City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening, everybody. Welcome to the June 2nd meeting of the Red Bluff City Council. And as you know, we meet the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 530. And again, the agenda in front of you packet, if you cannot attend in person, you can attend remotely. Instructions are given there. And again, we're excited to have you here. Would you stand and we'll do the pledge, please. Salute Pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, Thank you, everybody. Excuse me. One thing that I would ask council members, put the mic close to you so make sure everybody can hear. And whatever you say is recorded. We're in a new system, and that really helps the system to identify who's speaking on council at the time that we are going through different items.

Anything we say can and will be used against us. In the court of law.

I just want to make sure everybody caught on to that. Thank you, Pat. OK. We're going to go into citizens' comment. I wanted to let you know that anything that is on the agenda item tonight, please wait and comment on the item when it comes up instead of citizens' comment. If you happen to start addressing something that is on the agenda, I will try to stop you and say please wait. So thank you for that. Also, we limit your speaking to one person three minutes each, and we are thankful that you can do that, so please open citizen comment right now at 5.31.

On your mark, get set, go. Father, I'm here to pray. Thank you for this country that gives us the right to exercise our voice via the vote today. Pray that the elections across our country will have been done in good order, that your will will be accomplished, people will be elected, propositions will be passed that will work to the prosperity of our communities, to our country. Pray particularly for those here in this community, Father. Thank you for that. I want to read a Bible verse. It's one of my favorites. It says, When the fullness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those that they might be adopted as sons. The word fullness of time is an interesting word. All of you women who have ever been pregnant, you know what fullness means. And that's what the word means. It means when time was pregnant. when time was ready to give birth. And what it means is that he sent forth his son when the time was ripe. What made the time ripe? Well, the Jews had been suffering for centuries and had gotten to the point where they didn't have a Bible that they could read. Their Old Testament was in Hebrew. And the Jews, under persecution, had lost the ability to speak Hebrew, if you can imagine that. Alexander the Great, 300 years before Jesus was born, had conquered the world. And everybody in that part of the world spoke Greek. That was the first thing. Everybody spoke Greek. Soon after that, 200 years later, Rome conquered the world. They built highways all over that part of the world. They established military garrisons that protected people who traveled. The next thing that happened is that the Jews were dispersed in a terrible set of circumstances that destroyed most of Judea. And when they were dispersed, everywhere they went that they could, they established synagogues. You say, well, what in the world does that mean? That means that when Paul was sent out to establish missions and to build churches, he had people that spoke his language, Greek, everywhere he went, much like English is spoken everywhere you would go today. It meant that he had safe roads to travel on. It meant that when he was attacked, he was rescued often by Roman soldiers who pulled him out of crowds so that he was safe. It meant that when he spoke in the Jewish synagogues, he had people who wanted to hear about their Messiah. It means that when Paul went out, the time that was ripe, when Jesus was born, was no accident. Jesus was sent in the fullness of time that his father had planned before the foundation of the world that the Savior would come. And when the time was ripe for me, God sent Jesus to me. Maybe he did to you. Maybe he will for you. Thank you.

I'll add an amen to that, Pastor Scott. By divine design, God's timing is perfect. My name is Ken Boone. I'm part of the Street Smarts Citizens Initiative Committee that brings you Measure S. I was asked today if I'm confident that it's going to pass, and my answer was no. But it's leaning that direction. Let's look to the word of God before I make any more comments about that. And honorable mayor, I appreciate your attention as well as that of the council staff here.

We're honored to have you here as well.

Psalm 108, I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations, for your loving kindness is great above the heavens, and your truth reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and your glory above all the earth. It sounds like a victory passage from the scriptures. But again, I'm not sure until I see the numbers. I do know that we have streets that need to be fixed. And that was my intention along with that of six others on the committee. We're talking about Clay, Jody, Scott, Danielle is a part of that. She worked herself almost to death. Penny also is a part of the committee. We have worked as a group of seven. Just among our seven, we've raised thousands of dollars of personal money that we've put into this because we're serious about this. Putting in hundreds and hundreds of hours. And so we got skin in the game. And for the first time, I've gotten a taste, as I mentioned to Chris just a moment or two back, of what it takes to be involved in making things happen in Red Bluff. Thank you very much for being a part of the city council and for doing what you do. Would I do it again? No. Nope. Except for one thing and that is that I love Red Bluff and I love the people of Red Bluff and I think I could speak for the fellow members of the Measure S Committee. So I assume that you've all voted, yes. Looking forward to good things in the future and I think we're in good shape. Good reason to thank God. Anyone else?

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Today voters will decide on the future of Measure S. And, you know, roads are very important, but the people who build them matter too. When millions of tax dollars are invested into public infrastructure, should always be aware of what we're asking. Are the local people getting opportunity? Are the apprentices being trained? Are the young people being introduced to careers that can support a family? Infrastructures should do more than just repave the pavement. It should help build skills, careers, economic opportunity right here at home. No matter what happens with Measure S, Really hope that you guys take a moment and consider. I know 2024, a local something was put on, but actually putting people locally. We're not talking about hundreds. You have the power to change five people's lives, five families. That may be mine. I mean, I got a job offer to go to Maryland just last week. Times are tough right now in the construction trades. It's not just in our community. But we hear about a multi-million dollar project Last year when they were discussing this, it was $400 million to pave all the road? 300? What's it going to be this year? Inflation. What's the cost? Labor cost? At least a little bit of that should stay at home. I would love to work on those projects. I don't have to be 300, whatever, 3,500 miles away. I'll finish here. Careers. Build skills, careers, economic opportunity right here at home. Dave Gowen spoke about a taxable base. These jobs are significant. Prevalent wage, non-union union, doesn't matter. For a non-union contractor that comes in, it's $104 an hour on the paycheck for the carpenter building that bridge, setting those concrete forms. The operating engineer running the paver, running the equipment, same, $105 an hour. Let's keep that money here. No matter what happens today, I hope that Red Bluff continues to look ways to invest not only in its roads, but also in the people who call this community. And thank you very much. I want to say one other thing. I really appreciate, Cassie, what you brought up about on social media and talking with the council members. I would hope that other people, such as Jody Barkley, would fall in that suit. That guy's been a menace. He's attacked people over this measure S. And it's just been really frustrating to watch. I was attacked, but others too, just because they have a different opinion. I don't have to agree with you, but we can find a middle ground because we love this town. Just don't have to be so mean to each other. Remind me of Mr. Strzok and him battling. Thank you very much, y'all. Thank you.

