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
May 12, 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 Hansen, and Councilmember Pride
Councilmembers Absent: None
4. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
5. CEREMONIAL
a. Proclamation – American Cheese Month – received by Lucas Crowley, Yesenia Licea, Ruben Rangel, and Georgia Cruz of Masters Gallery Foods; and Holly Fortier of Sierra Nevada Cheese Company.
b. Proclamation – National Small Business Week – received by Jessica Tapia, Chamber of Commerce.
c. Proclamation – National Learn to Swim Day – received by Shane Roach, Willows HydroJets. d. Proclamation – Wildfire Awareness Month – received by Nathan Monck, Fire Chief. e. Proclamation – National Public Works Week – received by Joe Bettencourt, Community Development & Services Director.
6. 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 April 28, 2026, City Council Meeting and the April 30, 2026, Special Joint City Council & Planning Commission Meeting. c. Letter of Support: Glenn County Arts and Culture
Action: Approved a letter of support for Glenn County Arts and Culture. 2 d. Contract for Fire Services: Willows Rural Fire Protection District and the City of Willows Action: Approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Willows and the Willows Rural Fire Protection District (WRFPD), establishing updated terms for shared fire protection and administrative services totaling $491,094.80 from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031.
Public Comment #1: John Amaro, WRFD
e. Purchase of Library Computers
Action: Authorized the City Manager to purchase five (5) library computers in an amount not to exceed $7,000, with a future request to the Library Board of Trustees to reimburse the city for 50% of the cost using library trust funds.
Item #6d was pulled for discussion.
Motion to approve consent calendar items #6a, 6b, 6c, and 6e.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Pride/Vice Mayor Thomas
Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
Motion to approve item #6d as presented.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Pride Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
7. DISCUSSION & ACTION CALENDAR
a. Budget Workshop: FY 2026-27 Preliminary Budget Review Action: Received the presentation of the FY 2026-27 Preliminary Budget for the City’s General Fund and Sewer Fund and provided comments and direction to staff in preparation for the final budget approval process in June.
Vice Mayor Thomas proposed increasing Councilmember stipends from $250 to $500 per month and Planning Commission stipends from $50 to $100 per month. Staff was directed to bring the proposed stipend increases forward at the June 9, 2026 City Council meeting for consideration.
b. Willows Police Department & Community Facilities District Formation, Professional Services Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute professional services agreements with Wulff, Hansen & Co. (Municipal Advisor), Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth (Formation Counsel), and Webb Municipal Finance (Special Tax Consultant) for the formation of a Mello-Roos Community Facilities District (CFD) to fund the startup capital costs and ongoing operational costs of the 3 Willows Police Department (WPD); and provided direction to staff regarding the engagement of an elections consultant.
Moved/Seconded: Vice Mayor Thomas/Councilmember Hansen
Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
Staff were directed to bring forward a discussion to include the Fire Department component at a later date.
c. Proposition 218 Final Sewer Rate Study
Action: Received the presentation from LT Municipal Consultants and directed staff to initiate the Proposition 218 public hearing process.
Moved/Seconded: Vice Mayor Thomas/Councilmember Busby
Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
7. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Weed Abatement Declaration: Public Hearing, Protest
Action: Continued to the May 26, 2026, City Council Meeting.
8. COMMENTS AND REPORTS
a. Council Correspondence
Members of the Council received a letter from the Library Board of Trustees regarding ongoing requests for financial reports to be provided at Library Board Meetings. Staff was directed to place an item on a future agenda for discussion and possible action.
Mayor Hutson received a letter from Sentinel Transportation, LLC. b. City Council Comments & Reports
Councilmembers reported on various community events and meetings attended. c. City Manager’s Report
City Manager Marti Brown announced that Public Works Week will be celebrated with a Community Barbecue and Equipment Showcase on May 21, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Corporation Yard, 300 East Ash Street, and invited the public to attend.
9. CLOSED SESSION – 9:11 PM
a. Conference With Legal Counsel - Initiation of Litigation (54956.9(d)(4)) (one case) Report Out: Information received; no reportable action was taken. 4 a. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (§ 54957)
Title: City Manager
Report Out: No reportable action was taken.
10. ADJOURNMENT – 10:23 PM
______________________________
Karleen Price, City Clerk