Unless Otherwise Noted, All Items on the Agenda are Subject to Action.
Public Input can be given to the Council by emailing [email protected] until 4:30 p.m. on the date of the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE that live meeting logistics will be prioritized. The quality of the Zoom teleconference meeting cannot be guaranteed. Technical challenges experienced by either the participant or the City will not interrupt or halt the progress of the meeting.
Public input may be facilitated by Zoom at the following meeting link:
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85981813984
Call to Order
1. Pledge of Allegiance and Establish a Quorum of the Council
2. Public Comment On Non-Agenda Items – The Public is invited to present petitions, make announcements, or provide other information to the City Council that is relevant to the scope of authority of the City of Blue Lake that is not on the Agenda. The Council may provide up to 15 minutes for this public input session. To assure that each individual presentation is heard, the Council may uniformly impose time limitations of 3 minutes to each individual presentation. The public will be given the opportunity to address items that are on the agenda at the time the Council takes up each specific agenda item.
3. Consent Agenda
a. City Council Minutes for February 20, 2025
b. City Council Minutes for March 25, 2025
c. City Council Minutes for April 8, 2025
d. City Council Minutes for April 22, 2025
e. City Council Minutes for July 3, 2025
f. City Council Action Summary Minutes for July 22, 2025 g. City Council Action Summary Minutes for July 28, 2025 h. Approve Monthly Report on Disbursements
4. Housing Element Update & Next Steps-Informational; Direction as Appropriate.
5. Receive and File Certificate of Sufficiency of Three Recall Petitions and Set Date for Special Municipal Election for the Recall of One Council Member Position City Council Agenda
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store-111 Greenwood Road, Blue Lake California
111 Greenwood Road-P.O. Box 458
Blue Lake, CA 95525
707-668-5655(P) 707-668-5916(F) www.bluelake.ca.gov
City of Blue Lake
1 6. Extend Continuing Resolution 1237 in Lieu of Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget
7. Consideration of Transition from Verbatim to Action-Style Minutes
8. Receive Report and Survey Permission Request from the Safety Commission
9. Council Correspondence
10. Reports of Council and Staff
a. Ad hoc Committee Reports
b. Commission Updates
c. City Manager Report
11. Closed Session: It is the intention of the City Council to meet in closed session on one item:
a. Public Employment Evaluation – City Manager pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
12. Adjourn
A request for disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aid or services, may be made by a person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in the public meeting, by contacting the City Clerk at 707-668-5655, at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting.
2 Agenda Item: 3a
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24 25 1. Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
26 27 2. Quorum Established: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro-Tem Elise Scafani, Councilmember Michelle 28 Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Katherine Napier, Councilmember Christopher Firor 29 30 Staff Present: City Manager Mager, Ryan Plotz-City Attorney 31 32 Public Present: Kent Sawatzky, Jean Lynch, Justin Goad, Beckie Thornton, Linda Cooley, Julie Christie, 33 Lori Ponte, Terry Bayless
34 35 3. Approval of the Agenda:
36 Motion: To approve the agenda as presented
37 Motion by: Councilmember Firor
38 Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
39 No Public Comment
40 Motion Summary: Consensus
41 42 4. Public Comment on Closed Session Items:
43 Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the election and the City Manager’s contract. 44 Linda Cooley: Comments on food permits in the park and battery storage project 45 Erin McClure: Comments on the water tank negotiations 46 Jean Lynch: Comments on the assessor parcel numbers not being listed on the agenda. 47 Mackenzie: Comments on the battery storage project and business outreach. 48 Terry Bayless: Comments on impacts to walking trails and the river from a battery project. 49 Dave Ponte: Concerned about negotiations regarding the battery project. 50 Julie Christie: Comments on the transformer.
51 Beckie Thornton: States she agrees with comments.
52 53 Public Comment Closed.
54 55 5. Closed Session
56 Motion: To enter into closed session
57 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
58 Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
59 Motion Summary: Consensus
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 20, 2025-City Council Special Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 3 Agenda Item: 3a
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1 Reconvened to open session at 7:40pm
2 Nothing to report out of closed session.
3 4 1. Meeting Called to Order
5 2. Quorum Established
6 3. Approval of the Agenda
7 Motion: To Approve the agenda as presented
8 Motion by: Councilmember Napier
9 Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
10 Motion Summary: Consensus
11 12 4. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items
13 Adelene Jones: Comments on the need for affordable housing in Blue Lake; the State is suing cities and 14 hopes the Council is taking it seriously.
15 Kent Sawatzky: Comments on the Emporium Building and converting the space to live/work units. 16 Mackenzie: Concerned about food operations at the park. 17 Julie Christie: Comments on working together; doesn’t support having a land acknowledgment. 18 19 Public Comment Closed
20 21 5. Receive Update on Discussion with PT Blue Lake Redevelopment, LLC for a Battery Storage 22 Project
23 Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item.
24 City Attorney Plotz-Provides an overview of the discussions and shares a slideshow explaining the 25 discussion items. PowerTransistions proposes to purchase two acres of land and demolish the existing above 26 ground structures on the property; they would develop a 20 MW battery storage facility. In the future they 27 would propose to lease or purchase four acres of land to develop a 100MW battery storage facility. The 28 100MW facility would require major upgrades to the transmission facilities and would require extensive 29 permitting; this could take 7-10 years to complete. PowerTransitions seeks a signed option agreement in 30 March in order to meet the PG&E submission requirements as part of the RCEA request for offers. 31 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Appreciates the effort that’s gone into the negotiations to get to this option. 32 Councilmember Napier: Comments on the negotiations and the change to a smaller project; this is more 33 palatable; recommends reaching out to the businesses on Taylor Way and having a business focused meeting 34 to discuss.
35 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Comments on the formation of the ad-hoc and the RCEA solicitation timeline; 36 feels that Council was manipulated into approving the negotiation agreement; she is a hard no on this project 37 and has zero trust in the people feeding them information. 38 Attorney Plotz: States that he has talked to RCEA several times regarding the timeline and the process. 39 Councilmember Napier: Questions what an approval tonight would obligate the City to? 40 Attorney Plotz: States that staff is only asking for direction to move forward; the City would not be 41 obligated to anything at this point.
42 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: States that she is concerned that comments have been made that she was 43 railroaded into making a decision; she can make her own decisions and does her own research; she pushed 44 for this meeting and feels that its informative.
45 46 Public Comment
47 Lori Ponte: Comments on the EDC ad-hoc and what their role is in this project; appreciates the opportunity 48 for the community to ask questions.
4 Agenda Item: 3a
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1 Adelene Jones: States that she is concerned about the structures on the site and the liability; agrees with the 2 two acre hybrid option.
3 Kent Sawatzky: Agrees that the property needs to be cleaned up; recommends bringing the item back in 4 September.
5 Rebecca Collins: Comments on the project being rushed and the connection to Enron. 6 Terry Bayless: Concerned about TetraTech being involved and the applicability of AB 205. 7 Sherri Star: Comments on the cost of demolition; toured a 10MW and 200MW battery site. 8 Erin McClure: Comments on the cost of the attorney.
9 Lin Glen: Excited that the City has an asset that PG&E is interested in; wants to explore other options and 10 the value of the infrastructure.
11 Julie Christie: Comments on not turning this project into a negative. 12 Beckie Thornton: States that it’s going too fast.
13 Justin Goad: Questions the process; if Council directs the attorney to move forward it doesn’t bind the City; 14 the site needs to be cleaned up quickly.
15 Dave Ponte: Comments on the assembly bill related to BESS projects. 16 17 Public Comment Closed
18 19 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Comments on other uses of the facility; would rather take too long to make a 20 decision than make the wrong decision.
21 Councilmember Firor: States he supports the March timeline for presenting an option agreement and 22 supports the hybrid project model.
23 Mayor Sawatzky: Asks if PowerTransitions is out if the March deadline can’t be met. 24 Attorney Plotz: States that staff will not push to develop an option agreement to meet the March deadline if 25 Council does not want to work toward that deadline.
26 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Comments that she doesn’t want to halt the process if the March deadline 27 can’t be met.
28 Councilmember Napier: Comments on the deadline; chasing the March deadline doesn’t commit the 29 Council to anything. She has conducted research in the investors; the attorney has shown his expertise in 30 understanding the structure.
31 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Is there anything preventing the City from looking at demolition options? 32 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Questions the PG&E process and timeline. 33 Attorney Plotz: Clarifies the process; August is the anticipated demolition date. 34 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Supports investigating other options that don’t impact the ENA. 35 Mayor Sawatzky: Asks Council to provide clear directions to staff.
Councilmember Napier: States that Council can give clear direction on February 25th 36 ; allows time to 37 conduct a tour and to hold the town hall.
Attorney Plotz: States that staff will pursue the hybrid model and receive direction from Council on the 25th 38 . 39 40 Motion to Adjourn-9:20pm
41 Motion by: Councilmember Firor
42 Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
43 Motion Summary: Consensus
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23 24 1. Called to Order: 5:30 p.m.
25 26 2. Quorum Established: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro-Tem Elise Scafani, Councilmember Michelle 27 Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Kathryn Napier, Councilmember Christopher Firor 28 29 Staff Present: City Manager Mager, Planner Rees, Finance Manager Dani Burkhart 30 31 Public Present: Justin Goad, Beckie Thornton, Mardi Granger, Erin McClure, Donald Schang, Karen 32 Nessler, Marla West, Lori Ponte, Jen Corse, Brian Corse, Jean Lynch, Darcey Lima 33 34 3. Approval of the Agenda:
35 Motion: To move items 12, 13 and 14 after item 7
36 Motion by: Councilmember Napier
37 Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
38 No Public Comment
39 Motion Summary: Ayes: Sawatzky, Napier, Scafani; Nays: Lewis-Lusso; Abstain: Firor (Passes) 40 41 4. Adopt Previous Council Meeting Minutes:
42 • January 30, 2025
43 • February 11, 2025
44 • February 20, 2025
45 • February 25, 2025
46 Motion: To adopt the meeting minutes with minor edits as discussed. 47 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
48 Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
49 50 Public Comment:
51 Brian Corse: Questions the process for capturing the names of the public in the meeting minutes. 52 Public Comment Closed.
