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1.Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
Quorum Established: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro-Tem Elise Scafani, Councilmember Chris Firor, Councilmember Michelle Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Katherine Napier Staff Present: City Manager Mager
Public Present: Angela Dare, Mardi Granger, Marla, Erin McClure, Justin Goad, John Murray, Beckie Thornton, Julie Christie, Jean Lynch, Elissa Rosado
Item No. 10: Illegal Fireworks:
The City Manager presents the item including areas of concern and potential opportunities to address the situation, including advocating for increased legislation relating to illegal fireworks crossing State lines and community patrols. The Public Safety Commission is discussing this item and may bring back additional recommendations to the Council in the future.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Offers the idea of putting out a reward for people to turn in illegal activities.
Councilmember Scafani: Would like to start a citizen patrol that would be trained to patrol and find the people; the Public Safety Commission could look into this option.
Councilmember Napier: Recommends sending out a mailer to the public; conduct more community outreach.
Public Comment
Mardi Granger: Supports more publicity.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on neighborhood watch.
Julie Christie: Comments on law enforcement.
Elissa Rosado: States that the City Engineer has not set off any fireworks; she knows because she is a direct neighbor.
Jean Lynch: Comments on neighborhood watch.
Public Comment Closed.
Mayor Sawatzky: Recommends posting on the water bill and using the community social media pages; likes the ideas of increased fines and community service.
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 30, 2025 6:30 p.m. ~ Continuation of January 28, 2025 Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 2 | P a g e
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Supports a citizen patrol that can go door-to-door with a door hanger regarding fireworks impacts; use the City’s official Facebook page for posting information.
City Manager Mager: The Council liaison to the Public Safety Commission can take this item to the commission; cautions the Council regarding the formation of a citizen patrol that would be acting in an enforcement capacity.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Asks if the Fire Department could participate in providing information to the community.
Item No. 11-Law Enforcement Update
City Manager Mager presents the item; provides an update to the Council regarding conversations with Ferndale and Trinidad and presents on capacity issues and limitations regarding response distances.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Speaks on her research regarding security patrols and their limitations; she has been in contact with the Sheriff; the indemnity language in the current sheriff contract is a problem; the sheriff has told her that there will be an increase to the contract of 10%.
Mayor Sawatzky: Asks staff to provide the cost breakdown for the current sheriff contract.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Asks the City Manager to provide a presentation or more information on the security patrol;
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Comments on the Rancheria’s law enforcement department; their deputies are under the authority of the sheriff.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: wants to form an ad-hoc to work on law enforcement issues.
Councilmember Napier: Supports the formation of an ad-hoc as long as it brings value.
Councilmember Firor: Questions who the ad-hoc is working through.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: They would work with the City Manager and be part of all of the discussions.
Mayor Sawatzky: Would like to wait on the ad-hoc until he can talk to the City Attorney about the formation of an ad-hoc.
Item No. 12-Powers Creek Flooding Update
City Manager Mager introduces the item and reports on flooding issues on Powers Creek. Presents on work that is being done to minimize flooding, and the responsibilities of land owners to maintain their property to minimize flooding. The City is working with the Baduwa’t Watershed Council on a large scale restoration project that will improve habitat as well as reducing flood impacts.
Councilmember Napier: Comments on flooding and the porta-potty at the horse arena.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Comments on concerns related to the porta-potty during flood events.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on creek concerns and gravel removal.
Erin McClure: Comments on the porta-potty at the horse arena.
Angela Dare: Comments on the porta-potty at the horse arena.
Julie Christie: Comments on the creek restoration project and receiving a project update.
Public Comment Closed.
Councilmember Firor: States that he is getting involved with the Baduwa’t Watershed Council.
Item No. 13-Council Correspondence
City Manager Mager provides the Council with an email from Lori Ponte. 3 | P a g e
Item No. 14-Consent Agenda
Mayor Sawatzky presents the consent agenda; Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani pulls all items from the consent agenda.
Item No. 14a: September 24, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: update the minutes to reflect Michelle Lewis-Lusso’s name.
Motion: To approve the minutes with changes
Motion by: Lewis-Lusso
Seconded by: Napier
No public comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
Item No. 14b: October 8, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes as presented
Motion by: Napier
Seconded by: Firor
No public comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
Item No. 14c: November 12, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes as presented
Motion by: Firor
Seconded by: Napier
No public comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
Item No. 14d: November 24, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes as presented
Motion by: Lewis-Lusso
Seconded by: Napier
No public comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
Item No. 14e: December 10, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes adding clarification of “solicitation would be a 90-day solicitation” to page 4.
Motion by: Lewis-Lusso
Seconded by: Firor
No public comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
Item No. 14f: January 14, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes as presented
Motion by: Firor
Seconded by: Lewis-Lusso
No public comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
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Item No. 14g: Warrants and Disbursements
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani requests more details on SHN disbursements.
Motion: To approve the Warrants and Disbursements
Motion by: Scafani
Seconded by: Firor
Public Comment:
Julie Christie: Comments on the organizational chart for the City.
Mayor Sawatzky: Recommends that the Council talk to the City Manager about questions related to agenda items before the meeting to get clarification; if you don’t receive the information that you need then bring the questions to Council.
Item No. 15-Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Salary Schedule Amendment Number 2 City Manager Mager presents the item; the City is requesting the amendment to maintain compliance with State wage rates and to consolidate positions and update wage rates based upon comparable rates in the region.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Asks to have the City Clerk position added to the schedule.
Councilmember Napier: Asks that contract positions be added to the schedule.
Motion: To approve Amendment Number 2 to the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Salary Schedule Motion by: Napier
Seconded by: Firor
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the hourly rates for the City Attorney and engineers.
Motion Summary: Consensus
Item No. 16-Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Amendment
City Manager Mager presents the item; the amendment adds revenue to the general fund from eligible street expenses incurred in 2023-2024 with revenue that was received after the end of the fiscal year.
Motion: To approve Amendment Number 2-Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Motion by: Scafani
Seconded by: Firor
No public comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
Item No. 17-City Hall Signage Package
City Manager Mager presents the item; staff is asking for authorization to purchase new signage for City Hall utilizing the branding program developed for the City.
Mayor Sawatzky: Comments on the signage; wants to see other options or receive more community input.
City Manager Mager: States that the staff and the commissions did a lot of work to create a branding platform for the City; if the Council wants to change that platform she recommends forming an ad-hoc for the Council to work on it. States that staff is frustrated with the process and would rather not participate in this process anymore. City staff does not have the expertise to develop additional options and this is why a professional firm was hired to do the work.
Public Comment:
Angela Dare: Comments that she does not like the logo; looks like a totem pole.
Lori Ponte: Recommends that all signage be coordinated.
Justin Goad: Comments that the commissions worked very hard on the branding and the Council is telling the commissions that Council does not care about the work that they did; this is disrespectful. People need to 5 | P a g e
participate at the commission level.
Motion: To not approve the sign package
Motion by: Scafani
Seconded by: Napier
Motion Summary: Passes-3-2:(Ayes) Sawatzky, Napier, Scafani; (Nays) Lewis-Lusso, Firor Item No. 18-Reports of Council and Staff
Financial Report: Council accepts the financial report
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Recommends doing a mid-year budget review; states that the budget is complicated to understand.
Councilmember Napier: Recommends adding it as a future agenda item.
Council Reports:
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Nothing to report
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Nothing to report
Councilmember Firor-Nothing to report
Councilmember Napier: Reports on RREDC meeting; presents on healthcare challenges in our region.
Item No. 19-Future Agenda Items
• Council Manual Update
• Optimization of council time and effective meeting strategies. • Council interactions with commissions
• Broderick flooding issues
• Economic analysis and real estate projections
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the permitting for the Dog House business and other food facilities.
Motion to Adjourn-10:32pm
Motion by: Napier
Seconded by: Scafani
Motion Summary: Consensus