & Ligthing
Based on discussion with Scott
These Items can be housed at the object
level under Non Departmental
Under ACS ‐ Deparment Codes Notes on Changes Springbrook Department Codes Merged into Operations
Based on discussion with Scott 4133 Wtr Operations
City of Willits
Change in Chart of Account Structure
Old Account Structure
First Segment
FFF Department Balance Sheet
FUND NUMBER Object Code Secondary Object Code
100 ‐ 1000 100 ‐ 2081 ‐ 030 ‐
General Fund Non Dep Revenue Cash Other Contracts Other Contracts 100 .100 Equals General Fund . Cash
New Account Structure
First Segment Third Segment Fourth Segment
FUND NUMBER TBD (open) Object Code
100 ‐ ‐ 0000 ‐ 00000
General Fund Other Contracts
Blue Segments equals Balance Sheet ‐ 100 Series = Assets200 Series = Liabilities300 Series = Fund Balances800 Series = Appears to be segment control accounts (unused) 900 Series = Appropriation lines and Encumbrances
ACS - Chart Of Account - Numbering Structure

DEPARTMENT
Dual Use
Second Segment
Still Identifies as
Fund
Now Identifies as
Object Code
Orange Strings are the P&L or our Revenue & Expense Reports The Revenues are mixed in with the Expenses
1000 Series = Wages and Benefits (1001‐1019) Revenues (1200‐1900) 2000 Series = Operating Expense (2000‐2199) Revenues (2200‐2500) 3000 Series = Other Expenses (3000‐3099) Revenues (3200‐3205) The old ACS Chart of Accounts Structure had two methodologies that differed when addressing the Balance Sheet or the Revenue & Expenses. The Structure of the Balance Sheet had only 2 Segments and the Revenue & Expenses structure had 4 Segments. This is a holdover from when computerized accounting was new and various structures were developed to account for the separate books. Since then there have been large changes in how accounting is done so that major benefits in reporting can be realized. This made merging our old structure to outside reports difficult. The new Springbrook structure is consistent across the Ledger.

The Object Code now houses the delineation of the Account Type‐ The Object Code has 5 segments
10000 Series = Assets
20000 Series = Liabilities30000 Series = Fund Balances
40000 Series = Revenues50000 Series = Expenses (Salaries & Benefits 60000 Series = Expenses (Operating Exp)
70000 Series = Expenses (Non‐Operating)
80000 Series = Operating Transfers90000 Series = Pooled Cash Chart Of Account - Change to new Springbrook Structure
Second Segment

DEPARTMENT
1000
Non Dep Revenue
City of Willits
General Note on large Changes in Budget
Based on Account String
Fund Department Account String Account Description Notes to the Changes General Fund
Administration
100-1000-41110 Property Taxes - Current Secured Based on assessment from County 100-1000-41120 Property Taxes - Supplemental Secured Based on assessment from County 100-1000-41130 Property Taxes - Current Unsecured Based on assessment from County 100-1000-41140 Property Taxes Prior Unsecured Based on assessment from County 100-1000-41170 RPTTF ROPS Resid Dist. With Last & Final ROPS completed this is expected to rise. 100-1000-41180 MVLF-In Lieu Motor Vehicle License Fee was 574K as of June without August Reconciliation 100-1000-41340 Local Tax - Cannabis Actual for prior year was 170K 100-1000-48000 Miscellaneous Insurance 365K and FEMA 100K 100-1000-55820 CalPERS UAAL Safety Plan This is now shared by all departments through payroll distribution 100-1000-55810 CalPERS UAAL Misc. Plan This is now shared by all departments through payroll distribution 100-1000-69000 Contingency Expenses There was not enough remaining funds, once revenues were established to provide for contingencies 100-1000-69100 Chamber of Commerce-TOT This is an agreement that uses a percentage of TOT 100-1000-71100 Administration & Overhead Admin charged to all programs that generate work i.e. water, sewer, airport, streets, etc. 100-1000-80150 Op Transfer In - Measure K Springbrook allocation of 51,467 in Utilities and 34,290 for Subscription, 50,000 for Commercial Street Corridor, 85,000 for Land Logistics and 130,000 for Construction Inspector 100-1100-50110 Salaries & Wages - Part Time Council Stipend was logged here but now is part of Salaries Regular 100-1100-50100 Salaries & Wages - Regular Council Stipend is now logged here. 100-1200-55400 Health Insurance The methodology for calculation of Health Ins is more precise 100-1200-55800 Retirement Calculation for Retirement is more precise 100-1200-61200 Insurance - General Liability General Property and Liability Insurance 100-1200-63200 Utilities This was taken out and placed in Building Maintenance 100-1200-65400 Professional Svcs Land Logistics is housed here instead of Other Contracts 100-1200-65460 Contract - Other Integrity Shred is the only expense left here 100-1200-67200 Rents & Leases Pitney Bowes is the only expense left here 100-1230-50100 Salaries & Wages - Regular Pool Manager & Ast. Manager with 14 Lifeguards for 18 Wks 100-1230-55800 Retirement Old Calculation of Retirement was Based on Salaries because ADP could not delineate. Springbrook has the capability to accurately apply CalPERS Normal Cost and UAAL 100-1300-65410 Audit & Accounting Svcs Auditing & Accounting services $18K Edie Bailey, $12K S&L, 25K MGO for Audit in FY 2022-23 and 25K for the audit for FY 2023-24
100-1300-65430 Software Subscriptions Utility Billing Implementation and Software Subscription 100-1300-65460 Contract - Other Moved to Audit and Accounting Svcs to its own line item 100-1400-61730 Advertising and Marketing Though we have selected a PD Chief we kept this carrying over 100-1400-61740 Legal Current Exp is at 214K but with closing of legal actions expecting this to drop 100-1400-61900 Other Departmental Expense Outside resources for Human Resources 100-1500-61740 Legal Based on prior year actuals
100-1500-65400 Professional Svcs This is for independent Attorney reviews 100-1600-46940 Rental of Building & Grounds The budgeted expectation of Rentals for Elections was removed 100-1600-65460 Contract - Other Passthrough county charge to run election Police Department
100-2000-61000 Communications Based on prior year actuals 100-2000-61200 Insurance - General Liability Housing General Liability in 1200 100-2000-61740 Legal Based on prior year actuals
100-2000-61750 Recruitment Placeholder for recruitment
100-2000-61900 Other Departmental Expense Reimbursements, Uniform Apparel, Towing, DOJ and Animal Services 100-2000-63100 Maintenance supplies Sheading, Batteries, Sirchie Acquisition 100-2000-63140 Vehicle Maintenance Towing, Tires and Vehicle maintenance (5,600 as of 4/30 100-2000-63200 Utilities Based on prior year actuals
100-2000-65400 Professional Svcs Polygraph, Toxicology, Investigations, Dispatch Svcs (landed as Prof Svcs 32K after Corr) 100-2000-65460 Contract - Other Transunion Risk , Security cameras, Contract with SO 100-2000-67200 Rents & Leases Based on prior year actuals 100-2000-68400 Travel & Lodging Based on prior year actuals 100-2000-68550 POST Travel & Trainings Reduce as trainings have reduced 100-2100-50110 Salaries & Wages - Part Time There was a budgeted part time dispatcher in prior year that was removed due to contractor 100-2100-55800 Retirement Reason for the large swing is due to a cleanup in two years in the 690 account 100-2100-55900 Unemployment Insurance Exp The 234K amount in 22/23 was actual payments to CalPERS 100-2200-55800 Retirement Swing was clean-up in Fund 690 account w- 236K out of 383K being actual PERS 100-2200-61810 Investigative Supplies Keep level as this is driven by outside actions 100-2200-61850 Equip & Supplies Non-Capital Axon Body Cameras City of Willits
General Note on large Changes in Budget
Based on Account String
Fund Department Account String Account Description Notes to the Changes Police Department Continued
100-2200-63140 Vehicle Maintenance This account has been used to house Vehicle purchases That item is now moved to Capital purchases 100-2200-65460 Contract - Other Lexipol only
100-2900-50115 Salaries & Wages - Overtime Placeholder for Emergency Services 100-2900-55250 Federal Tax - Medicare Placeholder for Emergency Services 100-2900-61900 Other Departmental Expense Placeholder for Emergency Services 100-2900-65460 Contract - Other For Review Contract on Emergency Response Community Services
100-3000-42400 Medical Cannabis Permit Fee Medical Cannabis permitting 100-3000-43600 Grants Revenue Clean Cal $10K, Rail Trail $125K, Cal Recycle $32500 & Housing Rehab $20K CalAPP 20K,6900 Iwork, FAA 5000 100-3000-61300 Dues and Subscriptions Parcel Quest 3000, GIS Pro 765, Iworks!,2,500, APA membership 450 100-3000-61900 Other Departmental Expense Bank of America $750 as of 4/30 100-3000-63140 Vehicle Maintenance Fuel and supplies for the Prius 100-3000-65400 Professional Svcs Land Logistics 8/week @ 150/Hr. for 50 Weeks (with small surplus) 100-3000-65460 Contract - Other Safety element (Part of the general plan for climate change) 100-3000-67200 Rents & Leases Divided costs among depts 100-3100-65460 Contract - Other Iworks!, Abatement for Major code enforcement violations 100-3200-42221 Construction Permits Estimates provided by Department 100-3200-42222 Other Permits & Plan Checks Estimates provided by Department 100-3200-55400 Health Insurance Difference due to Fund 690 cleanup and Springbrook implementation of payroll 100-3200-55800 Retirement Difference due to Fund 690 cleanup and Springbrook implementation of payroll 100-3200-65460 Contract - Other Cover 3rd party contract for specialized projects & Plan check svcs 100-3200-67200 Rents & Leases Copier charges based on prior year 100-3200-68400 Travel & Lodging CU credits for certification maintenance 100-3200-68450 Training & Professional Dev CU credits for certification maintenance 100-3300-48000 Miscellaneous Rental fees for meetings
100-3400-65400 Professional Svcs Expenses associated with the Cannabis program are being phased out 100-3400-65460 Contract - Other Expenses associated with the Cannabis program are being phased out 100-3400-67200 Rents & Leases Expenses associated with the Cannabis program are being phased out 100-3400-68400 Travel & Lodging Expenses associated with the Cannabis program are being phased out 100-3400-68500 Conferences & Meetings Expenses associated with the Cannabis program are being phased out 100-3400-68975 Misc Fees Expenses associated with the Cannabis program are being phased out Services & Facilities
100-4000-61600 Office & Admin Supplies Based on prior year actuals 100-4000-63200 Utilities Utilities are moved more toward Operations 100-4000-65400 Professional Svcs Increase due to LACO costs 100-4100-50210 Stipend - Personal Based on prior year actuals 100-4100-63200 Utilities Based on prior year actuals
100-4100-65460 Contract - Other LACO, SHN and Deep Valley 100-4100-71100 Admin & Overhead - Engineering Svcs Reimbursement for Engineering Costs that are grouped 100-4100-88400 Op Transfers Out-Citywide CIP Transfer out to CIP Repair Stucco 100-4200-48000 Miscellaneous Medical Cannabis
100-4200-50240 Administrative Buyout Staff Buyouts based on Prior Years 100-4200-76000 Capital Purchases reduced to zero no purchase scheduled IT Internal Services Fund
110-1910-63100 Maintenance supplies Based on prior year actuals 110-1910-65400 Professional Svcs This line item will now house the APEX charges 110-1910-65430 Software Subscriptions This line item will now house software charges 110-1910-65460 Contract - Other These charges will go to professional services and software subscriptions 110-1910-71110 Internal Service Charge-ISF-IT Reimbursements are from multiple departments Measure K Fund
150-1000-88100 Op Transfers Out-General Fund Transfers to General Fund - 104K is for Springbrook actuals 824K is for Approved Expenses 150-1000-88400 Op Transfers Out-Citywide CIP $23K Arts Center Elevator, $300K City Hall Stucco repair, $50K Monument Sign, $20K for Babcock Fountain Repairs, $175K for Stage Repair, 20K for Security Cameras,& 10K for Signage Narcotics Forfeiture
222-2000-48000 Miscellaneous There was a slated purchase that was going to be depended on a distribution from the state that did not happen. 222-2000-61900 Other Departmental Expense There was a slated purchase that was going to be depended on a distribution from the state that did not happen.

City of Willits
General Note on large Changes in Budget
Based on Account String
Fund Department Account String Account Description Notes to the Changes Law Enforcement Assistance Fund
225-2000-80100 Op Transfers In - General Fund This is an expected transfer in from the General fund to cover a potential expense DNA Cost Reimbursements Fund
226-2000-61900 Other Departmental Expense Requested by Chief as a potential expense General Plan Development Fund
230-3000-42222 General Plan Fees General plan fees
230-3000-43600 Grants Revenue LEAP, REAP and SB-2 revenues 230-3000-61850 Equip & Supplies Non-Capital COA Crosswalk Variance due to old CIP methodology 230-3000-65400 Professional Svcs Plan West, other two are Prior year and remaining grant funds, 75,000 transferred from Building Permits PLHA Housing Rehabilitation Fund
237-3000-43600 Grants Revenue New Grant Revenue
237-3000-65400 Professional Svcs New Grant Facilitation 237-3000-73000 Debt Service Principal Must account for each loan.

Streets - RMRA & SB-1 Fund
240-4300-61900 Other Departmental Expense Helmets Hardhats vests and Gloves 240-4300-63100 Maintenance supplies shovels Rakes Tools 240-4300-71110 Internal Service Charge-ISF-IT Charging for IT services Transportation Tax Fund
245-4300-61200 Insurance - General Liability Insurance for General Liability is being charged to the program 245-4300-61850 Equip & Supplies Non-Capital Non Capital equipment purchase dropped 245-4300-76000 Capital Purchases 20K as a 40% Backhoe Purchase with Swr at 40% and Wtr at 40% 245-4300-88400 Op Transfers Out-Citywide CIP Listed in CIP section as transfer to the various projects Landfill- Post Closure Fund
260-4600-61900 Other Departmental Expense Normal Testing increase due to inflation 260-4600-68900 Taxes Just to Cover potential costs due to aggregate purchased 260-4600-80100 Operating Transfers In-Gen Fund Transfer in from GF Parks and Recreation Fund
420-4200-43800 County Intergovernmental Potential Park Grant 420-4200-48000 Miscellaneous Haehl Creek work cost maintenance 420-4200-48111 Other Sales Bulk Water Sales
Waste Water Enterprise Fund
510-4111-63100 Maintenance supplies Reduction based on Actuals 510-4111-71100 Administration & Overhead Administration Charge for Main Administration and Administration in Services & Facilities 510-4111-76000 Capital Purchases Capital Purchases are accounted for in CIP 510-4113-61200 Insurance - General Liability Per CIRA Invoice 510-4113-63200 Utilities Utilities Increased
510-4113-71100 Administration & Overhead Administration Charge for Main Administration and Administration in Services & Facilities 510-4113-73100 Interest Exp 2020 Bond Interest
510-4113-76000 Capital Purchases 70K as a 40% Backhoe Purchase with Water at 40% and Streets at 20% 510-4113-88410 Op Trans Out - Wastewater CIP Capital Purchases are accounted for in CIP 510-4114-71100 Administration & Overhead Administration Charge for Main Administration and Administration in Services & Facilities 510-4114-76000 Capital Purchases Capital Purchases are accounted for in CIP Water Enterprise Fund
530-4131-61850 Equip & Supplies Non-Capital Pace Supply, NorCal Recycle Rock, Granite, Bud Garman 530-4131-63100 Maintenance supplies Mendo Mill, Badger Meter, Coast Hardware, etc. for the maintenance of Distribution 530-4131-76000 Capital Purchases This is usually where we house the CIP project but now only houses off shelf Capital purchases. This will only house 1 vehicles @ 90K
530-4133-61200 Insurance - General Liability Insurance for General Liability is being charged to the program 530-4133-61800 Departmental Supplies USA Bluebook, Machinery (moving the Chemical Supplies to new Object code) 530-4133-61820 Safety Equipment & Clothing Clothing prices increased 530-4133-61830 Chemical & Lab Supplies Univar Solutions, Chemicals and Lab Supplies 530-4133-63100 Maintenance supplies Regular Maintenance increase due to Inflation 530-4133-63200 Utilities Broken out further toward other departments 530-4134-65460 Contract - Other Engineering Contracts Bartle Wells, EBA, Kenwood & LACO 530-4134-71100 Administration & Overhead This is the Administration Charges that redistribute the Admin Costs Airport Enterprise Fund
550-1210-61900 Other Departmental Expense Attorney Costs FAA Part 16 Defense 550-1210-65400 Professional Svcs Rate Study for Airport 550-1210-65460 Contract - Other Tree Removal and other contracts 550-1210-71110 Internal Service Charge-ISF-IT Per Cathy Resolution No. 2024- Page 1 of 1 September 11, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-________

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS APPROVING THE

INCLUSION OF AN EXPLANATORY ADDENDUM TO THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF WILLITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025.

