Watch
the
[clears throat]
» arm.
Oh, yeah.
Recording in progress.
» Do that again.
Also order the regular meeting of the Rioell City Council. Roll call, please.
» Mayor Gar >> here.
» Mayor Pro Carter >> here.
» Council member Woodall >> here.
» Council member or >> excused.
» Council member Wilson >> here.
» Please stand for the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible and justice for
all. Public presentations.
This is the time for persons who wish to address the council on any matter not on
this agenda and over which the council has jurisdiction. As such, a dialogue
with the council or staff is not allowed under the Ralph Brown Act. Items
requiring council actions not listed on this agenda may be placed on the next
regular agenda for consideration if the council directs unless a finding is made
by at least twothirds of the council that the item came up after the agenda
was posted and is of an urgency nature requiring immediate action. Please limit
comments to a maximum of three minutes. >> Welcome. Anyone? Any
got no pages. I wonder
else. Okay. Well, then we will close public presentations and move on to the
consent calendar. Is there a council member who would like to remove an item
from the consent calendar? >> I don't think so.
» No. No. >> No. Let me let me look one.
» Okay. I know. I looked at it.
Okay. >> Then um no one member from the public
emails. I ask for a motion to approve the consent calendar.
» I move to approve the consent calendar. >> We have a motion. Is there a second?
» A second. >> Have a motion and a second. Motion
carries. 4 Z. We will move on to manager of staff
communications and report city manager page 39 in our packets.
Uh thank you mayor Garn, members of the council. So um staff has submitted the
uh opportunity zone 2.0 a submission which was due yesterday for
um the current opportunity zone program which would potentially if this census
tracked area would be designated could provide additional incentives for uh for
investment in this uh in this area. The census tract again uh stretches from uh
the Vanden River uh south to Redway includes both Riodell and Scotia.
Um the uh local Girl Scout troop has also made a $450 donation for a dog
waste bag station. And so that will be uh installed shortly.
And uh Mayor Barnes and Council Member Woodall and volunteers planted flowers
at Blueest Star Memorial Park. So next time you're over there, take a look.
They're pretty good looking. >> Really nice. Um
and then uh we also have street sweeping that is scheduled for this uh Friday uh
the 24th. Want to just ask people to not park particularly on Wildwood Avenue.
Try to stay off of Wildwood Avenue um while we do that. Um and then paving
currently going on on uh uh Davis Street for the water capital
improvement project. I don't know if that's going to be finished by by
Friday, but uh it'll be close. Um and then uh our uh painter street project uh
sewer line upsize is well underway and kind of the construction crew has
covered the most difficult hurdle which is right next to the plant. So hopefully
it's smooth sailing here through here and uh the project will be completed uh
before the uh winter rains. Uh, with that, I'm happy to answer any questions
that the council may have or of staff. >> Thank you, city manager. Mayor,
» uh, no questions. Um, it looks like we did pretty well on animal control this
period. Uh, six related animal calls and zero dogs transported to Fortuna. Did
you have any cats come into the PD? >> Yes. All right. Um, that's it. Just
thank you everyone. >> Thank you, Council Member Wilson. Yes.
Uh I just have the only thing I have is maybe it's for Randy or for you. Uh
there's a somebody texted me a picture of a hole in the sidewalk over by
Grunman's some little bit past it. There's a looks like by a
» it's a P& >> P is broken. There's a somebody that can
step in it. >> There's a cone on it currently and we've
contacted PG to come out fix it. That's why I told him I'd tell you that
and I did. Other than that, I have no other.
» Thank you, Council Member Woodall. >> No, just thanks to public works. They've
been out. They're making the main street look really nice. They've really been
hard at work. Thank you. We're getting ready for Wildwood Day and you guys are
rocking it. Um I wanted to um ask question. Um, city manager, is there can
we put out or should we put out cones? Like, you know, some cities they put out
cones along to keep people from parking. I don't know if we have cones that do
that. >> Yeah, usually the guys uh the public
works crew will uh post a couple pieces of paper on some cones and set them out
along the road >> Thursday or on Thursday.
» Yeah, it's never 100% but we usually get pretty good pretty close to most.
» Thank you. Thank you. to all of you guys for making the city look good and thank
you for Rosa and Jessica for running it. I mean, not that you two aren't doing
your stuff. Thank you too. Okay, now we will move on to
special presentations. Senior home repair program contract renewal fiscal
year 2627 page 42 in our packets manager. And I'll go ahead and turn this
over to Mr. Travis Samour. >> Thank you, city manager. Good evening,
Mayor Garn, members of the council. This is the annual renewal of our senior home
repair program agreement with the Humbult Senior Resource Center. Tonight
we have Rachel Sign with us. She is Humble Senior Resource Center's director
of operations and she's here tonight and she can answer any questions about the
program itself. The program provides minor home repairs to income eligible
residents 60 and older capped at $300 per household. Last year, this program
served four RIDEL households, but the total cost to the city was $841
against a $2,500 authorization. So about a third of what was available.
Across both years of the program, we've served 10 households for a combined
$1,938.
Humble Senior Resource Center proposed reducing their own request from $2500 to
$1,500 based on prior year trends and staff agrees a recommended approval of
$1,500. The amount is a ceiling. It's not a
commitment and they're only paid for work performed and anything unused
lasts. So, we're happy to take on questions about the numbers and Rachel
can speak on the program itself if you guys have any further questions.
» Thank you very much. Rachel, welcome. Thank you for coming out. Do you want to
say anything or >> um Well, I'm terrified of speaking in
front of people. >> Okay.
» So, we have a question. >> SO, YEAH, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'm
happy to answer them. Um, I think, you know, we've seen not a lot of takers for
this program in Riadel and I think one of the barriers that we see are people
thinking that they don't qualify. Um, so we're going to try to market it a little
bit different this year. Um, the the income qualification is actually pretty
different. >> Thank you. I noticed that
60 and above I think [laughter] management
but um yeah thank you though for even having this program available
but it's a great program and I do think it could be because people don't realize
the um eligibility requirements are as generous as they are. We've heard a lot
of Well, there's no way.
» Council member Will. >> No, mine was just about making sure it
was marketed and promoted and I imagine Sarah wants it
very closely with Sarah and that was my question.
» Yeah, because I was reading about the there's probably a lot more people could
take advantage of it if they knew. >> They're our number one referral.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» Um, no questions. I support this program. I think it's really great and
yeah, as long as you're working with the resource center, that's that's a that's
a key around here. Yeah, >> thank you.
» Wilson, >> I really don't have much any uh
question, but I appreciate the opportunity for the residents and it's
probably the probably more would if we have I don't know if we put it in the
newsletter that comes out. I don't know when that comes out, but somewhere that
if more people knew about it, I'm sure they would.
» Oh, the Chamber of Commerce newsletter. >> Huh? The Chamber of Commerce puts out a
newsletter every month. Is that what you're talking about?
» No, there's one at the city. >> Oh, it's direct.
» Might as well. >> Other than that, I have
» Thank you. Is there anyone in the member of the public, please? Allison. Um I
wonder um [clears throat] deal with like so
there is a $300 limit which really limits the amount of work and they're
all safety related. Okay. So if you do have a broken window or a door or
something that's not blocking or due to an earthquake we
um in this situation. >> Okay. So Allison, now is this like
you should have a side? >> I'm just trying to find out if it's like
a long discussion or like >> I can give you my I'll give you my
» Okay. I wasn't trying to be rude or anything but
» okay then. Is there a mo and he has raised emails? Nope.
» Then is there a motion uh to approve the renewal of the senior home repair
program with Humble Senior Resources Center for the fiscal year 2627 and the
amount not to exceed $1,500 to authorize the city manager to execute said
agreement? >> Still moved.
» Is there a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. Motion carries
score zero.
» And now we will move on to to
» discussion and possible action
receiving. Perfect. Okay. So, now we are moving on to receiving a presentation
from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority on the authorities 2627 budget and rate
recommendation and related direction to council member Wilson on voting for or
against the authorities proposed budget and rate recommendations.
Sorry to surprise you. >> Hello. Hi. How are you?
» I'm good. Thank you. >> 48 in our packets.
» Mayor Gardens, council members. Thank you for having me. My name is Beth
Burks. I'm the executive director of the Redwood Coast Energy Authority. And
thank you to Council Member Wilson for inviting us here today. I'm joined with
Lori Bandini. She is our director of business planning and finance. So, we're
going to tag peep this presentation a little bit. Um so just really general
high level overview. Um Ron Coast Energy Authority is a joint powers agency which
Trioell is a member. Um we have several energy efficiency programs that we run
in addition to of course the community choice energy program which is what
we're mainly here to talk about today. Um but I'll go over um go ahead next
slide. Um, I wanted to go over kind of uh our board's budget process um that
we've been engaged in, where we're at with it, and uh proposed rate change
that we've been discussing. So, in May 2026, uh this year, we took uh
priorities uh and cost-saving strategies to our board to get general direction on
forming our CA's annual budget. Um so, we did that in May. Um we'll talk a
little more about what priorities came out of that further in the presentation.