Anyone else?

Good evening, council members, city employees, and audience. Two weeks ago, the council voted on something. And I started asking questions because something didn't sit right with me what was said. And I'm here to apologize to Mayor Gonzales, because something he had said, I took wrong. And I had since found out that it was my misunderstanding and not what the council's actually said. So I'm here to apologize personally, to Jr. Thank you receive that. Thank you.

Anyone else? OK, having nobody else coming up, I will close citizens' comment at 541. We'll go on to any announcements of agenda corrections. Tom.

Just one item made on the agenda is a contract with the rebel Firefighters Association. They've requested to pull that item. And so we'll leave it on the agenda. And when we get to that, we'll talk about the council's options. But we're simply going to request that it just be continued to the future meeting. Okay, that's it.

Thank you, Tom. Staff items.

Yeah, one of the things that I wanted to show, if the public will bear with me just a second, we've had some questions about folks having a challenge finding our agendas on the website. So I wanted to just show that process just briefly, if I can navigate to the correct screen. So this is the city's homepage. I think a lot of people are familiar with it. It should pop up here in a second. There we go. If we look down in the kind of the center here, you can see my mouse moving. That talks about the agendas and minutes. If I click on that, It should take me to the next page, which has the council items. What we noticed, what was happening, there was a default setting from the company that provides this software to us that was indicating the certain month that it was in. And so, for example, if somebody had looked for our website and looked for our agenda and they had clicked and it was last month, it was in May, it would only show the meetings in May. And presumably you wouldn't see the months ahead. Well, simply, if you look here, there's a little box that says this month. If I simply click that icon and I put this year, it pops up all the meetings that have been scheduled. And so you can see even some of the future meetings. And so I've had a couple of occasions to talk to people within the community, and I just wanted to kind of demonstrate that here. So on your own computers or maybe your phone when you log in the next time, if you find that little box and you just click it to either 2026 or this year, it will show all of the agendas that are posted. Second thing I wanted to mention is the farmer's market starts tomorrow. That will be the kickoff, June 3rd, of the market that will run through the end of August every Wednesday night from 5 to 8 p.m. on Washington Street in front of the old courthouse. So we'd like to see everyone there. That's it.

Thank you, Tom. So, Council, we have that. Item 8, we'll address it as it comes, according to Tom, okay? So we'll now proceed with Scott Garrison, please.

Yes, we have completed the hiring for the pool season and we're excited to have that program up and running pretty quickly. We conducted orientation with all the new lifeguard staff this past week and we're excited for the new staff. A lot of them this is their first job so they're very excited. That's all I have.

Thank you, Scott. Beth Lindauer.

Good evening. From the building department, in the month of May, we issued 43 building permits, grossing $1.7 million. And we finaled 29, which was $800,000 worth of work. the 27 unit affordable housing complex known as the bluffs community project has officially submitted and has entered into a plan check so that project is moving forward and we're very excited for that previously i had brought before council a code enforcement property of 1345 1355 johnson i'm happy to report that that property is under new ownership and have pulled the appropriate permits to start rehab of those those little structures there near the high school As well as we have another property, 1142 Union Street, where we have just issued a demo permit to demolish that dilapidated building. So another one being cleaned up near the high school. So I'm very happy about that. And that is all I have to report.

Thank you, Beth. Scott Miller.

Thank you, Mayor, members of council. What we've got is our crews have been real busy prepping the pool, getting ready for pool season, which will be opening on the 13th of June. The awnings up, the pools have been scrubbed, and the kiddie pools were filled with water today. They'll continue with the preparation, get the certification ready for that opening on the 13th, as mentioned. The Rio Street sewer project is commencing nicely. It's about a third of the way through at this time. We were hoping to be a little bit further along on the thing, but due to a couple of businesses that went out of business that were suppliers, we had some shortage as far as materials, so that took a little bit longer to get started on the project. So there may be a little bit of slight conflict with the pool opening, but we're trying to get well outside of that, so the majority of stuff will be clear of that operation. The railroad crossings all along through town have been completed. I want to thank our staff for being able to successfully negotiate with railroad because normally they only do about a two-foot section on each side of the tracks where actually city staff would actually be responsible for paving that back. Due to their existing lines and others, especially on Walnut Street, we were able to negotiate with them to extend that out that much further, raise the rail up so we didn't have the roller coaster ride there. I drove over it a couple of times, a real smooth ride, so appreciated the work with our staff that negotiated that as well as the willingness with the railroad to concede to that. Finally, Oak Street, there will be a closure on June 8th from 7 o'clock to 7 p.m. is what we're looking at. That's going to be for the jail project. They're going to be doing the roadway rehab, but it'll only be a half-width on that because of the federal funding of the DOJ stuff. We couldn't extend it out the rest of the way for that, but the city and the county staff has been working together, and also one of the budget items is that we're going to be doing a similar collaboration project like we did on Oak Street to finish the rest of the way so we wouldn't be left with kind of that issue that we had with the courthouse project years ago on Walnut Street. There will be a lag, but there is a plan moving forward with that to getting that completed to where it looks like a finished roadway.

