Alturas City Council

Regular Meeting

City Hall Council Chambers

April 8, 2008 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Mayor John Schreiber at 7:00 p.m. Councilmembers present: Cheryl Nelson, George W. Andreasen, Keith Jacques, John Dederick . Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Clerk Cary L. Baker, City Treasurer Kathie Alves, DPW Chester Robertson, Asst. DPW Joe Picotte, Police Chief Ken Barnes, Building Inspector Sue Traugott, City Planning Commissioner Tom Romero. Public attending: 49. All present joined together in the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence.

No one is present under the public forum.

MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Andreasen to approve a support letter for T.E.A.C.H./Families Matter for their Child Abuse Prevention Walk to be held Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Dederick to terminate the Property Rental Agreement with Gary Berchtold/Modoc Moulding for non-payment in the amount of $1,800 as of April 1, 2008. He will have 30 days from tonight to pay in full or have his equipment/property removed from the area. Also, the City Attorney is instructed to pursue payment in full through Small Claims Court. ALL AYES.

Jessie Berner, who lives at 1312 W. 5th Street, states that it came to her attention through the newspaper that Modoc Motorsports Association had received permission from the City for not only a one-time race, but that the City Council had approved a long-term lease. The reason she is opposed is the close proximity to the residents. The location is inappropriate and the Motorsports Association and the City Council have not followed the appropriate actions to make it a viable park. She is not opposed to having or supporting the event, is only opposed to using the mill site property. The proposed site is 815 feet from the city limits and is 1,215 feet from her residence. She respectfully requests that the City Council take that into consideration and does not allow the one time use, and does not allow the long-term lease. There has not been enough attention given to the residences on how this would effect them.

Jessie Berner introduces Tom Harris from Klamath Falls, he is involved with Oregon motorsports and is involved with a track outside Klamath Falls city limits; he is willing to help with getting a track set up in the proper place.

Councilmember Jacques responds that the City Council approved a one-time event only and took it under consideration for a long-term lease; both types of events will still have to go through the County Planning Department process.

Jessie Berner further states that she could deal with a one-time race but still opposes the long-term permit. She wants assurances that it would not set a precedence and the long-term permit would have to go through the process so the residence can voice their concerns.

Brad Williams states he lived in town for two years when there was a track off of 4th Street. He lived near the Airport, which is already noisy, and the track did not have negative affects on the neighborhood.

Dick Steyer states that this one-time event doesn’t even come close to being compared with could go in out at that property.

County Planning Director Kim Hunter is present and responds that once a complaint has been filed, the CEQA process has to be followed. This won’t allow enough time for the one time event in July. Don’t discount the permanent facility, this is the right type of property. Modoc Motorsports Association will have to go through the CEQA process and all the public disclosure.

Rendy Rees, representing Modoc Motorsports Association, responds that they had opportunities to hold this further out of town in the California Pines area. They wanted to keep it close to town for the kids and for the Alturas businesses. They are still planning on pursuing the City property for a long-term permit. They feel there are more pros than cons. They are still having their July race at the Cedarville fair grounds.

Kim Valena reviews that a 3-day race could bring as much as $200,000 into this community.

Mayor Schreiber thanked everyone for their input tonight.

Belinda Brown and Lorrisa Soriano are present to introduce their grant writing business (G.E.N.I.E.) to contract and provide services and assistance for community development and planning, program development and planning, comprehensive economic development strategy and grant research and proposal preparation.

The need for under served communities to develop strategies to leverage resources and plan according to their current demographics is crucial to any economic development plan. A comprehensive needs assessment is necessary for the construction of a new hospital and an updated sewer/water plan for the city that addresses these infrastructure needs. The development of a comprehensive economic development strategy is a priority component for USDA grants and loans, and EPA funding opportunities. They would like to offer their grant writing services to write the HRSA proposal for the new hospital. Having the resources here local for writing grants and administering them is very beneficial.

Mayor Schreiber states that the Council can consider their services but does not want anything to interfere with the hospital grant and the funding already in progress.

Belinda Brown replies its all about teamwork and working together as a community; there is plenty of room for help from several groups; they do not want to step on any toes at the Coalition level and want nothing to do with the administration of the proposed hospital.

DPW Robertson states that generally RFPs are put out to bid so all groups have an opportunity to bid.

Jerry Smith, representing the Modoc Frontier Healthcare Coalition, responds he has no problem with the grant writing business, but the Hospital Coalition has been formed and is already in progress and moving forward on the proposed hospital. The grant writing proposal would have to be brought before the Coalition and not the City. The City is only one of five agencies that make up the Coalition.

