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 23, 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: Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmember Busby, Councilmember Hansen, and Councilmember Pride
Councilmembers Absent: Mayor Hutson
4. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA
Item #8a was continued to the July 14, 2026 City Council Meeting.
Item #8b was moved to be heard immediately following the consent calendar and prior to Public Hearing item 7a.
5. CEREMONIAL
a. Proclamation – National Family Owned and Operated Business Day - received by Jessica Tapia, Willows Chamber of Commerce.
b. Proclamation – National Food Truck Day - received by Jessica Tapia, Willows Chamber of Commerce.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT & CONSENT CALENDAR FORUM
Public Comments
Written Public Comment #1: Jim Bettencourt
a. Register Approval
Action: Approved general checking, payroll, and direct deposit check registers. b. Minutes Approval
Action: Approved the minutes of the June 9, 2026, City Council Meeting. c. FY 2026–27 Appropriations Limit
Action: Adopted Resolution 24-2026 establishing the FY 2026-27 Appropriations Limit for the City of Willows.
d. November 2026 General Municipal Election
2 Action: Adopted Resolution FY 25-2026 calling for and giving notice of a General Municipal Election to be consolidated with the Statewide General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the election of two City Council Members; requesting the County of Glenn approve said consolidation; requesting the County render specified election services for such election; and setting forth regulations for candidate statements.
Motion to approve consent calendar items #6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d as presented.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Busby Yes: Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: Mayor Hutson
8. DISCUSSION & ACTION CALENDAR
b. Contract for Private Security (Heard out of order)
Action: No action was taken because no motion was made.
Public Comments:
Public Comment #1: Julia Storz
Public Comment #2: Danielle Montoya
Public Comment #3: Jim Bettencourt
Public Comment #4: Maria Ehorn
Public Comment #5: Jered Shipley
Public Comment #6: Janet Fruit
Public Comment #7: Michelle Knight
Public Comment #8: Carol McCoy
Public Comment #9: Joyce Ksander
Public Comment #10: Carl Walter
Public Comment #11: Gina Taylor
Public Comment #12: Kathy Orendorff
Public Comment #13: Victoria Shipley – read by City Clerk Public Comment #14: Staci Roque
Public Comment #15: Marlena Sparkman
Public Comment #16: Ken Alves
Public Comment #17: Dan Gupton
Public Comment #18: Dog Ross
Public Comment #19: Birdy Phanthavong
Public Comment #20: Jesse
Public Comment #21: Forrest Sprague – read by Vice Mayor Thomas Public Comment #22: Roxanne Reed – read by Vice Mayor Thomas Public Comment #23: Maria Ehorn
Public Comment #24: Emma Flynn
Public Comment #25: Michelle Knight
3 Public Comment #26: Zack Lopeteguy
Public Comment #27: Marlena Sparkman
7. PUBLIC HEARING
a. FY 2025 – 2029 Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Action: Conducted a public hearing and approved Resolution 26-2026 adopting the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2025-2029.
Public Hearing Open: 8:30 PM, Closed 8:31 PM
Roll Call Vote
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Pride Yes: Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: Mayor Hutson
Passed: 4-0
b. Landscaping and Lighting Special Assessment District – Authorization Levy Assessments Action: Conducted the required public protest hearing and adopted Resolution 27-2026 approving the Engineer’s Report as filed, confirming the assessment diagram and amounts as set forth therein and authorizing the levy and collection of assessments for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
Public Hearing Open: 8:35 PM, Closed 8:36 PM
Roll Call Vote
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Pride/Councilmember Busby Yes: Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: Mayor Hutson
Passed: 4-0
c. Adoption of Cannabis Business Tax Ordinance and Election Resolutions Action: Conducted a public hearing; adopted by title only and waived the second 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 3, 2026, General Municipal Election; and adopted Resolution 28- 2026 establishing November 3, 2026 as the date for a General Election on a proposed ballot measure seeking voter approval of a General Business Tax on Cannabis Businesses operating in the City of Willows.
Public Hearing Open: 8:40 PM, Closed 8:41 PM
Roll Call Vote
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Hansen/Councilmember Busby 4 Yes: Vice Mayor Thomas, Councilmembers Busby, Hansen, and Pride No: None
Absent: Mayor Hutson
Passed: 4-0
8. DISCUSSION & ACTION CALENDAR (continued)
a. Amend Chapter 2.70 – Library of the Willows Municipal Code Action: This item was continued to the July 14, 2026, City Council Meeting.
9. COMMENTS AND REPORTS
a. Council Correspondence
Councilmembers reported receiving emails regarding Police Services. b. City Council Comments & Reports
Councilmember Pride requested an update on the Sycamore Park and Pool grant. City Manager Marti Brown provided an update.
Councilmembers reported on various community events and meetings attended. c. City Manager’s Report
10. CLOSED SESSION – 8:53 PM
a. Conference With Legal Counsel - Initiation of Litigation (54956.9(d)(4)) (one case) Report Out: Council met and was provided information on current litigation. (1 case) Name of Case: City of Willows v. County of Glenn, et al., Glenn County Superior Court Case No. 26CV00193
11. ADJOURNMENT – 9:55 PM
______________________________
Karleen Price, City Clerk