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WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490
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WILLITS CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2026
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 Alaniz and Mayor Tom Allman were present.
Also, present were staff members: Bob Richardson, Interim City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Davey Bowles, Building Official; Brian Fay, Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.
Mayor Allman and Vice Mayor Alaniz recognized the longevity of the following City Employees that were in attendance.
Sargeant Rodrigo Avalos - 5 years
Dusty Duley, Community Development Director - 10 years.
Nicole (Nici) Caldwell, Sewer Plant Operator - 15 years Delores Pedersen, City Clerk - 20 Years
Clarence Tarver, Water Plant Operator - 25 years
2. Public Communications
• Melinda Clarks inquired if the Council would be willing to protect the Citizens of Willits if ICE comes to Willits.
• Dingane Jackson, owner of Smokey's BBQ, asked what the process was when a claim is filed. Delores Pedersen, City Clerk, responded that the claim had been sent to the insurance company and that they would be sending Mr. Jackson an update on his claim.
Steven Adams expressed concern over ICE and how it is affecting the country.
Larry Igulara asked for the City Council to address Land Recognition.
Public Matters
None.
4. Enactment of Ordinances
None presented.
Consent Calendar
The following items) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:
a. City Council Minutes:
January 28, 2026
• Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director, asked that the word potential be added to the following sentence in the minutes:
"The City is now responsible for any potential damage that is happening to the building due to the incorrectly installed culvert."
Public Comment: None presented.
Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (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: January 2026.
b. Building Permit Activity Report: January 2026.
c. Business License Activity Report: January 2026.
7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities
None presented.
8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations
a. Verbal Reports - No Action.
• Bob Richardson, Interim City Manager, reports that the week of February 16' council would be receiving the draft recruitment materials for the City Manager Position. He would like Council to look at it and make any changes or edits. As soon as council agrees with the document the City will begin the process.
• Andy Heath, Finance Consultant, completed the mid-year budget. Mr. Richardson reports that it is better than originally expected
• Davey Bowles gave a presentation to update the council on the Bud Snider Park Pavillion and Bathroom Remodel Project that is funded by the Clean California Grant.
The last time this was discussed the City was in the design phase of the project. SHN Engineering has some minor corrections to make with the Design Drawings as well as back up work for the bid schedule and bid items to help roll them into City documents that are used to advertise for bids. SHN anticipates this will be done in March and the City will be able to advertise for the project. This typically takes two months to bid and get under contract, Mr. Bowles states that we should be able to award a bid and be under contract by May. There are hopes to be complete with the bathroom remodel and pavilion by December. This does not include the playground, city has already purchased the playground equipment, this will be under a separate contract.
Public Comment:
• Mark Walker expressed concern about on time completion. If the project is not complete on time is there a penalty?
9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)
a. Discussion on Right-of-Way Abandonment Request #RA 23-01 for an Unimproved Alley Between West Oak Street and State Highway 20 in the City of Willits.
Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director • Council Member Burton recused himself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest.
Mr. Burton owns property within 500 feet of the project which requires him to abstain from the discussion.
• Mr. Duley presented council with a PowerPoint and continuation of discussion of the project.
Willits City Council Minutes of February 11, 2026 Page 2 of 5 Public Comment:
•Ken Sizemore, owner of Earths Treasures, spoke in support of the ally's abandonment. • Amy Grooms spoke against the ally's abandonment.
• Miguel Jimenez spoke in support of the ally's abandonment.
Omaya Sizemore, owner of Earths Treasures, spoke in support of the ally abandonment.
Nicole Caldwell stated that the City should contact the six residents that did not respond to the Adjoining Property Owner Contact Form. Right now, there are ten no's and six yeses. Ms. Caldwell states that the ally is used by residents for different purposes to access their backyard.
Mark Walker inquired about the city's easement for the ally. Should it be identified on the deed to his home. Jim Lance, City Attorney, responded that Mr. Walkers' deed should make reference to the subdivision map act that was recorded in 1902, the law presumes that Mr. Walkers's property is subject to that map and the ally way that is depicted on the map.
• Nicolas Casagrande spoke in support of the ally's abandonment. • Basima Sizemore spoke in support of the ally's abandonment. • Council Member Gonzalez asked if the City abandoned the ally and only some of the residents extend their fences, who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the areas that do not have the fences extended? Mr. Lance responded that if the City has a hearing and makes the findings that the ally is not necessary for any present of prospective public use and that abandonment is in the public interest, this is recorded on a resolution and now the easement is extinguished, those parcels are no longer subject to the easement, the property owners then assume any liability for the conditions of what used to be an ally.
