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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, Councilmember
Elise Scafani, Councilmember
Chris Edgar, Councilmember
Council Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Amanda Mager, City Manager
Anali Gonzalez, Administrative Assistant
Tonie Quigley, Office Assistant
Public Present:
Erin McClure, Angela Dare, Jean Lynch, Kent Sawatzky, Lynn Glenn, Mardi Granger, Julie Christie, Wynona Pitts, Justin Noyb
2. Approval of the Agenda
Motion: To Approve agenda as presented
Motion by: Councilmember Shull, Second: Councilmember Edgar Public Comment: None
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Shull, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
Councilmember Scafani arrives at the meeting after the approval of the agenda.
3. Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky- commented on the flood incident and that he is on the list to be notified of emergencies, and letter received from attorney.
Julie Christie- requested that the commission meetings be offered as a zoom meeting(s).
Public Comment Closed.
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, February 27, 2024~ 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
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4. Blue Lake Commissioner Application review and AppointmentsMayor Jones introduces and reads the agenda report.
Council Discussion:
Councilmember Shull- Asked about Kim Warvi’s appointment to the Public Safety Commission in 2023.
No further Council discussion.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky- Commented on criteria for applying such as residence and length of time in city, and that he recommends trying to stagger vacancies/terms.
Julie Christie- generate more help for help. Create an opportunity for people to meet and see what the community is about.
Mayor Jones- Asked staff about the residency requirements for commissions.
Councilmember Scafani requested staff to utilize the same commission application format for all commissions.
Public Comment Closed.
Motion: To Appoint commissioners as presented.
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani Second: Councilmember Mackay Vote: Ayes: Jones, Shull, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
5. Conduct the second Reading and Adopt by Title Only an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Blue Lake Adding Section 6.04.035 to Chapter 6.04 of Title of 6 of the Blue Lake Municipal Code to Adopt Dog Leash Regulations and Determining the Ordinance to be Exempt from CEQA.
Mayor Jones introduces and reads the agenda report.
Public Comment
Kent Sawatzky- commented on enforcement of the new ordinance.
Julie Christie-commented on posting signage for new ordinance.
Wynona Pitts- commented on her support for the ordinance.
Public Comment Closed.
Mayor Jones conducts the second reading of Section 6.04.035 which amends Title 6 Chapter 6.04.
Motion: To conduct the second reading of Section 6.04.035 and adopt by title only.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second: Councilmember Edgar Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Jones, Shull, Mackay, Scafani, Edgar Nays: None Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
6. City of Blue Lake January 2024 Flood Event Discussion:
Mayor Jones introduces and reads the agenda report.
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City Manager Mager- provides a after action report to City Council. States the city is not emergency responders our role is making sure city infrastructure is functioning and protected. Future action steps stockpiling supplies, weather notifications, opening lines of communication, cross training and tabletop exercises that can benefit the city to be prepared for an emergency. One business impacted by the flood event (Wallace and Heinz.)
Councilmember Shull- Asks about Cal Oes after action report.
City Manager Mager- Yes, the City always does a hot wash.
Mayor Jones- Asks if the County Culvert played a role in the flood event.
City Manager Mager- A lot of debris came down from the County Culvert.
Mayor Jones- Ask if there has been any mitigation to that situation so things can flow into the Mad River.
City Manager Mager- The state Culvert is a new culvert it comes down the hill of 299 and then it comes into the private Culvert that’s owned on the property by the Patriot and then that culvert flows into the county Culvert which is the big cement triangle culvert above the school and runs along States what happened was when everything came down into the private culvert that couldn’t handle what was coming down and got plugged up.
Councilmember Scafani- Asks about the Culvert above the school and where does that empty.
City Manager Mager- Not sure. Storm drains system and some of it might go into the City system.
That culvert system can handle the water.
Councilmember Scafani- Is the drainage coming off the freeway.
City Manager Mager- Yes. It’s the big new culvert off the 299 installed last year some time.
Councilmemebr Scafani- Inquires about the Blue Lake Rancheria.
City Manger Mager- No. Staffing issues at the Blue Lake Rancheria.
Councilmember Scafani- Comments on Rancheria flooding. Lost one home potentially more.
Comments on background material in the City Council packet. PG&E debris catchers were still there and impacted the flooding in her neighborhood. Neighbors and councilmember Scafani helped remove debris catchers. Asks what triggers sand and sandbags at City Hall.
City Manager Mager- States sand was available the night before.
Councilmember Scafani- Asks how this is being communicated with the public.
City Manager Mager- The City usually has sand at the Corp yard. The sand was placed in a prominent location for the public.
Councilmember Mackay-Suggests the public have sandbags available for future flooding.
Councilmember Edgar- Mentions Facebook communication on sandbag location.