53 54 Motion Summary: Consensus
55 56 5. Reports of Council and Staff
57 City Manager Report: City Manager presents staff report; Council requests details regarding the bike park,
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 25, 2025-City Council Regular Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall Revised: April 30, 2025
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1 including how and when it was approved and a full accounting of expenditures and revenues. 2 Councilmember Napier requests financial projections for proposed businesses at the City Corporation Yard. 3 City Manager Mager explains that those projections are not available, nor does staff have the capacity to 4 complete them. The City has completed a financial analysis regarding business development in the City, 5 through a grant funded by USDA; staff can provide this report to Councilmember Napier. 6 Councilmember Napier requests a closed session to discuss the potential sale of the City Corporation Yard. 7 8 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Provides a report on Humboldt Waste Management Authority. 9 Councilmember Napier: Provides a report on Redwood Region Economic Development Corporation. 10 11 Public Comment:
12 13 Rebecca Collins: Requests information on the Calgon Carbon Plant. 14 Lin Glen: Questions who is representing the Council on property negotiations. 15 Julie Christie: Comments on the DANCO project.
16 Terry Bayless: Comments on the PowerTransitions negotiations. 17 Public Comment Closed.
18 19 Financial Report: City Manager Mager introduces the City’s new Finance Manager, Dani Burkhart. Staff 20 will be developing a monthly and quarterly report for Council that will provide financial details as well as 21 more easily digestible financial data.
22 23 Councilmember Napier: Asks the Finance Manager what software the City uses for accounting. 24 Finance Manager Burkhart: Explains that the City uses Abila MIP. 25 Mayor Sawatzky: Asks why the Powers Creek fund is running a deficit? 26 Finance Manager Burkhart: Explains that the fund will be reimbursed for expenses from the town square 27 grant.
28 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that she would like to see prior year budgets in order to compare current 29 and projected budgets.
30 31 Public Comment:
32 Terry Bayless: Comments on Warrants and Disbursements. 33 Julie Christie: Comments on financial reports.
34 Beckie Thornton: Comments on public records requests. 35 Lin Glen: Comments on CERT and tsunami drills.
36 Julie Christie: Comments on Council videos.
37 Lori Ponte: Comments on the date for a community potluck. 38 39 Public Comment Closed.
40 41 6. Consent Agenda.
42 Councilmember Napier pulls item 6b-City of Blue Lake FY 24-25 Salary Schedule Amendment No. 3 43 Motion: To accept the warrants and disbursements and to proclaim April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness 44 Month.
45 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
46 Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
47 Motion Summary: Consensus
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1 2 April 2025 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation: The representative from the North Coast 3 Rape Crisis Team presents the proclamation and provides an overview of their services to the community. 4 Item 6b: Fiscal Year 24-25 Salary Schedule Amendment No. 3 5 Councilmember Napier: Reviews the proposed wage rate for the City Clerk position; recommends moving 6 it to the same salary line as the Finance Manager.
7 Motion: To move the City Clerk position to the same salary lines as the Finance Manager on the salary 8 schedule.
9 Motion by: Councilmember Napier
10 Motion dies for lack of a second.
11 12 Motion: To accept the salary schedule as presented 13 Motion by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
14 Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
15 Motion Summary: Ayes: Lewis-Lusso, Firor; Nays: Sawatzky, Napier, Scafani (Doesn’t Pass) 16 17 Motion: To adopt the salary schedule, removing the Economic Development Planner position from the 18 salary schedule and retain all other salary levels as presented. 19 Motion by: Councilmember Napier
20 Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
21 Motion Summary: Consensus
22 23 7. Commissioner Appointments
24 Public Safety Commission: Mayor Sawatzky opens the item; Donald Schang has applied for an open 25 commissioner seat on the Public Safety Commission.
26 27 Donald Schang introduces himself and states that he would like to serve on the commission. 28 29 Motion: To appoint Donald Schang to the Public Safety Commission. 30 Motion by: Councilmember Firor
31 Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
32 Motion Summary: Consensus
33 34 Economic Development Commission: Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item and presents the applications 35 for the position. Darcey Lima and Roxanne Rothery have applied to be re-appointed to the commission. 36 37 Motion: To appoint Darcey Lima and Roxanne Rothery to the Economic Development Commission 38 Motion by: Councilmember Firor
39 Seconded by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
40 Motion Summary: Ayes: Lewis-Lusso, Firor, Sawatzky; Nays: Napier; Abstain: Scafani, (Motion Passes) 41 42 Public Comment:
43 Julie Christie: Comments on Linda Cooley’s application. 44 Darcey Lima: Feels that serving on the commission is her civic duty; people should be producers and not 45 preventors.
46 Public Comment Closed.
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1 8. Council Goal Setting Discussion: Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item. 2 Council discusses the need for a facilitator to assist the Council through the process of developing Council 3 goals.
4 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Doesn’t feel that the Council needs a facilitator; Council can set goals without 5 assistance.
6 City Manager Mager: Recommends using a facilitator.
7 Councilmember Napier: Would like to have a meeting ahead of the meeting with a facilitator. 8 Councilmember Firor: States that he would like a facilitator to help the Council move forward. 9 10 Public Comment:
11 Barbara Russell: Doesn’t think that an outsider is necessary. 12 Julie Christie: Comments on goal setting.
13 Public Comment Closed.
14 15 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Recommends that Council identify their top 10 objectives; staff to produce a list 16 of upcoming items.
17 18 Council Directive: Direct staff to evaluate options for a facilitated goal setting session; bring back to 19 Council for further review and discussion.
20 21 9. Fiscal Year 25-26 Budget Discussion: Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item. 22 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: Would like to learn more about the budgeting process; Dani could bring 23 recommendations on how to move forward. In April, staff could bring preliminary projections for FY 25-26 24 and an overview of the budget.
25 Mayor Sawatzky: Would like to see prior year budgets. 26 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Would like to see several years worth of data. 27 Councilmember Napier: Would like to see trends; look at past five years; what are the grants and where 28 does the money come from.
29 Council asks that the budget be changed to landscape, with a bigger font and have it OCR’d. 30 31 10. City Clerk Recruitment: Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item 32 Council discusses the recruitment process and the applications received to date. City Manager Mager states 33 that qualified applicants have applied. Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani recommends moving forward with the 34 qualified applicants; they could train for additional duties. 35 36 Public Comment:
37 Rebecca Collins: Comments on the clerk position and the duties. 38 Julie Christie: Supports moving forward.
39 Public Comment Closed.
40 41 Councilmember Napier: Asks that staff remove the language requesting salary history from the current job 42 application.
43 Council directs staff to work with the ad-hoc committee to arrange interviews; and to post the position in the 44 North Coast Journal for additional outreach. The ad-hoc will work with the City Manager on the interview 45 questions.
46 47 11. Resolution Number 2025-1235-Adopting Amendments to the Blue Lake General Plan to Update 9 5 | P a g e
and Implement the Housing Element for the 2019=2027 Planning Cycle (6 1 th Cycle): Mayor Sawatzky
2 introduces the item; Planner Rees presents the staff report and recommends opening the public hearing. 3 Planner Rees: The Council requested that staff bring this item back for consideration; Council had requested 4 an extra 60 days to review the document and to have additional time to ask questions. During the 60 day 5 process, staff received no inquiries from the community or Council. The City has been contacted by The 6 Department of Housing and Community Development regarding the City’s timeline for adoption. The City 7 has received grant funding to complete the housing element and the work is complete. 8 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Is there a deadline to adopt the housing element? 9 Planner Rees: Explains that the City is behind on the adoption timeline and that there are punitive actions 10 that can be taken by the State to enforce adoption.
11 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Asks if the State has approved the high-density combining zone and how often 12 does it need to be applied?
13 Planner Rees: The City would use the high-density combining zone as a tool; it would be applied in a 14 targeted manner each planning cycle. It’s meant to accommodate lower income housing. 15 Mayor Sawatzky: The reason that I didn’t provide questions is because I thought we were going to have a 16 combined meeting with the Planning Commission.
17 Mayor Sawatzky: Questions if the wastewater treatment plant can meet the demands? 18 Planner Rees: Clarifies that the housing element is not approving projects; the housing element is 19 designating sites through zoning. The City has plans for the upgrade of the treatment plant to add capacity; 20 the upgrades could accommodate almost the full build-out of the general plan including the proposed 21 projects in the Powers Creek District.
22 Planner Rees: Right now with all the approved and anticipated projects the city would reach capacity at 23 some point with its wastewater treatment plant. It is not known when that will happen. The City has had 24 plans for upgrades to the system for years. The plan is to add 180 residential equivalent units to the system. 25 Anything beyond that would be some kind of more complicated expansion to the system. 26 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: I’ve been told that the City’s current wastewater treatment plant may not be 27 permitted in the near future; that it may need upgrades. Asks about costs and timelines for upgrades. 28 City Manager Mager: States that she has never heard this; State Water Resource Control Board just 29 completed their inspection and stated that the plant is one of the best in the State. 30 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Questions who will pay for increased capacity to support development. 31 Planner Rees: Within 2 years of adopting the housing element the upgrades would have to be done. The 32 City would have to fund those improvements and new projects would be charged an impact fee equivalent to 33 the size of the project when they connect to sewer and water. 34 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: What will this upgrade cost?
