City Council
Rick Thomas, Mayor
David Vodden, Vice Mayor
Gary Hansen, Council Member
Casey Hofhenke, Council Member
Forrest Sprague, Council Member
City Manager
Marti Brown
City Clerk
Amos Hoover
Willows City Council
Regular Meeting
August 8, 2023
Willows City Hall
6:00 PM
201 North Lassen Street
Willows, CA 95988
(530) 934-7041
Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
5. PUBLIC COMMENT & CONSENT CALENDAR FORUM
All matters on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and are approved by one motion and vote, unless Councilmembers or the City Manager first requests that a matter be removed for separate discussion and action. Individuals wishing to address the City Council concerning Consent Calendar items or regarding matters that are not already on the agenda are invited to make oral comments of up to three minutes at this time. Please address your comments to the Mayor and Councilmembers, and not to staff and/or the audience. By State law, the Council is not permitted to undertake any action or discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda. If you have any documentation that you would like distributed to the City Council, please mail it to the City Clerk at 201 North Lassen Street, Willows, CA 95988 or email it to: [email protected]. a. Register Approval
Recommended Action: Approve general checking, payroll, and direct deposit check registers.
Contact: Lori Fahey, Accounting Manager, [email protected] b. Minutes Approval
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes of the July 25, 2023, Special and Regular City Council meetings.
Contact: Amos Hoover, City Clerk, [email protected] c. Street Banner Program Review
Recommended Action: Consider and approve the local not-for-profit organization requests from VFW Post 1770, VFW Auxiliary to Post 1770, the Willows Lions Club, and the Willows Car and Bike Association to issue banners under the Street Banner Program.
Contact: Amos Hoover, City Clerk, [email protected] 1 6. PUBLIC HEARING
All matters in this section of the agenda are formal public hearings and will be acted on individually. Once the Mayor opens the public hearing, members of the public may request to speak. When you are called on by the Mayor, please state your name clearly for the audio recording. If you have any documentation that you would like to be distributed to the Council, please give it to the City Clerk for distribution. a. Unmet Transit Needs – Glenn County Transportation Commission Recommended Action: Conduct public hearing to receive public comment on Unmet Transit Needs in Glenn County and forward comments to the Glenn County Transportation Commission for consideration.
Contact: Ashlee Veneman, Glenn County Planning and Community Development Agency, [email protected]
8. COMMENTS & REPORTS
a. Council Correspondence
b. City Council Comments & Reports
c. City Manager’s Report
9. CLOSED SESSION
Pursuant to Government Code Sections §54954.3, the public will have an opportunity to directly address the legislative body on the item below prior to the Council convening into closed session. Public Comments are generally restricted to three minutes.
a. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to § 54956.9(b) b. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to § 54956.9(b) c. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to § 54956.9(b)
10. ADJOURNMENT
This agenda was posted on August 3, 2023.
______________________________
Amos Hoover, City Clerk
A complete agenda packet, including staff reports and back-up information, is available for public inspection during normal work hours at City Hall or the Willows Public Library at 201 North Lassen Street in Willows or on the City’s website at www.cityofwillows.org.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Willows will make available to members of the public any special assistance necessary to participate in this meeting. If requested, the agenda shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132). The public should contact the City Clerk’s office at 934-7041 to make such a request. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
2 The City of Willows is an Equal Opportunity Provider. 3 PUBLIC COMMENT &
CONSENT CALENDAR
FORUM
44 Agenda Item #5a.
PERIOD
07/13/2023 TO 07/25/2023
Check Register 53414 TO 53490
APPROVAL DATE 08/08/2023
APPROVED ___________________________________________
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77 88
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City Council
Rick Thomas, Mayor
David Vodden, Vice Mayor
Gary Hansen, Council Member
Casey Hofhenke, Council Member
Vacant, Council Member
City Manager
Marti Brown
City Clerk
Amos Hoover
Willows City Council Special
Meeting
Draft Action Minutes
July 25, 2023
Willows City Hall
5:00 PM
201 North Lassen Street
Willows, CA 95988
(530) 934-7041
1. CALL TO ORDER – 5:00pm
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers Hansen, Hofhenke, Vice Mayor Vodden, and Mayor Thomas Councilmembers Absent:
4. PRESENTATION
a. City Council Appointment – Swearing in
Action: Forrest Sprague was sworn in as a City Council member.
