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1.Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Edgar, Councilmember Scafani
Staff Present: City Manager Mager, City Clerk Gonzalez, Office Assistant Quigley Public Present: Chris Firor, Winona Verda Pitts, Kat Napier, John Sawatzky, Lori Ponte, Jean Lynch, Erin McClure, Beckie Thornton, Tina Catalina, Mardi Granger, Eric Hall
2.Pledge of Allegiance
3.Approval of the Agenda
Councilmember Scafani: Requests to move item number 7, before item number 6 Motion: Approve the agenda with changes, moving item number 7 above item number 6.
Motion by: Councilmember Edgar
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Public Comment: None
Motion Summary: Consensus
4.Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda: None
5. Public Hearing-Close-out of the Community Development Block Grant Library Improvement Project.
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the staff report City Manager Mager presents the item and asks Council to open the public hearing.
Mayor Jones opens the public hearing-No comments received Public Hearing is closed
Motion: Authorize the City Manager to close out the grant and to submit all necessary documents.
Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Seconded by: Councilmember Edgar
Motion Summary: Consensus
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, October 8, 2024 6:30 p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 2 | P a g e
6.Council Correspondence
Mayor Jones reads letters of support for appointment of Chris Firor and reads petition and names of signers in support of John Sawatzky to the City Council.
7.City Council Vacancy-Discuss, Consider and Possibly Appoint a Qualified Applicant to Fill City Council Seat Vacated on July 24, 2024 – Discussion/Action Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the staff report. The City received four applications for the Council vacancy; applications were received from John Sawatzky, Verda Pitts, Kat Napier and Chris Firor.
Mayor Jones asked each candidate to introduce themselves to the Council and the public.
Public Comment:
Eric Hall: Spoke in support of Chris Firor
• Chris Firor: Introduces himself and his vision for Blue Lake. • Verda Winona Pitts: Introduces herself and states her support for John Sawatzky. • Kat Napier: Introduces herself and comments on the work of the City Manager; states her qualifications regarding revenue generation.
• John Sawatzky: Introduces himself and his goals; interested in the Powers Creek District and potential for revenue generation.
Council discusses the appointment; Councilmember Scafani comments on appointing someone with Council experience.
Motion: To appoint John Sawatzky to the Vacancy
Motion By: Councilmember Scafani
Councilmember Edgar: Comments that all of the applicants are dedicated and would do well.
Motion: To Appoint Chris Firor to the Vacancy
Councilmember Scafani: States that Chris Firor is the least qualified for the Council position Seconded by: Mayor Jones
Councilmember Shull: Comments that there is a lot of support for John Sawatzky and that will come out in the election and there is a lot of support for Chris Firor. States her support of Chris Firor.
Public Comment:
Kat Napier: Comments on John Sawatzky being the most qualified.
Lori Ponte: Comments on the number of people that signed the petition in support of John Sawatzky.
Jean Lynch: Comments on John Sawatzky’s qualifications and the City’s General Plan.
Beckie Thornton: Comments on the need to have experience on the Council.
Erin McClure: Comments on John Sawatzky’s qualifications.
Tina Catalina: States her support of Chris Firor and his abilities.
Verda Pitts: States her opinion on the process.
Mardi Granger: States that Chris is the least prepared for the position.
John Sawatzky: Accepts Council’s decision and supports Kat for Mayor. 3 | P a g e
Chris Edgar: States that his constituents came to him in support of Chris Firor.
Mayor Jones: Clarifies that Councilmembers have not conducted back room discussions; the Brown Act prevents this.
Lori Ponte: Comments that no one said that back room discussions took place; maybe it was implied but it wasn’t said out loud.
Motion Summary: Ayes: Jones, Edgar, Shull Nays: 0; Abstention: Scafani City Clerk Gonzalez issues the oath of office to Chris Firor; Councilmember Firor assumes his place at the table with the Council.
8. Consent Agenda-No items
9. Reports of Council and Staff:
• Councilmember Edgar: Nothing to report
• Councilmember Scafani: Reports on RCEA decision to not accept nuclear power allocation. • Mayor Jones: Comments on the Maddy Act and reallocating commission positions; provides report on the Economic Development Commission and their work on retail cannabis investigation, and vacant building ordinance recommendation.
• Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Nothing to report
• Councilmember Firor: Nothing to report.
10. Future Agenda Items:
a. Maddy Act
b. Metal Roof Ordinance
c. Fiscal Audit
d. Closed Session-Property Negotiations
e. CAP Presentation
11. Motion to Adjourn
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani
Seconded by: Councilmember Edgar
Motion Summary: Consensus
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