WEED
CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY
24, 2000
The City Council of the City of Weed held a
regular meeting on Thursday, February 24, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers at City Hall.
Mayor Neva Barnett called the meeting to order and led recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Present, in addition to Mayor Barnett, were Council Members Roy Bergfors, Amelia “Mel” Borcalli, Joel Obuchon, and Vince Tallerico. Also present were City Administrator Earl Wilson, City Attorney Allen King, Finance Director M. Kelly McKinnis, Police Chief Nicholas, Fire Chief Darin Quigley, Public Works Director Craig Sharp, and City Clerk Deborah Salvestrin.
PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM
THE FLOOR
Mayor Barnett invited comments from the audience on specific agenda items or any item of interest that is within the Council’s jurisdiction noting that no action can be taken by the Council except to set the matter presented for the next regular Council meeting. There were none.
COUNCIL MEMBER
REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Council Member Bergfors reviewed the recent meetings of the Siskiyou Community Center project noting that the firm of Nichols Melburg and Rossetto was hired as the architect to begin design work.
Council Members Obuchon and Borcalli reported attending a meeting of the Committee to review the garbage contract and rates, and noted that negotiations will continue.
Council Member Borcalli also reviewed the status of the “Adopt a Street Program”, and clarified a couple of points regarding costs, and procedures, and noted she will make up a list of these questions and publish it in the paper.
Council Member Tallerico asked that the next agenda permit time for discussion of meeting times and days. Mr. Tallerico also read a letter received recently from a fifth grade student in Connecticut questioning the origin of Weed’s name. Mr. Tallerico asked for and received verification that response was sent for the student’s writing project.
Mayor Barnett thanked the Public Works Department for efficient snow removal and asked for and received the details of the D.A.R.E. sponsored dance which is scheduled for Friday, February 25, 2000. Mayor Barnett thanked the Police Department and the others involved for this successful annual effort.
A. Community Development Block Grant
Program (CDBG): Application for Housing
Rehabilitation Funding to discuss the fiscal year 2000
Community Development Block Grant application and to solicit citizen input.
Mayor
Barnett reviewed the procedures for the conduct of public hearings, and then
declared the present as the time and place for the scheduled hearing. Mayor Barnett asked for and received
verification that proper notice had been given in accordance with the law, and
then declared the hearing open at 7:00 p.m.
City Administrator
Wilson stated the Community Development/Housing Department,
on behalf of the City of Weed, is applying for the maximum grant amount of
$500,000 under the general component for housing rehabilitation within the City
limits of Weed. Mr. Wilson introduced John Aston, representing Great Northern Corporation. Mr. Aston came before the Council to review that up to 27 million dollars may be
available Statewide. Mr. Aston also
noted that two previous housing rehabilitation applications were not funded
however the City was able to accrue bonus points for the un-funded
applications. Mr. Aston reported that
the application is in process and recommended leverage amounts as follows: $12,500 for staff time, $37,500 for General
Administration, $2,000 in building permit fee waivers, $15,000 for heating
sources for income eligible individuals, and $40,000 from Miscellaneous
Income. Mr. Aston indicated that the
proposal would make the application very competitive.
Mayor
Barnett asked for comments and/or questions in support of the proposed
application and leverage amounts. There
were none.
Mayor
Barnett asked for comments and/or questions in opposition to the proposed
application and its leverage amounts.
There were none.
Mayor Barnett
asked for Council comments and/or questions regarding the proposed
application.
Mr. Aston
explained the points accrued from the previous application denials, and
reported that a resolution to support the application and the proposed
leveraging will be prepared by staff for Council action at the next
meeting.
Mayor Barnett
declared the hearing closed.
