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
June 9, 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 – National Police Week
b. Proclamation – National Go Skateboarding Day
6. PUBLIC COMMENT & CONSENT CALENDAR FORUM
Public Comments
Public Comment #1: Joantha Guthrie, Waste Management Public Sector Manager a. Register Approval
Action: Approved general checking, payroll, and direct deposit check registers. b. Minutes Approval
Action: Approved the minutes of May 19, 2026, Special Joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting, and the May 26, 2026, City Council Meeting. c. Solid Waste Management Parcel Fee
Action: Adopted Resolution 18-2026 extending service charges imposed on improved real property within the incorporated area of the City of Willows for the use of and/or ability to use the Glenn County Solid Waste System during Fiscal Year 2026-27. d. Proposed Cannabis Business Ordinance
Action: Introduced by title only and waived the first reading of the text of an ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA ADDING CHAPTER 3.12 (CANNABIS BUSINESS TAX) TO TITLE 3 OF THE WILLOWS MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING A TAX ON CANNABIS BUSINESS ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE CITY,” subject to voter approval at the November 2 3, 2026, General Municipal Election, and scheduled a public hearing for the second reading and adoption of the Ordinance at the June 23, 2026, City Council meeting. e. Staffing and Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Application Action: Adopted Resolution 19-2026, authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to submit an application for Staffing and Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant funding, using the services of JMCM Consulting, to fund the hiring of additional firefighters. f. Harris & Associates Contract Extension
Action: Approved a 60-day extension of the Harris & Associates Title 18 (Zoning) Municipal Code Update completion date from June 30, 2026, to August 29, 2026, and authorized the City Manager to execute a contract amendment.
g. Prentice Long, PC: New Contract for the Municipal Code Update Project Action: Item was continued to a future City Council meeting. h. Sponsorship of the Willows 4th of July Fireworks Show Event Action: Approved a $1000 sponsorship of the 2026 Willows 4th of July Fireworks Show. i. FY 2025–26 Appropriations Limit
Action: Adopted Resolution 20-2026 establishing the FY 2025-26 Appropriations Limit for the City of Willows.
Item #6g was pulled for discussion
Motion to approve consent calendar items #6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6h, and 6i as presented.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Busby Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
Motion to continue Item #6g to a future meeting.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Pride/Councilmember Busby Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
7. PUBLIC HEARING
a. AB 2561 Status of Vacancies
Action: Received presentation and held the annual public hearing on the status of vacant positions in city employment and recruitment strategies.
Public Hearing Open: 6:28 PM, Closed 6:29 PM
3 8. DISCUSSION & ACTION CALENDAR
a. FY 2026-27 Budget Approval
Action: Approved Resolution 21-2026 adopting the FY 2026-27 Budget.
Public Comments
Public Comment #1: Jan Smith
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Busby Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
b. Engine 2 Lease Agreement: Community Leasing Partners Action: Adopted Resolution 22-2026 authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to enter into a lease agreement with Community Leasing Partners for the purchase and outfitting of a new Type 1 fire engine for a term of ten (10) years.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Pride Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
c. Engine 2 Purchase Contract: Golden State Fire Apparatus Action: Adopted Resolution 23-2026, authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to execute a contract with Golden State Fire Apparatus to purchase a new Pierce Enforcer PUC Type 1 Fire Engine in the amount of $1,328,229.13.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Busby Yes: Mayor Hutson, Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: None
9. COMMENTS AND REPORTS
a. Council Correspondence
b. City Council Comments & Reports
Councilmembers reported on various community events and meetings attended.
Councilmember Pride requested a future agenda item regarding using CDBG program income to establish a facility for the Willows Teen Center (501 (c) (non-profit). c. City Manager’s Report
10. CLOSED SESSION – 7:29 PM
4 a. Conference With Legal Counsel - Initiation of Litigation (54956.9(d)(4)) (one case) Report Out: Discussion was held; no reportable action was taken. b. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (§ 54957)
Title: City Manager
Report Out: Discussion was held; no reportable action was taken.
11. ADJOURNMENT – 8:30 PM
______________________________
Karleen Price, City Clerk