Minutes — Blue Lake City Council, March 11, 2025

CITY OF BLUE LAKE

COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani, Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso, Council Member Kat Napier, Council Member Christopher G. Firor COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT:

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Amanda Mager, City Attorney Ryan Plotz and Videographer Justin Goad https://www.youtube.com/@BLCNews95525
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS: [0:22 Part 1] Public Employee Performance Evaluation - City Manager. Mayor John Sawatzky places a 15-minute time limit on public comment.

Comment by (Jason Cruz): Is in support of the city manager.

Comment by (Julie Perry): Is in support of the city manager and finds Mandy easily accessible and easy to talk with.

Comment by (Lynn): Is in support of Mandy and thinks it's more than just a job for her; she has a real passion for our town and the people in it. She's done a lot for our community and city employees.

Comment by (Maria Mahagan): Is in support of Mandy and would like to see the contract renewed and a pity to lose her. She has great commitment, vision and expertise. She is easily accessible and has done a lot of great things for the community already. She is diligent and hardworking and has a vested interest.

Comment by (Elissa Rosado): Is in support of Mandy and thinks she is nuts to want to do a job in which she gets disparaged. She loves this town she loves the people in this town. She promotes Blue Lake. Everyone stops us saying she is doing a fantastic job. She is the best city manager we've ever had.

Comment by (Linda Cooley): asks that whatever happens moving forward, we can all work together because right now we don't. We never get invited to city events or anything. There is no communication, no responses. We are stronger together. When promoting Blue Lake, everything in Blue Lake should be promoted.

Comment by (Aaron McClure): When I worked for a large corporation, they taught me when you have somebody in a position in your company that causes a lot of drama, no matter what it looks like they're doing as far as positive for the company, you do not keep them because you will never get rid of the drama.

Comment by (Beckie Thornton): Agrees with Linda Cooley and Aaron and asks the council to do what's right for the community.

Comment by (Julie Christie): Thanked everyone for attending. Julie explains the reason she has stayed due diligent by attending the Council meetings is because of performance; she cannot

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Comment by (Darcy Lima): Is in support of Mandy and wanted to add that we have no perfect friends, lovers, neighbors, family members, city managers. Darcy doesn’t always agree with Mandy Meger on everything but thinks she does an outstanding job of doing all she can for the benefit of Blue Lake.

Comment by (Cheris Bowman): Is in support of Mandy and reports on an amazing interview with Mandy at the logger talking about this community and the future we can build here. Cheris thinks she is integral to a thriving Community and that we are blessed to have somebody with so much commitment to the community. This community is foremost in her efforts and thoughts.

Comment by (?): Appreciates the council taking this meeting as she is opposed to Mandy remaining city manager, explaining the harassment received for the first six years of living in Blue Lake from the past mayor and current city manager. She is glad others have had great experiences, but she absolutely has not.

Comment by: (Barbara Russell): We have a new council, of the people, Mandy works for the city council, so I think we have an opportunity to do well if we stay involved. Even though I disagree with a lot of the things Mandy wanted to do, she is talented and doing the best she can.

Comment by: (Justin Goad): Is in support of Mandy. Justins first interaction with Mandy was not a positive one. Mandy was simply enforcing the rules. Since, Justin learned she is doing the best she can with what she has.

Mayor John Sawatzky closed public comment and announced open session will begin at 6:30 and anybody who didn't have an opportunity to speak there'll be another opportunity later. Mayor John Sawatzky apologized to everyone for cutting the comments short; we need to get into close session so that we can open up for normal session in a timely manner.

Motion: [16:41 Part 1] To move into closed session.

Motion by: Council Member Kat Napier
Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION: [0:01 Part 2]
City Attorney Ryan Plotz reported that the Council took no reportable action in the closed session; the council did not complete its discussion and will bring it back to the next closed session.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: [0:39 Part 2]

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Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
Second by: Council Member Christopher G. Firor
Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: [1:17 Part 2]
Comment by (Lori Ponte): Lori is concerned there is misinformation and propaganda and points out areas in need of changes, the website Best Project page showing a solar panel in the picture and for Blue Lake, that isn't solar, page two paragraph one sites a renewable energy comparing it to Tesla batteries; We're not talking about Tesla batteries as far as I understand with the projected project in Blue Lake; so that is misleading and then on page three it talks about property tax revenue and wants to know if the revenue can be spent to clean up the fuel mess out there.

Comment by (Justin Goad): Justin informs the council they skipped public comment on the approval of the agenda and finds the current agenda offensive in the fact that council split up the closed sessions. Justin explains that it is disrespectful of the Public's time and efforts in wanting to be involved in their government.

Comment by (?): finds it disturbing that all of the relevant information around safety in this project especially with it being right on the river is irresponsible and it is making people more suspicious, confused and unable to discuss and come together. She also reported that the Econ News has a wonderful article marked issue on the lithium industry in California.

Comment by (?): agrees with Jusin because he also noticed the word transparency being used a lot to pick at people and divert other people to agree with them and wanted to reiterate his feeling of being disrespected.

Comment by (Terri Bayles): made a comment on the link saying that she went on to Casio’s dashboard that lists all the best projects in Humboldt County. All of the projects, commercial, residential and utility, are only 18 megawatts for the entire county and asked the council to consider that residential doesn’t even compare. Terri clarified that she went to the water and pump station that services Blue Lake which is right on the river, backs up against the hillside and is on a platform 15 feet in the air.

Comment by (Aaron McClure): explains the background behind the name Powers, which is used a lot in Blue Lake is the name of her great-grandfather David Powers, so Aaron would like the council to consider changing the name of Powers Creek to David Powers Creek instead of something we don’t know how to speak.

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Comment by (Maria Mahagan): encourages the council to have another town hall informational meeting about the best project and the housing development on Taylor Way.

Maria expresses that more information is valuable to keeping peace and communicating well with each other instead of spreading rumors.

Comment by (Rebecca Collins): pointed out that the February 12th meeting agenda packet has been removed and she found it very upsetting. Rebecca said she was told the packet of information was moved to a different location on the website, but she doesn’t think it is appropriate for public information to be either removed or put elsewhere.

Comment by (Beckie Thornton): asked the zoom host to unlock the meeting, as 9 people were locked out who are trying to attend. Beckie explains that she was able to stay in but was left in the waiting room when some of the others got logged out and were trying to log back in.

CITY CLERK DUTIES AND POSITION RECRUITMENT: [18:29 Part 2] City Manager Amanda Mager reports that the Council appointed Council Member Michelle LewisLusso and Council Member Kat Napier to an ad hoc committee to which draft job descriptions, draft recruitment budget, and her recommendation for hiring a city clerk. This item is before the council to provide direction to staff.

Mayor John Sawatzky asked for the ad hoc committee’s recommendation.

Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso reports the situation background, assessment and the recommendations for prioritizing were adjusted with communication back and forth between Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso and City Manager Amanda Mager. We prioritized a couple of items in the description of the city clerk duties one of which was the city clerk serves as the liaison between the public and the city council by disseminating information in person through correspondence, the city website and social media outlets. The other recommendation relayed was to move forward immediately whether that be a temporary position or recruitment of a full-time position. Adjustments in the job description duties will be made according to part-time wage vs full-time salary wage.

Council Member Kat Napier further reports the ad hoc’s assessment is that the absence of a dedicated city clerk may impact the city's administrative efficiency and internal oversight. Without a designated clerk, essential functions including public records management, meeting coordination and regulatory compliance may be dispersed among other staff members, potentially affecting service delivery. This vacancy coincides with the transition of other key administrative personnel requiring the city to rely significantly on contracted services for legal, engineering, planning and financial

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, March 11, 2025 6:30 p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall functions. The recommendations for the council are to prioritize the recruitment of a city clerk and review and update the city clerk’s job description. The need for a city clerk goes well beyond transcription and providing provision of records. We recommend that the council work with staff to assess and revise the duties and job description of the city clerk to reflect current needs, to provide any proposed revisions for staff input and collaboration and to expect that the city clerk responsibilities currently managed by various administrative personnel will be consolidated into a fulltime city clerk position. The agenda packet includes the current job description and duties. We also have relevant ordinances and resolutions which state very clearly that the appointed positions of a city clerk, the treasurer and the city attorney fall under the city councils’ jurisdiction, and we are seeking to maintain the Integrity of the position. In 2020 a resolution was adopted that gave all of the powers, authorities, and responsibilities of the city clerk to the city manager. So, now we have a city manager who is also a city clerk; but it becomes an incredible challenge for one individual to do all of those tasks which create an unfair burden, and it also doesn't address a need for separation of power.

