Fort Bragg moves into Stage 2 drought

FORT BRAGG >> The Fort Bragg City Council was set for a relatively quick meeting Monday evening, but the last-minute addition of an item regarding the city’s water emergency.

The council voted unanimously to add it to the evening’s agenda, despite some comments by the public against the idea. Staff said it was their intention to add it to the evening’s agenda but there had been a mistake and asked the council to include it on Monday instead of waiting two weeks for the next meeting.

The new ordinance increases the penalties for offenses during a water emergency and brings Fort Bragg up to Stage 2 conser

vation stage.

Councilor Peters said waiting for two weeks would “paint the city into a proverbial corner” and require the jump from Stage 1 to Stage 3.

“This isn’t a rush job, we’re doing something we need to do,” he said.

City manager Tabitha Miller said it was important to begin requiring people to take steps to conserve water, not just to suggest it. The city is already on the edge of needing to use its water reserves, said Public Works Director John Smith.

In Stage 2, landscaping water usage is limited to two days per week, with irrigation allowed on Tuesdays and Saturdays between midnight and 9 a.m., and between 6 p.m. and midnight. Additionally, hotels and motels are not allowed to provide fresh bedsheets to visitors staying for three nights or less, except when necessary for sanitation purposes.

The new ordinance was unanimously approved and took effect upon adoption.

On the council’s regular agenda, the council heard a report and held a public hearing regarding issuing revenue bonds for the purchase and rehabilitation of Walnut Apartments. The resolution was approved.

The council also opened a public hearing on the appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to approve the proposed Grocery Outlet at 825 S. Franklin St. Mayor Norvell recused himself due to his home’s proximity to the proposed site. The public hearing will

continue at the next council meeting, scheduled for July 26.

During the Mayor’s recognitions and announcements, Mayor Bernie Norvell invited Judy Leach, Hospital

President of Adventist Health Mendocino Coast to speak about the first year of the hospital’s affiliation with Adventist Health.

Miller also gave her customary City Manager’s report to the council and talked about an update on replacing smart meters for water customers.

“It will really give them that detailed information and they’ll have better control and a better understanding of their water usage,” Miller said.

She also gave an update from the police department, which said there were no incidents related

to the July 3 fireworks show, but that there were a lot of demands on their time that weekend regardless, and some of the illegal fireworks reports were delayed due to the number of calls the department received.

The city has received notice that half of the federal fiscal recovery funds will be allocated sometime around July 13, in total around 1.7 million. One of the approved uses for that money is a citywide broadband network, Miller said.

Public Works Director Smith gave an update on the city’s water emergency and said flows in the Noyo River are low, but consistent.

“We expect to stop selling water outside the city very soon,” Smith said. “It must happen, unfortunately.”

The council’s consent calendar was approved unanimously, and the council retired to a closed session for a discussion with labor negotiators and the city attorney pending anticipated litigation.

The next regular City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m., July 26. For more information, visit the city’s website at city.fortbragg.com.