111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET
WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
(707) 459-4601 TEL
wiLLITS (707) 459-1562 FAX
WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY NoVEMBER 12, 2025
Mayor Allman called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:31 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; Davey Bowles, Building Official; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; Kate Reitzel, Human Resources Analyst; Swetha Venuturupalli, Senior Planner; Connor Stack, City Planner; Brian Fay, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
2. Public Communications
• Robin Leler expressed her concern over actions of the Willits City Council over the last 6 months.
3. Public Matters
Discussion and Introduction of an Ordinance by Title Only. An Ordinance of the City of Willits Adopting the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code Part 9 with Amendments, as well as the 2025 Edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Part 7. • Matt Keizer, Fire Code Official of the City of Ukiah, explained that the purpose of the Ordinance update is to have the rules within the City of Willits and the Fire District match. The State of California updates the Fire Code every three years Mr.
Keizer states that this is why the City of Willits and Fire District are being asked to update their Fire Code Ordinance.
• Burce expressed concern over the potential of the Fire Code raising the cost of building homes. Mr. Keizer explained some of the code updates are:
• Having an address sign that is four inches tall and on a commercial building needs to be six inches.
• All addresses must be at the front of the driveway when more than one home is on the property.
• A lighted directory for housing complex with more than fifteen units. • When an owner has a key box (Knox box) it must be a UL listed type, when the owner is responsible for letting the Fire Department know when a building is rekeyed so that the Fire Department can put a new key in the box. • The Code mentions placing the penal code on red curbs both private and public.
Public Comment:
• Gilbert Vahanian inquired where to find the information regarding the Fire Code Update. Mayor Allman responded that the information is in the Agenda Packet that is available on the City of Willits Website.
b. Little Lake Fire District Monthly Update. - Written report provided and is in the Agenda Packet.
• James Lance, City Attorney stated that the City is required to adopt the States Fire Codes but has the authority to modify the Fire Code, modifications must be formally adopted by Ordinance and justified by findings are necessary due to local climactic, geological or topo geographical conditions. c. County Supervisor John Haschak Monthly Update.- Written report provided and is in the Agenda Packet.
Public Comment: 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:
i. October 22, 2025 - Special Meeting.
ii. October 22, 2025 - Regular Meeting.
b. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Willits to Extend the Agreement with LACO Associates for Interim City Manager Services and Continue with Rodney Wilburn as Interim City Manager.
Public Comment:
Nicole Caldwell requested that changes be made to the October 22, 2025 - regular meeting minutes.
The approved scope of work for Muchmore than Consulting (MTC) Firm, Ms.
Muchmore, was asked for approval in items 9b: Receive Presentation, Discuss and Provide Staff Direction Related to the City Manager Recruitment Process. Ms.
Caldwell states that it has become clear that the MTC Firm is doing much more than just this.
• Ms. Muchmore's statement about not getting paid, that little lie did not go over well.
Ms. Muchmore knew during the last City Council meeting that she would be paid with a contract to not exceed $25,000. The contract was already in the making; she has started her employment with the City based on lies and distrust with both scope of work and payment. Rod Wilburn, Interim City Manager, responded that the information that is in the minutes is factual, Ms. Muchmore's contract was not signed until October 24th , Ms. Muchmore was doing pro-bono work at that meeting.
Ms. Muchmore was not being paid for the presentation that she provided at the meeting. Ms. Muchmore did not get paid for anything prior to the date of October 24'h
• Rod Wilburn, Interim City Manager, added that in the contract that the City has for Interim City Manager Services it states that LACO cannot have any contracts with the City of Willits for a period of one year.
Moved by Burton/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a & b).
Willits City Council Minutes of November 12, 2025 Page 2 of 6
6. Monthly Activity Reports
Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. a. Accounts Payable Activity Report: October 2025.
b. Building Permit Activity Report: October 2025.
c. Business License Activity Report: October 2025.
• Vice Mayor Alaniz inquired about the AP reports, why there are two listings for check number 41487, the line items are coming from the same account. Finance Director Orozco responded that it is a deposit account being reimbursed. After the account was closed out there was a balance left over that the City is required to reimburse. This reimbursement came from the Water Enterprise Fund. • Vice Mayor Alaniz asked about a vendor that was paid, he inquired as to who Pistachio Films is. Council Member Burton responded that he believed it is the person that records the City Council Meetings.
Public Comment: None presented.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports
• Rod Wilburn announced that this is his last City Council Meeting, the Engineers of LACO Associates are ready to have him back. Mr. Wilburn thanked the council to allow him to help the City of Willits over the last seven months, he will miss working with the Council and City Staff.
• Council Member Gonzalez thanked Mr. Wilburn for coming in and filling the role.
Public Comment: None presented.
Department Recommendations (Action Items)
b. Discussion and Possible Introduction of an Amendment to Willits Municipal Code Title 17 - Zoning, Revising Chapter 17.66, "Supplemental Provisions", and adding Chapter 17.87, "Mobile Vendors", to Establish Regulations for Mobile and Sidewalk Vending.
• Swetha Hiranya Venuturupalli, Senior City Planer presented a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Mobile Vendors Municipal Code. • Council Member Burton recused himself do to conflict of interest, Mr. Burton reports that he has a Mobile Vendor conducting business on his property. • Council Member Gonzalez inquired about using a mobile vendor for catering at his residence. What is required. Ms. Venuturupalli responded that this would fall under Special Events and would require the property owner to get approval from the Planning Department. Once it is approved the mobile vendor can operate at the event.
