111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
WILLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 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: Rod Wilburn, Interim City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
• Emma Hulsey announced the 3rd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 13, 2005 in Bud Snider Park at 7:00 pm.
Public Matters
a. Third District County Supervisor, John Haschak Monthly Update.- Written report provided
b. Little Lake Fire District Monthly Update. - Written report provided.
Public Comment: 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. September 10, 2025.
b. Adoption of a Resolution Changing the Authorized Signatures for the City of Willits Checking Account, Payroll Account, and Safe Deposit Box at Savings Bank of Mendocino County.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a & b).
c. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Specific City Staff to Transfer Funds Between the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) and Savings Bank of Mendocino County.
• Council Member Gonzalez requested that the Council be notified when funds need to be transferred from the LAIF Fund to the Savings Bank of Mendocino County Account. This was supported verbally by Council. • Council Member Gonzalez requested that the following be added to the Resolution:
• Council will be notified if fund need to be transferred at the next available City Council Meeting.
Public Comment: None.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Burton and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items) (c).
d. City Response to 2024-25 Mendocino County Civil Grand Jury Report titles, "Healing the Toxic Culture in the City of Willits Workplace." Public Comment:
• Nicole Caldwell spoke in disagreement to the Response to the 2024-25 Mendocino County Civil Grand Jury Report.
• Council Member Gonzalez stated that neither he or the Vice Mayor Alaniz were not the ones that interviewed the staff, the response was prepared with some input from Mr. Gonzalez, being that they did not interview the employees the had to agree that the Grand Jury found what they found. Mr.
Alaniz added that they could not confirm or deny but that they agreed that the Grand Jury claimed they found the City a Toxic Work Environment, Mr.
Gonzalez and Mr. Alaniz agreed that the Grand Jury Claimed they found something to support the claim of a Toxic Work Environment. Mr. Alaniz stated that there was no need to go over each item individually, that the Council is taking the claims seriously.
• Mayor Allman thanked the Grand Jury for the times they spent on the City of Willits Employee Complaint. Mr. Allman continues by saying that now we are at a situation where there are individuals that are discussed (not by name) that were the focus of the investigation. One individual does not work for the City any longer, the Council is at a point where they are at a point of rectifying a situation that appears to be rectified and is now a moot subject. • Nicole Caldwell asked where the employees can now go to with concerns and complaints to ensure that the things that happened over the last four years do not happen again.
• Mayor Allman responded that the City's Personnel Policy states that staff would go to the Personnel Director. Since the City does not have a Personnel Director, the Council is working on rectifying that to make is so that whoever is working in the Personnel Department would be the person to go to or the Willits City Council Minutes of September 24, 2025 Page 2 of 6 City Manager would be the correct person to talk to. Unless one of those two people is the issue, if a City Employee wants, they can go to the Mayor, and he will direct the staff to whom they can talk to.
Moved by Alaniz/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items) (d).
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Accounts Payable Activity Report: August 2025.
b. Building Permit Activity Report: August 2025.
C. Business License Activity Report: August 2025.
Public Comment: None presented.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations+
a. Verbal Reports - No Action.
Public Comment: None presented.
Department Recommendations (Action Items)
Mayor Allman requested that the items be presented in the following order. d. Zoning text and map amendments to implement the 2024 general plan land use element update
Public Comment:
• Bear Kamoroff inquired about the businesses that have ten or more locations, will they be prohibited or have to go through special permitting, Mr. Kamoroff is curious about the banks and insurance companies in town? Mayor Allman responded that the City is not looking to remove any businesses from downtown, it would affect any new business.
• Madge Strong spoke in favor of the Zoning Text and Map Amendments and feels that the Planning Department did a good job and that it is in the City's best interest.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried 4/1 with Burton abstaining to adopt Resolution No. 2025-42 certifying compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and adopting findings for approval of Zone Text Amendment Ordinance and to amend the Zoning Map to implement the2024 General Plan Land Use Element Update.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried 4/1 with Burton abstaining to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-03 amending Title 17 (Zoning) of the Willits Municipal Code including modifying Chapter 17.06 entitled Use Group Willits City Council Minutes of September 24, 2025 Page 3 of 6 Classifications and establishing the Main Street Mixed Use (DU) Zone (Chapter
17.23) and General Mixed Use (GU) Zone (Chapter 17.25).
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried 4/1 with Burton abstaining to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-04 amending the City of Willits Zoning Map to apply Zoning Classifications consistent with the City of Willits Land Use Map adopted on October 24, 2024, through City Council Resolution No. 2024-57, Resolution No. 2024-58, and Resolution No. 2024-59. e. Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Proposed Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget.
