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WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 11, 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, Vice Mayor Gerardo Gonzalez and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present. Absent: Councilmember Greta Kanne.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Michael Parish, Interim Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORDER OF THE MEETING DUE TO NEW COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTMENTS.
Mayor Rodriguez announced that the City received the resignation of Councilmember Kanne on December 11, 2024.
Jim Lance, City Attorney, explained the options the City Council had to fill the vacancy left by Councilmember Kanne.
2. Public Communications
• Tobin Steiskal requested that the Councilmembers review Roberts' Rules of Order.
Nicole Caldwell requested that the Council declare a home in her neighborhood a public nuisance due to the amount of trash that accumulates around it that attracts rodents. Ms. Caldwell requested that this item be placed on a future agenda.
Lorenzo Rodriguez (Son of Mayor Rodriguez) thanked his mother for her time on the City Council.
• Linda Burns (Mother of Mayor Rodriguez) expressed how proud she is of Mayor Rodriguez.
3. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. November 13, 2024.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a).
4. Public Matters
a. Adopt Resolution Declaring Results of General Municipal Election Held on November 5th
Presenting staff member: Delores Pedersen, City Clerk
Public Comment: None Presented
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Strong and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution (No. 2024-68) reciting the fact of the General Municipal Election, held on November 5, 2024, declaring the result and such other matters as provided by law.
b. Special Presentation.
Delores Pedersen, City Clerk, presented Mayor Rodriguez and Councilmember Strong with plaques and bouquet of flowers for their time on the City Council. - Brief Recess and Reception -
RECESS AND RECEPTION: 7:05 pm. - 7:20 pm.
Councilmember Allman and Alaniz took their place at the dais after the reception.
CITY MANAGER BENDER PRESIDING TO PRESENT AGENDA ITEMS 4C, 4D & C. Swearing-In of Newly Elected and Re-Elected Councilmembers. d. Nomination and Appointment of Mayor.
Moved by Gonzalez/Second by Allman and carried unanimously to nominate and appoint Larry Stranske as Mayor.
e. Nomination and Appointment of Vice Mayor.
Moved by Allman/Second by Stranske and carried unanimously to nominate and appoint Matthew Alaniz as Vice Mayor.
MAYOR STRANSKE PRESIDING AT 7:30 P.M.
Little Lake Fire District monthly update - written report provide by LLFD. g. Update from Third District County Supervisor John Haschak.
Willits City Council Minutes of December 11, 2024 Page 2 of 7 • Thanked Saprina Rodriguez, Madge Strong and Greta Kanne for their time on the City Council.
• Supervisor Haschak will be Chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2025. There will be a training held in Redwood Valley for the Board of Supervisors to attend.
Training topics will include teamwork, communication with the public, public safety and homelessness issues. The training will be available for the public to view via zoom.
• Attended an Art Exhibit at the Grace Hudson Museum. The art display was from the artist Ray Strong, uncle to Councilmember Strong.
• At the Board of Supervisors meeting on January 17th there will be a fee hearing, one of the items on the agenda for discussion is doing away with the Mendocino County Museum Fees. This will allow the Friends of the Museum group to establish the new fees.
Public Comment: None presented.
h. PUBLIC HEARING: To Discuss Both Future Applications for Funding Under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Cities Program and to Consider Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Submittal of an Application in Response to the 2024 Small Cities CDBG Notice of Funding Availability.
Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director Dusty Duley, the city's Community Development Director and Mendocino Community Health Clinic staff, Anna Shaw, Chief Compliance and Business Development Officer and Rod Grainger, Chief Executive Officer, presented to the Council on the CDBG program and the proposed grant application.
Public Comment:
• Community members spoke on various topics such as:
• Using local contractors to build the MCHC Health Facility. • More mental health services in Willits.
The dollar amount in the Resolution will be modified to reflect the following:
Health Facility (Planning and Design) - $287,384
General Administration - $ 19,626
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-69 approving an application for funding and the execution of a grant agreement and any amendments thereto from the 2024 funding year of the State CDBG Program NOFA dated August 30, 2024.
Enactment of Ordinances
None presented
Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Accounts Payable Activity Report: October 2024 & November 2024. b. Business License Activity Report: October 2024 & November 2024. c. Building Permit Activity Report: October 2024 & November 2024.
Willits City Council Minutes of December 11, 2024 Page 3 of 7
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Introduction of Interim Police Chief Michael Parish.
City Manager Bender introduced the new Willits Interim Police Chief, Michael Parish.
Mr. Bender also expressed his gratitude and the gratitude of the city for past Interim Police Chief Chris Dewey.
Interim Police Chief Parish was happy to report that the City of Willits has outstanding Police Officers and 911 Dispatchers that are dedicated to serving the City of Willits and he looks forward to working with and mentoring them during his time with the City of Willits.
b. Presentation of a request Madge Strong to be appointed as a temporary City Council representative to the Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) Meeting.
This item was pulled because it was discovered that the Joint Powers Agreement does not allow for a temporary appointment that is not an elected official.
Public Comment: None presented.
c. Verbal Reports - No Action.
i. Project Reports:
• 2024 Pavement Preservation.
Services & Facilities Director, Walter Kolon reported that the project has the manhole cover on E Commercial Street left to complete this project. Argonaut Construction will be repairing this manhole in January.
• Underground Utilities.
There was a delay in December with the hook up of the waterlines that were installed due to the weather, there is hopes to have the project complete by Mid-January.
Baechtel Road / PG&E Sidewalk.
Road re-alignment will start the beginning of January, it is expected that the project will be completed by late February.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Amend the Budget by $231,489. 15 to Accommodate a PG&E Connection Fee to Allow the City to Link the Wastewater Treatment Facility Solar System to the Utility's Grid. The Amendment Increases Appropriations to the Wastewater CIP Fund 410 and Wastewater Fund 510, Resulting in a Revised Overall Project Cost of $4,935,498.15 (the previous total was $4,704,000).
Presenting staff member: Leiloni Shine, Contract Planner Public Comment:
Willits City Council Minutes of December 11, 2024 Page 4 of 7 • Nicole Caldwell inquired if the Solar System will help offset the City's monthly cost for power at the Sewer Plant. Mr. Kolon responded that yes there would be a savings, Mrs. Shine further responded that the City is enrolled in the NEM 2.0 rate status, which locks in a reduced rate with PG&E. City Manager Bender further explained that the solar panels will be generating electricity that will be distributed to the PG&E grid, the solar is not being directly used by the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The NEM 2.0 rate status ensures that if PG&E rates increase in the future the Wastewater Treatment Plant will remain at the NEM 2.0 Rate.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-70 to approve amendments to the City of Willits FY24-25 Budget not to exceed a total of $4,935,498.15, including payment to Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) for one time cost of ownership fees for the new Sports Park Interconnection site system upgrades ($231,498.15) and revised the total contract payment to Syserco Energy Solutions (SES) for the completion of a design and installation of a proposed Solar Photovoltaic (P.V.) System at selected sites within the City ($4,704,000).
10. Department Monthly Reports.
a. Airport. - Nothing to add.
b. Community Development.
• Community Development Director, Dusty Duley gave updates to the various grants that were in his written report.
• Councilmember Alaniz thanked Community Development Director Duley for all the work that has been done and states that the City is going in the right direction.
c. Finance. - Nothing to add.
d. Police Department.
Interim Police Chief, Mike Parish added that in January there would be two new Police Officer Candidates attending the Police Academy. e. Services & Facilities.
Services and Facilities Director, Walter Kolon, commended the City Staff for the work they have done during the inclement weather.
f. Utilities.
Services & Facilities Director Kolon reported that staff has been busy with waterline leaks.
No action taken.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Gonzalez-
Nothing to report, wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Councilmember Alaniz -
Willits City Council Minutes of December 11, 2024 Page 5 of 7 • Wished everyone a Happy Holiday and thanked everyone for their support.
Mr. Alaniz looks forward to a successful four years with the City Council.
Mayor Stranske -
• Requested that a closed session be held to allow the council to become acquainted.
Madge Strong responded that she does not believe that such a meeting can happen. City Manager Bender reported that there would be a Strategic Planning Meeting scheduled in early February.
• Madge Strong reported that the Sonoma clean power meeting that she attended in December, while an active Councilmember, Sonoma Clean Power will be distributing $10,000,000 in surplus revenue, half will go to new local energy generation projects and half will go to savings for customers. Ms.
Strong reports that Sonoma Clean Power is 5 - 7% below PG&E Rates.
Sonoma Clean Power has called for a Plan from the State to close the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
• Madge Strong - Announced that WELL is sponsoring the motel program for the Community Services and Food Bank to provide overnight stays for the homeless in Willits during this winter.
• Councilmember Allman - Saturday, December 14th is the Truckers Light Parade and Christmas Tree event in the Bud Snider Park. Jennifer Drew, President of the Willits Educational Foundation reported that the Light Parade would take place rain or shine. Starting at 6:00 pm. The Parade starts at the Evergreen Shopping Center and ends at Bud Snider Park where the Light Up the Park event will take place.
• John Kvasnicka inquired about the status of the Banner Poles. Community Development Director, Dusty Duley responded that there are hopes to bring an item to council is January to put the project out to bid.
City Council Adjourned to closed session at 8:38 pm.
13. Closed Session Notice
a. Conference with Legal Counsel - Anticipated Litigation: Initiation of Litigation pursuant to Paragraph (4) of Subdivisions (d) of §54956.9: One case.
Council reconvened to open session at 10:19 pm with no action to report. d. Conference with Labor Negotiator Pursuant to Government Code §54957.6 - Agency Negotiator Patrick Clark, Patrick Clark Consulting and City Manager Bender. Employee Organization(s): International Brotherhood of Electrical Worker (IBEW).
Council reconvened to open session at 10:19 pm with no action to report, direction was given to City Manager Bender and the Negotiating Team.
Willits City Council Minutes of December 11, 2024 Page 6 of 7
14. Adjournment
Mayor Stranske declared the meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
For more information on the December 11, 2024 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
hes,
LARRY STRANSKE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delores Pedersen
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of December 11, 2024 Page 7 of 7