WHEREAS, the City Council on August 28th adopted the annual operating budget for the City of Willits for Fiscal Year 2024-2025; and
WHEREAS, at the time of adoption, the City Council asked staff to provide an addendum to the budget explaining the methodology of appropriations and transfers including additional reasoning behind each line item that has a significant difference from prior years; and WHEREAS, staff prepared and submitted to the City Council an Addendum with four attachments establishing the methodology of appropriations and transfers including additional reasoning behind each line item that has a significant difference from prior years for the operating budget of Fiscal Year 2024-2025; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Willits accepts the presented Addendum as an attachment to the Fiscal Year 2024–2025 Budget, and incorporated by this Resolution, is hereby approved and adopted to be included with the Operating Annual Budget for the City of Willits for the Fiscal Year of 2024-2025 with the following attachments:

1. Attachment One – Fund Breakdown; and

2. Attachment Two – Departmental Breakdown; and

3. Attachment Three – Change in Chart of Account Structure; and

4. Attachment Four – Listing of Line-Item Changes.

The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember __________ seconded by Councilmember __________, and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the 11th day of September 2024 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ATTEST:
_____________________________
_________________________________
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits

DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Item No. 9c
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director
Agenda Title: CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO REPLACE A RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON AUGUST 14th. THE REVISED RESOLUTION IDENTIFIES THE PROPOSED PROJECT LIST FOR SB1: ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 AND LISTS $128,125 AS THE RMRA FUNDING AMOUNT.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 15 minutes.

Summary of Request: This is a correction to the Resolution adopted by the City Council at the August 14th meeting.

The amended Resolution has the correct estimated RMRA funding amount for Fiscal Year 2024/2025. The amount through the Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) Program is $128,125, as shown in Attachment #1.

In March 2021, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopted the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 SB1 2021 Annual Reporting Guidelines. The Reporting Guidelines require that pursuant to Streets and Highway Code (SHC) Section 2034(a)(1), prior to receiving an apportionment of Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds from the State Controller in a fiscal year, the City must submit to the CTC a project or list of projects proposed to be funded pursuant to an adopted resolution of the City Council.

To be eligible for RMRA funding, the City is required to select a project or list of projects through a city resolution and submit a copy of the adopted resolution to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The Resolution will satisfy the accountability requirements as described in the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 – Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) Funding 2021 Annual Reporting Guidelines.

Project Title:
2025 Pavement Preservation Project
Project Description:

Resurface 3,000 feet of paving on W. Mendocino Avenue from S. Main Street to Brookside Drive and Hawthorne Lane, including sidewalks, gutters, drains, and ADA accessibility upgrades. The proposed project is a continuation of the drainage and utility work completed in 2023 (W. Mendocino Avenue, Phase One). This Project is considered Phase Two, and with its completion, a high-priority project from is eliminated from the City’s Street Rehabilitation List.

Project Location:

W. Mendocino Avenue.

Estimated Schedule:

February 2025 to August 2025 for the portion being funded with RMRA funds.

Estimated Useful Life:

Fifteen to twenty-years.

Attached are Local Streets and Roads Projected Revenues Table and the revised Resolution.

Recommended Action: Adopt the revised accompanying Resolution to approve the 2025 Pavement Preservation Project in the amount of $128,125 and submit the Adopted Resolution to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in order to receive Fiscal Year 2024/2025 apportionment of Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funding.

Alternative(s): Without RMRA funding, the City will need to either use general fund dollars to complete the project or choose to not complete the project.

Fiscal Impact: The proposed projects will be funded in part or solely with Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) revenues.

Personnel Impact: Project administration by the Services and Facilities Department and funding tracking by the Finance Department.

Identified City Council Conflict of Interest: None.
2021 Adopted Goals: This item supports Goal #1 for Services and Facilities…Maintain and improve infrastructure systems of water, wastewater, public facilities, and streets capable of managing future growth while responding to current City needs.

California Environmental Quality Act: This Project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1 (Existing Facilities), Section 15302 Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), and Section 15061(b)(3).

This Item Relates to the following General Plan Element : N/A Land Use Circulation Conservation and Open Space Noise Housing Public Services and Facilities, Parks and Recreation Economic Development
Reviewed by: City Manager City Attorney Assistant City Manager City Clerk Finance Director Human Resources
Council Action: Approved Denied Other: ________________________________________ Records: Agreement Resolution #_________ Ordinance #_________ Other _________ Local Streets and Roads - Projected Revenues
Based on State Dept of Finance statewide 2023-24 2024-25Estimated May 2024 Hwy Users Tax Road Mntnc TOTAL Hwy Users Tax Road Mntnc TOTAL Account Rehab Acct Account Rehab Acct

MADERA COUNTY
CHOWCHILLA 468,016 514,426 982,443 523,101 499,706 1,022,807 MADERA 1,592,866 1,733,169 3,326,036 1,762,693 1,700,720 3,463,413County of Madera 6,908,817 7,366,888 14,275,705 7,011,841 7,871,305 14,883,146 Total Cities & County: Madera 9,156,412 9,427,771 18,584,183 9,297,634 10,071,731 19,369,365

MARIN COUNTY
BELVEDERE 51,498 64,871 116,368 65,891 54,985 120,875CORTE MADERA 291,467 247,301 538,768 296,365 264,046 560,411 FAIRFAX 217,985 184,111 402,097 221,631 196,578 418,209 LARKSPUR 371,517 317,089 688,606 377,797 338,559 716,356 MILL VALLEY 342,534 400,705 743,239 407,488 365,728 773,216 NOVATO 1,289,022 1,490,875 2,779,897 1,516,403 1,376,302 2,892,705ROSS 70,769 56,640 127,410 71,891 60,475 132,367SAN ANSELMO 363,281 309,909 673,190 369,419 330,893 700,311 SAN RAFAEL 1,723,541 1,491,860 3,215,401 1,753,086 1,592,874 3,345,960SAUSALITO 204,741 172,565 377,306 208,158 184,249 392,408 TIBURON 260,751 221,395 482,146 265,135 236,385 501,521 County of Marin 6,352,414 5,408,538 11,760,952 6,453,813 5,778,865 12,232,678 Total Cities & County: Marin 11,812,919 10,092,462 21,905,381 12,007,077 10,779,939 22,787,016

MARIPOSA COUNTY
County of Mariposa 2,221,488 2,053,442 4,274,930 2,075,202 2,373,595 4,448,797

MENDOCINO COUNTY
FORT BRAGG 203,551 171,328 374,879 206,949 182,929 389,877 POINT ARENA 11,158 18,614 29,772 18,835 11,914 30,749
UKIAH 471,332 402,765 874,096 479,318 430,036 909,354
WILLITS 143,607 120,000 263,607 145,986 128,125 274,111 County of Mendocino 4,915,221 5,121,219 10,036,440 4,988,423 5,471,874 10,460,297 Total Cities & County: Mendocino 5,752,325 5,826,470 11,578,795 5,839,512 6,224,878 12,064,389

MERCED COUNTY
ATWATER 770,187 859,413 1,629,600 874,003 822,337 1,696,340 DOS PALOS 140,546 161,657 302,203 164,319 150,062 314,381 GUSTINE 147,435 169,247 316,682 172,040 157,417 329,458 LIVINGSTON 345,833 388,849 734,682 395,400 369,250 764,650 LOS BANOS 1,148,501 1,276,249 2,424,750 1,298,006 1,226,266 2,524,272MERCED 2,420,842 2,185,952 4,606,794 2,462,251 2,333,964 4,796,215County of Merced 9,605,068 9,869,238 19,474,306 9,750,843 10,544,994 20,295,837 Total Cities & County: Merced 14,881,326 14,607,692 29,489,018 15,116,863 15,604,290 30,721,153 May 2024 CaliforniaCityFinance.com Page 9 of 21
ATTACHMENT 1
1 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS TO REPLACE A PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF THE 2025 PAVEMENT

PRESERVATION PROJECT TO THE CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (CTC) IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 APPORTIONMENT OF SB1 ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION ACCOUNT (RMRA) FUNDING.

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017) was passed by the Legislature and Signed into law by the Governor in April 2017 to address the significant multi-modal transportation funding shortfalls statewide; and WHEREAS, SB 1 includes accountability and transparency provisions that will ensure the residents of our City of Willits are aware of the projects proposed for funding in our community and which projects have been completed each fiscal year; and WHEREAS, the City of Willits must adopt by resolution a list of projects proposed to receive fiscal year funding from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA), created by SB 1, which must include a description and the location of each proposed project, a proposed schedule for the project’s completion, and the estimated useful life of the improvement; and WHEREAS, the Resolution adopted by the City Council at their August 14th meeting cited an apportionment of $400,000 to the City through the Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) Program in Fiscal Year 2024/2025; and
WHEREAS, the City of Willits is now expected to receive $128,125 in RMRA funding through the Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) Program in Fiscal Year 2024/2025 which will be appropriated to the 2025 Pavement Preservation Project; and
WHEREAS, this is the eighth year in which the City is receiving SB 1 funding and will enable the City of Willits to continue essential road maintenance and rehabilitation projects, safety improvements, repairing and replacing aging bridges, and increasing access and mobility options for the traveling public that would not have otherwise been possible without SB 1; and WHEREAS, the City has gone through a public process by presenting projects and the annual budget and Capital Improvement List at City Council meetings to ensure public input into our community’s transportation priorities/project list; and WHEREAS, the City used a Pavement Management System to develop the SB 1 project list to ensure revenues are being used on the most high-priority and cost-effective projects that also meet the communities’ priorities for transportation investment; and WHEREAS, the funding from SB 1 will help the City maintain and rehabilitate designated streets this year and similar projects into the future; and WHEREAS, without funding from SB 1, the City would not be able to accomplish as much roadwork repairs and the City’s roads would fall into further disrepair; and 2 WHEREAS, the 2023 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment found that the City’s streets and roads are in poor condition and SB1 funding will help the City improve the overall quality and condition of streets and roads; and WHEREAS, the SB 1 project list and overall investment in our local streets and roads infrastructure with a focus on basic maintenance and safety, investing in complete streets, and using cutting-edge technology, materials, and practices, will have significant positive co-benefits.

NOW, THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, ORDERED, AND FOUND by the City Council of the City of Willits, State of California, as follows:

Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct.

Section 2. The adoption of this Resolution replaces the Resolution adopted on August 14, 2024 as it lists $128,125 as the corrected estimated apportionment of RMRA funding to the City of Willits.

Section 3. The following list of newly proposed project will be funded in part or solely with Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account revenues:

Project Title: 2025 Pavement Preservation Project
Project Description: Resurface 3,000 feet of paving on W. Mendocino Avenue from S. Main Street to Hawthorne Lane, including sidewalks, gutters, drains, and ADA-accessible updates.

Project Location: S. Mendocino Avenue, Willits.

Estimated Project Schedule: Start (02/2025) – Completion (08/2025) based on the component being funded with RMRA funds.

Estimated Project Useful Life: Fifteen to twenty-years.

The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember seconded by Councilmember ____________, and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the 11h day of September, 2024, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ATTEST:

SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits
DELORES PEDERSEN, City Clerk
Item No. 9d
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director
Agenda Title: APPROVAL BY RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF WILLITS LOCAL ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN (LRS/AP) COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 2024.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 10 min Summary of Request: Adopt the 2024 Local Road Safety Action Plan (LRS/AP) that was prepared as an update to the 2022 Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) to meet new eligibility requirements for specific federal funding programs.

The LRS/AP is a comprehensive plan that creates a framework to systematically identify and analyze traffic safetyrelated issues and recommend projects and countermeasures.

In 2021, the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) was awarded a grant to lead the development of individual Local Road Safety Plans (LRSP) for the County of Mendocino and the Cities of Willits, Fort Bragg, Point Arena, and Ukiah. The LRSP is geared toward improving safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and drivers, and is a requirement to be eligible to apply for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant funds, a competitive federal grant program administered by the Caltrans Division of Local Assistance. MCOG contracted with TJKM Transportation Consultants to develop the LRSPs, which involved leading stakeholder meetings, conducting community outreach, researching and analyzing accident and safety data, identifying emphasis areas, recommending safety countermeasures, ensuring all components are consistent with Federal and State project funding requirements, and preparing the draft and final LRSP for approval by the governing body of each agency. The City Council adopted Willits’ on June 15, 2022.

In early 2024, MCOG contracted with TJKM to prepare updates to the LRSPs to incorporate new components required to qualify for implementation funding under the Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, in addition to HSIP funding. The updated plans are called Local Road Safety/Action Plans (LRS/AP) and TJKM completed the updates for the County of Mendocino and all Cities, including Willits, in September 2024.

Included is the September 2024 Local Road Safety/Action Plan (Final Version).

Recommended Action: Adopt the accompanying Resolution for the City of Willits Local Road Safety Action Plan (September 2024) which serves as an update to the City of Willits Local Road Safety Plan completed in June 2022.

The updated plan includes all components required for eligibility to apply for implementation funding under the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program and HSIP funding.

Alternative(s): None.

Fiscal Impact: Fund 200 Traffic Safety Fund.

Personnel Impact: Activity by the Administration, Finance, and Services & Facilities staff to identify and pursue funding opportunities to implement recommendations contained in Local Road Safety Action Plan.

Identified City Council Conflict of Interest: None.
2021 Adopted Goals: Favorable action by the City Council realizes Goal #1 for Services and Facilities…Maintain and improve infrastructure systems of water, wastewater, public facilities and streets capable of managing future growth while responding to current City needs.

California Environmental Quality Act: The implementation of projects associated with the Local Road Safety Action Plan may trigger CEQA review.

This Item Relates to the following General Plan Element : N/A Land Use Circulation Conservation and Open Space Noise Housing Public Services and Facilities, Parks and Recreation Economic Development
Reviewed by: City Manager City Attorney Assistant City Manager City Clerk Finance Director Human Resources Risk Manager
Council Action: Approved Denied Other: _______________________________________ Records: Agreement Resolution #_________ Ordinance #_________ Other _________
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
September 2024
Final Report
The preparation of this report (or plan) was programmed through the Mendocino Council of Governments' FY 2023/24 Transportation Planning Work Program and funded with State (Regional Planning Assistance) Discretionary Grant funds. $89,707 is the dollar amount for the contract related to the preparation of this Final Report/Plan.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
i

CONTENTS
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 1 Safe Street and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plan Components ..................................... 4

1. Introduction............................................................................................................... 5 What is a LRS/AP? ...................................................................................................... 5 Vision and Goals of the LRS/AP .................................................................................. 5 Study Area ................................................................................................................... 5

2. Safety Partners......................................................................................................... 7 Leadership Commitment to Road Safety ..................................................................... 8

3. Existing Planning Efforts......................................................................................... 11

4. Collision Data Collection and Analysis.................................................................... 17 Demographic and Jurisdictional Characteristics ........................................................ 19 Data Collection........................................................................................................... 20 Collision Data Analysis .............................................................................................. 21 Preliminary Analysis................................................................................................... 22 Killed and Severe Injury Collision Analysis ................................................................ 27 Geographic Collision Analysis.................................................................................... 31 Collision Severity Weight ........................................................................................... 37 High-Injury Locations ................................................................................................. 39

5. Emphasis Areas...................................................................................................... 45 The Five E’s OF Traffic Safety................................................................................... 45 Existing Traffic Safety Efforts in the City of Willits...................................................... 46 Factors considered in the determination of Emphasis Areas ..................................... 47

6. Equity...................................................................................................................... 52 Equity-Emphasis Communities .................................................................................. 53 Transportation and Population Vulnerabilities in Willits.............................................. 56

7. Countermeasure Identification................................................................................ 58 Countermeasure Selection......................................................................................... 58 Draft Countermeasure Toolbox.................................................................................. 59 Other Countermeasures ............................................................................................ 60

8. Safety Projects........................................................................................................ 61

9. Evaluation and Implementation............................................................................... 66 Implementation .......................................................................................................... 67 Monitoring and Evaluation.......................................................................................... 68 LRS/AP Update.......................................................................................................... 70 City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
ii

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. City of Willits: Study Area Map......................................................................... 6 Figure 2. LRS/AP website ............................................................................................... 8 Figure 3. Public Comment Map....................................................................................... 8 Figure 4. All Injury Collisions: City of Willits (2020-2022) .............................................. 18 Figure 5. Collisions by Severity (2020-2022)................................................................. 21 Figure 6. Yearly Collision Trend (2020-2022)................................................................ 22 Figure 7. Intersection vs, Roadway Segment Collisions - All Collisions (2020-2022).... 23 Figure 8. Intersections vs. Roadway Segment Collisions - KSI Collisions (2020-2022) 23 Figure 9. Collision Type: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) ......................... 24 Figure 10. Violation Category: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022)................. 24 Figure 11. Motor Vehicle Involved With: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) . 25 Figure 12. Lighting Conditions: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) ............... 25 Figure 13. Weather Conditions: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) .............. 26 Figure 14. Time of the Day: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022)..................... 26 Figure 15. City of Willits - KSI Collisions (2020-2022)................................................... 28 Figure 16. Violation Category: KSI Roadway Segment vs. Intersection Collisions (2020- 2022)............................................................................................................................. 29 Figure 17. Motor Vehicle Involved with vs. Violation Category: Intersection KSI Collisions (2020-2022)................................................................................................................... 29 Figure 18. Collision Type vs. Lighting Conditions: Intersection KSI Collisions (2020-2022) ...................................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 19. Broadside Collisions..................................................................................... 32 Figure 20. Intersection Collisions .................................................................................. 33 Figure 21. Automobile Right-of Way Collisions ............................................................. 34 Figure 22. Improper Turning Collisions ......................................................................... 35 Figure 23. Sideswipe Collisions .................................................................................... 36 Figure 24. EPDO Score: City of Willits .......................................................................... 38 Figure 25. City of Willits: High Injury Network (2015-2019)........................................... 40 Figure 26. City of Willits High Injury Network (2020-2022)............................................ 43 Figure 27. City of Willits Equity-Emphasis Communities............................................... 54 Figure 28: Collision Share in Equity-Emphasis Community .......................................... 55 Figure 29: City of Willits Transportation Disadvantage.................................................. 57 City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
iii

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Document Review Summary........................................................................... 11 Table 2. Willits and Mendocino Population and Centerline Miles .................................. 19 Table 3. Willits Commute to Work Census Data ........................................................... 19 Table 4. Jurisdiction Ranking ........................................................................................ 20 Table 5. Office of Traffic Safety Ratings 2021............................................................... 20 Table 6. Collisions by Severity and Facility Type (2015-2022)...................................... 21 Table 7. EPDO Score used in HSIP Cycle 12............................................................... 37 Table 8. High-injury Intersections (2015-2019) ............................................................. 41 Table 9. High Injury Corridors (2015-2019)................................................................... 42 Table 10. High Injury Intersections (2020-2022) ........................................................... 44 Table 11. High Injury Corridor (2020-2022)................................................................... 44 Table 12. Existing Programs Summary......................................................................... 46 Table 13. Emphasis Area 1 Strategies.......................................................................... 48 Table 14. Emphasis Area 2 Strategies.......................................................................... 49 Table 15. Emphasis Area 3 Strategies.......................................................................... 50 Table 16. Emphasis Area 4 Strategies.......................................................................... 51 Table 17. Equity Indicators............................................................................................ 53 Table 18. List of Viable Safety Projects......................................................................... 62 Table 19. Cycle 11 HSIP Applications........................................................................... 63 Table 20. Prioritization Matrix........................................................................................ 65 Table 21. Priority Project List ........................................................................................ 65 Table 22. Potential Funding Sources ............................................................................ 66

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Matrix of Planning Goals, Policies, and Projects Appendix B: Consolidated Collision Database
Appendix C: Average Annual Fatality Rates Calculation
Appendix D: Equity Emphasis Communities Collision Analysis Appendix E: LRSM 2024
Appendix F: HSIP Analyzers (2024)
Appendix G: Project Prioritization Calculation
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
1 Executive Summary
The City of Willits’s Local Road Safety/Action Plan (LRS/AP) is a comprehensive plan that creates a framework to systematically identify and analyze traffic safety-related issues and recommend projects and countermeasures. The LRS/AP aims to reduce fatal and severe injury (FSI) collisions through a prioritized list of improvements that can enhance safety on local roadways.

The LRS/AP takes a proactive approach to addressing safety needs. It is viewed as a guidance document that can be a source of information and ideas. As indicated by this update, it is also be a living document, one that is periodically reviewed and updated by City staff and their safety partners to reflect evolving collision trends and community needs and priorities. With the LRS/AP as a guide, the City will be eligible to apply to grant funding, such as the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A).

Chapter 1 – Introduction
The Introduction presents LRS/AP and the study area, describes how the plan is organized, and summaries the vision and goals.

Chapter 2 – Safety Partners
This chapter covers the City’s collaborative approach to road safety, detailing the involvement of various city departments, local organizations, and agencies in developing and implementing the Local Road Safety/Action Plan. It highlights the engagement of diverse stakeholders through meetings and online platforms, as well as the City’s leadership commitment to enhancing road safety through a multi-faceted approach. The chapter introduces Mendocino Council of Government (MCOG) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) that will serve as the body to review and monitor the recommendations and Safety Project implementation and construction.

Chapter 3 – Existing Planning Efforts
City of Willits FY 2022-2024 Biennial Budget, Willits Safe Routes to School Action Plan (2017), Willits Main Street Corridor Enhancement Plan (2017), Downtown Willits Streets and Alleys Connectivity Study (2017), Willits Bypass Before and After Study (2017), City of Willits Traffic Safety Evaluation (2010), City of Willits Bicycle and Pedestrian Specific Plan (2009), Willits Circulation and Parking Improvement Plan (2002), Willits General Plan Vision 2020 (1992), Mendocino County Regional Transportation Plan & Active Transportation Plan (2022), Mendocino County Rail-withTrail Corridor Plan (2012).

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
2 Chapter 4 – Collision Data Collection and Analysis
Collision data was obtained and analyzed for a three-year period from 2020 to 2022 from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) and the University of California at Berkeley SafeTREC’s Transportation Injury Mapping Service (TIMS) and compared with collision trends reported in the City’s previous Local Road Safety Plan published June 15, 2022.

For the purpose of this update, California State Routes (SR-20 and SR-101) were included as part of this collision data collection and analysis. • The collision analysis identified general trends of collisions in the Willits. There were a total of 32 collisions reported Citywide from 2020 to 2022. • Property Damage Only (PDO): 14 collisions (44%)
• Complaint of Pain Injury: 6 collisions (19%)
• Visible Injury: 6 collisions (19%)
• Killed or Serious Injury (KSI): 6 collisions (19%)
 One fatality, five serious injury
• KSI Collisions peaked between 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The highest number of injury collisions were observed between 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. • Broadside collisions (50 percent) represent the highest number of KSI collisions followed by sideswipe (33 percent) collisions.
• The violation category contributing to KSI collisions were automobile right of way (33 percent). For all injury collisions, the highest violation category was automobile right of way (35 percent).
• No KSI collisions occurred in dark conditions including dusk or dawn.

Chapter 5 - Emphasis Areas
Emphasis areas are a focus of the LRS/AP that are identified through the various collision types and factors resulting in fatal and severe injury collisions within the City of Willits. The four emphasis areas for Willits are:
• Improve Intersection Safety
• Improper Turning Violations
• Sideswipe Collisions
• Broadside Collisions
Chapter 6 – Equity
The Equity chapter underscores the City’s commitment to advancing fair and equitable transportation safety improvements for all residents. It analyzes collision data with respect to equity-emphasis communities (EEC), which comprise approximately 39 percent of the city's block groups and 50 percent of its population. Key findings reveal that 17 percent of total collisions and 17 percent of KSI collisions occur in EEC.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
3 Chapter 7 – Countermeasure Identification
Engineering countermeasures were selected for each of the high-risk locations and for the emphasis areas. These were based off approved countermeasures from the Caltrans Local Roadway Safety Manual (LRSM) used in HSIP grant calls for projects.

The intention is to give the City potential countermeasures for each location that can be implemented either in future HSIP calls for projects, or using other funding sources, such as the City’s Capital Improvement Program. Non-engineering countermeasures were also selected using the E’s strategies, and are included with the emphasis areas.

Chapter 8 – Safety Projects
A set of two safety projects were created for high-risk intersections and roadway segments, using HSIP approved countermeasures. These safety projects are:
• Project 1: Improve Safety at Non-Signalized Intersections • Project 2: Improve Safety at Roadway Segments
In addition to these Safety Projects, two additional potential projects, the East Commercial Street Corridor and for Citywide Road Safety are also included and described.

Chapter 9 – Evaluation and Implementation
The LRS/AP is a guidance document that is recommended to be updated every two to five years in coordination with the safety partners. The LRS/AP document provides engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency medical service related countermeasures that can be implemented throughout the City to reduce fatal and severe injury collisions. After implementing countermeasures, the performance measures for each emphasis area should be evaluated annually. The most important measure of success of the LRS/AP should be reducing fatal and severe injury collisions, and if the number of fatal and severe injury collisions do not decrease over time, the emphasis areas and countermeasures should be re-evaluated.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
4 Safe Street and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plan
Components
SS4A defines nine action plan components that are integral to any safety action plan in order to satisfy SS4A grant requirements. Of these nine criteria, seven have to be met to SS4A grant requirements and be eligible to apply for funding. The table below describes SS4A Action Plan Components and the sections of the LRS/AP that satisfy the seven relevant components.

Action Plan Component Section

1. Leadership Commitment and
Goal Setting N/A

2. Planning Structure Ch-2, Ch-9

3. Safety Analysis Ch-4

4. Engagement and Collaboration Ch-2

5. Equity Considerations Ch-6

6. Policy and Process Changes N/A

7. Strategy and Project Selections Ch-7, Ch-8

8. Progress and Transparency
Ch-9 and Mendocino Council of
Governments (MCOG) website
https://www.mendocinocog.org

9. Action Plan Adoption Date August 2024
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
5 1. Introduction
The Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) is assisting with updating the comprehensive Local Road Safety/Action Plan (LRS/AP) for the City of Willits. The updated LRS/AP will enable the City to prioritize projects with the goal of enhancing safety for all modes of transportation and all ages and abilities.

What is a LRS/AP?
The Local Roadway Safety/Action Plan (LRS/AP) is a localized data-driven traffic safety plan that provides opportunities to address unique traffic safety needs and reduce the number of fatal and severe injury collisions. The LRS/AP creates a framework to systematically identify and analyze traffic safety-related issues, and recommend safety projects and countermeasures. The LRS/AP facilitates the development of local agency partnerships and collaboration, resulting in the development of a prioritized list of improvements that can qualify for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and SS4A funding.

The LRS/AP is a proactive approach to addressing safety needs and is viewed as a living document that should be periodically reviewed and revised to reflect evolving trends, and community needs and priorities.

Vision and Goals of the LRS/AP
• Goal #1: Systematically identify and analyze roadway safety problems and recommend improvements
• Goal #2: Improve the safety of all road users by using proven effective countermeasures
• Goal #3: Ensure coordination and response of key stakeholders to implement roadway safety improvements within the City of Willits
• Goal #4: Serve as a resource for staff to funding for safety improvements • Goal #5: Recommend safety improvements that can be made in a manner that is fair and equitable for all Willits residents
Study Area
The City of Willits, located in Mendocino County, California, covers a total area of about 2.819 square miles. Located 20 miles northwest of the City of Ukiah, the estimated population is 4,988 (as of 2020 census) with an elevation of 1,391 feet.

Figure 1 shows the study area.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
6 Figure 1. City of Willits: Study Area Map
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
7 2. Safety Partners
Safety partners are vital to the development and implementation of an LRS/AP. For the City of Willits, safety partners include representatives from the City’s Service and Facilities Department, Police Department, as well as Caltrans Planning District 1.

Three stakeholder meetings among these departments and agencies were conducted to review project goals and findings, and to solicit feedback from the group during the project timeline.

This stakeholder outreach was supplemented by a project website (mendoroadsafetyplan.com), with an interactive map input platform. As part of the project website, a public input platform called maptionnaire was published online and advertised on social media to solicit input and public comments regarding traffic safety.

The maptionnaire tool was open for public comments from February 18, 2024 to June 30, 2024.

A single public comment was submitted for Willits concerning speeding at the intersection of State Route (SR) 20 (S Main Street) and Baechtel Road/Muir Mill Road.

Figure 2 shows the landing page of LRS/AP website and Figure 3 shows the location of the public comment on the map.

In addition to the project website, five Public Workshops, three virtual and two inperson (in Fort Bragg to reach residents along the coast and Ukiah in order to reach inland residents), were held to introduce the project, present data information and recommendations, and provide a forum for comments and feedback.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
8 Figure 2. LRS/AP website
Figure 3. Public Comment Map
Leadership Commitment to Road Safety
The City of Willits is committed to enhancing road safety for all road users and recognizes the importance of a safe transportation environment for residents and visitors alike, whether they drive, walk, bike, or use public transit.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
9 To improve road safety, the City is implementing a multi-faceted, evidence-based approach that addresses the various factors contributing to traffic incidents. This strategy includes:
• Infrastructure improvements to enhance road design and safety features • Public awareness campaigns to educate residents on safe road use practices • Collaboration with local law enforcement to ensure traffic laws are effectively upheld
The City’s leadership team is committed to this safety initiative and have dedicated the necessary resources to conduct periodic assessment of progress, analysis of traffic data, and engagement with community stakeholders to ensure Willits stays on course to meet its safety objectives.

Technical Advisory Committee
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), a committee of Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG), will serve as the body to review and monitor the recommendations and Safety Project implementation and construction. The TAC consists of nine (9) voting members or their authorized technical representatives, as follows: the County Director of Transportation, the County Director of Planning & Building Services, the Mendocino Transit Authority General Manager, the Caltrans Transportation Planning Branch Chief, one technical representative appointed by each of the four cities, and the County Air Pollution Control Officer. Additionally, one (1) nonvoting member shall be a rail representative appointed by North Coast Railroad Authority. TAC meetings are typically once a month.

The nine (9) voting members or their authorized technical representatives of TAC consists as follows:

Agency
• City of Ukiah
• City of Willits
• City of Fort Bragg
• City of Point Arena
• Mendocino County Department of
Transportation
• Mendocino County Planning & Building
Services
• Mendocino Transit Authority
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
10 Agency
• Caltrans
• Air Quality Management District
The TAC will ensure a comprehensive and equitable approach to safety improvements by fostering interagency coordination and community engagement. Regular monitoring and evaluation of safety metrics will allow for adaptive management, enabling the team to adjust strategies as needed. In addition to the TAC’s role, the City’s Services and Facilities Department will also be accountable for the progress made toward the plan goals.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
11 3. Existing Planning Efforts
This chapter summarizes the planning documents, projects underway, and studies reviewed for the City of Willits LRS/AP being developed as a part of the Mendocino Council of Governments’ LRS/APs for local agencies. The purpose of this review is to ensure the LRS/AP vision, goals, and E’s strategies are aligned with prior planning efforts, planned transportation projects and non-infrastructure programs. The documents reviewed are listed below:
• City of Willits FY 2022-2024 Biennial Budget
• Willits Safe Routes to School Action Plan (2017)
• Willits Main Street Corridor Enhancement Plan (2017)
• Downtown Willits Streets and Alleys Connectivity Study (2017) • Willits Bypass Before and After Study (2017)
• City of Willits Traffic Safety Evaluation (2010)
• Mendocino County Regional Transportation Plan & Active Transportation Plan (2022)
• Mendocino County (MCOG/GRTA) Rail-with-Trail Corridor Plan (2012) The following sections include brief descriptions of these documents and how they inform the development of the LRS/AP. A summary of each document is listed in Table

1. A more detailed list of relevant policies is in Appendix A.

Table 1. Document Review Summary
Document Highlights
City of Willits FY 2022-
2024 Biennial Budget
The purpose of this document is to review and update FY 2020-2021 fiscal activity and develop estimates for the following year.

Willits Safe Routes to
School Action Plan
(2017)
This plan includes recommendations to improve the safety for both walking and biking in areas around all seven of the Willits area schools.

Willits Main Street
Corridor Enhancement
Plan (2017)
This plan was prepared in preparation for the opening of the US 101 bypass of Willits and eventual relinquishment of the former stretch of US 101 that serves as Main Street through the City of Willits, north of the intersection with SR 20.

Downtown Willits
Streets and Alleys
Connectivity Study
(2017)
This Plan seeks to beautify and enhance connectivity downtown, provide better accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists, maintain parking and provide loading zones, improve traffic safety, lighting, signage and landscaping.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
12 Document Highlights
Mendocino County
Regional
Transportation Plan &
Active Transportation
Plan (2022)
Details improvements on all modes of transportations on County significant corridors. Includes many detailed road safety projects.

Mendocino County
(MCOG/GRTA) Railwith-Trail Corridor
Plan (2012)
This plan identifies priority improvements for walking and biking facilities along the existing, currently unused, rail line running through Mendocino County.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
13 City of Willits FY 2022-2024 Biennial Budget
The City of Willits’s fiscal year 2022 –2024 Biennial
Budget outlines the funds the city has allocated to
various departments and project include street and road maintenance and the Willits Downtown Improvement
Project.

Willits Safe Routes to School Action Plan (2017)
In 2017, the City adopted a Safe Routes to School Plan
that inventoried infrastructure for walking, bicycling as well as transit around the schools and serving students traveling to and from school. The plan identified
numerous sidewalk gaps. Generally, there are few bike
lanes, routes, or paths throughout Willits.

Willits Main Street Corridor Enhancement Plan
(2017)
The City adopted a Main Street Corridor Plan in 2017.

The plan captures community-wide priorities which
include improved access and safety for walking and
bicycling in Willits. The following elements were
highlighted and requested by the public in workshops:
buffered bicycle lanes, crossing islands, green streets, wayfinding, and public art. The plan includes
improvements at Willits High School designed to create
a more accessible route for students and faculty who
bike and walk to school as well as recommended
improvements to crossings along Main Street through
the city.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
14 Downtown Willits Street and Alleys Connectivity
Study (2017)
In 2018, Caltrans transferred ownership of the current
segment of US Highway 101 that passes through
Downtown to the City of Willits. In anticipation of the transition, the City sought services to develop
recommendations for improvements to traffic circulation, safety, parking, and aesthetics, as well as proposals for several "shovel-ready" projects. These recommendations and projects were prepared with the expectation they would be implemented in conjunction with the separate but directly-related Willits Main Street Corridor Enhancement Plan.

Willits Bypass Before and After Study (2017)
The purpose of this study is to document current
conditions on the Willits Bypass and on Old Route 101
through the City of Willits, and to compare various
current metrics with prior conditions. The study
employed a variety of methods and data sources to
compare before and after conditions (described in detail in the body of the report).Focus areas of the study
include: safety, travel time, and traffic
volumes/congestion. This provides a good background
on the history of Willits Caltrans owned roads but will largely not provide future safety recommendations for
local roads.

City of Willits Traffic Safety Evaluation (2010)
The primary objective of this TSE is to improve traffic safety in the City of Willits. City staff was particularly interested in improving safety for pedestrians and
bicyclists traveling through and crossing the Main Street corridor. The local community has been striving to
enhance this corridor for many years, and City staff is now preparing a conceptual layout for the corridor.

Consequently, the results of this TSE will be used by City staff as input to their planning process.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
15 City of Willits Bicycle and Pedestrian Specific Plan (2009)
The City adopted a Bicycle and Pedestrian Specific Plan in 2009. This plan identifies detailed engineering
recommendations for transit, sidewalks, and bicycle
facilities for all seven school sites included in the 2009 Safe Routes to School Plan. The plan emphasizes
expanding and improving school commute
improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians. The plan
highlights school area pedestrian safety; stating a need to reduce traffic speeds in areas where children and
seniors are present. Schools are identified as active centers for walking and bicycling in Willits.

Mendocino County Regional Transportation Plan &
Active Transportation Plan (2022)
This Plan identifies improvements for all modes of
transportation within all jurisdictions of Mendocino
County, which include the Cities of Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg and Point Arena and the unincorporated areas of
the County of Mendocino.

Mendocino County (MCOG/GRTA) Rail-with-Trail
Corridor Plan (2012)
The Mendocino County Rail-with-Trail Corridor Plan
provides an analysis of general conditions along the
length of the 103-mile corridor and identifies priority RWT projects for the Cities of Ukiah and Willits and the County of Mendocino. Completed in conjunction with
MCOG and Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA), the
Plan provides jurisdictions along the rail corridor (City of Ukiah, City of Willits, County of Mendocino, and
Caltrans) with information to assist with implementation of the RWT. This Plan is funded by Caltrans' Community
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
16 Based Transportation Planning (CBTP) grant funds and local matching funds. For this Plan, MCOG consulted with representatives from the County of Mendocino, the cities of Willits and Ukiah, North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA), and Caltrans.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
17 4. Collision Data Collection and Analysis
This chapter summarizes the results of the analysis of the collisions that occurred in the City of Willits between January 2015 and December 2019, conducted as part of the City’s LRSP adopted in 2022, with an updated summary of collision analysis spanning January 2020 to December 2022 to supplement and revise the earlier results as part of the plan update. The city-wide collision data set was retrieved from TIMS and SWITRS.

The LRS/AP focuses on systemically identifying and analyzing safety issues and recommends appropriate safety improvements. The chapter starts with an analysis of the collisions of all severity for the City of Willits, including Property Damage Only (PDO) collisions. Further on, a detailed analysis was conducted for fatal and severe injury (KSI) collisions that have occurred on City’s roadways. Further on, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted based on factors such as collision severity, type of collision, primary collision factor, lighting, weather and time of the day. The chapter includes the following sections:
• Demographic and Jurisdictional Characteristics
• Data Collection
• Collision Data Analysis
• Fatal and Severe Injury Collision Analysis
• Geographic Collision Analysis
• High Injury Network
• Summary
Figure 4 illustrates all the injury collisions that have occurred in the City from January 2020 to December 2022.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
18 Figure 4. All Injury Collisions: City of Willits (2020-2022) City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
19 Demographic and Jurisdictional Characteristics
Demographic data has been collected from the Census in the City of Willits and Mendocino County, a summary of the population, centerline miles of roadway and commute to work characteristics are presented below.

Population
According to the 2020 census, the population of Willits is 4,988, which is 5.4 percent of the county population. The population proportion as well as the centerline miles are shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Willits and Mendocino Population and Centerline Miles Population Percent of County
Population
Centerline
Miles
Percent of County
Centerline Miles
Point Arena 460 0.5% 2.3 0.2%
Willits 4,988 5.4% 20.5 1.8%
Fort Bragg 6,983 7.6% 27.75 2.5%
Ukiah 16,607 18.1% 58.9 5.3%
Unincorporated 62,563 68.3% 1,009.9 90.2%
Total 91,601 1,119.35
Commute to Work
According to five-year estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) 20221 from the U.S. Census, approximately 99 percent of residents travel by cars or vans to work, out of which 89 percent drive alone and 10 percent carpool. About one percent of residents took transit. The different modes of transportation used to commute to work for the City are listed in Table 3.

Table 3. Willits Commute to Work Census Data
Commute to Work Willits
Drive alone 89%
Carpool 10%
Public Transportation 1%
Source: Data from the Census Bureau ACS 5-year Estimate 2022 Jurisdiction Rankings
From 2020 to 2022, Willits reported one fatal traffic collision, with an annual traffic fatality rate per 100,000 populations of 6.68 for Willits and 21.47 for the County as a whole. Table 4 shows the comparison of traffic fatality rates and population. 1 https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2022.S0804?g=160XX00US0685600&tp=true City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
20 Table 4. Jurisdiction Ranking
Jurisdiction Fatal Traffic Collisions
(2020-2022) Population
3-year
annual
Fatality Rate
per 100,000
Willits 1* 4,988 6.68
Mendocino County 59* 91,601 21.47
California 12,921 39,538,223 10.89
United States 124,558 331,449,281 12.52
*Note: These numbers include all state route collisions fatalities Source: TIMS, Census, NHTSA
Office of Traffic Safety Rankings
Additional information on collisions in the City of Willits is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). OTS is designated by the Governor to receive federal traffic safety funds for coordinating California’s highway safety programs. The latest available OTS rankings are from the year 2021. The 2021 rankings indicate that the City of Willits has the following ranks as listed in Table 5, when compared with 76 similarly sized cities2:

Table 5. Office of Traffic Safety Ratings 2021
OTS 2021 Ranking Willits
Total Fatality and Injury 50/76
Alcohol Involved 33/76
Pedestrian 19/76
Bicycle 53/76
Speed Related 67/76
Nighttime 58/76
Data Collection
Collision data helps understand different factors that might be influencing collision patterns and various factors leading to collisions in a given area. For the purpose of this analysis, a five-year jurisdiction-wide collision data, from 2015 to 2019 was retrieved from Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) and Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) database. Additionally, collision data from 2020 to 2022 is included to update and refine preceding findings. For the purpose of this analysis, all collisions occurring on SR-20 in the City of Willits have been taken into 2 https://www.ots.ca.gov/media-and-research/crash-rankings-results/?wpv_view_count=1327&wpvwpcf-year=2021&wpv-wpcf-city_county=Willits&wpv_filter_submit=Submit City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
21 account in the analysis. The collision data was analyzed and plotted in ArcMap to identify high-risk intersections and roadways segments.

Collision Data Analysis
Collision Severity
There were a total of 195
collisions reported City-wide
from 2015 to 2019. For 2020 to
2022, a total of 32 collisions
were reported. Out of these 32
collisions, 14 collisions (44
percent) were PDO collisions,
six collisions (19 percent) led to
complaint of pain injury and six
collisions (19 percent) led to a
visible injury. There were six KSI
high injury collisions of which five collisions led to a severe injury and one led to a fatality. Note the graphs and charts presented in this chapter includes collisions from 2020 to 2022. Figure 5 illustrates the classification of all collisions based on severity.

The analysis first includes a comparative evaluation between all collisions and KSI collisions, based on various factors including but on limited to the collision trend, primary collision factor, collision type, fatality type, motor vehicle involved with, weather, lighting, and time of the day. Further on, a comprehensive analysis is conducted for only KSI collisions. KSI collisions cause the most damage to those affected, infrastructure and the aftermath of these collisions lead to great expenses for jurisdiction administration. This plan focuses on these collision locations to proactively identify and counter their respective safety issues.

The collision data was segregated by fatality type, i.e. based on collisions occurring at intersections and roadway segments. For the analysis, a collision was said to have occurred at an intersection if it occurred within 250 feet of it. The reported collisions categorized by facility type and collision severity are presented in Table 6.

Table 6. Collisions by Severity and Facility Type (2015-2022) Collision Severity 2015-2019 2020-2022 2015-2022
CT SR Total CT SR Total Total
Killed 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
Severe Injury 1 4 5 4 1 5 10
Visible Injury 5 4 9 2 4 6 15
Killed, 3%
Severe
Injury, 15%
Visible
Injury, 19%
Complaint of
Pain, 19%
Property
Damage
Only (PDO),
44%
Figure 5. Collisions by Severity (2020-2022)
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
22 Collision Severity 2015-2019 2020-2022 2015-2022
CT SR Total CT SR Total Total
Complaint of Pain 4 20 24 3 3 6 30
Property Damage Only (PDO) 37 120 157 5 9 14 171
Total 47 148 195 14 16 32 227
Note: State Route (SR 20) & State Route/Highway (101) collisions are included in the analysis. City Routes is abbreviated as “CT” and State Routes is abbreviated as “SR”.

Preliminary Analysis
Collision Severity by Year
For all collisions, the number of collisions have decreased from 2015 to 2019.

However, there has been an upward trend from 2020-2022. The highest number of collisions (69 collisions) were observed in 2015 and the lowest number of collisions (nine collisions) were observed in 2021. A total of six KSI collisions occurred in the City of Willits from 2020 to 2022. Figure 6 illustrates the three-year collision trend for all collisions, KSI collisions and also PDO collisions.

Figure 6. Yearly Collision Trend (2020-2022)
Intersections vs. Roadway Collisions
When evaluating all severity collisions based on the facility type they occurred on, it was observed that 85 percent of collisions occurred at intersections and 15 percent occurred at roadway segment/mid-block locations between the years 2015-2019.

From 2020-2022, 97 percent of all collisions (31 collisions) occurred at intersections whereas three percent (one collision) occurred on roadway segment. For KSI collisions, 100 percent of KSI collisions occurred on intersections. This classification by fatality type can be observed in Figure 7 and Figure 8. 4 1 1
5 4
5 10
9 11
0 2
4 6
8 10
12 2020 2021 2022
KSI Injury Collisions Property Damage Only (PDO) Total Collisions City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
23 Figure 7. Intersection vs, Roadway Segment Collisions - All Collisions (2020- 2022)
Figure 8. Intersections vs. Roadway Segment Collisions - KSI Collisions (2020- 2022)
3%
97%
Roadway Segment
Intersection
100%
Roadway Segment
Intersection
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
24 Collision Type
For collisions of all severity, the most commonly occurring collision types were rearend collisions (36 percent) and broadside collisions (26 percent) in 2015-2019.

In 2020-2022, broadside collisions (40 percent) and sideswipe collisions (27 percent) were most commonly observed. For KSI collisions, the most commonly occurring collision type was broadside collisions (50 percent) and the second most common was sideswipe collisions (33 percent). Figure 9 illustrates the collision type for all severity collisions as well as KSI collisions.

Figure 9. Collision Type: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) Violation Category
For collisions of all severity, the most common violation category was observed to be automobile right of way (8 percent) followed by unsafe speed (7 percent) in 2015- 2019.

For 2020-2022, it is automobile right of way (37 percent), and improper turning (17 percent). For KSI collisions, automobile right of way (33 percent) was also observed to be the main violation category. Figure 10 illustrates the violation category for all collisions and KSI collisions.

Figure 10. Violation Category: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) 27%
17%
40%
3%
10%
3%
33%
0%
50%
17%
0% 0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Sideswipe Rear End Broadside Overturned Vehicle/Pedestrian Unknown Total KSI
17%
13%
3% 3% 3%
13%
37%
10%
17% 17% 17%
0% 0%
17%
33%
0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Unknown DUI Unsafe Speed Following Too
Closely
Improper
Passing
Improper
Turning
Automobile
Right of Way
Traffic Signals
and Signs
Total KSI
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
25 Motor Vehicle Involved With
For collisions of all severity from 2015-2019, 74 percent of the collisions were motor vehicle involved with another motor vehicle.

For 2020-2022, 83 percent of collisions involved another motor vehicle. For KSI collisions, 67 percent of the collisions involved another motor vehicle and seven percent involved a pedestrian and bicycle each. Figure 11 illustrates the percentage of motor vehicle involved with for all collisions as well as KSI collisions.

Figure 11. Motor Vehicle Involved With: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020- 2022)
Lighting
For collisions of all severity from 2015-2019, 78 percent of collisions have occurred in daylight and 15 percent of collisions have occurred in the dark on streets with street lights.

For 2020-2022, 80 percent of collisions occurred in daylight and 10 percent of collisions occurred in dark with street lights. For KSI collisions in 2020-2022, 100 percent of collisions have occurred in daylight. Figure 12 illustrates the lighting condition for all collisions and KSI collisions.

Figure 12. Lighting Conditions: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) 7%
83%
0% 7% 3%
67%
17% 17%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Pedestrian Other Motor Vehicle Bicycle Other Object
Total KSI
80%
7% 10% 3%
100%
0% 0% 0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
Daylight Dusk - Dawn Dark - Street Lights Dark - No Street Lights Total KSI
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
26 Weather
For collisions of all severity from 2015-2019, 82 percent of collisions have occurred in clear weather conditions.

For 2020-2022, 90 percent of collisions have occurred during clear weather conditions and three percent of collisions occurred in cloudy weather conditions. For KSI collisions, 83 percent have occurred in clear weather conditions and 17 percent occurred in cloudy conditions. Figure 13 illustrates the weather conditions for all vs.

KSI collisions.

Figure 13. Weather Conditions: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) Time of the Day
For collisions of all severity in 2015-2019, the number of collisions peaked between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.

In 2020-2022, the number of collisions have peaked between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. For KSI collisions, the collisions have been observed to have peaked during the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Figure 14 illustrates the percentage of collisions occurring during the day for all collisions as well as KSI collisions.

Figure 14. Time of the Day: All Collisions vs. KSI Collisions (2020-2022) 90%
3% 3% 3%
83%
17%
0% 0%
0%
50%
100%
Clear Cloudy Raining Other
Total KSI
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
1:00
AM
2:00
AM
3:00
AM
4:00
AM
5:00
AM
6:00
AM
7:00
AM
8:00
AM
11:00
AM
12:00
PM
1:00
PM
3:00
PM
4:00
PM
5:00
PM
6:00
PM
10:00
PM
Total KSI
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
27 Killed and Severe Injury Collision Analysis
The detailed collision analysis is effective for identifying high-risk locations by evaluating a shorter list of collisions that have led to a fatality or a severe injury.

Collisions have been further analyzed taking into account the following collision attributes:
• Violation Category
• Collision Type vs. Violation Category
• Collision Type vs. Lighting Conditions
Between 2020 and 2022, all reported KSI collisions in Willits took place at intersections. Therefore, graphs in this section represents intersection KSI collisions.

Figure 15 illustrates all the locations of the killed and severe injury collisions that occurred in the City from January 2020 to December 2022.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
28 Figure 15. City of Willits - KSI Collisions (2020-2022) City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
29 Violation Category
As illustrated in the Figure 16 below, high injury intersection collisions were caused due to automobile right of way, improper turning, unsafe speed, and DUI violations.

Figure 16. Violation Category: KSI Roadway Segment vs. Intersection Collisions (2020-2022)
Motor Vehicle Involved with vs. Violation Category
For KSI collisions that occurred at intersections in 2020-2022, the collision that occurred between a motor vehicle was due to unsafe speed, DUI, improper turning and automobile right of way violation. The collision that involved a bicycle was due to automobile right of way. Figure 17 illustrates intersection KSI collisions by motor vehicle involvement and violation category.

Figure 17. Motor Vehicle Involved with vs. Violation Category: Intersection KSI Collisions (2020-2022)
17% 17% 17% 17%
33%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Unknown DUI Unsafe Speed Improper Turning Automobile Right of Way
Intersection
1 1 1
1 1
0 0.5
1 1.5
2 2.5
DUI Unsafe Speed Improper Turning Automobile Right of Way Other Motor Vehicle Bicycle Other Object
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
30 Collision Type vs. Lighting Conditions
For KSI collisions that occurred at intersections in 2020-2022, the collisions that occurred during the daylight includes sideswipe, broadside and overturned collisions.

No KSI collisions occurred during the nighttime. Figure 18 illustrates intersection KSI collisions by collision type and lighting conditions.

Figure 18. Collision Type vs. Lighting Conditions: Intersection KSI Collisions (2020-2022)
2 3
1 0

0.5 1

1.5 2

2.5 3

3.5 Sideswipe Broadside Overturned
Daylight
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
31 Geographic Collision Analysis
This section describes a detailed geographic collision analysis performed for injury collisions occurring at roadway segments and intersections in the City of Willits. The above collision analysis was used to identify five main collision factors that highlight the top trends among collisions in Willits. These five collision factors were identified to be broadside collisions, intersection collisions, automobile right-of-way violation collisions, improper turning collisions and sideswipe collisions.

Broadside Collisions
For KSI collisions in Willits, 50 percent of collisions were broadside collisions, compared to 42 percent for all severity collisions. Figure 19 shows the distribution of broadside collisions throughout the Willits from 2020-2022. South Main Street, Central Avenue, and Madrone Street are locations where broadside injury collisions have occurred.

Intersection Collisions
For KSI collisions in Willits, 100 percent of the collisions occurred at intersections, compared to 94 percent for all severity collisions. Figure 20 shows the distribution of roadways where intersection collisions occurred the most from 2020-2022.

Intersections along North Main Street, South Main Street, Central Avenue and Madrone Street had injury collisions.

Automobile Right-of-Way Collisions
For KSI collisions in Willits, 33 percent occurred due to automobile right-of-way violations. Figure 21 shows the distribution of injury collisions that occurred due to automobile right-of-way violations from 2020-2022. South Main Street had the major hot-spot for automobile right-of-way collisions.

Improper Turning Collisions
For KSI collisions in Willits, 17 percent occurred due to improper turning violations.

Figure 22 illustrates the locations where injury collisions occurred due to improper turning violations from 2020-2022. North and South Main Street and Madrone Street are roadways where collisions due to improper turning violation occurred.

Sideswipe Collisions
For KSI collisions that occurred in Willits, 33 percent were sideswipe collisions. Figure 23 illustrates the locations where sideswipe collisions occurred from 2020-2022. North and South Main Street are roadways where such collisions were observed.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
32 Figure 19. Broadside Collisions
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
33 Figure 20. Intersection Collisions
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
34 Figure 21. Automobile Right-of Way Collisions
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
35 Figure 22. Improper Turning Collisions
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
36 Figure 23. Sideswipe Collisions
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
37 Collision Severity Weight
A collision severity weight was used to identify the high severity collision network, using the Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) method. The EPDO method accounts for both the severity and frequency of collisions by converting each collision to an equivalent number of property damage only (PDO) collisions. The EPDO method assigns a crash cost and score to each collision according to the severity of the crash weighted by the comprehensive crash cost. These EPDO scores are calculated using a simplified version of the comprehensive crash costs per HSIP Cycle 12 application.

The weights used in the analysis are shown below in Table 7.

Table 7. EPDO Score used in HSIP Cycle 12
Collision Severity EPDO Score
Killed and Severe Injury
Combined 165*
Visible Injury 11
Possible Injury 6
PDO 1
*This is the score used in HSIP Cycle 12 for collisions on roadways segments, to simplify the analysis this study uses the same score for all KSI collisions regardless of location.

The EPDO scores for all collisions can then be aggregated in a variety of ways to identify collision patterns, such as location hot-spots. The weighted collisions for the City of Willits were geolocated onto Willits’ road network. Figure 24 shows the location and geographic concentration of collisions by their EPDO score.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
38 Figure 24. EPDO Score: City of Willits
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
39 High-Injury Locations
Following the detailed collision analysis in the previous sections, the next step is to identify the high-risk roadway segments and intersections in the City of Willits. The methodology for scoring the high injury locations is methodology used calculating the EPDO Score of roadways in the City.

Figure 25 shows the eight high-collision corridors and 18 high-collision intersections based on 2015-2019 collision analysis.

Figure 26 shows the top one high-collision roadway segment, and top four highcollision intersections based on 2020-2022 collision analysis.

For the purposes of the identification of the high collision network, intersections include collisions that occurred within 250 feet of it and roadways include all collisions that occurred along the roadway except for collisions that occurred occur directly at an intersection, or collisions that occurred at a distance of 0 feet from the primary and secondary road as per the statewide integrated traffic records system (SWITRS).

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
40 Figure 25. City of Willits: High Injury Network (2015-2019) City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
41 High-Injury Intersections (2015-2019)
Table 8 lists the high-collision intersections identified in the 2015-2019 analysis along with the total number of collisions that occurred at that location.

Table 8. High-injury Intersections (2015-2019)
Rank Intersection EPDO
Score
Total
Collisions KSI Unsafe Speed
Improper
Turning
VehiclePedestrian HitObject
1 Main St &
Commercial St 364 6 2 1 1 5 0
2 East Hill Rd & Us101 165 1 1 0 0 0 0
2 Rt 101 & State St 165 1 1 0 1 1 0
3 Rt 101 & Wood St 29 4 0 2 1 1 1
4 Rt 101 & Gregory
Ln 23 3 0 0 0 0 0
5 Rt 101 & Van Ln 18 3 0 3 0 0 0
6 Rt 101 & State St 12 2 0 1 1 0 0
7 W Valley Rd & Rt
101 11 1 0 0 0 1 0
8 Rt 101 & Muir Mill
Rd 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
8 Rt 101 & East San
Francisco St 6 1 0 1 0 0 0
8 Rt 101 & Franklin
Av 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
8 Rt 101 & Holly St 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
8 Main St & Manor
Wy 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
8 Monroe St & Rt 101 6 1 0 0 1 0 1
8 Spruce St & Pine St 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
8 Rt 101 & Rt 20 6 1 0 0 0 0 0
8 Main St & San
Francisco Av 6 1 0 0 0 1 0
8 E Oak St & Rt 101 6 1 0 0 0 1 0
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
42 High Injury Corridors (2015-2019)
Table 9 lists the EPDO score of the eight corridors identified as high-injury corridors in the 2015-2019 analysis along with the number of collisions that occurred on these corridors.

Table 9. High Injury Corridors (2015-2019)
Rank Corridor EPDO
Score
Total
Collisions KSI Unsafe Speed
Improper
Turning
VehiclePedestrianHitObjectLen
(mi.)
A
North Main Street, from
Sherwood Road to East
Commercial Street
364 6 2 1 3 2 0 0.3
B
Sherwood Road, from
Main Street to City
Boundary
187 3 1 1 1 0 2 0.4
C
South Main Street, from
Hazel Street to Muir
Mill Road
171 2 1 0 1 0 1 0.9
D
East Hill Road,
between 650 feet E of
Haehl Creek Drive and
the City boundary
165 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.19
E
South Main Street, from
Hazel Street to East
Commercial Street
70 10 0 6 2 1 2 0.9
F
Poplar Avenue,
between Walnut Street
and City Boundary
11 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.3
G
East Commercial
Street, between South
Main Street and 1000
feet E of S Lenore
Avenue
6 1 0 1 0 0 0 0.6
H
North Main Street, from
Sherwood Road to City
Boundary
6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.23
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
43 Figure 26. City of Willits High Injury Network (2020-2022) City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
44 High Injury Intersections (2020-2022)
There are four intersections that were identified as high injury intersections for 2020- 2022. A total of six KSI collisions occurred at these intersections. The intersection of South Main Street and Gregory Lane has the highest EPDO score. Table 10 lists the most significant high-collision intersections identified in the 2020-2022 analysis.

Table 10. High Injury Intersections (2020-2022)
ID Intersections Total Killed Severe
Injury
Pedestrian
/Bicycle
EPDO
Score
1 S Main St & Gregory Ln 5 1 2 1 512
2 S Main St & Fort Bragg -
Willits Rd/South St 2 0 1 1 176
3 S Main St & W Valley St 1 0 1 0 165
4 S Main St & Madrone St 1 0 1 0 165
High Injury Corridors
One corridor was identified as a high injury corridor for 2020-2022 with one KSI collision recorded. Table 11 lists the high-collision roadway segment identified in 2020-2022 analysis.

Table 11. High Injury Corridor (2020-2022)
ID Corridors
Total
Injury
Collisions
Killed Severe
Injury
Pedestrian/
Bicycle
Length
(miles)
EPDO
Score
A S Main Street: Monroe St
to Gregory Ln* 2 0 1 2 0.9 176
Note: * indicates locations identified as part of High Injury Network (2015-2019) City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
45 5. Emphasis Areas
Emphasis areas are focus areas for the local roadway safety plan that are identified through the comprehensive collision analysis of the identified high injury locations within the City of Willits. Emphasis areas help in identifying appropriate safety strategies and countermeasures with the greatest potential to reduce collisions occurring at these high injury locations. In addition, traffic safety related concerns were heard at Stakeholder Meetings and Public Workshops conducted for this plan.

This chapter summarizes the four emphasis areas identified for the City of Willits.

These emphasis areas were derived from the consolidated high injury collision database (Appendix B) where top injury factors were identified by combining the data manually. Along with findings from the data analysis, stakeholder input was also considered while identifying emphasis areas specific to the City of Willits.

The following are the identified emphasis areas –

1. Improve Intersection Safety
• Collisions within 250 feet of intersections

2. Improper Turning Violations

3. Sideswipe Collisions

4. Broadside Collisions
The Five E’s OF Traffic Safety
LRS/AP utilizes a comprehensive approach to safety incorporating “5 E’s of traffic safety”: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). While the fifth E, Equity, is not discussed in this chapter, it is still an area that needs to be considered and addressed as outlined in Chapter 6. This approach recognizes that not all locations can be addressed solely by infrastructure improvements. Incorporating the 5 E’s of traffic safety is often required to ensure successful implementation of significant safety improvements and reduce the severity and frequency of collisions throughout a jurisdiction.

Some of the common violation types that may require a comprehensive approach are speeding, failure-to-yield to pedestrians, red light running, aggressive driving, failure to wear safety belts, distracted driving, and driving while impaired. When locations are identified as having these types of violations, coordination with the appropriate law enforcement agencies is needed to arrange visible targeted enforcement to reduce the potential for future driving violations and related crashes and injuries.

To improve safety, education efforts can also be used to supplement enforcement.

Additionally, education efforts can supplement enforcement to improve the efficiency City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
46 of each. Education can also be employed in the short-term to address high crash locations until the recommended infrastructure project can be implemented, addressed under Engineering improvements and countermeasures. Similarly, Emergency Medical Services entails strategies around supporting organizations that provide rapid response and care when responding to collisions causing injury, by stabilizing victims and transporting them to facilities.

Existing Traffic Safety Efforts in the City of Willits
The City of Willits has already implemented safety strategies corresponding to the E’s of traffic safety. The strategies detailed in this chapter can supplement these existing programs and concentrate them on high injury collision locations and crash types.

These initiatives are summarized in the table below:

Table 12. Existing Programs Summary
Document Description E’s Addressed
Willits Safe Routes to
School Action Plan (2017)
This plan includes recommendations to improve the
safety for both walking and biking in areas around all
seven of the Willits area schools.

Engineering
Education
Enforcement
Willits Main Street Corridor
Enhancement Plan (2017)
This plan was prepared in preparation for the opening of the US 101 bypass of Willits and eventual relinquishment of the former stretch of US 101 that serves as Main Street through the City of Willits, north of the intersection with SR 20.

Engineering
Downtown Willits Streets
and Alleys Connectivity
Study (2017)
This Plan seeks to beautify and enhance connectivity
downtown, provide better accessibility for pedestrians
and bicyclists, maintain parking and provide loading
zones, improve traffic safety, lighting, signage and
landscaping.

Engineering
City of Willits Traffic Safety
Evaluation (2010)
The primary objective of this TSE is to improve traffic safety in the City of Willits. City staff was particularly interested in improving safety for pedestrians and
bicyclists along Main Street.

Engineering
Enforcement
Willits Bicycle and
Pedestrian Specific Plan
(2009)
This plan was developed with the intent of identifying
bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the City of Willits that would serve residents and visitors. Projects within the plan would enhance tourism, promote health, and
improve safety.

Engineering
Education
Mendocino Council of
Governments 2024 Regional
Transportation
Improvement Program
The Regional Transportation Improvement Program
(RTIP) is a program of highway, local road, transit and active transportation projects that a region plans to fund with State and Federal revenue.

Engineering
Mendocino County
Regional Transportation
Plan & Active
Transportation Plan (2022)
Details improvements for all modes of transportation on County significant corridors. Engineering
Mendocino County Safe
Routes to School Plan
(2014)
In addition to the Citywide program the countywide Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is also a resource to a program with a simple goal: helping more children get to school by walking and bicycling.

Engineering
Education
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
47 Document Description E’s Addressed
Willits Police Department
Ongoing Programs and
Resources
The City Police Department has a number of programs
and resources to reduce traffic fatalities and an ongoing commitment to enforcing traffic violations at key location in Willits including schools.

Enforcement
Education
Walk and Bike Mendocino
Walk and Bike Mendocino promotes safe walking and
biking as a primary transportation choice in short distance travel in Mendocino County.

Education
Factors considered in the determination of Emphasis
Areas
This section presents collision data analysis of collision type, collision factors, facility type, roadway geometries, analyzed for the various emphasized areas. Emphasis areas were determined by factors that led to the highest amount of injury collisions, with a specific emphasis on KSI injury collisions. In addition to the collision data, emphasis areas were also determined by the feedback received from stakeholders.

This section also presents comprehensive programs, policies and countermeasures to reduce collisions in specific emphasis areas.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
48 Emphasis Area 1 – Intersection Safety
A total nine collisions occurred on the high injury network in the City out of which nine (100 percent) of these collisions occurred at intersections, including six KSI collisions.

The following are major findings based on intersection injury collisions that occurred on the high injury network in the City of Willits followed by strategies to make these locations safer.
33%
Sideswipe
Collisions
33%
Broadside Collisions
22%
Improper Turning
Collisions
Table 13. Emphasis Area 1 Strategies
Objective:

To reduce the number of injury collisions at intersections.

Strategy Performance
Measure
Agencies/
Organizations
Education
Conduct public information and education campaign for
intersection safety laws regarding traffic signals, stop signs, and turning left or right.

Number of
education
campaigns.

City/ School
District/ Police
Department
Enforcement
Targeted enforcement at high-risk intersections to monitor traffic law violations right-of-way violations, speed limit laws and other violations that occur at intersections.

Number of
tickets issued.

City
EMS
SI04EV, Install emergency vehicle pre-emption systems EMS vehicle response time.

Mendocino
County Local
Emergency
Services
Agency
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
49 Emphasis Area 2 – Improper Turning Violations
A total nine collisions occurred on the high injury network out of which two (22 percent) were due to improper-turning violations, including one severe injury collision. The following are major findings of collisions due to improper-turning violations on the high injury network in the City of Willits followed by strategies to make these locations safer:
100%
At intersection
50%
Sideswipe Collision
50%
Broadside Collision
Table 14. Emphasis Area 2 Strategies
Objective:

Reduce the number of injury collisions due to improper turning violation.

Strategy Performance
Measure
Agencies/
Organizations
Education
Conduct public information and education campaign for
safety laws regarding traffic lights, stop signs, and turning left or right.

Number of
education
campaigns.

City/ School
District/ Police
Department
Enforcement Targeted enforcement at high-risk locations. Number of tickets issued.

Police
Department
Engineering
• SI02, Improve signal hardware: lenses, back-plates
with retroreflective borders, mounting, size, and
number
• SI03, Improve signal timing (coordination, phases,
red, yellow, or operation)
• SI07, Convert signal to mast arm (from pedestalmounted) • SI08, Install raised pavement markers and striping
(Through Intersection)
• SI16RA/NS04RA/NS05rA, Convert intersection to
roundabout
• NS08, Install/upgrade larger or additional stop signs or other intersection warning/regulatory signs
• NS09, Upgrade intersection pavement markings
(NS.I.)
• R01NT, Add Segment Lighting
• R22, Install/Upgrade signs with new fluorescent
sheeting (regulatory or warning)
• R27, Install delineators, reflectors and/or object
markers
Number of
locations
improved.

City
EMS
S05, Install emergency vehicle pre-emption systems EMS vehicle response time.

Mendocino
County Local
Emergency
Services
Agency
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
50 Emphasis Area 3 – Sideswipe Collisions
A total nine collisions occurred on the high injury network out of which three (33 percent) of these were sideswipe collisions. The following are major findings based on sideswipe collisions followed by strategies to make these locations safer:
100%
At intersections
33%
Improper Turning
33%
Unsafe Speed
Table 15. Emphasis Area 3 Strategies
Objective:

Reduce the number of sideswipe injury collision.

Strategy Performance
Measure
Agencies/
Organizations
Education
Conduct public information and education campaign for safety laws regarding and the larger risk of collisions.

Number of
education
campaigns
City/ Police
Department
Enforcement
Targeted enforcement at high-risk locations. Number of
tickets issued.

Police
Department
Engineering
• SI02, Improve signal hardware: lenses, back-plates with retroreflective borders, mounting, size, and number
• SI03, Improve signal timing (coordination, phases, red, yellow, or operation)
• SI07, Convert signal to mast arm (from pedestal-mounted) • SI08, Install raised pavement markers and striping
(Through Intersection)
• SI16RA/NS04RA/NS05RA, Convert intersection to
roundabout
• NS08, Install/upgrade larger or additional stop signs or other intersection warning/regulatory signs
• NS09, Upgrade intersection pavement markings
• R01NT, Add segment lighting
• R22, Install/Upgrade signs with new fluorescent sheeting (regulatory or warning)
• R27, Install delineators, reflectors and/or object markers • R26, Install dynamic/ variable speed warning signs
• R27, Install delineators, reflectors and/or object markers Number of
locations
improved.

City
EMS
SI04EV, Install emergency vehicle pre-emption systems EMS vehicle response time.

