Willows council backs sidewalk grant pursuit, approves new analyst post and zoning change; continues surplus-land hearing

The Willows City Council on Oct. 14 voted to move forward on a competitive application to the State of California’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for a sidewalk rehabilitation project, approved the addition of a full-time administrative analyst shared by the fire and Community Development Services departments, amended conditions of approval for a conditional use permit for Cali Love LLC, adopted an ordinance to rezone 103 South Plumas Street, and approved a $15,000 midyear budget amendment to continue human resources consulting services. The council also opened and continued a public hearing on the proposed sale of exempt surplus land to the Oct. 28 meeting.

The most consequential direction came on the CDBG item. Community Development Services Director Joe Betancourt told the council that the state’s 2025 Notice of Funding Availability caps infrastructure awards at $3.3 million per jurisdiction and that jurisdictions may submit only one capital-improvement application. Betancourt said staff recommends pursuing a previously prepared sidewalk rehabilitation application — for which the city already paid about $8,000 to produce engineering and bid-ready documents — because that work remains largely usable and the competitive NOFA favors well-prepared submissions. “This is just an informal meeting at this point,” Betancourt said, adding that staff plans to return in November with a resolution and finalized numbers for the application.

City Manager Marty Brown and council members discussed possible alternative uses of available CDBG program income — including roughly $1.7 million in program income the transcript identifies as proceeds from the payoff of a Romano Cheese loan — and whether those funds could be tapped either as a backup if the competitive application fails or to pay for other capital priorities such as fire apparatus. Brown said the program-income funds are city CDBG funds and must be used on eligible projects under Housing and Community Development guidelines, but they are available to the city if it prepares an eligible application.

On personnel, the council approved the creation of one full-time administrative analyst position to be shared between the fire department and Community Development Services. Council members asked how evaluations and priorities would be handled for a position split between two departments; Betancourt and City Manager Brown said they expect the two department heads to collaborate and produce a single performance evaluation while prioritizing initial assignments so the new hire is not overwhelmed. The motion to approve the job classification and associated salary schedule passed 5-0.

The council also approved amended conditions of approval for Cali Love LLC’s conditional use permit CUP25-01 after Council Member Pride said a revised language in condition 16 had not been captured correctly in the packet. Pride asked that the amended wording be reflected in the record; the council voted 5-0 to approve the amended conditions as presented.

On land use, the council adopted by roll-call vote an ordinance rezoning 103 South Plumas Street from Central Commercial (CC) to Residential Professional (RP) and amending the general-plan land use designation from General Commercial (GC) to Office Professional (OP). Joe Betancourt said the action would allow the property owner to reside on the site while continuing to operate a longstanding law office and that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA. The planning commission had recommended approval 3-0 at its Sept. 2 hearing. The ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote.

The council opened the public hearing on the proposed sale of exempt surplus land but continued the hearing to the Oct. 28 meeting because required public noticing had not yet been completed. City Manager Brown said staff will finish the noticing and recommended continuation; the council voted to continue the hearing to Oct. 28.

On finance and operations, the council approved a midyear budget amendment to authorize up to $15,000 in fiscal year 2025–26 to continue human-resources consulting services with Regional Government Services. Brown said the city lacks an in-house HR department and relies on external consultants for matters from payroll to discipline; the contract is “not to exceed” $15,000 for the year. The motion passed 5-0.

Votes at a glance: the council approved routine consent items (register approval, minutes and a planning-commission appointment) as a group; approved creation of the administrative analyst position (5-0); approved amended CUP conditions for Cali Love LLC (CUP25-01) as amended (5-0); adopted the rezoning/general-plan amendment ordinance for 103 South Plumas Street (unanimous roll call); continued the public hearing on sale of exempt surplus land to Oct. 28 (unanimous); and approved the $15,000 HR-services budget amendment (5-0).

The council directed staff to return in November with a resolution and application materials for the CDBG sidewalk project and to present options on how to use program income and other funding sources for capital needs. Several council members said public letters of support and town-hall meetings would strengthen the competitive CDBG application. Brown also told the council staff will bring ideas for using the approximately $1.7 million in program income and will return with a “buffet” of options for council consideration.

The meeting adjourned at about 6:59 p.m.