• Mayor Allman asked if a mobile vendor would be able to set up in front of restaurants in town. Mr. Duley responded that when you read through SB946 is does not allow the City to restrict sidewalk vendors from operating in front of businesses due to concerns about competition.
Willits City Council Minutes of November 12, 2025 Page 3 of 6 Public Comment:
• Bear Kamoroff stated that he has tried to study these law a bit and he believes a possible answer to the question about a sidewalk vendor showing up in front of a business, is that the City has a right to restrict operations where there's obstruction of the sidewalk.
Mr. Kamoroff states that this is how other Cities have used this to control sidewalk vendors where they cannot legally stop them from competing. Mr. Kamoroff continues that SB946 is for the non-motorized. Motorized Vendors have a lot of restrictions.
Another point that may be important is that the motorized mobile vendors according to state law also includes trailers. Mobile Vendors must also meet local noise ordinances; a loud generator would have to meet state standards.
Nicole Caldwell expressed concern over allowing Mobile Vendors to operate three or four days a year. She questions if we have to many limitations. Ms. Caldwell hopes that the City can make it a little fairer, she doesn't believe the Mobile Vendors are here to harm anyone, she feels they are being punished for not being a brick-and-mortar business.
• Mr. Allman stated that he felt that during the Mobile Vendor Adhoc Meetings they decided to get rid of the twenty-eight-day requirement that was passed in 1985. Mr.
Duley responded that the recommendation that staff received from the Adhoc committee was to delete the twenty-eight-day requirement and that is what is proposed in the ordinance.
Council Member Gonzalez stated that he wants to support the City's brick-and-mortar but at the same time he knows that the state has changed its rules. He would like to have the city's ordinance include rules for vendors selling merchandise as well. • Vice Mayor Alaniz thanked staff for the work they put into the new Ordinance. Mr. Alaniz states that the City continues to look for things that will work best for everyone, the City may need to bring this back in six months to a year and amend it to make it work. • Mayor Allman inquired if there is any public location that a food truck could park to operate if the ordinance goes through as presented today? Mr. Dules responded, he is answering in the context of a mobile food vendor like a food truck. The Ordinance the way it is currently written if the city a food vendor to set up at the Sports Complex Parking Lot, the ordinance would allow that with City Permission, otherwise being consistence with the ordinance.
Moved by Alaniz/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried 4/1 with Burton recused to Conduct a public hearing and introduce the reading of the Title of an Amendment to Willits Municipal Code Title 17 - Zoning, Revising Chapter
17.66, "Supplemental Provisions", and adding Chapter 17.87, "Mobile Vendors", to Establish Regulations for Mobile and Sidewalk Vending and waive any further reading of the proposed ordinance
a. Discussion and Possible Introduction of Proposed Ordinance Amending the City's Water Service Ordinance at Title 14 of the Willits Municipal Code, Chapter 14.08, Revising the Definition of an "Applicant" for Water Service and the Definition of an "Owner" of Property.
• Jim Lance, City Attorney explained that this item is to clean up confusing language in the City's Water Code that was used by someone who sued the City a couple years ago. Mr. Lance proposed that the City make some minor changes to the definitions of the words "applicant" and "owner" that will Willits City Council Minutes of November 12, 2025 Page 4 of 6 eliminate the claim in the future. The City's liability insurer CIRA has recommended that the City make this update.
Moved by Burton/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to Conduct a public hearing and introduce the reading of the Title of Proposed Ordinance Amending the City's Water Service Ordinance at Title 14 of the Willits Municipal Code, Chapter 14.08, Revising the Definition of an "Applicant" for Water Service and the Definition of an "Owner" of Property and waive any further reading of the proposed ordinance.
Public Comment: None presented
10. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Burton
• Thanked Mr. Duley for providing the activities of the Building Department. • Would like to Council to consider for future discussion the removal of the bike lanes on Main Street. He does not feel they fulfill the purpose that they were intended. Are they adequately used to sacrifice the on-street parking for the downtown merchants.
Councilmember Gonzalez
• Apologies for not being at the last two City Council meetings.
Councilmember Stranske
• Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA) - Meets 11/13 Vice Mayor Alaniz
• Finance Committee - 11/19 at 4:00 pm
• Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) - Toured the local projects that MCOG had funded in Ukiah.
• November 22n° at 11:00 am, there will be a Town Hall meeting at the Grange to address people's concerns about food security.
• December 11t, the Willits High School (WHS) is having their Hot Winters Night Performance.
• WHS Football team made it to the Playoffs.
Mayor Allman
• Thanked Rod Wilburn for stepping up and helping the City for the last seven months. Mr. Wilburn's dedication to the City is very appreciated.
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
11. Good & Welfare
• Delores Pedersen, City Clerk announced that on November 15t starting at 5:30 pm the Willits Center for the Arts is holding their 25h year Anniversary Celebration
12. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
13. Adjournment
Mayor Allman declared the meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.
Willits City Council Minutes of November 12, 2025 Page 5 of 6 For more information on the November 12, 2025 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
Dalla
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Delines Pedera
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of November 12, 2025 Page 6 of 6