Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Bill Powers.
1. Roll Call
  
  Present: Mayor Bill Powers, Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia, Councilmember Jim Murphy, Councilmember Pat Morton, Councilmember Lauren Miller
  
  Staff Present: Administrative Services Manager Kristen Schiavone, City Attorney Steve Gross (Zoom), Finance Officer Susan Scarlett, Solid Waste Consultant Tom Valentino (Zoom),
2. Pledge of Allegiance
  Led by Mayor Bill Powers
Public Comments
Public commented.
City Communications
1. City Council Communications
  
  Mayor Bill Powers introduced Plumas Sun reporter Ingrid Burke, who joined the meeting remotely. Ingrid will be reporting on City Council meetings in the future. Mayor Powers then asked each of the Councilmembers to provide a brief overview of what brought each to serve on the City Council. Mayor Powers also introduced Gabe Nahara, who is a Portola High School student he is mentoring. Mayor Powers also discussed that he and Pat Morton attended the Transportation meeting on 12/19/2025.
  
  Councilmember Murphy had nothing to report.
  Councilmember Morton had nothing to report.
  Mayor Pro-Tem Battaglia reported that on December 11th and January 8th, she attended the Plumas County Fire Safe Council meeting, and as of January, she is now the board secretary. She also attended the Lost Sierra Chamber of Commerce meeting on December 17th and the Plumas Sierra Resource Quarterly meeting on January 8th. She stated that there was a Fire Wise meeting on the January 14th at the Portola Library and stated that she attended a Board of Supervisors meetings.
2. Reports: Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District / Plumas County Sheriff / Northern Sierra Air Quality
  
  Northern Sierra Air Quality - Mayor Pro-Tem Battaglia advised that City of Portola has reached standard attainment as of 12/31/2025. She stated that the City has been in non-attainment status since 2015. She stated that the air quality is good and below the Federal standard and will go into a 10 year maintenance plan.
  Plumas County Sheriff - City Manager Bonk reported that staff is reviewing a draft contract with the Plumas County Sheriffs office for a three year service agreement with the City and will be bringing it back to council.
  Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District - Chief Rosevear recognized the Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection Districts treasurer Richard McLaughlin for all the work he has done with the fire department. He provided council with an overview of what is happening within the fire district such as full time fire fighter staffing at Station 1, future grants, dispatch call routing through the Susanville Inter-agency center, He also spoke about a program underway with Truckee Meadows College to bring their Fire Program academy graduates to work with the department during both seasonal fire season along with some internal work. He thanked the City Manager Bonk and Councilmember Morton for their support and assistance.
3. Staff Communications
  
  Finance Officer Scarlett reported that she is currently working on the budget schedule and would like schedule a Council goal setting meeting and proposed to meet on March 4th at 3:30pm.
4. City Manager Report
  
  City Manager Bonk provided a report on the Gulling Street Bridge stating there have been no alarms thresholds received on the bridge during the winter weather we've experienced recently, nor any urgency threshold alarms. As of October, 2025 we are still waiting for Caltrans to schedule and perform an inspection on the bridge. City Manager Bonk was happy to report that the city saved $21,000 in the permitting process of the rip rap by getting a compensatory mitigation requirement waived by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
  Advised council that Business License Applications can now be completed 100% online.
  Spoke about the quarterly newsletter that was sent out to City residents highlighting City activities over the past year.
  Discussed the snow removal in the city and that two new warning signs have been installed. There are now three snow removal signs on each side of town and one at A-15. These new signs have additional graphics to add visibility to those parking in the city limits to move their cars during snow storm or face towing.
  Provided a update and timeline of the Local Hazard Mitigation plan (LHMP) which is in the planning stages but will go to the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for review and FEMA approval which will be brought before the council to consider adoption at which time the Safety Element will be reviewed and updated. Staff are working with the planning consultant for updates and costs associated with the update.
  Provided a 2025 Key Performance Flyer to the council showing metrics of tasks completed by staff such as public records requests, code enforcement, permitting as well as data on overtime which is primarily needed during emergencies and snow removal.
Consent Agenda
1. Claims:
  Adopt Resolution No. 2636. The resolution authorizes payment of payroll from November 29th, 2025 through December 26th, 2025 and accounts payable from December 11th, 2025 through January 14th, 2026
  The amount of payroll to be paid is $72,653.71
  The amount of accounts payable to be paid is $193,780.07
  
  The total amount to be paid is $266,433.78
2. Minutes
  Adopt the minutes of the December 10, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia motioned to approve. Councilmember Pat Morton seconded the motion.

The roll call vote:

Aye Mayor Bill Powers Aye Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia Aye Councilmember Jim Murphy Aye Councilmember Pat Morton Aye Councilmember Lauren Miller
Mayoral Appointments
Mayor Powers discussed, proposed and finalized 2026 committee assignments for councilmembers.
Councilmember Jim Murphy motioned to approve. Councilmember Pat Morton seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
5 In Favor 0 Opposed
Abstained Absent Recused
Resolution 2634: Pay Schedules and CCR 570.5
Resolution 2635: Ratifying and Adopting the Compensation for the City Manager
Discussion follow up to Resolution 2634 to ratify and adopt the compensation of the City Manager that took effect on January 1st, 2026.
Councilmember Jim Murphy motioned to approve. Councilmember Pat Morton seconded the motion.

The roll call vote:

Aye Mayor Bill Powers Aye Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia Aye Councilmember Jim Murphy Aye Councilmember Pat Morton Aye Councilmember Lauren Miller
Resolution 2637: Employee Manual and Personnel Policy Revisions
City Manager Bonk provided an overview of the work that staff has done in the past year to revise the City's personnel policy which was last revised back in 2018. The goal was to modernize the documents along with adding content recommended by Liebert Cassidy Whitmore a law firm affiliated with SCORE that specializes in these types of actions. City Attorney Steve Gross also commented on the need to revisit personnel policy often to keep up with changes to employment laws which affect our employees.
Councilmember Pat Morton motioned to approve. Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia seconded the motion.

The roll call vote:

Aye Mayor Bill Powers Aye Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia Aye Councilmember Jim Murphy Aye Councilmember Pat Morton Aye Councilmember Lauren Miller
Resolution 2638: Donation of Surplus Asset (1948 Ford Firetruck)
City Manager Bonk discussed that the 1948 Fire Truck was surplused via resolution 2575 and that it is being considered for donation to the Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District as the City of Portola no longer has an active Fire Department.
Councilmember Pat Morton motioned to approve. Councilmember Jim Murphy seconded the motion.

The motion passed with the following vote:
5 In Favor 0 Opposed
Abstained Absent Recused
California Senate Bill 707 (SB 707): Changes to the Brown Act
City Attorney Steve Gross discussed upcoming changes to the Brown Act in 2026 passed through Senate Bill SB707.
MGE Engineering: Change Order
City Manager discussed the MGE change order which will close out the permitting process for the Rip Rap installation at the Gulling Street bridge done last year. At that time the additional scope, work and cost were unknown to MGE as the final requirements of the regulatory agency was unknown at the time of permitting. The additional cost of $12,405.00 includes additional site visits to monitor the project, provide in the field worker education also including compensatory mitigation evaluation. This additional expense is included in the 2025-2026 budget under other expenses Bridge.
Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia motioned to approve. Councilmember Jim Murphy seconded the motion.

The roll call vote:

Aye Mayor Bill Powers Aye Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia Aye Councilmember Jim Murphy Aye Councilmember Pat Morton Aye Councilmember Lauren Miller
Request for Proposal (RFP): Consulting services for the Solid Waste Franchise Agreement and Solid Waste Ordinance
City Manager Bonk discussed that the solid waste franchise agreement with Intermountain Disposal (IMD) is up for amendment or termination at the end of 2027, and would like Council to authorize moving forward with an RFP for consulting services to review and modernize the current franchise agreement and solid waste ordinance. The consulting fees are available in the City Solid Waste fund, 730. Solid Waste Consultant Tom Valentino also presented the history and background of the current franchise agreement, prepared by he and City Attorney Steve Gross in 2001. City Attorney Steve Gross also commented that, based on whatever the consultant's findings are, the decision to extend the IMD agreement for another five years or to seek bids for services will be presented to the council. If approved by council tonight, the RFP will open up for bid via the City of Portola’s website effective 1/15/2026. Bidding will close on 2/26/2026.
Councilmember Jim Murphy motioned to approve. Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia seconded the motion.

The roll call vote:

Aye Mayor Bill Powers Aye Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia Aye Councilmember Jim Murphy Aye Councilmember Pat Morton Aye Councilmember Lauren Miller
Adjournment
The regular meeting of the Portola City Council adjourned at 7:28pm.