Um and then in June, uh our board adopted the budget, uh with direction to
set rates, uh less than 10% above PG&E rates and maintain a minimum of $26
million in financial reserves. Um that's the minimum we need in financial
reserves to avoid um creditor fees and things like that that we would start
incurring if we have uh too few too too low of a number of reserves. Um, so then
this Thursday, um, day after tomorrow, we'll be having a board meeting and, uh,
we'll be coming back to our board to set that rate. And I'll give you a spoiler.
We're recommending six six%. Um, but I think it's really important we have this
chance to discuss what what we're talking about when it when we talk about
a rate. Um, and that the rate that our board would adopt would come into effect
on September 1st. Um, next slide, please. So the priorities our board set
um for this next fiscal year was to remain steady in our environmental
goals. So our CA in 2025 achieved a portfolio of 100% renewable and carbon-f
free energy. Um this was something long in the making. Um and our board felt
really strongly um that it was important to maintain that level of portfolio. um
they were very interested in making sure we maintained our financial health to
maintain um reserves to ensure organizational solveny and additionally
uh long-term rate stabilization. Uh we're also looking at administering
unprecedented uh amount of externally funded customer programs. So we have the
Northern Rural Energy Network which we administer um for Humble County and
beyond. Uh and that has um external funding we're bringing um to to the
county that doesn't come from rateayer funds. Um and then we are also looking
at uh vision setting and regional coordination. So with that we're really
uh been asked uh to take a regional lead in the regional climate action plan and
host that um that effort at RCA. Um our board stayed uh very interested in
making sure that we we were doing that. Um and then we need to update our CA
strategic plan um this coming year. Um, we're also optimizing our operations,
strengthening our customer service, and make sure that our um our physical
assets are as cost neutral as they can be. So, we maintain a charging network,
a electric vehicle charging network throughout the county. Um, we want to
make sure that we're not losing money on that and that it's as cost neutral as it
can be. So, we'll be focusing on that um now that we have most of our stations
installed. Next slide, please. So, in terms of the cost-saving strategies that
our board considered, we looked at no cola increases for at least two years.
We reduced part-time staff and froze four vacant positions. Um, we had, I
don't know this has come up for any of you, but we had a unique issue with the
27th pay period, which happens about every 11 years. So, unlucky for us that
this was our year, but um we uh took reductions in our salaries um to pay for
that um rather than paying it out, which saved about a $200,000. We also reduced
community choice energy funded rebates. These are ebike vouchers and electric
vehicle rebates that we've traditionally given. Um we still have kept some core
funding in the budget for that. It's really a popular program and important
to our board members that we continue that. Um but we did reduce it slightly.
Um we've reduced travel, training, education, and outreach budget budgets.
Um we eliminated the consultant uh funding we wanted to set aside for the
strategic plan update. We'll be doing that effort in house. And probably most
importantly, um we're pursuing a prepay agreement which lowers the cost of our
power um hopefully by about uh two million annually. Um so this is a um a
bond type agreement that we're we're following or pursuing that would allow
us to reduce the cost of power. >> Who are you prepaying?
» Uh the prepaid it's it's um it's basically a bond issue. that difference
between municipal financing and and um conventional financing that allow us to
realize savings. So yeah, and uh hopefully that will be uh well it's a
minimum of 8% of on the energy that we'll save minimum and it could be as
high as 14%. So we're still kind of waiting um on the market to figure out
exactly how much savings but um conservatively we're looking at two
million. Next slide. Um, so I'm gonna have Lori come up and kind of walk us
through the budget um before we kind of get into the discussion.
» Hello. Welcome. >> Sure. Thank you. Lori Bandini, the
director of business planning and finance for RCA. Um, so this is just
looking at what our adopted budget was last fiscal year 202526.
What um a mid-year amended budget looks like um because we had some pretty
drastic changes midyear. and then what our um you know current fiscal year 2627
budget is looking like. Um just to give some context around like why we are
recommending that we raise electricity rates. Um so we're looking at a deficit
a net income deficit of 5.6 million. Um a big part of our budget is these
customer um usage and retail rates that we're bringing in so that we're looking
at raising those revenues. And then a big part of our expense budget are the
power costs. Right now, we're looking at power costs that exceed um what we would
be bringing in at the retail rates that we're suggesting. So, even with a 6%
increase that we are suggesting, we're still looking at a little bit of a
deficit. Um, next slide. So, this just shows a breakout of the type of revenue
we have at RCA. Um, as you can see, a majority is electricity sales from our
customers. Um, about 71%, but we also have about 18 million of external
funding that Beth spoke to. So, funding that's coming from the state um to
implement energy efficiency programs both here in Humble County and other
rural counties um in Northern California. Um we also are expecting
some investment income and uh tax credits. We uh built and own and operate
um the solar plus battery uh micro grid at the airport. You guys have ever seen
that? Um and so we're realizing some tax credits associated [clears throat] with
Next slide. And this is a breakout of our expenses.
Um majority of our expenses who will sell power supply as you can see. Uh
then we have a large chunk of budget that goes to our professional and
program services. So that's consultant services that we have to contract out
to. Um we also have a large pass through amount of budget that goes to our
partners for the northern rural energy networks. Those are the other counties
that are implementing programs. Um and then we have you know our personnel
budget of course some uh incentives that go directly to customers. So about 6% of
our budget are direct customer incentives and rebates. Um and then we
have our you know facility facilities and operations communications and
outreach non-operating costs. Um and those costs as well as personnel costs
are where we were able to actually like kind of trim the budget and realize some
savings. um a lot of the other costs are just not within our control.
» Thank you. >> So when we look at what is influencing
the rates, we have uh the most um most significant is the power costs and then
there's RCA expenses which play a smaller role. Um, and then there's this
power charging difference adjustment. And I want to spend a little time
talking about this because this is really kind of the doozy that's um
causing us to need to to raise rates this round. Um, so next slide, please.
Um, the purpose of the power cost and difference adjustment is essentially
it's a fee that's charged by PG&E to make up the difference in what they paid
to procure power resources when we were all still part of PG& um territory. I
mean we we are in the sense that we still get our electricity delivered by
them but we were still receiving power um that they were procuring on our
behalf. Uh so the difference in what they paid and the current market value
next slide please becomes the PCIA. So PG is guaranteed to be made whole so
that they would never lose money on power purchase power that they've
purchased. We do not have the same benefit as a community choice energy. Um
so that amount has fluctuated. um our customers for the most part left PG&
about 10 years ago. Um so these are resources um that they are still
customers say we procured these on your behalf more than 10 years ago um and
you're still on the hook to pay for them. Uh and so next please. Um and and
it has [clears throat] fluctuated over the years. Um unfortunately due to a new
uh way that they've calculated the PCIA um this last year it went up at 232% for
RCA customers. Um so for the typical RCA customer, it's equal to 51% of your
generation charge. So um you know you'll see the the transmission um and
distribution charges and then you'll see the generation charges. So PCIA is a fee
um that gets tacked onto that generation charge and it's about 51% of the total.
Now if RCA um without changing our rates at all, if we did not have to pay that
PCIA um our rates would be 31% lower than PG& rates. Um but we do consider
you know for the sake of our community like we think about it as an all-in
rate, right? We don't want our community paying more and typically we've always
offered a discount. So, um I think that the most it was 3% discount from PG&E.