35 Planner Reese: Originally it was $200, 000 or $300,000, now it is something like $500,000. 36 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: expresses concern that the city will be committed to funding the upgrades 37 before any new development takes place.
38 City Manager Mager: The projects will pay impact fees to pay their share of the improvements; the City 39 has capitol improvement funds and capacity improvement funds that can be used to support any necessary 40 improvements. The City has been planning to make improvements and has identified what is needed. The 41 City also has issues with stormwater infiltration that impacts capacity; the City is working to address this 42 issue which will improve capacity.
43 Mayor Sawatzky: Questions the CEQA process; and what it would cost to conduct a full analysis? 44 Planner Rees: Clarifies that the City did conduct a new initial study; this was funded by REAP funding 45 received from the State; originally staff had proposed an addendum to the original study but after hearing 46 concerns from the public regarding outdated information, the City conducted a new initial study negative 47 declaration. The packet includes comments received and a full staff report. 10 6 | P a g e
1 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Questions the Circulation Element and if it should be updated before adopting the 2 housing element. Eventhough the truck route used to carry more traffic, there’s concerns about Powers Creek 3 District development. There’s concern that there aren’t adequate evacuation routes in the event of a fire or 4 emergency.
5 Planner Rees: There are several options to exit Blue Lake; the General Plan projected a much higher level 6 of development and growth, including more traffic. This never happened and growth went down and traffic 7 levels went down; most communities grow under their General Plan, but Blue Lake didn’t. The development 8 in the Powers Creek District may get the City to the levels in the 1980’s. A traffic study was conducted with 9 projected growth potential in the Powers Creek District; it concluded that traffic impacts would not add 10 significant traffic impacts.
11 Councilmember Napier: What we were willing to do to our community in the 1980’s isn’t what we would 12 consider doing to our neighbors now; we have to consider expectations and desires now, including noise, 13 vibrations and particulates from dust in the air. It’s not fair to use that as a benchmark. 14 Planner Rees: The General Plan is still very relevant including the growth projections and the level of 15 service capacity for the traffic routes. It is relevant to reference the General Plan because it’s the plan that 16 the City is working under now.
17 City Manager Mager: Just to clarify, the adoption of the housing element isn’t preventing or hindering 18 development in the Powers Creek District; higher density development in the Powers Creek District can 19 already happen under our current zoning. The housing element isn’t tied to a specific project, except through 20 funding and financing to incentivize development. This housing element isn’t a tool to prevent development. 21 Planner Rees: If the City were to take that position, you’d be in violation of State housing laws. 22 Councilmember Napier: States that she takes offense to that statement; her concern is with overall growth 23 and not a particular project.
24 Planner Rees: It has been stated a number of times in the community and at Council and Planning 25 Commission meetings, that the adoption of the housing element can prevent the affordable housing project; 26 the State has laws now to address this.
27 Councilmember Napier: What would be the order to update the elements? 28 Planner Rees: Recommends updating the Safety Element and Conservation Element; some work has been 29 done on the Circulation Element.
30 Mayor Sawatzky: Asks for clarification on the LEAP funding. 31 Planner Rees: Clarifies when the funding was received and that it paid for the update to the housing 32 element.
33 Councilmember Napier: Asks City Manager Mager about implementing updates into strategic goals. 34 Planner Rees: States that this would be a good opportunity to address updates. 35 Mayor Sawatzky: Questions how building heights would be impacted by the housing element? 36 Planner Rees: Clarifies that the housing element provides consistency between multi-family housing in 37 various zones to eliminate standards that prohibit development. 38 39 Public Comment:
40 Rebecca Collins: States that she doesn’t understand the by-right option. 41 Planner Rees: Explains that if the project meets the zoning requirements it’s not subject to a subjective 42 approval process; it would require a building permit and not a conditional use permit. 43 Julie Christie: Comments on the process that was undertaken to develop and review the housing element; 44 she doesn’t think that the General Plan is outdated. 45 Lori Ponte: Comments on the next planning cycle; can the City accommodate the allocation; if the City 46 were not in danger of being fined, we could not adopt and wait until the next cycle, it’s only three years 47 away.
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1 Public Comment Closed.
2 3 Planner Rees: Clarifies that the City went through a long process to update the housing element; including 4 multiple drafts with track changes and numerous meetings and community presentations. 5 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that she does remember seeing the red-lined changes through the process, 6 but did not see HCD’s comments.
7 Planner Rees: States that staff submitted the plan to HCD multiple times for review and comment; those 8 drafts were reviewed by the Planning Commission and multiple public hearings were conducted. Copies of 9 HCD’s comments were presented and made available to the Council through the process. 10 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Asks how community member comments were incorporated? 11 Planner Rees: Explains that the comments were incorporated in the drafts presented to the Planning 12 Commission; they provided direction to staff on how to respond or include in the document. The comments 13 are provided in the document and all comments are captured and documented. On page five and six of the 14 document the comments are summarized and whether or not revisions were made. Most comments were 15 concerned with general growth in the community and the DANCO project. 16 Mayor Sawatzky: Asks for clarification on the ADU tracking language in the document. 17 Planner Rees: Clarifies that the City has to track all development in the Annual Progress Report that is sent 18 to the State; this shows the City’s progress on housing development. 19 20 Motion: To Adopt Resolution Number 2025-1235-Adopting Amendments to the Blue Lake General Plan to Update and Implement the Housing Element for the 2019=2027 Planning Cycle (6th 21 Cycle) 22 Motion by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
23 Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
24 Motion Summary: Ayes: Lewis-Lusso, Firor; Nays: Sawatzky, Scafani, Napier (Motion Fails) 25 26 Planner Rees: Questions if Council wants staff to bring back additional information or conduct another 27 meeting to assist in answering questions. Staffs job is to provide enough information for Council to make an 28 informed decision.
29 Mayor Sawatzky: States that the Council will get back to him. 30 Planner Rees: Asks if Council will continue the public hearing so the item can be brought back, or if not, 31 staff will have to re-notice the public hearing.
32 Mayor Sawatzky: Council can bring it up in future agenda items. 33 Planner Rees: If Council doesn’t continue the public hearing then staff will have to re-notice the hearing. 34 Councilmember Napier: We’re dying on the vine with the amount of work that we have to do; we have 35 BESS in September and budgets in June; maybe with a little time we’ll have more consensus; I don’t want to 36 see this again next month.
37 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: I would like the attorney to present on this; I would like to hear more about 38 1037 and our exposure to litigation and exposure to liability because I’ve been doing my homework on this. 39 City Manager Mager: You may need a closed session on this under exposure to litigation. 40 41 12. Humboldt County Sheriff Law Enforcement Contract Fiscal Year 2025-2026: Mayor Sawatzky 42 introduces the item; City Manager Mager provides an overview, including a $20,000 cost reduction from the 43 current year contract, maintenance of the current service levels and issues related to the County’s proposed 44 indemnification language in the contract. The City is working with CIRA to address the contract language 45 and staff recommends accepting the contract amount.
46 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso: This approval would be dependent upon CIRA’s approval? 47 City Manager Mager: Asking for authorization for the Mayor to sign upon authorization by CIRA. 12 8 | P a g e
1 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: Requests communications from CIRA regarding the contract. 2 Mayor Sawatzky: Asks the City Manager if she has major concerns with the indemnification language? 3 City Manager Mager: States that there are major concerns regarding the language; believes that there is a 4 layer of protection due to the limitations of the City’s scope of control for services, but the goal is to 5 minimize legal exposure.
6 Mayor Sawatzky: With the cost reduction are there any reductions in service? 7 City Manager Mager: The contract is based upon the current level of service and the Sheriff’s actual costs. 8 9 Motion: To accept the cost proposal from the Sheriff for fiscal year 2025-2026 Law Enforcement Services 10 and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract upon final approval by the City’s risk managers. 11 Motion by: Councilmember Napier
12 Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
13 14 Public Comment:
15 Julie Christie: Comments on indemnification; where else would the City go. 16 Public Comment Closed
17 18 Motion Summary: Consensus
19 20 12. Humboldt County Animal Shelter Contract Fiscal Year 2025-2026: Mayor Sawatzky presents the 21 item; City Manager Mager provides an overview of the requested action. 22 Councilmember Scafani: Requests staff to contact the Sheriff and obtain a cost proposal to provide animal 23 control services in Blue Lake.
24 25 Motion: To accept the cost proposal for fiscal year 2025-2026 for animal shelter services as provided by the 26 Humboldt County Sheriff.
27 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
28 Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
29 30 Public Comment:
31 Julie Christie: Comments on animal control services. 32 Public Comment Closed.
33 34 Motion Summary: Consensus
35 36 13. CalFire Fire Severity Map Introduction: Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item; City Manager Mager 37 provides an overview, including the requirement to bring back an ordinance that adopts the updated fire 38 severity maps.
39 40 Public Comment: None
41 Public Comment Closed.
42 43 Motion: To direct staff to bring back the ordinance for a first reading at the April meeting. 44 Motion by: Councilmember Lewis-Lusso
45 Seconded by: Councilmember Firor
46 Motion Summary: Consensus
47 13
9 | P a g e
1 14. Future Agenda Items:
2 3 • CalFire Fire Severity Map Ordinance
4 • Animal Control Costs
5 • Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget
6 • Humboldt Waste Management Authority Presentation
7 • City Manager Performance Evaluation
8 • Appointment of Councilmembers to Property Negotiation Teams 9 • Ad-Hoc: Power Plant
10 • Agenda Coordination Between Council and Commissions 11 • Project Tracking and Posting
12 • Project Transparency Task Force
13 • Agenda Setting Process
14 15 Council Correspondence: Council provided correspondence 16 17 Motion: To Adjourn: 11:28pm
18 Motion by: Councilmember Napier
19 Seconded by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
20 Motion Summary: Consensus
21 14
Agenda Item: 3c
1 | P a g e
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
11 12
13 14
151617181920212223
24 25 1. Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
26 27 2. Quorum Established: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro-Tem Elise Scafani, Councilmember Michelle 28 Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Kathryn Napier
29 Absent: Councilmember Christopher Firor
30 31 Staff Present: City Manager Mager
32 33 Public Present: Lin Glen, Alex Ricca, Bobbi Ricca, Mardi Granger, Beckie Thornton, Salina Rain, Maria 34 Mahegan, Roxanne Rothery, Julie Christie, Erica Dykehouse, Brian Corse, James, Brenda, Christa Christie 35 36 3. Approval of the Agenda:
37 Motion: Move item 9 above 8 and 11 and 12 after 7.
38 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
39 Seconded by: Councilmember Scafani
40 No Public Comment
41 Motion Summary: Consensus
42 43 4. Public Comment
44 45 Lin Glen: States that she will be applying for the Public Safety Commission. 46 Beckie Thornton: States that she had a good experience at City Hall with her public records request. 47 Julie Christie: Comments on animal control and community involvement. 48 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that there are problems with the website; believes that staff posted the 49 agendas appropriately.
50 51 5. Review Fiscal Year 24-25 Staffing Level, Wages, Benefits and Salaries 52 53 Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item; the Council reviews the report provided by City staff; Council 54 questions current staffing levels, costs for contract personnel and changes to job descriptions. Additional 55 questions include how benefits are budgeted and why call-outs and rounds are going up in the Public Works 56 Department.
57 58 Staff provides answers to the Council’s questions, and explains that Public Works has been impacted this
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, April 8, 2025-City Council Special Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 15 Agenda Item: 3c
2 | P a g e
1 fiscal year by storms and system interruptions that have required additional inspections and call-outs. Staff 2 explains that benefits are budgeted separately and that the City has an actuarial that provides liability 3 projections related to benefits. Councilmember Napier requests that staff provide a report with employee 4 names, employment status and wage rate.
5 6 Public Comment:
7 Beckie Thornton: Comments on her Public Record Act request and provides a hand-out to the Council. 8 Public Comment Closed.
9 10 6. Prasch Hall and Clemence Snack Bar Facility Upgrades Project Review 11 12 Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item.
13 Parks and Recreation Director Emily Wood, makes a presentation, including an overview and review of the 14 improvements to all of the City recreation facilities and their funding sources. 15 16 Council asks how projects were prioritized; staff explains that major improvements that the City couldn’t 17 afford were prioritized, including installation of the new roof and electrical at Prasch Hall. These are 18 projects that are long term improvements and extend the life of the facilities. Other improvements were 19 prioritized based upon benefit and ability to generate additional revenue for the parks program. 20 21 Public Comment:
22 Alex Ricca: States that the fields are draining the best that they have in 40 years; asks if the sound baffling 23 was installed in Prasch Hall.
24 Beckie Thornton: Thanks Emily for the presentation; states that she is still tracking the projects. 25 Marianne: Thanks Emily for the presentation; asks about bathrooms in the park. 26 Julie Christie: Thanks Emily for the presentation; comments on the permitting for the Dog House. 27 Public Comment Closed.
28 29 7. Transparency Ad-Hoc Discussion
30 31 Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item. Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani asked that this item be placed on the agenda; 32 she explains that the ad-hoc is to improve trust and transparency between City Hall and the community. 33 Mayor Sawatzky states that he’s concerned because the Council is the oversight and he’s not sure what this 34 ad-hoc would be doing; adding another layer of review could be a problem. 35 36 Council discusses the use of the website to provide information to the community and the development of a 37 newsletter; Council expresses concern that there are no clear goals and objectives for this ad-hoc. Mayor 38 Pro-Tem Scafani states that the goal is to build community and trust but she’s not in a place to narrow the 39 scope down at this time.
40 41 Public Comment:
42 Alex Ricca: Comments on the Brown Act; this is what forces transparency and going around the Brown Act 43 is a problem.
44 Lin Glen: States her support of a newsletter.
45 Julie Christie: Supports a public resource commission rather than an arts and heritage commission. 46 Beckie Thornton: Comments on transparency.
47 Public Comment Closed.
16 Agenda Item: 3c
3 | P a g e
1 2 Council discusses the formation of an ad-hoc to work on this issue; Councilmembers Lewis-Lusso and 3 Napier decline to serve on the ad-hoc; Mayor Sawatzky forms the ad-hoc with Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani and 4 himself.
5 6 8. Council Correspondence: No correspondence
7 8 9. Future Agenda Items
9 10 • Fiscal Year 25-26 Budget
11 • Appointment of Councilmembers to negotiating committees 12 13 10. Closed Session: Public Employee Performance Evaluation 14 15 Public Comment
16 Alex Ricca: Requests a report out of closed session. 17 Julie Christie: Comments on the evaluation.
18 Public Comment Closed
19 20 Motion: To enter into closed session
21 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
22 Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
23 Motion Summary: Consensus
24 25 Council entered the open session at 11:04pm.
26 27 Report: No reportable action was taken.
28 29 Meeting adjourned at 11:04p.m.
17 Agenda Item: 3d
1 | P a g e
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
11 12
13 14
151617181920212223
24 25 1. Called to Order: 6:30 p.m.
26 27 2. Quorum Established: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro-Tem Elise Scafani, Councilmember Michelle 28 Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Kathryn Napier
29 Absent: Councilmember Christopher Firor
30 31 Staff Present: City Manager Mager
32 33 Public Present: Lin Glen, Alex Ricca, Bobbi Ricca, Mardi Granger, Beckie Thornton, Salina Rain, Maria 34 Mahegan, Roxanne Rothery, Julie Christie, Erica Dykehouse, Brian Corse, James, Brenda, Christa Christie 35 36 3. Approval of the Agenda:
37 Motion: Move item 9 above 8 and 11 and 12 after 7.
38 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
39 Seconded by: Councilmember Scafani
40 No Public Comment
41 Motion Summary: Consensus
42 43 4. Public Comment
44 45 Lin Glen: States that she will be applying for the Public Safety Commission. 46 Beckie Thornton: States that she had a good experience at City Hall with her public records request. 47 Julie Christie: Comments on animal control and community involvement. 48 Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani: States that there are problems with the website; believes that staff posted the 49 agendas appropriately.
50 51 5. Review Fiscal Year 24-25 Staffing Level, Wages, Benefits and Salaries 52 53 Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item; the Council reviews the report provided by City staff; Council 54 questions current staffing levels, costs for contract personnel and changes to job descriptions. Additional 55 questions include how benefits are budgeted and why call-outs and rounds are going up in the Public Works 56 Department.
57 58 Staff provides answers to the Council’s questions, and explains that Public Works has been impacted this
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, April 22, 2025-City Council Special Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 18 Agenda Item: 3d
2 | P a g e
1 fiscal year by storms and system interruptions that have required additional inspections and call-outs. Staff 2 explains that benefits are budgeted separately and that the City has an actuarial that provides liability 3 projections related to benefits. Councilmember Napier requests that staff provide a report with employee 4 names, employment status and wage rate.
5 6 Public Comment:
7 Beckie Thornton: Comments on her Public Record Act request and provides a hand-out to the Council. 8 Public Comment Closed.
9 10 6. Prasch Hall and Clemence Snack Bar Facility Upgrades Project Review 11 12 Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item.
13 Parks and Recreation Director Emily Wood, makes a presentation, including an overview and review of the 14 improvements to all of the City recreation facilities and their funding sources. 15 16 Council asks how projects were prioritized; staff explains that major improvements that the City couldn’t 17 afford were prioritized, including installation of the new roof and electrical at Prasch Hall. These are 18 projects that are long term improvements and extend the life of the facilities. Other improvements were 19 prioritized based upon benefit and ability to generate additional revenue for the parks program. 20 21 Public Comment:
22 Alex Ricca: States that the fields are draining the best that they have in 40 years; asks if the sound baffling 23 was installed in Prasch Hall.
24 Beckie Thornton: Thanks Emily for the presentation; states that she is still tracking the projects. 25 Marianne: Thanks Emily for the presentation; asks about bathrooms in the park. 26 Julie Christie: Thanks Emily for the presentation; comments on the permitting for the Dog House. 27 Public Comment Closed.
28 29 7. Transparency Ad-Hoc Discussion
30 31 Mayor Sawatzky introduces the item. Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani asked that this item be placed on the agenda; 32 she explains that the ad-hoc is to improve trust and transparency between City Hall and the community. 33 Mayor Sawatzky states that he’s concerned because the Council is the oversight and he’s not sure what this 34 ad-hoc would be doing; adding another layer of review could be a problem. 35 36 Council discusses the use of the website to provide information to the community and the development of a 37 newsletter; Council expresses concern that there are no clear goals and objectives for this ad-hoc. Mayor 38 Pro-Tem Scafani states that the goal is to build community and trust but she’s not in a place to narrow the 39 scope down at this time.
40 41 Public Comment:
42 Alex Ricca: Comments on the Brown Act; this is what forces transparency and going around the Brown Act 43 is a problem.
44 Lin Glen: States her support of a newsletter.
45 Julie Christie: Supports a public resource commission rather than an arts and heritage commission. 46 Beckie Thornton: Comments on transparency.
47 Public Comment Closed.
19 Agenda Item: 3d
3 | P a g e
1 2 Council discusses the formation of an ad-hoc to work on this issue; Councilmembers Lewis-Lusso and 3 Napier decline to serve on the ad-hoc; Mayor Sawatzky forms the ad-hoc with Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani and 4 himself.