A city clerk can provide services to the public in a manner that should be unbiased, accessible and accountable for records; for instance, if individuals have a complaint, the city clerk can take that complaint, log it, register it, disseminate it to the city manager to disperse this to the appropriate people to workshop it and resolve it. The city clerk can then record its status and follow up, developing a tracking system, which will improve accountability and service for our residents. After comparing our reference sources with the current situation, the council needs to review the existing job descriptions and duties, relevant ordinances and resolutions, as well as the written policies and procedures. Furthermore, an adjustment of compensation should be considered as needed. We recommend initiating an external recruitment process that targets qualified candidates through external resources and job platforms such as Indeed, local staffing agencies, and recruitment firms as required. It is essential for the council to establish a clear selection process by outlining expectations for reviewing, processing, and presenting applications to ensure a structured and transparent hiring procedure. Additionally, determination of whether the position will be salaried or hourly, including the number of hours, must be addressed. Lastly, in light of resolution 1153, which consolidated the city clerk position with the city manager role, we strongly encourage the council to consider rescinding or otherwise revoking resolution 1153 to separate these two positions. Thank you, this concludes the findings of the ad hoc committee.

Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani, ask City Attorney Ryan Plotz to explain the process for rescinding resolution 1153? Do we need to create another resolution to accomplish this? City Attorney Ryan Plotz stated that to rescind a resolution, a new resolution must be adopted by reference. This cannot be done tonight but can be considered at a future meeting alongside the appointment of the new city clerk to ensure no gap in duties.

City Manager Amanda Mager suggest an investigation is needed as she remembers the previous

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Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani recalls the previous council appointing the city clerk but did not recall separately rescinding Resolution 1153. Unless the action of appointing somehow invalidated it, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani believes Resolution 1153 still stands.

City Attorney Ryan Plotz explains that he doesn’t know what was done and will have to look at it.

When the council appointed somebody to be a city clerk it could have affected an implied repeal of the resolution that appointed Amanda Mager as both city clerk and city manager. This will need reviewed and clean up if need be.

Mayor John Sawatzky asked would revoking 1153 preclude City Manager Amanda Mager from being the deputy clerk.

City Attorney Ryan Plotz responds that the city requires a city clerk. The city clerk has the authority to appoint deputies. Without somebody holding the position of city clerk, you are without someone to fulfill the statutory and municipal code functions of the role.

Council Member Kat Napier makes comments on the City Clerk Position.

Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso asks City Manager Amanda Mager if staff are looking for direction as far as action on this to go ahead and move forward with the recruitment or how are we doing with that process.

City Manager Amanda Mager seeks the council's direction on recruiting for the city clerk position. As the hiring authority, she can recruit a city clerk, but the Council must appoint them. This has made it challenging to retain clerks, as combining clerk duties with administrative tasks has proven ineffective. Our office needs have grown, requiring advanced accounting and administrative functions. Previous clerks excel at administrative tasks but struggle to manage both roles. There isn't enough work for a full-time clerk, which is why contracting someone for clerk duties may be more suitable.

Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso feels the title is misnamed and the city clerk actually is a position that needs to be elevated to a supervisorial level supervising the other admin assistant. We vision this position could serve as a buffer for public input concerns which would free the city manager up to give more attention to city matters so, while I understand that you're {inaudible from 37:06 to 38:22} Council Member Kat Napier follows up with Ordinances Chapter 2.12.070 – Powers and Duties of City Manager: Authority over employees; shall be the duty of the city manager and he and she shall have the authority to control order and give directions to All heads of departments and to subordinate official officers and employees of the city under his or her jurisdiction through their department heads with the exception of the appointed positions of city clerk Treasurer and City attorney power of appointment and removal it shall be the duty of the city manager to and he or she shall appoint remove promote and demote any and all officers and employees of the city of Blue Lake subject to all

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Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani agrees with the logic presented and I too feel it is important {inaudible} over other administrative towns so that they are not able to prioritize the work of the council and the work of government, which I feel is critical, critical in building trust with our community.

City Manager Amanda Mager understands the logic and asks for clarification as she is not sure how it would work with an actual day-to-day workload, and wonders what the higher level person will be doing.

Council Member Kat Napier responded that our second finding is that we would work together as a council and city manager to hash out what those duties could be. I think a good starting place would be identifying all of the duties that are currently scattered amongst the different administrative staff and bring those forward and then together we can work, whether it's as an ad hoc or with the full Council, or as a workshop to take a look at those together and see what might work best.

Council Member Michelle Lewis said that in addition to being the liaison between the public and the city, the supervisorial duties and oversight of some of the other administrative work; i.e. the agenda packet, website update, communication forums, and formats that might be a little more accessible to our public as far as updates on what's going on and projects that are happening. We could get really creative with it. Looking at the at the job description, it seems that there would be some even in an off election year because I know that that's very busy um time but anyway those would be just a few of the things that I had ideas about that would take things off of your plate and your responsibilities for posting things on what's Happening and preparing the packets and ensuring that there is clear communication between the public and the council.

City Manager Amanda Mager is concerned that the level of work is 20 hours a month. The rest of our front office staff, they're not just administrative, they're Financial, they are overseen by finance manager, which is a critical role that needs to be maintained because their real important function is accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll, and that's where they need a finance manager to oversee those functions. I would love someone to help me, and I'm probably the only one, even though we have all these managers and supervisors and program managers, I'm probably the only one that doesn't have actually someone to help them with their work. I do not see that I have enough work for a full-time person who's just focused on clerk duties, but if there was some ability to encompass more.

Council Member Michelle Lewis suggest maybe we can look at a hybrid option but, in the meantime,

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City Manager Amanda Mager answers I think clear direction on which way to go. City Manager Amanda Mager feels strongly that we need to get a temporary person from a temporary agency to help with the specific duties of meeting prep and minutes until we can figure out another option for a position and suggest perhaps a hybrid position or contract position.

Council Member Kat Napier explains separation of powers is needed and is really important to protect the institution of the city. We have a contracted Attorney and a Financial Manager, and they can assist with administrative staff but that's more of an oversight than any form of separation of powers or checks and balances. We don't have an appointed Treasurer or City Clerk, and these are some of the frameworks that makes a healthy functioning institution. We are accountable for the administration and providing services to the public which comes through the position the city clerk and recommend to the city council to direct the city manager to provide a list of those duties that are currently dispersed amongst other staff that would be appropriate to the city clerk, we can work together on developing what this job description would be because city clerk under administrative direction reporting to the city manager which is not the intent of our ordinances.

City Manager Amanda Mager reiterated that she just needs someone to do the city clerk duties and explains she is six meetings behind on the minutes, she is doing all the preparation of the Agenda and hearing packet and has been asking for this for months.

Council Member Kat Napier reminded City Manager Amanda Mager that council authorize several months ago that you could get transcription service and that council would follow up with these job description duties but it is problematic that in the policy handbook and then again in the job descriptions that are provided the city clerk reports to you, City Manager and that isn't the appropriate structure
City Attorney Ryan Plotz said that that's a council adopted policy manual.

Council Member Kat Napier understands, but these were edits made by this city manager, as they're doing their policy handbook update.

City Attorney Ryan Plotz says one thing to think about as you shape this position is who does manage the day-to-day supervision of the city clerk. The council, as a five-member body, is not well suited to supervise somebody's day-to-day, especially a new employee, and it's very common throughout almost all cities that don't have an elected city clerk that they do, to a certain extent, report to the city manager. They have independent duties, they have statutory duties, they're bonded, they take an oath, but most of the day-to-day function flows through the city manager. I don't foresee a situation where we have a city clerk that isn't managed in any capacity by the city manager and solely reports to the council. I just don't know how you will bring in a new employee and manage that employees day-to-day as a five-member body that meets once a month. So, think about that as you draft how

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Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani suggested moving forward with the recruitment for a city clerk and make that recruitment be part-time or possibly full-time recruitment. The rationale behind that is that there could be somebody in our community or not far away who has the skill set to perform as a city clerk and maybe they're retired or semi-retired and they absolutely don't want to work full-time and by making this a full-time job we're excluding that pool of candidates who might just slip right in and be a perfect fit. If we don't have enough duties for a full-time job maybe we have just exactly the right number of duties for a part-time job which leaves people, the flexibility to come here in the evenings and sit here with us till midnight.

Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso says before we recruit for the position of a city clerk we need to be crystal clear about what the position entails and what the job description describes, in the meantime, we really need to get some relief for Mandy, so I propose if we do move forward with recruiting for city clerk in addition, we seek out somebody temporary who can help her note taking duties.

Council Member Christopher G. Firor agrees wholeheartedly {inaudible}.

Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani thinks we can do both simultaneously.

PUBLIC COMMENT: [55:05 Part 2]
Comment by (Dave Ponte): regarding the ad hoc committee report, on the assessment, second paragraph, to paraphrase, the key administrative personnel require the city to rely significantly on contract services as a consequence of the loss of the clerk. I don't know how long Ryan has been legal counsel, and there was a debate with Council Member Kat Napier and City Manager Amanda Mager about the financial functions but interestingly, looking at engineering and planning, which as far as I know have both been provided by SHN long before there was ever any problem with a clerk and I've always questioned that circumstance. It seems SHN has some sort of undue influence in this community, they always seem to be responsible for everything done in terms of City programs, streets, parks and everything so exactly how the loss of the clerk influences how the city determines how their engineering and planning is done.

Comment by (Rebecca Collins): The city clerk position is distinct and should not be conflated with that of an administrative assistant or assistant to the city manager. City clerks have specific responsibilities, including attending meetings to ensure compliance with the Brown Act, holding notary certification to notarize documents, and being present during all office hours. The current contract does not appear to fully reflect these duties. In the absence of city ordinances defining the city clerk's job description, state law must serve as the guiding standard. It is essential to codify the duties of the city clerk in accordance with state laws,

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Additionally, I noted that the budget synopsis proposes an annual salary of $6,400 for the city clerk position, which is considerably lower than the typical compensation—often around $70,000 per year—for qualified professionals in this field. It is crucial to appoint individuals with proper training and credentials directly into the city clerk position, rather than hiring administrative assistants and expecting them to take on this specialized role. To ensure legal compliance and effective governance, I recommend referencing the relevant statutes that outline the proper duties of the city clerk. While it may be possible to pass an ordinance reallocating some responsibilities and providing support, simply reclassifying the city clerk role as an administrative position is neither appropriate nor advisable.

Comment by (Terri Bayles): I would like to acknowledge the significant efforts of the council, the ad hoc committee, and all others involved in this matter. Having been a resident of Blue Lake for 45 years, I have always appreciated the presence and support of the city clerk whenever I needed assistance at City Hall. The role of the city clerk is both demanding and crucial. The city clerk not only oversees our elections but is also required by government code to be knowledgeable about the Brown Act, ensuring compliance and advising if there are any violations. According to our ordinance, the city clerk works closely with the city manager and council members to maintain adherence to the Brown Act. Moreover, the city clerk is responsible for supporting the council, including preparing meeting minutes, attending public hearings, and handling other essential duties, all of which require considerable time. Managing and maintaining public records is another vital responsibility; accurate record-keeping ensures transparency and accessibility, allowing anyone to review past decisions or request information as needed. Requests for public records are handled diligently by the city clerk, who must be available during office hours to assist with inquiries and ensure proper access. Given the importance and complexity of these tasks, it is imperative that the city clerk receives adequate compensation and opportunities for ongoing professional development.

Organizations such as the California City Clerks Association offer extensive training and webinars, and it may be beneficial to allocate time during the workday for the city clerk to pursue these resources to fully support their essential role.

Comment by (Julie Christi): It would be beneficial for the council to recognize the value of an effective clerk, particularly in maintaining thorough records and facilitating easy access to archived materials. This has been a topic of ongoing discussion since 2021, with input from both staff and the public. A comprehensive review of these dialogues could prove highly constructive. Recently, I have encouraged local college graduates, several of whom are

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Comment by (Beckie Thornton Raygoza): I would like to express my appreciation to Council Member Kat Napier for her earlier remarks. I had a similar interpretation of the ordinance two years ago when I learned that the roles of city clerk and city manager were consolidated. I also wish to thank Rebecca Collins and Terre Bayles for highlighting key points from the ordinance and thank council for initiating the motion to appoint a dedicated city clerk. It is important to keep these positions separate to ensure effective governance.

Mayor John Sawatzky brings it back to the council for a vote or an amendment to the motion.

City Attorney Ryan Plotz states that a law was enacted in 2022 which requires employers in California with 15 or more employees to include a salary range on any job posting. Our organization may or may not meet this threshold depending on the number of seasonal employees. However, it is advisable to provide guidance regarding the salary range for both full-time and part-time positions to ensure compliance and facilitate the job posting process. I recommend that this matter be discussed further.

Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani confirms with City Manager Amanda Mager that we do have a salary range position and asks City Attorney Ryan Plotz if he is suggesting we have two different salary ranges for part-time or full-time.

City Attorney Ryan Plotz clarifies, I guess it depends if it is an hourly rate then no, if it is you know an annual rate then yes, but my point was more do you want to revisit that before you post it to make sure that it is current and competitive with the market.

Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani believes it was recently adjusted okay so it should be current and if we float the job and we don't get any interest or we learn in the process that we're not offering enough then we can make those adjustments but I think I mean I'd love to see this job posting in all the places it would go by the end of the week. I don't see any reason to hang on to this any longer if we can help it. Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani doesn't believe we need to amend the motion, she believes that the city clerk position has a salary that has been recently adjusted and so the job can be posted with that salary range included.

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City Manager Amanda Mager responded I absolutely will get it posted, we have a job description I mean I feel like we have everything um I think there's enough in this job description that it can come back to council and you guys can kind of massage duties and you know maybe it would be helpful at some point for us to sit down and talk about our staffing just what our staff does every day and what duties they have and so that everyone has a better feel for you know just what that workload looks like and kind of those skill sets.

Council Member Kat Napier asked City Manager Amanda Mager to include the line “other duties as a signed” to allow some preparation on their end that we are still building out the position.

Motion: [54:02 Part 2] To authorize the City Manager Amanda Mager to begin recruitment immediately for a part-time to full-time city clerk leaving that status open and to reflect whatever fine-tuning of the job description that the ad hoc committee would do and simultaneously to be looking into staff to find somebody to come in on a temporary basis and relieve City Manager Amanda Mager of all these backlog duties.

Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: [1:08:54 Part 2] Consensus (5/0)
COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE: [1:09:54 Part 2]
Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani says we received the packet of council correspondence, but I don't think we need to read any of them tonight.

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Public comment for the two closed session items; the real property negotiations related to the water tank lease and the City manager's contract.

Comment by (Glen Bernald): I've worked as a public works superintendent for nearly 15 years, experiencing two city managers. City Manager Amanda Mager supports me and allows me to do my job, unlike my first manager who micromanaged and disrupted workflow by interfering with my team’s tasks. Mandy collaborates when issues arise, trusts staff and understands our city's needs. I fully support her leadership.

Comment by (?): {inaudible} Humboldt County is known for its diverse culture, and I prefer to mind my own business rather than judge others. Lately, I've noticed a lot of negativity and rumors on social media that don't reflect the caring community we claim to be. Personally, as a small business owner, I've always had positive experiences with the city manager, Mandy, and city workers—no conflicts or issues. I'm not involved in politics, but I'm here because I feel strongly about this issue. I hope you reconsider renewing her contract, as I haven't seen any evidence supporting the negative rumors.

Comment by (Aaron McClure): Last November, the city council was replaced because residents wanted change. Whether or not you renew the contract, I hope we don't end up with the best project and the Danco project but lose a water tank. There are many factors to consider— please make your decision carefully.

Comment by (John Bartholomew): It's critically important to have an Engaged dynamic city manager {inaudible} Thank you for your service.

Comment by (Julie Christi): Julie provided feedback on item b, Conference with Labor Negotiators. She reiterated that her perspectives have consistently been grounded in performance rather than personal considerations. Julie expressed concern about a potential conflict of interest when these two aspects are combined and emphasized the importance of addressing them separately during deliberations. I do have a clarifying question, if you guys make a decision or action will you be reporting back after the closed session and if so, are we

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, March 11, 2025 6:30 p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall able to be put on hold again on Zoom?
Comment by (Vanessa Graham): During the discussion about the renewal of City Manager Amanda Mager's contract, many of the comments have focused on personal experiences and viewpoints. It is important to consider that the role of a city manager requires professionalism in all interactions and decisions based on what is best for the City of Blue Lake. I have observed both positive and less professional moments from City Manager Amanda Mager. For example, she has contributed through volunteering with the fire department and offering help in various ways. However, there have also been instances where public interactions did not meet a standard of professionalism expected for the position. The city manager should be able to engage with all community members, demonstrating validation and respect regardless of differences in opinion or direction for the city. While it is understandable that recent issues, such as the battery facility plant, have led to disagreements within the community, it is important for the city manager to channel her passion and commitment in a manner that is inclusive and professional. Constructive criticism can serve to guide improvement rather than be seen as personal attacks. In summary, my position is not strictly for or against contract renewal but is focused on promoting unity, openness, and a welcoming and professional image for the city and its leadership.