Most recently we've been at half a percent discount. Um but with this PCIA
shift going up so high um it's just not possible to um offer that dis that
historic discount and recoup our costs. Next slide. So what we're showing here
is um kind of how this breaks down into the typical power bill would be um and
uh so we took the rate that most you know the the far majority of residential
customers are on the CTC rate um and looked at what a typical average bill
would be. Um so you can see on um on the left here it's you know what PTE charged
in 2025 which was rates that were quite higher than they are today. Um and then
RCA matched that um you know with just a a half percent discount in 2025. Um so
just to kind of orient ourselves here, the blue is the delivery rate um which
has gone up. That's the trans the distribution transmission um those
charges that PG charges every customer. Uh the green area is our generation rate
and that's the piece that we're talking about in terms of increasing. Um it
doesn't affect the o it doesn't it's not a percent of the overall bill. It's a
percent of the generation. So it's a percent of that. Um and then and then
sort of that pinkish color is the PCIA charge. So um next slide please. So you
can see if we look at a 6% increase, it means that our charges plus the PCIA
would be 6% higher than what a bundle customer, someone who isn't part of the
community choice energy program what they would pay. Um the total bill
results in about 1.6% 6% greater than a typical PG& bill. So um just I want to
be really clear on that because it can feel really scary to talk about overall
bill if we were saying that was going up by 6%. It's a much different impact than
what we're talking about. So it is just a percentage of the generation that
we're talking about. So um next slide. Uh so we wanted to compare it to 2025
when the rates were quite high. They came down at the beginning of 2026. Um,
and so if we look at that right now, the average customer is paying about $8 less
uh in generation than they were um in 2025. And with the 6% rate increase,
they would um still be paying less than they paid in 2025 um but more more than
current. Next slide. Uh so the overall take-home message um for this 6%
increase is on the average customer bill um we'd be looking at an additional
$2.33 a month um to cover that 6% charge. Um just to give you that context
of what it would mean um you know again for an average customer on the typical
rate. Um so uh that um that is uh the proposal we'll be making to the board uh
this Thursday for that 6% increase and that does leave us um at that reserve
target that we were going for. Um so it works in that sense. Let's next slide.
So our next steps um would be for our CA board to finalize the rate at our
meeting on Thursday. um rates would become effective in September and then
we'll continue to monitor the rates on a quarterly basis and make adjustments up
to the 9.5% cap the board recommended that we stay under. Um and that's just
to make sure we can maintain those minimum level preserves consistent with
the recommendation. And then the next step or next slide. Um so you know I do
want to mention that we offer a lot of services for energy efficiency and so we
have constituents or or community members that are concerned about their
bill and this change. Um, please encourage them to call our CA or visit
our website. Um, we have customer service representatives are all local
people, local locally employed folks. They'll answer the phone. Real humans
answer our phone. Um, they will be happy to review a customer's rate, make sure
they're on the best rate for the type of energy and the time of use that they use
energy. Um, sometimes there can be savings just in that alone, just by
changing the rate guidelines. Um, you can request a free home energy
assessment where they'll get on the phone with you and walk through every
appliance in your home and think about low and no cost ways that you could
conserve energy. Um, and then you can request a free energy kit to help you
implement some of those low and no cost ways. Um, and then there's a rebate
catalog that you can find online that would uh, um, support energy efficiency
upgrades for many appliances that people might be replacing. Um, and then as far
as even, you know, uh, rebates for something as complicated as a, um, heat,
pump, hot water heater. So, kind of a wide variety of very small rebates and
and much larger ones. So, um, we do have a variety of services we can offer to
offset the increase and we're happy to provide those services if anyone's
interested. Um, so that is my last slide. Um, I'm happy to answer any
questions. Um, and really do appreciate um, council member Wilson's invite to
come here. You know, it's really great for us to get to come and explain and
make sure everyone has the right information to make decisions. I really
appreciate it. >> Thank you. Um, Council Member
No. >> Um,
people can opt out of RCA, right? So, I mean, so let's say you you adjust your
race and somebody's like, "Oh god, I just can't handle that." They can just
opt out. Yeah. >> And the people who read it and say, "I'm
okay with this." They can just stay in. So, people still have choices. This is
» that's the heart of it. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. Absolutely.
» That is my only clarification. Thank you.
» Thank you, Council Member Wilson. >> Uh yeah, just a a couple things. If if
you don't What is the ramifications if you don't raise your rates? You you
start like you showed you at the current rate, we'd lose $6 million
» this year. and over a substant time how long before that would eventually
eliminate our >> um yeah without any change in rates I
think you know we we don't really map past um asset on a three-year period
because it become the modeling becomes very iffy after that right so the
crystal ball gets gets even cloudier um so but looking at this I think we get
down to just a few million um in 2028 if we don't make any changes but it's other
things you know there's many factors happening in the background as Well, in
terms of one, PCI advocacy that we're doing to remove that and you know, I
will say California is the only state that doesn't um you know, many states
have community choice energy type programs. We're the only state that
doesn't sunset a PCIA. Um so 10 years deep into it, it should definitely go
away. Um so we're working towards that. That's something that could change the
background. Energy costs fluctuate daily, hourly. Um so those um you know
even from the presentation we gave the forward last month to now um you know
there it's the situation improved by million dollars. Um so that's why we
want to have that ability to track it so closely and make make changes a little
more fine-tuning so we can at least name that minimum maintain that minimum level
of reserves um and hopefully avoid any any larger rate increases than that
9.5%. But in terms of if we do nothing and nothing in the background changes um
you know it's it's it it doesn't all look rosy you know by 2028 if you pay by
find ourselves with pretty bare minimum reserves.
» So with with the with the increase you you hold your own with the $28 billion
reserve for the financial thing >> and uh the the one of the things that
happened and can I take a second? >> Yeah. uh
» when I was in the hospital for I was in the hospital for a while and that
there's a lot of different nurses that come through that if you've been to uh
Providence that they that they have there and used the RCA had sent me some
flowers and so it had RCA written on it. So they would come by and ask me all the
time about RCA. And there's one of the things that you I saw was there was
there was a very lack of understanding in Humble County about RCA. You know,
it's on my bill. I see it there and I have to pay it and my what I pay double
or all kinds of questions. So it gave me a lot of opportunity. Uh and I and I
lost track after I don't know after 10 people I lost track of that. But one of
the things that that seem to be the the thing that I could I could lean to is
the the things that RCA does locally and there's there's about $10 million worth
of $6 million like a personnel jobs or 40ome jobs. Um this $10 million that
goes into the local economy if it was not going to RCA locally it would be
going into as I said in the last meeting it would be going to PG& stockholders.
uh shareholders pockets and and just as a point of interest in 2025
PG& made $2.5 billion profit depending what you look at another one they were
three billion depending how they their financial spreadsheets are showing you
what they're showing and the there's there's never
a kind of a thing that there's you know what's your goal for PGD there's never
enough it's what the most that I what can we get and they continue to take
that. And so by keeping this stuff local, the the jobs the uh you know the
the support when you have 40 jobs, you have so many support jobs that help with
that and to lose to lose that out just to let that go to to the corporate uh
process. And the other thing was a few years back we actually had to borrow
money from one of the rancheras to stay in business. And then this PCIA thing
that they fill with uh they changed that to the point where we were able to come
from being going negative we paid off the loan back to the rancheria in
shorter than it was due and then we started acrewing the the money to bring
up the reserves to where they're a solid right now I think it's even higher than
26 billion and and that happened in such a short period of time it was like like
a phenomenal thing. What happened? Well, this PCI thing that PG wasn't getting,
they they used to have a building in San
Francisco that had two buildings. One takes take took up a square block of 34
stories or something which they sold and now they're in Oakland. But they had
people that sit around and figure this stuff out. And one of the things they
figured out was how to do whatever they did to PCIA. Now it's now it's 232%
above >> right
» what they're doing and it's half the energy costs and so now they're taking
that money back and if they probably have a I'm speaking as a conjecture a
goal would be to eliminate CCAs because CCAs take and and purchase power on the
open market and then send sell it back to the local people. If we weren't here,
they would do that. They It would be them taking the power and sending it to
you and put it in their pocket. Right. >> In this case, the the whole purpose of
the CCA, which is community choice aggregate, was to give local communities
a chance to do a little better in in the system and try to save money. And so the
result of it of not of not saving a big punch on your bill, there are things
happening in your in your community that RCA provides. And so if it were just
left to me and we were going to vote and Frank was going to the council or to the
board meeting, my vote would have been for this. And yet that's a big that's a
big deal for overall. And they uh they changed it from 10 now to six. that
that's why I came to the council that that you guys should have input as a JPA
to influence what I do or don't do. I'll do what the C I'll express my opinion
but I'll still vote as the council directs me and that's
» basically what I have. >> Thank you, Council Wilson. Um I would
like to know so what you're saying is that PCIA is not going to go away
» as of now. No, there's some bill there. Assembly member Rogers, our Assembly
member, uh he has uh sponsored some legislation to increase the
transparency. So, one of the ironies of this PCIA, is that there's not a lot of
insight to what resources they're putting into that calculation. Um and
the claim is that it's proprietary information, sort of cost of energy, you
know, things that um would be sort of trade secret. So we can't just let
everybody know but there has to be some level of transparency um to understand
well you know to give us any predictability of what will happen with
the PCIA in the long run. Um so there is a transparency bill being being uh
floated right now that's doing very well through committees. Um but there's no
plan currently that would make it go away. We have um through our trade
organization we've submitted an appeal to the California Supreme Court um for
this uh retroactive rate making that uh we you know we're basically saying that
this new methodology the way they calculated it to have it rise so rapidly
at 232% constitutes retroactive rightmaking. Um so we've been taking
that appeal as far as we can take it. So we're doing active advocacy around this
but right now there is no sunset. There is no way that this permanently goes
away. Um when you when you're talking about a bill to uh to address this, are
you talking about something that would be directly um
directed to PG&E or because really if CPU
» says they can do it and that's what their favorite thing to do is to say you
can do it PG& >> then there's really it. So I guess my
question is is the bill directed at CPU? >> It would it would direct the CPU to like
come up with a process to make the PCIA calculation more transparent for CCAs.