Andy Heath, Finance Consultant, presented a PowerPoint presentation to council regarding the FY 2025-26 Budget.
Public Comment:
• Madge Strong stated that if she had known the true state of the City's Finances when she was on council she would have been very alarmed, she states that council was not being told the true financial picture. Ms. Strong states that she has regrets that council was not able to start the process sooner. Ms. Strong suggested, if it could be done, to go back and see where the City started to go beyond the revenue. She does not feel it is fair to ask the department head to decide who the City will cut on staff, she feels the City Council has to decide where the City is spending money that the City cannot afford, where will the City tighten their belts and a look back at several fiscal years may help council do that.
Bear Kamoroff inquired about the Capital Improvement Fund. Money that was taken out of the General Fund to pay for Capital Improvements that had Grants, wouldn't the money from the Grants that have been reimbursed go back into the General Fund?
• Sherry Ebyam spoke in favor of preparing a three-year budget. • Nicole Caldwell asked if the Assistant City Manager position has been taken out of the budget. Ms. Caldwell questioned if the council would consider raising the rates again.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried 4/1 with Burton dissenting to adopt Resolution No. 2025-46 approving and adopting the Annual Operating Budget for the City of Willits for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Council Adjourned for a five minute recess at 9:06 pm.
Council returned from recess at 9:15 pm.
a. Introduction of Proposed Revisions to the City of Willits Municipal Code, Chapter
2.40 - Airport, Sections 2.40.030 and 2.40.040, Entitled "Regulations for use and Conduct-Generally". As Ordered by the Director of the FAA.
Public Comment: None presented.
Willits City Council Minutes of September 24, 2025 Page 4 of 6 Moved by Alaniz/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to move the introduction of the Ordinance and waive the formal reading. b. Adoption of Resolution Identifying the Proposed Project List for SB1: Road Repair and Accountability Act for Fiscal Year 2025/2026.
Public Comment:
• Nick Johnson inquired if there will be a portion of General Funds used to cover any of the Road Projects. Walter Kolon responded, no, the City has funds that are for the Road Projects.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-47 authorizing the submittal of 2025-26 Pavement Preservation Project to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) in order to receive Fiscal Year 2025/2026 apportionment of SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) Funding.
b. Receive Report and Recommendation from the Community Development Department Regarding the Establishment of an Entertainment Zone for City- Approved Events.
• Connor Stack, City Planner, presented a PowerPoint presentation on the suggested Entertainment Zone.
Public Comment:
Nicole Caldwell expressed concern over Commercial Street being included in with the Zoning District, she suggested extending the zone down Main Street to State Street. Commercial Street is the Fire Departments Route. Ms.
Caldwell expressed concern over alcohol being able to be served and consumed on Main Street. Ms. Caldwell also inquired as to who would manage that the management plan is being followed during the event, who carries the insurance for the Entertainment Zones, how many security guards will be required and who will pay for the security and with the security company be required to be bonded and certified. Will the City be planning to include the South end of town in with the Entertainment Zone? Caroline Rayburger stated that the way the alcohol license for Flying Dog Pizza works is they need to keep it within their designated zones. • Jamie Bouthillier stated that she did the insurance for the Christmas Light Parade. The cost was $400 and it covered the town and people standing on the side of the road.
• Nick Johnson, spoke in support of the Entertainment Zone.
10. DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORTS - (presented at the second meeting of each month
a. Airport - Nothing to add.
b. Community Development Department - Nothing to add.
c. Finance Department - Nothing to add.
Willits City Council Minutes of September 24, 2025 Page 5 of 6 d. Police Department - Nothing to add.
e. Services & Facilities Department - Nothing to add.
f. Utilities Department - Nothing to add.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Vice Mayor Alaniz
Attended Assemblyman Rogers Town Hall, there were many updates on different issues including Home Insurance and what the State is trying to accomplish with their own funding problems.
Mayor Allman
• California Conservation Corps grand opening will be on Friday, September • Mobile Food Truck Ad hoc - Moving forward, had a successful meeting on September 23. No food trucks will be allowed on Main Street, can be on Private Property with written permission from owner. No cap on number of Food trucks. Will be allowed on the South Side of Bud Snider Park.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
Councilmember Burton
• Councilmember Gonzalez
Councilmember Stranske
• Vice Mayor Alaniz
• Mayor Allman
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
14. Adjournment
Mayor Allman declared the meeting adjourned at 10:09 p.m.
For more information on the September 24, 2025 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
son mon
Tom Allman, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Deldes Pederser
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of September 24, 2025 Page 6 of 6