5 6 8. Council Correspondence: No correspondence
7 8 9. Future Agenda Items
9 10 • Fiscal Year 25-26 Budget
11 • Appointment of Councilmembers to negotiating committees 12 13 10. Closed Session: Public Employee Performance Evaluation 14 15 Public Comment
16 Alex Ricca: Requests a report out of closed session. 17 Julie Christie: Comments on the evaluation.
18 Public Comment Closed
19 20 Motion: To enter into closed session
21 Motion by: Mayor Pro-Tem Scafani
22 Seconded by: Councilmember Napier
23 Motion Summary: Consensus
24 25 Council entered the open session at 11:04pm.
26 27 Report: No reportable action was taken.
28 29 Meeting adjourned at 11:04p.m.
20 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 1 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor John Sawatzky called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2 3 ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL: [0:26 Part 1]
4 COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani, Council 5 Member Kat Napier, Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso 6 COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT:
7 STAFF PRESENT: Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart, City Attorneys Ethan Walsh and Russ Gans, 8 Deputy Clerk Laura McClenagan and Videographer Justin Goad 9 10 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
11 12 AGENDA APPROVAL: [0:33 Part 1]
13 Motion: to approve the agenda
14 Motion by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
15 Second by: Council Member Kat Napier
16 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0)
17 18 PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: [0:54 Part 1] 19 Comment by (Adelene Jones): Good evening, everyone. Adelene Jones. I want to point 20 out in the nine plus years when Mandy Mager was our manager, eight of those I was 21 mayor. We had a balanced budget every year. In fact, it was always on time, and it was 22 under budget. Again, on time, under budget. This council has cost us tens of thousands of 23 dollars in six months. Mandy Merger saved the city hundreds of thousands of dollars 24 with her grant writing ability in her nine years as our manager. Now for some good news. 25 At the last Chamber of Commerce meeting, we voted in Mandy Mager as one of our 26 newest members of our board of directors. I am also on the board of directors. People 27 who care about Blue Lake continue to work for the betterment of Blue Lake. Immediately 28 after she was voted in, great ideas began to flow, like new banners for the light polls that 29 are now a little old and faded out. So, we're looking for new ones. And Mandy agreed to 30 step up again and be the chairperson for our Annie and Mary Day parade. She has lots of 31 ideas, including possibly an announcer for the parade at the town square since we have 32 electricity there now. Other highlights of Annie and Mary Day were discussed that 33 evening, doubling the track for the train rides, the great music as part of the Humboldt 34 Folk Life Festival, and I have 30 craft vendors. We had 50 last year and 50 the year 35 before. We are exactly one month away from Annie and Mary Day. It's August 3rd. It's 21 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 36 our 56th annual festival. Finally, as chair of the Blue Lake Public Safety Commission, I 37 encourage folks to enjoy the Fourth of July. I'm very patriotic, as you can see, but be 38 careful and be safe. You've seen our posters around town, I'm sure. The church bells will 39 ring at 9:00. We can celebrate the wonderful country that we live in. But please be safe, 40 be kind, be careful.
41 Comment by (Kent Sawatzky): My name is Kent and I have to say the opposite has been 42 true regarding who our ex-mayor has been referring to here. What's about to come out 43 is we've actually been cost hundreds of thousands of dollars that now you folks are 44 having to deal with in your budget. In the past, we budgeted $5,000 for legal expenses, 45 and these are not things that you've been doing, but it's projected, I think by the city 46 manager, that we're going to come up as much as $100,000 on legal expenses. There's a 47 reason for this. All of a sudden, the chickens are coming to roost. It's not your fault. If you 48 have a chance, go ahead and watch the supervisor's meeting last Tuesday, which I spoke 49 at. The path we're on now is the city of Blue Lake may be bankrupt, and we have to do 50 major things to avoid that, and this is left on you. You've inherited these expenses such 51 as $100,000 plus for a bike and a wonderful project, but all of a sudden, we've come to 52 realize the money's there, and they are owed it. We've incurred costs. We were told 53 consistently at a whole bunch of meetings that was only $3,000 we owed. We'll have 54 other topics which I will speak on; but I wanted to read to you a little bit about economic 55 development. This is my communication with Lisa Hayes, the CEO of Humboldt County. 56 They have a $650 million plus budget. Good morning, Lisa. Blue Lake will likely be the tip 57 of the spear for economic development. We are trying to take advantage of our biggest 58 asset. We are where sunshine and sea air meet. We meet with Steve Madrone and Mike 59 Maguire will likely be putting Blue Lake back in. This hasn't happened in all these years. 60 Nobody's even comes close to addressing it. We're working on that now, and you're 61 working on it. We are working to plan a celebration destination. This is where the 62 money's made, and I had a very good productive conversation. We wish to cater to 63 weddings, quinceañeras, reunions, birthday celebrations of life, sporting events, etc. For 64 example, we have the ability to host baseball, skating, rodeo, mountain biking, skate 65 park, river destination weddings. We likely will be having a meeting with all wedding 66 event planners locally, statewide, and nationally as we develop the model. Will we 67 partner with our tribal neighbors, unlike how Humboldt County is perceived to do, 68 {inaudible}. Virginia Bass always said there's only so much honey in the honey pot, and I 69 think we should grab our share. Humboldt County said we will help the bees, we will get 70 the honey, and this is a project we're working on. A lot of people, Linda Cooley, the 22 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 71 Logger Bar, and others, are working together to bring this to fruition. Can you imagine 72 having three or four destination functions here every weekend and the amount of money 73 people staying at a casino would bring? Thank you for my opportunity to speak. 74 Comment by (Scott Frasier, Blue Lake Boulevard): I really appreciate the work that you're 75 doing and I think it's unfortunate that some of your predecessors can't keep themselves 76 from coming here and harping at you every council meeting because I've watched the 77 last two meeting recordings. So eventually we'll get through this. But thanks for what 78 you're doing now because it's needed. The unfortunate bad fiscal policies that were 79 pursued for the last six, seven years that I'm aware of are coming home to roost. 80 81 Mayor John Sawatzky invited members of the public to provide comments and noted that the 82 Zoom platform was temporarily unavailable. He reserved additional time to accommodate 83 public comments should Zoom be restored during the meeting. 84 85 PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION: [8:22 Part 1]
86 Comment by (Kent Sawatzky): Yeah. And Kent, again, we don't know what this topic is. 87 The public doesn't. You folks do. I trust you to deal with closed session in the best 88 interest of the city. So, when I go before the board of supervisors, I can always talk about 89 what it might be. We've had some very poor decisions made by prior management and 90 by the city council, and this basically came down to being on the shoulders of your city 91 manager and your mayor. They're the main ones. Multiple times we came before them, 92 we came before the safety commission and said, "You need to secure the plant down 93 here" Of course, we had a loss of life there. They didn't listen. They decided not to secure 94 it. I wanted to talk to people like Billy Hansel and others in law enforcement. I asked, 95 "How are we culpable for this? When you're told something is wrong and you don't 96 correct it, you are culpable for it." Eventually, these people, such as the city manager and 97 the mayor, the main ones, but others involved here, may find that they're guilty of 98 negligent homicide. When someone dies and you've been warned and you don't fix it, 99 that's the position you're in. That's unfortunate that we're there. I know they keep 100 saying, "You need to fix it now," but they should have fixed it before somebody died. I 101 highly recommend that anybody who's involved in this, if this topic comes before a case, 102 we’ll be questioned by the courts. I would plead the fifth, because if you're culpable, you 103 lose your diplomatic immunity, and of course there's a potential imprisonment for five to 104 ten years for the charges that may be involved here. This is not a small issue and people 105 will have to defend themselves. They will have to spend their whole life savings for their 23 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 106 inaction when they should have acted. I just want to say, let's learn from other people's 107 mistakes and make sure we don't put ourselves in jeopardy and risk our own financial 108 well-being and personal freedom in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I 109 hate to sound so doom and gloom, but this is pretty much a fact and it's how our society 110 works these days.
111 Mayor John Sawatzky: Point of clarification: Dani, can we allow public input on this item? It feels 112 odd having them comment on something that might not relate to the closed session, especially 113 since they aren't aware of its content.
114 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: I included only what the attorney advised. 115 Comment by (Alex Ricca): Who is the attorney in attendance at the post session tonight? 116 You're supposed to name them.
117 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart responds Ethan Walsh and Russ Gans are the attorneys on 118 zoom tonight.
119 Mayor John Sawatzky calls for any further public comment on the closed session item, and 120 seeing none, opened up public comment on non-agenda items to zoom participants due to 121 zoom difficulties. [11:19 Part 1]
122 Comment by (Julie Christi): {inaudible}
123 Mayor John Sawatzky: Julie, we can't hear you and seeing no one else in the room wanting to 124 make public comment, The public comment period is closed. We were unable to overcome the 125 technical difficulties (13:17 Part 1)
126
127 Motion: to go into closed session. [13:41 Part 1]
128 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
129 Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
130 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0)
131
132 REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION/OPEN SESSION: [00:00 special meeting] 133 Mayor John Sawatzky reported that the council entered into close session but took no 134 reportable action at this time.
135
136 Comment by (Alex Ricca): What I've given you here are three pages from the state of 137 California's Brown Act website. Okay. If you look on the first page 71, you'll see that item 138 section 54956.9 is titled close session pending litigation. Then you turn to page 73 and 139 you see that this section 54956.9 runs another approximately a third of a page to the 140 following section. Now look at your agenda as close session item conference with legal 24 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 141 counsel anticipated litigation. So we're in the right section here for that. Now look at the 142 two subsections that are listed with the agenda item 54956.9(d)2 and (d)3. Now let's 143 scan down these pages. Okay, quickly the first page 71, you don't see any subsections at 144 all. Come over here on page 72 and you see a list of them running down the page. And 145 I'm not going to run through them, but you can all look at them and see it there, too. You 146 come over here on the last page, you have one subsection with (c) and then two without 147 any designation. Now I want you all to try to show me where the agenda items on the 148 agenda the subsections (d)2 and (d)3 are in this section that you have agendized. They're 149 not there. Which means your agenda item in close session will not agendized correctly. 150 And that is a violation of the Brown Act. No matter if it's incidental or not, it is a violation 151 of the Brown Act. Now, I have no idea who's responsible for it. Nothing at all. But it's 152 going to be included in my response to the city attorney's response to my cure and 153 neglect letter. All right? Because one of the consequences of a mistake on an agenda 154 item is that it becomes null and void. So just whatever occurred in that is endangered by 155 this. I'm doing this in the spirit of transparency and because you guys really got to 156 sharpen up your act. Okay. This is really careless. So, thank you for the time and thank 157 you for allowing me to speak.
158 Mayor John Sawatzky reported that the timer is not going off and will verbally let public 159 commenters know when their time is over.
160 Comment by (Kent Sawatsky): just so you know, the agenda in the past has been used 161 very loosely. I brought it forward to people. You have a pledge of allegiance and are we 162 entitled to make a comment every single time on that? I've seen no forum where that's 163 allowed or normal. Nor have I ever seen any report out of close session being open to 164 public comment itself either in any of the forums. And I've attended 16 years of 165 supervisors meetings. I'm not sure I've seen (d)3 all the time as far as different kinds of 166 litigation. Possibly somebody can further educate Mr. Ricca on regarding (d)3, but it's a 167 real standard one and it's in there and I've looked it up myself before. In the prior things 168 regarding agendas, we had city council meetings before where the whole last three or 169 four items were agendaized by the prior mayor, basically ignored such items as future 170 agenda items and all these kind of things. We just ended the meeting just marched right 171 through with no public comment. So anyway, I trust you folks. I trust your attorney 172 prepared that for you and maybe I will take the time again to look up what small (d)3 is 173 and then we can all be educated to which topics those are. 174 Comment by (?): It can be found on codes.findlaw.com. And there is a D1, two, three, 175 and four that you can read through and see exactly what's in those sections. It's in 25 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 176 California Code Government Section 54956.9. And if you scroll down, there's a section D. 177 1 2 3 and 4 are all listed very clearly as subsections. 178 Comment by (Julie Christi): Thank you for your patience. I think it was kind of rude of our 179 original speaker to just jump in and not give you guys even time to call the meeting back 180 to order and go in close session. Maybe I missed that. Alex, do some due diligence if you 181 do go back onto our city website and review the commissions and city agendas that were 182 posted obviously prior to this council. Do me a favor, homie. Keep track of all the ones 183 council never gave us. Those are the great ones. And you know what? We also didn't get 184 videos to those either. Maybe ask your friend sitting next to you why we never got those 185 and if she feels that's a conflict of interest.
186
187 CONSIDER AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT: [08:06 special meeting] 188 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart is asking you guys to pick two of you to be on an ad hoc so 189 that we don't have to call a close session or a special meeting every time you want to talk about 190 the recruitment.
191 Council Member Kat Napier: I'm going to throw my hat in the ring. I was impressed with the 192 work that Tripepi Smith did with HCAOG. I definitely have worked in recruitment before and I 193 have excellent availability to respond to Tripepi Smith at any time that they need. So, I'm not 194 expecting to travel, etc.
195 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani said she was interested in serving on that committee as well. 196 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso: I would like to have a balanced approach to this and I'm 197 not sure of my bandwidth for this one, but if I had to choose between the other one and this 198 one, I would probably choose the city manager recruitment. But I'm up I'll be on another ad 199 hoc. That's not a problem. Just put me where you want me. 200 Mayor John Sawatzky opened the item to public input. 201
202 PUBLIC COMMENT: [9:48 special meeting]
203 Comment by (Julie, Christie): I definitely approve of it and I appreciate you guys moving 204 forward. Was there already a motion for who is going to be on the ad hoc? We've had 205 some people throw their hats in the ring. Okay, sweet. I still approve it. You guys are all 206 great to be on.
207
208 Mayor John Sawatzky brings it back to the council. It's my job to select who goes on the ad hoc 209 committee, and I'm going to put Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani and Council Member Kat Napier 210 on the city manager recruitment.
26 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 211 Council Member Kat Napier: In order to also reflect the council members that aren't present, 212 can we get them to submit some letter or questions or any other concerns before meeting with 213 Tripepi Smith? Or it sounds like Tripepi Smith pretty much works with all of this together to 214 flesh out the recruitment process.
215 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: Right, I think that an initial meeting and a report back. But yeah, if 216 Mayor John Sawatzky or Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso had any particular concerns, if 217 you can think of any, you can maybe tell us.
218 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso: I think that my only comment would have been to just 219 not limit it to one avenue, that would have been my approach. 220 Council Member Kat Napier: This is to facilitate continued forward motion with Tripepi Smith, 221 and that Tripepi Smith will also work with all of the council members. I assume it would be in a 222 council meeting, I don't know if it'd be close session because potentially has to do with 223 personnel or not. That would be up for the attorney to determine. This ad hoc should not 224 preclude the involvement of other council members. So, I think that's the very point of working 225 with Tripepi Smith that they bring everybody into the conversation. It gets everybody in and 226 kind of helps a council to come to a group decision on what they're looking for. 227 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso But the recruitment is limited to a narrow scope of just 228 Tripepi Smith; that is my understanding of the purpose of this ad hoc. It's just recruitment, and I 229 was thinking broader.
230 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: Ostensibly, should Tripepi Smith not work out or doesn’t 231 move forward for whatever reason you decide, it's not like you have inked a contract yet, then 232 this would be the ad hoc that helps steer that process moving forward. 233 Mayor John Sawatzky: Just to confirm, are we having a sit down meeting with them before we 234 sign a contract.
235 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: Confirmed
236 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso: I assume that, because there was an action item to 237 move forward with asking Tripepi Smith to come, that process is already moving and the 238 recruitment piece would involve maybe a broader approach. 239 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: It was city attorney Ryan Plotz recommendation that you 240 form an ad hoc committee for this process.
241 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: Can you remind us, at our last meeting, was our action to move 242 forward with Tripepi Smith, or was it not?
243 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: Yes, it was voted on. 244 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: To be clear, I don't know if Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart also 27 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 245 received that email, but in an email to me from City Attorney Ryan Plotz , he had suggested an 246 ad hoc committee be formed, rather than incur more attorney's fees. It also allows us to move 247 that process forward quickly.
248
249 CONSIDER AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR HOUSING ELEMENT/REZONING PROCESS: [14:52 special 250 meeting]
251 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: City Attorney Ryan recommends forming an ad hoc 252 committee with the goal being to help start setting the dates and scheduling for the list of items 253 listed to accomplish adopting the housing element. That way we can start moving forward on 254 those items. Also, if we need to respond to HCD, we can go to the ad hoc and avoid serial 255 communications in between meetings about this topic. The next, soonest available meeting 256 with HCD is Monday at 3:30 p.m.
257 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani and Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso are not available. 258 Council Member Kat Napier said she could make herself available. 259 Mayor John Sawatzky opened the meeting to public comment. 260
261 PUBLIC COMMENT: [16:16 special meeting]
262 Comment by (Julie Christie): I really do appreciate Zoom. I wish you guys could see 263 everything I do while you are in there. For getting on to Monday, whoever has time. I 264 understand a busy schedule and short notice. I do appreciate doing these incremental 265 discussions of our housing element and coming into compliance. During that meeting 266 maybe it could be disclosed to HCD the process that we really have had. Maybe our 267 planner can actually show everything that commissions and council changed and edited, 268 because it's been minute, and our town halls and disclosures on that. I think we really 269 need to up our game with everything. But until we get comfortable with the zoning and 270 we get some comfort with what the state's actually mandating that we implement. I 271 don't think anybody was stalling this out. I think a lot of it has been the 272 uncomfortableness with the process, the fact that it hasn't really been disclosed and 273 edited out. Like speaking to the prior, I watched a lot of the other municipalities. You 274 guys, I bring it up all the time during the meeting. Some of you know that because you've 275 been around. And in comparison, for our housing element update, HCD actually has on 276 their website, the examples that they promoted that we use during our implementation 277 time and drafting time that I wish we would just use their examples and that would clear 278 up a lot.
28 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 279 Comment by (Adelene Jones): I just want to reiterate that there were a lot of people 280 blaming are now blaming the past council for not taking action. Those are the same 281 people that would have complained had we taken some action. We tried to do our due 282 diligence and what happened was we passed it on to the new council thinking that was 283 something that they would like to take on as their first real action. Everyone knows how I 284 feel about housing. I think it's very important. I think we need to move as soon as 285 possible on getting housing in Blue Lake. It's a real need. There's so many people that 286 need affordable housing in this town. They're just one rent away from being gone from 287 Blue Lake. And that's a shame. I want to see a vibrant town. I want to see children in our 288 school. I don't want to live in a retirement home. I want to see firemen and fire workers 289 have a place to live and staff people that can live here in town as well. So I hope we 290 move quickly on this.