» Okay. And um >> but I [clears throat] agree with your um
synopsis there in terms of the CPU generally liking to give what they want.
And so just my I have to honestly my
inclination initially is to vote no because
every single thing and every single garbage, water, trash,
life, everything is going up. And so when something goes up, it might only go
up 50 cents. But if 50 things go up 50 cents, then community, you know, a
community that is um not an affluent community will suffer. And the one thing
that we felt when we were or we we believed when we were originally all in
and and for it is that it would be lower, that you would save us, you not
[laughter] you know, um, from the rate increases.
And so the rate increase of 6% is good, but it can go up to 9.5. I remember this
whole cannabis thing, you know, it's 10%, but it could go up to 10%. And then
we had to back it down because people didn't like that number, right? And so
that's my concern [clears throat] is that
you're doing it. I understand why you're doing it and I understand the need to
do. I don't know that the community can
sustain PE everything going up, you know. Um, and the city it's the same
like our garbage rates go up, you know. Um, our water rates or water sewer rates
go up and you know that's something that's been that was established like
for the water and sewer that was established four years ago or whatever
and it's you know this is the final year but it doesn't matter that it's the
final year. what matters is going up, you know, and so that's really my
biggest concern and my worry and I I do believe because I understand that every
jurisdiction is percentage and Rioell is only a 6% um of the total um vote wise
um that it will likely [clears throat] pass and
I'm sure that it will likely pass here, but I just I am just very uncomfortable
with raising things when every single day we get promised the gas is going to
go down. It goes down for a day and then it goes back right back up, you know.
So is there
so the 9.5% that you say that's as high as it's going to go
» and that's as high as it's going to go for two years because it's a twoyear or
no that cost of living that was your your
other sorry but is there what is the um duration of that cap of 9.5 is that you
know like if they go up to 250%. In the PICA,
» what happens then? >> Well, we would the way we're structuring
this is that it would come back to our board for anything above that 9.5 would
be a whole new discussion with the board. So, we would not take that
without, you know, you know, we could bring it back to this council as well.
Um, so we would have that check right there. um in terms of how long we think
we can you know write out this particular rate and we want to be able
to have that flexibility to analyze it you know as we go to avoid a higher rate
increase because we run that risk if we wait too long the ask get too high and
that's the f you know I will say it's not something we've taken lightly we've
had this historic discount um affordability has always been a focus of
our CA um we've saved you know well over $7 million um throughout the county
since we started so I I I would say that we're still very much focused on
affordability and just like the rates could go up and I hear what you're
saying about but they never seem to come down um I think that that is a real
potential um that we will also be monitoring for. So um as uh council
member Wilson said you know one of the one of the great things about being a
CCA versus a profit driven entity is that um we we can bring it down. We're
not we're not in this just to drive up profits to the maximum extent feasible.
So when we hit the targets that our board has set we had to back off. Um so
I think we have some assurance there that we've got some great oversight with
our board that's very engaged and we'll be watching it every step of the way. Um
the energy market is volatile. Um so as I mentioned things improved even $2
million from one month to the next. They can also on you know go the opposite
direction. Um but we have experienced these big fluctuations and so it's very
hard at any moment to say this is the right moment to do this and especially
um what you mentioned with it feels like everything's going up and I will tell
you I have spent the last two months looking around at my community and
wondering like you know which of us can afford that and which like it's it's not
a joke right like it's very serious and I you know I think we are also a grand
experiment here in Humboldt um for CCAs we you know our demographics are quite
different than a typical CCA So I think one thing about this increase um and um
you know to your point about opt outs it is still a choice so people can make
that choice if they need to. We've done some analysis as sort of what's the
threshold that we can tolerate and stay viable and so we're looking at all of
that very closely and we can selforrect at any moment um and you know think of
alternatives or contingencies if we need to. Um but we you know one thing I would
really encourage is those options for efficiency because it is a fairly small
increase. Um, I think that there are some things, you know, often that could
be done that would you could bring it back down. Um, and talking with our
energy advisors would be a great way for people to know like, okay, how would I
save some money here or is it just the time? I'm literally could be the time
doing your laundry. Um, you know, so, so there could be very simple changes
people could make in that up. Yeah. >> So, I'd really encourage that as a first
step. We've got great people, you know, ready to give advice on that. Okay. And
the increase would it be let's say is it I don't know exactly how
you is it per kilowatt hour or is it per month is that whatever that that total
amount you what what is that total amount covering
» yeah I think it's it's per kilowatt um per kilowatt hour that what we showed
you there the amount was a typical bill so just the very most average bill on
the most average rate so yeah but but we are tied to um we tied to PG&
rates. So we're still going to tear off of that, right? So um the cost is just
looking at PG&'s rate setting and and you know going going um higher than that
but not necessarily you know mixing up the rate classes different or um analyze
you know kind of uh there there's a whole other method we could do which is
like cost of service which would um perhaps have you know different rates
for different classes of users than PG&E uses. We're not talking about any of
that. We're just talking about straight off of the PJ bill just like we've
always done. But half a percent, now it'll be six%.
» Okay. And I think >> so if PG&E raises their rates,
then you would have to raise your rates. Is that it's it's just like
» potentially or potentially not. Yes. I mean, we we'll have to make that choice
because we're going to watch that. So we may still need to stay higher. Um or it
could be that if they did a dramatic rate increase, we could actually find
ourselves lower again. It really depends on how they because we're we're basing
this on what we need for our reserves, not not what you know just matching
their rates. Yeah. So, so we will have that option and that is you know in our
dream world that's the best case scenario but not exactly because we
don't want you know rates overall pet rocket but yeah we would you know be
able to realize that discount. Um, so yeah, it's a it's a complicated uh wish
list, right? Because you don't want rates to go too high, but also, you
know, we do want to be able to offer. So it could that could be, you know, the
scenario a few months from now. >> Thank you. Is there anyone in the public
who has a question? >> Yes. Can you
» Okay, >> that would be great.
» Hi, my name is Shannon Brashard, community member. My question is your
average of $2 a little bit more or the average of4 $140 a month. What if that's
not your average? Our I wish my average was $148 a month. I that's not and I've
been processed with my family. So would my $2 and something cents go up because
my bill went up because my average 200 if I'm lucky 220 on a good month. And so
would that extra $2, would that be more for me? It would be 6% no matter my
bill. >> Or would it the $2 that you're saying
would go up each month? It would go up. If my bill is not $140, I'm not paying
the the generation rate plus the PIA would be Yeah, you'd be your generation
portion will go up, >> right? So my average
» okay that was my question because my >> thank you
» my average like 61 >> I don't know what I'm doing
» that [laughter] and if I could just add you know if you
have questions like that about your bill please call in because they can break
down um I'm not sure how much time people have spent with their PJ new bill
but it's um potentially purposefully confusing um you know where they put
those charges and what you're looking at. And so if you have like for example
natural gas that we're not talking about that at all, right? Like nothing's
touching that. So you might have that might be where the bulk of your bill is.
So um even though your bill may be higher than the average bill we were
looking at here, um you know maybe your percentage of what what amount of that
is electricity generation. Um that's the important part we're talking about. So
um you know depending on what your appliances are, all all kinds of factors
will go into that. So, um, yeah, that we're only talking about the electric
portion of the bill. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Lot of
any hands raised. >> Council, council member.
» Well, I was just going to say um >> I kind of agree with Amanda. You have
the option >> to um opt out even though they make it
hard. My husband's tried to call several times. But now that I mean if
» what is the other option opt out >> PG PG
» do they charge you more to >> sorry
» yeah if um if you opt out you go back to being a bundled customer um one thing
and there is a waiting period so it's um you opt out and then uh if you if you
for example if we were able to realize a discount and you wanted to opt back in
it wouldn't happen instantaneously. So, so you it's a bit of a gamble,
right? Which one do you think will be cheaper in the long term? I mean,
historically, for the last 10 years, we've managed to be cheaper. This is the
first time we've had to go above PJ. Um, so I think that's just to be mindful of
that that if you opt out, you know, it takes some time to opt back in if we
were able to realize rate savings. Um, but yes, that would be your option. You
just go to the PG& become a bundled customer.
