1 | P a g e
1.Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers Present: Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Edgar, Councilmember Scafani, Councilmember Firor
Staff Present: City Manager Mager, City Clerk Gonzalez, Office Assistant Quigley Public Present: Mardi Granger, Erin McClure, Kat Napier, Justin Goad, Brett Jones, Beckie Thornton, Michelle Nielsen, Richard Engel, Ted Hales, Sherri, Jake Jones, Michelle Lewis-Lusso, Jean Lynch, Julie Christie, Sandy Bennett, Angela Dare
2.Pledge of Allegiance
3.Approval of the Agenda
Motion: To approve the agenda as presented
Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Seconded by: Councilmember Scafani
Public Comment: None
Motion Summary: Consensus
4.Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda:
Lori Ponte: Comments on her letter requesting an update on the DANCO and Storyland Studios projects.
Beckie Thornton: Comments on Public Safety Commissioner Jason Crews letter to Council regarding Elise Scafani and her position as liaison to the Public Safety Commission.
Julie Christie: Thanks Councilmembers Shull, Edgar and Jones for their service Ted Hales: Comments on the letter from Commissioner Crews regarding Councilmember Scafani’s position as liaison to the Public Safety Commission.
Jean Lynch: Comments on the letter from Commissioner Crews regarding Councilmember Scafani’s position as liaison to the Public Safety Commission.
5. Public Hearing-Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCAOG) Unmet Transit Needs Mayor Jones presents the item and reads the staff report.
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, November 26, 2024, 2024 6:30 p.m. ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 2 | P a g e
Michelle Nielsen, HCAOG representative presents the item; public comments can be made during the public hearing or by completing a survey or submitting written comments. Comments will be received through the end of the year. The information gathered through this process will be used to determine needs and to evaluate financial feasibility and sustainability of new and existing services.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions if the results of the survey that was completed by Sandy Benett were provided to HCAOG?
Mayor Jones opens the public hearing.
Sandy Benett: States that she conducted the survey by going door-to-door and standing in front of Murphy’s Market to reach people.
City Manager Mager: Acknowledges the work that Sandy Benett and the staff at the Resource Center did to gather data; this information was presented to Humboldt Transit Authority and is being used to advocate for additional services in the community, including micro-transit services.
Julie Christie: Comments on HCAOG presentations and her attendance at HCAOG meetings.
Public Hearing Closed.
6. Presentation and Adoption of City of Blue Lake Fiscal Year 2023 Audit Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the staff report.
City Manager Mager introduces Brett Jones, the City’s Auditor.
Brett Jones presents the City’s audit; they are issuing an unmodified opinion; the communication letter includes one reportable finding regarding the timeliness of the filing of the report. The audit went very well; they are working with staff to start the next fiscal year audit.
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Comments on the audit; questions if the City’s Finance Manager advertisement has anything to do with Jackson and Eklund.
Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Questions how long it takes to complete an audit.
Brett Jones: States it usually takes up to two months.
Motion: To accept the audit as presented.
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani
Seconded by: Councilmember Edgar
Motion Summary: Consensus
7. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) Battery Energy Storage Presentation:
Mayor Jones reads the staff report
City Manager Mager introduces Richard Engel, representative of RCEA, who will be presenting on RCEA’s work with the City of Blue Lake to evaluate a battery storage project on the former Blue Lake Power site and how battery storage projects fit within RCEA’s energy storage portfolio.
Richard Engel: Provides an overview on energy storage projects and the goals of RCEA to reach a 100% renewable energy portfolio. RCEA strives for a diversified mix of renewable energy and is working with local developers on solar and storage projects including a project at Sun Valley Floral Farms. RCEA has been working with the owners of the biomass plants to transition these plants to renewable energy projects that include battery energy storage projects. The interconnection capacity of the existing plants has a lot of 3 | P a g e
value and they’re looking for ways to utilize the interconnection.
Mayor Jones: Asks about the Sun Valley Floral project.
Richard Engle: The project should be completed early in 2025; it’s 7MW of solar and 2.5MW of battery storage. The project is being built on 30 acres; solar projects usually take 4-5 acres per megawatt of power.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions the transmission system and how long it took for them to go through the CAISO process.
Richard Engle: Clarifies that PG&E is upgrading the lines and it didn’t have to go through CAISO for approval due to the size.
Richard Engle: Battery storage is saving the State from rolling blackouts and is allowing more renewable energy to be put back into the grid.
Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Questions the noise issues associated with the battery projects; does RCEA know of any issues related to noise?
Richard Engle: States that he hasn’t visited a lithium iron phosphate project but is aware of lithium ion projects and they’re very quiet. The biggest battery storage projects are at the Rancheria and the airport; these are quiet and noise isn’t an issue.
City Manager Mager: Asks Richard Engle if a site tour could be arranged for the Council and the community to visit the airport microgrid and battery storage project.
Richard Engle: Site tours are conducted and can be arranged.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions if there’s a point where there’s too much solar.
Richard Engle: Expects an increase in need for electricity as industries like AI, bitcoin, and more electric vehicles, etc…are developed.
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Appreciates that Elise is on RCEA; she has been promoting energy and is disappointed that the City isn’t promoting biomass
8. City of Blue Lake Housing Element Presentation:
Mayor Jones introduces the item and reads the staff report.
City Planner Garry Rees presents the draft Housing Element and the CEQA document.
The City has received State funding to complete the housing element update, along with the CEQA analysis.