Councilmember Scafani- proposes the City have an official communication when resources are available to the public.
Councilmemebr Mackay- Thanks staff and CERT member for their efforts during the flood event.
Councilmember Scafani- Suggests the City have at least 1000 sandbags on hand.
Public Comment:
Lynn Glenn-from CERT talked about CERT’s role in an event like this. Could use more CERT members, do have some community members i.e. Old Crows that do come out and help. Wondered about stream maintenance to help with flow.
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Kent Sawatzky- commented on lack of communication and need for training.
Julie Christie- commented on the flood event, bigger discussion that what can happen tonight, but needed.
Public comment closed.
Council discussion:
Mayor Jones- Thanks staff and CERT members for their efforts during the flood event. Mentions Julie Christie’s donation of sandbags.
Councilmember Scafani- Asks if the council has a role in emergency preparedness.
Mayor Jones- Mentions her experience through out the years and the different scenarios that have taken place i.e. going door to door and assisting the public with their emergency needs.
City Manager Mager- Disaster Management has changed dramatically. Incident Command System which is a coordinated command system. That is how incidents are now managed. Old school system on a PA system isn’t going to work anymore. Staff trains through the ICS and mentions she has a higher level of training. What is important during an emergency is that we don’t overwhelm the system. The City does not respond door to door. The City’s role is to make sure the City’s infrastructure is protected and protocols are in place. Everyone has a role to play, including the council in an emergency. Mutual aid agreements with all our partner agencies.
Councilmember Scafani-Did the flood trigger the ICS.
City Manager Mager- No, it was not beyond the capacity of a local response.
Councilmember Scafani- Asks the City Manager if staff didn’t feel the need to let the council know or ask for more help.
City Manager Mager- Isolated event and managing the event well.
Councilmember Scafani- Inquires about a tabletop exercise.
City Manger Mager- Plans on scheduling a Blue Lake tabletop. Tabletop exercises are amazing and can learn a lot from them. Stressful but a great tool to learn.
Councilmember Scafani- Suggests staff schedule a Blue Lake tabletop exercise without OES in the meantime.
Councilmember Shull- States finding an outside agency facilitating the tabletop exercise makes it a cleaner process.
City Manger Mager- Explains the tabletop exercises and what they consist of.
Councilmemebr Scafani- Suggests having a weekend meeting (City sponsored) in conjunction with CERT about emergency preparedness.
City Manager Mager- Emergency preparedness fair? The Public Safety Commission does a yearly event.
Mayor Jones- Directs staff to add this topic to the public safety Agenda.
7. Powers Creek Gravel RemediationMayor Jones introduces and reads the agenda report.
Councilmember Edgar- States the City has a Power Creek restoration program in place.
Councilmember Mackay- Asks if this is affecting the flow of the creek in any way.
City Manager Mager- The creek has a huge sediment loading issue that’s part of the program to remove invasive vegetation and put back native plants.
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Councilmember Shull-Any other agencies that the city is working with on the Powers Creek Restoration Project.
Councilmember Scafani-Who is the lead agency?
City Manager Mager-Badwut watershed council and the City of Blue Lake.
Councilmember Scafani- Asks about the start date of the Powers Creek Restoration Project? City Manager Mager- Working on the implementation schedule. Various staff members are working on the Powers Creek Restoration Project. Coordinated efforts. Badwat watershed council is contracting with SHN engineering to do the design and permitting, engineer work and Northern Hydrology is part of the SHN team.
Mayor Jones- opens public comment.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky- commented on the project, his concerns on bridge design and water flow under his building.
Julie Christie- commented on the project concern about condition of the creek and sediment. Important to look at what we have done.
Public comment closed.
8. Humboldt County Sheriff Law Enforcement Contract Update.
Mayor Jones reads the agenda report.
City Manager Mager- the City applied for and submitted Measure Z application. Emphasizes the cost increase start in Fiscal year 24/25 due to timing of the submission of a final proposal. The intent of Measure Z is not to provide a forever funding gap. The city wrote a proposal asking for a single year funding gap to allow a year for the city to continue to build our capacity to attract additional sales tax revenue and adjust our budget to be able to manage the contract cost increase. The City asked for 35,000 dollars.
Mayor Jones- asks about the Measure Z application process and directs staff to update council of the status of the Measure Z application.
City Manager Mager- explains the process of the Measure Z application. Process can be very cutthroat. Hard process.
Councilmember Scafani- asks if the City is proposing a new contract or an extension of the existing contract.
City Manger Mager- the City is proposing a new contract. Base contract is fine but there are areas of the existing contract that need to be cleaned up and reassessed. County council will review.
Councilmember Scafani- contacted the County to clarify the amount of contract and who is authorized to increase contract amount.
