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Unless Otherwise Noted, All Items on the Agenda are Subject to Action.
Meeting Called to Order at 6:30 PM
1. Pledge of Allegiance and Establish a Quorum of the Council Council Members Present: 
Adelene Jones, Mayor
Angela Shull, Mayor Pro-Tem
Elizabeth Mackay,
Elise Scafani
Christopher Edgar
Staff Present:
Amanda Mager, City Manager/City Clerk
Anali Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
Tonie Quigley, Office Assistant
Public Present:
Darcy Lima
Erin McClure
Kent Sawatzky
Tina Catalina
Jason
Mardi Granger
Lisa Hoover
Angela Dare
Julie Chistie
Beckie Thornton
Kat and Erica
Jean Lynch
Marlene
2. Approve Agenda
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, November 28, 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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Mayor Jones: States that the Eisner’s will not be present during the meeting; recommends postponing Item #7 until they can be in attendance.
Councilmember Mackay: Requests to move item #5 above item #4.
Motion: To Approve agenda with amendments.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Shull Public Comment: None
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Shull, Edgar Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
3. Resolution Number 1222- A Resolution of the City of Blue Lake Honoring the Contributions of Community Advocate and Blue Lake Planning Commissioner Earl Eddy.
Mayor Jones introduces Resolution Number 1222 honoring Blue Lake Planning Commissioner Earl Eddy.
Motion: To adopt Resolution Number 1222
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay.
Second By: Councilmember Edgar
Public Comment:
Scott Frazer: States Earl Eddy was a fine member of the Blue Lake community.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar, Shull Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Lynette Eddy: Expresses gratitude to council for honoring Earl Eddy.
Lin Glen: States she is a member of CERT and has seen Earl and Lynette Eddy actively help in the community.
Mayor Jones reads Resolution number 1222.
4. Proclamation Honoring Joan Schirle and Declaring February 4th as Joan Schirle Day.
Mayor Jones introduces and reads agenda item.
Motion: To adopt the Joan Schirle Day Proclamation honoring her contributions to the community and designating February 4th as Joan Schirle Day.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Councilmember Shull
Public Comment:
Christina Nielsen: Expresses gratitude to Council for honoring Joan Schirle.
Kathleen Marshal: Comments on Joan Schirle and her performances in Blue Lake; encourages Council to adopt proclamation.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Shull, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Mayor Jones reads Proclamation honoring Joan Schirle.
5. 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 3 | P a g e
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.
Mayor Jones opens the public comment:
Scott Frazer: Comments on budget and suggests budget workshops for council.
Julie Christie: Comments on improving Zoom connection and getting back on Access Humboldt.
States her appreciation for community members participation in council meetings.
Public Comment closed.
6. Public Safety Commissioner Application Review and Consideration Mayor Jones introduces and reads Agenda item #6; Mayor Jones introduces applicants and invites applicants to introduce themselves.
Kim Warvi: States her background and desires to participate in the Public Safety commission.
Ted Hales: Comments on his background with the military police and expresses gratitude to Council for consideration of his application; states he resides on West End Road outside of City limits.
Councilmember Scafani: States that the City’s Municipal Code gives preference to applicants living within City limits.
Councilmember Edgar: Comments that two of the applicants are residents of Blue Lake.
Councilmember Scafani: States one applicant lives outside of City limits but is also within the sphere of influence and would otherwise be qualified to serve on the Commission. Councilmember Scafani suggests that applicant Ted Hales has qualifications that could be useful to the commission and asks Council to consider Ted Hales as an advisory commissioner and to appoint the other two applicants as commissioners.
Councilmember Mackay: Comments on Councilmember Scafani possibly recusing herself because of a potential conflict of interest; Ted Hales is Councilmember Scafani’s partner.
Mayor Jones: Comments that she does not believe that this would constitute a conflict of interest.
Public Comment:
Scott Frazer: Comments on prior commissioners living outside of City limits.
Angela Dare: Comments on Ted Hales volunteer record.
Public Comment Closed.
Motion: To appoint Daniel Flores and Kim Warvi to the Public Safety commission.
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani, Second by: Councilmember Edgar Votes: Ayes: Jones, Shull, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nayes: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
7. Blue Lake Power Lease Agreement Update:
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the staff report. 4 | P a g e
City Manager Mager provides an update to Council on the status of the Blue Lake Power legal proceedings.
Councilmember Scafani: Inquires on how long the process may take.
City Manager Mager: Provides information on the process serving activities and related filings with the court.
Mayor Jones: States that the owners of Blue Lake Power are from the Chicago area; requests that Council be regularly updated as the process progresses. Comments that the original lease terminates in 2025.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: commented on when the process was initiated. Has a permit been issued for demo & hazmat issues.
Mayor Jones: States that the City is asking the courts to award the City the past due lease payments, past due utility payments, damages, and possession of the property.
Councilmember Scafani: Asks the City Manager if there are any demolition permits issued and is there any salvage ongoing at this time.
City Manager: States there are no demolition permits issued; Blue Lake Power has been removing small equipment and cleaning the site.
Councilmember Shull: Clarifies that Blue Lake Power is still on a lease until a court ruling.
8. Humboldt County Sherriff Law Enforcement Contract Update and Staff Recommendation to Consider Exercising Option to Terminate and Enter into Renegotiations.
Mayor Jones reads agenda report and a letter from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office dated November 28, 2023, requesting a meeting with the City to continue negotiations regarding the current contract for law enforcement services.
Councilmember Mackay: Expresses gratitude for the City Manager and her efforts to continue to fight for the City of Blue Lake. States the contract amount is a huge increase and commends the City Manager for her due diligence.