The draft element and the CEQA document were submitted and reviewed by the Planning Commission; the Planning Commission approved the documents and has sent the documents to the City Council with a recommendation of adoption.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions why prior housing elements were not certified? Planner Rees: States that the Council was unwilling to adopt a certified element due to the “by-right” zoning requirements. The Council wanted to require a conditional use permit for all multi-family projects and there were also cost concerns with implementation.
Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Comments on the consequences of not adopting a certified element, including inability to receive grant funding.
Planner Rees: There are a variety of ways that HCD can enforce compliance.
Councilmember Scafani: Compliance is through zoning, not through development.
Planner Rees: The housing element is not proposing changing current zoning of existing parcels. The housing element is proposing the development of a combining zone that could be applied to specific parcels to accommodate the “by-right” zoning application. This is a focused tool to accommodate affordable housing development.
City Manager Mager: Asks Planner Rees to distinguish between “by-right” and the City’s current regulations.
4 | P a g e
Planner Rees: Explains that a developer would apply for a building permit, which will be referred to staff for review to determine compliance with zoning regulations and local, State and Federal regulations; you don’t have to go before the Planning Commission and be subjected to subjective review.
Public Comment:
Kat Napier: Questions what the developable status labels mean on vacant lots and how many units can be developed on a residential lot currently.
Planner Rees: Explains how vacant sites are labeled; this is done by assessing development and environmental constraints. Single family lots can be developed with a main residence, along with ADU’s and JADU’s.
Councilmember Scafani: Does a Section 8 unit meet the RHNA? Planner Rees: Project-based vouchers can be counted.
Jean Lynch: Questions single-room occupancy; does it qualify for the RHNA. Is the emergency shelter being planned for still; why is the horse arena and park not public facilities.
Planner Rees: Single room occupancy can be counted; it’s a form of affordable housing. The Opportunity Zone was designated as the zone to accommodate an emergency shelter. The horse arena and the park are designated as Open Space/Recreation.
Julie Christie: Comments that the O Zone was created to accommodate work housing for the industrial park; should address infrastructure constraints before thinking about development.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions density bonus.
Planner Rees: The element does not implement anything more than what the State is requiring; a developer can apply for density bonuses currently based on State law.
Councilmember Scafani: States that she doesn’t think that this item should be brought to the Council on December 10th; new Councilmembers will need more time to settle in before they are asked to adopt a monumental document.
Planner Rees: It’s not uncommon to have multiple public hearings; you could have a public hearing on December 10th and adopt at the meeting in January.
Councilmember Edgar: Recommends leaving it on the December 10th agenda and the next Council can decide what they want to do. It gives more time for public comment.
City Manager Mager: This is the second recording of this presentation and it’s accessible to the public.
Councilmember Scafani: Would like the presentation linked on the City website.
Planner Rees: The City’s website has a lot of information related to the housing element, including the draft documents.
9. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance Number 2024-544-Adding Metal Roofing to the development standards.
Mayor Jones introduces the item
No Public Comment
Motion: To conduct the second reading by title only and adopt Ordinance Number 2024-544 Motion by: Councilmember Edgar
Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Edgar, Councilmember Scafani, Councilmember Firor
Motion Summary: Passed
5 | P a g e
10. Consent Agenda: Council pulls the meeting minutes and the warrants and disbursements September 24, 2024 meeting minutes:
• Correct Michelle Lewis-Lusso’s name in the minutes
• Remove “totally off topic” from Julie Christie’s comments Public Comment:
Kat Napier: Asks to remove “RAO owner” from page 2, item 3.
Julie Christie: Comments on public comments and not including details of comments Motion: To approve the September 24, 2024 meeting minutes with corrections Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Seconded by: Councilmember Edgar
Motion Summary: Consensus
*Note: Councilmember Edgar recuses himself and leaves the building.
Salary Scale Adjustment:
Councilmember Scafani: Questions if the cost increase for the rounds is to accommodate the additional time to complete the rounds.
City Manager Mager: Affirms that this is so.
Motion: To accept the 2024-2025 Salary Schedule Adjustment No. 1 Motion by: Councilmember Scafani
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Motion Summary: Ayes: Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Scafani, Councilmember Firor
Warrants & Disbursements:
Councilmember Scafani: Questions payment to Alves roofing.
City Manager Mager: Explains that the payment was for the roof on Prasch Hall.
Mayor Jones: Questions the payment to RAO and how much is left to pay.
City Manager Mager: The payment to RAO is for the truck route project.
No public comment
Motion: To accept the October warrants and disbursements Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Shull
Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
Motion Summary: Ayes: Mayor Jones, Mayor Pro-Tem Shull, Councilmember Scafani, Councilmember Firor
* Note: Councilmember Edgar re-enters the room and joins the Council 6 | P a g e
11. Council Correspondence
Mayor Jones reviews correspondence
11. Reports of Council and Staff:
• Councilmember Edgar: Reports on the storm, tree damage and sandbag usage. • Councilmember Scafani: Attended the public safety commission meeting and the Redwood Coast Energy Authority meeting.
• Mayor Jones: Attended the Humboldt Waste Management Authority and the HCAOG meeting • Mayor Pro-Tem Shull: Reported that RREDC did not have a quorum; reported on the Harvest Hub. • Councilmember Firor: Nothing to report
12. Future Agenda Items:
• Closed Session regarding 200 Taylor Way
• Housing Element
13. Motion to Adjourn-9:32pm
Motion by: Councilmember Scafani
Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
Motion Summary: Consensus