Mayor Allman states that the ally does not serve a public purpose other than to the residents that live there to allow them access to their backyards. The City of Willits can not justify keeping the ally as access, the city has no purpose for it. Mr. Allman cannot support this for public supporting private backyard usage.
Vice Mayor Alaniz states that he sees this as a minority of people that are trying to use the local government to force their neighbors to do something that they cannot force them to do themselves. Mr. Alaniz feels that everyone has a good argument and feels that if they are not able to convince their neighbors he is not sure it is up to local government to determine.
• Council Member Gonzalez would like to hear from the Fire Department and any utilities on the matter.
Mr. Duley stated that through the process that has been codified, letters went out from the applicant to the property owners notifying them of the request. City staff has also provided notice of the December 10, 2025 and February 11, 2026 public hearing.
Through the project referral process, staff has contacted AT&T, Comcast, Fire Department etc. and there doesn't appear to be any utility conflicts in the situation. The Fire Department has not noted any issue with the abandonment. • Direction to staff is to make sure that the City has approval or not from Utilities and the Fire Department. Mr. Duley added that the City received a response from the Little Lake Fire Department and they had no comment on the project. • Jim Lance, City Attorney, stated that if the council would like to move forward with the application, staff will need to notice a hearing and the key determination is going to be, are there findings that this is a necessary part of the City's road system. • Vice Mayor Alaniz asked how many days are needed to notify a public hearing. Mr.
Duley responded that he would like to refamiliarize himself with the process, we are probably out forty-five to sixty days from now. He also added that the other variable that could extend that timeline is that the City is about to go through some staffing reconfigurations, and that there are some priorities that staff is looking to get through in Willits City Council Minutes of February 11, 2026 Page 3 of 5 the next thirty to forty-five days. Mayor Allman asked if we could estimate April 8" as the date to bring it back to council for a public hearing. Mr. Duley confirmed that staff could estimate April 8th
b. Discussion of Potential Collaboration between the City of Willits and the County of Mendocino to Relocate Donated Sculptures to a Public Location within the City Highway 20 Park Presenting staff member: Dusty Duley, Community Development Director.
Mr. Duley stated that this is continuation of discussion to relocate sculptures from folk artist Mark Walker that are currently on display on the west side of Highway 20 as you are heading towards CalFire. Staff has identified potential costs related to restoring the sculptures, transporting the sculptures, and building a concrete pad for the sculptures to be placed on should the council want to support the relocation to the Highway 20 park In discussion with the Museum, City Staff took the assumption that the City would not be willing or able to participate in the costs of relocating the sculptures. It does appear that money will be coming from the Museum, the County and citizens that have offered up their services to seek fundraising to cover the full cost of their relocation. There are some key questions that are noted in the agenda summary; • Would the City require taking over ownership of the sculptures if it is allowed to have them placed in the Highway 20 Park.
• Are there any specific provisions that the City would want in a maintenance agreement. These would come before council at a later date.
• Karen Matsen, Museum Administrator explained that the museum is working to preserve the sculptures, no matter what the museum is working on a plan to relocate the sculptures. The plan involves restoring the sculptures, moving the sculptures, pouring a pad and having a fence around them. This will be done wherever the sculptures are located
• Council member Burton would support moving the sculptures in their entirety to the Museum.
• Council member Gonzalez would support it being at the Highway 20 Park but expressed concerns that even with a fence there people would still attempt to climb on them. • Mr. Duley stated that it would be helpful for staff to hear if Council would like staff to continue to work with the County Museum or any one from the County to relocated the statues to the Highway 20 Park, or if there are concerns and that the council does not feel that is an appropriate location. Council member Gonzalez, Stranske, Vice Mayor Alaniz and Mayor Allmam all expressed interest in the City and County continuing the partnership to relocate the time.
Public Comment:
Mark Walker supports having the Statues on display at the Museum.
Eric Hart, Willits Center for the Arts Center (WCA), stated that the WCA and the art community are on board for this project. They will be working with Karen at the Museum to bring in financial support.
Amy Grooms expressed concern for the lack of parking on Highway 20. . Gloria Westby asked if there would be money raised just in case someone gets hurt climbing on the sculptures
10. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Nothing to report
Public Comment: None presented.
No action taken.
Willits City Council Minutes of February 11, 2026 Page 4 of 5
11. Good & Welfare
Nothing to report.
12. Closed Session Notice
None presented.
13. Adjournment
Mayor Allman declared the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
For more information on the February 11, 2026 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube.
TOM ALLMAN, Mayor
City Council for the City of Willits
ATTEST:
Debres Pedesser
DELORES PEDERSEN
City Clerk
Willits City Council Minutes of February 11, 2026 Page 5 of 5