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1.Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
Quorum Established: Mayor Sawatzky, Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani, Councilmember Firor, Councilmember Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Napier
Staff Present: City Manager Mager, City Attorney Gans
Public Present: Karina Green, Erin McClure, Julie Christie, Beckie Thornton, Angela Dare, Lisa Hoover, Kent Sawatzky, Rebecca Collins, Alex Ricca, Bobbi, Ricca, Adelene Jones, David Glen, Mardi Granger, Ted Hales
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of the Agenda
Public Comment:
Adelene Jones: Comments on the closed session
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the closed session
Julie Christie: Comments on Zoom volume
Public Comment Closed.
Council Discussion:
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Asks if the Attorney can come back later if the closed session is moved on the agenda.
Councilmember Napier: Recommends having a special meeting.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Recommends setting a time certain of 8:30pm for the closed session.
Motion: To move the closed session to 8:30pm
Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
Public Comment: None
Motion Summary: Consensus
Councilmember Napier: Comments on commission appointments; recommends moving appointments to the next Council meeting.
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, January 28, 2025 6:30 p.m. ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 2 | P a g e
City Manager Mager: States that the City is in compliance with the Maddy Act and all postings have been complied with.
Motion: to approve the agenda with changes
Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: (Passed) Ayes: Lewis-Lusso, Firor, Sawatzky Nays: Scafani, Napier
4. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda:
Karina Green: Comments on the Prasch Hall roofing project Adelene Jones: Comments on City Manager’s accomplishments Lori Ponte: Requests that Karina’s issues be agendized
Terry Bayless: Requests a town hall on the proposed BESS project Rebecca Collins: Questions the registration of PowerTransitions as a new LLC Kent Sawatzky: Comments on Karina’s issues and DANCO contract Julie Christie: Comments on Zoom
Public Comment Closed.
5. Commissioner Appointments
City Manager Mager presents the item; provides information on Maddy Act and postings.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Questions the 30-day noticing period for Public Safety Commission City Manager Mager: Comments that the noticing has been done; the Public Safety Commission vacancies were noticed in December.
Councilmember Firor: Motions to appoint the commissioners that have applied (Motion dies for lack of a second.)
Councilmember Napier: Reads from the municipal code the language regarding commission vacancies and appointment process
Public Comment:
Alex Ricca: Comments on Public Safety Commissioner resignations and the importance of the commissions work.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on proper noticing
Jean Lynch: Comments on process and changing ordinances Beckie Thornton: States that the Public Safety Commission is not a necessity.
Julie Christie: Council should be questioning why commissioners are leaving.
Public Comment Closed.
Mayor Sawatzky: Asks the commissioners to introduce themselves.
Gloria Baker: Introduces herself and explains that she has applied for the Parks and Recreation Commission; explains her involvement in Blue Lake activities and events.
Councilmember Scafani: Asks Gloria about her participation with the Parks and Recreation Commission and if her schedule can accommodate her appointment.
Motion: To appoint Gloria Baker to the Parks and Recreation Commission Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Motion Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
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Motion Summary: (Passes)Ayes: Sawatzky, Firor, Scafani, Lewis-Lusso; Nays: 0; Abstain: Napier Motion: To appoint Justin Goad, Rebecca Collins, Ted Hales and Donald Schang to the Public Safety Commission.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that the Council cannot appoint four seats as only three vacancies have been noticed.
No Second; motion dies.
Mayor Sawatzky asks each applicant to introduce themselves.
Rebecca Collins: Introduces herself and her qualifications and interest in safety issues.
Justin Goad: Introduces himself; explains his background working with the City on safety issues.
Ted Hales: Introduces himself; explains his background as military police; lives on West End Road.
Motion by Councilmember Firor: to appoint Justin Goad, Ted Hales, and Rebecca Collins to the Public Safety Commission
Motion dies for lack of a second.
Motion by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: To continue the appointments to the February meeting Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Motion Summary: Consensus
6. Resolution Number 2025-1235-Housing Element Amendment and Public Hearing Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item.
City Manager Mager introduces City Planner Garry Rees who will present the item.
Planner Rees: Provides an overview of the housing element status and the process to attain compliance with State mandates.
Councilmember Napier: Questions if any planning commissioners are in attendance.
Public Comment.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the adoption process being rushed.
Lisa Hoover: Comments on the CEQA determination; asks the Council not to approve.
Beckie Thornton: States that it doesn’t need to be adopted right now Lori Ponte: Comments on attending the planning commission meeting.