» When you talk about it'll take some time, how much time to opt out?
» Uh, when you opt out, I think there's just a small leg lag. um uh of a couple
months to actually get back on the PG& bundled customer. But when you want to
opt back into RCA, um I think it takes uh I want to say a year before you can
come back in. Um yeah, so there is some time and that's just to avoid um you
know again we're procuring power based on a anticipated load and so um if
someone were for example trying to gain the system of opting in opting out every
other day you know make it difficult. So there are some statutory required time
frames. Okay.
» Sorry I didn't mean to jump ahead of you there, Julie. Um, are
there any um emails? Then I will Let's see. Where are we?
Uhoh.
direction need to provide direction to council member Wilson on how to vote for
the uh rate increase for um RCA there. How do I It's not a motion.
Um I think uh I think you can do it either way. I think the motion would
probably be the best way to do it and a simple motion would be to uh
based on what I'm reading from the council to uh make a motion to u direct
council member Wilson to vote in the affirmative for the robocose energy
authority budget and rate recommendation.
Is there a motion? >> I'll make that motion.
» Repeat it. No. It's for me. Council member Wilson
direction to vote in the affirmative. >> In the affirmative. I couldn't I didn't.
Yes. >> Because people have a choice ultimately.
I think they can do. >> Yeah. Okay. I'll make the motion.
» You have a motion. >> Oh, so state the motion.
Tell your motion. >> I think we are the motion is to for the
council to direct you council member Wilson to vote in the affirmative for
the budget and the rate increase for RCA.
» It's saying vote yes. That's basically the motion.
» That's what you're So motion and a second. We have a second.
Do we have a second? I'll >> second.
» We have a motion and a second. Feeling
vote.
Okay. So motion car 3 one.
» Okay.
I will thank you both for coming.
Absolutely. Thanks for answering all of our questions.
Now we'll move on to the update the span neuter voucher program page 68 in our
packets.
» Thank you Mayor Garn members of the council. I'll go ahead and hand this
over to our finance director, Mr. Travis Sand.
» Thank you, city manager. And just going to wait our PowerPoint loaded here.
All right. Thank you, Mayor Gar, members of the council. So, Riadella is a small
rural community of about 3,400 people. And today, I want to walk you through
what we built with our spay and neuter program and why we think it holds
lessons for future programs like this. And everything you see today is verified
provider billings in within the city's general ledger through the end of the
last fiscal year, June 30th, 2026.
Unaltered animal populations put real pressure on small cities. Shelter
intake, animal control calls are costs that we absorb whether we budget for
them or not. In August 2024, the city council approved a straightforward
solution. Pay a trusted local clinic directly for each spay or neuter
performed. Resolution 1623-2024
established this program and named animal license fees as its funding
source. The mechanics is simple. A resident brings a dog or cat to Humble
Humane, which does business as Critters Without Litters, and the clinic performs
the procedure and invoices the city per animal. We pay, there's no new staff,
and there's no new infrastructure involved. The MLAN Foundation actually
stepped in early with a $3,500 grant to support that helped us get us get this
program off the ground. In 22 months of operation, the program
asserts 53 animals, 32 dogs, and 21 cats. Every one of them through a
voucher valued from $75 for a male cat to $350 for a female dog based on animal
type and size. The average provider cost is about $120 per animal, which is an
efficient number for a rule program with no administrative overhead.
22 months of continuous operations were done without interruption.
We have secured $13,221 across three sources, a little over
$8,900 from in dedicated animal license fees, $3,500 from the MLAN Foundation,
and $750 from three community donors who believed in the program. The MLAN grants
were instrumental in getting us off in our first year and those awards have now
closed and the program is standing on its own.
In the first year, fiscal 2024-25, we ran primarily on fund balance with the
$750 donation in support. When the MLAN Foundation award closed in October 2025,
the dedicated fee stream picked up from where the philanthropy left off. That
transition happened without a gap in service.
Across two years, we've secured $13,221 in grants, donations, and dedicated fees
to run a program that serves roughly 25 animals per year.
Here's why the program is self- sustaining. Resolution 1623-20224
named animal license and control fees as funding source, and we ran the numbers.
In fiscal year 2425, we collected a little over $3,900 against a $2,500
projection. In fiscal year 2526, we collected $4,999,
which is double the projection. We dedicated the full $8,971
to the program, and the annual fee collections now cover the program's
annual cost with room to spare.
So California's $50 million California for all animals initiative directed more
than half of its dispersed funding towards spay and neuter. That program's
grant funds are now fully awarded. Ridel shows what a next generation of rural
spayneuter support could look like which is locally administered feedback and
delivered through an existing community clinic and verified to the penny.
What dedicated local fees cannot fund is growth. We sustain 25 animals a year,
feral cat populations, neighboring communities, expanded
demand. Those require a state partner. The model works. The economics are
honest and the partnership is ready. Reedell has built a self- sustaining
rural spay and neuter program on local fees, community support, and one trusted
clinic. We offered as a model for how this should work across California.
Thank you for that and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
» Thank you very much. And um I want to personally thank Mayor Prom Amanda
Carter for her efforts. There's not a time that a meeting, not anything that
goes by when she doesn't bring it up and she doesn't push it. It doesn't it
doesn't matter what the meeting is an opening and says, "Do you have anything
to say?" she's got something to say and it's got to do with spay neut. So, I
want to say thank you for all you do um for this area and I would like to see if
you would like to >> Yeah, I would love to speak on this. Um
I first Thank you, Travis, for this lovely PowerPoint. The first one
just makes my heart warm. How a city of 3,400 people built a self-sustaining
space program. I wish I could see more of that. Um, [gasps]
I guess I I think that as far as animal control goes and as we, you know, move
forward in our animal control future, whatever those decisions are, I do think
that this spayneuter voucher program is the most valuable and um,
coste effective way to tackle animal overpopulation. Um, I also want to make
sure you guys got all these letters of support from the community cuz people
really really like this program a lot. It helps people. Um, something I hear a
lot is that owning a pet's a luxury, but I don't think it should be, right? I I
think that partially, you know, a lot of these times pets are they serve as
people's emotional support. They serve as just all kinds of stuff that that we
need and we rely on. And and I think that people should be allowed to have
pets without it being massively uh cost prohibitive. Um I also think that when
it comes to unwanted births, you know, um sometimes it's just an accident.
Sometimes the cat sneaks out and comes home pregnant and then what do you do
with this litter of five kids? Um so I think that's really effective there,
too. I have trapped 18 cats in my backyard alone. And that's not counting
the cats that have been out and trapped elsewhere. 18. Um, I paid out of pocket
to have all of those cats spayed and neutered, you know, and it would have
been really nice if the city or some, you know, there's other voucher programs
out there, but this is by far the most sustainable, most effective way to
combat animal overpopulation and shelter overpopulation. In light of recent
circumstances, I I think it really highlights the need uh for spayneuter
and people are calling for all kinds of solutions. We need oversight. We need
you know facilities. We need infrastructure. Uh but what we really
really really need is investment in spayneuter um locally at the state level
at every single level. So for me it is a huge pleasure to be a representative
program for how to do this. Nobody's doing this. The reason I talk about it
so much is because nobody does this. Nobody else in Humble County, not a
single jurisdiction's doing this. Um, there are very few programs like this in
the entire state. And I haven't found a whole lot like New York City was looking
at how to do it or something. So, we beat New York City to the punch really.
And I want to thank this council for the support that it's given me. Um, you all
have always unanimously voted yes to this stuff and so I'm proud of you. and
city staff has been massively supportive in this effort. And um so so has the
community resource center. Sarah can't be here today, but uh Critters Without
Litters is the clinic that we contract with for this and I'm just so thankful
that they're here because they are so close by. It used to be that we were
driving cats and dogs up to Almost Bay Neuter Network which is a wonderful
place but is far away from Rio and that by itself was prohibitive. Um, our
program offers financial assistance and transportation if people need it. The
mayor prom of your city shows up to your house and picks up your animal, takes it
to the vet, and then brings it right back home. Um, and I think there are
very few cities that can say that. Lastly, our three community donors. Um,
that was my family, so I kind of want to thank them, too. [laughter]
Uh, that was me saying, "Don't buy me Christmas presents this year, just
donate to this program instead." Which they very graciously did. So, I would be
remiss not to thank uh my mom and my sister and my father-in-law for donating
as my Christmas present last year, and I'm going to try again. Um, that's my
spiel. What I would like is like a is dedicated funding for this. You know, I
I want to see this grow. I would love to see this open to feral and straight cats
because that's really where the problem is. It's one thing to help people's pets
and it's quite another to motivate people to trump around in some bushes
and and try to trap these wild spitting hissing mean nasty cats uh when there
isn't somebody to help drive pay whatever. A lot of the time community
members are perfectly willing to pay a little bit $20 a cat, something like
that. But with the city's assistance, we can really try to cut down um you know
the the cats that get into your lovely flowers and you know things like that.