Comment by (Becky Thorton): I support Juliana’s comments, and I also agree with Vanessa’s points. I encourage a review of the contract, as our concerns are based on careful research rather than speculation. As H mentioned, we are committed to thorough fact-finding, not motivated by negativity or hostility. Please consider these points thoughtfully. We have confidence in your capabilities as a council and look forward to positive outcomes.

Comment by (Angela): Thank you for taking my call. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in these meetings and have noticed how attentively you listen to our concerns. I am especially grateful for your decision to separate the roles of city clerk and manager, as well as for the thorough research you are conducting. Your efforts are truly appreciated.

Motion: [54:02 Part 2] To go into closed session.

Motion by: Council Member Kat Napier
Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
Motion Summary: [1:25:11 Part 2] Consensus (5/0)
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION:

City Attorney Ryan Plotz reports no reportable action was taken on item three, Conference with Real Property Negotiators. No reportable action was taken with respect to the performance evaluation.

With respect to the labor negotiations the council voted unanimously to approve a First Amendment

CITY OF BLUE LAKE

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF FIRST AMENDMENT TO CITY MANAGER AGREEMENT: [1:21 Part 3] City Attorney Ryan Plotz reported that the first amendment to the city manager employment agreement has the following material terms. The parties, the council, and the city manager have agreed to extend the term of the existing agreement which expires on March 13, 2025. The extended term would commence on March 14, 2025, and run through and including February 28, 2026, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the amendment. During the extended term, the city manager’s salary will increase to $90,000 per year payable in the normal payroll practices of the city. There are some additional termination provisions that are built into this first amendment that extend beyond what's in the existing agreement. First, there is a mutual right of termination on or before July 31, 2025, this can be done without cause by providing notice of the election to terminate to the other party on or before July 31, 2025, in the event that notice is given, the notice termination date would be effective 90 days after the notice is given. So. in other words, it's a 90day notice of election to terminate, which can be given with or without cause by either party on or before July 31, 2025. After July 31, 2025, either party may terminate without cause and without advanced notice. The city manager retains the ability to terminate the agreement with 90-day notice prior to July 31, 2025, and without notice after August 1, 2025. The agreement specifies that in the event of resignation: In the event that the city council elects to terminate prior to July 31. 2025, the severance that is otherwise provided in the municipal code will not be available. If the city council decides to terminate on or after August 1, 2025, then the severance that's built into the existing ordinance is available to the city manager. The agreement also specifies that performance evaluations will be done twice a year. The first will occur during the months of February and or March and the second performance evaluation will occur during the months of July and or August. As part of the evaluation the city council will use goals, priorities, and objectives established pursuant to section 11 of the original agreement and additional criteria as may be determined by the council. The city manager will also be asked to prepare a written self-evaluation of goals and objectives as well as any additional criteria that the council elects and that the city council will provide the manager with a written summary of the performance evaluation as soon as practical after the conclusion of the evaluation. The amendment also has other standard terms and conditions that are not considered material. Once the amendment is signed it will be publicly available as a public record available for inspection.

PUBLIC COMMENT: [5:37 Part 3]
Comment by (Julie Christi): I just want to thank everybody for their time for deliberation and

CITY OF BLUE LAKE

Motion: [6:32 Part 3] to approve the city manager's contract as described.

Motion by: Council Member Kat Napier
Second by: Council Member Christopher G. Firor
Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
ADJOURNMENT: [6:49 Part 3]
Motion: to adjourn the March 11, 2025, meeting of the Blue Lake City Council.

Motion by: Council Member Christopher G. Firor
Second by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
Transcribed from the video:

Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFmIyLpAYhs&t=46s Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHv-yR5imig&t=522s Part 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoBsUAX3HwM
Laura McClenagan
Deputy Clerk, City of Blue Lake, California

Blue Lake City CouncilMarch 11, 2025

Blue Lake City Council
March 11, 2025