111 E. COMMERCIAL STREET WILLITS, CALIFORNIA 95490 (707) 459-4601 TEL (707) 459-1562 FAX WILLITS WILLITS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2025 Mayor Allman called a regular meeting of the City Council to order at 6:30 p.m., in Council Chambers. The meeting was preceded by the pledge to the flag. Roll Call: Councilmembers Gerardo Gonzalez, Larry Stranske, Vice Mayor Matthew Alaniz and Mayor Tom Allman were present. Also present were staff members: Rodney Wilburn, Interim City Manager; Jim Lance, City Attorney; Dusty Duley, Community Development Director; Walter Kolon, Services and Facilities Director; Manuel Orozco, Finance Director; Mike Parish, Interim Police Chief; and Delores Pedersen, City Clerk. 2. Public Communications Melinda Clark expressed her gratitude for the lights that were installed in the parking lot on Wood Street. Ms. Clark also expressed concern over the decisions being made by the Federal Government and how it will affect Willits. 3. Public Matters a. Willits Chamber of Commerce Car and Bike Show Presentation. John Kvasnicka, Chamber of Commerce Volunteer and Barbie Svendsen, Chamber Coordinator, gave a presentation of the Willits Car and Bike Show scheduled for May 25th. Mayor Allman asked that Mr. Kvasnicka provide an overview of what is to be expected at the Car and Bike Show. > At 8:00 Main Street and portion of E. Commercial Street will be closed to vehicles and a detour will be set up. > The event starts at 10:00 am with the Pledge of Allegiance. Commercial and Main will be blocked by a Granite Semi Truck; a band will be on the truck playing music. > Bud Snider Park is the location for Mobile Merchandise Vendors. > The City of Willits Parking Lot is the location for Mobile Food Vendors. > Roots of Motive Power will have equipment on display. > Ms. Svendsen reported that there are currently 90 cars registered with an expectation that this will increase. Mobile Merchandise Vendors are not to be on Main Street as to not interfere with the Brick-and-Mortar businesses. There will be two bounce houses in Bud Snider Park and one in the Kids Zone parking lot as well as other activities. Page 1 of5 5 4. Enactment of Ordinances None presented. 5. Consent Calendar The following item(s) are recommended for approval or denial, as follows: a. City Council Minutes: i. April 23, 2025 b. Adoption of a Resolution Changing the Authorized Signatures for the City of Willits Checking Account, Payroll Account, and Safe Deposit Box at Savings Bank of Mendocino County. C. Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Specific City Staff to Transfer Funds Between the Local Agency Investment Fund and Savings Bank of Mendocino County. d. Discussion and Possible Grant of City Consent to Cal Fire's Proposed use of the Willits Rodeo Grounds as an Incident Base in the Event of a Fire Emergency. Mayor Allman pulled item 5d for further discussion. e. Approve a Resolution to Accept 2023 Pavement Preservation Project (Project #2023-07) and Authorize the Filing of the Notice of Completion. The Completed Project Totaled $482,765.50 Public Comment: None presented. Moved by AlanizSeconded by Gonzalez and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar item(s) (a-c & e). d. Discussion and Possible Grant of City Consent to Cal Fire's Proposed use of the Willits Rodeo Grounds as an Incident Base in the Event of a Fire Emergency. Public Comment: Dan Lowden inquired if there was an alternate location for CalFire to use if the Rodeo Grounds cannot be used by CalFire from June 1st until after July 4th. Marcy Barry responded that if there were an emergency, Frontier Days would not happen. If Willits is threatened by a fire, Frontier Days would allow CalFire to move into the Rodeo Grounds in hopes that Willits would be saved from any kind of fire disaster. Mr. Kolon added that the City is entering into a contract with CalFire for use of the Willits Airport for air and some ground operations. The amount would be $1,000 a day due to the fact that the City does not have jet fuel at the airport. Helen Sims inquired if the contract between the City and Frontier Days allows for Frontier Days to subcontract the property to anyone they want. Jim Lance, City Attorney, explained that the lease provides that Willits Frontier Days shall not sublet or allow others to use the facility without prior written permission from the City, "which permission shall not be unreasonably withheld". Moved by Alaniz/Seconded by Stranske to approve the attached resolution approving CalFire's proposal to use the Willits Rodeo Grounds as an incident base in the event of a local emergency wildfire event on the condition that any payments made by CalFire shall go to Willits Frontier Days Organization for the first ten days and then split with the City of Willits equally every day over the initial ten days. Additionally, and specifically the City will create a reserve account with the portion of any funds the City receives, and these Willits City Council Minutes of May 14, 2025 Page 2 of 5 funds will be used for future repairs or needs of the Rodeo Grounds, as well as recommend the City Manager provide notice of such conditional approval to both CalFire and the Willits Frontier Days Organization. 6. Monthly Activity Reports Matters that do not require action by the City Council but are of public interest. None presented. a. Accounts Payable Activity Report: April 2025. b. Building Permit Activity Report: April 2025. C. Business License Activity Report: April 2025. Public Comment: None presented. 7. Commissions, Agencies and Authorities None presented. 8. City Manager Reports and Recommendations a. Rod Wilburn, Interim City Manager, reported that his first 3 weeks have been enjoyable and very pleasant. He has been made to feel welcome and enjoys working with City staff. Public Comment: None presented. 9. Department Recommendations (Action Items) a. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Willits Chamber of Commerce Car and Bike Show and Road Closures for May 25th. Jim Lance, City Attorney, pointed out that the Vehicle Code (VC) mentioned in the Resolution is not correct. It should be VC 21101(e) not VC 21101(a). Councilmember Gonzalez requested that an Ordinance be planned for the future to make the process of road closures for events easier. Public Comment: Moved by GonzalezSeconded by Alaniz and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2025-23 approving the Willits Chamber of Commerce Car and Bike Show and road closures on May 25, 2025. b. Discussion of Future Applications for Funding under the Community Development Block Grant Program. Dusty Duley, Community Development Director and Jeff Lucas of Community Development Services, presented a Power Point Presentation on the Block Grant Opportunities. Public Comment: Raghda Zacharia inquired if the Community Development Block Grant could be used by startup businesses or is this just for Non-Profit Organizations. Mayor Allman responded that yes, the Grant could be used by new and existing businesses. John Kvasnicka, Willits Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator, stated that the previous grant program benefitted a lot of the local ousinesses in Willits City Council Minutes ofl May 14, 2025 Page 3 of 5 Willits, with the forgivable loans. This allowed businesses to stay in operation. If the forgivable loan program were to be implemented again it would have the same effect. Mayor Allman spoke in support of the Little Lake Grange (Grange) being a recipient of a Community Development Block Grant. Richard Jergenson, Grange Member, explained that when the Grange discovered asbestos in the building, they used the money they had set aside for a new roof to have the asbestos removed. If the Grange becomes a recipient of a Community Development Block Grant, the funds will be used to put a new roof on the building. This will allow the Grange to be able to have more events and more start up business owners would be able to use the commercial kitchen. Currently there is a large variety of businesses that operate out the Grange. Robert Smith, Little Lake Grange President. Mr. Smith explained that the Grange has struggled to donate back to the community due to the condition of the roof on the building and the need to save the money to repair it. Mr. Smith stated that if the Grange became a recipient of the Community Development Block Grant, it would allow them to continue the good work of the Grange in the Willits Community. 10. City Council Announcements, Communications and Reports Councilmember Gonzalez League of California Cities/Redwood Empire Division - Meets May 16th. Mayor Allman Food Truck AdHoc Committee Mayor Allman expressed his gratitude to the Community Development Staff for working with him and Vice Mayor Alaniz on this committee. There will be a stakeholder meeting within the next three weeks to discuss the possibility of a six-month trial run where one day of the week food trucks would be allowed to set up around Snider Park. Vice Mayor Alaniz Mendocino Transit Authority (MTA)- April's meeting was cancelled. Public Comment: None presented. No action taken. 11. Good & Welfare Delores Pedersen, City Clerk, announced that her son Cody would be graduating from Fresno State, Summa Cum Laude on Friday, May 16, 2025. Public Comment: None presented. 12. Closed Session Notice a. Conference with Legal Counsel - existing litigation (CA Govt. Code $54956.9 (d)(1)); in the matter of Craig Anthony Gelber VS City of Willits, et al, Case No. 3- 23-CV-00681-JSC, United States District Court for the Northern California District. Closed session was postponed until the next City Council Meeting by Jim Lance, City Attorney. 14. Adjournment Willits City Council Minutes of May 14, 2025 Page 4 of 5 Mayor Allman declared the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. For more information on the May 14, 2025 Willits City Council Meeting please view the recording on YouTube. / oy A TOM ALLMAN, Mayor City Council for the City of Willits ATTEST: Dabneo Pdeisen DELORES PEDERSEN City Clerk Willits City Council Minutes of May 14, 2025 Page 5 of 5