So, um, I'm going to shut my mouth because I could talk about this for a
really long time. I just I want to thank Travis especially for putting this
together. It's beautiful. Thank you all.
» Council member Little, >> I just want to say thank you. You've
done an amazing job. You've been on this for a long time and
it's a wonderful program and we do need pets.
» Yeah, definitely. And so I'm all for it and I'm all for anything else we can do
to help. >> Thank you, Council Member Wilson.
» Yes. And I also thank Amanda. I know she's the CAT lady and so
ever since you came on the council before, but u I think it's a good
program. Uh and the added caveat that you told me tonight is that we beat New
York. So >> I'm really proud of that.
» Yeah. Good. We should be really proud of our service. Yeah. Any community member
would like to speak on this? >> All right.
Jennifer.
» Hello. My my name is Jennifer Raymond and I just want to commend Amanda and
the city of Rioell for this program. I am the founder of Critters Without
Litters and also Humbult's Bayne Neuter Clinic. When I moved to Humbult County,
I learned that more than 4,000 dogs and cats were being euthanized every year by
the county's impound facility. And I was appalled by that. I called the facility
and said, "Do you have a spayneuter program?" And they said, "No." And I
said, "Well, um, I'd like to volunteer to start one. I'll do it as a volunteer.
I'll raise all the money." And they said, "No, thank you." So, I had to
start a nonprofit and it turned into Humble Spain Neuter Clinic. The very
first year we operated, we were spaying and we spayed neutered more than 3,500
dogs and cats. And what this represents is thousands of kittens and puppies that
aren't born, don't need to be impounded, won't be euthanized.
And the problem with spayneuter is we don't have a whole lot to show for our
work. You know, I mean, the more successful we are, the less we have to
show. But what you've done here is wonderful, and I think it's a model, and
it's a model that I'm going to work on. I'm talking with the county board of
supervisors and using Rioddell as a model saying
let's do this as a county. So thank you so much for what you are doing here.
Thank you Amanda and uh this is just really forwardlooking because we won't
solve pet overpopulation until we solve the problem of unwanted
births. And that's what's sp. Thank you.
» Thank you for being here. >> There anyone else
standing up?
» I wasn't sure if she >> Okay, then. Um I Any hands raised? Any
emails? Then I will ask for a motion to direct staff to establish a recurring
dedicated dedication of animal license and control
fee revenue to the program beginning in fiscal year 2627. Is there a motion?
» I would love to make that motion. >> Have a motion. Is there a second?
» I have a second. >> Have a motion and a second.
» Motion carries 4. >> Thank you everybody.
» Thank you. No, thank you. No, we're we're too
» [clears throat] >> Now we will move on to discussion and
possible action regarding the police department animal pinnel project
77 in our packet. City manager. >> I'll go ahead and turn it over to Chief
Benning. >> Thank you. Mayor Garn council members as
the council may recall previously this item was brought up the need to
establish facility for the city and they formed the ad hoc committee. At that
committee meeting, multiple different options were presented and I'm here
tonight to present to the council what was decided on.
If the council would guide their attention to page
84, 85, 86. I have some photograph there for
reference as I go through this.
The ad that hawk committed committee
decided uh that the 12x 246 run prefabricated commercial kennel was the
appropriate option. It comes complete with electrical packaging, climate
control, floor drains, dog doors, heating system, all for the ballpark
figure of about $70,000.
We eliminated some of the options on this since the writing of this packet.
Uh eliminating some of the AC related stuff in favor of the fan and kept the
heat element for wintertime, saving us a couple thousand dollars there.
This includes the construction of a 28T by 18t reinforced concrete slab that
this building would sit on. That would cost us approximately $12,890.
the installation of an automatic electric gate system with walkthrough
access gate associated [clears throat] fencing improvements. We have a quote
for that for $9,750.
At the time of writing this, we estimated that the additional features
including the modification of the power to handle this building and the
installation of the tank be approximately $10,000.
Unfortunately, that has come in closer to 25,000, bringing our total project
cost up in the ballpark of $125,000.
Staff is recommending that council would authorize staff to actively seek
donations, sponsorships, grants, outside funding sources with the goal of
securing approximately 30% of the project costs.
That is a number I would recommend the council discuss determine if 30% is
appropriate or if they think more or less as far as donation grants go be
appropriate.
I would however recommend that council
preemptively authorize construction of the concrete slab as the goal for this
project was set to be completed prior to winter arriving and contractors are
already scheduling out quite far. So concrete collab would be one of the
cheaper parts of this at the $12,890
benchmarks.
So with that again, we're requesting council authorize construction of the
concrete slab immediately, authorize staff to solicit donations,
grants, and sponsorships, [clears throat] and then direct staff to
return to the city council once donations and outside funding have
totaled whatever number the council feels is
appropriate as a ballpark figure. The 30% of the
total project costs known right now would be approximately $39,000
at that 30% benchmark. And with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions or
council has. >> Thank you, Chief Finny. Thanks for all
your diligence and looking up on me finding all this information and thank
you for taking out the air conditioning because well I don't have it [laughter]
but um uh I will go to Mayor Pro. >> Thank you. Um I I sit on the ad hoc
committee so this isn't the first time I'm seeing this. Um, I I know these
numbers are big and these numbers are scary and I think that when we do our
budgets and it's not like Riadell's rolling in a ton of money. Um, I do like
the idea of looking for donations and other um, you know, funding sources, but
ultimately I don't know how much of a choice we have about doing something
like this. Uh, what we're doing now is hanging by a thread. We're we're doing
our best and we're doing a bangup job so far um of of keeping cats out of the PD
and of everybody running around trying to deal with any dogs that do come in
here. I know we have Fortuna as a backup plan, but that's not sustainable either.
It's not going to last. I think that the goal is to be as self-sufficient as
possible for the future. You know, um I've talked to Chief about this. I think
85ish% of the dogs that we take in or somebody's pet that we need to we need a
couple days to figure it out. I don't see this being like, oh, now we just
have dogs that live here forever. You know, I I think that most of these dogs
end up going back to their owners. Um, and I think our PD does a wonderful job
of dealing with the ones that genuinely don't have homes. Um, I [clears throat]
think that we kind of have to do this. I'm in favor of the whole thing. I want
to thank public works for being agreeable as far as like the placement
of this thing. City staff has really banded together on this and and there's
a desperate need for us to be as self-sufficient as possible and I think
this is our only choice. So that's me >> in response to what Mayor Proemp just
said as a point of reference. We're currently utilizing Fortuna kennels for
storage of our canines and cats. We only have one, sometimes two if we can
negotiate a kennels available to us. And I've heard from their staff that they
will be demolishing that as part of a sewer expansion program likely next
year. So that is very short term. >> And the last ballpark figure I got for
contracting county was in the ballpark of 130,000 per year
» with travel time. And yes, council member Wilson.
» Yeah. A couple questions. Do does our current staff to are we able to handle
that with our current staff or >> Yes, we are.
» And the the other thing is were there were Amanda said that this was 85% or
people pets that got picked up. Were those going to Miranda previously and
then they wouldn't they had to go to Miranda and get them back? Under the
previous agreement, at any time we took any animal and couldn't find the owner
within a very reasonable amount of time, hour or two, then the animal would be
taken to Miranda's. They would have to come to us, pay their fees, and then go
out to Miranda's rescue, pay their fees. >> So now that'll all be done basically in
house to to the city with >> Yes.
» And then then do we have a do we have to add something to the budget to feed
these dogs and cats or do we >> I think
It can be covered under the existing budget. It's not a very expensive cost,
a couple hundred dollars a month. We're not storing very many animals there long
term. And we can always seek community donations for assistance,
» which we have lined up already if necessary. So, yeah,
» sounds good. It sounds at least we know what's going on
» instead of being blind to what we were. Thank you.
» Thank you. Council member Wall, >> I I like the idea, but I hope that
sometime we can maybe sit down and talk about more of the little things that
we'll have to handle, you know, if we have them, how long we're going to keep
them. Um, vetinarian if they need that. I I don't want to make any mistakes that
others have made in keeping animals. Yes. Here. I want to make sure it's all
and if we need um if we're going to we'll be charging people when they come
to get their pets. >> Yes. If your animals get picked up and
they're housed by the police department, you are stored the fees for your dogs
wearing boots and those fees do increase with rate currency.
» Okay. But at some point, I mean I I would vote for this tonight, but can we
at some point can we have a meeting and talk about all the little stuff that
might >> Absolutely. This is a discussion item. I
The only thing I'm recommending tonight is that the council approve the
construction of the slab here tonight. >> Okay, that's perfect. Thank you.
» Thank you. Um, and um, just looking forward, is that from a budget
standpoint as we're talking about money and fees and all that kind of stuff, is
that something that is within the city's ability without going, you
know, in a >> it would be something that we we would
need to make a budget adjustment on. This was something that wasn't predicted
during the budget cycle and when the budget was adopted. Um the city does
have reserves and this would be a general fund expense uh as far as I I
know and so we do have reserves to cover things like this and so it is within our
capacity and we would still be meeting our minimum required reserves.
Um, that's good. And and we've already with I was also on the ad hoc committee
and we talked about volunteers to help um to support the police department. Um,
and we've had people who have, you know, spoken with that have said yes, they
were willing to and and it's people that we trust, you know, not just walking
down the street, you know, random. So, um I think that um
going forward I I agree. I don't think we have a lot of choice and I think um
the sooner we do it the because we do want to get it done
before winter. Um so are the that's my um are there any questions? Anyone any
statements from public community? >> Yeah. Yeah. When
» Alison, can you say who you are for the >> Yeah.
» Oh, you are. >> Well, I understand.
» Thank you. >> Um,
do you um do you require that if you take in an
animal and report it to be claimed um that it be?
» Yes.
That that's one thing that I wondered and there's there's something it doesn't
really have to police department or there was something else that I
of an issue that would could really make a huge
change and that is
apartments allowing pets
neutered pets. It would be very very helpful especially
communities with a large number of apartments
if the if the apartments did allow pets would provide a lot more home.
And then there's something that could go along with that
and that could be um apartments that added patios
» to their units and that would make a huge difference
in a lot of surrounding. >> Absolutely.
» Okay. >> Okay. Well, thank you. I don't know that
that's anything we can or should we get law private but um but it is I I agree
with you. Um I'm just saying you know private person owns it they can do what
they we can't force anyone to do anything is all I'm saying but
» but I'm but I appreciate what you're saying and I agree absolutely that that
would actually be very very helpful >> and then you should be charged.
» Oh, right.
Yes. >> So, is there
any hand raise, any emails, any other statements? Okay. Well, there is there a
motion to authorize construction of a concrete slab for the proposed police
department animal kennel project? And is there also to authorize staff to
solicit donations, grants, sponsorships, and other
community funding? I'm going to stop before I ask for this motion because I
forgot we needed to talk about percentage.
» Is there a percentage of donation? Is 30% good with everyone? You want it
higher? 30% good.
» Okay. 30. >> I just had to make sure I didn't forget
that part. Okay. And so I then is there a motion to authorize construction of
concrete slab authorize staff to solicit donation grant sponsorships and other
community funding sources with the goal of securing 30% and can to direct staff
to return to the city once the donations and outside funding totaling 30% is
achieved. >> So moved. I have a motion. Is there a
second? Julie, >> we have a motion and a second.
» Yes. >> Motion carries 40.
» Okay. Now we will move on to continued public hearing on the objection to the
delinquent sewer service charge for assessors parcel number 052-122-021-00
and consideration of a revised report of delinquent sewer service charges. City
manager. Thank you. I'll go ahead and turn this over to Travis Sanborn, our
finance director. >> Thank you, Mayor Garn, members of the
council. On July 7th, the council held the annual public hearing on delinquent
sewer charges and adopted resolution 1675-2026
confirming the report of delinquent accounts. The property owner at 1231
Iloa Avenue submitted a written objection and asked for additional time
to prepare a response. The council continued the hearing on
that one parcel to tonight. All other parcels on the report were confirmed on
July 7th and are not here before you this evening. The account and is active
is an active sewer account build monthly. The charges are the monthly
sewer service charge and the late charges authorized under chapter 13.10
and staff has reviewed the account and can account for every line on the
report. After the hearing, the property owner, the council has two options under
sections 13.10.244B.
First, they can overrule the objection and affirm the charge. Resolution number
1675-2026 already confirms the report, including
this parcel. So, no further action is needed and staff files a report as
confirmed. Second, remove or reduce the charge.
That requires adopting resolution number 1677-2026
which confirms a revised report and amends resolution 1675 to this parcel
only. Every other partial every other parcel is unaffected.
Staff recommends the council overrule the objection and affirm the charge is
confirmed and any account paid in full on or before August 6th is removed from
the report and nothing is placed on the tax bill. That option remains open
regardless of your action tonight. That concludes the staff report. Believe
the property owner requested time to prepare a response and is here to
present and I'd return it to the mayor to open the continued hearing.
» Thank you. We'll open the continuing hearing and invite [clears throat] Dr.
Sorry about having to bring my laptop. >> Doesn't matter. Just
» everything you don't have one second. My name is Al
Petrovich. I live in Riadell. >> And before I before you go, I just want
to say this item is it's got a 10-minute limit. And also this is not up to be a
discussion with staff. You've already had your discussions with staff. This is
you're just speaking with the council. >> That's fine.
» Thank you. >> Yes. And thanks for 10 minutes instead
of three. >> There you go.
» Well, it's it's going to be difficult to cover over 160 years of history in this
country in 10 minutes. But let me talk about the key points. The purpose of
government is to protect the people and their product and no other purpose.
Okay. Then it's my duty to know who I am. Got to
know who you are and who the other entity is. Well, I've done a lot of
research on the other entity called government. It turns out the government
all of it is corporation incorporated and for profit and I've got proof.
I want to have this if I can to you and this is it is an internet
each one of those.
So back back in the history they converted us to a corporate run and they
eliminated our actual lawful government and it happened in 1860s with the civil
war and you can look it up and the problem is we got schools that don't
teach us this. There's enough information on this paper here that you
will be able to uncover that 160 years history. Now, I'm going to have to skip
forward because of my time limit to the Federal Reserve. It's a private entity.
There's no authorization board in our government. How does this happen? We
have corporations running. Even the city of Radell is incorporated.
And there's another way to prove it. You all have Dun and Brad Street numbers.
That's for-profit corporations list. I don't happen to have those numbers
with me tonight, but I do have. And so what happened was once the Federal
Reserve took over, in order to [clears throat] legitimatize, when you
read this, you'll see it, they had to provide a remedy for the people. And the
remedy is House Joint Resolution 192. That remedy is that because they took
all of our gold and our ability to pay bills, which is what we're talking about
tonight, we don't have any money. They took it. So, they had to pass House
Joint Resolution 192, 1933, the bills, the responsibility of the
United States Corporation, all of them. Yours, mine, every one of them,
mortgages, you name it. And if you look on here
on the second page, it's actually second page. I I underline not
» with they needed plausible deniability. And even when the people knew they had a
remedy and pursued it, the attorneys, judges, and legislators could act that
they did not understand the people's claims. requiring the public schools to
teach civics, government, history classes, and approved politically
correct textbooks also assured people would not find the remedy. For a long
time, they found it. Passing new state and federal laws that
appeared to subject people to rules and regulations added another level of
protection against people finding their remedy. In 1933,
the United States put its insurance policy in place with House Foot
Resolution 192, recorded it in a congressional record. It is there.
The man who read that into the record, his name was Lewis T. McFaden. He
brought formal charges May 23rd, 1933 against the Board of Governors and the
Federal Reserve System, the controller of the currency, Secretary of State, the
Treasury, and uh I'm going to skip ahead a little, Mr. McFaden claimed on June
10th, 1933. This ought to put chills in your bag. Mr. Chairman, we have in this
country one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known. I
refer to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Banks. House Joint
Resolution 192 is the insurance policy that protects the legislators from
conviction for fraud and treason against the American people. It also protects
the American people from damages caused by the actions of the United States for
speaking like he did. Mr. McFaden was poisoned by the powers that be by the
agents of the federal corporation. This is all the history. So I study
history and to study history you study law. That's the only place you're going
to find the real history. So on the city I did a a public records request and I
found out that you four members of the council I was furnished for those
all four of those are improper. They're short versions of what's in the
California constitution and I've got copies of that. I don't have enough
but the point is without a proper oath and bond you have no power and never had
it. that has to be in place before you sit in those seats and the bond has got
to be recorded and accept and it should be in the county recorder's office.
My point is that I'm not here to chastise you in the council because
there's a lot of it's either ignorance or you're willfully and intentionally
part of the scheme. These are the only two choices and I'm hoping it it's just
ignorance. years ago. I laid constitutions down here all the time
when I came up to speak, right? >> Yeah. Do you remember me?
» I did remember you >> from 14 15 years ago.
» Oh, I don't know if I remember. >> I met you on the beach before you became
a council member. >> I do.
» You remember? Yeah. >> And I told you about this and you
thought it was too big of a conspiracy, which is understandable. When I first
learned about it 25 plus years ago, I've been digging ever since. So my point
being is that these governments, including this one, are for-profit
organizations. Where the money is, I don't know. There used to be uh caffers.
Is there still cappers? Comprehensive amal financial. Well, I'm not supposed
to talk to him. Okay. I've got a lot more now. I've got
25 years of learning. And I learned that everything they taught me in school was
not what's going on in this country. The corporations we're dealing with are
foreign. Great Britain. Great Britain, I found
out, is not a country. It's a corporation.
And that's what's running this country as part of it. The rest of it is through
the Roman civil law, through the the Pope of all things.
He is the one that can he is the one that creates any corporation and can
deny it. Right now, this matter is before the International Criminal Court.
And the 60 countries that are controlled by these corporations, and this is one
of them. And those 60 countries are trying to withdraw from the jurisdiction
of the International Criminal Court. And by doing so, they've identified
themselves. That's what's going on right now.
So, my point being is that that bill is paid and all your bills are paid. PG&
bills are paid. They know it. I did send something to PGNA and I I don't know the
exact system, but it was like I was close.
They've been paid and when we pay them, they're getting paid a second time.
It sounds incredible. Do your research. There's a whole lot of
sites on here right here, citations where you can go.
I've done my due diligence and I can tell you this. You cannot force me to be
a part of a criminal system. It's not my nature and I don't want anything to do
with it. That's my argument. I've got a lot more,
but that's a real short summary of is my time up. No. Okay. Uh so what I'm what
I'm asking the council to do is to do what they should have done in the first
place. Before you sit in the seat, you study what your duty is. Your duty is to
the people. Study the Constitution. It's the
Constitution is merely a contract. And here's something else that might catch
you guys. There's three of them. 1779 and up to the the corporate
constitution. So two of them were corporate. So where did they come from?
What's the basis? After the revolutionary war, there were
treaties. Those treaties establish the content of the constitution. And that's
my next area of study are the treaties. Just like it says in the constitution,
the constitution, all treaties to the constitution or the ruling law of
the land. We're talking the law of the land,
supreme law of the land. What do I see? I want to see our city become educated
and run our our government because right now you're a government services
provider. I want to run our government like it's intended to be. We all know
something's crazy wrong with this world. Can't put your thumb on. Well, there's a
whole lot right here you can put your thumb.
Our power the the people at the congressional level are paid.
They're not paid. Okay. One other real quick thing. Our military is paid by CO
corporation which is British. That's why they send them to war without
a declaration of war. They're mercenaries.
They're for our government. It sounds incredible and prove it. Good luck
yourself. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you for the history.
» You're laptop.
» So I will bring this back to the council.
Julie. Um, Council Member Wilson, have any
» Well, you're over my head. Okay. I mean, I'm I first let me say Al, I I have a
tremendous amount of respect for you and your for what you've studied and what
you presented in the past with like with the water. They told us to shut our
water off. Al told us some stuff about the rights that we have and that the
state had no right to turn our water off and the council basically snickered at
him that he was a nut. And it turned it turned out
somebody else actually had the money to to sue the state because they had to
check the water flow down at the bridge in order to justify the charge to turn
us off. They found it came back and we got a letter that said we weren't
required to turn our water off. We did not do we lowered it to 50 gallons per
person per day. What I'm saying is there's a lot of credibility in what
[clears throat] my respect for out Mr. Petra.
U however on this particular thing with the U
sewer bill if if we were at a point where this
could be challenged. We have a legal counsel that we ran our system through
and he okayed it and it appears I'm not like I say it's over my head with this
whole thing with the country being legal or not legal or I got to be bonded to be
in this chair. uh we have a we have a water system that
needs to be taken care of or a sewer system that needs to be taken care of
and the rest of the city's doing that if they're doing it wrong. Uh welcome to
the crowd if you want to be a part of this. I'm not sure if you're currently
staying in Riverdale at this time. I wanted to come up and talk to you
personally, but I there's doesn't look like anybody's in the house um with the
way the cars are and the lights and everything. So, I I didn't get up there,
but um I think you need to pay your sewer bill
if you're going to stay here. That's just the penalty of being there.
» Thank you, Council Member Woodall. I think a sew sewer bill needs to be
paid but I also respect a lot of that he has to say. Yes,
» the bill needs to be paid. Yeah. >> There anyone in
community wants to speak
their hand raised emails. Then I will ask for a motion overruling
the objection and affirming the charges confirmed by resolution 1675 2026 in
which case in which case no further council action directed. So I would just
ask for the overruling of the objection and affirming the charges confirmed by
resolution 1675. >> I'll make that motion.
» We have a motion. Is there a second? >> A second. Motion and a second. Motion
carries 4.0.
And now we will move on to council reports.
Mayor, >> well, I guess I don't got to tell you
all to spay and neuter your pets, but I still can't spay new to your pets and
the randoms that aren't your pets, maybe. Um, we have our nuisance advisory
committee in this room, city hall council chambers, 3 pm tomorrow. And I
have a co-ad board meeting the following Thursday via Zoom and my reduct meeting
this month is cancelled. So I got a short one this time. That's it. Thank
you. >> Thank you, Council Member Woodall.
» Not much to say except Wildwood Days is coming and everybody come down and enjoy
everything. We have lots of events and the firemen put on a very good Wildwood
Days and we need to support them. >> Thank you, Council Member Wilson. Uh
nothing much other than I have as you know our street meeting Thursday. I
thank you for the board giving me direction for the council giving me
direction and uh >> Yes.
» Okay. Um and I have a site and safety commission meeting on
Thursday. Um, and I just wanted to thank the volunteers that Tribal Park,
Elizabeth Warren and Susan D'Angelo and you well and me and Julie and the city
manager who the transport um for um all that was done down there at Triangle
Park. Um it's really pretty. It's something we can be proud of when we
walk down the street. Um hopefully um and I want to thank uh public works who
have figured out a way to make the water work down there and keep those plans
alive and thriving. So I appreciate that. Um and also I want to thank the
CCC who comes out who's come out five weekends in a row to help the community
garden. Community garden was better than it's looked. I don't ever know if it's
ever looked as good as it looks right now. But they have come out every
weekend. They've worked, you know, from 9 till 3 and they are moving bricks,
they're moving soil, they're digging plots, they're doing everything that is
being asked of them, and they're doing it with a good sense of humor and a
willingness to actually be there and do whatever they need done. Um, uh, Jackie,
I can't remember her last name. Really bad about that. and Elizabeth and
Kelsey, they are the main three um that are down there and they are I mean
Jackie's down there almost every single day. They are taking those vegetables
that they are growing and they're taking them down to the resource center and
turning them over to the resource center on the Wednesday before commodities day
so that the resource center can pass them out to community. You don't have to
have a a plot. they are actually picking those veggies and taking them down there
for the community. So, it's a true community garden. It's truly meant to
help everyone in this community feed everyone and keep everyone and healthy.
And so, I just wanted to give a shout out to them. They their grand opening is
on >> Sundays
is there's a flyer on the kiosk. Yeah, there's a flyer on the kiosk. But I
think it's Friday, Saturday, Friday. I know for sure Saturday they'll have the
gate open at the front on Wildwood. Even though the Flyers have Butcher Street,
the gate will be open on Wildwood and hopefully they were trying to work out a
shuttle. So hopefully they have worked that out to get people like from
downtown up here. Um, but they have really worked hard. Uh, Jen, you'll see
a sign that's going to be up there. It is absolutely beautiful. She painted it.
She hand painted it. It looks like sign that we said we wanted on on the
highway. Riadell Community Garden with the logo with the redwood trees with the
bluffs and um it's like four 4 by eight 4 by eight I mean and and she hand
painted the whole thing and it is absolutely beautiful. So I want to thank
her as well and um I think that's all that I have.
» Yes. You know, when we were talking about the triangle part, I wanted to
thank Cindy Treadwell because she's >> she kind of got it on her after she
weeded the whole thing. >> Absolutely. And that's sort of got us
rolling and I apologize Cindy if you're paying attention. Julie was right and I
apologize. Thank you very much. Uh Cindy Treadwell. So um I think that is all and
I will ask for a motion to adjurnn. So move
» a motion a second. >> Meeting adjourned until August 4th, 2026
at 6 p.m. Thank you everyone for coming.