Thank you, Scott. Chief Bachmeier.

Good evening, honorable mayor, members of council. I'd like to first thank, again, our cooperators and our partners at the United States Forest Service, the Pascana Band of Nomalaki Indians, CAL FIRE, Tehama County Fire. As you know, we did that big burn in the Slough area all the way down to the diversion dam. All seemed to go very well and got pretty good consumption for the time of year and everything going on. So that was really good. We are about halfway through our second presentation of the Operator 1A course. I think in total is 32 students have attended. We do have one more course plan that we're hoping to get a few more students for, otherwise we might have to cancel that one. um june 1st is hit uh chief kingsley myself engineer heinle we've already been out kind of surveying the city seeing areas that still need to be mitigated we have had one of our fire workers the last week or two working all the alleys uh starting in the ford edition now he's been working through the heart of the city so hopefully he'll be completed with the that the alley project in in the next few days As such, you know, talk about weed abatement, talk about vegetation fires. We had a little quarter acre fire about an hour before this meeting. So it's that time of year and looking ahead. I also, I think most of us might have received the notification, I think by the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, we're looking at 100 degree temperatures potentially. That's what's being forecast. So drink lots of water, get your weed abatement done and be fire safe.

Are burn permits been canceled?

Yes, right? Yeah. Okay, very good. Burn permits are now null and void. Okay, thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

Paul Young.

Thank you. Just one update on sales tax. So last week we received our sales tax amounts for the January to March quarter. Sales tax was down $86,000, lower than what we budgeted. It started out strong in the monthly amounts that we got, and it kind of has gone down every month after that. That's about 6% less than what was budgeted. But we still have one more quarter left, and we'll just have to see how it comes out.

Thank you, Paul. Chief Ortega.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. No items from me tonight.

Okay, thank you. Robin.

I just want to let everyone know that staff submitted a pre-application for an urban greening grant in the amount of $1.66 million. This is for the greening elements that we had to shift for the River Park Splash Pad project to be able to utilize the grant funding we currently have And then we've shifted the greening items to a phase two and we've applied for a grant for that. So we're being optimistic and hopeful that we can obtain that and complete the entire project consecutively. And then with that being said, that the re-bid of the splash pad project is anticipated to be released next week for contractors. Now that we have isolated those items and shifted them, we're comfortable with what the plan is and that will be going out shortly.

Thank you, Robin. Appreciate that. All right. Thank you, staff. Commission reports, Planning Commission? Beth?

That's me again.

So we just had three items. One was a mobile vendor application that was rescinded from consideration and will be brought back for future consideration at the request of the applicant. So no action was taken by the Planning Commission. on that item. We also had a draft ordinance regarding tobacco and local regulations that the Planning Commission asked for additional information to be collected as well as a commercial vacancy registration program ordinance. also receive direction for a little bit more information and updates on that so Those items will go back to Planning Commission In approximately the end of July

We have no presentations tonight, so I will ask the council if there's any conflict of interest with any of the items on the agenda tonight. No. No. And none for me. So thank you, council. So we're going to the consent agenda. I want everybody in the audience to know that if there's something on the consent agenda you wish added to the regular agenda, you can also request that that item be changed. I would ask for anybody? Very good. Thank you. So with that said, council, we have the consent agenda. And these items are I would retune financial administrative actions. And tonight we have code enforcement activity for April 2026. Number two is public monthly activity summary May. So do we have a motion?

I motion.

Motion made by Mark Clement to a second.

I'm sorry. I thought this says no action required. It's informational only. Is that incorrect?

It was on the consent agenda, so.

Yeah, they can just be proved as a consent item. I think that that's probably just a misprint in that typically the consent calendar wouldn't include that information.

OK. Do I have a second? Second by Cassie Pope. Anita, please take the roll.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Action, it passes unanimously. We'll go on to the regular agenda, which is number three is our first item, and that is assistance to firefighters grant recommended action. City Council authorized staff to submit a $1 million grant request to the 2025 AFG funding cycle. And who do we have for that?

That would be me, Mr. Mayor.

Yes, sir.

Good evening again, honorable mayor, members of council. I bring to you tonight a request with a recommended council action to authorize staff to go ahead and submit an application for an assistance for firefighting grant for up to $1 million. THIS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THROUGH FEMA, WHICH IS USUALLY RELEASED IN LIKE NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR, BUT WITH THE SHUTDOWN, EVERYTHING KIND OF GOT COMPRESSED. SO THIS IS FUNDING THAT USUALLY COMES AROUND EVERY YEAR. DEPENDING ON YOUR COMMUNITY SIZE, YOU CAN APPLY FOR X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS. A MILLION DOLLARS IS THE MOST OUR SIZE CAN APPLY FOR. There does come with it, for our size community, a 5% cost share. So really, if we're applying for $1 million and we get approved, we would get $950,000 from the AFG, and then our portion of it would be $50,000. What we're seeking is to replace the 2005 Pierce apparatus we call Engine 2. uh we've had the engine for its entire life we've put nearly a third of what our original cost of the engine is back into the engine through different work on the motor on the pump on the apparatus itself it's it's really getting to the point that it absolutely needs to be replaced and with the price of engines today even the one that we had spec two or three years ago THAT I GOT THE UPDATED QUOTE WOULD BE $1.1 TO $1.2 MILLION, JUST LIKE THREE YEARS AGO WAS $850,000. SO A GRANT LIKE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. WHILE THE COST OF THE ENGINE MIGHT BE MORE THAN THAT MILLION DOLLARS, AS I MENTIONED IN WHAT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT COULD BE TO THE CITY, IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS, SAY, $250,000, BUT WE'RE SAVING $950,000 IF WE GET THIS GRANT. SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. At the rate that we are running our apparatus today, when I first started, it wasn't uncommon for an engine to easily have a 30-year lifespan. Our newest engine, engine 3, which is only 8 years old, is already about 80,000 miles on it. This particular engine we want to replace has 140,000 miles on it. And it has been really instrumental over the years for our activities throughout the state going to help our neighbors and stuff during the summertime. So with that being said, again, recommended action for the council would be to authorize staff to To go ahead and submit the grant application for the 2025 assistance the firefighter grant for 1 million dollars and before I close I just want to comment on what a great job Emmy Westlake has done on putting all of this together for us Do you have any questions?

