111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
WILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2024
Mayor Rodriguez called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:31 p.m., in Council Chambers. The meeting was preceded by the pledge to the flag.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Madge Strong, Larry Stranske, Greta Kanne, Vice Mayor Gerardo Gonzalez and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Davey Bowles, Building Official; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Leiloni Shine, Contract Planner; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
Residents of Willits spoke against the plans to install a concrete pavilion in Bud Snider • Lisa Kvasnicka gave an update on the Harvest Moon Festival that took place on Saturday, September 21st
3. Public Matters
None presented
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. August 28, 2024.
ii. September 11, 2024.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a).
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Business License Activity Report - August 2024.
b. Building Activity Report - August 2024.
c. Accounts Payable Activity Report - August 2024.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. A Five-Year Agreement Between the Willits Chamber of Commerce and the City of Willits for a Quarterly Allocation of 15.11-Percent from the Transient Occupancy Tax. • John Kvasnicka and Linda Gibbons, Chamber Volunteers, both spoke on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and expressed the need for the Transient Occupancy Funds.
Mayor Rodriguez requested the following changes to the agreement:
1. Change meetings from bi-monthly to monthly with a Councilmember in attendance with the Chamber Board and City Manager.
• Mayor riguez feels-tea ta the sara gee of the benchmark goals. • Councilmember Stranske stated that the Chamber is doing a great job. Mr. Stranske has no problem with the requested increase but feels a five-year agreement is too long
• Vice Mayor Gonzalez appreciated what the Chamber has done, he inquired if the City could do what the Chamber does with the amount of money that is being asked • Councilmember Kanne has had conversations with local business owners and has been told by those business owner that the City needs a Chamber of Commerce. • John Kvasnicka appreciates the partnership the Chamber of Commerce has with the City. The increase of the TOT Funds would help pay for the new Chamber of Commerce Website and allow for the increase of hours of the Chamber Coordinator. • Danette Rego, Chamber Vice President, reported that during the Harvest Moon Festival, Chamber volunteers visited every vendor booth and business to introduce themselves and explain about the Chamber benefits.
• Robin Leler, spoke out against the agreement.
• Raghda Zacharia suggested that the Chamber visit the corporation businesses in the town and invite them to be Chamber Members.
• Linda Givens, Chamber Board Secretary, Stated that Adventist Health and other Corporations are already Chamber Members.
• Matthew Alaniz inquired if the chamber did any kind of outreach to the new businesses in town? Mr. Alaniz suggested that there be a welcome packet that goes to all of the new businesses that explains what the Chamber of Commerce does. Mr.
Alaniz also suggested that having someone to speak to Spanish speaking business owners would be a good idea
John Kvasnicka responded that the Chamber does have a welcome packet, and they have reached out to the Spanish Community. Nuestra Alianza is going to start attending the Chamber Board meetings. There are plans to have a Dia de los Muertos celebration with the help of Nuestra Alianza.
Nicole Caldwell suggested having a Chamber of Commerce welcome letter send to New Businesses when the City issues the Business License. • Councilmember Strong feels that what the Chamber brings to the community is of great value but agrees that a five-year agreement is too long.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-52 approving an agreement between the Willits Willits City Council Minutes of September 25, 2024 Page 2 of 6 Chamber of Commerce and the City of Willits for a quarterly allocation of
15.11-percent from the Transient Occupancy Tax.
b. Verbal Reports - No Action.
i. Project Updates:
• 2023 Pavement Preservation.
Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director reported that the project is close to being done, the contractor is finishing up the punch list. • 2024 Pavement Preservation.
Expected to be complete by the third week of October.
• Main Street Fiber Optic.
Contractor is complete with the digging portion of the project working on the cleanup portion of the project. This part of the project will be complete in about a week and Baechtel Road / PG&E Sidewalk.
PG&E is running a bit behind schedule, expect to begin the project the week of September 30". The project is expected to continue until early January 2025. • Mayor Rodriguez inquired about when the bus loading zones on Locust Street would be complete. Mr. Kolon responded that paving was completed today, September 25, striping will be done the week of September 30th. The location is usable at this time.
At the corner of Locust and Walnut, the Willits Unified School District had a failed culvert, and the roadway had collapse, this was affecting drainage of rainwater, Argonaut repaired this culvert and area of road for the School District as a trade for allowing them to park their equipment there so it would be close by.
City Manager Bender reported that staff was contacted by the Pickleball Group reporting that the lights at the tennis courts were not working. Kenan O'Shea, Street and Parks Superintendent, coordinated with an electrician and PG&E to run a completely new electrical service line from the PG&E pole to the transformer to the switchbox for the lights. The switchbox needs some repairs, but the lights are working. Mr. Kolon is exploring the option of having solar lights installed.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Adopt a Resolution to Pave Muir and W. Van Lanes as Part of the 2024 Water Main & Sewer Main Replacement Project (Project #2023 / 2024 Underground Utilities Project) for a Probable Cost of $35,000 from the Water & Sewer Enterprise Funds.
Presenting staff member: Walter Kolon, Services & Facilities Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-53 to pave Muir and W. Van Lanes as part of the 2024 Water Main & Sewer Main Replacement Project (Project #2023-08 / 2024 Underground Utilities Project) for a probable cost of $35,000 from the Water & Sewer Enterprise Funds. b. Authorization to Install a Gateway Sign at Highway 20 Park Using $30,000 from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) Budget Allocation.
Presenting staff member: Leiloni Shine, Contract Planner.
Public Comment: None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of September 25, 2024 Page 3 of 6 Moved by Rodriguez/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-54 approving the gateway sign design provided by Terrain Landscape Architects and authorizing the Services and Facilities Department to contract Paramount Sign Contractors Inc. to complete the gateway sign installation for an amount not to exceed $29,647.76.
c. Presentation of Proposed Amendments to the Sidewalk Ordinances Contained in the Willits Municipal Code Title 12, Chapters 12.16 and 12.17.
Presenting staff member: Leiloni Shine, Contract Planner. • Leiloni Shine, Contract Planner presented a PowerPoint presentation of proposed amendment to the Sidewalk Ordinance and asked council for guidance • 12.17.010 - Sidewalk inspection, replacement, and compliance certificates. • Councilmember Stranske expressed his disagreement that a homeowner should be responsible for the repair and maintenance of a City owned sidewalk.
City Attorney Lance explained that the homeowner being responsible for the sidewalk adjacent to their property is a California State Law. • Vice Mayor Gonzalez expressed concern that some residents would not be able to afford to repair the sidewalk, he would like the city to create a fund to be able to repair sidewalks that the owners are unable to and then attach a lien to the property or some other form to collect.
• Councilmember Kanne expressed her agreement of the indemnity clause, that would be tied to the sale of the property, for property owners to repair their sidewalks. Ms.
Kanne agrees with a three percent property tax rebate.
• Mayor Rodriguez inquired what self-certify in the Agenda Summary means. Ms.
Shine responded that if a property owner is in a process of a sale, they can work with a qualified contractor to complete the self-certification if the City Inspector cannot inspect in a timely manner. Mayor Rodriguez then asked why big cities were used in the presentation to update our Sidewalk Ordinance. Ms. Shine responded that the City of Oakland was referenced because they had a backlog of unrepaired sidewalks, similar to Willits, and were looking for ways to assist property owners that are in different economic situations to allow them to repair the sidewalks in a timely manner. Ms. Shine explained that it was difficult to locate smaller cities like Willits that are willing to take this one at this time. Mayor Rodriguez inquired what the plan was for the City to repair City sidewalks in front of City properties? Mr. Kolon responded that the city currently has a map of all the sidewalks in town from Data Works, these maps show what level of damage the sidewalks are at and what the cost for repairs could be. City Manager Bender responded that the City currently does not have sidewalk repairs budgeted, now that we know the extent of the needed sidewalk repairs due to the mapping, we can now start budgeting. • Councilmember Strong is unsure how a three percent property tax rebate will help property owners for the initial cost of repairing their sidewalks. Ms. Strong suggested that those property owners, that do not have sidewalks adjacent to their property, could contribute to a fund that is used to assist the City to help offset the cost in the priority areas that need to have sidewalks repaired. Ms. Strong does agree that an ordinance is needed to name the property owners as responsible for their sidewalk repairs.
Willits City Council Minutes of September 25, 2024 Page 4 of 6 Public Comment:
• Nicole Caldwell suggested that the cost for the repair of the sidewalks be shared by the homeowners and the City of Willits. Ms. Caldwell also feels that the City should be the one to sign off on the repairs to help eliminate the cost of the homeowner naving to hire a contractor to do the self-certify.
• Council requested that some form of financial program be available to help property owners that need financial assistance.
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
* Mayor Rodriguez commented that it appears that based on the report that the Police Department is more active than they were a year ago. City Manager Bender responded that this is in response to the request made by Council at the previous meeting to do more enforcement on crosswalk and traffic violations.
e. Services & Facilities
• Councilmember Kanne reported that she has citizens commenting to her that the skate park is not opened early enough in the day. Mr. Kolon responded that he will look into having a lock installed that would lock and unlock with a timer, similar to the ones that are being installed that the park bathrooms.
f. Utilities - Nothing more to add.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Kanne
• Finance Committee - Final Audit is delayed; the next Measure K Oversight Committee meeting would be delayed until the audit is complete. • Transportation Committee - Meets September 26, 2024.
• Ms. Kanne assisted with a cleanup in Ukiah on September 21st that was organized by Supervisor Mulhern.
Councilmember Strong
Sonoma Clean Power - Meets October 3, 2024.
Councilmember Stranske
• Water/Wastewater Committee - Meeting September 27, 2024.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Briefing on Housing Bills.
Mayor Rodriguez
• Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)- MTA is installing new pilot program, that will assist with recording how many people ride public transit. The MTA Board gave direction to include Mayor Rodriguez on all MCOG Meetings. MTA looking to get a bus stop approved in the Harris Manor area.
• Community members have complained about abandoned vehicles on city streets and would like to see enforcement done.
• There are concerns about Railroad Avenue getting worse with the train cars, overgrown grass and drug activity. City Manager Bender reported that the City has received the asbestos report and that the rail cars that the City is responsible for do not appear to be as dangerous, there is asbestos material, but it will not be overwhelming for their removal. The City is working with the Great Redwood Trail and the Skunk Train, there is a plan in place.
Willits City Council Minutes of September 25, 2024 Page 5 of 6 Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
• Councilmember Strong - October 6t* is the Candidates Forum at the Grange starting at 4:00 pm.
Vice Mayor Gonzalez - Homecoming on Friday. Senior Center drive-through chicken dinner
Adjourned to Closed Session at 9:40 p.m.
13. Closed Session Notice
a. Conference with Labor Negotiator Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 - Agency Negotiator: Brian Bender, City Manager and Patrick Clark, Patrick Clark Consulting.
Employee Organization(s): Management Team.
Council reconvened to open session at 9:50 p.m. with no action to report, direction was given to City Manager Bender.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 9:51 p.m.
For more information on the September 25, 2024 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
drea
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Deles Pederson
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of September 25, 2024 Page 6 of 6