5. CLOSED SESSION
a. Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to § 54956.9(b) Property located at 153 North Lassen Street
Action Reported: Provided direction to City Staff to provide written correspondence to property owners.
Public Comment: Robert Wise, Lisa Davis, and Brenda Crockett
6. ADJOURNMENT – 6:39pm
______________________________
Amos Hoover, City Clerk.
Agenda Item #5b.
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201 North Lassen Street
Willows, CA 95988
(530) 934-7041
Willows City Council
Meeting Draft
Action Minutes
July 25, 2023
Willows City Hall
6:00 PM
City Council
Rick Thomas, Mayor
David Vodden, Vice Mayor
Gary Hansen, Council Member
Casey Hofhenke, Council Member
Forrest Sprague, Council Member
City Manager
Marti Brown
City Clerk
Amos Hoover
1. CALL TO ORDER - 6:43 PM
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Councilmembers Hansen, Hofhenke, Sprague, Vice Mayor Vodden, and Mayor Thomas
Councilmembers Absent: None
4. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
5. PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION
a. Code Enforcement Efforts – Cedar Hills Apartments, 600 North Humboldt Street Action: Received presentation from Building Inspector Wyatt Paxton and Fire Chief Nathan Monck on the conditions and actions being taken related to Cedar Hills Apartments.
Public Comment: Jim Yoder, Glenn County District 4 Supervisor and Janelle Kelly, Glenn County HHSA Representative
b. Study Session - Master Fee Schedule, Impact Fees, and Cost Recovery Process Action: Received presentation from Community Development & Services Director Pat Piatt on the purpose, use and need of the Master Fee Schedule, Impact Fees, and Cost Recovery Process.
Public Comment: Jim Yoder, Glenn County District 4 Supervisor and Janelle Kelly, Glenn County HHSA Representative
6. PUBLIC COMMENT & CONSENT CALENDAR FORUM
a. Register Approval
Action: Approved general checking, payroll, and direct deposit check registers. b. Minutes Approval
Action: Approved minutes of the July 11, 2023, City Council meeting. 1616
WILLOWS CITY COUNCIL
c. Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance Agreement Budget Increase Action: Adopted a resolution to amend the Inframark Agreement and approve expenditures that exceeded the contractual expenditures of $60,000 annually for maintenance and repairs to the Wastewater Treatment Plant and increase the maintenance and repair budget by $44,159 for additional expenditures through the remainder of the contract expenditure period ending October 31, 2023.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen and Vice Mayor Vodden Yes: Councilmembers Hansen, Hofhenke, Sprague, Vice Mayor Vodden, and Mayor Thomas No: None
Absent: None
Public Comment: Kathy Gilmore
7. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Weed Abatement – Special Assessment
Public Hearing opened at 8:07 pm and closed at 8:17 pm.
Action: Adopted resolution confirming costs of abatement and declaring a special assessment on those properties abated by the City as of August 4, 2023; and removing the 25% administrative fee on Tawni Smith’s charges reducing his bill to $325.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen and Vice Mayor Vodden Yes: Councilmembers Hansen, Hofhenke, Sprague, Vice Mayor Vodden, and Mayor Thomas No: None
Absent: None
8. DISCUSSION & ACTION CALENDAR
a. Citygate Associates Contract – Law Enforcement Services Contract Action: No action taken.
Public Comment: Marlina Sparkman, Brenda Crockett, Jim Yoder, Glenn County District 4 Supervisor, Tom Arnold, Glenn County District 3 Supervisor, Justin Gibbs, Glenn County Sheriff, Jack Sparkman, Doug Ross
b. City Council Committee Appointments
Action: Council appointed Vice Mayor Vodden to the Finance committee, Councilmember Hofhenke as the Primary for the Regional Transit committee, and Councilmember Sprague to the Glenn County Waste Management Regional Agency, Regional Transit committee, and Transportation Commission alternate.
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WILLOWS CITY COUNCIL
9. COMMENTS & REPORTS
a. City Council Correspondence
b. City Council Comments & Reports
c. City Manager’s Report
10. CLOSED SESSION
a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (§ 54957)
Title: City Manager
Action: No action taken.
11. ADJOURNMENT – 10:44 PM
Dated: July 25, 2023
Amos Hoover, City Clerk
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Agenda Item #5c.
