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Unless Otherwise Noted, All Items on the Agenda are Subject to Action.
Meeting Called to Order at 6:30 PM
Pledge of Allegiance and Establish a Quorum of the Council Council Members Present:
Adelene Jones, Mayor
Elizabeth Mackay
Elise Scafani
Christopher Edgar
Council Members Absent:
Angela Shull, Mayor Pro-Tem
Staff Present:
Amanda Mager, City Manager/City Clerk
Anali Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
Public Present:
Melissa Combs
Ron Hill
Kent Sawatzky
Jean Lynch
Beckie Thornton
Justin Noyb
Mardi Granger
Charis Bowman
Angela Dare
Winona Pitts
Julie Christie
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, July 25, 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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Approve Agenda
Motion: To Approve the Agenda as presented.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Edgar Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Abstain: Shull Motion Summary: Motion Passed
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.
Kent Sawatzky- Provides a handout about DANCO projects and reads a letter from a DANCO project resident.
Winona Pitts- Comments on temporary roundabouts and facebook postings.
Julie Christie- States appreciation for zoom and comments on truck route update.
City of Blue Lake Planning Commission and Economic Development Commission Appointment:
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the report.
Economic Development Commission:
Motion: To appoint Kelli Costa to Economic Development commission.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky- States applicants for the commissions should be present during the voting process.
Public Comment Closed
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: Shull Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Planning Commission Appointment:
Councilmember Mackay asks Jean Lynch if she would like to speak Jean Lynch: States that she will accept the position with consideration of her health concerns.
Public comment:
Jean Lynch- Expresses her interest in the Planning Commission Motion: To appoint Jean Lynch to the Planning Commission.
Motion: Councilmember Scafani
Motion dies for lack of a second.
Councilmember Mackay: States concerns to appointing a candidate without evaluating all applicants qualifications. Doesn’t want to discount a qualified applicant because he isn’t in attendance. 3 | P a g e
Councilmemeber Scafani: Comments that Jean Lynch brings a balance to the commission due to the length of time she has resided in Blue Lake.
Mayor Jones: Comments on Jak Kirchubel’s qualifications for the planning commission.
Councilmember Edgar: States that Jak is more qualified and he likes a new perspective.
Motion: To appoint Jak Kirchubel to Planning commission.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Edgar.
Public comment:
Mardi Granger- Suggests opening two positions for the Planning Commission.
Kent Sawatzky- Comments on Jak Kirchubel’s resume and qualifications; he may work out well.
Julie Christie- Comments new individuals versus institutional knowledge.
Public Comment Closed.
Vote: Ayes Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: Shull Abstain:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Subdivision Improvement Agreement for Eliason Minor Subdivisin (Application #025-101- 023/2016)
Mayor Jones introduces the item
Councilmember Mackay: States that her son-in-law is a business partner with Eliason and expresses concern of potential conflict of interest. Councilmember Mackay recuses herself from the vote.
Garry Reese, City Planner introduces the item and reads City Planner Report. Recommends council adopt the Subdivision Improvement Agreement as presented.
Mayor Jones: Questions why the project has taken this long.
Garry Reese: Explains that the applicant has requested project extensions for various reasons throughout the project.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky-States his support of the project.
Jean Lynch- Questions the plans for the electrical pole near the site and future underground work.
Mayor Jones: States she learned from the Dan Burden walk audit that undergrouding electricity may not be possible.
Public Comment Closed.
Motion: To adopt the Subdivision Improvement Agreement as presented.
Motion by: Councilmember Edgar Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: Shull Abstain: Mackay 4 | P a g e
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Law Enforcement Agreement with Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget Review- Discussion/Action:
Mayor Jones reads the agenda report; states that the item was placed on the agenda by Councilmember Scafani and asks her to present her item.
Councilmember Scafani: States her concern with the the City’s budget and the process necessary to allocate additional funding for the Sheriff’s contract increase request.
Councilmemeber Mackay: States the city is under contract until 2024 and there is no need at this time to discuss this item.
Councilmemeber Scafani: States that the Council can have this discussion every month and would like to hear an update from the City Manager on the status.
