Alturas City Council
Regular Meeting
City Hall
Council Chambers
April 21, 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, City Attorney Al Monaco, DPW Joe
Picotte, Police Lt. Sid Cullins, City Planning Commissioner Tom Romero, Fire Chief Keith Jacques, Fire
Marshal Jon Wellemeyer. Public attending: 39. All present joined together in the pledge of allegiance
followed by a moment of silence.
Under the public forum, Beckie Lewis thanks the City Councilmembers who attended the opening day of
Little League on Saturday.
Councilmember Irvin was given the responsibility to identify ad-hoc committees needed for the purposes
of the John Wall Trust, and how the committees would function for the City. A Pool Committee,
Community Center Committee, and a Youth Park Advisory Committee have been established. Also, a
“John Wall Trust Project Application” has been developed and must be used for all potential projects and
turned in to the respective committees. Some of the information requested in the application form are
project goals and objectives; project ownership; estimated project start date and completion date;
longevity/sustainability/maintenance; project type; anticipated project costs; etc.
Mayor Dederick appoints Councilmembers Mark Steffek and Cheryl Nelson to serve on the Pool
Committee and they will be responsible for selecting their three community members, and he and
Councilmember Irvin will serve on the Community Center Committee and have appointed Carol Sharp,
Heather Hadwick, and Debbie Pedersen as their three community members to serve on the committee
with them.
Noelle Knight, representing the Community Action Committee, is present to request Council
consideration to place the proposed Community Center on the property near the current City Municipal
Pool on 4th and Warner St. The number one wish of the community and the children of Modoc Jt. Unified
School District is a year-round pool. These desires were expressed at the Community Workshops and in
the survey given to the students. A group of citizens took it upon themselves to research the sustainability
of the pool and the impact of having a multi-use community center attached at the pool location; a
“Covered Pool & Community Center Feasibility Study” was provided to the City Council. This
Committee would like the Council to look at the big picture for this area and consider one big project.
The Community Action Committee supports the idea of a Community Center, but firmly opposes locating
it on the Junior Livestock property and taking out part of the Jr. Livestock Arena. This arena is in
memory of John Cummings, who was a local rancher and a founding member of the Alturas Rotary. That
location would take up a significant amount of property, eliminate parking at the Little League fields and
would seriously impede the view and vision of the Wesley Williams Memorial Beef Barn.
The Wall Family has given this community an amazing gift that was designated for the pool and other
youth activities. The City has been given a huge responsibility with this money and hope the needs of the
youth will come first. There is also a huge network of support of organizations, businesses and
individuals that are in favor of a project such as this. They not only would volunteer their time in research
and work, but would like to contribute financially. There is a great opportunity to develop the existing
area where the pool is currently located. There are concerns that an “immediate” timeline is not in the
best interest to develop the best plans to meet the needs of the youth.
Mayor Dederick responds that locating a community center near the Jr. Livestock Arena was only one of
several options, and that location will no longer be considered by the City. The Council is in no rush; it
has been six months and no decisions have been made. We are a conservative City Council with fiscal
responsibility.
Councilmember Ray states that a mechanism has been established and put in place for all potential
projects. No site has been selected yet, and the City will not accept projects that they can’t afford to
maintain in the future.
Karen Shimamoto, President of the Alturas Rotary Club, is present and states they are also a recipient of
the John Wall Trust. Rotary has their own criteria and system for approving projects that are submitted to
them, with their main focus being the Youth Park.
Paul Bailey, trustee of the John Wall Trust, states that as far as the trust is concerned the Junior Livestock
Arenas are part of the Youth Park. In the past years it has been the responsibility of the City instead of
Service Clubs, Inc. but nothing else has changed.
Terry Olson requests Council consideration to lease a portion of the old Citizens Building from the City
for a non-profit educational facility/Next Step Learning Facility. His vision is to provide an all-volunteer
non-profit organization to help students advance in their selected fields and would initially begin with a
woodworking curriculum. He has not formally applied for his non-profit status; it is still in the concept
phase. He wants to know if it’s feasible and what properties may be available.
DPW Picotte states there are some issues with building that would need to be looked at; there is some
asbestos present, possible roof leaks, and the water would need to be tested.
The Council feels it’s worth exploring and directs Mr. Olson to work with Joe Picotte to see what it would
take to make the building acceptable.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the termination
of the lease between the City of Alturas and Service Clubs, Inc. dated January 8, 1968 , for the Youth
Park property and authorize the Mayor to sign said termination. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Irvin to sign the MOU with a
the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office for 911 Dispatch Services for the 2015/2016 fiscal year, with the
following disclaimer noted on the page: “The City of Alturas signs this Memorandum of Understanding
under protest and reserves all rights to request court review and determination.” ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Irvin to adopt Resolution
#2015-11 setting fees for the Alturas Fire Department inspections and burn permits, to become effective
May 15, 2015. ALL AYES.