_____________________________________________________________________ Date: August 8, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers
From: Amos Hoover, City Clerk
Marti Brown, City Manager
Subject: Street Banner Program Review
Recommendation:
Consider and approve the local not-for-profit organization requests from VFW Post 1770, VFW Auxiliary to Post 1770, the Willows Lions Club, and the Willows Car and Bike Association to issue banners under the Street Banner Program.
Rationale for Recommendation:
The organizations that have applied for the banner program have demonstrated their desire to participate in the banner program, and the services they continually provide to the residents of the City of Willows are representative of the spirit of the local community and are excellent candidates for participation in the program.
Background:
At the January 18, 2023, Planning Commission meeting and by the direction of Council, Staff requested that the Planning Commission recommend additional banner assignments to the City Council, including two CGI Design recommendations – the Willows Fire Department and the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office. However, the Planning Commission has recommended eight nonprofit organizations for the Street Banner Program.
At the 14 February City Council meeting, the Council directed staff to openly solicit applications from non-profit groups to demonstrate their desire to have a banner in lieu of designating specific organizations. So far to date, four organizations have submitted applications: VFW Post 1770, VFW Auxiliary to Post 1770, the Willows Lions Club, and the Willows Car and Bike Association.
Discussion & Analysis:
There are a total of eight remaining banners that have yet to be sponsored. Approving these applications will leave four remaining locations that could potentially be filled by another round 1919
Agenda Item #5c.
of solicitations from non-profit organizations or a push for additional sponsorships by local businesses.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no cost associated with this recommendation other than staff time. CGI Digital has established this program at no cost to the City and via business sponsorship.
Attachment:
Attachment 1: Non-Profit Banner Program Applications
2020
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2525
PUBLIC HEARING
2626
GLENN COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
Gary Hansen, City of Willows, Chair 225 N. Tehama Street Mardy Thomas Bruce Roundy, City of Orland, Vice Chair Willows, California 95988 Executive Director Jim Yoder, County of Glenn
Tom Arnold, County of Glenn
Matt Romano, City of Orland (530) 934-6540
Rick Beale, Public Member, County of Glenn FAX (530) 934-6103 Monica Rossman, County of Glenn (Alternate) [email protected] Vacant, City of Willows (Alternate)
A Regional Transportation Planning Agency Serving the County of Glenn and the Cities of Willows and Orland
WILLOWS CITY COUNCIL
BOARD REPORT
August 8, 2023
Submitted on behalf of the Glenn County Transportation Commission
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Prior to allocating Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds, the Glenn County Transportation Commission, acting as the transportation planning agency, is required to hold a minimum of one public hearing to receive comments on unmet transit needs that may exist and that might be reasonable to meet. This is one of four public hearings being held; the other three are to be held before the City Council of Willows, the Glenn County Board of Supervisors and the Glenn County Transportation Commission.
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Conduct public hearing to receive public comment on Unmet Transit Needs in Glenn County and forward comments to the Glenn County Transportation Commission for consideration.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND:
In 1971, the California Legislature enacted the Transportation Development Act (TDA) to ensure “the efficient and orderly movement of people and goods in the urban areas of the state.” The TDA provides two funding sources: the Local Transportation fund (LTF), a ¼-cent general sales tax collected statewide and the State Transit Assistance fund (STA) which is now derived from an excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel.
TDA recognizes that rural counties have different transportation needs. Counties with a population under 500,000 as of the 1970 Census may use LTF funding for transit and local streets and roads provided that certain conditions are met first.
The TDA, Statutes and Administrative Code of Regulations, requires specific actions on the part of local transportation planning agencies. One of these requirements (Section 99401.5) is that the Local Transportation Commission (LTC) explicitly define the phrases "Unmet Transit Needs" and "Needs that are Reasonable to Meet" in terms of local conditions, and that these definitions be documented by resolution or within the agency's minutes. Definitions have been developed to both comply with legislative mandates and be responsive to actual community need within the TDA funding guidelines.
Agenda Item #6a.
