Council to send letter to party people

During the July 8 Willits City Council meeting, members of city staff and the council discussed a recent controversy about a private party held just outside the city limits adjacent to the Frontier Days Rodeo grounds.

Members of the public also spoke out about the event, which is believed to be in violation of Mendocino County’s COVID-19 Public Health Orders, and asked the city to respond to the “large rift” that has been created in the community as a result.

Council member Greta Kanne said she had received a “metric ton” of comments and calls regarding the party over the 4th of July, which was located just outside the city’s jurisdiction.

Council member Saprina Rodriguez said she too received many calls and messages, and

expressed “deep disappointment” about the situation.

Although she said she understood that the Council “doesn’t have a lot they can do about it,” she was concerned that “there’s a perception that this Council is going to look the other way.”

City manager Stephanie Garrabrant-sierra said that from her understanding, it was a small event that occurred at a private residence outside of the City limits and “the City would not have any purview over that.”

She added that she didn’t think there would be anything “appropriate for the City to do.” Willits City Attorney Jim Lance agreed and said that although he wasn’t aware of all the details, the only thing he thought might be appropriate to do would be for the City Manager to “have a conversation” with the parties involved.

In response, Rodriguez argued that “it is relevant to the City” and added that she thought it would be appropriate for the “individual” to issue an apology and “clear the air about what took place.” Rodriguez told the Council that the event “has genuinely caused a division in our community” and that “a lot of people’s trust has been broken.” Due to the time spent discussing the issue, which was not an official agenda item, Lance suggested they add the subject to the next agenda in order to allow further discussion.

It was eventually decided that it would be appropriate for the City to send a letter to Frontier Days, stating the City’s expectations of all public entities and community members to adhere to the County Health Orders.