City Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, we're coming out of close session. Is there any reportable action to report? The council met on several items and took no reportable action. And that concludes my report. Okay. All right. Thank you very much.

Good job. Uh, if anyone wishes to address the city council on any item considered at this meeting before or during council's consideration of that item, please enter your name in the electronic kiosk located in the lobby, the city council will allocate up to a maximum of three minutes per speaker for each agenda item. Staff reports are available online at the city's website and also in the public view binder located on the podium at the north side of the chambers. All right, we're going to call this meeting to order. We will start with the pledge of allegiance and then after that if you'll stay standing for invocation by Lori Moretti with reading police and fire departments our chaplain. All right.

All right. Ready. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley and justice for all. Good evening. This Thursday, May 7th, marks the 75th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. So, I thought it fitting to share part of the prayer from the first Continental Congress in 1774. Let's pray. Be thou present, oh God of wisdom, and direct the councils of the honorable assembly. Enable them to settle things on the best and shest foundation, that the scene of blood may be speedily closed, that order, harmony, and peace may be effectively restored, and truth and justice, religion, and piety prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds. Shower on them and the millions that they represent. Such temporal blessings as thou seeest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy son and savior. Amen. Thank you very much. Uh, but we're going to start this meeting with a couple presentations today. Um, I'm going to go to the podium. I'm going to invite uh Megan with uh Ready for Life executive director to meet me up there and we'll do a presentation and Megan, you can bring up anybody else that you've got. Okay. Oh, we need to do our roll call first, I guess. I'm sorry. We're jumping

ahead. I'm so excited for this. So, we'll start with the roll call. Okay. Council member Adet is absent. Vice Mayor Denuka present. Council member Muns here. And Mayor Proan Dresnner present. And mayor Lat

here. Okay. Now we'll do the presentation. So Okay. Today I got Megan here also uh with some of her board up here uh uh representing Ready for Life Foster Care Agency. Uh it's a mayor proclamation that we're giving them today. Uh in May 2026, it's foster care awareness month in our city. Uh today I want to honor the children and youth in foster care and the brave foster families, relative caregivers, social workers, the courtappointed special advocates, community partners who give them safety, stability, and hope. It's our responsibility as a community to support reunification when possible and ensure every child has a loving permanent connection when it's not. Uh please consider how you can help by becoming a foster or adopt a family, volunteering, mentoring or supporting local agencies. And together we can protect our most vulnerable and build brighter futures for all of our children together. So May 2026, it is foster care awareness month. And I'm going to let Megan and anybody else that would like to speak and I've got this certificate for you as well.

Thank you. Appreciate it.

All right. Well, thank you. We really wanted to take a moment to thank everybody for giving us this opportunity and to highlight something that's really important here in Chast County. Um unfortunately, we have pretty significant numbers um of kids in foster care. And so that really brings awareness to the need for more families who can step in the gap and fill um fill in that space for safety and stability for the kids that maybe don't otherwise have that. So um this was a great opportunity to highlight not only the month but today's actually national foster care awareness day. So it landed perfectly on this day and we wanted to thank the people who are already standing in that gap, the people who are doing this work that's really really challenging and um unfortunately not going away. So the need is great. So consider the ways that you can help and how that might look for you. Um I have Tyler who I'd love to join me. Um he's our board president and see if he wanted to say any words as well.

So yeah, when Megan uh asked me maybe I volunteered, some would say volunteer wanted to be a part of that because this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Unfortunately, this is a service that is required. Uh, with these kids going through so many experiences and having an outside perspective looking in on the work that they do on a daily basis, it's heartbreaking. It's it's so sad to see kids going through experiences like that. But when you have people who care as deeply as these social workers have and other staff members who just treat these kids with kindness, it's really heartwarming. So, I'm so glad for them. I'm so glad there is awareness of this in the city of Reading. So, thank you for having us here tonight and appreciate this time. Okay, that was a lot of fun. Let's do it again. Uh, how about another presentation uh from Tim Bower, sports and events director for Choose Reading Lodging regarding the Iron Man 70.3 event. It's all you Tim. So, good evening, city council. My name is Tim Bower. I am the sports commissioner for Reading Sports Commission. It is a uh new project started by the writing tourism marketing group which also does choose writing lodging. And so I'm excited to give you guys an update on the Iron Man 70.3 Northern California. And as my substitute teacher always liked to say, let's start with a video. [laughter]

Number five, Northwest [screaming] 3. ONE, YOU'RE UP. [screaming]

Come on. You got it. You got it. Another one. All right. So, we're going to use that kind of as a teaser video. Uh we one of my jobs is to go around the nation and do uh sports trade shows. And um one of those things is we get we're going to sponsor an event in McKinley, Texas, and we're going to play that video. So, it just kind of garner some interest and, you know, rediscovering what writing California is all about. Um, so we are 103 days away from our August 16th Iron Man race. We currently have over 1300 athletes signed up, 48 states represented, 11 countries, and an estimated total attendance of spectators plus athletes, about 6,000 to 7,000 people will be here. um which is really great for a first year. Um they said our race based on how it's going so far, it's projected to have about 1,800 to 2,000 triathletes

uh by the August 12th cutoff date. And so really good for a first year. They're very impressed that we actually had that much interest. And so they said next year um they're going to work on some stuff and they think they can hit that 2500 capacity, maybe more. Um, one of the things we just learned recently is we are officially design um, just to back up a second. This is actually ocean size 70.3. We were just there a couple months ago and you can see all those little green caps. That's the people. It lines all the way out past the water. That's the entry. So that's just a swim portion. That one had 3,200 athletes and over 7,000 to 8,000 spectators. So, I mean that one is a gem in their system, but there's been talk that we would have a similar, you know, attraction where we are to be kind of like what the Oceanside is to the beach, Reading is to the Mountain Iron Man. So, we're excited about that. Um, so we've officially been designated a pro race. So, that's really important because now there's prize money included. So, um there's $40,000 up for grabs and there's four slots available to men's to women's uh to enter the 2027 Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. So, we will be a catalyst, a kind of a gateway race to get into World Championship, which is news to us. They expect they already have roughly 40 to 50 pro racers. I mean, these are the top triathletes in the world and they're going to come run Reading. probably gonna make everyone look ridiculous. So they said usually about four hour completion time from start to finish. So that'll be exciting. Uh so that's increased publicity for our event for a first year event. That's unheard of. And increased media attention because a lot of people will be following their favorite athletes at and and they'll be like probably have to Google where is writing California. So it's good good

thing to happen to us. Um so next slide. We do have a final course. Um, most of it is up online, but the last run portion, they said they're just working on the artwork to make it all finalized. But this is kind of a preview what it's going to look like. The This is the 1.2 mile swim starting at Oak Bottom, Whiskey Town Lake. Next is the uh 56 mile. This one had the most changes. It was kind of uh west, now it's east. You can see it's northeast. Goes south through Bellisa Palro and then back into Reading City Limits. So they said due to a variety of circumstances this worked out better for them just with road condition and uh things like that. So and this is the run portion. A little tweak here just they really wanted to use utilize the diesel horse bridge and some of the Sacramento more of the Sacramento River trail that was shaded. So that's pretty much what that looks like. But we do have a course. Um a few weeks ago, Jason Jabiscoco, he uh helped us organize a um all city department meeting. Um Calrans was there uh city of Reading officials, law enforcement, Calire um to go over safety and traffic control and uh so they had their meeting, they went, they finalized a course and uh traffic control plans are being drafted right now. They'll be submitted probably by next week and then permits will be submitted after that. So, it's just kind of where everything is on the behind the scenes um and where we're going. So, all right. Volunteer positions and times are now available. So, you can actually uh we still need, you know, several hundred volunteers. Um but now you can actually pick what position you like. Uh examples would be like bike check-in, lifeguards, eight station, cooling stations. Um that right corner, that's an interesting one. It's called wet suit

pillars. All you do is just take wets suits off people and [laughter] it gets a little frisky but you know whatever is your cup of tea. Um and then u even we have you know it doesn't take much to be a volunteer. You can be like that kid just passing out water bottles and there's even positions open to putting medals on finishers. So I mean how how easy could that get? So that is something we are always looking for more volunteers and we're thankful for anyone who does. One of the cool perks you will get, you will get fed and you get this cool momento from our race. It'll say Iron Man 70.3 Northern California and then has the volunteer on the back. So we appreciate everyone who has volunteered and will. So thank you. All right. So what we're doing writing sports commission spreading the word to the community. Um, one of the things we became aware of, uh, Iron Man does will have a Iron Man relationship manager, uh, that'll personally reach out to every impacted business along the course and make sure they're aware of what's happening in the area. So, they're very vocal about them being there. So, they don't want anyone surprised on race day. Um, so about May to June, uh, the stuff we're doing, we're going to be putting volunteer posters around town to all the local businesses, restaurants. Um, all the hotel lobbies wanted, they said they wanted the welcome banners early. So, that's one of the things. In July, we'll have the final raceourse with all the key dates and the viewing areas around town. So, that'll be at all the local businesses as well. Um, with what we do with cool April nights, I don't know if you guys saw them, we put those cool April nights banners up on all the street lights around town. We'll change them to Iron Man welcome triathletes banners. So, that'll go up probably around after the 4th of July. And then working with the city to get some mailers to go out to residents and then August time to do the fun stuff where you get to go and talk to the local news

and they will also be in there just spreading awareness for the event. All right, this is race week. That's not necessarily race day. It's race week they call it because they're here a week early and they leave the Monday after. Those are some key dates to kind of be aware of. The ones highlighted in green are will have the most impact is when um the thousands of people really start showing up. So, I'll just go over that real quick. Uh Friday, the Iron Man Village opens at the Civic. So, that's you know, you'll have thousands of people down there. We're doing a welcome reception downtown on that Friday sponsored by Reading Rancheria. So, that is kind of the kickoff. We'll play videos, thank all our local sponsors, and just it's kind of a nice social event where the locals get to uh interact with the visitors. So, and then Saturday is going to be a light day. They try to keep everything, you know, in the morning. Uh we're planning to do a morning yoga session on the Sundell Bridge and then right after that, the Iron Kids race uh through McConnell. So, that should be exciting. Um, and then Sunday, you can see a little bit more serious. Um, people will start uh parking around the Civic or uh designated parking areas and shuttles will be going up to Whiskey Town. Race starts at 6:00, bike starts at 7, run starts at 9:00, and the cuto off time for the whole event, 2:30, awards ceremonies at 3 p.m. So, just kind of so you guys can see what we're seeing every day and kind of make it known.

Cool. So, that's pretty much it um for now. I'll have an update probably in another month or two, but I plan to try to keep everyone in the loop. But so far, thank you local sponsors. We couldn't do this without you city of Reading, Sha Regional Medical Center, Highway Specialty Co., Reading Rancheria, Big Valley Sanitation. We do have our own hashtag. Lo, a lot of people have been asking me how can we share this even if we're not a sponsor of the event or just a small business. It's IM703 NorCal. And so that's a great way to start putting it out there like if you have a special, you want to do something for the visitors. And so yeah, um last but not least, um because we just started our Reading Sports Commission, um we have an advisory board that is open to any rights holders uh in the community. That's anyone who does anything with sports venues like you know I'm gonna email Travis after this in a bit but just people that have any vested interest in reading sports and to see it grow and we can kind of come together and talk about what we're doing as a team. Um and then we want if the community wants to know for the latest updates on Iron Man uh just go to writingportsco.com. I appreciate your time. Thank you.

Awesome. Thanks Tim. And Tim the uh the purse is $40,000 I hear. Is that only for the pro athletes or is my team eligible for this? Are you already counting out your winnings? Yes. I mean, I figure for the people in my age and weight class here, we should win. So, individual runners, so I don't know how the relay thing works, but maybe, you know. All right. Thanks. Thank you.

All right. We're going to open up for uh public comment uh now. And pursuant to the Brown Act, city council cannot take action on public comment items. Uh the city council will allocate up to a maximum of three minutes per speaker for 30 minutes total at the beginning of the meeting for public comment for non-aggendaized matters with this within the city's jurisdiction. The mayor will determine the order of the speakers. If 30 minutes is not adequate to accommodate all of the individuals who've submitted their name through the electronic kiosk, the council will trail this item to the end of the open session agenda. The remaining speakers will address the city council at that time. Uh see we have two speakers today. Uh we've got uh Quinton uh Gaddy from the SBDC. Welcome back. I know we've seen you here before. And Nick Gardner, you're after that. So

all the residents of Reading. Yeah, I was going to say there there goes the mic. Uh first like to start off by saying happy National Small Business Week. Um this is you know the uh when we celebrate it in the country and just want to talk about how important small businesses are to the reading community. Um we have some events that are coming up that I'd like to talk about that are you know uh trying to dovetail off of this. Um so uh on Thursday we have uh with Startup Reading and Shasta EDC there's the venture conference at the Sherin uh Turtle Bay. Sorry, I live in Syscue County, so I'm still learning all the different places down here. But, um, this is an event that, uh, brings together a whole bunch of small businesses, entrepreneurs, people who are looking to pitch uh, and different investors, angel investors. We got Shasta Angels there. We'll have different bankers as well. I'll be sitting on a panel talking about uh, business financing and and how to grow and scale business as well. So, this is a great event. Tickets are still on sale for that one. The other event that I'd like to promote is next Friday at the Win River Casino is the third annual NorCal Procurement Fair. Uh the city of Reading will be represented at the NorCal Procurement Fair. I believe uh Michelle Kempley and Tyler Nash from city staff will be there. But this is an event that uh provides an opportunity to small businesses to meet purchasing officers from local agencies like City of Reading and Rabba. Um state agencies like Calrans, CalFire, CHP, DGS and some federal agencies as well. We'll also have some private prime contractors who subcontract a lot of their work uh out there. And so this is a great opportunity for any small business who is looking to do business with the government to actually meet someone face to face, figure out what is the process to get involved with government contracting, why they might want to do it. I'll give you a little anecdote. Last year, I had a business client and um her and her husband own uh heavy equipment. They like masticators, skid steers, things like that. and they pretty much just been doing defensible space for people's homes um and getting them prepared for wildfires and whatnot

and had never thought about doing government contracting. They they were worried about the paperwork and so I helped them get their small business certification, their disabled vis uh veteran business certification, helped them put together a capability statement, get bonding and they went last year for the first time. They met with CALR and CalFire and they were able to clear $750,000 in contracts last year. So that was able to take them over a million dollars in their business for the first time in their life and you know quadrupled it essentially in size. So um this is a nocost event. Anybody who's interested in participating they can sign up at uh norcalprocurementfair.com. This event sponsored by Triounty's Bank uh California Department of General Services and the Wind River Casino. So we're really really thankful for the Reading Rancheria um for hosting us there. So again that's next Friday uh the 15th 10 to 3 p.m. It's no cost. We'll give you lunch. Um, and register at norcal procurementfair.com. Thank you so much. Thank you, Quinn. All right, Nick, you're up. Uh, I wanted to take this opportunity to invite Aaron Risner on to Poke the Hornets's Nest May 17th at 9:00 a.m. so she can explain to my audience why she is the best choice for Supervisor District 1. Would you be interested, Erin?

We can't we can't really interact with you during public comment. Sure you can. You just choose not to. It's not a rule. Un unlikely, Nick. Well, please consider it. Thank you. Thanks.

All right. Uh, moving on. That's all our speakers. We'll go to our consent calendar. Uh, the consent calendar contains items considered routine and/or which have individually scrutinized by city council members and are anticipated to require no further deliberation. If a member of the public wishes to address an item on the consent calendar, please enter your name in the electronic kiosk located in the lobby before the consent calendar is considered. It shall be the prerogative of any council member before the consent calendar is acted upon to one comment on an item to respond to any public comment on any item. Three, requests the record reflect an absentation n vote or on an item. Or four, remove an item and place it on the regular portion of the agenda for delivery of a staff report andor an extended discussions of deliberation. All right. So I didn't see any uh any council members here. So I'll entertain a motion.

Motion to approve. I'll second. All right. That was quick. Without any discussion, we'll vote. All in favor? I I All right. All right. Moving on. We're going to uh start with public hearings with development services. Item number 6.1, public hearing to consider uh resolution for submission of 2026 27 annual action plan and citizen [clears throat] participation plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. All right. Hi.

Hi. Uh, good evening, honorable mayor and members of city council. Item 6.1 tonight is uh concerned with conducting a public hearing for the fiscal year 2026 annual action plan. The city of Reading is an entitlement jurisdiction uh that receives an annual allocation of home investment partnership program funds and community development block grant funds from the federal government. Home funding is used for income eligible housing unit production within the city limits of Reading, meaning working in partnership with for-profit and nonprofit developers to build, buy, or rehab affordable housing for renters and homeowners within our community. CDBG funding can be utilized in a wide variety of community development needs that benefit either income eligible persons areas um areas of the city urgent need or blight within our community. As part of the requirements to receive home in CDBG, the housing division must submit a five-year consolidated plan. This document summarizes our affordable housing and community development needs and respective goals over a 5-year period. Each year, the housing division must submit an annual action plan for each year of that five-year plan, which details how the jurisdiction will spend its funding to meet the goals outlined in the con plan. Fiscal year 2026 annual action plan is the second annual action plan for the current uh con plan period. As an attachment to the staff report, a breakdown of the current year's allocated funding and prior year funds to be expended on and proposed projects and activities is available for your review. This year's entitlement grant allocation for CDBG is um $654,36 and home is 331364. In addition, there is CDBG reallocated funds from the prior year of 173925.

Um, cityb can uh pay for public improvement, economic development and infrastructure projects and these projects are discussed and ranked by the city manager's office. CDBG funded public service projects are rated and ranked by the city's community development advisory committee after reviewing applications and listening to uh com [clears throat] excuse me, applicant presentations. Per regulations, funding is capped at no more than 15% of the CDBG total allocation. The rating and ranking results of the public service process is depicted at the bottom of the funding uh recommendations attachment. To date, the housing division has not received any comments uh regarding the um FY 2026 annual action plan during the public comment period. In closing, staff recommends staff's recommendation is to conduct the public hearing and upon conclusion adopt the resolution approving the submission of the fiscal year 2026 annual action plan and authorize the city manager or his designate to sign all necessary documents to submit the action plan to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. This concludes my presentation. Are there any questions or comments?

Okay, so I think we're going to start the public hearing for public comment. I don't think anybody wants to speak today. So, we're going to close the hearing now on public comment. And now we're back to council discussion. So, any questions from council today or I do I do not have any questions. Uh I would move that council approves items 1 through 4. So adopting a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the necessary documents and find that adopting resolution and submission to the annual and citizens participation plan is not considered a project under California sequa and number four. I'll second.

Okay, we have a first second. I don't see any other discussion or questions here. So we'll take a a vote here. All in favor? I I thank you. That passes. Thank you. Thanks, Nicole.

Well, that public hearing was fun. Let's do another one. Uh 6.2, uh public hearing to consider tenative subdivision map application S-20224 00740. Plan development and reszoning application by JNL Custom Homes to subdivide a 1.65 65 acre parcel located at 4363 Churn Creek Road into 16 parcels and to reszone the property from RM9 residential multiple family district to RM9 PD residential multiple family district with plan development overlay. All right, that was a lot. So, I'll set the stage for you. Here we go.

Good evening, council. Good evening everybody who showed up tonight. Um before us, we have a tenative map application. It's a subdivision with a plan development um and a reszone as well. Um here's the location. Um it is at 4363 Churn Creek Road. Um general plan designation residential 6 to 10 units per acre and it's uh currently zoned RM9. And if you just saw that little graphic there, um they are proposing to do an overlay district for plan development which will um here before us is to propose the reszone. [clears throat] This is the tenative map. Um to your left you have Churn Creek Road. It's a 16 lot subdivision proposal. Um [clears throat] approximately um 9.7 units per acre um in this subdivision. So resoning is a legislative action required by city council approval. Uh the request is to reszone to overlay the property with the plan development. Um this allows for one additional unit as long as it's within general plan density. Um uh also they're requesting um zoning flexibility for reduced lot sizes, reduced setbacks, reduced covered parking. Um and it's going to cover parking is going to go to onecar garages versus twocar garages. And they're proposing a private street. This is the plan development plan here. Um to attach single family homes. Uh the proposed lines will separate units and yards. Um there's a private street that will take access from Churn Creek Road and landscaping

um landscaping within the subdivision. And there's landscape proposals along Churn Creek Road as well. These are the elevations for the um um the homes we'll be constructing or proposing to construct. Um so there's two different home variations. Uh three bedrooms with two and a half baths. Uh the f the sods will have a combination of board and fatten and stucco. Uh the roofing materials offer a combination of metal and composite shingles and each unit will have a singlecar garage. Here are some of the amenities proposed in this application. Um kind of outdoor tables and benches. um street lights, a decorative sound wall, um decomposed granite walking path, a community area, and a little area you can do a bean bag toss at. So, general plan conformance overall density they're proposed, the applicants proposing is 9.7 units per acre. Um there are single family houses to the north and south of the property and to the east a single family zoning. Uh the current property is zoned for residential multif family. This tenative map proposes attached single family homes which is more in character with the surrounding area than you typically would get with apartment buildings. Um and the applicant has submitted a plan development plan for the density increase um bringing it to 16 units. 15 is what would be um allowed within the zoning designation of RM9. uh reduce lot size, reduce setbacks, reduce covered parking, and to allow for a private street. Um the proposal provides an efficient utilization of land at 9.7 units per acre while also respecting the existing community by proposing homes which are in character of what you might see in a neighborhood.

So the project uh does receive quite a bit of vehicular noise from Interstate 5 and Churn Creek. Um, so we did receive a noise analysis with this. Um, and the analysis conclusion was a 8- foot decorative soundwall uh would be required along Trent Creek Road uh to reduce outdoor noise and interior noise. Um, and [clears throat] then homes on lots one through four, the I5 homes are conditioned to be reinforced to meet the interior noise standards of 45 dB. Environmental. So, a biological resources assessment was submitted with the project. Uh, there's a small wetland feature identified to the northeast of the property. Um, the project is avoiding this area and the wetland and there'll be a 20ft buffer required to be shown as private open space easement on the final map. Um, this will basically be a non-buildable area. Um there are no special status plants species identified on the property and tree removals that occur in season for bats and migratory birds and raptors are required to conduct inseason surveys and gain environmental clearance through CDFW. Uh the project shall follow standard subdivision condition number 35. Staff finds a project is categorically exempt from SQA under guidelines 15332 for infill development projects. Uh this type of exemption generally applies to projects that are less than 5 acres and surrounded by urban uses served by utilities consistent with general plan and zoning not affected by significant environmental issues. Um we went to planning commission for this project on March 24th. Um the recommendations um for the conditions um there were two new conditions planning commission recommended um they were architectural

enhancements to the western facades of homes facing Churn Creek Road and then durable fencing material along the north property line. The the project is well supported by the general plan and zoning regulations. Staff recommendation is to offer ordinance approving the reszone authorization to city attorney to prepare and the city clerk to publish a summary ordinance. Find the project is exempt from SQA. Improve the tenative map subdivision and associated plan development subject to draft conditions of approval as recommended by the planning commission. Thank you. I'm available if you have any questions.

Thank you. Okay, we're going to start our public hearing for for public comment. And there's no public comment, so we're going to close this hearing. Uh, couple questions just with the recommendations that came out of the planning commission. Uh, was the developer agreeable to that? Does it make sure that the project pencils out still with the re recommendations that came out? Uh, yes, Mayor. The the applicant was agreeable to that. Okay, great. Uh, Council Member Muntz, I assume since it's a private road that we don't have to maintain it or do anything. Uh, that is correct. There will be no maintenance of the private road.

What about all the frontage um bushes and stuff along the road? Does that have anything to do with us? That will be maintained under a homeowners association in the draft conditions of approval.

Thank you, Council Member Reszer. What do we mean by enhanced facade? Like did we discuss specifically with the developer exactly what it is that that would look like? Um I just when I look at these pictures, I think they look a little bit sad. Um and I feel like we could do a little bit better. Um and historically the city of Reading has done a really poor job of enforcing any compromises that we make. So, I just want to make sure that it's outlined and very clear in terms of what plants are going to be used along Churn Creek, what sort of materials we're willing to um accept for facade um because if we're making a compromise, I want to make sure that it's done with excellence.

Good point. Yes. So, um [clears throat] that so their architectural enhancements um it's it's going to be siding, you know, maybe extra enhancements around the windows. Um in a condition I think we let me double check here. [laughter] Just to clarify, are you talking about the houses themselves or you talking about the fence the fence along

Turn Creek? Yes, specifically there were there were enhancements that would be made um to the design and the facade that was along Churn Creek Road and the planning commission was saying that those things along Turn Creek, the noise reduction fence, that's what you're talking about. No, I'm talking about the actual No, I'm talking about the actual I see.

There are a couple homes that actually face that direction. Thanks, Lily. Maybe I can add a little bit to that and help. So when this went to planning commission that was the very concern they had um as you had council resner. So what when we look at enhancement we look at um our design criteria says articulation. Articulation means when there's plays and planes when there's shadows created. So what we're looking for is probably some add-ons. um it's not going to change the structure of the building because we know that costs. But if we're looking at some type of window shade, things like that, um larger um you know, elements that will create shadows, that's what we're looking for. And change of material because these are twotory buildings. Okay. So, Lily, do you get to pick out what those changes and enhancements? Are you in charge of approving that? who's in charge of approving what those I I understand the broad and the generalization and then allowing a developer to do something that suits their design criteria or wishes. But who then has final approval over what that looks like? So, uh when it comes through plan check, we look at the final plan reviews and uh we run it through our director and those are reviewed uh through layers of staff.

Okay. All right. Uh actually my question would be more about this uh sound wall. Will you make sure it looks pretty enough? Just have some Yes, absolutely. Okay. You know, maybe have some murals or some designs, right? So, when we look at a decorative wall, we look at uh you know, if you have a CMU block that's very plain, when we say decorative, it is that that treated um face of a block wall that is not the CMU. you know it they they spray it, they treat it and uh and typically it's color integrated with a cap. Okay, great. Because this is how you know this is probably the one of the major arteries there with the businesses and the tourism. Mhm.

Thank you. That wall is going to go it's obviously not going all the way up and down Churn Creek. So, is that wall going to look a little awkward just being a I didn't see the length of that wall itself, but actually based on the sound study, it does have to cover uh the entire Churn Creek side and it actually has to wrap around. Okay. So, to a distance because it's based on the sound study. All right, great. Thank you. Um we'll entertain a motion unless you had any modifications to your question. Is there something specifically you wanted to see done or are we

I just want to really make sure that it actually gets enforced. That's all. That's just my That's not directed at you. It's just historically we've done a good job of saying we want it to look really beautiful and then me is how sometimes it turns out. That's my technical term. Thank you. Okay. Uh let's entertain a motion if this is going to push forward. I'll make a motion to approve items one through four. I'll second it. All right. Uh without any further conversation, all in favor? I I Okay, that passes. Oh, exciting. [clears throat] You want to do another one, Mike? I these hearings we're getting good at them, so we'll do one more.

Uh,

I know. Fire 6.3 public hearing to consider the ordinance amending the Ready Municipal Code Title 9 under health and safety to line with updates to the 2025 California Fire Code. Got a whole army of people. So, here we go. Good evening, mayor, uh, city council. What's before you tonight is the adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code. Uh, it's been about a year and a half, two years in the making, working really closely with, uh, development services uh, director Jeremy Pagan and assistant city manager, uh, Michael Webb. And so, uh, we've put a lot of work into this and I think it's ready to go. Uh here to make the presentation tonight is your fire marshal, Deputy Chief Jay Summerland. Also have with us uh Assistant Fire Marshal Andrew Atkins uh who's the book guy. So if we need to dive into anything specific, uh he's the guy for that. So I'll turn it over to Chief Summerland. Thank you.

Good evening. If I look depressed, it's because the police were teasing me in the back of the room because they're leading the battle of the badge blood drive right now and it looks like the fire department's going to lose once again. However, just to let you know, we are cooler than you. Yes, we are. I Well, do you guys have way more tattoos? Is that what keeps the firemen out of being able to qualify? No, we're just cooler than them. Okay, we'll just leave it at that. I vote down on that one. [laughter] There's a bias I hear from the you. Oh, yes. Yes, sir. Oh, thank you. Um, do I have a clicker up here or somebody moving slides for me?

Oh, there we go. right over there.

Okay. Uh the California Fire Code is uh basically code of standards for fire prevention uh protecting life and property from fire and [clears throat] explosions. Um and it's part of the California Fire Code is part of fire law. Um we are kind of a a relation to the building code. We're part of the same family in the same order of laws and we're in the same area in the code of standard regulations title 24 part 9. Um just like the presentation that you had with the building code that you adopted a few months ago. Uh it's very similar. We have the same adoption issues uh that it's uh the process is every three years it's brought before as new changes. Every 18 months within that process it's updated and the updates are sent out. It became effective January 1st of 2026 uh where it became law in the state of California. Historically, um the city of Reading has uh amendments to it which are in our RMC uh that make it more strict or define what we're trying to get across to the developers within our community. The biggest changes that have happened in the 2025 uh fire code is uh wildland urban interface. Uh you guys adopt when you adopted the building code, you adopted chapter 7 uh book seven for the wildfire already. So that's already a part of our code and there's some changes to fire alarm and signaling systems that you'll see in some of the RMC changes we're making. Most of that is around cyber security stuff. you already have seen the fire hazard severity zones and you have adopted that already as the standard for the city of reading previous times and then there's some stuff about lithium ion batteries uh and uh how buildings get to use them and stuff. So what we're asking to do tonight is to uh adopt local amendments

of the 2025 California Fire Code with appendixes. So chapter 4 and all of those little letters. Um some of those are different and I'll go over those here in a little bit. So when we started looking at this process about a year ago, uh our fire code and RMC's were kind of a mess. Uh there was language that was just left in place from adoption to adoption to adoption. So one of the big things that we're moving away from is any language that talks about the international fire code. So that's being stripped out of every RMC language. Uh so everything's being touched basically, but those terms aren't uh correctly used in the fire code. Uh and it only reference to 2025 fire code from here on out until you adopt another one. Um when I say that we're removing them from the RMC, it doesn't mean that we're not we don't have a code. We look to directly to the fire code for the interpretation of what those say. So when you look at the first two about fire prevention divisions and supplemental rules and regulations, what it says in the fire code does cover our fire prevention bureau and the regulations uh around the fire code. We don't need to have redundant language or confusing language that would uh confuse somebody in development. Uh number 060 there, the appeals. So, appendix A that you're uh adopting, what that's going to do is create an appeals board. Right now, when you disagree with a statement that we make about your development, your only right uh to the department is to go to the fire chief and appeal to them about our ruling on how we're looking at a fire code. What an appeals board does is allows us to be basically lock step with how the city handles code enforcement because they have a code enforcement appeals board. It would be run exactly the same

way in this room and if there's anybody that wants to appeal a decision we've made on a property, it would be brought to that appeals board where they would be able to have facts from both sides and make a determination on how the code was uh administered. Uh the next two, fire safety during construction and verify higher threat zones. Uh what it says in the fire code about construction sites is fine for the city of Reading. It really was redundant language, so we're removing it. Uh very high fire severity threat zones, you already adopted language in the city code, so we don't need to be redundant or confusing to people, so we're removing it. The biggest one I think that you're going to see for tonight is this 210, the very bottom one. Then th this is a fireflow requirement for new construction, large complex buildings. Uh you're talking multi-story structures, large complexes, warehouses, things like that where your fireflow requirement, we restricted it. There's a chart that we required that you could if the building was sprinklered, you could have a 50% reduction of your fire flow. However, we've reversed our thought process on that because you guys have been able to supplement our fire department with adequate staffing. So, I don't have to send eight fire engines to a fire anymore. I can send four and have adequate staffing to be able to put the fire out. That allows us to be able to make a change like this and rely just on what the fire code is, which is a 75% reduction. What that's going to do for a developer is if they have to put in fire pumps, it may not be as large as fire as large as fire pumps or they may not have to do any infrastructure changes to the water purveyor that supplies water to that establishment. Uh right now I think we only have one development in construction that this will have a major ramification to them uh for it'll be an improvement. It'll cost them less money to build that structure.

um more amendment. Uh now we're going to make some amendment changes. Anytime we make a change to an amendment, we have to follow through with our findings and everything uh we have to link to climate, geology, topographical um with reasonable necessary changes. And most of these things um are because of our topography and how long it takes us to get to a fire because of our road systems, where our fire stations are located, and how far we have to drive. So, the first one is 070. That's violation penalties. We're required in the fire code to identify it. It's the only reason it's in here. Uh what the fire code says is fine, but we have to define what those penalties are, and that's what this code does. Um the next one down is enforcement. This is where it defines who has authority within the city of Reading and in the fire department to enforce these laws and the codes. Um, and then the bottom one at 100, this is probably the biggest change that we're making in this little group is about open burning. What we're asking is that unlawful burning becomes a misdemeanor. And it would be defi it defines what un uh unlawful burning is. And then it requires you as an individual to have written permission to burn on somebody else's property. So let's say you own a huge swath of undeveloped land and somebody decide to go camp out on your property and set up camp. If they start a fire, a cooking fire, any type of fire in your property, that would be a misdemeanor and it would be illegal for them to do that because they do not own that property. However, if you as the owner went out and had a campfire or barbecue on your own property, that is not a big deal because you own the property. Um and then it also defines what authorized open burning is. So that's one of the biggest changes. It gives us a little

bit more teeth in enforcing uh fire code and fire laws in our open spaces. Just to I'm sorry to interrupt you. Just to clarify that applies to the public land, right? Yes, it does. Yeah. If you don't own it, you can't do it. Um, if you're in a a designated area like in one of our parks that has a cooking spot and you're cooking in it, that that's a designated area, but if you have a campfire underneath a tree, you can't do that. That's that's where that goes.

Um, we're changing some language in the fire apparatus access roads to remove the term all weather. Um, in the city of Reading, it's always said that it has to be asphalt concrete and then it said all weather. what it was doing was confusing developers thinking that they could put a dirt road in. Um, and that's not what we ever intended. So, we're removing the language to make it very clear that this has to be a asphalt or concrete road kind of like a the river trail. Uh, it just has to be asphalt capable of 75,000lb vehicle. Uh, fire hydrants. Um, we are putting in that it's going to be a requirement in the WOOI to put a fire hydrant at the end of every culde-sac that has access or access to the WOOI. What this does for the fire department is instead of running a hose line down the middle of the road when I'm having you try to leave your houses and you have to drive over my fire hose, I can set up operation in the very end and protect more homes in the wildland because I have a very confined operational area that doesn't affect people escaping when we're doing an operation. Um, this is really going to help us uh defend future uh developments as we move forward. The other big one is that we used to have a requirement for hydrants to be within 40 feet of the a fire department connection. So buildings that have sprinkler systems, they have a fire department connections. Usually they're all commercial. Um we've removed that because again back into staffing, the ability to get enough people there 100 feet away from the what the fire code says you can have one up to 100 feet away. That's adequate for our needs. Now, uh, the next one that's a pretty big one is this existing buildings. We used to require that if you remodeled your home, a business, and it w you did 50% or more remodel, you would be required to sprinkler your structure. What we've done is removed that requirement and

just have the language that if you hit 2,000 gallons per minute of water flow requirement to put out a fire, you'd be required to do that because now you're into a large structure um that needs that type of protection. So it's so if grandma has a tree that hits her house and the roof was ended up being 50%, she can still have her 1958 home without having to put a sprinkler system in it. Um, and it's going to eliminate that reasoning uh from the fire code. This makes more sense for the city of writing. Could you just explain this a little bit more? What do you mean with 2,000 gallon flow? Because that can affect a lot of commercial structures in our area.

It it does, but depending on what type of construction you make it, that chart changes. There's a specific chart within it based off of if you're a non-combustible structure like Amazon, you can be a lot larger structure without requiring um uh uh sprinklers. Uh and it changes based off of the size of your structure depending on your construction type,

right? But what I'm saying is most of the buildings are not recent. They're not going to be like Amazon. So just in a simple words that I mean I'm just trying to get get some idea that is it going to apply to every small building in town which wants to change something in the future or it's only applies to 100,000 square feet buildings. It it's if you 2,000 gallons per minute water flow um you have the chart. Just just give me some idea like how many square feet of building you're talking about. We'll pull up the chart and we'll read some numbers off to you.

So for type 5B construction 6200B that's going to be ST. Yeah. Just kind of Yeah. So ordinary construction based off the chart you would have to make your house 6,200 square ft addition or total remodel. If you if you build a 6,000 foot home remodel, you would be required to put a sprinkler in. Remember in the state of California, all R3 houses are required by law in the state of California to be sprinkler, right?

So no matter what your size is, this is before that became law. If you're remodeling your home, let's say you have an 1100 foot home and you chose to turn it into a 6,500T home, you would be required to sprinkle this structure. But if you did a 5,000t home, you would not. So it applies to existing building. So, you're adding 6,000 square ft or so, give or take. That's when this will apply. That's what you're saying.

Yeah. If if if you if you make your building that large, we're going to require you. Currently, it's 50. We had it as written as 50%. So, if you're,00 square feet and you just double the size of that, you at you're at 1,600 foot home, you'd be required to under the current RMC. I see. So, we're going to let you go to 5,000 square feet before you're required addition. addition. Okay. To do that. Gotcha. Thank you. Let's see. Um,

uh, we're going to ask to have some amendments to fireworks. So, in Shasta County, fireworks are illegal. They always have been for a long, long, long time. Um, we want it to be very clear to the public that in the city of Reading, if you are lighting off fireworks, it will be a misdemeanor. Um it's not clear. It it is in the county, but you have to go dig through some stuff. We just want to make sure that the public's very clear that that's what's going to happen uh if you light off fireworks in our community. The next one is about sprinkler systems. You have the NFPA 1313D and 13R. They all are different size and types of structures. And 13D and R require bathrooms to be covered. uh there I think it's 55 square feet

over 55 square feet and so what we wanted to do is just make it so that when we're doing plan review and we're looking at any sprinkler system we're looking at built rooms that are 55 square feet or larger all of them will have a sprinkler head in them and it makes it consistent when we're doing plan review speeds that process up for us um and it's safer for the occupants of the structure um 220 table C20 2011's Sorry. Um it it removes contradiction language because we've already removed the statement earlier about 40 feet to the FDC versus 100 ft. It removes that language from that uh RMC. Um appendix D is another large one. Uh what this appendix D number 230 the very bottom line there is in the city if you have a uh new subdevelopment that is at 49 homes uh it you're required to have secondary fire access roads. The fire code used to be different and so there was a conflict between what we had as a sub development ordinance and then what the fire code said. We're changing this to match what the subdivision standard is in the city at 49 homes. So it makes it a streamline process. It's it's the same standard just like the building code. Um the uh the state of California is freezing the building code and the fire code at the exact same time. So the next time you're going to see us come for an adoption is in 2031. and we have some local prohibitive things that we can and can't do within the RMC with the fire code between now and then. So, what you're adopting right now is what it's going to be for quite a while. Um, we may come back at you after we get some legal advice about a vegetation management ordinance uh because our city needs one and we're

working on that process right now, but that's probably all you're going to see from the fire department going forward until that that timeline ends. Uh what we're asking tonight is uh staff is asking for to conduct this public hearing and introduce the ordinance amendment amending reading municipal code title 9 relating to adoption of the 2025 California fire code for first reading by title only and wave the full reading. Authorize the city attorney to prepare and the city clerk to publish a summary ordinance according to law. find that the adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code does not qualify as a project under SQA. Do you have any questions for me?

We're going to open up a going to open up for a public hearing first and nobody wants to speak. So, we're going to close the public hearing and then we're going to open up for questions or comments from council. So, council member Muns, can you go back to the very first slide? Mr. Summerland, the um the bottom one about the fire flow, is that from within a building or you're talking about a uh Yeah. When when you build a structure, you're required to show have an engineer show the the required fire flow for the sprinkler systems um and putting out the fire for that structure based off the dimensions of it.

Mean, did you say it need to be reduced by 50%. Therefore, you can have less less. No, we're at 50% now. Okay. If you adopt this, it'll be at 75% which will be equal to what the California fire code already says. So, their reduction, they get a larger deduction if they put sprinklers in the building. And so, their fire flow water requirement coming into the complex is less than what they would have under the old code. Yeah, thank you. I misunderstood that part.