2727
Orland City Council
August 1, 2023
2 Under TDA direction (Section 99401.5 (c)), the LTC has the authority to identify the unmet transit needs of their jurisdiction and those needs that are considered reasonable to meet. Staff has determined, through contact with Caltrans representatives, that clear and comprehensive definitions are helpful in ensuring clarity in this annual process. With the above in mind, the following discussion is offered:
An Unmet Transit Need can be found to exist when there is any identifiable group within the population that has no dependable and/or affordable access to community employment, medical, commercial, public, or social services. Transit needs are not static--they can fluctuate with such variables as unemployment, population demographics, land use and circulation patterns, and variations in the local economy. Because of this, transportation needs are annually re-evaluated and revised as necessary.
It was through this process that the need for a public transportation system was identified and implemented, which is Glenn Ride. Glenn Ride has been in operation for 25 years with ridership growing 203% since its beginning in 1998.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
An unmet transportation need (as opposed to a desire) has, for purposes of our definition, two components:
1) A trip destination that provides a necessity of life, and 2) a physical or financial obstacle between the individual and the necessary destination, which the individual is unable to overcome.
Necessary trip purposes may be defined as follows:
a) to obtain or maintain employment;
b) to obtain non-emergency medical and/or dental care;
c) shopping for necessities of life;
d) to obtain social services such as health care, government funded nutrition programs, sheltered workshops teaching employable skills, County welfare programs, and education programs for physically and/or mentally handicapped individuals; and
e) to obtain education
f) for the maintenance of life, health, physical and mental well-being The population groups with the greatest inferred needs are the very young, the handicapped, the economically disadvantaged, and the elderly. There may be considerable overlap among these groups; for instance, many of the elderly may be both economically disadvantaged and handicapped. However, it is not to be implied that all, or even most of these people are transportation-disadvantaged. The aspects described simply identify sub-groups of the population that may tend to contain a disproportionately large number of people with transportation difficulties (in contrast to the general population).
An identified transportation need can be reasonably met by determining whether or not a transportation service can meet established need and meet the criteria found in the Transportation Development Act. 2828
Orland City Council
August 1, 2023
3 This requires a cost-benefit analysis and feasibility study of alternative transit systems compared with existing service, level of performance, and cost. In any event, the cost of any transit system cannot exceed the apportionment for the jurisdiction providing or supporting the service.
Attached are the Glenn County adopted definitions of “Unmet Transit Needs” and “Needs that are Reasonable to Meet”. The Glenn County Transportation Commission and Regional Transit Committee/Glenn Transit Service aim to meet as many if not all transportation needs for County residents, and currently offers several services to address these needs, such as follows.
Glenn Ride is a public transit system that provides transportation services to the general public—there are no barriers to entry or restrictions, except payment of fare. Glenn Ride has been in operation since August 1998 and experienced consistent ridership growth until the COVID-19 pandemic. Though Glenn Ride has continued to meet its required fare box return, as mandated by the Transportation Development Act, limited services and safety measure mandates during the pandemic significantly decreased ridership numbers, though numbers have been steadily recovering and increased by almost 7% this last fiscal year.
Glenn Transit also operates a specialized paratransit program known as Dial-A-Ride. The program operates within 1-1/2 mile radius of the respective city halls of Orland and Willows, and to the Cannella/Huggins Drive area, Leisure Mobile Home Park, east of Orland, and the Willows Mobile Home Park, west of Willows. Individuals qualifying are those 60 years of age and older, permanently disabled, low-income social service assisted or low-income non-social service assisted (income guidelines are provided on the transit card application required for service). Transportation is door-to-door to each requested destination.
Glenn Transit also provides non-emergency medical transportation to qualifying Glenn County residents through its Volunteer Medical Transportation program. Volunteer drivers from the community provide transportation to individuals for medical appointments. Qualifying individuals are those 60 years of age and older, permanently disabled, low income social service assisted or low income non-social service assisted.
The GCTC has requested this time and advertised this meeting as an opportunity for residents in the community to provide input on transit needs within the Glenn County region. 2929
1 Glenn County--Unmet Transit Needs Definition
I. UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS
2023-2024
For the purposes of allocating Transportation Development Act funds, an "Unmet Transit Need" is hereby recognized by the Glenn County Transportation Commission (GCTC) if any one or combination of the following criteria is found to exist:
1. Transportation needs identified by the GCTC which are desirable, but have not yet been implemented or addressed.
2. Transportation needs identified by the GCTC which have significant support, but have not yet been implemented or addressed.
