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WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 13, 2025
Mayor Allman 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, Larry Stranske, Bruce Burton, Vice Mayor Matthew Allaniz, and Mayor Tom Allman were present.
Also present were staff members: Rodney Wilburn, Interim City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Davey Bowles, Building Official; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; Kate Reitzel, Human Resources Analyst; Connor Stack, City Planner; Brian Fay, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
Virgina Stranske expressed concern over the inability to getting ahold of anyone via phone at City Hall.
Public Matters
a. None.
Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
City Council Minutes:
i. July 23, 2025 - Special Meeting
ii. July 23, 2025.
• Councilmember Burton suggested to City Clerk Pedersen that she would save time by condensing and summarizing comments in the minutes. Mayor Allman agreed.
Public Comment: None presented.
, Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve consent calendar item 5a.
b. Designate Councilmembers as the League of California Cities 2025 Annual Conference Voting Delegate and Alternate(s).
• Councilmember Gonzalez announced that he would not be attending the Conference due to the uncertainty of the City's financial situation. Mr. Gonzalez will check and see if there is an alternate way to vote.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to name Councilmember Gonzalez as the Voting Delegate and Vice Mayor Alaniz as the Alternate Voting Delegate at the League of California Cities 2025 Annual Conference.
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Accounts Payable Activity Report - July 2025.
• Bruce Burton inquired if the warrants included payroll. Manuel Orozco responded that only payroll liabilities are included in the Accounts Payable Activity Report because they are paid through the AP process.
b. Building Activity Report - July 2025.
• Bruce Burton inquired about the permit for the log yard at the north end of town.
Dusty Duley, Community Development Director, responded that this is the boundary line adjustment for San Hedrin to expand the log yard operation. Comments were received from California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) this week, the applicant's consulting group is responding to the comments. Mr. Duley stated that the soonest there could be a hearing date would be the first meeting in October, this is pending satisfying CDFW comments.
c. Business License Activity Report - July 2025.
Public Comment: None presented.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Rod Wilburn reported that the city is working with PG&E and their contractor on E Hill Road and are making sure that they will be doing the drainage that was a concern of Ms. Cavanaugh at the 7/23 meeting
Working with John Kavasnicka to create an entertainment zone for special events downtown to allow for events that would allow for the promotion of local businesses.
Mayor Allman would like the Police Chief involved.
There will be a Budget Workshop on Wednesday, August 20th. Agenda will be posted on Friday August 15th; the workshop is open to the public. The focus will be on the General Fund, Measure K and Transportation Tax.
Public Comment:
Robin Leler inquired about the City Council acting as the Successor Agency to the City. Ms. Leler's understanding is that the Successor Agency is who the community would appeal to if they do not like decisions of the Council. Councilmember Gonzalez responded that the Successor Agency was formed with the sunsetting of the Redevelopment Agency. There was a requirement to have a Successor Agency to manage the requirements and expenses of the Redevelopment Agency.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
Willits City Council Minutes of August 13, 2025 Page 2 of 5 a. Discussion to Modify Chapter 2.40 - Airport Amending Willits Municipal Code Ordinance
2.40.30 and 2.40.040 Entitled "Regulations for use and Conduct - Generally".
Kenan O'Shea presented the need for modifying the Airport Municipal Code Ordinance.
• Mr. O'Shea reported that the newest FAA Grant Assurance #40 is that if an airport has AV fuel for sale it cannot limit its sales. The city will need to have a staff member available to meet potential AV fuel customers at the airport to allow entrance to purchase4 fuel. Mayor Allman inquired if this is for customers only with airplanes? Mr. O'Shea responded that AV Fuel is designed for aviation but what people use it for is not up to the city to determine.
• Mayor Allman asked to have warnings for any violation added to the proposed ordinance amendment before criminal charges are filed.
• Councilmember Gonzalez would like to have verbiage added that the tenants are responsible for the actions of their guests.
• Councilmember Burton inquired if there has ever been an incident of pedestrian vs. airplane at Ells Field Airport. Mr. O'Shea responded that we have never had a report of such an incident.
• Mr. O'Shea wanted to inform the Council and Public that the complaint from the tenant has been going on for several years and has been dismissed without prejudice several times however there are processes within the FAA Complaint processes that extensions can be made.