I'd be happy to answer If you were to get a new engine

And the expired one would be auctioned off or sold?

We could do a number of things. We could auction it off. We could keep it and take it out of service to respond to emergency vehicles. And it's getting about to the point where that needs to happen. But it would still be a good apparatus for us to, say, have at our training grounds. That way the crews go out there, pull hose, do whatever, and if they get calls somewhere else, they could just leave that stuff on the ground until they come back. Also, in the past, we've donated things to the CTE programs at the high schools and stuff, so we could also do that.

Thank you. Cassie? Chris?

Hey, Mike, do you know how long it takes to go through the process of just not applying for the program?

This one's going to be pretty quick. I think they're expecting a response the end of August or September. Yeah, usually if they open the application period where they normally do, you know, because the federal government, their fiscal year starts in October. So usually they release this NOFO in November. I think you have till like mid-January to apply. And then like the end of August, September is usually when they make the announcements. And they have a number of rounds of announcements. So just because maybe we don't get it the first round, we may get it in a later round. The bigger thing will be, and this is all the numbers in this are just the quote based off the last time we specced an engine. We could search around other manufacturers and maybe find something cheaper. Because what else goes with this is the type of engines we've been purchasing since 2001 are basically tailored to what we want as Red Bluff. The build times used to be 8 to 14 months. They can be 2 to 4 years now. So we have to be cognizant of that as well when we're choosing an apparatus. I believe we would have two years to have the apparatus in which if that didn't happen, we could ask for extensions. But fingers crossed. Like when we replaced the truck, Pierce had that built as a show truck. COVID hit. They weren't allowed to take it anywhere. So we were able to buy it because it met our needs. That was amazing. The only apparatus since 2001 that we haven't sat down, gone through a design, and then had a custom build made. We're lucky enough, the one that they had built basically mirrored the truck that we replaced functionally.

Thank you for the time frame, because that was going to be the second part of my question.

How long does that take to build? Yeah, two to four years now, depending on the manufacturer, because everything is backlogged. Yeah, since 2001, we've been solely with Pierce Apparatus out of Wisconsin. But this quote specifically came from one called Rosenbauer, which has gained a lot of popularity. And I know there are a few other manufacturers out there. Part of the problem is there might be a number of manufacturers, but they're owned by one parent company. So that's causing some of the issues. Got it. Thank you. You're welcome.

Kind of a technical question. Excuse me, what kind of engines do we have? Do we have one common engine that goes in all the fire equipment that we use?

Our large apparatus, engine one, two, and three, are what they call a type one engine. Made by? Made by Pierce. Made by Pierce. Since 2001, we have bought sole source, specifically Pierce. The engine that engine one replaced in 2001 was made by a company called E1, which I think is actually now either under Pierce or American LaFrance umbrella. So, yes, all three engines in the ladder truck are Pierce currently.

We're looking at two in purchasing a new unit, correct? And then if we purchase a new unit, if this goes through, you're looking at two to three years to get the unit here, right?

potentially we we may find a manufacturer we like that they have already built something that serves our needs i would me personally i want to replace engine 2 with something that's like engine 2. anything that we purchase here as far as engine wise regardless of the size and and the typing just has to do with how much water it carries how much water can pump how much hose it carries ladders and personnel Generally speaking, large cities and our engines are Type 1 engines, but they also have to have the ability to pump and roll because of our wildland threat. One thing I've always liked about Engine 2 is a little bit shorter body, a little bit shorter wheelbase. It's a little more maneuverable than, say, Engine 1 and Engine 3. and that's kind of what I have envisioned, and that's what we had kind of specced out with the apparatus that these numbers are based upon.

Thank you.

What I hear you saying, too, is now this particular engine, we're looking at more repairs on a yearly basis, right?

The one we currently have, yes. I mean, two years ago, it even caught fire. We put it out, unfortunately.

You didn't call anybody, huh?

Yeah. So I don't want to use the L word as a lemon, but it's been a struggle ever since we took possession of this engine over the years.

Very good. Thank you, sir. I don't have any other questions. Anybody right now before I ask for public comment? Okay.

If we apply for this, are we applying with a specific engine in mind or are we just applying to replace an engine? Because there's a big difference between $50,000 or maybe even $150,000 or maybe even $250,000 that comes out of our pocket. Are we committed to any type of engine if we get this grant?

We're not currently committed to a manufacturer if I'm understanding your question correctly Oh Absolutely, that is 100% our goal. Yeah, with the tight timeline, we just, as I mentioned, because they've been custom builds, it's not like I can go to the Dodge dealership and just look at a window sticker. So as we go through the process, if we are awarded, then we can really knuckle down, look around at what our options are, and go from there.

Speak directly.

Thank you.

Thank you. Any other counsel? So I will open for public comment at 6.04. If anybody from the public would have comments or questions for Chief Bachmeier.

Chief Bachmeier, I have a question. I suspect that you've, with the custom bill, ordered heavy-duty suspension to deal with our roads here in Red Bluff. Is that correct?

Well, they're pretty heavy duty trucks to begin with, so they do come with that. Our newest engine actually is designed with some proprietary suspension. They call it a TAC4, so it's got an independent suspension, which makes a much better ride. It can be a little more difficult for other things. I think to your point, yes, some better roads would be better, easier on our apparatus and help them last longer. Yeah, we're busy, so we put miles and hours on the apparatus.

Anybody else?

I have a statement and a question. The statement is, yes, it definitely needs to replace. I've seen it in action, and it leaks. It leaks like a sieve. The question is, when ordering this, do you get the price locked in so even though it takes a couple of years, it's not going to cost us more when it actually shows up?

Yeah, when you go through the build process and you decide on it, you sign a contract then. And usually you have to make a deposit or put some kind of a portion of it down. And then like currently the truck and engine three, we've been on a payment plan for years on those. But that was all locked in. at the time the contract was signed and just like just like if we're to go down and buy our own car and have a seven year you know car payment um that's kind of what we've done i'd like to avoid that with this engine that's one of the reasons for the grant thank you anyone else i haven't seen nobody that's coming up i will close public comment at 606 and so council any further questions

Is this something that's every year, or is this something that's unique about right now? I know you said we've got it before, the staff report said we've got it before, but for much smaller amounts and for different purposes. Is this something if we don't get it this time, you can try again?

Yes. In fact, this will be the second time I'm applying for this specifically.

Thank you.

Anyone else? Nothing?

Nothing.

OK. So recommended action to authorize staff to submit a $1 million grant request to the 2025 AFG funding cycle. Do we have a motion?

I motion.

Motion by Mark Clement. Second?

I'll second it.

Second by Cassie Pope. Anita, please take the roll. Council Member Pope? Yes.

Council Member Hardin?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Motion passes unanimously. On public comment, Anita, if somebody has their hand raised to comment, please just let me know because sometimes I forget, so I appreciate that. Item number four. Resolution of the Red Bluff City Council ordering an election requesting county elections to conduct the election requesting consolidation of the election and determining the charges for the candidate's statements. Sophie Meyer.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council, this is exactly what it is saying that it is. This is our request for the election official of Tama County. Sorry, been too many counties for me today. To consolidate our election and put those two items on for the November election. You guys had requested that we add the clerk and the treasurer on, so we're doing that as well.

Thank you. Questions from council? Any questions? OK. None from council at this time. I will open it up for comments from or questions from the public at 6.09. I see hands shaking. No. I mean head shaking. Hands up. I said hands. And so anyway, so I'll close public comment, 6-10. I'll call it 6-10. And any further questions from counsel for Sophie Meyers? Anita, any hands raised for questions? Again, any questions, counsel? No? Do we have a motion?

Make a motion.

Motion by Pat Hurton. Second? Second. Second by Mark Clement. Anita, please take the roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. I just need to clarify my vote on something. I'm voting yes, but I have reservations about, as I expressed before, about putting the city clerk and treasurer on this November ballot to change. I just need to explain that. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Motion passes unanimously. We'll go on to number five, which is resolution of the City Council of the City of Red Bluff, setting forth salaries, benefits, and other terms of employment applicable to management and mid-management employees. Scott Garrison, please.

Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council, tonight's staff recommends that City Council adopt resolution number 9-2026, setting forth salaries, benefits, and other terms of employment applicable to unrepresented management and mid-management employees. The management and mid-management employees are typically granted similar adjustments to salaries as those approved for the miscellaneous bargaining unit. Employment terms reflected in the proposed agreement are for a three-year term starting on July 1st, 2026 and ending on June 30th, 2029. Some of the new terms are cost of living of adjustment, new longevity incentive, a raise in the rate of medical plan coverage, and an increase to medical new payments. And staff recommends adoption of the new agreement, and I'm available for any questions.

Thank you, Scott. Council, any questions for Scott? Chris?

No.

No. I have no questions from council. I will open up for questions from the public on this particular item. I haven't received none. I'll close public time for questions and I will ask any hands I need before I forget? No. None? Okay. So I will ask for a

I motion.

Motion. I was starting to think in Spanish. That was my problem. Okay. Thank you. Motion to approve. Made by Mark Clement. Second?

I'll second.

Second by Chris Niders. Anita, please take the roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes, motion passes unanimously. Thank you, council. Let's go on to item number six, resolution of the city council of the city of Red Bluff setting forth salaries, benefits, and other terms of employment applicable to the reorganized bargaining unit Red Bluff Police Mid-Managers Association, known as RBPMMA. I will ask Scott Garrison again, please.

Honorable Mayor and members of the City Council, tonight staff recommends the City Council adopt resolution number 10-2026, setting forth salaries, benefits and other terms of employment applicable to the recognized bargaining unit Red Bluff Mid-Managers Association, Police Mid-Managers Association, excuse me. This is for a three-year term as well, including a cost of living adjustment, a new annual fitness incentive program, a new bilingual incentive, a raise in the coverage for medical plans, and increasing vacation cash-out options. And staff recommends adoption of the new agreement, and I'm available for any questions.

Thank you, Scott. Council, questions for Scott?

No.

No.