Mendocino
County Local
Emergency
Services
Agency
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
51 Emphasis Area 4 – Broadside Collisions
A total nine collisions occurred on the high injury network out of which three (33 percent) of these collisions were broadside collisions. The following are major findings based on broadside collisions that occurred on the high injury network in the City of Willits followed by strategies to make these locations safer:
100%
At Intersection
33%
Improper Turning
33%
Automobile Right of
Way
Table 16. Emphasis Area 4 Strategies
Objective:

Reduce the number of broadside injury collisions.

Strategy Performance
Measure
Agencies/
Organizations
Education
Conduct public information and education campaign for
intersection safety laws regarding traffic lights, stop signs, and turning left or right.

Number of
education
campaigns.

School/City/
Police
Department
Enforcement
Targeted enforcement at high-risk intersections to
monitor traffic law violations right-of-way violations, and traffic signals and signs violations.

Number of
citations and/or
warning tickets
issued.

Police
Department
Engineering
• SI02, Improve signal hardware: lenses, backplates with retroreflective borders, mounting, size, and number
• SI03, Improve signal timing (coordination, phases,
red, yellow, or operation)
• SI07, Convert signal to mast arm (from pedestalmounted) • SI08, Install raised pavement markers and striping
(Through Intersection)
• SI16RA/NS04RA/NS05rA, Convert intersection to
roundabout
• NS06, Install/upgrade larger or additional stop
signs or other intersection warning/regulatory
signs
• NS09, Upgrade intersection pavement markings
(NS.I.)
• R01NT, Add Segment Lighting
• R22, Install/Upgrade signs with new fluorescent
sheeting (regulatory or warning)
• R27, Install delineators, reflectors and/or object
markers
Number of
intersections
improved.

City
EMS
SI04EV, Install emergency vehicle pre-emption
systems
EMS vehicle
response time.

Mendocino
County Local
Emergency
Services
Agency
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
52 6. Equity
Through this LRS/AP update, the City of Willits seeks to advance equity in identifying and addressing its transportation safety needs. The City recognizes that transportation benefits and costs can accrue unequally across communities. Despite transportation’s ability to connect communities to opportunities, resources, and destinations, historical patterns of decisions and investments in transportation have not addressed, and even aggravated or created, inequalities in wealth, access, and health.

Inequalities in transportation safety result in an undue concentration of collisions, unsafe roadways, or severe injury collisions in communities with social, economic, or other vulnerabilities. Data shows that roadway collisions disproportionately impact people who are Black, American Indian, and live in rural communities (USDOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy 2022).3 Non-motorists, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, are more likely to be involved in a KSI collision than motorists. Traditional safety strategies such as enforcement face backlash for their discriminatory outcomes that burden racial minorities. These measures do not address policy or built environment limitations, resulting in safety hazards to roadway uses. Hence, a commitment to make roads safe for all users must consider equity seriously in analyzing roadway safety and recommending improvements.

It is a core goal of this LRS/AP to recommend safety improvements in a manner that is fair and equitable for all the City residents, in line with a federal commitment to creating an equitable transportation system that is safe, efficient, and sustainable.

Planning and decision-making processes followed in this LRS/AP update adequately consider inputs and feedback from communities with limited means or ability to participate effectively. Five stakeholder meetings were held with residents during the LRS/AP update to gather insights into safety burdens faced by communities, share data and findings, and gather feedback on safety countermeasures and recommendations. LRS/AP is also guided by public inputs received through the online public input platform and feedback from the safety partners.

This chapter details how the safety data is analyzed with respect to equity-emphasis communities (EEC) to identify the impact of collisions in vulnerable communities.

USDOT’s4 commitment to expanding “access and opportunity to all communities while focusing on underserved, overburdened, and disadvantaged communities” guides this plan in prioritizing safety projects to benefit the most vulnerable of the communities.

The LRS/AP includes elements from the FHWA recommended Safe Systems 3https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-02/USDOT-National-Roadway-SafetyStrategy.pdf 4 https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-04/Equity_Action_Plan.pdf City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
53 Approach and prioritizes the needs of vulnerable road users such as bicyclists and pedestrians in identifying countermeasures and developing the countermeasure toolbox. The projects identified are also analyzed for their adherence to the Justice40 commitment to directing benefits of investments to vulnerable communities.

Equity-Emphasis Communities
This chapter details how the safety data is analyzed with respect to equity-emphasis communities (EEC) to identify the impact of collisions in vulnerable communities. EEC are communities within the City of Willits with or experiencing characteristics that lead to vulnerabilities in areas including wealth, health, social, and environmental aspects.

As a small community, readily available tools, such as the ETCE, SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities, and CEJST, fail to provide spatially disaggregated data on EEC for the City. This update to the LRS/AP uses data from the 2020 Decennial Census, disaggregated to the level of blocks, to identify EEC. The Census Bureau provides data on race, age, and housing tenure for blocks, which are used to construct indicator here. A block group with a share of indicators above the average for the City is considered vulnerable. A community that is vulnerable in two or more indicators is considered to be an EEC. The indicators and thresholds are described in Table 17.

The map in Figure 27 shows the equity areas identified through this analysis. Sixtyone blocks out of the 158 blocks falling in the City of Willits are considered disadvantage. These blocks are home to 50 percent of the City population.

Table 17. Equity Indicators
Indicator Data Threshold
Minority Population Share of population that is non-white or of two or more races.
33%
Vulnerable Road Users Share of population below 15 or above 65 years of age. 37%
Housing Tenure Share of renters 57%
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
54 Figure 27. City of Willits Equity-Emphasis Communities City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
55 Roadway safety burdens in EEC in the City of Willits are identified after overlaying collision data on the equity areas. The data considered in this analysis is limited to collisions leading to a fatality or an injury and is available in Appendix D. There were 18 collisions between 2020 and 2022 in Willits, of which three were in EEC. Trends in roadway collision in EEC for collision severity, collision type, violation category, motor vehicle involved with, mode, and lighting conditions, as compared to other communities (non-EEC within the City), and to the overall City, are as follows:

Figure 28: Collision Share in Equity-Emphasis Community • EEC saw a lower share of collisions when compared to their share in population. Only 17 percent of total collisions and KSI collisions occurred in these communities (Figure 28), accounting for 50 percent of the population of the City.
• These communities face about the same severity of collisions. In EEC, 33 percent of collisions were KSI, about the same as non-EEC communities.

However, the only KSI collision in EEC resulted in a fatality, while non-EEC communities reported only severe injury collisions. Compared to 11 percent in other communities and nine percent in the City. There was one KSI collision in EEC, and 18 total collisions.
• Top trends in the type of collision are sideswipe (67 percent), followed by broadside (33 percent).
• One collision of each violation category - traffic signals and signs, unsafe speed, and improper turning – occurred in EEC.
• EEC reported one collision each (33 percent) involving passenger cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. On the other hand, 56 percent of collisions in the City and 60 percent of collisions in non-EEC communities involved passenger cars.
• Majority of the collisions occurred during the day (67 percent). 83% 83%
17% 17%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Total KSI Collisions
Share of Collisions
Other Communities Equity-Emphasis Communities
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
56 Average Annual Fatality Rate in the City
City residents are less likely to be killed in a collision as compared to the average Californian. The average annual fatality rate (AAFR) for the City of Willits is 0.2 persons killed per 100,000 residents for both 2017-2021 and 2018-2022 time periods, which is very modest when compared to the rate for the state of California (10.12 persons killed per 100,000 residents in 2017-2021, and 10.40 in 2018-2022). AAFR has been calculated based on the methodology provided by the Safe Streets for All grant program. The calculation worksheet and methodology are available in Appendix E.

Transportation and Population Vulnerabilities in Willits Transportation vulnerabilities experienced by residents of Willits can be ranked against communities nationwide utilizing the concept of transportation disadvantage developed by the USDOT. USDOT describes transportation disadvantage as cumulative burdens and risks in climate and disaster, environmental burden, health vulnerability, social vulnerability, and transportation insecurity due to underinvestment in the City's transportation system. USDOT’s Equitable Transportation Communities Explorer (ETCE) ranks communities (census tracts) nationwide based on their scores for each component. A 65th percentile rank or above is considered disadvantaged.

As per the ETCE, the City of Willits is located in a single census tract, which does not face an overall disadvantage. However, the City is disadvantaged in terms of the social vulnerability component (83 percent), which is higher than the disadvantage level for California and the county (Figure 29). This component captures population characteristics such as poverty, unemployment, education attainment, housing type, tenure and costs, access to the internet, age, disability status, and limited English proficiency, drawn using data from sources including the 2020 American Community Survey.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
57 Figure 29: City of Willits Transportation Disadvantage 26 53
41 83
58 28 26
51 69 70
62 61
48 55
38 65
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
Climate & Disaster
Risk Burden
Environmental
Burden
Health
Vulnerability
Social Vulnerability Transportation
Insecurity
Percentile Rank
Transportation Disadvantage Components
Willits Mendocino County California 65th Percentile Rank City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
58 7. Countermeasure Identification
This section summarizes the process of selecting countermeasures on Willits streets as part of the analysis for the LRS/AP. Countermeasures were selected for each of the identified high-risk intersections and roadway segments based on extensive review of existing conditions at the site and characteristics of identified collisions on the High Injury Network.

Identified collision factors and existing conditions were cross referenced with the Caltrans LRSM identified countermeasures that are HSIP approved.

Countermeasures that best fit the site and had the highest opportunity for systemic implementation were selected.

Countermeasure Selection
In 2010, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) published a set of three manuals for local and rural road owners to present a simple, data driven safety analysis framework for rural agencies across the country. In conjunction with these documents, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) developed the Local Roadway Safety Manual (LRSM). The goal of this manual is to “maximize the safety benefits for local roadways by encouraging all local agencies to proactively identify and analyze their safety issues and to position themselves to compete effectively in Caltrans’ statewide, data-driven call-for-projects.”5 Although, the LRSM identifies all of California’s local roadway safety issues and the countermeasures that address them, this document only highlights the issues and countermeasures relevant to the local roads of the City of Willits. This section identifies the different solutions for the City from HSIP-qualified and non-HSIP countermeasures. It also provides a brief description along with their corresponding crash reduction factors (CRF), expected life and baseline cost. An excerpt of the LRSM, detailing each available HSIP countermeasure referenced in the recommendations tables, is included as Appendix C.

The countermeasures have been divided into the following categories:
• Signalized (SI) – countermeasures only applicable for signalized intersections; • Non-Signalized (NS) – countermeasures only applicable to stop-controlled, or uncontrolled intersections;
• Roadway Segment (R) – countermeasures only applicable to roadway segments;
• Other (O) – countermeasures that do not qualify for HSIP funding. 5https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/localassistance/documents/hsip/2024/lrsm2024.pdf City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
59 Draft Countermeasure Toolbox
Non-Signalized Intersections Countermeasures
NS08 – Install/upgrade larger or additional stop signs
or other intersection warning/regulatory signs. The
visibility of intersections and, thus, the ability of
approaching drivers to perceive them can be enhanced
by installing larger regulatory and warning signs at or prior to intersections. A key to success in applying this strategy is to select a combination of regulatory and warning sign techniques appropriate for the conditions on a particular unsignalized intersection approach.
• Crash Reduction Factor –
15%
• Expected Life – 10 years
NS09 – Upgrade intersection pavement markings
(NS.I.). Unsignalized intersections that are not clearly visible to approaching motorists, particularly approaching motorists on the major road. The strategy is particularly appropriate for intersections with patterns of rear-end, right-angle, or turning crashes related to lack of driver awareness of the presence of the intersection
• Crash Reduction Factor –
25%
• Expected Life – 10 years
NS16 – Install raised median on approaches. Raised
medians with left-turn lanes at intersections offer a costeffective means for reducing crashes and improving operations at higher volume intersections. The raised
medians also prohibit left turns into and out of driveways that may be located too close to the functional area of the intersection.
• Crash Reduction Factor –
25%
• Expected Life – 20 years
Roadway Countermeasures
R08 – Install raised median. Adding raised medians is a particularly effective strategy as it adds to or reallocates the existing cross section to incorporate a buffer between the opposing travel lanes and reinforces the limits of the travel lane. Raised median may also be used to limit
unsafe turning movements along a roadway.
• Crash Reduction Factor –
25%
• Expected Life – 20 years
R22 – Install/Upgrade signs with new fluorescent
sheeting (regulatory or warning). The target for this
strategy should be on roadway segments with patterns of head on, nighttime, non-intersection, run-off road, and sideswipe crashes related to lack of driver awareness of the presence of a specific roadway feature or regulatory requirement. Ideally this type of safety CM would be
• Crash Reduction Factor –
15%
• Expected Life – 10 years
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
60 combined with other sign evaluations and upgrades
(install chevrons, warning signs, delineators, markers, beacons, and relocation of existing signs per MUTCD
standards.).

R26 – Install dynamic/variable speed warning signs.

This strategy primarily addresses crashes caused by
motorists traveling too fast around sharp curves. It is intended to get the drivers attention and give them a
visual warning that they may be traveling over the
recommended speed for the approaching curve. Care
should be taken to limit the placement of these signs to help maintain their effectiveness.
• Crash Reduction Factor –
30%
• Expected Life – 10 years
Other Countermeasures
Bulb outs/curb extensions. Curb extensions (also called bulb-outs) extend the sidewalk into the parking lane to narrow the roadway and provide additional pedestrian space at key locations; they can be used at corners and at mid-block. Curb extensions enhance pedestrian safety by increasing pedestrian visibility, shortening crossing distances, slowing turning vehicles, and visually narrowing the roadway.

Speed Feedback Signs. Speed feedback signs, also known as dynamic speed displays, provide drivers with feedback about their speed in relationship to the posted speed limit. When appropriately complemented with police enforcement, speed feedback signs can be an effective method for reducing speeds at a desired location.

In Road Yield/stop Signs. In-street pedestrian crossing signs (MUTCD R1-6 or R1- 6a) are placed within the roadway, either between travel lanes or in a median. The sign may be used to remind road users of laws regarding right-of-way at an unsignalized pedestrian crossing. This countermeasure is used with other crosswalk visibility enhancements to indicate optimal or preferred locations for people to cross and to help reinforce the driver requirement to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crossing locations.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
61 8. Safety Projects
This section summarizes the process of selecting safety projects as part of the analysis for the City of Willits’s LRS/AP. The next step after the identification of highrisk locations, emphasis areas and applicable countermeasures is to identify locationspecific safety improvements for all high-risk roadway segments and intersections.

Specific countermeasures and improvements were selected from the 2024 LRSM, where:
• SI refers to improvements at signalized locations,
• NS refers to improvements at non-signalized locations, and • R refers to improvements at roadway segments.

The corresponding number refers to the countermeasure number in the LRSM (2024).

The countermeasures were grouped into safety projects for high-risk intersections and roadway segments. A total of two safety projects were developed. All countermeasures were identified based on the technical teams’ assessment of viability that consisted of extensive analysis, observations, and City staff input. The most applicable and appropriate countermeasures as identified have been grouped together to form projects that can help make high-risk locations safer.

Table 18 lists the safety projects for high-risk intersections and roadway segments, along with total base planning level cost (2024 dollar amounts) estimates and the resultant preliminary Benefit-Cost (B/C) Ratio. The “Total Benefit” estimates were calculated for the proposed improvements evaluated as part of the safety analysis.

This “Total Benefit” is divided by the “Total Cost per Location” estimates for the proposed improvements, giving the resultant B/C Ratio. The B/C Ratio Calculation follows the methodology as mentioned in the LRSM (2024).

Appendix F lists the detailed methodology to calculate B/C Ratio, the complete cost, benefit and B/C Ratio calculation spreadsheet.

The next step in the process will be to prepare grant ready materials for HSIP Cycle 12 and SS4A applications. It should be noted that while the LRS/AP projects were based on high-risk locations, HSIP applications can be expanded to include many locations across the city.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
62 Table 18. List of Viable Safety Projects
Location CM1 CM2 CM3 Cost per
Location B/C Ratio
Project 1: Improve Safety at Non-Signalized Intersections.

S Main St & Gregory Ln NS08 NS09 NS16 $88,175

35.97 S Main St & W Valley St NS08 NS16 $117,975
S Main St & Madrone St NS08 Repavement* NS16 $183,615
Project 2: Improve Safety at Roadway Segments.

S Main Street: Monroe
St to Gregory Ln R08 R22 R26 $620,375 23.84
Notes: *This improvement is not included in the estimated cost for this location but recommended as part of this project. CM – countermeasure. B/C ratio is the dollar amount of benefits divided by the cost of the countermeasure.

NS08 – Install/upgrade larger or additional stop signs or other intersection warning/regulatory signs.

NS09 – Upgrade intersection pavement markings.

NS16 – Install raised median on approaches.

R08 - Install raised median.

R22 – Install/Upgrade signs with new fluorescent sheeting (regulatory or warning).

R26 – Install dynamic/variable speed warning signs.

