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WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY OCTOBEr 9, 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 (attended remotely due to illness), Larry Stranske, Greta Kanne, Vice Mayor Gerardo Gonzalez and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Davey Bowles, Building Official; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
Beth Rydell brought information to council on grass pavers and grass mesh instead of having a concrete slab for the Pavilion at Bud Snider Park. • Craig Gelber spoke about his dissatisfaction with the City of Willits. • Tobin Steiskal expressed how important it is to vote to pass the bond for the Little Lake Fire Protection District. Mr. Steiskal also spoke against the concrete slab for the Pavilion at Bud Snider Park.
• Stuart Handte suggested having the Farmers Market at the vacant lot at the corner of Madden and E Commercial.
3. Public Matters
a. Presentation of the flags by the American Legion Color Guard.
The American Legion Post 174 led the Pledge to the Flag. Following the Pledge Roger Ham, American Legion Post 174 Chaplain & Adjutant, gave a presentation on the importance of the American Legion to the Willits Community. b. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
Item was pulled by Mayor Rodriguez.
c. Little Lake Fire District monthly update.
A written report was provided as Chief Alvarez was attending a training. d. Update from Third District County Supervisor John Haschak • Mendocino County has replaced all aging radio infrastructure throughout Mendocino County with microwave radios to be prepared in the event of an emergency event. • CHP will be bringing in a trailer that will alert drivers on Sherwood Road of their speed in hopes of getting drivers to reduce their speed.
• The Board of Supervisors had discussions about the Business Improvement District during their meeting on September 24, 2024.
• The County is working on a noise ordinance to provide a tool for law enforcement to be able to respond to complaints.
• The Drought Task Force met on September 24, 2024, do to SB 552, the county is required to have a drought resilience plan. The Task Force is looking at infrastructure capabilities such as storage interties between different water systems and conservation.
MCOG is conducting a feasibility study to determine the amount of a Transient Occupancy Tax increase that would support transportation issues in the unincorporated areas of the County
• The Mendocino County Museum had a Stone Stories event at the cemetery in Laytonville on September 29th
• Councilmember Kanne thanked Supervisor Haschak for pursuing the traffic calming measures for Sherwood Road
• Vice Mayor Gonzalez inquired if the County was looking into roadway design to aid with the traffic calming measures. Supervisor Haschak responded that he has had discussions with the Director of Transportation for the County of Mendocino regarding roadway designs. The Director of Transportation for the County is hoping to come up with a comprehensive plan.
Mayor Rodriguez inquired about the animal care in the community. Supervisor Haschak reported that the County will have a Care-A-Van for mobile vet services, they will need to locate a Veterinarian as well as a Vet Tech.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. September 25, 2024.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a).
Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest.
None presented.
Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Ratification of the negotiated one-year Agreement with the Management Unit.
Public Comment:
• Robin Leler asked for more clarification on the agreement. City Manager Bender responded that the previous agreement was for three years and expired at the end of the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The new agreement is for a one-year term to allow for staff and upper management to come to an agreement on the terms of the proposed Pay for Performance Policy.
Willits City Council Minutes of October 9, 2024 Page 2 of 5 • Ms. Leler inquired about how many staff are included in the agreement. Mr. Bender further responded that the agreement affects nine department heads and program managers.
Moved by Gonzalez, second by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-55 ratifying the negotiated agreement between the management unit and the City of Willits effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 at a projected expense of $40,247 for salaries and authorizing the City Manager to sign.
b. Verbal Reports - No Action.
i. Project Updates:
• 2023 Pavement Preservation.
Contractor is currently completing the punch list for the project. • 2024 Pavement Preservation.
Pavement has been completed all that is left to be done is striping the week of October 14th
Mayor Rodriguez inquired why was only the 200 block of Commercial Street affected by the project.
City Manager Bender responded that the 200 block of Commercial Street was identified by SHN as the section that needed the most work. Councilmember Kanne suggested that the city needs to do a much better job letting the public know what the reason for dig outs is and help manage the expectations. The perception by the public is that dig outs do not lead to finished streets.
Underground Utilities.
Staff will be presenting at the October 23, 2024 meeting to mobilize Argonaut to resurface State Street. This will not include sidewalks or pedestrian components.
Councilmember Kanne added that State Street is a candidate to have the resurfacing done now because of the high use by those driving to the high school, the park and the Fire Department.
Main Street Fiber Optic.
City Streets Crew have requested that Arcadian Construction readdress the patching and sealing as it was not done to City standards. The boring and trenching is complete on the N. Main Street section, the next step is for the contractor to run the fiber optic cables through.
• Baechtel Road / PG&E Sidewalk.
City Staff is planning a sidewalk project that runs from the Fire Station to E. Hill Road to allow for significant connectivity in the Baechtel Road neighborhood.
There is no timeframe at this time for the City sidewalk project.
There is a plan to have a grand opening event early next year tied in with the Great Redwood Trail.
Public Comment:
• State Street resident Charles Cully inquired if the dead-end section of State Street will be paved? City Manager Bender responded that yes, the project is set to span from Humbolt Street to the far eastern edge of State Street. • Cathy Bouthillier, State Street resident, expressed her dissatisfaction with the condition of State Street after the undergrounding of utilities was done on the street.
Councilmember Strong asked to have an update possibly during the next Council Meeting of the following items: Solarization Project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and an update on the progress on dealing with the Van Hotel. City Manager Bender responded that Staff has been working with City consultant Syseco on Willits City Council Minutes of October 9, 2024 Page 3 of 5 the Solarization Project and geotechnical work has been completed. A majority of the work should be done within a year from now. Davey Bowles, Building Official, responded that owners of the Van Hotel have retained an attorney after receiving a letter of substandard conditions and order to abate, from the City. A meeting is planned for the week of September 30" with City Staff, Owners of the Van Hotel and their Attorney, the point of discussion will be the lack of progress.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
Mayor Rodriguez and Councilmember Stranske were recused from the items discussions.at 7:48 pm.
a. Presentation of Proposed Park Improvements Located within Bud Snider - City Park Funded by the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP).
Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director.
Dusty Duley, Community Development Director presented a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed park improvements located within Bud Snider/City Park. Mr. Duley's presentation highlighted the Public Input/Timeline as well as the background for the Submitted Application which included the projected park improvements.
Public Comment:
Members of the Willits Community expressed their concern over the proposed Pavilion that is in the Park Improvement Project.
• Council gave initial direction to staff to consider reducing the footprint of the Pavilion, possible relocating nearer the center, and any acceptable alternatives to concrete to meet ADA Requirements.
10. Department Monthly Reports - (presented at the second meeting of each month. a. City Manager Bender reported that the Audits for fiscal year 22/23 is expected possibly by the end of November. Mr. Bender provided an update that the new Interim Police Chiet Is currently in background check and is expected to start by early December.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Mayor Rodriguez returned at 9:16 pm, from being recused. Councilmember Stranske had gone home.
Councilmember Kanne
Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Sales tax measure to create a road tax for unincorporated regions of the County. This is a push from the state to have all agencies self-help district. Final approval from the CPUC for regional and energy network, , this will make more rebate programs available to Mendocino County residents.
Councilmember Strong
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) - Meets on October 17, 2024.
• Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA)- Meets on October 31, 2024
• Sonoma Clean Power - Discussions on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) extending the contract to 2030, of the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant that was Willits City Council Minutes of October 9, 2024 Page 4 of 5 supposed to shut down in 2025. Councilmember Strong provided a memo to Council and the public explaining SCP's position on this. It is added to the minutes.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• Water/Wastewater Committee - No groundwater was used last month, Scada system had some issues but was repaired. Continuing to work with Brooktrails on the growth and capacity service agreement. Still waiting on MOU from the Skunk Train to remove the water pipe that is across their trestle. • Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) - Casper South Water District municipal service review. Raghda Zachria was appointed as the alternate public member to the LAFCO Commission.
Mayor Rodriguez
• Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)- Topics were centered on advocacy and routine matters.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
None presented.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m.
For more information on the October 9, 2024 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Deles bederon
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of October 9, 2024 Page 5 of 5