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Unless Otherwise Noted, All Items on the Agenda are Subject to Action.
Meeting Called to Order at 6:30PM
1. Pledge of Allegiance and Establish a Quorum of the Council Council Members Present:
Adelene Jones, Mayor
Elizabeth Mackay
Elise Scafani
Council Members Absent:
Christopher Edgar
Angela Shull, Mayor Pro-Tem
Staff Present:
Amanda Mager, City Manager/City Clerk
Emily Wood, Director of Parks & Recreation
Anali Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
Public Present:
Kent Sawatzky
Rosie Derricott
Erin McClure
Scott Frazer
Beckie Thornton
Justin Noyb
Lisa Hoover
Lin Glen
Julie Christie
Kim Warvi
Angela Dare
Winona Pitts
Roy Gomez
Matt Watts
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, May 23rd , 2023 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~ Regular 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
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2. Approve Agenda
Motion: To Approve the Agenda moving items #14, 12, 13 and 5 Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Scafani Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani Nays: None Abstain: 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 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.
Scott Frazer –Commented on Danco ground lease and Danco project.
Roy Gomez –Commented on Ink People-Anarchist Agenda
Lisa Hoover –Provided hand-out to council and suggests a masterplan would allow a comprehensive look at development.
Erin McClure – Commented on City Manager duties.
Winona Pitts- Commented on Arts & Heritage Commission comments.
Beckie Thornton: Provides hand-out about community against the size and scope of the Danco project.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments that the general plan does not have a matrix; O Zone is not consistent.
Angela Dare: Comments that Arts and Heritage Commission spent 61 minutes reacting to public comments; provides hand-out of her comments.
Alex Ricca: Comments on City Manager’s position as a Blue Lake Volunteer Firefighter; comments that City staff have always been encouraged to volunteer; there’s a long history of city employees volunteering for the fire department.
Jeff Landen: Arts and Heritage commission seemed like it was dipping into council business.
Julie Christie: States appreciation for zoom participation and believes the city needs a current truck route update.
Alex Ricca: We have a great appreciation for this City Manager; we had a period of outsiders that didn’t serve our community well and she’s stabilized the position.
Public Comment Closed.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions the Arts and Heritage committee meeting conduct; would like to see the commission suspended or sanctioned.
Mayor Jones: You can’t take action tonight as it’s not on the agenda.
4. McClure Lease Agreement: Councilmember Scafani introduces the item; provides overview of the water tank lease situation and the need to negotiate a lease with Erin McClure. 3 | Page
Erin McClure: States that she wants a fair market value for the use of the tank location.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: This should be discussed in closed session, have your attorney counsel you on legal matters.
Julie Christie: I’d hate to see another family have their land taken away.
Motion: To have a closed session with the City Attorney regarding the McClure family trust negotiations.
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani Second: Councilmember Elizabeth Mackay Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)
5. Blue Lake website Review – Discussion
Councilmember Scafani provides a status report on the website update.
Public Comment:
John Sawatzky: Make it ADA accessible and have data breach policy.
Councilmember Scafani: I imagine that our web designer does this.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on web page and access to information for developers.
Councilmember Scafani: We’re going to remap the whole website.
Julie Christie – Requests website revisions to include the Powers Creek District page and uploading of recordings to the city website.
6. Public Noticing Process
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the agenda report; this item was added to the agenda by Councilmember Scafani
Councilmember Scafani: Proposes changes to the noticing process.
City Manager Mager: States that changes impact staff capacity; must stay compliant with the Brown Act.
Councilmember Scafani: Requests staff utilize the City of Blue Lake Facebook page to post the agenda.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Your staff is overwhelmed and extremely busy, if you can, disperse your meetings so you don’t stack meetings. Suggests the city consider the schedule Humboldt County uses.
Lin Glen: Comments on posting times and posting packets at the library.
Julie Christie: Comments on notices and access to documents.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on having to comply with ADA requirements.
Councilmember Scafani: Agenda packets will need to be ADA accessible.
Mayor Jones: The commissions decide the night and time that they can meet.
Councilmember Scafani: Can we put a packet of council and planning commission meeting agenda packets at the library?
Council Directs Staff to place a packet in the book slot at the library. 4 | Page
7. Animal Control Update-
Councilmember Scafani provides an update: Doesn’t have detailed information but attended Public Safety Commission. States it’s time for the council to move forward; open up conversation with sheriff to address the issues. Comments that staff can be trained to be animal control officers.
The City Manager told the Public Safety Commission to only look into a leash law; glad that a video recording is available.
Mayor Jones: How much would that cost?
Councilmember Scafani: HCSO could be our enforcement for animal control.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Train staff to conduct animal enforcement; pay staff to pick up dogs.
Winona Pitts: Commented on Public Safety Commission’s authority to work on the dog issue.
Lin Glen: The Public Safety Commission did form an ad-hoc to address the leash laws; loose dogs seem to be the issue; educate people about licensing and vaccines.
Julie Christie: City needs signage, leash law is important and reduces liability but is not enforceable.
City Manager Mager: The Public Safety Commission was asked to research options for a leash law and to bring them to Council for consideration; they should be given the opportunity to finish their task; they only just received the information and haven’t had a chance to even meet to review their research.
Councilmember Scafani: I don’t want to bypass the Public Safety Commission. I want to bypass you, Mandy, and all the hurdles. We can draft an ordinance and be ready to move forward when the PSC brings back the recommendation.
Public Comment Closed
Councilmember Scafani will work on a vaccine clinic.
8. Video Recording Update - Discussion
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the agenda report.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: States his concerns regarding meeting facilities being able to accommodate large crowds.
Lin Glen: Thanks, the staff, for being responsive and comprehensive in this issue.
Julie Christie: States appreciation for Zoom option and requests all commission have access to Zoom.
Angela Dare: Would like to see the City get equipment that can be taken to other locations.
Winona Pitts: Thanks Justin Noyb.
Councilmember Scafani: I would like to pledge half of my stipend check to Justin. I attended the Planning Commission meeting and there are a lot of people that wanted it to be accessible by Zoom.
Mayor Jones: I have pledged my stipend to the Parks and Recreation program for years. 5 | Page
9. RCEA MOU – Update/Discussion
Mayor Jones introduced the item and reads the agenda report.
Councilmember Mackay: What’s the footprint of the battery storage project? City Manager Mager: The MOU allows RCEA to assist the city in looking at options and bring back recommendations to the Council; there is no project at this time.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Battery storage is the future; this is a good option for the power plant.
Julie Christie: RCEA is a middleman; we should be focusing on being a self-sustaining power producer.
Lisa Hoover: Where is this proposed?
Motion: To execute the Memorandum of Understanding with RCEA as presented Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council.
Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)
10. City of Blue Lake Commissioner Appointments
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the report.
Council Comment:
Councilmember Scafani: I don’t think we should have city employees on commissions? Why does the Arts & Heritage have seven commissioners, when the other commissions have five.
Mayor Jones: Because of the scope of projects and the number of artists in town.
Councilmember Scafani: I think we should make the Arts and Heritage commission five people. I strongly oppose Charis Bowman being on the commission.
Councilmember Mackay: I don’t have a problem with staff being on a commission.
Mayor Jones: I try to limit my attendance at the commission meetings; I like the commissions to work through issues without my presence.
Motion: To Appoint Jayden Clark and James Brown to the Parks and Recreation Commission and Charis Bowman to the Arts and Heritage Commission.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Mayor Jones
There were no comments from the Council
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Staff should serve as advisors to commissioners; agree with Adelene that Council should limit participation in commission meetings; if you attend a commission meeting and make comments you aren’t impartial; if the item comes before the Council you will have to recuse yourself from taking action; Adelene is correct; you should come up with a policy.
Julie Christie: Recordings are good for staff to reflect on.
Lisa Hoover: I was surprised that a staff member was applying; it’s a conflict of interest. 6 | Page
Beckie Thornton: I don’t want Charis on the commission, it’s a conflict.
Councilmember Mackay: I am going to retract my motion to appoint Charis; she’s already an advisor and can stay that way until any issues are resolved; amends the motion to only appoint Jayden and James to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Motion: To appoint Jayden Clark and James Brown to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Vote: Ayes: Nays: None Abstain: None
Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)
11.City of Blue Lake Planning & Engineering Services Contract- SHN Mayor Jones introduces the item and abbreviates the report.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: comments on the number of responses to the RFQ and questions the advertising process.
Direction: Direct the City Manger to negotiate the contract with SHN and execute the contract.
12.City of Blue Lake Building Official
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the report.
Directs City Manager to negotiate with Dan Dimick as the City’s Building Official.
Public comment:
Kent Sawatzky: States satisfaction with Dan Dimick’s resume and mentions Dan’s work with reputable firms.
13.Resolution Number 1217-Clean California Grant Program Mayor Jones reads the report and introduces the item.
Councilmember Mackay: What’s the project budget?
City Manager Mager: States that the City is applying for funding to build the bike park; the budget is around $750,000.00
Motion: To authorize Resolution number 1217-Clean California Grant Program Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council.
Public Comment: No comments
Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)
14.Resolution Number 1218-Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement of Fire Risk Management Services
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the report.
City Manager Mager provides an overview of the item, including details of the City’s health benefit package for employees under this program.
Motion: Authorize Resolution Number 1218 as presented
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Councilmember Scafani 7 | Page
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Is there anything in this situation that requires a 4/5 vote? Public Comment Closed.
Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)
15.Resolution Number 1219- State Park Grant
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the report.
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Would like to see money for private property owners – add portable toilets to our trails.
Motion: To authorize Resolution number 1219-Clean California Grant Program Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council.
Public Comment: No comments
Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)
16.Consent Agenda:
a. April 25, 2023 Meeting Minutes
b. Warrants and Disbursements
Motion: To approve the Consent Agenda as presented; with clarification of typographical error on page 2 of the meeting minutes (Hoover)
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second by: Councilmember Scafani Public Comment: None
Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)
17. Reports of Council and Staff
Mayor Jones introduces the City Manager report
Councilmember Scafani: Attended RCEA meeting; met with the Blue Lake Rancheria representative and toured the Rancheria
Mayor Jones: Attended HCAOG; provides update on 101 project, Dump Day and offshore wind project. Provided update on the Mad River Grange heater project, HWMA hiring of executive director and Blue Lake Museum opening.
Councilmember Mackay: Provides update on the Blue Lake Sunday Market, the skating program, the Moon Festival events and leisure sport tournament in July. Attended the League of Cities meeting; they provided an update on the Great Redwood Trail and the economic impacts. Assisting the Arts and Heritage Commission with paint colors and sculpture ideas for the Powers Creek District projects.
18. Future Agenda Items:
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• Zoom Discussion
• Special Meeting on June 20th to introduce the draft budget for fiscal year 2023/2024
19. Adjourn
Motion: To adjourn at 9:50PM
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay , Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council or public.
Motion Summary: Motion Passed (Consensus)