In addition to the HSIP projects, the City of Willits has identified two more projects to enhance road safety and improve transportation infrastructure. These projects align with the city's safety goals and are described below:

East Commercial Street Corridor
The City of Willits seeks to complete safety improvements along the East Commercial Street corridor, a significant travel and pedestrian route near downtown occupied by several parks, a skate park, two schools, businesses, bus stops, heritage attractions including the Willits Rodeo Grounds, and various public services including the Willits Branch of Mendocino County Library, Willits Community Center, Mendocino County Museum, and City Public Works yard. The road also bisects the community's main athletic fields complex creating a situation where participants during events are constantly crossing East Commercial Street. The City intends to explore various streetscaping methods to enhance safety features along this roadway, in line with the East Commercial Street Corridor Master Plan (2024), which was developed based on community input. Proposed elements include aesthetic improvements such as planting and alternative pavement, and traffic calming improvements such as raised crosswalks, speed tables, bump-outs, high-visibility striping, and rumble strips.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
63 Citywide Road Safety
The City of Willits has undergone significant change since the opening of the Willits bypass in late 2016 and seeks to continue the transformation from a major highway thoroughfare, where projects historically focused on traffic speed and flow to reduce travel time from one end of the city to the other, to a network of streets and roads that provide a safe path of travel for all users and modes of transportation.

As part of this ongoing transformation, the City seeks to implement traffic calming measures and road safety improvements on a citywide scale and, as a preliminary starting point, has identified four priority areas for further exploration:
• North Main Street from Sherwood Road to the north city limit boundary. • Locust Street between Holly Street and Walnut Street
• Baechtel Road (prioritizing missing sidewalks)
• Railroad Crossing on East Valley Street.

The City has not identified the specific countermeasures and safety improvements for each of the priority areas and intends to seek funding to complete both the planning, which will include conducting all necessary studies and seeking public input, and the implementation phases of the projects.

Table 19 mentions projects funded by the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) that the City submitted for consideration during the 2022 HSIP Cycle 11 funding round. These projects were awarded funding for Cycle 11.

Table 19. Cycle 11 HSIP Applications
Location CM1 CM2 CM3
Total
Estimated
Project Cost
HSIP Funds
Requested B/C Ratio
HSIP Application 1: Install or upgrade regulatory or warning signs with new fluorescent sheeting; install dynamic and variable speed warning signs and install edgelines and center lines
North Main Street, from
Sherwood Road to East
Commercial Street
R22
$212,300 $191,070 41.04
Sherwood Road, from
Main Street to City
Boundary
R26
South Main Street, from
Hazel Street to Muir Mill
Road
R22 R26 R28
South Main Street, from
Hazel Street to East
Commercial Street
R22 R26
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
64 Location CM1 CM2 CM3
Total
Estimated
Project Cost
HSIP Funds
Requested B/C Ratio
East Commercial Street,
between South Main
Street and 1000 feet E of
S Lenore Avenue
R22 R26
North Main Street, from
Sherwood Road to City
Boundary
R22 R26
McKinley St: entire
segment R22 R28
E San Francisco Ave -
Railroad Ave to City
Boundary
R28
Hazel St: Main Street to
Locust St (School Zone) R22 R28
HSIP Application 2: Pedestrian Set Aside: Upgrade the signal hardware, install or upgrade signs and pavement markings and crosswalks, install APS Push buttons and upgrade controllers and pedestrian signal head mounts.

Main St & East San
Francisco St
Proposed project would
upgrade the signal
hardware, install or
upgrade signs and
pavement markings and
crosswalks. Install APS
Push buttons and upgrade
controllers and pedestrian
signal head mounts.
$250,000 $225,000 N/A
W Valley Rd & Main St
Main St & Commercial St
Notes: For B/C ratio calculation, 5-year (2015-2019) collision data was utilized. Total estimated cost and Costs requested include contingency, PS&E, environmental and construction costs. These HSIP application followed LRSM 2022 countermeasure codes which are described below:

R22: Install/Upgrade signs with new fluorescent sheeting (regulatory or warning) R26: Install dynamic/variable speed warning signs
R28: Install edge-lines and centerlines
These proposed two projects have been prioritized based on the goals and vision outlined in Chapter 1. The six criteria for the prioritization are safety benefits, benefits to vulnerable road users, school safety impact, equity impact, public engagement, and ease of implementation. Each criterion is scored separately and then weighed to arrive at the final scores for each project, as described in Table 20. A project can receive a maximum score of 100. The project prioritization worksheets are available in Appendix G. Table 21 presents the projects in the priority order.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
65 Table 20. Prioritization Matrix
Criteria Description Weight
Safety Benefits
Safety benefits are evaluated using the Benefit-to-Cost (BCR) ratio. BCR is calculated based on five-year collision data and 2024 planning-level cost estimates, as per the HSIP norms.

Projects are then grouped into three equal-range buckets based on the BCR and receive safety scores as follows:
• Projects in the highest bucket - 100
• Projects in the Middle bucket - 50
• Projects in the Lowest bucket - 20
40%
Benefit to
Vulnerable Road
Users
Considers improvements benefiting pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, or persons with disabilities.
• Projects with benefits - 100
• Projects without benefits - 0
15%
School Safety
Impact
Considers safety improvements on roadways and intersections within 1/4 mile of an existing school.
• Projects in proximity to schools - 100
• Projects without proximity to schools - 0
10%
Equity Impact
Considers the location of a project entirely or partially in an equityemphasis community (EEC). • Projects in EEC - 100
• Projects outside of EEC - 0
15%
Public
Engagement
Considers projects that have garnered community and
stakeholder support during the CSAP outreach process.
• Projects with community support - 100
• Projects without community support - 0
10%
Ease of
Implementation
Projects are scored based on the complexity of their
countermeasures. For projects with multiple countermeasures, the lowest category score is applied.
• High-ease improvements like signs, lights, striping, and crosswalks - 100
• Medium-ease improvements like sidewalks, medians,
and new signals - 50
• Low-ease improvements requiring lane/geometry
changes, right-of-way acquisition, or utility or drainage work – 20
10%
Table 21. Priority Project List
Priority Project Score
1 Project 1: Improve Safety at Non-Signalized Intersections. 70 2 Project 2: Improve Safety at Roadway Segments. 38
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
66 9. Evaluation and Implementation
This chapter describes the steps the City may take to evaluate the success of this plan and steps needed to update the plan in the future. The LRS/AP is a guidance document and requires periodic updates to assess its efficacy and re-evaluate potential solutions. It is recommended to update the plan every two to five years in coordination with the identified safety partners. This document was developed based on community needs, stakeholder input, and collision analysis conducted to identify priority emphasis areas throughout the City. The implementation of strategies under each emphasis area would aim to reduce fatal and severe injury collisions in the coming years.

Funding is a critical component of implementing any safety project. While the HSIP program is a common source of funding for safety projects, there are numerous other funding sources that could be pursued for such projects. Potential funding sources are listed below in Table 22.

Table 22. Potential Funding Sources
Funding
Source
Funding
Agency
Amount
Available
Next
Estimated
Call for
Projects
Applicable
E’s Notes
Active
Transportation
Program
Caltrans,
California
Transportation
Commission
~$223
million per
year
2026 Engineering,
Education
Can use used for
most active
transportation
related safety
projects as well as
education programs
Highway
Safety
Improvement
Program
Caltrans TBD 2024 Engineering
Most common grant
source for safety
projects
Surface
Transportation
Block Group
Program
FHWA
(Administered
through
MCTC)
Varies by
FY TBD Engineering Typically used for roadway projects
Office of
Traffic Safety
Grants
California
Office of
Traffic Safety
Varies by
grant
Closes
January
31st
annually
Education,
Enforcement,
Emergency
Response
10 grants available
to address various
components of
traffic safety
Affordable
Housing and
Sustainable
Communities
Program
Strategic
Growth
Council and
Dept. of
Housing and
~$405
million TBD Engineering, Education
Must be connected
to affordable
housing projects;
typically focuses on
bike/ped
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
67 Funding
Source
Funding
Agency
Amount
Available
Next
Estimated
Call for
Projects
Applicable
E’s Notes
Community
Development
infrastructure/
programs
Urban
Greening
California
Natural
Resources
Agency
$23.75
million TBD Engineering
Focused on bike/
pedestrian
infrastructure and
greening public
spaces
Local Streets
and Road
Maintenance
and
Rehabilitation
CTC
(distributed to
local
agencies)
$1.5 billion
statewide
N/A;
distributed
by formula
Engineering
Typically pays for
road maintenance
type projects
RAISE Grant USDOT ~$1 billion TBD Engineering
Typically used for
larger infrastructure
projects
Sustainable
Transportation
Equity Project
California Air
Resources
Board
~$19.5
million
TBD; most
recent call
in 2023
Engineering,
Education
Targets projects
that will increase
transportation equity
in disadvantaged
communities
Safe Street for
All (SS4A) USDOT $200k -
$50 million 2026 Engineering
Two types of SS4A
grants available:

Action Plan Grants
and Implementation
Grants
Transformative
Climate
Communities
Strategic
Growth
Council
~$90
million
TBD; most
recent call
in 2022
Engineering
Funds communityled projects that
achieve major
reductions in
greenhouse gas
emissions in
disadvantaged
communities
Implementation
The LRS/AP document provides engineering, education, enforcement, and emergency medical service related countermeasures that can be implemented throughout the City to reduce KSI collisions. It is recommended that the City of Willits implement the selected projects high-collision locations in coordination with other projects proposed for the City’s infrastructure development in their future Capital Improvement Plans.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
68 The success of the LRS/AP can be achieved by fostering communication among the City and the safety partners.

Monitoring and Evaluation
For the success of the LRS/AP, it is crucial to monitor and evaluate the E-strategies continuously. Monitoring and evaluation help provide accountability, ensures the effectiveness of the countermeasures for each emphasis area, and help making decisions on the need for new strategies. The process would help the City make informed decisions regarding the implementation plan’s progress and accordingly, update the goals and objectives of the plan.

After implementing countermeasures, the strategies should be evaluated annually as per their performance measures. The evaluation should be recorded in a before-after study to validate the effectiveness of each countermeasure.

Pre-Implementation Data Collection
Before any safety project is implemented, comprehensive baseline data should be collected within the project area to enable future before/after comparison analysis.

Data to be compiled includes:

Collision Data:
• Collision types (pedestrian, angle, rear-end, etc.)
• Collision severity levels
• Locations and corridors
• Contributing factors
Traffic Data:
• Vehicle traffic volumes
• Pedestrian and bicycle traffic counts
Operations Data:
• 85th percentile and pace speeds
• Vehicle/pedestrian/bicycle conflict observations
• Observable road user behavior and compliance levels
Statistical Analysis Methodology
Appropriate statistical techniques can be applied to account for regression-to-mean effects, traffic volume changes over time, and other potential biases. Recommended approaches include Empirical Bayes method and advanced regression modeling.

Using these techniques, an estimate of the predicted long-term safety performance should be calculated assuming no safety improvements were implemented. This becomes the baseline for comparison.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
69 Post-Implementation Data Collection
After allowing sufficient time following project implementation (typically 1-3 years), the same scope of "after" data can be re-collected to enable before/after comparison.

Performance Evaluation Measures
The following key safety performance measures can be evaluated by comparing predicted vs. actual post-implementation conditions:

1. Total collisions

2. Fatal and serious injury collisions (KSI)

3. Collisions by type (pedestrian, intersection, roadway departure, etc.)

4. Operating speeds

5. Conflicts between modes (vehicle/pedestrian/bicycle) Supplemental Measures for Behavioral Safety Projects
For safety initiatives focused on influencing driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist behavior (e.g. education campaigns, enforcement activities), leading indicators of compliance can be tracked, such as:

1. Speeding violations

2. Impaired driving arrests/citations

3. Distracted driving violations

4. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic counts

5. Observed yielding/compliance behavior
Project Evaluation Report
All findings from the before/after analysis should be documented in a comprehensive Project Evaluation Report containing:
• Project scope and description of implemented countermeasures • Implementation costs
• Data collection processes and sources
• Statistical analysis methodology
• Summary of before/after performance results
• Assessment of whether intended benefits were achieved • Lessons learned and recommendations
• Supplemental policy, program or design guidance as applicable Continual Monitoring Process
To ensure ongoing effectiveness evaluation, city should establish:
• Routine schedules for MOE (Measure of Effectiveness) data collection and analysis
• Designated staff responsibilities for MOE activities
• Integration of MOE findings into annual performance reviews • Mechanism for refining project approach based on evaluation results City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
70 LRS/AP Update
The LRS/AP is a guidance document and is recommended to be updated every two to five years after adoption. After monitoring performance measures focused on the status and progress of the E’s strategies in each emphasis area, the next LRS/AP update can be tailored to resolve any continuing safety problems.

Aside from the Technical Advisory Committee and City of Willits’ review and monitoring of the projects as outlined in Chapter 2, an annual stakeholder meeting with the safety partners is also recommended to discuss the progress for each emphasis area and oversee the implementation plan. The document should then be updated as per the latest collision data, emerging trends, and the E’s strategies’ progress and implementation.

A copy of the final LRS/AP will be located on Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) website at https://www.mendocinocog.org/
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
71 Appendices:

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
72 APPENDIX A: MATRIX OF PLANNING GOALS, POLICIES, AND
PROJECTS:

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
73 Matrix of Planning Goals, Policies, and Projects
Document Highlights
Willits Safe Routes to
School Action Plan
(2017)
• Install crosswalk on North Main Street at Casteel Lane near Willits High School
• Install sidewalk along high school Main Street frontage • Install sidewalk near Sanhedrin High School
• Install missing sidewalk on streets to the north and east of Brookside Elementary School
• Install missing sidewalk on streets to the south and west of Brookside elementary school
• Install a Class II bike facility on school street, north street and a portion on laurel street
• Install missing sidewalk on the north end of Mill Street, Pine Street, Laurel Street, Redwood Avenue, Spruce Street and Easy Street for Brookside Elementary School.
• Install intersection improvements at highway 20/Blosser Lane - Coast Street developed by Caltrans including school zone signs and markings, pedestrian crossing signs, high visibility markings and additional intersection markings. Also install radar feedback signs and other intersection improvements which may include roundabout
• Install stop signs on both ends of Harms Lane and West San Francisco Avenue and the west end of Tuttie Lane
• Install a bicycle facility, either bike route signing or bike lane signs and markings on Coast Street and Mill Street
• Install a Class bike facility on School Street, North Street and a portion on Laurel Street
• Install crosswalks on East Valley Street at pen Street and Madden Street at East Valley Street, and on East San Francisco Avenue at Boscabelle Avenue
• Consider creating a class I bike facility along the railroad avenue corridor
• Install two crosswalks at the intersection of Sandy lane/Boechtel Road, and missing sidewalks along the north side of Boechtel Road
City of Willits Traffic
Safety Evaluation
(2010)
Main Street/Sherwood Road Intersection Improvements
• Consider implementing a Leading Pedestrian Interval (CA MUTCD Section 4E.10) to provide additional separation between the time when pedestrians begin crossing Main Street and vehicles on Sherwood Road receive a green indication. This may improve driver awareness of pedestrians and reduce conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles.

Main Street/ Commercial Street Intersection Improvements • Consider implementing a Leading Pedestrian Interval for each pedestrian crossing to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicle
Main Street/ Valley Street Intersection Improvements
• The Circulation Study for the City of Willits Downtown Specific Plan (Fehr & Peers, 2000)identifies several improvements at this intersection that would enhance safety and traffic flow a his intersection. These improvements were reviewed, and they remain reasonable and appropriate; therefore, the City may consider implementing these improvements:•
o Signalize the Main Street/East Valley Street intersection.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
74 Document Highlights
o Prohibit left turn movements from West Valley Street onto Main Street.
o Construct a raised median on Main Street between East Valley Street and West Valley Street with provisions for left turns onto West Valley Street
Main Street/ Walnut Street
• Consider constructing a raised median on Main Street that would physically restrict left turn movements from Walnut Street onto Main Street, while permitting left turns onto Walnut Street from Main Street
Main Street/ Baechtel Road (North)
• Monitor the intersection to determine if collisions occur due to the sight distance constraint and/or the creep forward maneuver. If a collision pattern is identified, consider restricting Baechtel Road to right turns only by installing a raised median on Main Street that would physically restrict left turns from Baechtel Road while permitting left turns onto Baechtel Road from Main Street.

Main Street/ Gregory Lane
• Consider installing a raised pedestrian refuge in the median of Main Street.
• Consider replacing the existing crosswalk markings with a “triplefour” crosswalk Main Street/ Baechtel Road (South)
• A roundabout has been contemplated by the City as part of their overall corridor planning efforts. A roundabout would be an appropriate gateway intersection as long as it is designed tocurrent modern roundabout design standards. A roundabout may only be implemented after theWillits bypass has been constructed, which would keep this intersection from being the firstsignificant intersection that a driver encounters as they travel northbound into Willits. Thebypass interchange would be located south of this location
Willits Main Street
Corridor Enhancement
Plan (2017)
• Bicycle Circulation: Currently, there are no on-street bicycle facilities on Main Street. However, the bypass improvements present an opportunity to introduce corridor-wide bicycle circulation that is good for the environment, personal health, and that helps to reduce automobile traffic.
• Bicycle lanes with painted buffers should be included continuously along Main Street from Browns Corner to the high school. Lane markings should clearly designate the area for cyclists and include green color surfaces at points of conflict with vehicles.
• Bicycle parking should be strategically planned on Main Street.

