Area Council - Regular Meeting

We just started. He's like a super But is a good place to personally go to just Thank you for all coming tonight. Thank you all for coming tonight city council meeting at 150 California and it's 6 a.m.

Wilson Hooton here is absent. Please stand for the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it standy justice for all. Boston.

Thank you. All items on the agenda will be open for public comment before final action is taken. Citizens wishing to print material to the public meeting on any request to provide a copy of the written material to the administration material to city minute special question while the may zoom please com do we have any changes to the agenda no modifications Mr. Mayor. Okay. Can I have a motion?

I'll second it. Okay. We have a mo motion. A second to adopt the agenda. Motion passes with unanimous vote on the council.

We'll continue on to presentations. First one is March money. awareness. On March 22nd, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law and amended the older American act of 1965 and establish a national program for seniors 60 years and old. Whereas the Meals on Wheels Association of America established the national short meals campaign in March of 2002 to recognize the historic funds the importance of older American packed senior nutrition program and raise awareness about senior hunger in America. Whereas the 2026 Conservation provides opportunity to support programs that deliver critical services by donating volunteer increase awareness about senior. Whereas volunteer drivers program are the backbone of a program and they not only deliver meals to home about seniors and individual with this but also concern and addition to whereas senior programs provide meals to seniors throughout the city and help them avoid premature and unnecessarily institutional my living. Whereas serious nutrition programs also provide powerful socialization opportunities for millions of community to combat loneliness and isolation where senior programs recognition will continue to make to our community.

Therefore, city council here March 28,6 month and urges every citizen to take time. This is all together. Our recognition and involvement of the national 2026 camp in America. So no senior those time.

Yes. Thank you very much for the information. It is for meals month is celebration to celebrate all meals and meals programs but it's not just meals programs. It also includes our dining programs. Um so give you guys a little update on how many we serve a day. We're serving 200 seniors per day. You know, that's an average. So, um you know, each one of those $11 per meal for us to make facility. Our donation for meals from is 27. So, we do get funding from area, but that really just pays for a small portion of the food. The misconception that the public is that the city sponsors us, the county sponsors us, state, federal government and we do get a little bit of funding from the federal government and from the state government to help supplement what we need and the city is generous to not charge too much for our facility covers our bills which comes about I think about 70,000 a year. So we appreciate that we would have all

um we have you know one of the things is we're about 95 seniors in our in our facility. We are probably the largest facility in Lake County. In fact, over in Lake County that we serve and we serve on an everyday basis at least 145 homebound seniors, you know, and it's not just about food, you know, we have a pause program to try and help because we senior feed their food to their feed their go hungry themselves. So, we do have a pause program which kind of funding on that right now. So, we're looking for donations of food on that. So, anybody that like to donate that food would be us. We would really appreciate that. Um, you guys, we have our annual fundraiser coming up kicking in the spring. Come join us. The Bunny Man just great music. It's a lot of fun and it helps to try to promote and let you guys see what our facility can be. I mean, this is a city building and we've been taking pictures as we have the rentals of that building because of course keep that building. So, we take pictures of this building be decorating fabulous weddings, you know, light up the place. It really be gorgeous and we put some really pictures online to help promote the building. So, hope that's one of the reasons why we're getting a little more rental effect. So, but we really do appreciate what the city does. We appreciate what opportunity gets. I don't want to get the facts out there that we are not fully funed. So this funding is really important for us. So I hope you guys hope you guys sponsor and if anybody can purchase tickets onlines.org and just on the front page buy ticket and come join us and let my president talk

the president of our board our new president I'm very proud to be president board to be associated with the senior center we are an amazing organization I've been active in the senior center for probably 10 years now and I've seen it grow so much provide so many services not just to seniors but to the entire community and we really need the support of the community. We ask for what we're doing. Thank you.

One of my things with to be a true wellness center and we are moving forward with that. um we have been lucky enough to get the partnership with California to collaborate with them and so hopefully that will make this center more more community oriented because we'll be able to do all ages. So it's in the process you know it takes a long time in the process of doing that hopefully by probably the July 1. I'm hoping we're going full board with that. So so we're expanding and we're growing and hopefully we'll be there to help all the community. So thank you. Thank you guys. Next item is a proclamation of National Nutrition Month. Whereas food is a substance by which life is sustained and whereas the type quality and amount of food an individuals consume each day plays a vital role in their overall health and physical fitness. And whereas better nutrition is related to improved infant child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer protection, child, low risk non-communicable diseases of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and longevity and whereas there is need for continuing nutrition and education effort to enhance healthy eating practices. And whereas the theme of National Nutrition Month 2026 is to discover the power of nutrition. The theme focuses on the ability of nutrition to help people flourish by embracing balance culturally diverse and accessible to be individuals and families across our state to drive every stage of life. Therefore, the city council city