291 Comment by (Kent Sawatzky): It's not a major concern of last minute being transferred to 292 you folks, but this has been delinquent since 2019. I mean, it was supposed to be done 293 by 2020. So, that's a major concern. I did wish to speak to the fact that you're doing the 294 rezoning, and I think in the zoning it's really important and I did not see this incorporated 295 but somehow to work to get the diversity, equity, and inclusion component into your 296 zoning. And that's a basic thing. The zoning is what implements that. The criteria you 297 have for your q-zone or things and the zoning of the lot should reflect that. And the 298 biggest problem we have with diversity, equity, and inclusion is if you're going to have a 299 by-right project, then in my opinion and the opinion of many people in the state, then 300 you should have all levels of people living together, all different things. That's a basic 301 concept within the state and we don't seem to reflect that. So, while you're zoning, 302 possibly projects that are 10 or larger should have at least 10% of each different 303 economic group of all four in there. So that's a suggestion. As far as zoning, we might 304 have to tweak some zoning itself to accomplish the diversity, equity, and inclusion. And 305 of course, it's a talk term that prior staff hated, but creating a poverty pocket where you 306 have all the people living there of very low means is not really appropriate. So, if they're 307 going to have a by-right, then I think they should be included. And there's a few other 308 things that have to do with zoning also that maybe in the future we'll have during public 309 comment to discuss a few other things that would be really good to incorporate within 310 our community to basically have the overall governing property of diversity, equity, and 311 inclusion. So that's my concern. This doesn't reflect it. 312 Comment by (Terri Bayles): Looking at some of the things that come from the state and 313 then looking at our housing element I would encourage the council to maybe think about 29 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 314 an ad hoc committee might be two of you but it doesn't seem like the community was 315 involved very much in the process before and I feel like if it's just an ad hoc committee 316 for two council members that throws it all back on your shoulders again and I think that's 317 concerning. So can it be an ad hoc committee that would include community members 318 so they could take some of that burden off of you and maybe come up with ideas and 319 research and look at it, you know, so that two people don't just have to do that. 320 Mayor John Sawatzky asked if including the public in the ad hoc committee was an option. 321 Comment by (?): I worked for 16 years for the whole sanitary district, and we went 322 through a similar process when we were trying to decide where our sphere of influence 323 should be and what property should/shouldn't be added to them and where we wanted 324 to do our annexations and expand our jurisdictional boundary. And our ad hoc 325 committee did include two members of our board of directors and then we had four 326 members of the community that were a part of it. So that and we picked these different 327 groups and then those groups got to put somebody forward onto the committee. So, it 328 really was a broad spectrum of who was in our community down there. 329 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: This is really more targeted towards, scheduling and 330 process-oriented items, not actually you guys are going to be the ones doing the housing 331 element or you're going to do the rezoning process. There is going to be other opportunities to 332 involve the community; that will come later.
333 Mayor John Sawatzky: With everyone’s current availability, Council Member Kat Napier and I 334 will be on the ad hoc committee.
335 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: When the ad hoc has privileged information and they can't share it 336 with others, we all come into a meeting in an open session and we can share then and then if 337 somebody needs off an ad hoc or whatever at that point because they don't have the time or 338 whatever we can reform with different members once we've come together and shared 339 everything that there is to share now there's no privilege, no Brown Act, you know the issue at 340 that point. I just keep that in mind going forward so that we don't get overburdened for 341 whatever reason.
342
343 FY 2025-2026 BUDGET STUDY SESSION: [25:59 special meeting] 344 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart The only change to the budget in your packet since the last 345 time we met, was to add the $15,000 recruitment, which I split evenly between water, sewer, 346 and government, because that's where your city manager's hours come from in the budget. So, 347 5K to each of those. That's the change that was made since the last I was. 30 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 348 Items discussed: park facilities and doghouse use and rent, rent and use of the doghouse, 349 Little League, the horse arena, rental utilities, Parks and Rec., base rate, legal fees, cost 350 recovery, cost recovery fees, service charges, CALTrans, deficit, public works, general 351 fund, Park Facilities Department wages and salaries for personnel, reduced Cal recycle 352 grant, Park Facility Maintenance, cost of living, certification costs, capital outlay, budget 353 amendments, projected actuals, revenue recovery, supplemental law enforcement grant, 354 benefits for retired police officers pension fund, state funding, decrease in summer rec 355 program, expenditures for the solid waste recycling fund 32, solid waste recycling fund 356 revenues, green waste and recycling bins, green waste days, competitive staff benefits, 357 CDBG program, water fund, professional services, other contracted services, SCADA 358 system, interest earned, projected actual, Aging infrastructure, licensed workers, 359 moratorium on raises, cash receipts.
360 Mayor John Sawatzky opens the meeting up to public comment. 361
362 Public comment: [1:05:02 special meeting]
363 Comment by (Terri Bayles): I was just wondering on the budget when I was looking at the 364 previous year and this is the amendments that came through. There were many pages of 365 the amendment for last year's budget, 2024. Are we looking at having any expected 366 planning costs recovery because between that and the engineering was $91,000 in 367 additional revenue than what was in the budget before. The same for CalTrans, there 368 was an increase in the amendment for 2024 as well. It came out to $272,000 although 369 one was made from a transfer from another fund but just $91,000 just from fee 370 recovery. So, is there anything like that that we might be anticipating happening in this 371 budget as well?
372 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: It depends on what comes from the state. I don't have a 373 complete picture from the state yet. Also, I haven't had a chance to meet with our accountant 374 to process the budget amendments for 24/25.
375 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: Last year we had budgeted about 1,009,000 in our general fund 376 and we spent three 1,372,000.
377 Terri Bayles continues, what was the actual budget deficit for last year and how was that 378 taken care of? Did we pay for that out of a special reserve fund? Have we done the audit 379 for last year?
380 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: We are going through the audit process right now for 23/24, 381 we just closed 2024. 24/25 audit is supposed to start in October. 31 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 382 Comment by (Jenny Short): I was the one that emailed you late this afternoon. I just want 383 to tell you thank you for the opportunity to address you guys with my comments and 384 questions about the budget that you're considering adopting. First I'd like to 385 acknowledge how difficult it must have been for Dani being a relatively new city 386 employee to step into the interim city manager position and how admirable it is that she 387 has been able to produce a budget for the council to even consider. Good job. To provide 388 some context, I am a third generation Blue Laker who left to pursue an education and 389 begin a career as a professional civil engineer and I returned 18 years ago to raise my 390 own children here in the town that we all love. Recreational opportunities for the youth 391 of our community is a passion of mine. I served on the Parks and Rec Commission when 392 my children were young and I served on the Blue Lake Field Little League Board of 393 Directors for over a decade where I currently hold the position of treasurer. Little League 394 is a completely volunteer run organization, and I sympathize with the city as the cost for 395 providing the recreational opportunities in our community keep rising. That being said, 396 for more than a decade, I have performed the duties of chief financial officer for the 397 Garberville Sanitary District, which includes preparing and managing the performance of 398 a fund-based budget just like yours. And I know how critical it is to prepare and adopt a 399 budget that balances each year. Taking funds out of reserves to cover normal operating 400 expenses costs is a road that leads to bankruptcy and the temptation to transfer monies 401 from restricted funds to cover expenses in deficit funds or incorrectly allocate expenses, 402 especially staff time. Today, I briefly reviewed the draft budget as presented and found 403 that there are several funds that show a significant deficit, which is concerning, and I 404 believe should be modified prior to adoption. Water operations at a $111,000 deficit for 405 next year, plus a $30,000 additional payout for capital expenditures after experiencing an 406 $82,000 projected death this year doesn't seem acceptable. This fund is the most 407 concerning since the rates for the water charges are supposed to be set to cover all of 408 the costs associated with providing the service. The general fund at a $127,000 deficit for 409 next year, parks and recreation, appears to be a contributor to a deficit of almost 410 $300,000. Even if you were to take all of the grant money that she's talking about in the 411 other fund, it still would leave a hundred thousand in a Parks and Rec deficit. The CDBG 412 non-program income fund 38 shows a $52,000 deficit for this year, which appears to be 413 caused by a capital outlay of $71,000 that wasn't budgeted for and doesn't seem to be 414 specifically identified in your budget. The TDA purchase transportation fund has a 415 $14,000 deficit for this year, which is one of the funds that performed the least 416 consistent with the budget. Yet, the proposed budget for next year doesn't appear to 32 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 417 make any corrections. The sewer operating fund balance projected for this year ends this 418 week and is $139,000 to the negative even after significantly higher sewer sales this year 419 than was budgeted. It was encouraging to see that the excess in law enforcement 420 services and that the sewer fund appears to be performing even better than budgeted 421 which could eventually result in a positive. I just encourage you not to adopt a budget 422 that has a deficit. You need to balance your budget. You can't continue to operate the 423 way that you have.
424 Comment by (Kent Sawatzky): I agree with the previous speaker regarding the necessity 425 of maintaining a balanced budget. Without proper financial oversight, we risk uncertainty 426 about revenue sources, which could ultimately threaten the city’s fiscal stability. It is 427 essential that we conduct a comprehensive analysis of the Parks and Recreation 428 Department. Recent data aligns with community testimonies suggesting a decline in the 429 number of children in our area. Additionally, during a recent Parks and Recreation event I 430 attended with Aaron McClure, expectations were for 50 children, but actual attendance 431 was closer to 25. There appeared to be questions regarding whether supervisors were 432 volunteers or paid staff. These observations indicate underlying issues that warrant a 433 thorough audit of the department. While funding decisions are ultimately at your 434 discretion, it is important that such programs aim to break even financially, with any 435 remaining discretionary funds allocated based on a well-constructed budget. 436 Furthermore, I suggest evaluating energy usage at facilities through metering devices 437 that do not require separate meters. For example, this could help us better assess utility 438 costs at specific venues, such as the doghouse or skatepark. Accurate, data-driven 439 assessments will guide appropriate lease rates and ensure fairness. Finally, it is important 440 to establish rate structures for events proportionate to their use and income potential. 441 For larger events, perhaps a portion of gate receipts could be considered. Conversely, 442 smaller activities, such as those with minimal parking requirements, should be charged 443 accordingly. Implementing a tiered fee system based on volume and impact would 444 promote equity and fiscal responsibility.