Fire Marshal Wellemeyer explains it will be better for the City of Alturas to be part of the multijurisdictional Modoc County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. If there is a disaster, FEMA will not release
relief dollars if this Plan is not in place. The County received grant funds in the amount of $79,000 and
have received a bid for $69,000 to develop the Plan. There is a 25% soft match required which can be
satisfied with County and City employee time; he and Fire Chief Jacques have been putting in time
working on the project. Also, a City Council representative will need to be designated to sit on the
committee.
There will be a meeting on May 14th at 10:00 a.m. in the Sheriff’s Annex to explain the Modoc County
Hazard Mitigation Plan project; City Councilmembers and department heads will need to attend.
MOTION by Councilmember Steffek, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to approve the City
being part of the Modoc County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and appoint Councilmember Jim
Irvin to sit on the committee. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Nelson, SECONDED by Councilmember Steffek to adopt Resolution
#2015-09 changing the meeting date of the Alturas Planning Commission from the third Wednesday of
the month, to the second Wednesday of the month. ALL AYES.
Mayor Dederick explains the sewer department is loosing $10,000 per month on operations and
maintenance not including depreciation. To get to a break-even point the City will need to raise the sewer
rates by at least $7.00 per month, and possibly as high as $10.00 per month to pay back the deficit. Since
we are subject to Prop #218 guidelines, the City will need to have public hearings and get notices out to
the property owners of the proposed rate increase.
DPW Picotte will start getting the information together and be ready to set a public hearing date at the
May 19th City Council meeting. Council Finance Committee members Bob Ray and John Dederick will
help with the process.
DPW Picotte reviews the water conservation requirements mandated by the State of California. A
statewide 25% reduction in water usage as compared to the amount used in 2013 is mandated. The
schools will adjust their timers on the lawn areas, and the City will need to try to maintain the ball fields
due to safety concerns with the kids playing on them. The City will be reaching out to other large users,
and a request will be put out to the community so we can pull together to accomplish the mandated
reduction.
The State allows for fines imposed on customers who are not compliant, and also allows for restricted
watering days and schedules.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Irvin to award the Rehabilitate
Airfield Pavement Joints and Cracks, Slurry Seal Airfield Pavements, and Remark Pavements project at
the Alturas Municipal Airport AIP No. 3-06-0003-10 to Maxwell Asphalt, Inc. in the amount of
$432,520.50. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Steffek to approve the purchase of
a Cougar Smart Flow GPS Mosquito Sprayer in the amount of $12,345.54. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Steffek, SECONDED by Councilmember Ray to approve moving City
employee Kim Dodds from Wastewater Operator I/$37,168 annual salary to Wastewater Operator
II/$39,050 annual salary effective May 1, 2015. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Irvin to approve an amendment to
the Mosquito Abatement budget by adding Election Expense/Acct. #4395 in the amount of $2,599.34 (for
Measure Z in the November 2014 election); and amend Sewer Dept./Acct. #4172 Sample Testing by an
increase of $5,000. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Ray, SECONDED by Councilmember Steffek to approve budget
amendments to the Police Department Services Rendered/Acct. #4215 increase of $800 from General
Fund; and approval to transfer $1,500 from Forfeitures Fund #106 to Traffic Safety/Fund 05 and increase
the budget amount to Repairs & Maintenance/Acct. #4240 by $1,500. ALL AYES.
DPW Picotte explains that Assembly Bill No. 45 will require local agencies to provide door to door
household hazardous waste collection and disposal. The City does not have the capability or means of
doing this. Rural county representatives and the League of California Cities are urging letters of
opposition to this Assembly Bill.
MOTION by Councilmember Steffek, SECONDED by Councilmember Nelson to authorize the Mayor
to sign a letter of opposition to Assembly Bill No. 45 relating to door to door household hazardous waste
collection. ALL AYES.
MOTION by Councilmember Irvin, SECONDED by Councilmember Ray to approve the consent
agenda as follows: a) Approve minutes of the March 17, 2015 meeting; b) Approve City warrants in the
amount of $115,646.43; c) Adopt Resolution #2015-10 removing inactive water & sewer accounts in
the amount of $703.01. ALL AYES.
COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS: DPW Picotte reports the City Planning Commission approved a Site
Plan for Holiday Market; last week conducted extensive research on the water levels of the City wells – at
this time all are in the 40 to 50 foot range; and will be going out to bid on the Chip Seal Project which
covers 11 miles of various city streets – this is through an MCTC grant.
Councilmember Steffek will be attending a Modoc County Ground Water Advisory Board meeting next
Thursday; met with Police Chief Barnes and got a good overview of his department; and went to the
opening day of Little League last Saturday and watched Councilmember Cheryl Nelson throw out the first
pitch of the season.
Mayor Dederick reports the City’s annexation is complete at the LAFCO level, and will need to be
recorded with Modoc County and papers filed with the State Board of Equalization; and will follow up
with Police Chief Barnes on the deer issue in town.
With no further business to come before Council, meeting adjourned at 5:18 p.m. to return in regular
session on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., City Hall.
Respectfully,
Cary L. Baker
City Clerk