City Council
Evan Hutson, Mayor
Richard Thomas, Vice Mayor
Gary Hansen, Council Member
Lorri Pride, Council Member
Matt Busby, Council Member
City Manager
Marti Brown
City Clerk
Karleen Price
Willows City Council
Regular Meeting
Action Minutes
February 24, 2026
Willows City Hall
6:00 PM
201 North Lassen Street
Willows, CA 95988
(530) 934-7041
1. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 PM
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmember Busby, Councilmember Pride. Councilmember Hansen participated remotely pursuant to Gov. Code § 54953.8.3(c)(6).
Councilmembers Absent: None
4. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
5. PUBLIC COMMENT & CONSENT CALENDAR FORUM
a. Register Approval
Action: Approved general checking, payroll, and direct deposit check registers. b. Minutes Approval
Action: Approved the minutes of the February 10, 2026, City Council Meeting. c. Policy Update: Library Rules of Conduct
Action: Approved the updated Library Policy Manual Rules of Conduct. d. Fiscal Year 2026-27 Landscaping and Lighting Special Assessment District Action: Adopted Resolution 06-2026 appointing DCCM, formerly Coastland Civil Engineering, as the Engineer of Work for the City of Willows Landscaping and Lighting Special Assessment District; and directed the preparation of the Annual Engineer's Report for FY 2026-27. e. Proposition 218 Sewer Rate Study
Action: Adopted Resolution 07-2026 authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with LT Municipal Consultants (LTMC) in an amount not to exceed $39,780 to provide consultant services for the City’s upcoming Proposition 218 Sewer Rate Study.
Motion to approve items #5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, and 5e as presented.
Roll Call
Moved/Seconded: Vice Mayor Thomas/Councilmember Busby
2 Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmember Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
6. DISCUSSION & ACTION CALENDAR
a. Willows Little League Association: Field Use Fees for Practice Action: Reviewed and discussed the Willows Little League Association’s request to waive and/or reduce its fees for baseball field use during practice and directed staff to return to Council with a recommendation at the March 10, 2026, City Council meeting. b. Draft FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Action: Reviewed the draft FY 2025-2029 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), provided feedback, and directed staff to present the final version of the CIP at a future Council Public Hearing.
c. 802 Tamarack Street: Confirm Cost of Abatement
Action: Approved Resolution 08-2026 confirming the costs of abatement for 802 Tamarack, APN 005-272-002, and levying said costs as a lien against the property.
Roll Call
Moved/Seconded: Vice Mayor Thomas/Councilmember Busby
Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmember Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
7. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Ordinance Amendment to Article III of Chapter 8.10 of the Willows Municipal Code Action: Adopted Ordinance 769-2026 titled “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WILLOWS AMENDING ARTICLE III OF CHAPTER 8.10 OF THE WILLOWS MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ABANDONED, WRECKED, DISMANTLED OR INOPERATIVE VEHICLES, “by title only and waived the full reading of the text.
Public Hearing Open 7:35 PM, Closed 7:35 PM
Roll Call
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Pride/Vice Mayor Thomas
Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmember Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
b. Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Master Fee Schedule Update
3 Action: Adopted Resolution 09-2026 establishing a schedule of fees and charges for City services and repealing previously adopted fees and charges for such services, with amendments to Exhibit A: Master Fee Schedule.
Public Hearing Open 7:58 PM, Closed 7:59 PM
Roll Call
Moved/Seconded: Vice Mayor Thomas/Councilmember Busby
Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmember Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
8. COMMENTS AND REPORTS
a. Council Correspondence
b. City Council Comments & Reports
Councilmembers reported on various community events and meetings attended.
Mayor Hutson announced that a Townhall Meeting with Stability Solutions LLC regarding the Transitional Housing & Community Support Program will be held on March 5, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Ark Center, 222 N. Butte Street, Willows.
c. City Manager’s Report
City Manager Marti Brown announced that a Caltrans coordination meeting will be held next week.
Ms. Brown reported that the Sycamore Park construction bid was received and that staff will return to Council with a recommendation.
9. CLOSED SESSION – 8:18 PM
a. Conference With Legal Counsel - Initiation of Litigation (54956.9(d)(4)) (one case) Report Out: Direction was given to initiate litigation. The action, defendants, and any other pertinent information that may be requested by other parties will be disclosed once action commences, unless that disclosure would jeopardize either the service of process or any settlement.
10. ADJOURNMENT – 8:34 PM
______________________________
Karleen Price, City Clerk