Chris? Cassie? No. No. None from council at this time. So I will open it up for questions from the public. Nothing. All right. So we'll close it. And therefore, any no questions, I will ask council to make a motion to approve or have something.

All right.

I'm sorry?

Or what?

Oh, I'm sorry. Did I say or what?

I motion.

I'm going to slow down here.

I'll second.

All right. Second by Pat Hurton. Motion made by Mark Clement, Pat Hurton. All right. So Anita, please take the roll.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Sorry, guys. All right, we'll go to item number seven, a memorandum of understanding MOU between the Police Officer Association and the City of Red Bluff for the term of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2029. Scott Garrison again.

Honorable Mayor, members of the City Council, tonight we ask that you approve the proposed updated memorandum of understanding between the City of Red Bluff and the Police Officers Association represented by Teamsters Local Number 137 for a three-year term. The City and the POA have bargained in good faith and have agreed to the employment terms reflected in the proposed MOU for a three-year term. Some of the new terms are a cost of living adjustment over the three years, a new annual fitness incentive program, an increase in shift differential pay, new bilingual and canine officer incentives, an increase in the medical plan coverage, and a new matching fund for retirement plans, as well as a vacation cash-out option. Staff recommends adoption of the new MOU, and I'm available for any questions.

Thank you, Scott. Questions for Scott, please, counsel. No, no questions all open it for questions from the public Okay, no questions, so I will close time for questions from the public and therefore I will ask for a motion on this particular item from Council Motion made by Cassie Pope second by Chris Deiters. I need to please take the roll. I Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Thank you, council. And we will go on to item number eight, which is another memorandum of understanding MOU between the Red Bluff Firefighters Association and the city of Red Bluff for the term of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2029. Okay.

oh i'm sorry that's on this poll okay thank you we will pull that well what you need to do is now you just need to at the request of the association and we'll just continue this to a future meeting when it's ready it's not a public hearing item so when it's ready to be presented to the city council for consideration we'll just put it on a on an agenda thank you understand that so we're going to put this on the future agenda item is that uh okay with everybody

Yes. All right. Yes. It concurs. Okay. Thank you.

We'll just need a motion and a second to do that. Okay.

I motion. Motion by Mark Clement. Second? I'll second. Second. Anita, please take the roll.

Yes. Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Motion passes.

Before we move on, just real quick. Sure. I just wanted to thank Scott Garrison for all of his work, all of the hours and negotiations. It went smoother this year than typically it has, so thank you to everyone involved. But I appreciate your hard work, Scott. You do a tremendous job when it comes to this, and I appreciate you. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I think that's great, Chris. Wonderful. I think all council can concur with that, what Chris has just said, that we really appreciate Scott's efforts and Leanne, too, that really stepped up. And I want to say this is a... a great place to live because we have great staff. We have great people working. And it's just people that come into our town. I'll tell you, people always come in. I had relatives come in and say, what's special about this town? It's its people and the people that work here. And again, Scott, thank you. And I appreciate all the work that everybody does. Thank you. So thank you, Chris, for saying that. Here we go. Item number 9, introduction and first reading of the ordinance amending RBMC regarding the lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers consistent with the California Subdivision Map Act. So I will turn this now to Beth Lindauer.

Honorable Mayor, members of City Council, the City's existing ordinance contains review procedures that are no longer consistent with state law. State law limits local review to objective determinations regarding inconsistencies with the general plan, zoning regulations, and other applicable legal requirements. The proposed amendment clarifies that qualifying lot line adjustments will be processed, excuse me, administratively by the community development director and removes the current requirements for planning commission review in certain circumstances. This change will improve inconsistencies that are throughout the ordinance as they relate to state law. It will streamline our application processing and provide greater clarity to property owners and staff. In short, over the various updates that have occurred to that particular municipal code, there were some words that inadvertently got removed, so it made our process opposite of what it should have been. So this is a cleanup effort on staff's part. The ordinance is exempt from CEQA under the common sense exemption and this action will have no impact on the city budget. So tonight I recommend that you introduce and waive the first reading of ordinance 1098 amending Red Bluff municipal code subsection 20.6 regarding lot line adjustments and voluntary mergers. conduct a public hearing and consider all testimonies and I am available for any additional questions maybe two to three yeah relatively low

I would think fairly simple ones. It is. City property.

It is, yeah. So we're able to do them at a staff level through the process of TAC unless there is a major change or a chance of non-conforming or substandard parcels being created. At that point, it would go to Planning Commission.

Thank you. Thank you. This is going to make your job and everybody's work a little bit more clearer and easier, correct? And save a lot of time for the end user. Correct. Thank you. So at this time, I will open public hearing for questions from the public at 621. I haven't seen no hands or anybody coming to the podium. I will close public comment at 622. And since this is just an informational item, we don't need to have any action from the council.

I hope you need to introduce and waive the first reading of the ordinance.

So we introduce and waive the first ordinance, 1098, amending Revloff Municipal Code 20.6 regarding light line adjustments and mergers. So where would you take it from here?

So moved.

So moved. Second. Second by motion made by Pat Hurton. Second by Mark Clement. Anita, please take the roll.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Action passes unanimously. So we'll go on to item number 10, legal services agreement for the representation of the city of Red Bluff in civil actions related to PFAS in the city water supply. And I will turn this to Robin Kaufman, please.