REGULAR AGENDA
A. Consider applications for Transient
Occupancy Tax funds for 1999/2000 year:
Mayor Barnett reviewed the source of
the Transient Occupancy Tax funding, and how funds become available to entities
noting that approximately $53,742 is available this year. Mayor Barnett explained the four categories
that the funding is targeted for. Mayor
Barnett then stated that the $10,000 allotted to the Siskiyou County Economic
Development Council is Weed’s share of the Enterprise Zone payment and is
required from the City through the year 2008.
Mayor Barnett added that the real available amount for funding therefore
is $43,742, and requests have been received totaling $83,100.
Mayor Barnett emphasized that the
purpose of the funding is to enhance a visitors stay, and there is no way the
Council can fairly distribute the funding available without additional
information from the various entities as to how the funding will be used to
fulfill the purpose intended by the voters.
Mayor Barnett then read the new
resolution that adopts an evaluation procedure, and suggested that the entities
amend their requests ranking their programs, substantiating the amounts
requested, and omitting wish lists.
Council Members agreed that although
the amendment of the request may be burdensome, the past practice of padding a
request so as to get a percentage of what is asked for is not adequate. Council Member Bergfors moved to accept the Mayor’s
suggestion and have the staff revise the application and distribute to the
entities for amendment and prioritizing.
Council Member Borcalli seconded the motion.
Alford Linville, representing the Weed
Museum, asked the Council to continue the past practice of calculating the
level of funding received last year in relation to the total available and
assign that percentage of funding this year.
Kim Greene, President of the Chamber
of Commerce, requested and received clarification of the Council’s request for
amendment and ranking, noting that the Chamber prefers to submit an accurate
request.
Aldo Rossetto, representing the Winema
Cemetery Association, also asked for and received clarification of the
evaluation and ranking process requested by the Council.
There being no further discussion,
Mayor Barnett reviewed that the motion is to revise the application, distribute
it with the resolution and request submission of the application with
substantiation of costs and ranking of programs. The vote was:
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Council agreed to continue this
action to the March 23 Council meeting.
B. Receive Appeal of Demolition Order for
Substandard or Dangerous Condition, 212 Pine Street:
City
Administrator Wilson reported receipt of appeal of the demolition ordered
issued by Building Inspector Dave Smith for the property at 212 Pine
Street.
Mayor
Barnett reviewed that the hearing was started last fall and then halted due to
a technicality in the notice procedure that has now been rectified.
City
Administrator Wilson recommended setting March 23 as the date for the hearing
so as to get the proper notice period.
Council
Member Tallerico moved to set March 23 for the appeal requested by Terry
Shumlai for his property at 212 Pine Street.
Council Member Obuchon seconded the motion.
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
C. Bennett/Walkup Parcel Map: 1) City
Council will consider denial of the offer of the dedication of Mary’s Drive and
acceptance of the easements offered as shown on the subject map; 2)
City Council will consider water and sewer line and utility easement
dedications offered by Crystal Geyser on and over Assessor’s Parcel No.
60-551-280. If accepted, a Resolution
of acceptance will be introduced and adopted; 3) Consider resolution of the City Council Accepting a Deed and
Dedication of sewer and water facilities constructed in Mary’s Drive on and over
Assessor’s Parcel No. 60-581-020 to be granted by James L. Bennett and Gregory
A. Walkup.
City Administrator Wilson reported receipt of
the final map for the Bennett/Walkup subdivision and that the City Engineer has
signed it. Mr. Wilson added that certain
dedications are being offered including the easements and the road, and
recommended acceptance of the easements but rejection of the street because it
is not up to City standards.
Council Member Tallerico moved, seconded by
Council Member Bergfors, to approve the final map, accept the dedication of the
easements, and reject the offer of the street.
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Administrator Wilson noted that
the two other items on the published agenda that relate to this map have been
continued because the proper documentation has not been received.
D. Shastina Drive
STIP construction: Council will
consider proposals received for provision of engineering services.
City Administrator Wilson reported that in
response to a request for proposals for the engineering for the Shastina Drive
project, staff received three Statements of Qualification, and then interviewed
the interested engineering firms. Mr.
Wilson noted that the project would have several phases, with the first being
an environmental process. Mr. Wilson
added that all of the exhibits to the contract have not yet been received, but
recommended award of the contract to OMNI MEANS subject to the City Attorney’s
review and approval of the various contract documents.
Council Member Tallerico moved to approve the
proposal submitted by OMNI MEANS, and award of the contract subject to the
review and approval of the contract documents by the City Attorney. Council Member Obuchon seconded the
motion.
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Administrator Wilson informed the
Council that project completion is expected at late summer.
E. Personnel – Public Works Department: Consider appointment of David Payne from Maintenance Man I (Range #, Step #) to Maintenance Man II, (Range #, Step A?)
City Administrator Wilson reported David
Payne is eligible for promotion, with satisfactory performance, from the
Maintenance Man I position to the Maintenance Man II position in accordance
with past policy of promotion. Mr.
Wilson recommended Council confirmation of the proposed appointment.
Council Member Borcalli moved, seconded by
Council Member Tallerico, confirmation of the appointment of David Payne to
Maintenance Man II.
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
F. Consider acceptance of audit of the Financial Statements for Transportation Development Act Fund as of June 30, 1998 and 1999 as submitted by Carlson, Pavlik and Drageset
City
Administrator Wilson reported receipt of the Financial Statements for the
Transportation Development Act Fund as of June 30, 1998 and 1999 as submitted
by Carlson, Pavlik and Drageset, and recommended acceptance.
Council
Member Bergfors moved to accept the Financial Statements as presented. Council Member Obuchon seconded the motion.
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
G. Consideration of report from Sewer Rate
Committee
City Administrator Wilson reviewed that the
grant for the upgrade of the sewer system requires an adjustment of the sewer
rates in order that the users are paying a fair share, and a recommended rate structure
prepared by an engineer was submitted to Council and subsequently referred to a
committee for review and recommendation.
Mr. Wilson added that the committee is recommending adoption of a plan
and the proposed rates to be effective July 1, noting there is urgency in that
further funding will be withheld until new rates have been adopted. Mr. Wilson stated that the Council must
approve a plan for the sewer rate structure and implementation schedule.
Council reviewed a drafted Wastewater Revenue
Program that compares the proposed fee and the existing fees for various
users.
City Administrator Wilson clarified that the
rate schedule would accompany a plan for implementation
Finance Director McKinnis stated that public
hearings on the rate schedule and plan will be required, and the committee
developed a proposed schedule of postings and notice. Mr. McKinnis added that the committee is recommending that an
inflation factor be included in the rate schedule.
Council Member Tallerico approved the implementation
schedule as recommended by the committee.
Council Member Borcalli seconded the motion.
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Council Member Tallerico reiterated that the adoption of the rates is a grant requirement and necessary to remain eligible for future funding.
STAFF REPORTS
Fire Chief Quigley reported that the painting of the Department’s 1923 LaFrance engine is complete, and the vehicle will soon be back in City limits for the next phase of the restoration project.
Public Works Director Sharp reported he is working on an estimate of costs for clean up activities and will come to Council with a schedule when it is complete.
Finance Director McKinnis reported attendance at a biennial conference sponsored by various funding agencies, and noted that some information was obtained about possible new funding sources for grants for water systems.
Police Chief Nicholas announced the D.A.R.E. graduation that is scheduled for March 9 at 7:00 p.m., and the D.A.R.E. Cops v. Kids basketball game scheduled for March 14. Chief Nicholas noted the latter is an annual fundraiser for both the D.A.R.E. and elementary school athletic programs.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Tallerico moved adjournment;
motion seconded by Council Member Bergfors.
AYES: Council Members Barnett, Bergfors,
Borcalli, Obuchon, Tallerico
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MEETING
ADJOURNED SINE DIE AT 8:10 P.M.