Alturas City Council Regular Meeting City Hall Council Chambers

tarix	26.06.2016
ölçüsü	33 Kb.

Alturas City Council

Regular Meeting

City Hall Council Chambers

May 19, 2015 2:00 p.m.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor John Dederick at 2:00 p.m. Councilmembers present: Bobby G. Ray, Cheryl Nelson, Jim Irvin, Mark Steffek. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Clerk Cary L. Baker, City Treasurer Heather MacDonnell, DPW Joe Picotte, Police Chief Ken Barnes, Police Lt. Sid Cullins, Fire Marshal Jon Wellemeyer, City Planning Commissioner Tom Romero. Public attending: 4. All present joined together in the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence.
Tom O’Malley, Superintendent of Schools, gives an update on the Geothermal Project. Last Thursday the Schools received an approval from the Regional Water Board to test artesian well AL2 to make sure it still has a flow rate and to check the temperature of the water. The permit should be finalized in the next few weeks. The Water Board is allowing the test water to be pumped in the ditch on the east side of the School’s property.
MOTION by Councilmember Steffek, SECONDED by Councilmember Irvin to authorize Police Chief Barnes to appoint up to three cadets to send to the Police Academy in July, 2015. ALL AYES.
Lorissa Soriano, representing Modoc Outdoor Recreation & Tourism requests a donation of $1,000 from the City’s Community Projects Fund to help with the cost of the Sportsman’s & Outdoor Expo to be held Saturday, May 30^th.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Steffek to approve a $1,000 donation as requested ($500 from Community Projects & $500 from Business Enhancement Fund) to help with the cost of the Expo. ALL AYES.
Manuel Souza has requested Council consideration to waive or lower the Arena Rental Fee for the Bull Riding event he will have on May 30^th. In exchange he will promote the City of Alturas at the other 14 pro shows he will have in Carson City, Winnemucca, Yerington, Gardnerville, and Red Bluff to name a few.
MOTION by Councilmember Steffek, SECONDED by Councilmember Irvin to reduce the Arena Rental Fee for the Bull Riding event from $600 to $300 for the May 30^th event, with a the condition that the City of Alturas will be promoted at Mr. Souza’s other event. AYES: Councilmembers Dederick, Steffek, Irvin, Nelson. NOES: Councilmember Ray.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to award the bid for the City’s Chip Seal Project to the lowest responsible bidder Advantage Paving & Excavating from Yreka, CA, in the amount of $580,390. ALL AYES.
PWD Picotte requests Council approval to set the public hearing date for the proposed sewer rate increase. Prop #218 requires the City send out notices to all property owners in the city limits 45 days prior to considering and approving any rate increase. We can get notices out with May’s water bills, and notices to the other property owners who do not pay for tenants water bills; that should cover all requirements. We can have the public hearing at the July 21^st Council meeting and adopt the resolution to raise the rates at the same meeting. The new rates cannot go into effect for 45 days after the adoption of the resolution; this would make the new rates effective on the September bill.
The City currently loses $10,000 per month in the Sewer Dept. and is carrying a $260,000 deficit in that department. To break even monthly we would need to raise the sewer rate by $7.00 per month; to start paying down the deficit it would need to be increased by $10.00 for approximately five years.
Councilmembers Dederick and Ray will meet with DPW Picotte to determine the recommended amount for the increase.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Irvin to set the public hearing date for July 21, 2015 to consider an increase in the sewer rates. ALL AYES.
DPW Picotte reviews the Golden State Finance Authority, which is a joint powers authority recognized by the State of California. They offer access to a source of financing to individuals to purchase a home or make energy efficient improvements. This company offers low rate energy upgrade financing for up to 30 years. The loan repayment is an assessment on the property tax bill. The County Board of Supervisors approved this at their last meeting, and the City has to adopt these resolutions independently of the County since we are incorporated. If anything changes at the County level, they will notify the City. Also, the State of California is behind this because of the clean and efficient energy upgrades.
MOTION by Councilmember Irvin, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to adopt the following Resolutions all in one motion: Resolution #2015-12 approving revisions to the City’s jurisdiction in the California Home Finance Authority Program; Resolution #2015-13 consenting to the inclusion of properties within the City’s jurisdiction in the California Home Finance Authority Program; Resolution #2015-14 consenting to inclusion of properties in CHFA Community Facilities District No. 2014-01 to finance renewable energy improvements, energy efficiency, water conservation, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure and approving associate membership in the Joint Exercise of Powers Authority related thereto; and Resolution #2015-15 consenting to inclusion of properties within the City’s jurisdiction in the California Home Finance Authority Program and approving associate membership in the Joint Exercise of Powers Authority related thereto. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to amend the budget for Parks & Recreation Repairs & Maint./Acct #4240 by adding $600 for Youth Park maintenance. ALL AYES.
Councilmembers Dederick & Irvin reviewed the City’s policies and procedures and recommend advertising for the Chief of Police position in-house for 5 days; if there are no qualified applicants, the position can be publicly advertised. Would also like Council approval to make recommendation for appointment at the June 16^th City Council meeting.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Steffek to advertise for the Chief of Police position in-house first for 5 days, and authorize the Police Commissioners (John Dederick & Jim Irvin) to interview and make recommendation for appointment at the June 16^th City Council meeting. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Steffek to approve the consent agenda as follows: a) Approve minutes of the April 21, 2015 meeting; b) Approve City warrants for April $315,756.42. ALL AYES.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS: City Treasurer MacDonnell reports she received a check in the amount of $1,000,000 from the John Wall Trust; gave staff a current balance sheet; has been getting information together to start the 2015/2016 budgets, will be out of the office May 25^th – 28^th attending the annual PARSAC meeting; and on vacation June 8^th – 12^th.
DPW Picotte has received 10 applications for the Maintenance Worker I position and will start the interview process next week; the new mosquito sprayer has been received and installed; has been monitoring the levels of City’s wells and is trying to compare the water usage data for this spring/summer season as compared to the same time in 2013; also, due to the drought the State has approved flushing the fire hydrants once a year instead of twice a year.
Councilmembers Nelson and Steffek met yesterday with the Pool Committee and will have several good ideas to bring to the June 16^th Council meeting.
Councilmember Steffek drafted a small news release for the City’s website and the Modoc Record regarding the progress of the Pool Committee; also has attended more Modoc Co. Ground Water Advisory Board meetings.
Councilmember Ray will be out of town May 26^th – June 4^th.
Mayor Dederick attended the May 14^th Hazard Mitigation meeting at the Sheriff’s Annex; received a letter from the Modoc Medical Center offering to donate land and funds to help with the Community Center. They need a place to hold their medical trainings, and were also one of the beneficiaries of the John Wall Trust. They may be able to donate some of those funds towards the project; is planning on visiting other small cities that have Community Centers; also, received correspondence from Warner Mt. Lumber regarding their delinquent rental payments – this will be on the June meeting agenda.
With no further business to come before Council, meeting adjourned at 3:44 p.m. to return in regular session on Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
Respectfully,

Cary L. Baker