City Manager Mager- sheriff could recomputate the cost and make the cost proposal but the county of board supervisors put a cap on the amount that he can propose to increase. The cost increase the Sheriff proposed were well beyond that authority.
Councilmember Scafani- states concern and bothered by the proposal of the City to start new costs for next year. Believes it’s fair to the sheriff’s department and makes good relationship sense. 6 | P a g e
Public CommentKent Sawatsky: commented that city is double dipping on Measure Z, most likely will not get it.
Julie Kristie: commented that she agrees with Councilmember Scafani that we owe sheriff back pay on contract, that we were asked to be prepared for budget, and instead we were prepared for battle.
Public Comment Closed.
Council Member Scafani- asked when the Measure Z application was submitted.
City Manager Mager- measure Z application submitted on Friday February 23, 2024.
9. Formation of Ad-Hoc Committee to Conduct City Manager Performance Evaluation Mayor reads agenda report.
Councilmember Scafani- what is the interview process like? Mayor Jones- Explains the City Manger’s Performance Evaluation process.
Mayor Jones- Stated she would like to be part of the Ad-Hoc committee.
Councilmember Mackay- states she would like to be a part of the Ad-Hoc committee.
Councilmember Scafani- states she would like to be a part of the Ad-Hoc committee.
Councilmember Shull- Asks if the mayor is required to be on the Ad-Hoc committee.
Motion made by councilmember Edgar to appoint councilmember Mackay and Councilmember Scafani to the ad-hoc committee and direct them to complete the necessary interviews and document compilation.
Mayor Jones- opens public comment.
Public CommentJulie Kristie: supports motion to form committee.
Kent Sawatzky: supports motion to form committee, feels that staff should be on committee as they have to work day today with city manager.
Public comment closed.
Back to Council.
Motion: Appoint councilmember Mackay and Councilmember Scafani to the ad-hoc committee and direct them to complete the necessary interviews and document compilation.
Motion by: Councilmember Edgar, Second: Councilmember Scafani There were no comments from the Council.
Vote: Ayes: Scafani, Shull, Mackay Edgar Nays: Jones Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
10. Council Correspondence: reads council correspondence.
11. Consent Agenda:
Councilmember Scafani makes a motion to pull all the consent agendas. Second by councilmember Mackay.
Vote: Ayes: Scafani, Shull, Mackay Edgar, Jones Nays: Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
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a. November 28, 2023, minutes
Councilmember Mackay- correction on page 4.
Councilmember Edgar-strike the word amount on page on page four.
The council directs staff to make corrections and bring meeting minutes back to council. b. December 19, 2023, Regular Council Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve the December 19, 2023, Regular Council Meeting Minutes.
Motion by Councilmember Mackay. Second by Councilmember Edgar Vote: Ayes: Scafani, Shull, Mackay Edgar, Jones Nays: Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
c. January 16, 2024, Special Meeting Minutes
Motion to: approve the January 16, 2024, Special Meeting Minutes.
Motion by: Councilmember Mackay Second by: Councilmember Scafani Vote: Ayes: Scafani, Shull, Mackay Edgar, Jones Nays: Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
d. Warrants and Disbursements
Councilmember Scafani requests more information on the SHN invoices.
Councilmember Shull questions check number 11560 and 11561 don’t have amounts.
Anali Gonzalez reads an email into the record from the City’s Finance Director to clarify councilmember’s Shull questions on check number 11560 and 11561.
Motion to accept the warrants and disbursements.
Motion by: Councilmember Shull Second by: Councilmember Mackay Vote: Ayes: Scafani, Shull, Mackay Edgar, Jones Nays: Absent:
Motion Summary: Motion Passed
12. Reports of Council and Staff
Councilmember Edgar- nothing to report.
Councilmember Scafani- Attended RCEA meeting. Discusses annual hosting fee invoice from Redwood Curtain Design. City will be invoiced in March. Future agenda item Redwood Curtain Design Contract update.
Mayor Jones- attended HWMA and HCAOG meetings.
Councilmember Shull- attended REDEC and chamber of commerce.
Councilmember Mackay- nothing to report.
a. City Manger Report
b. Financial Report
13. Future Agenda Items-
• City Website Contract
• Amending Blue Lake City Cannabis Ordinance
• Trash and Recycling Bin labeling.
• Moment of Silence for Larry Kight.
• First Amendment Audit
• Agenda Review Committee Meeting Times
14. Meeting Adjournment
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Motion: To adjourn 9:35pm.
Motion by: Councilmember Schull , Second: Councilmember Mackay There were no comments from the Council
Vote: Ayes: Jones, Scafani, Shull, Edgar Nays: None Absent: Mackay Motion Summary: Motion Passed