and the city of encouraging all citizens in an effort to achieve optimal health benefits of truth and nutrition today. Thank you. Everybody wants to take this hand. Okay. Now to public. Hi, my name is Kathy Plowman and I'm here to set some things straight. Um, I have been told I've been by some people that I knew what had happened control and let me inform you I have no idea what was happening. That does not excuse me from not I shouldn't know. I should have reached out my hand. I should have helped those girls. I should have done the right thing. Was busy with my own life running animals around getting them fixed. That's no excuse. We all should have had knew what was going on down there. We didn't. So, I hope Mark gets what he deserves. I hope that Charmaine doesn't go forward. The thing is is with the city those deserve a proper shelter. I'm getting tired of hearing we don't have the money. We blah blah blah so forth and so on. Find it. Do it. Get out of someone that knows what they're doing. There's lots of organizations that would be willing to kick down to have a shelter built down there. They deserve it. We've let the animals down. We've let the people of down by not going forward by not doing the right thing. And so I rescue for 40 years. I've been for 19. All they do is live

all the time with animals. And I want everybody to know. If I didn't know what was going on down there, I still would have come up to the city and said that not that it might have done any good because I under the impression that I don't know if this is true that there was a walk through at least once or twice. Why was it there was a walk through and they seen the condition that was going on down there. Why was a stop put to it? They should have stopped to it immediately called North Bay we're pulling everything. We're taking over the shelter right now. This isn't This is done, but I'm not sure. But I'll find out whether there was truth or not. If there was, something should have been done. And I'm getting sick and tired of the people coming up and telling me I knew what was going on down there. I'm going to tell you one more time. I had no idea that those animals were living in the conditions they were living in. And this is has to go back on North Bay. I want it to stop now. I don't Somebody's going to get hurt on this. Somebody's going to get seriously hurting comments on cutting off their legs, taking them out in the wilderness and all this kind of stuff. This needs to stop. It needs to stop before somebody gets ser or killed. Okay, so the rumors need to stop. I did not know what was going on down there. The city should have known more than I know. I'm running through a storm. That's it. So, I'm done. And so, we need to work together. We need to come together and stop everybody to stop stabbing everybody in the back. Let's listen together and let's get this done. That's what I'm here to say. Anybody else? Please come up and introduce yourself.

Thank you. Hi, my name is Josh Margolus. Um, I was driving around some of the roads today. I've I've driven around, you know, roads before and I noticed that there's huge potholes. There's um standing water. Um, it seems unsafe to drive on these roads. I was wondering what the plan is. Okay. There's a plan that you can be CL is available online.

Does that consistently or is that a small percentage of the roads that will be improved as you know this city doesn't have a whole lot of money? No, I'm not. This is public. You make comments. It's not back and forth discussion. Okay. But you welcome. We're happy to talk to you about the plans that we do have or your specific.

Anybody else? I wanted to say that when I walked into um I love what you guys the certificates and everything that so much education to me like that so good job on that you know so I mean you guys cut down all the time but let me tell you what you guys are doing a fabulous job you know that happens instantly and you know I sit there for 20 years and it's you know you meet up all the time you guys are doing a fabulous job very proud of all of you and I'm really proud of this kind of stuff because walked in and I just knew that I did. Maybe put that good even city. Um I happen to be planning to come up here and bring up the same topic as the just came up is that there I come up here many a time on that topic. Um there are an extreme amount of potholes and these are not potholes that are on some 8year plan. These are that have been fixed if you want to call it that gap maybe within the last nine months maybe a year they're not done very thoroughly very well they don't last but a couple of months during additions have not been dealt with for many a little time regarding funding um you know why it is that there's like

five mile beautifully paved uh portion of I guess it's uh country club that goes to highway 20. Um, you know, there seems to be funding for certain things and I don't know where decisions get made on what gets done, what doesn't, but I think maybe you might want to spread the wealth as far as doing long stretches of highway versus doing some maintenance that needs to be done, especially around city hall, the park, which I brought out before. None of that is getting addressed. And I know my particular string's on an eight-year plan. Um, but I think those plans maybe need to re be revamped and maybe revisited because you ought to do just what this guy did. Drive around the roads around here. And the potholes that have popped up are like, you know, I don't know, 9 in. They're they're they're huge. So I hope that in the next you know the near future that is looked at and maybe the when the repairs are getting done out there on the asphalt a more thorough job is done so that they last the repairs last and I they did one in front of my house and they're not putting a lot of focus on the longevity of that cash. So that's my comment. I think you ought to take a drive around town. Um and not maybe just from here to your house. Um but I appreciate your time and I appreciate all the departments, police department, public works, uh code enforcement, all everybody I appreciate, but I don't appreciate the road condition. So I hope everyone's having um everyone's doing well. Thank you.

Please refrain. Okay, as you know the council cannot answer questions or provide comments on public comments at this section. There any more in the audience want to come up? If not, do we have any more comments on Zoom? There are no comments on the Zoom, Mr. Mayor. Okay, we move on to the consent calendar. Anybody wants to pull an item or anybody from the public wants to address one of those items that are the consent calendar? If not, then I have a motion. I have a second motion in a second.

Motion passes with unanimous vote of the council. Right. We go now to our first item of business which is considering updates from Yeah, I'd like to uh introduce Jason who is um local government affairs representative with gas electric and he requests to come and give council doing so this presitation.

Thank you very much. It's a pleasure to be here. My name is Jason Tino. I'm your local government affairs person. Um I cover Lake County and Snow County and other governments. Uh and as most of you know, my job is to be what we often call the uh primary contact so that we have to call get you the right person get sometimes I have them, sometimes I don't. But I usually find the right person. And then I also reach out to people prior to storm events or uh you know any sort of events coming up. I would also like to say that I have another colleague from PG who's our public safety spouse and that's the person that organizes with the police department in all emergency situations. So we have two people, one sort of for the elected officials and staff members and one specifically dedicated to emergency. Um, and I want to come here today um to do this at least once a year, but I think it's important for a utility company anywhere in America to be accessible to people. Um, you know, we're granch unique area. Uh, and it's important that I think the people have an opportunity for us to be on the agenda to come and speak and for um the representatives to ask a few questions. And there we go. Um, so I'll breeze through some of these slides because I really want to get to the moment where we can have some conversations and answer some questions. Um, but I wanted to come today and talk about our resiliency as a system, affordability, our energy mix, uh, and our advocacy uh, private this year. So, first and foremost, I want to talk about undergrounding. So, we've included about 67 miles of undergrounding. Uh we believe that in

high fire threat districts while it's about $3 million a mile uh over a 50-year period we actually think that's a good investment and saves money it also you know dramatically decreases fires we estimate by 98%. The other thing that we're doing in Lake County is we're doing overhead hardening. What this does uh you'll see it around metal holes and then rather than having bare wires they're like an extension cord to a certain degree but a bit more robust that have reduces wildfire risk in about 78%. So it's a few things we've done a lot of in lake and continue to do more.

Um yes please if any of that underground is in Lake County. Ah, okay. Let me go back here real quick here. So, we've completed 67 miles in Lake County. Yeah, we forecast 19 miles for this year.

Uh, and then estimated for 2027 and there'll be later this more and then more. These are um this is almost exclusively distribution. So think about that's our transition. We're talking about distribution. the ones that run into the forest run and then I should probably mention we don't certain might be 150 miles we'll do a mile here at the mile there based on computer modeling where it is not only risk ignition but if that starts where that virus spread to so it's um quite scientific and we don't get to explode cities. It's the computer uh and then seven miles of overhead already in the county. So Lake County um is a lot more than county. Um and certainly when we think about the rally where we don't have high fire threat districts um they don't we don't really do any of that. Um so everybody including PG& and other utilities realized that the cost of electricity is quite high and it affects people's pocketbook in a significant way. So um as of three days ago uh we have reduced the cost electricity for our customer by 11% last year and a half or so. However, we just announced that

we um now percent and we're doing all that through operational savings. Um and then the next thing that affects our bill is public purpose programs. So these are all the programs that help pay for people who are underprivileged. Uh all the programs about energy efficiency. Um almost all of these programs are dreamed up by the legislature and then put into practice with the utilities uh via the public utilities commission. So depending on your slightest pie that is about 30 to 40% of the bills that we pay and I'd like to point out that's our after pay for all those programs with our general so it's a big percentage of bills that we pay and one of the reasons I'm here is just make aware that it has to move forward together to try to lower prices for electricity that is something to be aware of that is a it's a celebrity um and when I talk about these programs I wanted to make sure to say that we as a company value these programs because they're quite helpful so we have programs like career which help people are underprivileged underprivileged seniors families make a big difference in people's lives um and then all sorts of programs for energy efficiency. That is what's going in people's homes and upgrading uh insulation, uh appliances, electrification, um great programs to help people leave better lives, but they do cost um and then we have programs for people who have medical issues. Um in Lake

County I think one of the important things to understand is because there public safety power that occur there are storms that happen to knock out people's we have many programs to help people with the generators um with backup systems how are um the next thing I want to talk about um sort of the state of PG and where the electricity that we provide to our customers and I I want to make one this is electricity we provide our customers not necessarily for the community that this is just people who sign up for power so um we have been 95% greenhouse gas free um for the last five There's often different% so we supply our customers comes from the nuclear power plant which is understand gasree electricity we're operating the last nuclear power plant in California and spoiler alert I'm asking for your help to keep that up um because it is such vital resource Then the remainder of the electricity breaks down mainly with wind and solar hydro bass and geothermal. And then the last 5% is actually natural gas. So on a world standard we're top the top as far as greenhouse gasree electricity which I think most people find to be surprising. Biomass is a cancer treat.

