GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – At the regular city council meeting on July 25, the council unanimously approved a total of nine items. Councilmembers J. Angel Calderon and Catalina Sanchez were not in attendance. 

First was the State Controllers Officer contract for preparing Gridley’s Annual Street Report. Cost for the services will not exceed $2,800.

Next, City Planner Chris Smith presented a tentative parcel map for the Steffen Estates 8.66-acre land parcel on the corner of Little and Richins Avenues. Originally started in 2005, the project was on hold until 2021. A revised map was submitted at that time, but had expired. Forty-six residential parcels were approved then, with lot sizes varying from 4,500 to 6,680 square feet. Consistent with current state regulations, there will be no natural gas in the homes.

On the south side of the development, a wall will be constructed by the canal to protect homes from flooding. Mayor Farr had questions about possible subterranean seepage from the canal, to which Smith responded that the project engineer did not have concerns about that issue. The water districts and city engineer have been consulted as well, according to City Administrator Elisa Arteaga.

Finance Director Martin Pineda then explained the need for a banking services award of contract with Five-Star Bank in Yuba City. Several requests for proposals (RFPs) were sent out to 10 banks, with six responding. Pineda pointed to Five-Star Bank as the most economical option due to the waived set-up and annual fees, resulting in a savings to the city of about $25,000 per year. 

Pineda concluded by saying that credit card transaction costs for city services will be shifted to the customers. Up to the present, credit card processing fees were absorbed by the city.  

Continuing, approval was given for the 30-foot-wide public right-of-way for the Laurel Street extension beyond Randolph Avenue. This land was dedicated by the Gridley Unified School District and runs between the school district property and Butte View Estates.

Website redesign services were next on the agenda. City Administrator Arteaga related the need for updating the city website. Requests for proposal were sent out to software companies and Civic Plus made the best offer. Initial cost will be $13,870 with an annual cost of $9,628.50.  This process was done in conjunction with Information Technology (IT) Manager Tyson Pardee. Arteaga indicated that the transition should be seamless, with more options for public interaction on the website.

Mayor Mike Farr concurred and said that the updates will provide more transparency between the city and the public. Vice Mayor Bruce Johnson had questions about making changes to the website template and how long it would be before the new changes took effect.

Thereafter, approval was given for the disposal of five surplus vehicles from the Gridley Police Department.  The vehicles are a 2010 and four 2011 Crown Victorias, with high mileage and repairs needed. Per the city’s surplus procedures, the vehicles will be auctioned or sold through silent bidding.

Immediately following, a temporary license agreement with Farmland Reserve, Inc., was approved for the Feather River Sewer Crossing project.  The project was previously approved and then delayed. City Administrator Arteaga specified a need to negotiate additional funding if necessary to exceed the previously approved amount of $4,000.  The agreement will allow the geotechnical team to access property that is owned by Farmland Reserve, as part of the relocation of the sewer line to beneath the Feather River. The existing line is in the river bed itself, according to Arteaga.

“This is a very time-sensitive issue. There is a fiscal impact, however, most of that is being covered through a grant,” Arteaga said.

Mayor Farr agreed and advised caution about the potential for leaks in the existing line.

The final item approved was the third phase agreement with the city of Santa Clara regarding the purchase of Portfolio Content Category 1, Renewable Energy Credits (PCC1 RECs) through the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA).

Renewable Energy Credits are tradable certificates representing the energy created by renewable sources like solar, wind, and other zero-emission sources. Each REC equals 1 megawatt-hour (MWh). These certificates are essential to the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) in California, which mandates that retail sellers of electricity (cities) obtain a certain percentage of their energy from renewable sources, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC). As part of the Gridley energy portfolio, RECs ensure that renewable energy claims are backed by genuine, locally sourced renewable generation as specified by the California Balancing Authority.

“We are required (by the state) to have a certain amount of Renewable Energy Credits, and having an agreement in place will assist us. This is one more step that NCPA has made for us, to reach the requirements that have been enacted by CEC,” Artega said.

Biggs approved a similar agreement, according to Arteaga.

The Meeder investment portfolio report was given by Finance Director Martin Pineda reflecting a yield $323,446.02 for the city.

Police Chief Todd Farr reminded everyone about National Night Out, happening this Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Manuel Vierra Park, from 5 to 8 p.m.