3. Transportation needs identified through the public hearing process, whether delivered in writing or public testimony.
4. Those transit needs which, through transit needs studies or other methods approved by the Commission, are included by the Commission in the Regional Transportation Plan for Glenn County and have been designated a high need to be implemented or funded.
The above criteria for determining "Unmet Transit Needs" is further supplemented by the following guidelines:
1. A population group must have been defined and located which, by reason of age, physical or mental impairment, economic disadvantage, or a combination of these, has no reliable or accessible transportation for necessary trips. The size and location of the group must be such that the feasibility of providing service shall meet the criteria as defined as reasonable to meet.
2. Transit needs are to be determined in light of the following definition of "Necessary trips":
A. A trip destination that provides a necessity of life, and presence of a physical or financial obstacle between the individual and the necessary designation, which the individual is unable to overcome. Necessary trip purposes may be defined as follows:
a) to obtain or maintain employment;
b) to obtain non-emergency medical and/or dental care;
c) shopping for necessities of life;
d) to obtain social services such as health care, government funded nutrition programs, sheltered workshops teaching employable skills, County welfare programs, and education programs for physically and/or mentally handicapped individuals;
e) to obtain education; and
f) for the maintenance of life, health, physical and mental well-being. 3030
2 Glenn County--Unmet Transit Needs Definition
3. Unmet transit needs specifically exclude:
A. Trips for social events, recreational, or religious purposes are not considered as necessary. It shall be the policy of the GCTC, however, to serve these desires if they can be served concurrently within the limits of other defined "transit needs".
B. Individuals requiring the assistance of a medical attendant (in addition to the vehicle driver) are not considered as needing a transportation service and shall be deemed to be more properly served by a medical emergency vehicle.
C. Trips of less than one mile in length made by individuals who are not elderly or disabled are not considered as "transit needs". An able-bodied person can walk this distance in a reasonable amount of time without undue physical strain. Provisions for the elderly and disabled are made through the existing dial-a-ride/paratransit system.
D. Minor operational improvements or changes, involving issues such as bus stops, schedules, and minor route changes.
E. Improvements funded or scheduled for implementation in the following fiscal year.
F. Future transportation needs.
G. Trips that would duplicate transportation services to the general public. 3131
3 Glenn County--Unmet Transit Needs Definition
II. REASONABLE TO MEET
2023/2024
An "Unmet Transit Need" identified under the above criteria and guidelines, as it pertains to the allocation of Transportation Development Act funds, may be found "Reasonable to Meet" only if the following conditions and standards of performance prevail:
Cost Effectiveness: 1) The new, expanded or revised transit service would not cause the responsible operator or service claimant to incur expenses in excess of the maximum allocation of Transportation Development Act Funds. 2) The new expanded or revised transit service would allow the responsible operator or service claimant to meet minimum state subsidy fare box and revenue ratios.
Community Acceptance: A significant level of support exists for the public subsidy of transit service designed to address the unmet transit need in Glenn County including, but not limited to, support from public groups and community meetings reflecting a public commitment to public transit.
Equity: The new, expanded or revised transit service is needed by, and will benefit, either the general public or the elderly and disabled population as a whole. Transit service cannot be provided for a specific subset of these groups.
Operational Feasibility: The new, expanded, or revised transit service must be safe to operate and there must be adequate roadways and turnouts for transit vehicles.
Financial Feasibility: 1) Supporting data indicates a sufficient ridership potential exists for the new, expanded or revised transit service. 2) Potential providers are available to implement the service.
ADA Conformity: The new, expanded, or revised transit service, conforming to the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act, will not impose an undue financial burden on the transit operator or claimant if complementary paratransit services are subsequently required.
System Impact: The new, expanded, or revised transit service will not result in a negative impact on the overall system’s measures of efficiency and effectiveness, such as average passenger load per hour, average cost per passenger per hour, passengers per mile, cost per mile, and cost per hour.
Impact Limits: 1) Transit services designed or intended to address an unmet transit need shall, in all cases, provide coordination efforts with transit services currently provided, either publicly or privately, and transit services shall not duplicate services currently or hereafter provided either publicly or privately. 2) No transit need shall be determined reasonable to meet until it has been reviewed and evaluated to the satisfaction of and obtained subsequent approval from the Glenn County Transportation Commission. 3232
COMMENTS AND
REPORTS
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CLOSED SESSION
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