Okay, honorable mayor, members of the city council. Tonight we are asking city council to authorize the city manager to negotiate and execute a legal service agreement with a group of five different attorneys. We're going to collectively refer to them as the firms so you don't have to read them all, to represent the city in litigation against the manufacturers and distributors of PFAS. PFAS are synthetic chemicals used for decades in industrial processes, consumer products, and fire suppressants. Following EPA mandates, the city has tested its water supply and has detected PFAS levels at a stage where we're quarterly monitoring. We are not at the stage of additional treatments or shutting wells down. We have traces. So I just want to preface that. But we want to be proactive to make sure that we're ahead of the curve. Removing PFAS requires expensive specialized water treatment infrastructure. It's not just simply chlorinating the water. It's either ozone or granular treatment. So very expensive at the well level. If we don't enter into this agreement, the cost will be on the citizens and the city for doing this treatment in the future. We know this is where it's going. We're seeing it nationwide. It's not just California. It's not just the Water Board. It's the EPA that's putting these requirements in. Many water utilities across the nation are pursuing claims against the chemical manufacturers, which are 3M and DuPont, alleging that they knowingly concealed the dangers of PFAS and placed them into widespread use. Thousands of cases have been filed and now we're at the point where they've consolidated into a federal multi-district litigation. There is pots of money there that both DuPont and 3M have put aside for this purpose. Large scale settlements have been reached in compensation for the water providers and treatment and monitoring are occurring. Retaining council is necessary for us to access portions of that multi-billion dollar settlement and to pursue further damages to offset the impact and our maintenance costs in the future. There will be no upfront cost for the legal fees. The proposed legal services is structured as a contingency fee basis. The law firm will only be compensated if we receive funding. And I think it's at like 25% at this point in time. Any money coming to the city for this litigation is a benefit to us. I just want to make it clear that we're not the only one entering into this. I have a list that's already represented by this group of firms and it's nationwide. It's six pages long of firms. There's 61 water agencies within California currently with the city of Chico already engaged and the city of Sacramento has already received funding. So this is not something that we're doing outside of everybody else. We're joining in to be able to collectively get some funding to do the future treatment that we know we're going to need in the future. I can answer any additional questions. We have already started into the process of this, and we're doing a feasibility assessment to determine what treatment options would be best for our system. So we're being proactive on this and not waiting until we get a date where everything has to be in place.

Thank you, Robin. Questions from council for Robin?

I don't.

No? Cassie? No. Chris?

in all of our water well? No. So what are we going to base that on? I think, didn't we find one that had PFA's? Yes. So if we pursue those, dollar amounts asked for are going to be based on just that or what may happen in the future? And how would you even deal with that?

We have tested our entire system. Every well has been tested. We've only found traces in one location. That location, they will take that into consideration in the settlement. That's what the firms will do for us. They'll look at it We have a date up until October, I think, from our conversations with council.

October of this year.

Of this year. So any of the prep work that we've done, studies, determinations, feasibility studies, potentially preliminary design, we should be able to put in there as full dollar amounts. So in addition to our allotment based on the total pool amount, we can also request full dollars. So that's why we initiated the feasibility study already is to get a step ahead of that and be able to give them real numbers of what we're looking at.

Okay. Thank you for that.

You're welcome.

Do we have any real numbers at this time, Robin? No. No.

But we do have ‑‑ We know it's significant. Okay. couple million for design, treatment, and then the long-term maintenance of it. Correct. That's what I was going to say. Because these systems aren't just pouring a little bit of chlorine in. It's updating the ozone, providing additional chemicals, replacing the sand media that's used for the filtration and cleaning. All of that's going to have to be taken into consideration. And they do provide some maintenance costs also, long-term maintenance costs.

Do you have an idea how long it took Sacramento to receive their funding by the time they applied? I do not.

We've just had very surface-level conversations. Once this agreement's moved forward, we will have those more in-depth conversations and make sure that we provide everything that they're requiring.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

I will open it up for questions from the audience, everybody here today. Anybody have any questions?

Yes, I have a question. My question is, the chemical that's leaching into the water, what are the effects on the citizens and the children, including the pregnant women and their fetuses?

As of right now, we're just very small traces, and it's in one isolated area. So it's not our entire water system. It's not everybody. We haven't done full studies on that. The state has. The EPA has. They are knowing where our triggering numbers are. We don't know the long-term effects yet. We're slowly rolling into that.

No, that's not the question. The question is what effects the chemical self has on the human body.

I have not. I'm not a scientist.

They might have told you.

No, I haven't dug into that. I've done a little bit of research, but I don't have your answers.

Any other questions? Don't see any other further questions. I will close public comment and questions at 6.30. And counsel, do we have any more questions for Robin?

No.

No? Chris, anything else?

Just to be clear, Robin, we're talking a dollar amount specific to dealing with this one well.

Yes. Yes.

And no traces found anyplace else, correct?

No. And we've done testing for over two years. We've met all the state requirements. We've been submitting. It's a special lab that has to test for it. We've just been following the protocol and we finally got to the point where it's at the monitor level, quarterly monitoring. And the state's moving this through very systematically. Three years ago this wasn't something we even talked about.

Thank you very much. Appreciate that. You're welcome. Okay, council, do we have a motion to legal services agreement for the representation of city and civil action related to PFAS in the city water supply?

I'll make a motion.

I'll make a motion by Chris. Do we have a second? Second by Cassie. Anita, please take the roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. Yes.

Yes. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you, council. Reports, committee reports and council comments. So Antelope Water and Sewer.

Next meeting scheduled for June 11th.

Chamber of Commerce, again, as Tom stated earlier, an exciting day tomorrow as we open the farmer's market. It's going to be a great activity for everyone. get there early and be part of the great representation. I think they've got 200 or 300 flags for everybody to wave. And Channel 7 will be here and cover all live, three reports coming tomorrow. So be there. It's great. Ad hoc committee, city, county, Chris?