City Manager Mager: Updates the Council on the discussions regarding the proposed contract increase; states that Councilmember Scafani included her email correspondence with the Sheriff and that she doesn’t recommend acceptance of the increase and is pursuing additional options. She does not believe that the contract is in jeopardy.
Mayor Jones: Reiterates to the public to not panic because the City is still under contract with the Sheriff’s department and we have been in this position before regarding negotiations.
Concilmember Scafani: Reads Sheriff Honsal’s statement and expresses concern that options are limited.
Councilmember Mackay: States her concern with Councilmember Scafani’s involvement in the process; the City Manager needs to be able to do her job; the issue will come back to Council when it’s ready.
Councilmember Edgar: Agrees that the City Manager will bring the issue back to Council when there is an option to consider.
Mayor Jones: Any increase will be brought back to Council in the form of a budget amendment.
Councilmember Mackay: I don’t think the City makes irresponsible decisions.
Motion: To continue the item until a final proposal can be brought forward by the City Manager.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Councilmember Edgar There were no comments from the Council
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky- Comments on reserving ARPA funding
Julie Christie-Supports tabling the motion; supports private security options and fundraising Jean Lynch-Comments on prior law enforcement
Winona Pitts-States her disappointment in the process
Angela Dare-Comments on set asiding funding
Elissa Rosado-Comments that City staff need to be able to do their jobs; if councilmembers are passing out information that they shouldn’t have, then they shouldn’t be on council. 5 | P a g e
Councilmember Scafani-States that the Sheriff sent her the emails because he knows that she supports law enforcement; she’s talked to the Sheriff and his contracting agent; applauds the City Manager for trying to save the City money, but the City needs to pay for it.
Mayor Jones: Comments that Councilmemer Scafani’s job is not to negotiate with the Sheriff.
Councilmember Scafani: States that she is advocating for the City.
Public Comment Closed
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Edgar Nays: Scafani Absent: Shull Abstain:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Public Records Act Request Policy- Discussion:
Mayor Jones reads the report and introduces the item; invites Kent Sawatzky to present his item.
Kent Sawatzky hands out papers to the Council; states that the City Manager is not complying with the Public Records Act as she emailed him stating that she would not be corresponding with him through email.
Councilmember Mackay: States she is having trouble following his references to his handouts; they don’t follow any order.
Kent Sawatzky: States he’ll reagendize the item for another meeting since he didn’t have a full packet for Council; asks for a future agenda item with the City Attorney to explain the California Public Record’s Act.
Councilmember Scafani: Does the City have a policy to deal with requests? City Manager Mager: Explains that the California Public Records Act is a law that must be followed by the City; it establishes policies and procedures; the City Attorney provided a training on the act.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions how someone makes a request.
City Manager Mager: Explains the process for making a request.
Julie Christie: Comments on adding information to the website to lessen the number of requests.
Consent ItemsMayor Jones pulls the meeting minutes.
Mayor Jones-Changes requested :
• Page 4-Add Mayor Jones has pledged her stipend to the Parks and Recreation Department • Add “moment of silence for Earl Eddy” on June meeting minutes Councilmember Scafani-Changes Requested:
• Change language about “clerk taking terrible minutes”; add “recommend to move forward” • Change Public Safety to Planning Commission-page 4
Motion: To accept the May meeting minutes with the requested changes Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Edgar No public comments
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: Shull Motion Summary: Motion Passed
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Reports of Council and Staff
Councilmember Edgar: Nothing to report
Councilmember Scafani: The new City website should be ready by the next meeting.
Mayor Jones: Reports on HCAOG, Annie and Mary Day, and the Dan Burden safety walk Councilmember Mackay: Reports on Dan Burden walk, and the Great Redwood Trail Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Absent
City Manager Mager: Provides a report on the town square project, Powers Creek Restoration and economic development funding
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on Dan Burden walk and lack of notice to trucking companies.
Julie Christie: Comments on trail update for the Glendale section; allocate more time for City Manager report.
Mayor Jones: Announces the date for the city-wide yard sale.
Future Agenda Items:
• Resolution in recognition of Earl Eddy
Meeting Adjourned at 8:23 PM
Motion: To adjourn at 8:23 PM
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: Shull Motion Summary: Motion Passed