Lori Ponte: Attended the Planning Commission meeting; asks the Council to talk to the Planning Commission Terry Bayless: Comments on the meeting minutes not being approved.
Julie Christie: Comments on sustainability
Jean Lynch: Comments on single room occupancy.
Public Comment Closed.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that she gained knowledge and clarity at the town hall but wants more time before considering adoption.
Motion: To adopt Resolution Number 2025-1235
Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: (Does Not Pass) Ayes: Firor, Lewis-Lusso, Nays: Sawatzky, Napier, Scafani Mayor Sawatzky: States that he needs more time to think about the issue.
Councilmember Napier: States that the Circulation Element and cumulative effects need to be examined.
Mayor Sawatzky: Asks about setting a future date to address the issue. 4 | P a g e
Manager Mager: Comments that staff has heard the same questions over and over and has answered these questions; not sure if the Council has heard these answers. Questions if Council needs a specific amount of time to reach a level of comfort or if this is just a hard no and more time will not result in an action.
Planner Rees: Asks the Council if there are specific areas or questions that could be addressed.
Mayor Sawatzky: States that he doesn’t have specific questions, would just like more time to digest the information; it’s a big issue and asks if a joint session with the Planning Commission would be appropriate.
Councilmember Firor: Would recommend bringing it back in 30 days to keep it moving forward.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Feels overwhelmed and supports a working session with the Planning Commission; needs 60-90 days.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Will commit to doing the homework and being ready to make a decision.
Motion: To bring the item back in 60 days
Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: Consensus
7. City Clerk Discussion
Councilmember Napier:
City Manager Mager: Explains that she is seeking Council’s authorization to recruit for a contract City Clerk position; traditionally the clerk duties were part of the front office staff duties, but this has not been a sustainable solution.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Questions what is being proposed; is it task based? City Manager Mager: Recommends that it is tasked based; the City has contracted for these services in the past. Would like the ability to go out to recruit and see if there is any interest in the position.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Asks what the difference is between hiring a part-time City Clerk and contracting for a clerk.
City Manager Mager: The City has tried to recruit for a part time clerk in the past; the clerk duties are always the duties that no one wants to do.
Councilmember Napier: Questions who the clerk would report to.
City Manager Mager: The clerk would be under the authority of the City Council to the extent that the code allows.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Agrees that there is an immediate need and there should be an agreed upon timeframe.
City Manager Mager: Explains that this is not a full-time or part-time position; it would work best for someone that wants extra work.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Recommends contracting for clerk duties; form an ad-hoc to address this.
Angela Dare: Explain to applicants what the job duties are.
Terry Bayless: Comments on the duties of the City Clerk Julie Christie: Comments on Council input on the process of hiring a City Clerk; Mandy should put out an application.
Motion: To authorize the City Manager to recruit for a City Clerk on a contract basis.
Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Motion dies for lack of a second.
Motion: To provide immediate relief through a temp agency and allow the City Manager to recruit Motion by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso (Motion dies for lack of a second) Councilmember Napier: Can we find a way to provide relief and also allow the Council to work through concerns regarding the clerk duties.
City Manager Mager: Offers to work with an ad-hoc to finalize the job description and develop a path to 5 | P a g e
recruitment
Motion: to form an ad-hoc committee to develop a job posting and to review applicants for City Clerk; the posting will be for a part time or contract position.
Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Seconded by: Lewis Lusso
Motion Summary: (Passes) Ayes: Sawatzky, Napier, Scafani, Lewis-Lusso; Nays: 0; Abstain: Firor Mayor Sawatzky: Appoints Councilmember Napier and Lewis-Lusso to the ad-hoc committee.
Councilmember Scafani: Questions how to address the items that remain on the agenda; to either continue the meeting or have a special meeting.
Attorney Plotz: Clarifies that Council can continue the agenda and provides direction on posting.
Public Comment:
Beckie Thornton: Comments on City Manager’s performance, including lack of communication with businesses and using funds for unnecessary improvements to Prasch Hall Julie Christie: Concurs with Beckie Thornton’s comments Angela Dare: Comments that City Hall was weaponized against her Kent Sawatzky: Comments on City Manager’s performance; feels that he’s been singled out.
Public Comment Closed.
8. Closed Session
Motion: To enter into closed session
Motion by: Sawatzky
Seconded by: Firor
Motion Summary: Consensus
Council reconvened to open session at 11:00 PM; no members of the public were present.
It was reported that no reportable actions were taken during closed session. The Council, by unanimous consent, adjourned the regular meeting to Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 6:30PM, when it will be reconvened to take up those items remaining on the agenda.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00PM