Uh no biomass is um producing electricity by spinning turbines because if that makes sense. Okay. You're not

No. Okay. So, uh as far as advocacy, what I'm really here to ask you for is support on undergrounding. What we want to do is have a 10-year program rather than go down from year to year. And we're looking for city councils to write letters of support or individual council members support uh that they value underground. That's the one. Um and then we have three other things. Um I'll start on the right. Uh affordability. Electricity is very expensive and we think there's lots of ways to significantly reduce the cost of electricity but we believe it has to be done um with our local representatives. We think it's much more these are complicated issues and when you all chives I think it makes a big difference. Uh the second thing is the nucle we are looking for support to keep that open. Um we've just got free for five more years. Um but it produces more than 90% of all the greenhouse gases more than 90% all electricity in California and it's a significant contributor to greenhouse gases. Uh and lastly, probably the most important issue for utilities in California right now uh is California Fund 2.0. So last year the state legislator passed 20 million um bill and this year they're going to work on details. What this bill does is it is an insurance program for utilities.

But what that really means is if utilities cause wild that will have an insurance I think most of us in California could be improved dramatically. uh and this is very important for the utility companies to be financially stable for the future but really it's important for our consistency model that's it for generation and how much is it for

okay let me answer that in a not specific need but just in general for utilities in America and so what I've read is usually about 70% um for maintenance of the system for example has 100,000 miles of wire so it's the wires about 70% and then the generation electricity about 30% and That's utility system.

Um, so you know, you mentioned that you are here for support for the Diablo power plant and the undergrounding. Why do you think why do you need support? Why is there a a lack of support on from who? And

okay, thank you very much for that question. So, um, big picture, not just P Geni, but utility companies in general don't set their own rates. They don't make all the decisions. They're awarded a franchise. And because they're awarded a franchise, a specific area, they have to work with the government to set the rates, determine all the work that they're going to do, where the power is going to come from, absolutely everything. It's a conversation. Um, and then most of the time that is implemented through the public utilities commission which also has a say in how everything's going. So your question is why would we come to you and say we need your help? Um, I would say it's more we need your voice to express your values. Do you value nuclear power or you don't or or or not? I personally do, but if you don't speak up and say so, but the issues are complicated. I know I've worked for P Gen for two years, and I feel like what I have learned in the last two years uh is monumental to what I knew when I came and I think that our state legislators arrived there and they're just starting to learn. And so, um, it's important that the most local representatives are you all and to speak up for um the people that you serve makes a big difference because I think I'm surprised at how little our state representatives know about the utility system. Um, and so if there's more voices involved, we'll get to that answer in a democratic way that will serve us all.

Thank you. Yep. What do you think their concern is with nuclear power safety or

I think that doing a lot of research and uh talking to a lot of people, there's this belief that nuclear bombs are bad. Yes, we would all agree that nuclear medicine is what we pray for when our children have cancer. And where is nuclear power in this? I think in the 70s, people thought, oh gosh, nuclear power must be terrible. But when you start to do the research and you read a few books about it, you realize, wow, there's very few people who have been killed by nuclear power. And it creates an incredible amount of energy. It's probably the safest form of energy that we have. Um, and in the last 20 years, we've built two nuclear power plants in Georgia and the US. China's built 60. Um, it is just incredibly important. There's a book, I will send you all a list of books that I've read. Um John Door, who's a venture capitalist, wrote a book called Speed and Scale and Bill Gates writes a chapter in there and it's his opinion that if we don't get half of our electricity needs, our future electricity needs from nuclear energy, we'll never hit our greenhouse gas. Um, so there's a lot of people out there who've been doing a lot of deep thinking about nuclear power, its safety, and its effect on our future world who believe it's critically important.

Going going back to that chart then 95% was of the power you said 50% of it was actual nuclear and 45% was were those other other things with the exception and the gas. Correct. Yeah, I I guess you need to do a better job of selling the nuclear power is safe. Yes, we do. Any more comments from um I guess uh just following up with the second half about the undergrounding. So, do you guys not have you know there's people that oppose it? Is it just because of the cost or

Um I think there's two things going on there. We in Lake County and in and Sonoma County, the other county that I represent really feel the dangers of catastrophic wildfire in Loi. Not so much in the Central Valley. No, not so much. They've got other issues. So there's some people who value it and some people don't because of the safety issue. It is expensive. But the other thing is when we underground, it gets immediately tacked on to everybody's bill. If we have a 10-year program for that, we can capitalize it. We can plan for 10 years and then we can spread that cost. We can advertise that cost over a much longer time period. So, it's it's financially beneficial.

Oh, hold on. I've got a follow up, too. Thank you. Uh, do you own Diablo? Yes. Okay. Are you do you own any I know you don't own one up on Pillsbury anymore? Don't want to, but do you have do you actually own any of those other 45% of the power that's created for you or buying it from outside? Yeah. So, um, PG& owns a lot of hydro power um, including the Pillsbury um, although it's shut down. Yeah. But it's not producing right So we we own a lot of hydro. We own Diablo Canyon. Um and then your question is what other power generating facilities

you actually own as opposed to buying from other producers? I'm sure we do own some but not like we used to. There was a law decade ago or two decades ago that really um changed the market. utilities used to own all the power generation and they changed that. They thought it would be more competitive if other outside companies owned the power generation and the utility companies were more in the business of distributing the power. Okay, great. Anybody out from the public has a question? Thank you very much. Anybody on Zoom clerk? There are no comments on the Zoom. Mr. May,

thank you very much. Yeah, thank you very much for having me. Thanks, Jason. All right, go to item number seven. Allan, Mr. Flora, to give us an update. On item number seven, update on the Robin Plane sewer spill emergency. I see you brought some pieces of equipment.

Well, they've been in here for a little while. I didn't bring them in for tonight, but um thank you, Mr. Mayor, council members. So um just to provide a little bit of update on the status um as I think you know the focus for us the last couple of weeks has been receiving and installing the preiltration and UV systems. Um as of today um the contractors have picked up 60 of those 100 systems that we have delivered. um 36 of them have been installed and um so the installation happens and then there's two um tests that happen to verify that the um water is clean and safe coming out of the system. 13 of the parcels have been cleared based on those tests or you know 14. So, um you know, it's it's coming along not quite as fast as we would like and I'm sure um some folks out there would agree, but we are making progress. We did put our final order in for some additional systems that were requested and um I guess that's really all about that unless there's any questions. I did talk to the hydraologist again today. Um she's continuing to analyze the testing results that we're getting. Although our testing protocol is focused more on um around system installation and clearing the systems as soon as possible rather than kind of the sort of blanket testing that we had been doing for the last month or so. um but she is uh going to be preparing some um final technical report on the findings and conclusions around this but um we feel like we are sort of nearing the end of um the emergency part of this incident. So that

update and be happy to address any questions.

Any questions? Just one um those tests, last two tests, are those folks that the system going to get copies of those tests results? Yes, you can get copies of any of the test results you have or well, I think it's been explained a number of times um the copies of test results that people expect is is not what you would really anticipate, but um when the test results are cleared, you'll be getting a packet of information from environmental health that includes a number of things including um the test results, um how to some tips on maintaining your well, maintaining a tank if you have one um information about the system that you received and so forth.

All right. Anybody else? Anybody from the public wants to

Hello council. My name is Adam Dval. Um my question is uh about last week uh I came here and I asked about the discrepancy in the numbers and I was told that it you know it wasn't the the fault of the city council obviously it was the fault of the the water company. So my question is will the city council in light of this um review the memorandum of understanding which doesn't have any consequences for false reporting of data and try to implement something that has um you know a little bit more teeth. So if they false report or if they, you know, you know, spill three million gallons of sewage in the city that that there would be consequences on the city's end or on the on the county's end and that would the city push for something more than a memorandum of understanding.

I don't I don't This is maybe explain. I don't think there's any. Well, I think if the gentleman can finish any questions or comments he has here any other No, please. Yeah. the sorry what were you what were you going to say I said I don't think there's any memorandum of understanding within the city and the Highlands water company it's not Highlands water company it's the water the sewer district the special district the special district yes that has to do with the sewer and there's no understanding between them between you and them or is there there's no between the city and the special districts, my understanding. Is that correct?

Okay. Well, I'm just our normal decorum is not to have a conversation back and forth here. This is your time to ask questions or make comments and then you can direct a response. But I mean, you're the mayor, so tell us what you want to do. What is What is wrong what what is wrong with the like what what is wrong in the process that we're doing? I'm just curious so we can get it right there. As far as I know, there's no memorandum of understanding between special district who crosses who were spelling the city. Yeah. There's no Can we hear from Is that correct, Mr. There's no consequence? No memorandum of

Oh, yeah. I don't know. I don't know about any memor. I'm just trying to keep some normal decorum here and work. So, as a member of the public, you have three minutes to come up and address the council and ask questions or make comments. Then you sit down and the city council will direct staff to answer the questions or or follow up. Oh, only after that's what I'm trying to um help with.

Okay. Thanks. So, I mean, if you if you want me to address um consequences related to this, I mean, the the city has no real regulatory authority over the sewer system or Lake County special districts with the exception of um pretty much all of the um collection system resides in the county's right away, which we do have authority over. Um but Lake County special districts, the sanitation district is regulated um primarily by the Lake County or the the state water resources control board. Um so of course um you know we have some correspondence with them have shared some concerns that we have with them and we'll continue to follow up with um their inspection enforcement and oversight process. There are some other regulatory agencies for certain parts of the system. For example, the Lake County Air Quality Control District regulates some parts of the system. In fact, um I've invited the director of the air quality district to come to our next council meeting to talk about some of those issues. Um but unfortunately, the main thing that the city can do is advocate for other regulatory agencies to um take the issues seriously and um ask for their efforts to bring the system into compliance. Any other comments?

