111E. COMMERCIAL STREET WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490 (707)459-46017 TEL (707)459-1562FAX  WILLITS  WILLITS CITY COUNCIL  MINUTES  WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2024  Mayor Rodriguez called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30 p.m., in Council Roll Call: Councimembers Madge Strong, Larry Stranske, Greta Kanne, Vice Mayor Gerardo Also present were staff members: Brian Bender, City Manager; Cathy Moorhead, Assistant City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Davey Bowles, Building Official; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Scott Herman, Utilities Superintendent; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk.  Chambers. The meeting was preceded by the pledge tot the flag. Gonzalez and Mayor Saprina Rodriguez were present.  City Manager Bender requested continuation of item 9d, Presentation and Possible Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget, until the Council Meeting of August 28, 2024. Moved by Rodnguez/seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to table item 9d, Presentation and Possible Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget, until the  August 28, 2024 meeting. 2. Public Communications  David Partch extended an invitation to the council to an event highlighting Deveaux Robin Leler asked Council to allow volunteers to help with creating the Tree Ordinance. David Pollin asked council to pass an ordinance that would allow property owners the Mark Walker expressed concern over who will take liability over trees if they fall and damage properties or people, and the train cars that are on Railroad Avenue that have  Baker, the First Poet Laureate of Mendocino County. right to vote on potential annexation of their property.  become a public nuisance.  3. Public Matters  a. Presentation by the FFA of their 2024 Holiday Light upt the Park Event.  Rex Davidson, Willits FFA, made the Council aware oft the Holiday Light upt the Park Event. Mayor Rodriguez and' Vice Mayor Gonzalez both expressed their thanks to the Willits FFA b. Noticed Public Hearing Conduct Annual Review of Rates and Charges for Various City Services and Adopt the Accompanying: Resolution Approving Changes in Certain City Fees  for organizing this event.  and Charges, Effective September 1, 2024.  Page 1 of4    Public Comment: Banning Galten, airport hangar tenant, expressed concern over the amount of the projected increase of the hangar rent. Mr. Galten stated that they are not against an increase but would like it to be $32 and not the suggested $76. City Manager Bender reported that Assistant City Manager Moorhead contacted multiple Municipal Airports to inquire about their fees to help come up with a comparable increase. Moved by GonzalezSeconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-39approving city fees and charges effective September 1, 2024.  4. Enactment of Ordinances None presented. 5. Consent Calendar a. City Council Minutes: July 24, 2024. Mendocino County.  The following item(s) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows:  b. Adoption of Resolution Changing the Authorized Signatures for the City of Willits Checking Account, Payroll Account, and Safe Deposit Box at Savings Bank of Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Specific City Staff to Transfer Funds Between the Local Agency Investment Fund and Savings Bank of Mendocino County. Moved by Strong/Seconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve  Consent Calendar item(s) (a,b,c). 6. Monthly Activity Reports a. None presented. None presented.  Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest.  7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities 8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations  a. Discussion and Possible Approval of the First Amendment tot the Scout Hut Lease dated  April 15, 2016. Public Comment:  Rich Ford, Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 42, thanked the City Staff and Council for working with the Scouts to ensure that the changes were made to the Scout Hut Nicole Caldwell spoke in support of the Scout Hut Lease and commented that the Scout Hut has been the Scout Hut for many years and needs to stay the Scout Hut. Moved by SGonzalezSeconded by Stranske and carried unanimously to approve the First Amendment to the City of Willits Scout Hut Lease Dated April 15, 2016.  Lease.  b. Verbal Reports =  City Manager Bender reported that due to the repeated costly vandalism incidents at Bud Snider and Rec Grove Parks, until new doors and locks could be installed the bathrooms would be closed each day at 2:30 pm, when Parks Staff leave for the Councilmember Kanne inquired if there could be a volunteer group that may help by  day.  locking the bathroom doors in the evening.  Willits City Council Minutes of August 14, 2024  Page 2of4    Public Comment:  Mark Walker spoke in support of security cameras as ways to discovering who the Bear Kamoroff and Charles Cully volunteered to lock the restroom doors in the  vandals may be. evenings at the parks.  9. Department Recommendations (Action Items)  a. Presentation of Proposed Park Improvements Located within Bud Snider = City Park  Funded by the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP). the proposed park improvements within Bud Snider Park. improvements and not an item up for discussion by Council. at the proposed location on the east side oft the park.  Community Development Director Duley presented a power point presentation on Due to conflicts of interest this was a presentation of the proposed park Susan Peers, neighbor of Bud Snyder Park, spoke against the pavilion being placed Michael Foley, Manager of the Willits Farmers Market, requested that Famers Market vendors be able to park onto the pavilion and set up behind their vehicles. Current design is not big enough. Would like to allow some vendors on the State Bear Kamoroff suggested that the pavilion be placed right next to State Street, it Mark Walker gave a brief history of the park and suggested that the play area be moved to the southeast corner of the park and the pavilion be placed in the north b. Discussion and Possible Adoption of Resolution of Acceptance and Dedication of the Moved by Strong/Seconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-42to: accept the Frank R. Howard Foundation offer of dedication of the Haehl Creek Trail together with all improvements, fixtures and amenities Adoption of a Resolution of a Project Planned for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 with Funding Moved by Gonzalez/Seconded by Kanne and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2024-43 identifying a project planned for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 with funding from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Revenues. d. Presentation and Possible Adoption of Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Budget.  Public Comment:  Street side to back up over the wood chips and set up.  would take up a lot of usable space.  corner of the park. Improved Haehl Creek Trail.  located thereon.  from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account Revenues.  Tabled until the August 28, 2024 City Council meeting.  10. Department Monthly Reports - (presented at the second meeting of each month).  a. None presented. No action taken. Councimember Kanne  11. City Council Announcements. Communications and Reports  Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) Surface transportation block grant  for 24/25 was approved, $150,000 will go to' Willits.  Willits City Council Minutes ofA August 14, 2024  Page 3 of4    Joining the Rual Regent Energy Network (RREN).Will be able to offer regional Mendocino Solid Waste Management Authority (MSWMA)- Councimember Strong iso concerned about the lack oft transparency with the budget. ATipping fee increase, from $6.50 to $9.50 was approved at the August meeting. Next meeting is in October. There will be a Hazmobile event September 5th and 6th in Willits. Sonoma Clean Power - Most interesting discussion was on Geo Zones. Geo Zones have a low impact ont the environment and lowers the cost of electricity.  rebates for energy improvements.  Councimember Strong  Councimember Stranske  Water/Wastewater Committee = Meets 8/15/2024  The Chamber of Commerce City Wide Yard Sale was successful, for everyone that participated they received a coupon for taking al load to the transfer station.  Public Comment: None presented.  No action taken. 12. Good & Welfare  Councimember Strong  Willits Economic Localization (WELL) has reactivated with new members. August 24+ there will be a Garden Open house at the Willits Integrated Service Center (WISC). WELL is also doing fiscal sponsorships for the Willits Shelter Action Group. Considering sponsorship of the Wellness Collective. Working with the Renewable Energy Development Institute (REDI) to assist low income with utilities and housing improvements. Having a Candidates forum for City Council Election School is opening up on August 19th, please be mindful and patient with the traffic. Announced that today, August 14th, was the closing period for turning in paperwork torun for City Council, there were four Candidates that turned in paperwork.  Sponsored the group that has been singing int town.  and School Board Election on October 6th.  Councimember Gonzalez City Clerk Pedersen  13. Closed Session Notice None 14. Adjournment  Mayor Rodriguez declared the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.  SAPRINA RODRIGUEZ, City Council for the City of Willits    ATTEST:  olotouen DELORES PEDERSEN City Clerk  Willits City Council Minutes of August 14, 2024  Page 4of4