GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – During its December 20^th meeting, the Gridley City Council considered multiple agenda items, including the potential sale of portions of the Industrial Park Complex.

Previously the land encompassed by the Industrial Park was part of the City of Gridley Redevelopment Agency, which has since been terminated by the State of California. According to agenda Item #1, due to the termination of those agencies, the City of Gridley entered into a “Long-Range Property Management Plan (Plan) with the Department of Finance to divest its real capital assets.” The plan, in accordance to AB 1484, designates a strategy for the sale and retention of those assets. The State of California has approved 37 acres of the original Industrial Park to be retained by the City of Gridley in order to build a sports complex, potential transit facility, and corporation yard.

Planning Commissioner, Donna Decker, presented the agenda item to City Council as an informational item, providing a proposed tentative map of the areas to be sold. A total of six smaller parcels located in the central to far eastern portions of the existing park are being considered for potential sale. The size of the parcels in the tentative map brought to council considered the feedback from businesses interested in potentially purchasing and moving production to the Gridley Industrial Park properties but felt the acreage was too small or lacked the infrastructure desired before the improvements were brought by FEMA.

A function of the redevelopment agency was to allow properties that are being developed to be excluded from the collection of property taxes until the property was sold, which the redevelopment agency or taxing agencies would then be reimbursed for after the sale. Even though the State has disbanded the redevelopment agencies, the City is still required to reimburse the taxing agencies if they intend to sell portions of the Industrial Park. That being said, Decker informed the Council that the City of Gridley would not be receiving 100% of the funds garnered from the sale of properties within the Industrial Park. In fact, she estimated the City of Gridley would only see 19.4% of the proceeds, with Gridley Unified School District receiving the majority of funds from the sale with 44%, followed by Butte County receiving 18% and so on.

This was an informational report and required no action from the Council at that time. Appraisals will need to be made and a detailed plan presented to the Council by each business or organization wishing to potentially purchase properties within the Industrial Park.

Council then heard from Gridley Police Department’s Chief of Police, Rodney Harr, requesting that Council consider authorizing the expenditure to upgrade the current, non-compliant California Justice Information System (CJIS) or handheld and dispatch console radios, to CJIS compliant systems. Chief Harr, working with Motorola, which manufactured and installed the county-wide radio communications system, brought a bid to council for the project, which is federally mandated. Non-Compliance would result in the revocation of CJIS FBI privileges, meaning no access to criminal databases, etc. The grand total to bring the system to compliance with CJIS standards would be $875,387.11, which according to the agenda, would include 3 dispatch consoles, 25 handheld APX 8000 portables, training, programming and installation of the system, and additional yearly maintenance. This includes a $94,529.00 discount for Butte County Law Enforcement Agencies. Chief Harr asked Council to consider the $875,387.11 bid in contrast with what he shared the Butte County Sheriff’s Department allegedly paid to upgrade their system, which supposedly cost over $10.5 Millions to bring into CJIS compliance. Chief Harr, anticipating the mandated upgrade of the current system to a CJIS compliant system, set aside a portion of his department’s budget, totaling $170,000, that could potentially be used for this project. All other grants or funding sources researched have been exhausted.

Council voted unanimously to move forward with contractual negotiations with Motorola to accomplish the task of purchasing a CJIS compliant system.

Council then heard from Finance Director Elisa Arteaga, requesting an extension of audit services from Mann Urrutia Nelson CPA’s & Associations, LLP (MUN). Due to COVID-19 and being in the middle of a software conversion project, the finance department has fallen behind and would like an extension for the year 2019-20 audit and 2020-21 audit. The extension would allow the city to meet its audit goals through the fiscal year ending June 20, 2022. Council voted unanimously to approve the extension. Arteaga then presented Agenda Item #4, a request to approve continued accounting support from Eide Dailly Accounting Services, which would assist with the audit, assist with cross-training in areas relating to audit preparation, and more. Continued services would be a benefit for the finance department as they continue to play catch-up from delays caused by COVID-19, staffing turnover and the massive software transition. Council voted unanimously to approve the request.

Item #5, Wildfire Plan Review Services, was tabled for a later meeting.

Finally, Council heard proposed changes from Waste Managements to the contract with the City of Gridley for collection of waste materials, green waste, recyclables, and the Ord Ranch transfer station operation services. According to the agenda, the proposed changes would include a “2-year agreement with an initial rate increase of 5%, WST index year 2 with 2% floor and 5% cap, contamination and overfull bin/cart program, SB 1383 waiver acknowledgement, delinquent account/collection language,” and “updated rate sheets showing current rates, new rates and difference.” Waste Management has planned a 90-day education campaign to instruct residents on which wastes are acceptable for each container (waste, recyclables, green waste) and what are considered contaminants. Thereafter, “contamination,” which is considered materials wrongly disposed of in the incorrect container, or overfull bins/carts could come with a penalty. Residents in violation would be issued two warnings before a penalty charge or action would be taken by Waste Management.  Council voted to approve the proposed changes to the contract 5-0.