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WILLITS
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 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 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; Brian Fay, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
Daniel Curtis expressed concern over his neighbor and inquired what he could do to get help with declaring the neighbor as a public nuisance.
Mayor Allman advised Mr. Curtis to speak to Police Chief Fay or contact the District Attorney.
Public Matters
None.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
5. Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
October 8, 2025 - Special Meeting.
ii. October 8, 2025.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Burton/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar items) (a).
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Accounts Payable Activity Report: September 2025.
b. Building Permit Activity Report: September 2025.
c. Business License Activity Report: September 2025.
• Council member Burton asked how many City Credit Cards in circulation, Mayor Allman replied that there at ten City Credit Cards.
• Council member Burton requested more information on checks that were cut to SJE- Rhombus and Tall Tree Engineering Inc. Information will be provided to Mr. Burton.
Mr. Orozco stated he would give this information to Mr. Burton. • Council member Burton requested to have a report that details the FY 24/25 for Building Permit Activity Report.
Public Comment: None presented.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports - No Action.
Interim City Manager Rod Wilburn reported that it is currently deer rutting season and asked that the community be mindful when out driving.
Public Comment:
Tamara Alaniz thanked Mr. Wilburn for stepping up and being the Interim City Manager when the City needed him. Ms. Alaniz stated that Mr. Wilburn has done a great job.
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Proposed Change Order for the New Sports Park Solar Interconnection Site System Upgrades for an Amount of $125,000; To Syserco Energy Solutions (SES) for the Installation of Owner Provided Electrical Infrastructure in the Amount not to Exceed $125,000.
• Council Member Burton and Vice Mayor Alaniz expressed concern over why this charge was not in the initial quote provided by Syserco Energy Solutions. • Vice Mayor Alaniz inquired as to why we did not have this amount before the budget was passed. Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director responded that the original price that SES quoted was $250,000 and it was felt that was an unfair price.
The amount they finally gave of $125,000 was not until after the budget was passed. • Mayor Allman inquired if the project was still on schedule to be completed by the Spring of 2026. Mr. Kolon responded that yes, it is.
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Stranske/Seconded by Allman and carried 3/1 with Council Member Burton dissenting and Council Member Gonzalez absent to adopt Resolution No. 2025-51 to approve a change order not to exceed a total of $125,000, to Syserco Energy Solutions (SES) for the New Sports Park Interconnection Site System Upgrades • Mayor Allman requested that if there are any future change orders that the City Council is made aware of it.
b. Receive Presentation, Discuss and Provide Staff Direction Related to the City Manager Recruitment Process.
• Deborah Muchmore, Human Resources Advisor, presented Council with a PowerPoint presentation on selecting a New City Manager.
Willits City Council Minutes of October 22, 2025 Page 2 of 5 • Mayor Allman stated that the new City Manager will not have a salary at the same level as the previous City Manager.
• Council Member Burton expressed his interest in looking into having a Strong Mayor as opposed to a City Manager.
Public Comment:
• Nicole Caldwell feels that the City just wasted seven months where a search for a City Manager could have been happening. Ms. Caldwell expressed concern over the City entering into a contract with an outside source to complete a task that she feels could be done in house with City of Willits Employees. Ms. Caldwell continued that she feels that Rod Wilburn has been good for the city but feels that Mr. Wilburn and the current city HR Analysis the search for a new City Manager could have been done without spending City funds on an outside source to do the search. • Deborah Muchmore responded to Ms. Caldwell's comments stating that the PowerPoint is an example of what a search would be and that the Council had not outsourced anything. In order to take the next action, the staff needs direction to have an active recruitment to keep a retired annuitant safe from losing their retirement.
• Mayor Allman responded that Council would like to have a recruitment package put together and have it returned to the Council for an agendized public discussion. c. Approve the Employment Agreement with Robert Richardson to Perform Specialized and Temporary Services as Interim City Manager.
• Mayor Allman announced that Rod Wilburn is the Interim City Manager until November 12, 2025.
Deborah Muchmore explained that this item is in regard to a candidate that the Council has interviewed to take on the roll of Interim City Manager until a permanent City Manager is found or until they have worked 960 hours. A retired annuitant cannot take any benefits; they have to work within the salary schedule and cannot have collected unemployment in the last year. This option costs less than if the City had an employee in place while trying to find a permanent City Manager.
Council Member Burton questioned how Mr. Wilburn found Mr. Richardson. Mr.
