1 | P a g e
Unless Otherwise Noted, All Items on the Agenda are Subject to Action.
Meeting Called to Order at 6:31 PM
1. Pledge of Allegiance and Establish a Quorum of the Council Council Members Present:
Adelene Jones, Mayor
Elizabeth Mackay,
Elise Scafani
Christopher Edgar
Angela Shull-Mayor Pro Tem
Staff Present:
Amanda Mager, City Manager/City Clerk
Anali Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
Public Present:
Darcy Lima
Erin Mcclure
Kent Sawatzky
Tina Catalina
Blue Shirt
Jason
Mardi Granger
Lisa Hoover
Angela Dare
Winona Pitts
Julie Chistie
Beckie Thornton
Cal Poly Hoodie Male
Kat and Erica
Jean Lynch
Marlene
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, August 22, 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
2 | P a g e
2. Approve Agenda
Motion: To Approve the Agenda as presented
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Shull Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky commented on an item not agendized
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent:
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.
Kent Sawatzky- Comments on the City’s PRA process. Requests to add an item to be agendized.
Mardi Granger-Comments on a article she wrote.
Ted Hales-Comments on Mardi Granger’s comment; states she deserves an apology.
Josha Stark-Comments on the development along the river.
Angela Dare-States she is speaking for Beckie Thornton since she wasn’t able to make it tonight.
Reads a statement from Beckie Thornton.
Erin McClure-Comments on water tanks and lease with the City; states her frustration on numerous citizens dumping trash on her property and loose dogs coming after her livestock. She states any dog that trespasses on her property does not come out alive. She has contacted Billy Honsal regarding this issue.
Mayor Jones-States we cannot make any comments or answer questions during public comment.
Julie Christie-States appreciation for Zoom and comments on encampment behind the school.
4. The Great Redwood Trail Master Plan: Mayor Jones introduces the item.
Carol Vander Meer presents to council and the community.
Mayor Jones: Thanks Carol Vander for the presentation.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions why the trail did not continue to Korbel.
Carol Vander Meer: States she is unsure of the answer.
Mayor Jones: Questions crossing the Mad River.
Hannah: Clarifies the portion of the trail that was part of the rail banking.
Public Comment:
Jean Lynch- Question private property rights.
Carol Vander Meer- Clarifies the easement issue.
Hannah: Explains the process of abandoned properties along the trail. 3 | P a g e
Julie Christie: States that portions of the route are not rail banked.
Kent Sawatzky: States the “public” questions the process of condemnamtion.
Councilmember Mackay: Expresses excitement for the Great Redwood Trail Lisa Hoover: States her excitement for the Great Redwood Trail and thanks Carol Vander Meer for presentation.
Dayna: Asks about Eel River Canyon and how will they manage the landslides.
Carol Vander Meer-States there are a variety of approaches on how to address landslides.
Hannah: Thanks the community for their input. Shares the details of upcoming workshops regarding The Great Redwood Trail.
Erin McClure: Asks if the Buck Eye Conservancy and Cattlemen’s Association were contacted.
5. Town Square Construction Contract Authorization:
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the staff report Mayor Jones- Asks the City Manager to provide a report.
City Manager-Provides a staff report
Councilmember Scafani: Questions when the Council will review the project designs and states that no design or discussion of the design since last mention of working with the architect in June 2022 can be found in City Council records.
City Manager Mager: Explains that Council authorized the submission of the grant that included the communities input. The project design is based upon the items identified in the grant.
Public comment:
Dayna- Questioned the City’s community outreach regarding the Town Square Project.
Councilmember Mackay-States community outreach for the Town Square Project started pre COVID three years ago.
Kent Sawatzky-States he would like to see a picture of the Town Square project on the City’s website. Suggests the bathroom should be near city staff or police department. He advocates for more council involvement in the process.
Winona Pitts-Questions why the restroom would be placed next to the bus stop.
Andy Jones-Expresses concern over location of bathroom; he is relieved a licensed designer helped design the Town Square Project, and advocates for a visual representation and asks where he can access the plans.
Angela Dare-States she loves the idea of having a restroom in downtown.
Erin McClure: States she would like to see a picture of the project.
Public Comment Closed.
Comments from the Council:
Councilmember Edgar-Asks how difficult it would be to bring the project back to council to adjust some designs if removal of items is a problem with the granting agency. 4 | P a g e
Councilmember Mackay-Would like to see the project design; understands the timeframe and doesn’t want to hold up the project.
Councilmember Edgar-The Town Square project has already been approved. Why would we need another meeting. If there are no adjustments being made then we should move forward. The only thing we would be adjusting is aesthetics.
Councilmember Scafani- Requests staff to make the Town Square Project design available on the City website.
Councilmember Schull- Asks if the same contractor will perform all work, and if the work can start while council is reviewing the design.
City Manager Mager- proposes the possibility of a special meeting.
Councilmember Scafani- advocates for design review to include the public.
Mayor Jones-Discusses dates for a special meeting.
Motion: To authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with the lowest-responsive bidder and modify the project deliverables to maintain the project budget and the granting agencies intentions; City Manager will bring the project back to Council if grant deliverables or design intentions will not be met or cannot be funded through other revenue sources.
Motion by: Councilmember Edgar, Second: Councilmember Shull Vote: Ayes Jones, Mackay, Edgar, Shull Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Council Correspondence: Council discusses League of Cities correspondence.
Mayor Jones- States she would like to pull the meeting minutes and add Earl Eddy’s moment of silence.
Motion: To approve the minutes with the addition of Earl Eddy’s moment of silence Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Edgar
There were no comments by Council.
No comments from public.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Edgar, Shull, Scafani Nays: Absent: Abstain:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Motion: Move to approve consent agenda minus the minutes.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Edgar There were no comments from the Council
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky-Thanks the City for providing City Clerk training to Anali Gonzalez.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Edgar, Shull, Scafani Nays: Absent: Abstain:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
6. Reports of Council and Staff
Councilmember Edgar: Nothing to report; comments on supporting the fire department 5 | P a g e
Councilmember Scafani- Provides update on the City’s website.
Mayor Jones: Attended August 10, 2023 HWMA; presentation from little Hoover commission and August 17, 2023 HCAOG strategic safety highway plan. States the City Wide Yard Sale had 24 people sign up and one hundred twenty dollars was donated to the resource center. Shares details on Earl Eddy’s memorial at the Grange. States Earl Eddy’s memorial was well attended and asks for a proclamation for his 8 years on the planning commission. Shares excitement on a record breaking 54 booths for Annie and Mary Day.
Mayor Pro-Tem Shull-States RREDC is next week and attended August Chamber of Commerce meeting. States on Thursday September 16 the annual chamber of mixer is from 5:30 to7:30pm..
Councilmember Mackay- States Kelli Costa is the newest member on the Economic Development Commission. Shares her experience at an event hosted by the League of Cities. States she did not attend Arts and Heritage meeting due to the meeting being cancelled.
Councilmember Scafani- States her concern for lack of participation from commission liason’s and willing to discuss possible alternatives.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Suggests the city wide yard sale be held on a Sunday to support the Sunday Market.
Points out the September civic calendar is not posted on the City’s website City Manager Report: Mayor Jones introduces and reads City Manager report.
Councilmember Scafani- Asks if the feasibility study and financial reports are available from Storyland.
City Manager Mager- States the feasibility study and financials is part of the final report. Final report has been reviewed by Arcata Economic development and RREDC. Explains the process of the final portfolio and what the next steps are for printing options and possible release to the public in October.
Councilmember Scafani- Do you gave a grant report with each line item on where funds are allocated?
Lisa Hoover- Surprised by the managers’ report regarding the RV Park.
Josha Stark-Understands the feasibility study and explains the process in other cities.
Dayna-States she was unaware of the Storyland Project.
Kent Sawatzky-Comments public perception.
Winona Pitts-Comments on the transparency of the City’s website.
7. Future Agenda Items:
• Leash Law -City Manager will check on the status
• Biomass presentation
• Storyland Project
6 | P a g e
Meeting Adjourned at 9:05 PM
Motion: To adjourn at 9:05 PM
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Edgar There were no comments from the Council
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky-Comments on potential litigation
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar, Shull Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed