Unless Otherwise Noted, All Items on the Agenda are Subject to Action.
Meeting Called to Order at 6:34 PM
1. Pledge of Allegiance and Establish a Quorum of the Council Council Members Present:
Adelene Jones, Mayor
Chris Curran
Elaine Hogan, Mayor Pro Tem
Benjamin McCreath
Alice Finen
Staff Present:
Amanda Mager, City Manager/City Clerk
Russell Gans, City Attorney
Public Present:
Kent Sawatzky, John Grondolski, Sarah M., Ray, Diana, Darcey Lima
2. Approve Agenda
Motion: To Approve the Agenda as presented
Motion by: Councilmember Curran, Second: Councilmember McCreath There were no comments from the Council or public.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Hogan, Curran, McCreath Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
3. Public Comment – The Public is invited to present petitions, make announcements, or provide other information to the City Council that is relevant to the scope of authority of the City of Blue Lake that is not on the Agenda. The Council may provide up to 15 minutes for this public input session. To assure that each individual presentation is heard, the Council may uniformly impose time limitations Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building-111 Greenwood Road, Blue Lake-Behind City Hall
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
C A L I F O R N I A
111 Greenwood Road
P.O. Box 458
Blue Lake, CA 95525
(707) 668-5655
Fax: (707) 668-5916
www.bluelake.ca.gov
of 3 minutes to each individual presentation. The public will be given the opportunity to address items that are on the agenda at the time the Council takes up each specific agenda item.
Kent Sawatzky: There’s a perception that County Supervisors are out of touch with the community; there also seems to be a problem with County planners supporting an agenda of the Supervisors. I appreciate Councilmembers that took the time to participate in the meeting about the power plant; some people would like to see the town grow; I like to see the kids playing baseball and older people enjoying the town; likes keeping the community small.
4. Closed Session (6:30 PM-7:30 PM): Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Government Code § 54956.8): Property: Approximately three (3) acres of land and is a portion of the parcel designated as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 312-161-018 and 312-161-015.
City of Blue Lake Negotiator(s): Amanda Mager (City Manager), Ethan Walsh and Russ Gans (Attorneys for City)
Negotiating parties/Negotiating With: DANCO Communities, a California corporation, Chris Dart, McKenzie Dibble
Under negotiation: Price and/or terms of payment/conditions, Ground Lease and Development Agreement
Motion: To enter into closed session
Motion by: Councilmember Finen, Second: Councilmember McCreath There were no comments from the Council
Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky-Look at this project from your constituents viewpoint; the citizens don’t really know what het project is because you just decided the project; the public hasn’t given you their input yet; the people feel that they haven’t been heard and have questions about how the project was developed. It should have gone out to bid; if you’re not doing this it feels like a gift of public funds. My company has the qualifications to do this project; not saying that I would bid, but I could.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Hogan, Curran, McCreath Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed; Council enters into closed session at 6:40 PM
5. Council returns to open session at 7:35 PM
Motion: To return to open session at 7:35 PM; nothing to report out of closed session Motion by: Councilmember Curran, Second: Councilmember Finen There were no comments from the Council or public.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Hogan, Curran, McCreath Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
6. Community Workshop-DANCO Presentation Discussion/Update:
Council requested City staff to update the flyer to show the Grange as the location for the meeting; add a page to the website to host information for the community to access; include a list of presenters and ensure that acronyms are explained (i.e. RHNA, HCD, etc…); provide a roadmap of how the project has come to this point…how did it start…
Mayor Jones: Reads the City’s Code of Civility and establishes the meeting protocol, including the process for public comment.
Mayor Jones: Reads into the record a letter from the Blue Lake Chamber of Commerce supporting the proposed DANCO project; the letter supports the development of commercial/retail space and supports the inclusion of housing to help the City meet its State mandates. The chamber letter supports the location of the development, and states that the City has been working on development of this location for years.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: One thing that the people would like to see is a sticky dot option to vote if they like or don’t like the project. This would show how the public feels about the project. People will support people living above their workplace; feels bad for the Council that the State is requiring cities to do this. The Council didn’t take any action on the agreement; is the Council going to keep the agreement from the people?
Darcey Lima: Likes the idea of the vote but feels that its too early; I’m not undecided about this project, I’m one rent increase away from being homeless. My daughter is homeless and so is my son.
I’m familiar with the DANCO project by the bus garage; it’s always immaculate and has a manager.
There’s a lot of prejudice that has been said about low income people; there are millionaires that have crappy yards; you should judge a person by their character and not by their income. I’m excited for more housing.
Public Comment Closed.
7. Reports of Council and Staff:
Councilmember Finen: Attended the Blue Lake Public Safety Commission Meeting; updates were provided on CERT, the Public Safety Plan Update, Observe and Report training for the community, PODS/home alone phone group opportunities and neighborhood outreach for upcoming meetings.
Councilmember McCreath: Nothing to report
Mayor Jones: Provided an update on the planning of Annie and Mary Day; attended the Blue Lake Economic Development Commission meeting; provided an update on the Wha-Nika plant sale and the opening of the museum
Councilmember Curran: Nothing to report
Mayor Pro-Tem Hogan: Nothing to Report
8. Future Agenda Items:
• City Manager Evaluation
Meeting Adjourned at 8:23 PM
Motion: To adjourn at 8:23 PM
Motion by: Councilmember Curran, Second: Councilmember Finen There were no comments from the Council or public.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Hogan, Curran, McCreath Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed