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WILLITS
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8, 2025
Mayor Stranske 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 Gerardo Gonzalez, Tom Allman, Vice Mayor Matthew Alaniz and Mayor Larry Stranske were present.
Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Mike Parish, Interim Police Chief; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Philip Davidson, Code Compliance Officer; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
Mayor Stranske called for a Moment of Silence for the residents affected by the fires in Southern California and in recognition of the passing of President James Carter.
Public Communications
Former Councilmember Madge Strong expressed the importance of the existing Councilmembers to serve on County Wide boards and committees. Hoping all of the Councilmembers are planning to do their share and that the City of Willits is represented Ms. Strong spoke in support of City Manager Bender, stating that she has the utmost respect for City Manager Bender and feels he has accomplished a tremendous amount and does it with honesty and respect for the citizens in the community, Mr. Bender is the best City Manager she has worked with during her tenure on City Council. Ms. Strong ends with if there are areas of dissatisfaction those are legitimate to take up.
Helen Sims inquired about the Standing committees and what Councilmembers will be on those committees.
Public Matters
a. None.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
i. December 11".
il. December 17'.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz 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. a. Accounts Payable Activity Report - December 2024.
b. Business License Activity Report - December 2024.
c. Building Permit Activity Report - December 2024.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Request by Redwood Waste Solutions, Inc. for a Consumer Price Index Increase of 2.55-percent Applied to all Service Accounts Within the City. • Councilmember Gonzalez recused himself as he has a family member that is currently employed at Redwood Waste Solutions.
• Vice Mayor Alaniz inquired if this item should have had a Public Hearing Notice in the Newspaper?
* Michelle Goodman of Redwood Waste Solutions (RWS) explained that the only area that it is required to run a Public Hearing Notice in Mendocino County is Brooktrails based on the Franchise Fee Agreement that Brooktrails holds. Ms. Goodman also provided a breakdown as to how RWS came up with the 2.55% Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase.
• After further discussion the item was pulled to allow staff to further investigate whether a Public Hearing Notice is required. This item will be brought back at a future meeting.
Public Comment:
• Former City Councilmember Madge Strong provided background on the matter from her tenure. The annual cost of living, fuel, and Cold Creek passthrough increase was written in as part of the annual review of the rates that would be voted on in December of each year. This would allow for the increase to become part of the billing cycle for January 1 if approved by Council.
Bruce McCracken of Redwood Waste Solutions (RWS) stated that he concurred that RWS does not want to be doing anything incorrectly, but that this is the first time in forty years that this has happened. The CPI is an index contract, anything above the CPI would require a Public Hearing.
b. Verbal Reports - No Action.
Public Comment: None presented.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Awarding a Professional Services Contract to EBA Engineering for Landfill Post-Closure Compliance Services for a Two-Year Term, with a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $82,412.40 ($41,206.20 for the First Year and $41,206.20 for the Second Year), and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Contract.
Presenting staff member: Walter Kolon, Services & Facilities Director.
Willits City Council Minutes of January 8, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Public Comment: None presented
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-01 awarding a Professional Services Contract to EBA Engineering for Landfill Post-Closure Compliance Services for a two-year term, with a total not-to-exceed amount of $82,412.40 ($41,206.20 for the first year and $41,206.20 for the second year), and authorizing the City Manager to execute the contract.
b. Adopt a Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Contract with Tall Tree Engineering for On Call Services as the City Engineer Defined as a Consultant in a Management Support Role (CMSR) for an Amount not to Exceed $150,000 with a Term Ending June 30, 2026.
Presenting staff member: Walter Kolon, Services & Facilities Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Allman/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-02 approving professional services contract with Tall Tree Engineering as Acting City Engineer defined as a Consultant in a Management Support Role (CMSR) for an amount not to exceed $150,000 with a term ending June 302026, and authorize the City Manager to execute contract documents. c. Review and Approve the City of Willits 2023 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Reports.
Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-03 to approve the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report and 2023 Housing Element Annual Progress Report.
d. Introduction by Title Only a Revision to Section 8.26.090 - Suspension, Termination or Revocation of License Provisions of the Willits Municipal Code.
Presenting staff member: Phillip Davidson, Code Compliance Officer.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve Introducing by Title Only and Waiving the First Reading of Ordinance 2023-01. e. Introduction by Title Only to Insert Chapter 8.24 - Nitrous Oxide Sales Into the City of Wilits Municipal Code, Making it Unlawful for Any Person in the City, with Exceptions, to Sell or Attempt to Sell, Offer, Distribute, or Provide Nitrous Oxide to Any Person.
Presenting staff member: Phillip Davidson, Code Compliance Officer Public Comment: Madge Strong spoke in support of the two Ordinance updates.
Moved by Alaniz/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Introducing by Title Only and Waiving the First Reading of Ordinance 2023-02.
Willits City Council Minutes of January 8, 2025 Page 3 of 4 City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports
Councilmember Allman asked City Manager Bender to give an update on the recruitment of a new City Councilmember. City Manager Bender responded that the City is seeking applicants
• City Clerk Pedersen announced that she has currently received one applicant that was deemed invalid due to not living within the City Limits. Ms. Pedersen reminded any potential applicants that they must live within City Limits and your home address must match your voter registration. The deadline to apply is January 15" at 5:30 pm.
No action taken.
11. Good & Welfare
None
City Council Adjourned to Closed Session at 7:42 pm.
12. Closed Session Notice
a. Conference with Legal Counsel existing litigation (CA Gevt. Code §54956.0 (d)(1)); in the matter-of Graig Anthony-Gelber vs City of Willits, et al, Case No. 3- 23-cv-00681 JSC, United States District Court for the Northern California District.
Item was pulled from the agenda by City Manager Bender. b. 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).
The City Council reconvened to open session at 8:12pm, with the following report out:
Mayor Stranske reported that the item would be brought back to the City Council meeting of January 22nd for consideration.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Stranske declared the meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
For more information on the January 8, 2025 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
LARRY STRANSKE, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Pedarser
FLORES PEDERSE
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of January 8, 2025 Page 4 of 4