Councilmember Edgar: States this contract is basically extortion.
Councilmember Shull: Comments on the sudden willingness of the Sheriff to renegotiate the contract.
Mayor Jones: Asks the City Manager to explain how the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors plays a role in the law enforcement contract.
City Manager Mager: Explains that the City contracts with the County of Humboldt for law enforcement services; the Board of Supervisors authorizes the contract agreement, and the Sheriff is a party to the contract. The City manager recommends that the City contact the Sheriff and take him up on his offer to meet and discuss contracting options; recommends having County representation at the meeting. The City Manager recommends that the Council establish an ad-hoc committee of two Councilmembers to participate in the process.
Mayor Jones: States she is happy to be one of the representatives for the City of Blue Lake during the meetings with the Sheriff.
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Councilmember Mackay: States she would also like to be a representative for the City of Blue Lake in the meetings with the Sheriff.
Councilmember Scafani: States she would also like to be at the table with the Sheriff and Council.
Comments on Sheriff Honsal’s willingness to have a conversation about the law enforcement contract.
Mayor Jones: Assures the citizens of Blue Lake that the City will have police protection and this negotiation is a good sign and part of the process.
Councilmember Scafani: Asks the City Manager to have the City Attorney present to explain the legality of this agenda item.
City Manager: States she did reach out to city attorney, but he was unavailable to attend.
Public Comment:
Ted Hales: States the comments of fair and equitable does not apply here because the Sheriff has been clear on cost of service, and it’s not attributed to call volume.
Dayna: Comments on her experience with the Sheriff Department and their lack of response.
Jean Lynch: Comments on agenda report and Councilmember ad hoc committee.
Wendy: Shares experience with contacting the Sheriff Department regarding a robbery that took place at her home.
Jenny Short: Comments on City Manager’s recommendations and concern over process.
Becky Thornton: Comments on Sheriff’s correspondence and the City’s budget.
Darcy Lima: Comments on her own experience with the Sheriff.
Robert Rousseu: Comments on the budget for the law enforcement contract.
Lori Ponte: Appreciates all the different opinions from the public; ask what the Council’s plan is for the law enforcement contract.
Julie Christie: Comments on the City’s budget for law enforcement and ways to fundraise.
Linda Cooley: Comments on social media and news regarding Blue Lake and its impact on business.
Kent Sawatzky: Reads an email.
Alicia Rousseu: Comments on her own experience dealing with the Sheriff Department.
Dennis Whitcomb: Commends City Manager for getting into the negotiation process.
Public Comment closed.
Motion: To establish an ad-hoc committee comprised of Adelene Jones, Elizabeth Mackay and the City Manager to enter into negotiations with the Humboldt County Sheriff, and to request that Mike Wilson and Steve Madrone (County Supervisors) participate in the negotiation process.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Edgar There were no comments from the Council.
Public Comment: None
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Shull, Edgar Nays: Scafani Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
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9. Discussion Regarding Council Meeting Frequency
Mayor Jones introduces agenda item and reads agenda report.
Council discusses agenda item and decides that no additional action is necessary; the Council may add a second monthly meeting as needed.
No action taken.
10. December City Council Meeting Schedule.
Mayor Jones introduces agenda item and Council discusses the December meeting schedule.
Motion: To move the December Council meeting to December 19th at 6:30pm.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Schull There were no comments from the Council.
Public Comment: None
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Shull, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
11. Council Liaison, Board and Committee Assignments
Mayor Jones introduces agenda item.
The council discusses council liaison, board and committee assignments and the need to adjust due to Council work schedules.
Motion: To accept the City Council assignments with the three amendments as discussed.
Motion by: Councilmember Shull, Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Encourages Council to increase communication between primary and alternates.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Shull, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
12. Council Correspondence:
Mayor reads council correspondence.
13. Consent Agenda
Mayor Jones introduces the agenda item.
Councilmember Scafani: Requests that the Warrants and Disbursements be pulled from consent.
Councilmember Scafani: Comments on various checks on the warrants and disbursement report and requests clarification from staff.
Public comment:
Lori Ponte: Questions FRMS on warrants and disbursements.
Public Comment closed.
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Motion: to approve the Warrants and Disbursements.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second by: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the council.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Shull, Edgar Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
14. Financial Statements and Accountant Report
Councilmember Scafani seeks clarification on financial statements and accountant report.
Motion: To approve the financial statement and accountant report as presented Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second by: Councilmember Shull There were no comments from the Council.
Public comment:
Lori Ponte: Comments on financial statements and accountant report.
Jennifer Kramer: Comments on how complicated grants can be; suggests that Council educate themselves on the reports to save staff time.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Shull, Edgar Nays: None Absent: None Motion Summary: Motion Passed
15. Reports of Council and Staff:
Councilmember Edgar: Attended Blue Lake Public Safety Commission meeting.
Councilmember Scafani: Attended RCEA meeting.
Mayor Jones: Attended the HWMA and HCAOG meetings.
Councilmember Shull- Attended Blue Lake Chamber of Commerce meeting and RREDC meeting.
Councilmember Mackay- Attended Blue Lake Economic Development Commission meeting.
City Manager states she will provide a staff report at the December City Council Meeting.
16. Future Agenda Items:
• Leash Law Ordinance Update
• 1997 Blue Lake Community Visioning Strategic Plan
17. Meeting Adjournment
Motion: To adjourn at 9:45 PM
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay, Second: Councilmember Shull There were no comments from the Council.
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Mackay, Scafani, Shull, Edgar Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed