City Council Roundup — Wednesday, Oct. 2

The Susanville City Council met yesterday, Wednesday, Oct. 2. Here’s a summary of that meeting.

Closed session
The Susanville City Council met in closed session for a conference with labor negotiators regarding the management unit. The board took no reportable action and gave direction to staff.

Business from the floor
Local resident John Lightfoot spoke about an upcoming Susan River clean-up event, time and date to be determined.

Consent Calendar
The council unanimously approved the Consent Calendar with only a single item — the minutes from the council’s Sept. 18 meeting.

Land Acknowledgement
During Announcements by Councilmembers, Councilmember Curtis Bortle made this land acknowledgement statement — “Please allow me to acknowledge that we are on the ancestral and contemporary homelands of the Maidu, Paiute, Pitt River and Washoe people of the Susanville Indian Rancheria where the city of Susanville is located.”

New business
The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-6365 amending a ground lease of a hangar at the Susanville Municipal Airport.

The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-6366 authorizing the public works director to execute a contract with 323 Scada Services, LLC, for equipment and a monthly subscription to gas flow monitoring equipment. There is a one-time set-up fee of $150 and a $249 monthly subscription fee. Bob Godman, public works director, said the expenditure is necessary because the current equipment is no longer supported.

According to the staff report, “Part of the Natural Gas system is a high-pressure steel transmission line. The city contracts with CDCR and Plumas Sierra Rural Electric for gas transmission through this line. Part of this transmission process involves meter monitoring and SCADA communication for constant flow monitoring for those two customers. The current equipment is no longer supported, so staff requested quotes for a new service … ”

The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-6367 regarding the street closure of South Lassen St. from Cottage to Main streets from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 for the Honey Lake Hospice Light Up A Life event.

The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-6368 regarding the closure of Main
Street (Highway 36) from Fair Drive to the Veterans Memorial Building and the closure of Fair Drive from Russell Avenue to Main Street from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 11 for the Veterans Day Parade.

The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-6369 authorizing the public works director to sign documents authorizing the use of fire crews for maintenance on city owned properties and right-of-ways.

Continuing business
The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 24-6370 rescinding the $100,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for the Susanville Elks Lodge, allocating an additional $30,000 (for a business plan consultant) and authorizing the may to execute the sub-recipient agreement for the performing arts center project business plan.

According to the staff report, “On July 3, 2024, the city council allocated $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Susanville Elks Lodge. The allocation was intended to support the cost of improving the Susanville Elks Lodge Building. On Sept. 13, 2024 the Susanville Elks Lodge notified the city that they are withdrawing their request for the funds.

On Aug.7, 2024, the city council appointed an ad hoc committee to work with the ARPA fund recipients to develop sub-recipient agreements. Discussions regarding the performing arts center project led to a desire to have a business consultant prepare a viable business plan for the performing arts center at an estimated cost not to exceed $30,000.

Staff is requesting the following:
• That the Council consider approving Resolution No. 24-6370 rescinding the $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding allocated to the Susanville Elk’s Lodge project and allocating an additional $30,000 to the performing arts center project, and authorizing the mayor to execute the sub-recipient agreement for the performing arts center project business plan.
• That the Council provide direction regarding how they would like to allocate the remaining ARPA funds.

Dan Newton, city administrator, said he would bring a list of possible projects for the remaining ARPA funding at a future meeting.