My name's Josh Margolus. Um I think you were telling us that um that the 100 uh UV filtration systems have been ordered. A small percentage of those have been installed successfully. Uh there's more that are on order. I'd like to know what that number is. I'd also like to know how many I think last time you said there were there 164 um affected residents or affected I guess properties. I'd like to know what percentage of those have been um or I guess have applied for a filtration system and then for the remainder what are the efforts um to ensure those people are taken care of.

Can you repeat the numbers that you said earlier? Yeah. So, um we initially ordered a hundred of the units. Um 60 of them have been um picked up and designated to one of the contractors to install. Um 36 have been installed as of today. Um I don't know the percentages, but I think you can figure those out. Um so based on um we aren't forcing people to have one of the systems they um were requested to submit application. We helped them with that. So based on additional applications we ordered another 15 units. That's a total of 115. Um our estimate originally was 164 impacted wells. Um but some people have various situations where they have another sanitization system already or for one reason or another did not want to have one. But um if folks were getting water deliveries to a tank or something like this and had not applied, uh the city reached out to all of those individuals to make sure um that they had one last chance um to apply and get a system if they would like to have. So, um, but at this point, um, the request for systems is complete. We're not planning on ordering any more systems. We'll be making sure the 115 systems get installed. Um, and then that would be Thank you. Any other comments in room here? If not, is there anybody on Zoom?

There are no comments on the Zoom. Thank you. There's no action on this thing. We go to item number eight, discussion and consideration of community funded projects request for fiscal year 2027. Mr. Flora.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, council member. So, it is that time of the year again um where we have the opportunity to ask our congressman for um any appropriation requests. We call it the community funded projects program. Um, Congressman Thompson then gets to select um a number of projects in his district to submit um to the House of Representatives for inclusion um in this next year's budget bill. Um so I outlined in the staff report the requests that the council made last year. Um the timeline on this although it always seems short there um hasn't been quite as much guidance. It's always kind of a guessing game on what perhaps both parties would agree to move through the budget process. Um so open to whatever ideas the council may have around this. Um I came up with three possible ideas to consider. Um, one is, um, some funding for the airport redevelopment project infrastructure there. Um, I was, uh, I would recommend an ask of 5.2 million for that. Um, option number two, and you can include one or all of these options or or additional ones as well. Um, you know, we've tried a number of times to acquire funding for the Highlands Park renovation project. we have had the plans done for a few years and not been able to get funding for that. Um I would recommend and ask around 3.7 million for that. And then more related to the sewer spill, I think um one thing we've learned is um that we don't know enough about the aquifer out there and because

all these folks um are on private wells and have primarily private um septic systems. There's still concerns about kind of what the baseline conditions out there were before the spill happened. um the testing that continues in the aquifer um you know it's everything's not clear and there's issues in the surface water and it's near the um sewer treatment plant and um is there is the groundwater surface water being influenced somehow by the sewer treatment plant or other factors and um I think that we should for the benefit of the folks who live in that area request some funding to be able to do some aquifer analysis, some long-term testing in the area, um a monitoring program of that testing. Uh perhaps a well evaluation. There's just a lot of poorly constructed wells as well. um it would be helpful to have some more detailed information about that and possibly even um asking for funding to put a couple of long-term monitoring wells out in that area. Um and so I did I talked to the hydraologist about this and I think and asked somewhere around 280,000 to be those are the ideas I came up with. Um happy to discuss any other ones. Any of the council has some ideas want to know.

I like those three ideas. Go ahead.

Oh, I also um like the three ideas and really favor uh Highlands Park and the uh hydraologist suggestion of getting some monitoring wells and figuring out really a better idea and understanding of what we have over there for water source. So those are my sentiments as well. I all I all agree with those and I think I I mentioned it there that the uh east side on Highway 53 has no park. Since Chelsea is going to build some apartment complexes on the east side of D road extension, there's a property that would be owned by the state that small park could be installed.

Yeah. Um, so I guess we can talk about this a little bit as a project idea. Um, we've have had I mean I think there's some interest in the state link machine that excess property to the city. Um, actually I had a conversation just yesterday with um the Department of General Services about that and Senator McGuire's office. Um, it will require legislation um to make that transfer happen. I believe Senator McGuire is interested and willing in doing that. I told him he didn't have a lot of time to get that done this year. So, um, but anyway, I think, you know, we are working on that. I mean, I think there's time to ask for funding for a few improvements um, at the point that we get the property. And I would even like to ask Senator Magcguire if he's going to sponsor some legislation for the transfer that maybe a little bit of funding can be added in there as well.

That would be awesome.

All right. What do you go ahead? What what do you think um is most senator or Congressman Thompson is most likely to award a higher amount or I think it's really difficult to do that. That's why I always recommend giving him a few options at different levels. You know, we submitted a number of options last year. And you know, there's always the political climate too between the two parties and what's going to make it through. And you'll recall that we actually submitted a request for 350,000 for public safety cameras and wildfire detection technology related to those cameras. For whatever reason, they weren't interested in the fire part of it. So, they asked us to rewrite it just for public safety cameras. Um, and that ended up getting funded, but that was the smaller ass. So, you know, I I don't know what the winning strategy is for sure, but I like giving him some options. And of course, the congressman has very consistently, not every year, but um you know, since I've been city manager, we've gotten three, I think, year mark requests are fun. I guess I have a personal interest in the Burns Valley thing, but uh Highlands Park is something that, as you said, we had actually had some money set aside for a number of years ago that I think ended up getting used at Austin Park. Be nice to get that going.

Okay. Anybody from the public wants to comment, please come to Joyce Overton City Clear Lake. I mean, not that I don't love all these ideas, but one of the things for I know at least 20 years has been the talk about we talk about these parks and stuff, but over in the avenues, you know, we've talking about a community park for years over there. And I know there was issues of bathrooms and everything, but a community park does not have to have bathrooms because it's supposed to be just for the people that live in the area. I really wish you guys would start looking at some projects like that over there. Um, you know, it's been talked about and talked about and talked about, but nothing's ever moved forward on that. So maybe not necessary. I mean, I would hope that this would might be something that um we could at least look at, but I would like to see some of sometimes when we ask for this money to, you know, start looking at at maybe that as a project over there. It would be a lesser project expense, you know, because like I said, you don't have to put in bathrooms when it's a community one. Just have to make it an area where the kids can go and play and and have a good time. but we've talked about it for so many years that I'd like to really see start getting that back on the radar here. So, that might be a project maybe you could find some money for. So, thank you.

Thought maybe you were going to I mean I think that was your suggestion was the property there on 18th Avenue would help fill that. Right. Okay. Anybody else for public comment? Come to the podium.

Margaret Garcia, city of Clear Lake. Joyce's comment on the avenues having a park is I mean really really something that's been needed for a long time. It seems like anything that is planned for the city of Clear Lake is planned for beneath the highway area and the avenues seem to be neglected in many ways. Um, and it I think it would be um it would go a long way as far as showing some focus and some um care to that area of the city. uh after the whole fire uh that happened up there, it seems like this property just got fenced off and various changes, but it would be a good gesture for sure to have something like that happen. And and if I'm not sure what Highlands Park, what is Highlands Park? Which park is that? If you could just clarify real quick.

It's on It's on Lakes Shore. It's where the Chamber of Commerce office is.

Okay. Okay. Because what my thought was is the only access to water to the lake for kids, for families is Austin Park, right? Austin U beach. Um, and that area is still very uninviting as far as sand and just the entire uh, you know, look of it. It's not the most uh, familyfriendly. I don't know how many tables or things you've got, but I I would think that maybe some focus there if you're going to be requesting funds, maybe something like that wouldn't be a bad idea to really improve that because that's the only access people have to the lake as far as beach access. Um, another thing, um, let's see, I wrote down was, um, the water quality. I don't know if you could package that in such a way where money could be requested on that. um whether it be some type of maybe a more a more um I don't know maybe a little more invested in the filtration or the that kind of thing as far as we it's been discussed before um they've got the little sprayers that go around but if there can be money asked for about that that would be I think a good thing to do and then just in general Um, beautifification of the city would be nice if there was some landscape changes to especially with the entrance. When you come into the city, the signs are great, but something that would be a little more of an upgrade to the city of Clear Lake and to the visual of the city of Clear Lake. Um, I like I love the city of Clear Lake and I'd like to see a little more done um in that regard. Thank you. Anybody else public? If not,

my name is Josh Margolus. Um, I was wondering about the I think five something million that you suggested for an airport uh for improvements to that. Um I don't know who that benefits um if that benefits the community um at large or if that benefits certain businesses. Um and then also wondering if the I think 280,000 that we're suggesting for um creating more wells and doing more testing if the existing wells could just be used and perhaps contracts with the people who who have been affected. um that we just continue to monitor those wells uh on a regular basis rather than digging additional wells.

Thank you. Anybody else here in the chamber? If not, is there anybody on Zoom? Madam Cler, there are no comments on the Zoom. All right. Council will need give directions to staff on this item. We need a motion for this. Um, I I don't know that you really have to. I mean, I think it would if you want to make a motion to approve the recommendations or something different, but I think there were you had three suggestion. I I want to add the park on on that road. I think there be

I I'm not sure it's appropriate to do when we don't own the property, but um at least I think we know if you're gonna talk about the avenues in the park, we can look down at the village and islands park area also neighborhood park. So I don't think that I like the idea of having neighborhood parks. I'm sorry. I think we'll just go ahead with the suggestions. Excuse me, ma'am. If you have have something to say, you have to come to the podium. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I was saying that I think we should be looking at I like the idea of neighborhood parks. The avenues is not the only place where a neighborhood park could fit. uh the Lakeshore Village, Highlands Park area, residential area would also be something that I would consider for a neighborhood park. That's what I said. Uh I think you have corrections. You agree?

Yes. Okay. Thank you. Item number nine, considering consideration of a resolution calling for a ballot measure to change the city treasury position from elected to appointed. Believe this is presentation.

Yeah. Honorable mayor and council members, you have before you tonight consideration of a ballot measure to transition the city treasurer position from appointed to elected. While we were prepared to move forward with this report tonight, uh after speaking with the registar of voters, staff recommends postponing this item to June to coincide with the request for co consolidation of the November election to include two council seats to avoid multiple election consolidation requests. Though at this time, uh unless the council would like to move forward, staff is recommending postponing this item to June. Council was there. Yes. Okay.

Yeah. Go to reports. Go ahead. Is there any from the public that wants to comment? If not, anybody on Zoom? Ma'am, there's no comments on the Zoom.

Yeah, we'll go to reports. Mr. City Manager, um I'll be fairly brief. Um just a few things. Um, I went to the board of supervisors meeting this week to talk about some issues related with our property tax. Um, this is a frustrating experience. Um, I'm not sure actually what the solution is at this point, but I just want to make sure that you all were aware of it. um and I'm providing some followup to try and um see where we are with the with the county auditor around it. But um there were a number of other local agencies that were also there in attendance um expressing concern about um county withholding of our agency's property tax. Um I attended the tribal health ribbon cutting yesterday. Um, Council Member Kramer and Council Member Wilson were there. So, thanks. They always do a great job. Beautiful new building that uh be opening up shortly. Last thing I wanted to mention um is working with the Latino Advisory Council. The thing that um we're focusing primarily on now is trying to establish um some assistance around um Latino entrepreneurs and food service. Um there's a lot of the Hispanic community that is u making food out of their homes and street vendors and various things majority of which is not permitted either by the city or environmental

health. So rather than um taking an enforcement approach, we're working on a plan to provide checklists and help simplify the process and planning to do a a workshop um with a number of Latino ambassadors to try to get a lot of the folks that are out there doing this to come and figure out how we can help them to complant. So something that um I think a number of uh well everyone on the Latino advisory council and a number of others um in the Latino community are that's you

I do not have anything to

I um was um today was the first time that I w was um able to represent the um city of Clear Lake at at the um continuum of care. I'm um and was able to vote. I'm part of the executive committee is what I wanted to say. Um the I attended the meeting today. Um it was announced that um there $6.3 million was um awarded to expand the Hope Center. Um that's going to give them 29 additional beds, but Restoration House is going to move over to Hope Center. So, it's going to um add 17 beds into the county. Um there was a little bit um of discussion about an RFP that's going to open on Monday for some other um for some interim housing. Um and um there was also discussion of the fact that it's um very probable that Hobbiton HTON Haven in uh Lakeport is going to have to close because of um funding um problems. It will be but they will be open until the end of June and um there is six $6 612,000 uh $612,000 will be um used to try to address the needs that are going to be unmet by clothing and haven. And there was a considerable um very professional presentation done by the lived experience committee with who will be working with the continuum of care to um to run another event like they had last year in in uh in October in Lakeport. And um that it will gather more

information from the city. There is about um there's two beds open at um the nest, two open at Hope Center and two at Hmedson Haven. That's it. Councilman Kramer, you have any uh

in addition to attending the ribbon cutting which uh city manager floor made some nice remarks. Thank you for that. uh at a U risk reduction authority meeting last week board meeting in which I ended up chairing because everybody above me didn't show up um were in various places anyhow they have been getting more and more involved with fire resiliency projects along with RCD and they will uh none were in the clear lake area I don't And we also talked about uh probably having to reach out for membership dues again. So you probably got something in the mail. Uh and then I also last week clerk had the their board meeting and we discussed our the budget for the coming year which is somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 million. U clerk is growing substantially. Uh they've got a number of projects going, several of which are planned for for Clear Lake and also the East Side plan off off of Davis Street Road, Davis Street, excuse me, is in planning. I actually got a call from in addition to clerk, I got a call from representative Calire wanting to access my family's property's end of it. to start doing the biological archeological inspe to do the archaeological inspection. Thank you, Mark, pretty much. Um, that's uh that was about it. Okay, I have a couple of things. Uh, I

attended the uh Lake County Recreation Agency and we did a lot of talk about trails up on Mount Kakai. Some some progress is being made up there. So, that's pretty exciting. Uh, let's see what else I uh I did have a house that we own go through the rental inspection process. Very smooth and I'm I'm excited that uh I'm one of the first ones to go through that. I was a big advocate for that for a for a long time going back six. So, that's it. Uh, anybody has any future agenda? Not

I'd like to say thank you for leading by example. We'll now adjourn to close session. Thank you all for coming.