Bicycle racks should be installed in front of key businesses in the downtown core, at other important landmarks, and well-used commercial and institutional uses along the corridor.
• Pedestrian Safety Measures: In order to create a more walkable Main Street, pedestrian safety interventions are extremely important for this plan. These measures not only protect pedestrians, but also help visibility with bicycles and vehicles, providing opportunities for place making.
• Where possible, pedestrian crossing distance should be shortened to minimize conflicts with bicycles and vehicles. This can be accomplished with sidewalk extensions, bulb outs, and mid-block refuges Crosswalks on Main Street should be clearly City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
75 Document Highlights
striped in order to reinforce the pedestrian right of way. High visibility markings such as continental style banding is recommended. Lighting should be provided at crosswalks for nighttime visibility.
• A minimum sidewalk clear zone width of 5 feet should be enforced on all Main Street sidewalks. This is in line with ADA requirements and creates a comfortable environment for pedestrians. “Pinch points” where buildings or planting extends into the sidewalk should be corrected. In all areas, sidewalks of 10-12 feet or more are ideal to allow for trees, furniture, and space for merchants to occupy their immediate frontage.
• Midblock crossings should be installed and reinforced where there is a pedestrian desire line. The crosswalk should be striped and components such as medians and rapid flashing beacons should be incorporated as necessary.
• Leading pedestrian intervals are critical at some intersections to reduce conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. This would give pedestrians a 3-7 second.

Downtown Willits
Street and Alleys
Connectivity Study
(2017)
Projects
• West Commercial Street: Curb extensions: Provide new curb extensions and bulbouts at the following locations:
• Southwest intersection corner at Main Street and
Commercial Street.
• Mid-block crosswalk at Muir Lane and Main Street.
• Southeast corner of Commercial Street and School
Street.
• Existing striped pedestrian refuges, currently buffered by planters, by formalizing them into bulbouts. Study
southwest corner of Commercial Street at Main Street
intersection for feasibility of bulbouts in relation to truck turning radius and pedestrian safety.
• Main Street/ Commercial street Intersection:
• Protected left turn phasing and dedicated left turn lanes on Commercial Street through the removal of on-street
parking adjacent to the intersection
• Pedestrian bulb outs to shorten crosswalk distances
• Eastbound right turns on Commercial Street
accommodated via a right turn pocket shared with the
bike lane
• East Commercial Street Lane reconfiguration: The concept, recommends an alternative lane configuration combined with traffic signaling that would reduce traffic queuing times and permit smoother flow of traffic from both directions through the intersection:
• New southbound dedicated left-turn lane; and westbound thru·and right-turn lane at Main Street.
• Shift westbound bicycle lane at curb west of Fire Department and remove northside on-street parking (loss of four to five spaces}. • Maintain existing eastbound travel lane, shift slightly to accommodate new 2-foot buffer for existing eastbound bicycle lane.
• Relocate on-street parking along southside to accommodate new curb extension (loss of three to four spaces).

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
76 Document Highlights
• Relocate four diagonal parking spaces reserved for better bicycle facility and additional public parallel parking spaces (gain of two to three spaces) .
• Curb Extensions / Bulbouts: Provide new bulbouts at all corners at each intersection. The configuration of each varies and should accommodate turning radii of commercial
vehicles, fire engines, and school buses. Provide bulbout along southside from Main Street to slightly past
Schmidbauer Lane to accommodate street trees and
furnishings and entrance to Schmidbauer. Provide extended bulbouts for transit with improved bus stop facilities at the northeast corner of Commercial and Humboldt Streets
intersection. Relocate existing bus stop in front of the Justice Center west of Marin Street to southeast corner of
Commercial and Marin Street intersection .
• East of Humboldt Street: Maintain existing on-street
parking and bicycle facilities. Provide new 2-foot buffer for both eastbound and westbound lanes. Provide striping at conflict zones where needed.
• New Pedestrian Crossing: Provide new pedestrian
crossings over Northwest Pacific Railroad tracks along both north and south sides of Commercial Street.

Mendocino County
(MCOG/GRTA) Railwith-Trail Plan (2012)
• GOAL 1: Improve Non-Motorized Mobility and Accessibility - Expand and enhance non-motorized mobility for persons living in, working in, and visiting Mendocino County, including access to and connections with other transportation modes.
• GOAL 2: Preserve the Transportation System - Design a RWT that will efficiently utilize the NWP corridor, support the region's current blueprint planning efforts which calls for improved options for bicycling, walking, and equestrians, and allow for future rail service along the NWP line. • GOAL 3: Enhance Public Safety and Security - Design the RWT segments to respond to safety and security needs as well as neighborhood privacy concerns.
• GOAL 4: Reflect Community Values - Promote community values and identity, including use by multiple user groups, such as bicyclists, pedestrians, and equestrians (where feasible) and incorporate public involvement in decision making processes.
• GOAL 5: Enhance the Environment - Assist in greenhouse gas reduction by encouraging and facilitating non-motorized vehicle trips. • GOAL 6: Allow for Regional Connections- Provide non-motorized connections to adjacent streets and land uses including transit, shopping, institutional, office, and residential areas. • GOAL 7: Implementation Funding - Develop a funding, financing, and implementation strategy identifying eligible grant sources and/or potential development requirements supporting construction.

Mendocino County
Regional
Transportation Plan &
Active Transportation
Plan (2022)
Goals:
• Provide an assessment of the current modes of transportation as well as identify potential new travel options for the region. • Predict future needs for travel and goods movement.
• Identify specific actions and improvements in order to address the needs of mobility and accessibility.
• Identify guidance and documentation of public policy decisions by local, regional, state and federal officials regarding transportation expenditures and financing.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
77 Document Highlights
• Identify needed transportation improvements to serve as a foundation for development of other programs such as the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP).
• Promote consistency between other transportation plans developed by local, state and federal agencies in responding to statewide and interregional transportation issues and needs.
• Involve community-based organizations as part of the public, federal, state and local agencies, tribal governments, as well as elected officials, early in the transportation planning process so as to include them in discussions and decisions on the social, economic, air quality and environmental issues related to transportation.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
78 APPENDIX B. CONSOLIDATED COLLISION DATABASE
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
79 APPENDIX C: AVERAGE ANNUAL FATALITY RATES CALCULATION City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
80 APPENDIX D: EQUITY EMPHASIS COMMUNITIES COLLISION

ANALYSIS
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
81 APPENDIX E: LRSM 2024
City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
82 APPENDIX F: HSIP ANALYZERS (2024)
Please contact the City for a copy of the Analyzers.

City of Willits
Local Road Safety/Action Plan
83 APPENDIX G: PROJECT PRIORITIZATION CALCULATION
Resolution No. 2024-__ Page 1 of 1 September ___, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS TO ACCEPT THE 2024 WILLITS LOCAL ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN.

WHEREAS, the City of Willits’ 2024 Local Road Safety/Action Plan (LRS/AP) is a comprehensive plan that creates a framework to systematically identify and analyze traffic safetyrelated issues and recommend projects and countermeasures. The LRS/AP aims to reduce fatal and severe injury (FSI) collisions through a prioritized list of improvements that can enhance safety on local roadways; and
WHEREAS, the LRS/AP takes a proactive approach to addressing safety needs. It is viewed as a guidance document that can be a source of information and ideas. As indicated by this update, City partners and staff view it as a living document, one that is periodically reviewed and updated to reflect evolving collision trends and community needs and priorities; and WHEREAS, the 2024 Local Road Safety Action Plan (LRSAP) was prepared with a grantfunded contract from the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG). The plan is required for eligibility to apply for funding under the Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) which is a competitive federal grant program administered by the Caltrans Division of Local Assistance, and funding under the federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A); and WHEREAS, with the LRS/AP as a guide, the City will be eligible to apply to grant funding, such as the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and implementation funding under the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program to fund eligible road safety improvement projects.
.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Willits City Council does hereby authorize and approve the City of Willits’s 2024 Local Road Safety/Action Plan (LRS/AP).

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ATTEST:
__________________________
_________________________________
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits
DELORES PEDERSEN, City Clerk
Item No. 9e
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024

AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
From: Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director
Agenda Title: ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARPA) PROJECT’S

BUDGET TABLE TO ALLOW FOR THE ASBESTOS REMEDIATION AND FLOORING UPGRADE PROJECT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

Type: Presentation Consent Regular Agenda Public Hearing Urgent Time: 15 minutes.

Summary of Request: Approve the accompanying Resolution to adjust the ARPA Project’s Budget Table to abate asbestos flooring material and recondition the floor at the Community Center. The reconditioning will involve the grinding and polishing of the concrete floors for safety, longevity, maintenance, and appearance. The Budget originally set aside $50,000 for renovations to the Community Center.

Staff obtained two quotes for the abatement phase with the lowest at $24,000. Unfortunately, it has proven more difficult to get any commitments from flooring contractors to express any interest in the project. Staff directly contacted Polished Concrete Concepts (PCC) and had them do a walkthrough of the Community Center and, after reviewing two of their recently completed projects, staff acknowledged PCC will provide a quality product. The September 1st quote from PCC is $48,830.16 (staff rounded it to $49,000 for convenience).

PCC can only accept the project and complete the work within the allocated time window if they receive notice by September 13th. The time window closes by October 4th as the Center has rentals from that date until the end of the year.

To accommodate the project, staff seeks the City Council to adjust the ARPA Project’s Budget Table to deduct $15,150 from each the Land Use Plan Implementation and Rec Grove Facility Improvements items and add $30,300 to Community Center Renovations. The requested amount equates to $23,000 with a ten-percent contingency of $7,300.

Included are the quotes from Curran Environmental, Polished Concrete Concepts, and the amended the ARPA Budget Table.

Recommended Action: Approve funds to have a licensed asbestos remediation contractor remove flooring tiles from the Community Center and prep for polished concrete floors.

Alternative(s): None.

Fiscal Impact: $80,300 from already received ARPA Funds.

Personnel Impact: Project administration from Services & Facilities staff.

Identified City Council Conflict of Interest: None.
2021 Adopted Goals: Favorable action by the City Council realizes Goal #2 for Services and Facilities…Increase public use of facilities over the next three years to foster civic pride, improve health, and support recreation efforts for greater involvement in local government, dependent on financing. Included is Policy 2.1…Improve lighting and ambiance in the Community Center.

California Environmental Quality Act: Not applicable.

August 7, 2024
Walter Kolon
Services & Facility Dir, City of Willits
380 E. Commercial St.

Willits, CA 95490
Dear Mr. Kolon,

Curran Environmental Services Inc. is pleased to provide this quotation for removal and disposal of asbestos containing tile in the community room at 111 E. Commercial St., Willits, CA This quotation includes specific qualifications for this project.

Scope of Work:
• Removal of asbestos containing tile in the community room • Disposal at an approved waste disposal site
• Notification to the responsible governmental regulating authority, if applicable Qualifications for the removal of the building materials:
• Water and electric must be available within a reasonable distance. • The abatement area will be under containment and no access will be possible. • When removing asbestos containing materials, there is a possibility that damage may occur. We will make our best effort to prevent damage, but this contract makes no written or implied provisions to include repairs to any areas that incur damages due to standard removal practices.

Pricing
We propose to accomplish the above scope of work for as follows:

1000 Hidden Valley Rd, Petaluma, CA. 94954 • Cell: (707) 529-6693 • [email protected] • License #269122 Service Total
Asbestos abatement $24,000.00
Mendocino County Air Quality Management District
Notification Fee $0.00
TOTAL $24,000.00
Time
• The work will take 5-7 days.

Payment
• Complete payment is due within 10 days of completion. NO RETENTIONS We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with this quotation and look forward to working with you on this project.

Very truly yours, Accepted by,
Mike Curran ______________________________ Curran Environmental Services, Inc Walter Kolon
Services & Facility Dir, City of Willits

1000 Hidden Valley Rd, Petaluma, CA. 94954 • Cell: (707) 529-6693 • [email protected] • License #269122 Polished Concrete Concepts
a division of 101 Property Management Inc.
762 Waugh Lane, Ukiah, CA 95482

GENERAL SERVICE CONTRACT ADDENDUM
The following terms and conditions are hereby incorporated in and made part of the General Service Contract dated: _____September 1, 2024________________________________ on property known as: ____ ______111 E. Commercial Street, Willits, CA 95490___________in which City of Willits (Community Center)_________________________________ is referred to as “customer” and Polished Concrete Concepts “PCC.” Main room: 78’ x 47’ = 3,666 square feet 3,666
Hallway with ramp area: 8’ wide x 40’ long approx.. 380 Kitchen alcove: 6’ x 10’ = 60 square feet 4,046 +/- sf
All tile and mastic to be removed by others. 480v power to be provided by customer. *Generator fee $2,800 if needed + fuel.

Grind & polish areas above @ $8.00 per sq ft. Color can be added @ $2.00 per sq ft.

Polyurea color match joint filler @ $4.00 per lineal foot is included at no charge. **There is a hallway & bar area at the rear behind main room that is approx. 340 sq ft. PCC will grind & polish this area if desired for an additional $1,500 to cover supplies and sealer. *** Prevailing Wage Surcharge of $6,994.76 if required.

Grind and polish 4,046 +/- square feet………………………………………………………..…………..33,743.64 Color if desired @ $2.00 per square foot……………………………………………………………….. 8,092.00 Prevailing Wage Surcharge…………………………………………………………………………………….. 6,994.76 Total without Generator……………………………………………………..$ 48,830.16

CUSTOMER:

By: ______________________________________________ Date: ___________ Title: _____________________________________________
POLISHED CONCRETE CONCEPTS:

By: _____________________________________________ Date: ___________ Title: ______________________________________Owner
ARPA Projects Final List | 04.24.24
[First Revision 07.24.24]
[Second Revision 09.11.24]
Project Dept. Budget Allocation
Land Use Plan Implementation. CD $275,000(1)(3)
Rec Grove Facility Improvements. S&F $275,000(1)(3)
Urban Forestry Ordinance. CD $125,000
School & Wood Streets Parking Lot lighting installation. S&F $102,000 Urban Forester. S&F/CD $100,000
Community Services: $25K for each service: Senior Center; Willits Community Services; Our Daily Bread.

Admin $75,000(2)
Community Center Renovations: Flooring; lighting; storage space; & texture/paint backwall.

S&F $50,000(3)
Highway 20 Park Gateway Sign. S&F $30,000
Carnegie Library Building Condition Assessment. S&F $15,000 Council Chambers: Repair front wall. S&F $15,000
Seasonal Decorations. S&F $15,000
Willits Lions Club: Scout Hut renovations. S&F $15,000
City Hall Interior: Upgrade wiring & lighting. S&F $10,000 WiFi Installation at Parks. S&F $6,000
Level 2 (or Level 3) Energy Audits: All buildings including Water & Wastewater Facilities.

S&F Unknown. Exploring
PG&E’s program that
may cover the costs.

There is a likelihood
of administration
expenses for the City.

Will use $10K as a
budget place holder.

Project Management Assistance with Land Logistics: Two-years. Admin $12,000 Contingency. Admin $39,792
Total $1,169,792
Note #1. A $25,000 reduction for both projects to provide an additional $50,000 to the Willits Community Services Food Bank. These two projects each now have an allocation of $250,000.

Note #2. A $50,000 increase for the Willits Community Services Food Bank.

Note #3. Deduct $15,150 from both Land Use Plan Implementation and Rec Grove Facility Improvements to add $30,300 to Community Center Renovations.

Exhibit A
Resolution No. 2024-__ Page 1 of 1 September 11, 2024
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WILLITS TO AMEND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARPA) PROJECT’S BUDGET TABLE TO ALLOW FOR THE

ASBESTOS REMEDIATION AND FLOORING UPGRADE PROJECT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

WHEREAS, The Willits Community Center is a valuable space being used year-round by the community for events and is a source of revenue to the City; and WHEREAS, the flooring in the Willits Community Center was determined to be far past its useful life and needs replacement as a usable and safe surface; and WHEREAS, the City Council identified renovations to the Community Center in the adopted 2021 Organizational Goals; and
WHEREAS, due to the floors age it was determined during inspection and hazardous materials testing that the flooring tiles contained levels of asbestos that would need to be remediated by a licensed asbestos contractor before the floors could be replaced or refinished; and
WHEREAS, licensed remediation contractors were asked to submit proposals for the removal and disposal of contaminated flooring and a low bidder was identified; and WHEREAS, the time window to get the work performed has a very narrow window due to the high demand by the community to use the space; and
WHEREAS, the City Council instructs the City Manager to revise the ARPA Project’s Budget Table to redirect up to $30,300 to the Community Center Renovations; and WHEREAS, it was determined that after asbestos remediation and removal that the best replacement flooring would be to perform a grind and polish of the existing concrete floors for safety, longevity, maintenance, and appearance; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Willits City Council does hereby authorize and approve the Willits Community Center Asbestos Remediation and Flooring Replacement Project using ARPA funding through amended Project Budget Table.

The above and foregoing resolution was introduced by Councilmember seconded by Councilmember , and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Willits, held on the 11th day of September, 2024, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ATTEST:
__________________________
_________________________________
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council of the City of Willits
DELORES PEDERSEN, City Clerk

Willits City CouncilSeptember 11, 2024

Willits City Council
September 11, 2024