Wilburn responded that his discussions with Mr. Richardson have been very good He has a long history of being a City Manager and has experience with dealing with similar financial issues as the City of Willits. Mr. Burton asked again how he came to the attention of the City. Mr. Wilburn responded that Mr. Richardson has worked with Patrick Clark, the City's Labor Negotiation Consultant and has also worked with Andy Heath, the City's Finance Consultant.
Mr. Burton feels that the community needs to know that the City Council Members, separately, have all met with Mr. Richardson, and feels that Mr. Ricardson has the skills. The Job warrants a full-time person to fill the position.
Vice Mayor Alaniz thanked Mr. Wilburn for helping the City during his tenure as Interim City Manager and that it speaks a lot to his character and professionalism to see an individual like Mr. Richardson and realize what is best for the City is for Mr.
Wilburn to step aside and have other people come in and help the City.
Public Comment:
Nicole Caldwell mentioned that when she said outsourced the City Manager Search, she is sure that Ms. Muchmore is being paid for the work she is doing. Ms. Muchmore then stated that she was not being paid. Ms. Caldwell thanked Council Member Burton for asking where Mr. Wilburn found Mr. Richardson, she feels this is important and that she knows this is all about transparency. Ms. Caldwell stated that she would have appreciated it if Mr. Richardson had been in attendance at the City Council Meeting.
Willits City Council Minutes of October 22, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Moved by Burton/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously with Gonzalez absent to approve the Employment Agreement with Robert Richardson to perform specialized and temporary services as Interim City Manager.
10. DEPARTMENT MONTHLY REPORTS - (presented at the second meeting of each month
a. Airport - Nothing to add.
b. Community Development Department
• Dusty Duley added that the City is currently accepting applications through the City's Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program through November 14, 2025. This is an opportunity for homeowners within the City of Willits to apply for loans at zero interest ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 to support rehabilitation projects that would prevent the deterioration and promote dwelling life span. The program is supported by State Funding that the City received.
c. Finance Department
• Mr. Orozco added that the Auditors are currently working on the Financials for the FY 23/24 audit, he expects them to ask for more clarifying documents. • Vice Mayor Alaniz asked is the issue with the funds that the city received when payments are made with credit cards has been figured out. Mr. Orozco explained there was a step of drawing down the funds into the city bank account, that staff was unaware of, and that this has been solved.
• Staff has discovered that there is a charge when customers pay their bills with credit cards at City Hall, when the card is swiped, but when bills are paid online there is no charge. Mr. Orozco states that the city will have to look into recouping this charge. • Council Member Burton asked for fund balances in city Bank Accounts. Mr. Orozco responded that there is approximately $2,100,000 in the City Checking Account, $5,400,000 in the CD investment, about $500,000 in the LAIF account, $38,000 in the savings account and $240,000 in the payroll account. Mr. Burton asked how this compares to last month. Mr. Orozco responded that the City is drawing down on funds from the main account, last month the City had about $3,400,000 in the main account. This is due to some large payouts. If the City gets below $1,400,000 Mr.
Orozco informed the Council, he may need to make a drawn down from the CD Investments if there is no revolving loan secured by then. The revolving loan would be for the solar project.
d. Police Department - Nothing to add.
• With Halloween being on Friday, Chief Fay reminded everyone that kids would be out and asked that they drive safely. The Willits PD would be out patrolling the streets. e. Services & Facilities Department
Mr. Kolon stated that the Services and Facilities Crew are all doing a great job, working had to get everything ready for winter storms. Kenan O'Shea has done a great job stepping in and taking on a big role at the Willits Airport and is doing a great job
f. Utilities Department - Nothing to add.
Public Comment: None presented.
11. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Burton
Received updates on the Railroad Water Line, the Little Lake Mobil Home Park water connection, the Skunk Train sewer dump station on Railroad Avenue, they have Willits City Council Minutes of October 22, 2025 Page 4 of 5 hopes to start using it again, repairs on the Bittenbender water line and the steel water line replacement under the Commercial St. bridge.
Councilmember Stranske
Transportation Committee - Meeting October 23, 2025 at 3:30 pm.
Vice Mayor Alaniz
Finance Committee - Discussed Springbrook Issues.
Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA) - Meeting October 29, 2025 at 1:30 pm.
Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Meeting November 3, 2025 Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
12. Good & Welfare
None presented
13. Closed Session Notice
None presented
14. Adjournment
Mayor Allman declared the meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
For more information on the October 22, 2025 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delcres Paderon
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of October 22, 2025 Page 5 of 5