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1. Meeting Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
2. Quorum Established: Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Edgar, Councilmember Scafani
Staff Present: City Manager Mager, City Clerk Gonzalez
Public Present: Justin Goad, John Sawatzky, Jean Lynch, Julie Christie, Erin McClure, Alex Ricca, Mardi Grainger, Kat Napier, Lynn Glenn, Martha Mead, Verda Pitts. Michelle Lewis-Lusso
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Approval of the Agenda:
Motion: To approve the agenda as submitted
Motion by: Edgar
Seconded by: Scafani
No Public Comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
5. Public Comment:
Alex Ricca: Commented that he had submitted an application for public safety commission opening and wanted the council to be able to put a face with a name.
Kat Napier: Comments on the truck route and the work done by the contractor.
Julie Christie: Thanks Alex Ricca for his application to the Public Safety Commission; thanks Kat Napier for working with the contractor on the truck route.
Lynn Glen: Commenting as a representative of CERT; states that the Safety Fair was fabulous and appreciated being a part of it; states that copies of the publication “Living on Shakey Ground” is available and the Great Shake-Out will be on October 17th.
Mardi Grainger: Reads aloud her letter requesting funding to support Justin Goad for his work on videoing the meetings.
6. Proclamation of the City of Blue Lake Recognizing September 30-October 6, 2024, as the Week Without Driving
Mayor Jones reads the staff report and introduces the item.
Motion: To Proclaim September 30, 2024-October 6,2024 as the Week without Driving Motion by: Councilmember Edgar
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Public Comment:
Jean Lynch: Comments on the language in the proclamation regarding historical development impacts to communities of color; wants the language removed.
Julie Christie: Comments that the language regarding communities of color may be outdated.
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
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, September 24, 2024 6:30 p.m. ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 2 | P a g e
Councilmember Scafani: States that Jean Lynch may have a point.
City Manager Mager: States that “communities of color” have been greatly impacted by infrastructure projects; major transit routes have gone through cultural sites and traditional villages; this has happened on the Yurok Reservation where the main highway was built right through sacred sites and villages. The language in the proclamation is important and should remain.
Councilmember Shull: There are multiple examples of underserved communities being impacted by these types of projects.
Motion Summary: Consensus
Mayor Jones reads the proclamation.
7. City of Blue Lake Branding Implementation-Discussion/Direction Mayor Jones reads the staff report and introduces the item.
City Manager Mager presents the item and provides an overview of the branding process and the work that has been done over the years to work toward a brand for Blue Lake.
Councilmember Scafani: States that she can’t distinguish the image in the logo as she drives through the round-about.
Councilmember Edgar: States that he likes everything about the branding.
Councilmember Scafani: States that the image is too dark; wants to see it in brighter colors; wants more choices.
Councilmember Edgar: States that the work was sent to Council by the commissions for consideration.
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: States her preference for the City seal.
Mardi Grainger: Comments on the public input process.
Alex Ricca: States that Blue Lake should have a “find the lake day.” Verda Pitts: States her preference for the City seal; it’s timeless and professional; the new design is a fad and popular right now and should be used for recreation; the commissioners did the work to bring this forward.
John Sawatzky: The logo is bold and oversimplified; visually overstimulating and aggressive.
Beckie Thornton: States she’s a graphic designer; colors are too dark.
Councilmember Scafani: States she worked for a magazine and worked with editors.
8. Memorandum of Agreement with Fieldbrook Community Services District Councilmember Edgar recuses himself and leaves the room.
Mayor Jones reads the staff report and introduces the item City Manager Mager presents the agreement, including the terms and scope of work.
Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Asks about the end date of the agreement.
Councilmember Scafani: Requests that future amendment come back to the City Council for consideration.
Motion: To authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Agreement with the Fieldbrook Glendale Community Services District for a period of one year.
Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Seconded by: Councilmember Scafani
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Comments on costs associated with providing the service.
Motion Summary: (Ayes) Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Scafani
9. Council Correspondence:
Mayor Jones reads a letter from Jean Lynch regarding procurement policies. 3 | P a g e
10. Consent Agenda:
Mayor Jones opens the item; Councilmember Scafani pulls the Warrants and Disbursements 9a. Meeting Minutes: July 23, 2024:
Mayor Jones asks that Councilmember Shull be referred to as Mayor Pro-Tem Shull in the meeting minutes
Councilmember Scafani asks to clarify her comments regarding the website and the General Plan page and to correct the language regarding the CDBG funds.
Motion: To approve item 9a., the meeting minutes with corrections Motion by: Councilmember Edgar
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Comments on the accuracy of the meeting minutes.
John Sawatzky: Comments that the minutes are not scannable.
Motion Summary: Consensus
9b. Warrants and Disbursements
Councilmember Edgar recuses himself and leaves the room.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions why the City is paying itself for water City Manager Mager: Explains that the City has multiple water accounts to pay for.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions disbursement to Nutter Productions.
City Manager Mager: Explains that the payment was made to the videographer that developed the City’s Housing video that was funded by State funding under the REAP funding.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions the disbursement to RREDC.
City Manager Mager: Explains that the original request to pay off the loan to RREDC was not accurately reflected; staff will bring back an additional request in the future to complete the pay-off of the loan.
Motion: To approve the Warrants and Disbursements
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Comments on the City’s housing video and it’s availability on the HCAOG website; comments on additional description of fund sources.
Motion Summary: Passed (Ayes) Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Shull (Recused): Councilmember Edgar
Councilmember Edgar re-enters the room
11. Reports of Council and Staff
Councilmember Edgar: Nothing to report
Councilmember Scafani: States that the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting was cancelled; comments on on-going work on the City’s website.
Mayor Jones: Reports on the Arts and Heritage Commission meeting and the work on the town square and art-based traffic calming; reports on the Economic Development Commission meeting and the vacant building ordinance discussion and Blue Lake branding work; reports on the Chamber of Commerce meeting, Humboldt Waste Management Authority, HCAOG and the League of Cities.
Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Reports that the RREDC meeting was cancelled; reports on the work that the Blue Lake Chamber is doing to reach out to local businesses.
Mayor Jones: Reports on the town square splash day.
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City Manager Mager presents her report and provides additional information on the work on Greenwood, including the paving schedule and the coordination taking place to minimize impacts to the community and businesses. Reports on the status of the town square and the final installation of the shade trellis; reports on the status of the bike park and the amount of work that has been completed; fundraising efforts paying for fuel and equipment, with labor being donated by volunteers.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions the dates for the public comment period for the Housing Element CEQA document
City Manager Mager: Reports that the CEQA document has been released and noticed.
Mayor Jones: Questions if the document will be ready.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions the funding status for the Powers Creek Restoration project.
City Manager Mager: Reports that the project is in the design, engineering and permitting stage, including community outreach and property owner engagement. Vegetation removal may start in the Spring; additional funding applications will be written for construction.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions the flooding along Hatchery Road City Manager Mager: Explains that the flooding is a consequence of lack of maintenance and sediment infill on private property.
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Comments on the City Manager Report; comments on the responsibility of private property owners to manage vegetation. Requests that the Manager Report be presented at a separate meeting.
12. Future Agenda Items
a. October 8, 2024-Special Meeting
b. Community Development Block Grant Close-Out
c. Audit
d. REAP Video-Blue Lake Housing
Council discusses the review of Council applications and when they will be made available.
13. Adjournment-8:48pm
Motion: To adjourn
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Motion Summary: Consensus