Uh, a question on the fire sprinklers. Um I I know most insurance policies automatically pay for building and code ordinance upgrade coverage. Um it is obviously a burden to require somebody to put in fire sprinklers. Um is there any data or feedback you have on that to where it's just been very very difficult for people that have done remodels and this has been a burden or maybe some people just don't have insurance and means to pay for that. Well, we were really more concerned about grandma um and an oak tree falling into our house and putting an undue burden on somebody that has lived here for 50 60 years. Um it was more that than new construction. It was it was really about is this really fair to our community? And we didn't think it was. But we also know there's there's a balance point of if you have an 1100 foot home and you turn it into a 7,000 foot home, you should probably keep up with the standards because really you just built a brand new home.

Um and if you did build a brand new home, you would have to have a sprinkler system in it anyway. So we are looking for a compromise. Yeah. And that's what we came up with. Okay. Uh other question just for data or feedback at the fireworks turning that into a misdemeanor. um is what is the current enforcement that we have right now and is the enforcement we had problems with that type of enforcement that it's either not been effective or we not really been able to No what it does can you elaborate on that why we need to make that a mistake

typically what it is is when we go out and do enforcement of fireworks it's usually we confiscate we give them a we give them a choice we're either going to take your fireworks away from you or we're going to write you a ticket for a misdemeanor and then we're going to take your fireworks anyway way. Now it's evidence. Which way do you want to go? And then they hand over all this stuff and then we lock it in a uh our evidence collection until we can dispose of it properly. Okay. Got it. All right. Good. I don't approve. I'll second. Okay. Uh without any further comment, all in favor? I I passes. Uh we don't have any more public hearings.

You did a good job on those. I we we all did I wanted to talk to you, but we all did good. I expected a lot of comment today, but um all right, we'll move on to our regular calendar items. Uh we're going to start with the assistant city manager 9.2A, an oral update regarding the agreement with Circle 6 Consulting Incorporated. [clears throat and snorts]

Uh good evening, honorable mayor, members, council, community. Uh Michael Webb, assistant city manager, director [clears throat] of public works. Uh this evening I'll be providing an informational presentation regarding an update to the efficiency study that's been underway for roughly about four weeks now. So first I was going to touch on what's been done so far. Um so quick little synopsis here. Um our consultant has conducted 74 interviews um across multiple departments including uh essentially a number of yourselves a number of customers residents really focusing on inefficiencies workflows and decision layers. Um in addition our consultant has uh conducted 10 site visits. Um, obviously we have multiple facilities throughout the city. Um, more than 10 obviously, uh, but we focused on 10 that we felt were critical that could really provide them the information they needed to help us evaluate our workflows. Um, as you can also imagine there are a number of documents available the city is currently working on producing or historical documents. Um there were over 300 documents that we either prepared um and provided to the consultant or already had it had and shared with the consultant for their review. Um and along that process, we really were targeting cost leakage and risk reduction across all departments in the city. And I really do want to stress that that there really is a focus predominantly right now on looking at general fund um areas, but we are looking citywide um across both enterprise departments as well as the general fund with a a priority of course on the general fund right now. Uh we also had the consultant look at lean waste identification um exhausting all options and looking into workflows um to reduce administrative burden of of routine tasks. So, our phase one findings, um, in general, phase one identified city-wide

opportunities to capture near-term value, um, while laying a solid groundwork for long-term operational financial improvements. And that is really a mouthful, so you're likely wondering what does that mean? At the end of the day, what it means is we've identified a number of quick wins again specifically within the general fund first because that was our targeted area focus um that I will touch on in the in the coming few slides that right now we are validating and hope to move through the the follow-up processes in the in the coming weeks. Then near the end of my presentation, um you'll hear me talk about what the long-term solutions and strategies are for what I would describe as the more meat and potato and the real things that we need to talk about that do provide the long-term sustainable groundwork and foundation for the city moving into the future. So, with that, I'll jump into the first uh quick win, which was um we worked with Director Robinette's staff as well as a number of other departments within the city to identify all of the incumbrances that were active as of a couple weeks ago. Um, as you can imagine, there were a a a large number of incumbrances that were open, probably hundreds, if not thousands. Um, and we scrolled through those looking for incumbrances that really had no activity for the last 12 months. Also with a focus on having general fund dollars. And based on that, right now staff are working with the consultant. And we believe that there's roughly 300,000 to $500,000 worth of general fund encumbrances um that can be closed out and those dollars um or resources, if you will, would be available um to put back into the general fund reserves. Obviously, after we validate all those, we'll be working very closely with Director Robinette and his team to bring that information back before you and properly document that um

transition, for lack of a better term. And again, um we're really moving very fast on this and even even as of a couple days ago when the presentation was finalized, we were still going through the validation process. We're still finishing that up right now today. Um, and even beyond that, we're validating to make sure that there weren't any incumbrances or contracts that slipped through the cracks just due to the sheer magnitude um of workload that we're talking about. Uh, the second quick win, again, uh, focus on the general fund right now. Um, we were looking at our dormant construction improvement projects or excuse me, capital improvement projects, apologies. Um, and we've identified a number of capital improvement projects that either are solely funded from general fund dollars or have general fund dollars on them. Um, totaling roughly about a4 million dollars um that my team, the public works team, as well as finance department and the efficiency consultant are looking into and we're going to confirm whether or not we can close those projects out. And again, similar to the stale encumbrances, these dollars would be able to be swept back um and essentially put into the the reserves. Uh yes, sir.

Um are these stale because we don't uh have enough employees to work them or if they're in a capital improvement project? We

So, so that's a good question, Council Member Muns. Essentially, what's happening is we have a number of projects that have got essentially achieved project completion and they're either sitting in limbo while we're going through the project closeout processes um or we're we haven't had time to get to that for a while. So what we're doing is we're prioritizing the ones that have the most general fund impact to get those to project close out first. Obviously as projects get to um project completion there are a number of things that we need to do. Typically we're waiting for invoices from contractors or vendors. they need to get invoices from their subconsultants and then we also go through a project closeout process. A lot of times we're as builts or other things are constructed. So it does generally take a little bit of time from an actual project finishing construction out in the field to really being able to deem the project complete. And so there were a few projects we identified that were in there that we could probably speed up or are ready to be closed out. And when we go through that process, we anticipate approximately about $250,000 to be freed up of general fund dollars. But I want do want to preface preface that again after we finish this exercise with the general fund dollars, um we will do the same exercise for the enterprise funds, which I would expect the the dollar amounts to be a little bit different just given the sheer magnitude of the the enterprise level projects.

Thank you.

You're welcome. So, with that, I'm going to transition from what we were um titling the quick wins into what the real meat and potatoes of the effort are are likely to um provide. And I liked this quote that we received from our consultant, Circle 6. And I know that all of you can read as as well as the members in the public, but I think this is very telling of of where we're at and and what we can hope to get out of this or we expect to get out of this. Um the first four weeks have shown that reading has a cred credible path to regain control, create capacity, and improve long-term resilience. The opportunity now is to capture the quick wins while carefully evaluating, prioritize, prioritizing, and sequencing the larger structural moves that can deliver the most durable impact. So in my mind, what we're talking about here is that there are a number of strategic decisions that we'll hopefully be able to make here in the near future based on data and analytics that we'll be working with our consultant to obtain over the coming months that will be able to put us on a path to be in a better position. So this this is good news. And as an example of some of that here at a high level are are some of the things that we're looking into for what I would call or describe phase three. We're looking at aligning services and workload. So essentially matching our resources to demand, evaluating our staffing, our workload, our service demand, overtime scheduling, vacancy across all departments, looking at staffing models, overtime drivers, callback provisions, peak demand, deployment needs, um assessing organizational structure, span of control, position control, staffing compared to budgeting staff. Those are all things that fall under the align services and workload bucket that we'll be working very closely with our consultant to evaluate and ultimately make recommendations on. Similarly to

that um streamlining our processes uh the main goal here is is we want to use tools and leverage technology. We we want to eliminate manual work as much as possible. Um so looking to again expand our existing technology platforms. This is all the software that we use. There's multiple programs that the city uses. Um, we'd like to get on a plan to where we're paperless. You know, get away from pushing paper or trading red folders or yellow folders. Um, the size paper

I we that's a small example. Yes. Uh, standard standardization. That's another big thing. Looking at ways to standardize reports between departments or coming from centralized functions. um as well as administrative workflows including payroll, [snorts] contracts, procurement, project tracking and development review processes. Um another area that we're going to be focusing on is modernizing our delivery methods. So how do we improve our services that we deliver? So look at [snorts] centralized contract intake, legal review tiers, vendor overlap, grant management, utility customer service delivery, and the clerk's office operations. Um, IT is included in that and and looking at making sure that our IT service delivery and we're coordinating our IT needs between departments and not buying competing software. Obviously, public safety governance models are critical here as well as our customer service structures, fleet. Um, as all of you know, the city maintains a very large fleet of approximately a thousand vehicles. So how we maintain and operate that um is very important as well as our facility operating models both from initial construction through maintenance in the complete life cycle. Fourth uh focus there will be strengthening our organizational readiness essentially building capacity and consistency. Um we we strongly need to look at supervisorial and leadership training as well as cross trainining um between departments um and target staff training for Oracle and Microsoft 365 as well as other critical software um that the city currently uses. Um updating our expired and outdated policies and this is citywide. It's not focused on any one department or division, but we will be looking at policies and procedures and updating all of them. Um, including Cal cards, remote work, purchasing, and operational procedures. Um, strengthen our fiscal governance through recurring

reviews of incumbrances like I mentioned in the few quick wins today, as well as our CIP projects. Um, we'll be looking at debt refinancing opportunities as well as internal fund um, service costs. And finally, we have the manage costs and support growth. This is where we're looking to advance fiscal resilience and growth. Um, this is really talking about validating and pursuing the quick wins that I described a few moments ago, both within the general fund, that being our first focus, and secondarily with our enterprise funds. Then evaluate fee structures, talk about cost recovery, development services, uh, receivables, airport revenues, park impact fees, as well as utility customer service revenue opportunities. So, there's a whole lot there that we're working on um with our consultant as well as our staff to really look under every nook and cranny and the couch cushions and find every opportunity to do what we do better and more efficiently um and take advantage of that and and those are where the real long-term benefits of this process will bear fruit. So, where do we go from here? Well, right now we are continuing to validate the quick wins. I've mentioned that a number of times. I hope to have those validated in the coming weeks um and bring that back before you shortly and um and explain what we found and what we're going to do with it and what we recommend. Um secondarily to that, we're going to expand the data review. Um based on what we found so far, there will be areas that we want to dive a little bit deeper into and understand better. um as those are areas where we likely expect that we can gain more, get more value. And so right now, our consultant is um looking into that and we're making arrangements to to start that kind of phase three um deep dive into those specific areas. Um in alignment with that, we'll be talking with the subject matter experts within those individual departments or divisions. For instance, if we're

talking about the capital improvement plan, I would anticipate that the public works or engineering department would be instrumental in that. or if we were talking about the water wastewater utility, same thing or parks or whatever. So, we would involve the staff from those areas as as well as finance and personnel in a number of those conversations. Then last but not least, we need to set priorities and and really talk about establishing KPIs and standard metrics so that we can ensure that what we're doing on a day-to-day basis is in alignment with where we want to be go as a city, who we want to be, and that we can track, control, measure, and report on that and make sure that we're constantly moving forward in the appropriate direction with the resources that we have available to us. Um, I know I threw a lot at you, um, but I would be happy to entertain any questions that the council may have. So, thank you.

I have a couple questions or thoughts. Um, I think the public is generally very pleased that we're doing this and but the question I get a lot with people that I talk to in the community or the stuff we hear is how how can they hear the about the results? They don't attend necessarily these meetings. They may not have time to watch the meetings. Um, I thought we had talked about a possibility that we might uh create a website uh for ongoing updates, but that might be my feedback I provide back is if there's a website to be able to uh continue to report the results, update the public, they can see how they process. I mean, this is really exciting to see a consultant come in and help us uh get some onetime savings and some long-term savings to the general fund. But if we're really trying to build back the public transparency and really to bring this community together for the long term, we really need to show them the data and they need to be able to see it. And I think the best form could be I I could quickly go to the community and say, "Yeah, go to this website right here. We're still working on this." They're going to keep putting updates on here. Uh just like this slideshow. I mean, that'd be great. Just so they can come uh see this. So, that'd be my feedback there. And um I think it's great that we're getting, you know, one-time savings. that doesn't necessarily always of course help us with the ongoing funds to our general fund and I'll be certainly excited to see how we're going to get ongoing funds to the general fund so we can you know solve a lot of our infrastructure issues such as streets you know buildings that we own parks and all that stuff. So that's just my feedback for you.

So thank you for that. Um, and right now I am working with the communications team to put out something um, in general very similar to this. And we can definitely certainly look into putting up a a web page where presentations and other information could be shared for public consumption. Maybe via the comm team. It could just live on the city's main web page, but via communications that we're putting out into the public can direct them or there's an easy link on what it is where we already have stuff. Mhm. I don't know that it needs to like totally have it own. Yeah. I mean within the city website just one page itself which is for updates or news. So that'll be great. Easy link. That's what we're looking for here. Certainly we can do that.

Okay. I you have any question?

I just have a couple of comments. Uh uh one thing is I've heard from uh city's employees and the staff you know of course uh tough times bring anxiety and that hey what's going to happen are we going to see the layoffs or furlows or the salary reduction I just want to assure that and I think uh you can chime in if you want you don't have to that's not our goal that's not our direction what we're really trying to find is efficiency and trying to improve improve the uh the delivery service rather than really cutting anybody's salaries or uh layoffs or anything. The second thing is are you making a part of this conversation that because this is kind of a cost side cost of providing service we trying to reduce that. How do we grow the pie? How do we make it bigger? How do we bring more economic wealth next economic engine? because lot of our local economy is more like a circulation within the system. So is this group I don't know if this possible can they also look into this advising us that this is the next big thing reading can do which has a demand as well as uh the opportunity. So so is that something you are looking into or can look into that?

Yes. So those are both great uh questions Dr. Duka. So thank you. I'll touch on the the first one first and then and then get on the second one as well. You're spot on that the effort really is focused right now or in total um to find opportunities to provide the best value and service um to the community and to identify areas maybe where departments are stepping on on top of each other and maybe duplicating efforts and we can remove those barriers or streamline processes and and get staff back to doing really what they were originally hired to do. and um eliminate or minimize the number of activities that they're doing that that really are outdated or no longer need to be there. Um that is the number one priority of this effort and looking at that and ways to do what our core services um to the best value possible and that is 100% what we're looking to do. Um to your second question, we are absolutely having a conversation or multiple conversations with the consultants on the other side of the equation, which would be how do we um grow revenue responsibly? How do we leverage the assets that we have? Um how do we attract um you know, business development, whatever that is, we're having those conversations as well. Um and I I hope to be able to provide more information at a later date to you on on what we're doing there. But we are absolutely looking into that as well. So thank you.

Yeah. And when you do that, it not only in terms of attracting businesses uh for, you know, okay, let's try to get this business in town. I'm looking for his next big idea for our city. We have a number of next big ideas that we're flushing out that I can't wait to share with you in the future.

We're looking forward to that. Thank you. All right, this was information only, so I don't see any other questions. Um, and that's I think we're ready to move on. So, thank you. You're welcome. Uh, our next item, public works 9.11f consider ordinance amending ready municipal code title 14 under utilities chapter 14.09 water shortage contingency plan.

[snorts]

Honorable mayor, members of the council, my name is Ryan Bailey. I'm an assistant director of public works with what I like to call the wet utilities, water, wastewater, and solid waste. And tonight, I have for you our water shortage continuity plan ordinance update. Before we get to the plan itself, I'm going a little background, a little um history on the water use from as far as last year. We'll use for example, just kind of a reminder. Um so, city reading water utility about 31,000 customers. Um 87%'s residential, the rest commercial, industrial, [snorts] um institutional. So last year we used approximately 23,000 acre feet of water. And you can see there on the chart um kind of shows you the when that water is used obviously city reading hot time of summer everybody's irrigating um that's when most of our water is used um for there so most of our water comes from the Sacramento River that's where it's roughly 40 in at least last year um about 45% of the water came out of the river um the other percentage so roughly 24ish I think or so percent 28% came out of Whiskeytown Lake. Um and then the remaining water comes from our well groundwater system. We also um purchase usually on an annual basis a little bit of water from ACID approximately 500 acre feet. So just a small little portion of that. Um so now jump in kind more to the um reason we're here. Water storage contingency plan. So essentially what our water storage contingency plan is. So it was established in 2015. It was a requirement of the state water resources control board um and it can be found under ready municipal code chapter 1409. Essentially what it is, it's six stages of conservation. Um, and it's a tool that can be used um basically first stage, voluntary, moderate, medium,

going to emergency, top sta, essentially your your top stage. And what it is is your your your goal is to reduce the your water usage for city reading as a whole um through those various stages. There's really two reasons why we would implement the water shortage contingency plan and go into those stages. Um drought andor a system emergency. Um there's really kind of two ways we can be in a drought year. Um one is um our water allocation that is provided to us by the Bureau of Reclamation. It's federal um through the Shasta Lake through through Shasta Dam. Um they provide an allocation to us. usually comes out in February. Well, excuse me, initial February, but March, April is when we get that final allocation. But if that allocation is reduced for any reason in a drought year, per se, that's one way we possibly implement the contingency plan. The other one is if the state comes in and just mandates the city andor other, you know, usually it's throughout the state. They just mandate a certain cut that we have to do. Um, for example, that happened in 2015, even though we had a 20 75% allocation of water. So, we had enough water being it was a drought year, the state mandated across the board that all water purveyors, all water municipalities had to do a reduction of 36%. on kind of similar basis on 22 was the last time we used our water shortage contingency plan. We had an 18% allocation from the bureau. If you recall that was, you know, that was kind of a unheard of um for the times. That was when ACID was not able to run their canal. Um we were able in in 2022, even with an 18% allocation, we were able to have enough water. We did purchase some water to help um our you know help have more water for that year. And then that

year just for reference in 22 we were at stage two. 2015 we were at stage two also but there were only four stages back then. So just to kind of give you an idea of where we were at back then and then really so what those um percentages are we have a baseline water allocation from 2020. So back in 2020 we used about 26,000 acre feet. So that is our baseline water use. So every time we go to a stage we're looking at reducing that amount for the percentages wise just and for information stage one we are in stage one year round. It's a voluntary reduction. Um we ask all of our you know all of our f um customers to you know voluntarily reduce water. It's basically more of just common sense means you you're you know have a a water shut off valve on your hose. um you're not watering the sidewalks, you're you know keeping an eye on your sprinkler systems, whatnot. That's just your voluntary um reductions [snorts] that we're asking far as the water. So part of the water shortage contingency land why I'm here. So um every five years we do an urban water management plan update and that plan requires us to look at our water shortage contingency plan. So, um what we did is when we reviewed our water storage contingency plan um we decided from past year's um public input on some of the timing of water. So, basically we have two reasons we're here tonight. Change the time of the watering and some just grammatical edits. And I just want to make clear there are no regulatory requirements for the for the change tonight. This is based on public input and whatnot from from the past. So the the what we're looking at changing, like I said, besides the grammatical changes throughout the document, just some minor changes here and there, the main reason we're here tonight is to look at the the watering time. So the old language discouraged

watering from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. And then stage two and on the same. It would prohibit watering from 7 am to 900 pm. And really what that what we're looking at here is for folks that you know obviously you don't have a an automatic sprinkler system or whatnot and you're manually watering. If you kind of think about it having to water before 7 a.m. in the morning andor after 6 900 p.m. at night it's kind of a little tough especially depending on the year. summertime, sure, it's lighter later [snorts] and whatnot, you can do it, but not, you know, this this contingency plan is year round. So, um you know, come March or even earlier, if we have a dry winter, per se, and people want to be out watering, you're going to be watering in the dark. So, we looked at the um like I said, the based on some kind of public input and kind of just a reasonable lifestyle and we are proposing to change the watering from now. Um, it's going to be well, stage one will discourage watering from 9:00 am to 6 pm and then stage two on prohibits watering from 9:00 am to 6 p.m. So, a little larger window there. Allows people to water um a little more I would say not frequent but just a little bit easier on life. [clears throat] So, really that's pretty much it. So for tonight, my uh recommendations um offer an ordinance amending chapter 1409, excuse [clears throat] me, authorizing city attorney to prepare the summary ordinance um clerk to publish it and find it exempt from SQA. And then in the future, we'll also be back for the second reading and we will also be bringing it forward um for your consideration the actual five-year update to the urban water management plan and the water shortage contingency plan itself. Um, with that, thank you and I'm available for any questions.

Could you clarify uh, for example, under voluntary reductions 10%. Mhm.

Is that based on an allocation a household would get or let's say this, for example, they achieved a 10% reduction, would they have to do another 10% reduction the next year and another the next year? So, or is that just based on a general allocation to a household? So the voluntary is based on our um 2020 baseline which was I think like I said it was like 26,000 acre feet of water and so for example last year how much water the city of reading used we we reduced our water use about 12%. So we met that voluntary you know reg it's not really a requirement just the voluntary reduction of 10% we're at 12% last year just you know just for people kind of you know just basically being cautious of what you're doing with your water not letting the hose run washing your car various stuff like that clarify

so it's not like a great job saving 10% do it again and use even less and use even less the next year after that. No, it's that standard baseline 10% off of 26,000. Yeah. Okay. So, great. I'll make a motion to approve items one through three. I'll second it. Before we take a vote, can I make sure to offer the ordinance? Uh, we first need to have public comment and then instead of the word offer, I'd actually like you to use introduce, but let's first do public hearing before you Sounds great. Introduce. Okay, you're up.

So, um, we're going to open for public comment. Maybe I missed that cuz it sounds like a public hearing. So, but uh and nobody wants to speak. There we go. Motion to approve. Second. Are we good now? Okay. All in. Yeah. Sorry. That's your You know, I'd like you to say that. Why not? [clears throat] All in favor? [laughter] I mean, just just do it. So, all right. Um that's it. Nothing else to do on that. We're not reading the ordinance or anything like that. Okay. All right. Moving on. Um, no more public hearings. No more any of that. Going to go to council travel reports and anything to report back from anybody?

No. But, um, council member Danuka and Mr. Muns and I did attend an event. Oh. Uh, today. It was in town, but I just was really really encouraged. Um, it is the Actually, I'm going to let Dr. could talk about it because he had really good words to say. Well, your your microphone's

Thank you. Uh this councilman Resnner is uh referring to a food distribution service this morning by church of uh later days saints saints at Mercy Oaks. So they had a huge big truck come to the city and they distribute to several local pantries and food banks. Mercy connected living is a primary food bank in our community. Uh it was a big affair. lot of food banks uh and pantries were there and frankly for me it was eye opening to see almost five% of our population in our area is food insecure means that they need some help with supplying the basic food to their family that was pretty eye openening for me so it was very good but the other side of this was uh this was this was designated today as uh in celebration of 250th birthday of our nation and what I said there I was kind of moved to say two things there one was that uh LDS church had put out a video few years ago be the light of Christ and what you do for the service of our human other your fellow human beings you're walking in that path so this was basically living that life that also what I felt was that this is the right way to celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation. That's what we are that we help each other and our fellow human beings. So this is the perfect way of celebrating it rather than you know doing so many other things which sometimes are not so humane.

Yeah. So yeah it was a beautiful way to serve. All right. So thank you for reminding us and uh we will that's my only travel report. All right. Thank you for sharing that was that was very meaningful. Um line item 12 suggestions from council members relative to potential topics for future city council items or for the meetings. I only have one item just to ask to see are we going to get an update that's going to come back to the council. We maybe a year ago about that time we asked for an ordinance to come back to collect uh the TOT taxes on Airbnb or short-term rentals. I think our city attorney was working on that in the past, but I I don't know if the council would like to see an update come back to the council on the progress on that. So,

yes. Okay, we can do that. Okay, thank you. Uh, anything else from other council members? All right, we are adjourned. Thank you. I have it.