• Banning Galten, Airport Tenant, states that there have not been any safety violations but that there has been no one to tell the FAA that they are not valid complaints. • Mr. Burton suggested the city use the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association (AOPA) to solicit input on this.
• Vice Mayor Alaniz feels that changing the ordinance may be the way to let the FAA know that the city is doing what needs to be done to provide a safe airport. Mr. Alaniz feels that the complaints from the tenant are going to continue no matter what the city does.
• Mr. Burton pointed out one concern he has about the proposed ordinance change, under airport rules and staffing it states, "the city will approve and issue an Request for Proposal (RFP) for to update the existing ordinance". He is hesitant based on the present financial situation; he would like this to be watered down or removed. • Mayor Allman inquired if the FAA is stating that the current ordinance is not strong enough? Mr. O'Shea responded that he believes the FAA wants to see an ordinance that is in line with industry standards.
• Was requested to bring the item back after the updates to the Ordinance have been made to bring back to Council on September 10th for another introduction and more public input.
Public comment:
• Delores Pedersen reports that correspondence was received by Paul Trexel and the letters will be on file for anyone that would like to review them. • Mike Smith, airport tenant, reports that the Ells Field Airport has been in operation and there has been not a single complaint about safety until this one tenant. Mr.
Smith reports that the atmosphere at the airport has changed because of the one tenant and makes it hard for people to be at the airport. b. Approve the Purchase of a Water Treatment Filter Media Replacement Project No.
WTR2588-00, in an Amount Not to Exceed $73,287.93.
Willits City Council Minutes of August 13, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Public Comment:
• Tamara Alaniz expressed her support for the purchase of a water treatment filter media replacement.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-37 to approve the purchase of water treatment filter media replacement, Project No. WTR-2588-00 in an amount not to exceed $73,287.93. c. Update on the Rail with Trail Project with Recommendation to Allocate Measure K Funds in the Amount of $417,145.50 to Cover the Construction and Professional Services Cost up to $9,428,235.50.
Public Comment:
• Saprina Rodriguez expressed concern over the borrowing of Measure K. If the Council chooses to take money from Measure K she heard there is hope that the money will go back, she requests that it is made very clear what the plan is and not the hope or intent. She would like the council to make it very clear that the money will go back and the amount does not exceed what the council approved. Ms.
Rodriguez stressed that she does not support this and is concerned. • Jamie Bouthillier feels that Measure K could be used to fund the project and once the reimbursement comes in, it can be put back.
• Raghda Zacharia states she would not improve anything until the Budget is in place. • Council member Burton is not comfortable using Measure K as cash flow for the Rail with Trails project. He would like to have more discussion on this topic before making a decision on it. Mr. Burton would like to discuss it more at the Budget Workshop scheduled for August 20th
• Council member Gonzalez would also like to have more discussion on the item at the Budget Workshop. He would be prepared to make a decision then. • Mayor Allman would like this to be brought back to the August 27* City Council meeting. Interim City Manager Wilburn states that it is fine to wait until the next City Council meeting.
No Motion item will be brought back at the August 27t City Council meeting.
10. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Stranske
• Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Received message that the meeting was cancelled
• Economic Development & Financing Corporation (EDFC) - Meets August 14, 2025.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Meets on August 22, 2025.
Vice Mayor Alaniz
Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Meets August 18, 2025.
Mayor Allman
• Mobile Vendor Ad Hoc Meeting - Not ready to bring an ordinance to the Council, will be meeting again on September 23, 2025, at 5:00 pm in council chambers. Looking for input from Chamber of Commerce, Food Truck Vendors, Brick and Mortar Businesses and anyone that has concerns.
• There is an opening on the Measure K Committee, an announcement will be advertised in the newspaper as well as the City Website.
Willits City Council Minutes of August 13, 2025 Page 4 of 5 • Council member Burton requested that the City Manager position be advertised locally to see what response the city may receive.
Public Comment: None presented
No action taken.
Good & Welfare
• Vice Mayor Gonzalez- School is starting please be mindful of your speed while driving. : Mayor Alaniz - Once in a Blues Moon Festival is on September 164.
Delores Pedersen, City Clerk announced that Willits Frontier Days will be hosting a movie night at the grounds on August 23, 2025, as a fundraiser for the Willits Frontier Days Juniors Group.
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Allman declared the meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
For more information on the August 13, 2025 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
OM ALLMAN, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delnes Pederser
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of August 13, 2025 Page 5 of 5