WEED CITY COUNCIL

                                                 REGULAR MEETING

                                                 FEBRUARY 8, 2001

 

 

The City Council of the City of Weed held a regular meeting on Thursday, February 8, 2001, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 

 

Mayor Amelia “Mel” Borcalli called the meeting to order and led recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.  Present, in addition to Mayor Borcalli, were Council Members Neva Barnett, Brian Ramsey, Chuck Sutton, and Vince Tallerico.  Also present were City Administrator Earl Wilson, City Attorney James Pierce, Finance Director M. Kelly McKinnis, Police Chief Martin Nicholas, Fire Chief Darin Quigley, Public Works Director Craig Sharp, and City Clerk Deborah Salvestrin. 

 

                                              RECOGNITIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

A.  Knights of Columbus Mt. Shasta Council #2599 celebrating its 75-year anniversary on March 15

 

Mayor Borcalli read a brief synopsis about Knights of Columbus and presented a certificate of recognition to representative Richard Acquistapace honoring the local chapter on the occasion of its anniversary. 

 

B.  Habitat for Humanity is celebrating 25 years of building homes in partnership with people in need

 

Mayor Borcalli read a brief synopsis about Habitat for Humanity and presented a certificate of recognition to local representative Carlos Valdez honoring the group on the occasion of its anniversary. 

 

 

                                             PUBLIC BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR

 

Mayor Borcalli 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 could be taken by the Council except to set the matter presented for the next regular Council meeting. 

 

James Gubetta, resident of Woodridge Court, commended the Mayor on the vehicle abatement efforts, and stated concern for where the vehicles are going.  Mr. Gubetta noted that the vehicles might be going to the former landfill site where Black Butte Auto is located and then being stored in a non-conforming use area.  Mr. Gubetta asked the Council to look into it. 

 

 

COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS

 

Council Member Tallerico complimented the outward show of unity of the staff and the smooth running of the city that he attributes to City Administrator Earl Wilson.

 

 

Council Member Barnett reported attendance at a League of Siskiyou Cities meeting last evening, and agreed with Council Member Tallerico as to the city being run well. 

 

 

REGULAR AGENDA

 

A.  Centennial Committee:  Request for consideration of Contract between City of Weed and Ralph Starritt for Abner Weed sculpture. 

 

City Administrator Wilson reported that City Attorney Pierce has drafted a proposed Artistic Work Agreement between the City of Weed and Ralph Starritt who will do the sculpture for the centennial project.  Mr. Wilson noted that some attachments with regard to content of the sculpture are still to be formulated. 

 

Council Member Barnett asked for and received confirmation that the City would be responsible for payment to the artist in the event the Committee is not able to. 

 

Centennial Committee Member John Oliver stated that $10,000 is allotted for the statue of Abner Weed including materials and labor, $18,000 is for the sculpture on the wall, and there is a tax included as part of the total package.  Mr. Oliver recommended that the payments provided for by the agreement would be tied to specific events such as delivery of the statue, and then the wall sculpture, and finally the attachment of it to the wall. 

 

City Attorney Pierce agreed that tying payments to deliverables is more protection for the City. 

 

Mayor Borcalli, who also serves on the Centennial Committee, stated that the Committee’s fund raising is going very well. 

 

Council Member Barnett moved to amend the terms of the work agreement drafted by City Attorney Pierce to have item A remain as drafted, item B shall allow $4,000 payable on the delivery of the Abner Weed statue, and item C shall allow payment of the remaining contract funds upon the delivery and completion of the relief wall. Council Member Ramsey seconded the motion. 

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

Council Member Barnett then moved, seconded by Council Member Ramsey, approval of the work agreement as amended and with the additional required final acceptance and approval by the public works director as to the installation.

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

 

B.  Centennial Committee:  Request for consideration of Plaza-related volunteer work to be done on City property. 

 

City Administrator Wilson reviewed that volunteer labor will be used in the construction of the centennial project and the City Attorney has prepared a liability release and indemnification agreement form to be used by volunteers to release the City of liability for any injuries sustained while working for the project. 

 

City Attorney Pierce stated that the form was drafted for another project he worked with and it was subsequently reviewed and revised by the City’s liability carrier. 

 

Council Member Tallerico moved to approve the City of Weed Liability Release and Indemnification Agreement.  Council Member Ramsey seconded the motion.

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

 

C.  Public Works Department -- Sewer Services:  Consideration of request for seasonal sewer cost reduction (December through April) submitted by Michael Feil, Friendly RV Park (continued from December 14)

 

City Administrator Wilson reviewed that City Attorney James Pierce has researched City code and State law with regard to deferral of the fees, and reached the conclusion that City code addresses capital costs but not operating costs, and State law does not authorize or prohibit it.  Mr. Wilson recommended the operating costs be left as is. 

 

City Attorney Pierce added that City code is not clear and might contain an interpretation that the request could be crammed into, but there may be political ramifications that lead to equal protection issues. 

 

Council members discussed consistency issues, and staff time issues that could make granting the request cost prohibitive. 

 

Council Member Barnett moved to deny the request submitted by Michael Feil.  Council Member Tallerico seconded the motion.

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

 

D.  Public Works Department:  Consideration of amendment of contract with C & D Waste Removal for garbage, trash, and rubbish removal services

 

City Administrator Wilson reviewed that the Council recently approved a three-year renewal of the agreement with C & D Waste Removal Inc. for the collection of solid waste within the City, and City Attorney Pierce has prepared the amendment for Council approval. 

 

After brief discussion, Council Member Sutton moved to approve the amendment to the Agreement between the City and C & D Waste Removal subject to the term expiration on June 30, 2003, with term extensions possible for successive three-year terms.  Council Member Ramsey seconded the motion. 

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

 

                                                 CONSENT AGENDA

 

Mayor Borcalli stated that all items listed under the consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion, and there will be no separate discussion of the items unless members of the audience or Council request specific items be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion prior to the time the Council votes. 

 

Mayor Borcalli asked if there are unpublished items to be removed from the consent agenda.  There were none. 

 

Council Member Barnett moved, seconded by Council Member Sutton, to approve the consent agenda containing the approval of the payment of Claims #27934 – 27983, #27987 – 27988, #27990 – 28007, #28020 – 28048 in the amount of $192,057.64, and the Financial Status Report for Month Ending January 2001.

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

 

ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

 

A.  Claim #27989 to D & R Hardware in the amount of $262.57

 

Mayor Borcalli declared an economic conflict of interest, and stepped from the dais. Mayor pro tem Tallerico assumed the chair of the meeting.  Council Member Sutton moved, seconded by Council Member Ramsey, to approve the payment of claim #27989 to D & R Hardware in the amount of $262.57. 

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         Council Member Borcalli

 

Mayor Borcalli returned to the dais and reassumed the chair of the meeting. 

 

 

X.  STAFF REPORTS

 

Public Works Director Sharp reported the State has approved the College Avenue STIP project and set aside the monies. 

 

Finance Director McKinnis reported sewer grants are being closed out, and Transient Occupancy Tax revenues are coming in about $2,600 over last year. 

 

City Attorney Pierce reported he and Police Chief Nicholas would be representing the City tomorrow in Siskiyou County Superior Court on an appeal of a vicious dog citation. 

 

City Administrator Wilson reported attendance, with Finance Director McKinnis, at a grants workshop last Friday in Sacramento and noted the funds can be used for a General Plan update. 

 

 

XI.  ADJOURNMENT

 

A.  Closed Session pursuant to Government Code §54956.95:  liability claims; Claimant:  Mario Avino Crespi; Agency claimed against:  City of Weed

 

Council Member Tallerico moved to adjourn to the published closed session after taking a five-minute recess, and Council Member Ramsey seconded the motion. 

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

Council adjourned to closed session at 9:48 a.m. and returned to open general session at 10:06 a.m.

 

City Attorney Pierce reported that the City Council met in closed session where the Council received information and direction from staff regarding a liability claim submitted by Mario Avino Crespi.  The Council voted to reject the claim based on the apparent lack of substance and merit in Mr. Crespi’s documentation, and the City Attorney will correspond with Mr. Crespi and advise him of the City’s decision.

 

 

B.  Sine Die

 

Council Member Barnett moved adjournment, and Council Member Tallerico seconded the motion.

AYES:              Council Members Barnett, Borcalli, Ramsey, Sutton, and Tallerico

NOES:              None

ABSENT:         None

 

 

MEETING ADJOURNED SINE DIE AT 10:07 A.M.