DIXON, CA (MPG) - At the Feb. 18 meeting of the Dixon City Council, Councilmember Jim Ernest asked the city manager to look into the audio quality of the council meeting recordings.

Ernest said that he has received complaints from constituents that even with their computer speakers turned up as high as possible, it is very difficult to hear the meetings.

Vice-Mayor Thom Bogue agreed that the audio quality has been an ongoing problem. 

City Council then reviewed the existing utility bills issued by the city, which are a combined bill that includes both water and sewer charges. The current format has a water section that outlines meter charges and usage charges, a sewer section charge, and then a total amount due. Councilmember Kevin Johnson requested a discussion about whether changes should be made to the existing format. 

Finance Director Kate Zawadzki explained that the city currently has a total of 6,978 utility accounts, with 4,040 receiving both water and sewer services. (The other 2,938 only receive sewer services from the city because those customers get their water through California Water.)

Councilmember Johnson brought up the potential of separating the water and sewer into two bills to ensure there is no confusion about the charges for each service. 

Zawadzki explained that if the Council decides to separate the bills, staff will have to create a second account for each customer, a task that is estimated to take 9 to 12 months with the current staffing levels. 

The city uses a mailing service to print and mail the utility bills. If they switch to two invoices, Zawadzki said the printing cost will increase by approximately $18,000 per year. But postage costs would remain the same because they could put both bills into the same envelope. 

Mayor Steven Bird said, “I’m confused as how that’s economical or feasible, cost-wise. It looks like it’s pretty clear on this bill, as the water and sewer are divided. Who’s having trouble separating what the costs are? It’s right there.”

Councilmember Johnson said that many of his constituents are confused by the bill and say that their water bill is the entire charge on the invoice. But he said he also got feedback from other residents who don’t want to receive two bills. So, Johnson suggested the possibility of changing the bill format to clarify the separate charges. 

Councilmember Ernest said there might be confusion among some residents, but doubling the number of accounts would create twice the amount of work for staff and “I can’t support that at all.” However, he said he would support spending some money for a redesign on the format. 

The city uses a standard form for the utilities invoice. The company that issues that standard form charges $250 per hour for any customizations, and then there is an annual fee of $2,500 to maintain that customized form. 

Councilmember Johnson said he didn’t anticipate such high costs for simple changes to the form. Johnson was “just looking to improve communications with the public.”

Zawadzki said they could potentially include some notes elsewhere on the form, and she will ask if they could add colors to differentiate the charges without incurring the customization fee.

Mayor Bird said, “I’m not in favor of changes that are going to come with a cost, even if it’s minimal.” The Council voted unanimously to consider changes to the form if they can be made without any extra costs to the city. 

City Council then considered the approval of three annual events. 

First was a request from Dixon Action Team to host their annual Grillin-n-Chillin event on June 28 in downtown Dixon. The event will feature chili and rib cookoffs, live music, vendors, a car show, and sale of food and alcohol.

The request asks the city to apply for a Caltrans permit to close Highway 113 for the event, as well as to approve additional street closures and use of city parking lots and facilities. The cost to the city (already included in the current budget) is approximately $23,150, and covers police officers, staff for traffic control, fire and emergency response staff, equipment rental, barricades, and sign boards. 

Vice-Mayor Bogue noted that the organizers of the event were not at the meeting, which made it difficult for the Council to have their questions answered. 

If the event is asking for taxpayer money, Bird said,  he would like to see how much the organizers are actually putting into the event, with specific details about how the costs are shared.

“It seems like the city is carrying all the costs,” said Bird. “We need to find a better balance.” 

Vice-Mayor Bogue asked that the item be continued until the next meeting and that the organizers be asked to attend. The motion passed 4-1, with Councilmember Johnson dissenting. 

Next, the council considered a resolution to support the Concerts in the Plaza event. Since 2022, the city and the Dixon Chamber of Commerce have co-hosted the series, which will feature nine concerts at Pardi Plaza, to be held on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in June through October. 

The city’s cost is $250 per concert, for a $2,250 overall total, which is already included in the current budget. The costs to the city primarily cover the required staff overtime. The city would also donate the use of equipment and facilities. 

Dixon Chamber of Commerce CEO Shauna Manina spoke to the Council to outline the costs covered by the Chamber, including $750 to $1000 for each band, $285 per event for a port-a-potty and hand wash station, and $75 per concert for food and drinks for the bands. She said last year, the total cost to the Chamber was $13,500. Without counting their staff time, they broke even, and Manina said, “We’re happy to do it. … What it gives to the community is priceless.”

Mayor Bird was happy to see “significant cost sharing. It’s a team effort and that’s very apparent.”

Councilmember Johnson asked about the potential for guests and bands to overheat during the event due to high summer temperatures. Manina said if temperatures are expected to be over 100 degrees, she will postpone that particular concert. And eventually she said they’d like to install some shade features, but “in the meantime, we’ll do the best we can.” 

Council voted unanimously to approve the concert series. 

Finally, City Council considered a resolution to support the Dixon May Fair Parade on May 10, which kicks off the weekend festivities of the Dixon May Fair. The parade is co-hosted each year by the City of Dixon and the Dixon Chamber of Commerce. The city will apply for a Caltrans permit to close Highway 113, in addition to various side streets. 

The cost to the city, which is already included in the current budget, is approximately $24,050, primarily to cover fire and police services to ensure public safety. 

Mayor Bird said, “148 years this has been going on in this town,” and the Council voted unanimously to approve the parade. 

The next meeting of the Dixon City Council is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 4.