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1. Called to Order: 6:35 p.m.
2. Quorum Established: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro-Tem Elise Scafani, Councilmember Michelle Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Katherine Napier, Councilmember Christopher Firor Staff Present: City Manager Mager, Ryan Plotz-City Attorney Public Present: Kent Sawatzky, Kurt Heberly, Justin Goad, DD Orlandi, Linda Cooley, Julie Christie, Lin Glen, Scott Frazer, Terry Bayless, Sandra Mattingly, Andrew Orahoske, Verda Pitts, Elissa Rosado, Jacki Ginn, Adelene Jones
3. Approval of the Agenda:
Attorney Plotz: requests that Council pull Item Number 8 (Consider amendment to the City Manager’s Contract); this request was made to the City Attorney by Councilmember Napier, and Closed Session Item B (Conference with Real Property Negotiators-McClure Trust) Motion: To approve the agenda, removing item 8 and closed session item b Motion by: Councilmember Napier
Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
No Public Comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
4. Adopt Previous Meeting Minutes-January 28, 2025
Public Comment:
Adelene Jones: Requests that the meeting minutes include the first and last name of the Councilmembers.
Public Comment Closed
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes with the changes identified by Council.
Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
Motion Summary: Consensus
5. Reports of Council and Staff
City Manager provides an overview of projects; asks the Council if they have any questions.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Asks the City Manager about the status of the food facility permits.
City Manager Mager: Explains that the City is working with environmental health; the Dog House was
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, February 25, 2025-City Council Regular Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 2 | P a g e
permitted as a full prep kitchen up to 2023; the operator was inspected in 2024 and called for additional inspections to comply with findings. The City was unaware that the permit had expired as the facility was being inspected by environmental health. Environmental health came out and reinspected the facility to issue the new operating permit; they are requiring upgrades to the facility that were not required under the original permit. The City is working to get the Prasch Hall facility permitted; the City did not have the funding to fully develop the facility but is working with environmental health to permit it for operation.
Councilmember Napier: Requests a copy of the original permit for the Clemence Snack Bar facility.
Public Comment
Kent Sawatzky: States that he contacted environmental health about the operations at the Dog House.
Julie Christie: Comments on grants to install water meters.
City Manager Mager: Explains that the City was contacted about a funding opportunity to cover the cost of electronic water meters; the City wrote for the funding but was notified that they did not meet the grant threshold due to a miscalculation by the funding agency.
Public Comment Closed
Public Works Report: Chris Edgar, Operating Supervisor, presents the report; highlights flood response and winter weather response.
Public Comment
Lin Glen: Thanks Public Works for their work clearing the creek to prevent flooding.
Kurt Heberly: Comments on Public Works work on Acacia to reduce flooding.
Julie Christie: Thanks Chris Edgar for the report.
Linda Cooley: Thanks Public Works
Chris Edgar: Invites the Council to tour the plant.
Public Comment Closed
Councilmember Napier: Thanks Public Works; questions the flooding on Broderick and the issues at Karina’s property.
Council Reports:
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Reports on Humboldt Waste Management Authority; appreciates their work and would like to see them make a presentation to Council.
Councilmember Napier: Reports on Humboldt County Association of Governments and State and Federal funding levels. Attended the RREDC meeting; there was a presentation by the local union regarding labor agreements and their importance.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Will report on RCEA at the next meeting.
Public Comment
Julie Christie: Comments on Councilmember Napier’s representation on HCAOG.
Anthony: Comments on the meeting capacity.
Kurt Heberly: Comments on the meeting capacity.
Lori Ponte: Comments on community potluck
Attorney Plotz: Clarifies that the Council is not obligated to change or cancel their meeting due to capacity; the City has made Zoom available to accommodate access.
Scott Frazer: Asks Council to not take action on items due to capacity issue.
Andrew Orahoske: Comments on capacity.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on capacity.
Terry Bayless: Comments on solid state batteries.
Julie Christie: Comments on capacity.
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Elissa Rosado: States that the people outside can hear the meeting and they are fine with the meeting moving forward.
Public Comment Closed.
6. Consent Agenda
Motion: To accept the consent agenda as presented (Warrants and Disbursements) Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: Consensus
7. Commissioner Appointments
Mayor Sawatzky opens the item; the City has vacancies on the Public Safety Commission, the Economic Development Commission and the Arts and Heritage Commission. The City has received applications for the Public Safety Commission, and the Economic Development Commission. Mayor Sawatzky asks the applicants to introduce themselves.
Adelene Jones: Introduces herself to the Council; she served on Council for years and helped negotiate the current Sheriff contract; she has experience working on public safety issues.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Asks Adelene Jones what she brings to the commission? Adelene Jones: States she was the Mayor of Blue Lake for 12 years and spent more than 20 years on the City Council; she has experience with the Sheriff and was on the Council when Blue Lake had a police department.
Public Comment:
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on road safety issues.
Julie Christie: Comments on the applicant.
Public Comment Closed
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Recuses herself from the discussion; her partner has applied for the Public Safety Commission; she exits the room.
Motion: To appoint Adelene Jones to the Public Safety Commission.
Motion by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
Motion Summary: Ayes-Sawatzky, Lewis-Lusso, Firor, Napier (Passes) Mayor Sawatzky introduces Public Safety Commission applicant Justin Goad; asks him to introduce himself.
Justin Goad: Introduces himself; has worked with the public safety commission in the past to install surveillance cameras, has an interest in public safety.
Councilmember Napier: Verifies that Justin Goad lives in Blue Lake; questions if there is a conflict of interest as Justin Goad contracts with the City to record public meetings.
Mayor Sawatzky: Agrees with Councilmember Napier that a conflict could be perceived.
Councilmember Firor: States that he doesn’t see a conflict Motion: To appoint Justin Goad to the Public Safety Commission Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: Ayes: Firor, Lewis-Lusso, Nays: Sawatzky, Napier (Motion Denied) Councilmember Napier: Moves to nominate Rebecca Collins to the Public Safety Commission.
Rebecca Collins: States that she is withdrawing her application. 4 | P a g e
Motion: To appoint Ted Hales to the Public Safety Commission Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: Sawatzky, Firor, Napier, Lewis-Lusso (Passes) Motion: To appoint Donald Schang to the Public Safety Commission Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: Ayes: Lewis-Lusso, Firor; Nays: Sawatzky, Napier, Scafani (Motion Denied) Motion: To appoint James Brown to the Parks and Recreation Commission Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that James Brown is an active member of the Parks and Recreation Commission
Motion Summary: Consensus
Mayor Sawatzky: Introduces the applicants for the Economic Development Commission; current commissioners Darcey Lima and Roxanne Rothery have applied for reappointment.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that she doesn’t believe that the commission openings have been properly posted.
Mayor Sawatzky: States that he believes the positions have been noticed correctly.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Asks Roxanne Rothery to introduce herself.
Roxanne Rothery: States her experience in lending and finance; she has been on the Economic Development Commission for multiple terms; enjoys seeing new businesses come to Blue Lake.
Council asks if Darcey Lima is present.
Motion: To table the appointments to the Economic Development Commission Motion by: Councilmember Napier
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Motion Summary: Ayes: Sawatzky, Lewis-Lusso, Napier, Scafani; Nays: Firor (Motion passes)
8. Battery Storage Project Option Agreement Schedule Discussion Attorney Plotz introduces the item; presents the staff’s request for direction on working on an option agreement for the sale of two acres of land in the Powers Creek District for the development of a battery energy storage system, with an expedited timeframe for Council consideration. The expedited timeframe is being requested by PowerTransitions in order to meet a requirement of PG&E to participate in a market study necessary to develop final engineering and development costs. PG&E has an open date twice a year to consider new interconnections; this information is a necessary part of the application to Redwood Coast Energy Authority.
Councilmember Napier: Comments on the new proposal to only purchase two acres of land and limit the project to 20MW; asks Attorney Plotz about off-ramps for the City and what Council is committing to.
Attorney Plotz: Reviews options for the City to exit the agreement.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Comments on the options to get out of the agreement and doesn’t feel that the City has enough protection; she’s not comfortable moving forward.
Attorney Plotz: Clarifies that the demolition agreement is a major condition.
Councilmember Napier: Asks for clarification on what the demolition agreement includes.
Attorney Plotz: States that the demolition agreement will require the contractor to have insurance, performance bonds, payment bonds and permits.
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Public Comment:
Juniper Summers: Comments on the power grid for Blue Lake and the County; it’s important but interested in other options.
Roy Gomez: Comments on fire potential.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the cost to draw up an agreement; schedule another meeting around March 9 th; need the appraisal; the plant is a major problem and liability for the City.
Geoffrey Robinson: States that the site needs to be cleaned up; global warming is real and battery storage is the best way to store renewable energy; Adelene Jones spoke about this project over a year ago; CEQA can be used to give Council the option to say no; this is worth pursuing.
Kurt Heberly: Comments on the costs of remediation.
Terry Bayless: Comments on inconsistencies that started at the town hall meeting.
Lori Ponte: States that the project isn’t green energy.
Jamie Bolton: Comments on concerns regarding impacts to the river.
Rebecca Collins: Comments on the number of people signing her petition.
Sandra Mattingly: States that she is against the project.
Dana Silvernale: States that she doesn’t support the project.
Lin Glen: Doesn’t trust PowerTransitions.
Carlotta Clark: Adamantly opposed to the project.
Brian Corse: Encourages Council to consider the value of the interconnection.
Jennifer Corse: States that there is a false sense of urgency.
Alex Ricca: States that he was against the project at first, but has learned more and is now conflicted.
Andrew: Comments on the Moss Landing fire.
Public Comment Closed.
Councilmember Napier: Asks about the appraisal and impacts to the process.
Attorney Plotz: Explains the status of the appraisal.
Mayor Sawatzky: Questions if soil contamination is a concern.
Attorney Plotz: States that the CEQA process will be conducted; special studies will take place to determine environmental concerns.
Councilmember Firor: States that he’s comfortable with the project and supports moving forward with the March timeline.
Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Comments on the town hall and MOU with RCEA; doesn’t accept the accelerated timeline.
Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: States her appreciation for the community engagement; concerned about fear-mongering attempts to misrepresent the project that has been put out into the community; she has received mixed opinions on the project; supports more dialogue and evidence-based information.
Councilmember Napier: Comments on community trust building and her comfort with the technology; would like labor agreement terms built into the option agreement.
Mayor Sawatzky: States that he supports the project; supports the negotiations that have taken place to get to a smaller project; but is not going to push a project on the community that they don’t want.
Motion: To not pursue the expedited timeline for development of the option agreement Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
Motion Summary: Ayes: Napier, Sawatzky, Scafani; Nays: Lewis-Lusso, Firor (Motion Passes)
9. Future Agenda Items
• Invite Humboldt Waste Management Authority to make a presentation to Council 6 | P a g e
• City Clerk Discussion
• Formation of an ad-hoc committee to work on power plant projects • Broderick flooding issues
• Access to Council videos
Public Comment
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on liability associated with the power plant property.
Julie Christie: Comments on technology options.
Public Comment Closed.
Public Comment on Closed Session Items.
Julie Christie: Comments on the City Manager contract.
Elaine Hogan: Comments on the review of the City Manager and various accomplishments.
Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the City Manager contract.
Motion: To enter into closed session at 10:40pm
Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
Motion Summary: Consensus
Motion to enter into open session at 12:32am
Motion by: Councilmember Napier
Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
Motion Summary: Consensus
Motion: To extend the date of the Disposition and Development Agreement with DANCO Communities by five months, starting December 2024.
Motion by: Councilmember Napier
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
No Public Comment
Motion Summary: Consensus
Motion to Adjourn at 12:32a.m.
Motion by: Councilmember Firor
Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: Consensus