Councilmember Dederick agrees the City does not have the authority to give authorization on a HRSA grant. We have a Coalition and a JPA is in the process of being formed.

Council consensus is to take no action.

MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Andreasen to approve the 2nd reading and adoption of Ordinance #475 amending the PERS Miscellaneous Plan to 3% at 60. ALL AYES.

MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson that the City Council designates the City’s Industrial Park property as 1st choice for the proposed new hospital site. ALL AYES.

MOTION by Councilmember Dederick, SECONDED by Councilmember Andreasen to approve Payment #9 to Hat Creek Construction and Materials, Inc. in the amount of $330,778.90. ALL AYES.

Councilmember Dederick states he is not going to ask for action tonight, but wanted to give a report on the assets and liabilities at the Alturas Municipal Airport. There is a myriad of things to be done at the Airport and improvements to be made which could generate more revenue.

Councilmember Dederick reports the Airport Committee met with Tom Dunham and discussed the Airport Operation & Maintenance Agreement and the Fixed Base Operations Agreement. These agreements were handed down from the County and have been extended for a year. The Committee suggests approving a five-year contract with Mr. Dunham with some minor changes to the language.

Councilmember Nelson states she has concerns and issues that need to be addressed before the City enters into a long-term contract with Mr. Dunham.

Councilmember Jacques suggests extending the contracts for a short period of time and work out some of the Council’s issues.

Mayor Schreiber would like to have the Airport Committee meet again with Mr. Dunham and work out agreements that are satisfactory to both sides and the Council can call a special meeting to approve both agreements.

The Council Airport Committee will meet next Monday, April 14th, at 8:00 a.m., with Mr. Dunham out at the Airport.

MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Dederick to give approval to DPW Chester Robertson to sign the annual contract with Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Power Authority for contract management of Department of Conservation grant. ALL AYES.

MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to appoint Councilmember Schreiber to the LAFCO Board to replace Councilmember Andreasen. ALL AYES.

MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Dederick to approve items a & b of the consent agenda as follows: a) approve minutes of March 11 & 18, 2008 meetings; b) approve City warrants in the amount of $416,169.99. ALL AYES.

After further discussion, MOTION by Councilmember Jacques, SECONDED by Councilmember Dederick to approve item c on the consent agenda as follows: c) adopt Resolution #2008-18 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in the amount of $965.58. ALL AYES.

COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS: Asst. DPW Picotte reports all three lift stations are up and running; there is some cleanup work left to be done.

Police Chief Barnes reports there was a plane wreck last Friday at the Alturas Municipal Airport; he will attend the meeting next Monday at the Airport to express some concerns.

Police Lt. Sid Cullins is at the FBI Academy; he will graduate in June.

Also, attended the Cal Chiefs meeting in Fresno. There has been discussion at the State about taking away the $100,000 COPS funding for each law enforcement agency. At the meeting there was discussion about keeping the COPS funding and possibly taking away some of the per capita funding, which would not really affect the smaller communities.

Building Inspector Traugott reports building activity has picked up as the weather improves. Bear Creek Mall is working on completing two more units.

City Treasurer Alves reports she has been working with PARSAC on the liability language for the City’s rental and lease agreements. The contracts have been changed and are a lot more clear on what is required by the City.

DPW Robertson reports he and City Treasurer Alves came out clean on two Parks & Recreation audits.

He applied to OES for State’s Disaster Assistance Act Program for damage caused by the January 2008 Winter Storms and was denied due to the Governor not including Modoc County in his Proclamation. The County may be sending a letter to the Governor’s Office.

Councilmember Nelson reports the Modoc County Cow Belles Association has donated two trees for the Roping Arena.

Also, Billy Jacques would like to meet with Public Works to request a stop sign be placed at 3rd St. & Poplar St.; he feels it is a very dangerous intersection.

Councilmember Jacques reports the Fire Marshal has been concentrating on completing the pre fire plans for the commercial district in town. When this is completed, our ISO fire rating should go up.

Councilmember Dederick reports the City is still short a full-time City Attorney. The two applicants have a conflict of interest. We will need to start looking outside our area for services.

Mayor Schreiber reports he has been attending meetings on the hospital issue.

With no further business to come before Council, meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. to return in regular session on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 7:00 p.m., City Hall.

Respectfully,

Cary L. Baker