No meeting.

No meeting. Committee Action Agency.

Our next meeting is June 18th.

June 18th. Downtown Red Bluff Business Association.

No meeting.

No meeting. Executive Committee, Tama Solid Waste, Chris.

Our next meeting is June 8th.

LAFCO, no meeting. Red Bluffs Community Center Commission.

August 20th is the next meeting.

August 20th. Tama County Air Pollution District Review Committee, no meeting. Tama County Continuum of Care Executive Council.

June 10th.

June 10th. Tama County Solid Waste Management Agency. Chris?

The next one won't be until July 6th. We had one June 1. A variety of things were discussed, a lot of informational things, budget issues, et cetera. And they're always available online to listen to post-meeting if you're interested.

Yes. Thank you, Chris. Tama County Transportation Commission.

June 22nd.

June 22. Additional council comments and other meetings attended?

I was the lucky council member appointed after January 1. There's a new mandate that requires SB 827 required that anybody appointed or elected after January 1 got to take a required fundamental end of municipal finances and financial management. So I got to sit through a two-hour webinar on the 29th and meet that compliance. And it's hosted through Cal Cities. It was online, and it was great. If any of you have had a chance to go, I think each one of us has had a chance to go. It's the gentleman who hosts the one at the council member and mayor's conference down in Sacramento, Michael Coleman. And it was very informational. And I have met that compliance and checked that off.

Perfect. So you're legal now? As of now. Very good. Chris, anything?

Aside from the regular meetings here, I'm meeting with Andrea Curry from the COC tomorrow to discuss potential funding for something the Ad Hoc Committee talked about some time ago, and that is funding for offsite parking or designated parking areas for RVs, possibly cars. Some of you might remember I got tasked with this from the Board of Supervisors to put this together, which was fine, the Ad Hoc Committee members. But one of the things I really do want to find out if there might be funds available to develop that and what that would, before I even try to put that together and see what that would look like for both the city and the county. So we'll be meeting tomorrow at noon for that discussion and I can report back on that at the next meeting.

And I'm looking forward to that discussion.

The second thing with my ongoing trying to improve drivers in this city, one was the reminder that stop sign means stop. They still put blinkers on cars, and so it would be really good if somebody is – if you're going to make a turn, hey, just remember to turn your blinker on so everybody knows what you're doing and everybody can be a little bit safer on the road these days. And I'm sure I'll have another driving tip later. Thank you.

Thank you. I want to say something that – I forget your first name.

William.

William, I want to thank you for coming. In public comment, we kind of keep everything really low key. I mean, we can't say anything really. But I want to say, I really appreciate what you said. It shows the integrity of a man. And I admire what you did. And I received what you said. And I'll tell you, as part of the council, we take a lot of stuff from people. And for you to say that means a lot, not only to myself, but to council. And I will hope that every citizen does what you did. When they're wrong, they just stand up and say, OK. Because you know what? We're here to build a city. Every council member here. acts on the behalf of the city to do the best that we can for the city. And you recognize that, and you said that. And it takes quite a man to do that. And I receive that, and I want to thank you on behalf of myself and the city for doing what you did. I think it means a lot to all of us. So thank you.

I didn't agree with the vote, but I was in the wrong by what I thought, and I started asking questions. And I didn't know if it threw shade on your reputation or not, but I needed to apologize.

Well, thank you. Appreciate that. And you're faithful in attendance. Appreciate that. All right. Future agenda items by consensus of council. Anything?

I've got one. I would like us to visit city council salary. And that is the fact that we all know that we're in some really tight budget times. And I think as we come into the next budget year that I think we should show that we're willing to do our part in getting this budget reduced. And I think we need to look into reducing the city council salary possibly even back to what it was when several of us started. but which was the dollar a month, but I would like future agenda item of city council salary reduction in light of our tight budget.

Yes, Chris? Yes, no, that's all.

I'm always willing to talk about anything. OK. We'll talk about it.

Cassie? Sure. Sure. Sure.

OK. So we'll put it on the next item. Is it for next agenda item, Tom? What do you think?

It just depends how soon the council wishes to discuss that item. If it's just a discussion, it's feasible to have it at your next meeting. Okay.

It should probably be for people put in their application to run for city council.

Correct. And they should know that. So let's put a discussion item next. Yep. We'll do it. Okay. Anything else? Nothing? All right.

Citizens, any citizens? But that wouldn't limit us to not be able to take action next meeting if we were to decide, right?

It's just a discussion only. There will be no action taken. You'll provide direction to staff.

Okay. I guess that's a good start. All right.

Thank you, Pat. So tonight we have a closed session item. Sophie Myers, please.

We have a closed executive session tonight, labor negotiations. Again, we are going to be talking about the Red Bluff Fire Mid-Management Association and also the city manager contract. Representatives are going to be Scott Garrison, Leanna Pearson, myself, Paul Young. Tom will participate for the Red Bluff Fire Mid-Management Association. He will not participate for the city manager contract portion of that. And that's what we're talking about.

Thank you for bringing that clarification, Sophie, appreciate that. So I'll open it up for comment from the citizens on the closed session item. Having seen none, I will close public comment on that item and I will close our city council meeting at 639, 640. We'll go into closed session. 640. Did I say 49? Great. Coming back from closed session at 7.05. Sophia.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, Council. Reporting out of closed session, direction was given to staff. Information was received. We will note specifically for the record that Tom Westbrook left before we started talking about the city manager contract. He did not participate in that conversation, and he will receive direction from Scott Garrison, who has negotiation directives.

Thank you, Sophie. Any other things, Council? No. Okay. With that, we will close our meeting at 7.06.