445 Comment by (Julie Christie): I appreciate the input from previous speakers. Last night’s 446 parks and rec meeting echoed similar discussions about generating city revenue, and I 447 agree with Danny. Many municipalities hold special budget study sessions, which we 448 should consider as we move forward together. The audit letters highlight past financial 449 issues that need addressing. Drawing on my experience as a livestock producer and 450 community volunteer, I believe we can meet many town needs with volunteer efforts— 451 whether for events, block parties, or improving public meeting spaces. Establishing a 33 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 452 dedicated, well-equipped meeting room will help local clubs collaborate and enhance our 453 business environment. Parks and rec should regularly review their fee schedule to align 454 with our budgeting process. We need clear plans for managing obligations and finding 455 new revenue sources. While the county faces significant debt, our small community must 456 be proactive and self-reliant. Support from the supervisors would be helpful, but 457 ultimately, fostering local businesses and micro-enterprises is a practical path to greater 458 self-sufficiency.
459 Council Member Kat Napier: we'll be looking at this budget again and probably soon even once 460 we passed it. We want to monitor it closely and make adjustments as we go. I want to 461 emphasize the point made by the previous speaker about not going in with a deficit on our 462 budget. We may have no other choice at this point in time if that's what we have. But I would 463 say our objective would be to very quickly make changes so that we are not. For what 464 we're saying about the climate, for us as a town, for the county, for the state, there is likely not 465 much of a safety net. So, I am trying to position ourselves as best we can to weather the storm. 466 I, you know, it can be small things instead of having staff labor maybe doing some of the work 467 with Parks and Rec, if it's appropriate to build our volunteer base. I mean, Blue Lake 468 will come out and support it. Whether we're looking at reviewing the fee schedules, and I think, 469 you know, I agree that using a horse arena for kids to come out and pet donkeys is very 470 different than having a huge event that impacts the whole town and the preparation. I don't 471 know if there's a sliding scale that has an anticipated number of users, below 50 x amount over 472 50 xx, kind of bracketed that we could anticipate that it takes more to host more, trying to inch 473 closer.
474 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: This is a snapshot of where we are at right now in time. And 475 it can change. These aren’t the rules by which we will live until next June 30th. This is a 476 guideline. It says, we're going to attempt to spend our money in this way as responsibly as we 477 can. We also acknowledge that there are going to be other avenues where we may need to 478 make changes.
479 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso: I would like to spend some time with the accountant to 480 fill in some of these gaps because there's a lot of gaps here, questions, things that we don't 481 know yet, amendments that need to be reported, receipts, etc. payments. This was informative. 482 I appreciate the work. We still have a way to go before we're going to be able to do much. And I 483 think it would be really interesting too to speak with the accountant about options for future 484 reporting that look at more detail in some of these other areas, like other expenses. That phrase 485 is killing me here with you know $11,000 in other expenses. 34 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 486 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: We typically try not to categorize anything as “other”. The 487 only time we do is if it literally fits no other category and it's not enough to make its own 488 category. Emily consistently pursues grant opportunities, especially those related to parks and 489 recreation, by checking what's available and offering her help. SHN has been an important 490 partner in this process, they regularly inform us about potential grants as part of their usual 491 business activities. While we pay SHN for their work on specific grants, there’s no additional 492 charge for alerting us to these opportunities, as it's standard practice in their field. They handle 493 most applications, especially those requiring engineering, like for roads. If the application is 494 more about describing our plans for the money, that task gets assigned to me, and I draft the 495 narrative.
496 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: I'm looking for last year's bottom line—it appears on page 24. At 497 the bottom, you'll find total expenditure and our excess or deficit. Currently, it shows a $23,000 498 surplus for last year.
499 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: Those figures are projections based on anticipated revenues 500 from sources we have not yet received.
501 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: Well, it seems like we need to reduce some expenditure going 502 forward and it looks like we need to do that before we adopt a budget. 503 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: I will schedule a meeting with Scott and get back to you 504 with more details, filling in some of the missing pieces. Um 505 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: It would be helpful if we could get a better handle on what we're 506 doing and how we're doing it and if we can go there and where if anywhere, we have wiggle 507 room with the compensation plan.
508 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: I don't have any wiggle room there. We're already operating 509 at the fairest of minimums that our CalPers contract will allow. We're already having to go into 510 renegotiations for our health insurance plan this year because our current provider is not going 511 to offer health insurance anymore after December 2025. So, that's going to change, and I don't 512 know what that looks like yet. The costs of these benefits go up based on what CalPERS tells me, 513 what the insurance companies tell me, what our risk managers tell me for workers comp. I have 514 zero control over those. And if we offer less than what we offer now, we won't have staff. We 515 are already at the barest of minimum we can offer. If you're going to make cuts, unless you're 516 going to cut programs and things that require staff, then that's the only way you're going to cut 517 that number.
518 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani: It seems like we might have to identify any programs that are non519 essential if we can't factor in the income, we're expecting that we're not sure where it's going to 35 Agenda Item: 3e
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
Thursday, July 3, 2025 ~ 6:30p.m. ~ Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 520 be attributed. You know, we got $126,000 that we have to find and if it's not coming in, then it 521 can't go out.
522 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: It sounds like our next step is that you need a meeting with 523 Scott because you have questions that I cannot answer for you. The council passed a resolution 524 giving us 60 days (60 days from June 24, 2025) to come up with a new budget. So, we're 525 covered until September.
526 Comment by (Jenny Short): I'd like to help you figure out your water rates fund if possible. 527 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: Thank you Jenny. We will meet with Scott Tuesday, July 22, 528 2025, if I can’t get you guys with him before then. 529 Council Member Kat Napier: With the HCD letter it could be time-sensitive. When we have 530 formed an ad hoc, are we authorized to provide staff direction as an ad hoc or do we have to 531 take it back to council or can council now choose to and view us with that power to make a 532 decision if we need to at that time to keep things moving along. 533 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart: I can't see where you would have to make a decision, where 534 we wouldn't be able to meet. Mostly this is just to make sure that at least one member is part, if 535 not two, are involved in the conversation on Monday. 536 Comment by (Alex Ricca):
537
538 I just want it on record, my mistake regarding my statement on the closed session agenda item. 539 I want to correct that. This was not in the section I gave you. I also want to thank this young lady 540 (Jenny Short) for steering me in the right direction where I found this correction. 541
542 DIRECTION: Set up a meeting with Scott Tuesday, July 22, 2025, if not sooner. 543
544 ADJOURNMENT: [1:38:19 special meeting]
545 Motion: to adjourn the July 03, 2025, special meeting at 9:15 p.m. 546 Motion by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
547 Second by: Council Member Kat Napier
548 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0)
549
550 Laura McClenagan
551 Deputy Clerk, City of Blue Lake
552
553
36 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 1 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor John Sawatzky called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2 3 ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL: [0:21 Part 1]
4 COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani, Council 5 Member Kat Napier, Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso, Council Member Terri Bayles 6 COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT:
7 STAFF PRESENT: Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart, City Attorneys Ryan Plotz, Gary Rees, City 8 Planner, Deputy Clerk Laura McClenagan and Videographer Justin Goad 9 10 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
11 12 AGENDA APPROVAL: [0:54 Part 1]
13 Motion [3:07 part 1]: to approve the agenda
14 Motion by: Council Member Kat Napier
15 Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
16 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0)
17 18 CONSIDER APPLICANTS FOR CITY COUNCIL VACANCY AND POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT: [3:20 part 19 1]
20 Mayor John Sawatzky established the following procedures for the meeting. Public comments 21 will be limited to two to three minutes per speaker. Each candidate will be allotted five to seven 22 minutes, followed by a one-to-two-minute period for public questions. Candidates will have a 23 final opportunity for rebuttal lasting two to three minutes. All attendees—including candidates, 24 public speakers, staff, and audience members—are expected to maintain civility and respect at 25 all times toward the city council, staff, and fellow participants. Disruptive conduct such as 26 shouting, yelling, booing, personal attacks, or any action that interferes with the orderly 27 progression of the meeting will not be permitted. Personal attacks or slanderous remarks 28 directed at any individual or candidate are strictly prohibited. 29 30 PUBLIC COMMENT / QUESTIONS: [10:10 part 1]
31 Mayor John Sawatzky opened the meeting for public comment:
32 Applicant Adelene Jones went first, introduced herself and explained why she should be 33 considered for the vacant city council seat. She responded to questions from both the 34 public and the council and heard comments regarding her interest in the seat. 35 Applicant Terri Bayles went second, introduced herself and explained why she should be 37 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 36 considered for the vacant city council seat. She responded to questions from both the 37 public and the council and heard comments regarding her interest in the seat. 38 39 Motion: move that the council appoint Terri Bayles to the vacant city council seat. [1:22:45 part 40 1]
41 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
42 Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
43 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0)
44 45 RECEIVE OATH OF OFFICE FOR PERSON APPOINTED TO FILL VACANCY: [1:23:23 part 1] 46 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart swore Terri Bayles into office, provided the city council’s 47 protocol manual, and supplied the Pledge of Civility for her review and signature, then invited 48 her to join the council at the table.
49 50 ADOPT PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: [1:26:42 part 1] 51 Corrections were relayed to Deputy Clerk Laura McClenagan regarding the March 11, 2025, 52 March 27, 2025, June 23, 2025, minutes.
53 54 PUBLIC COMMENT RECEIVED: [1:31:18 part 1]
55 56 Motion: to approve and adopt the previous council meeting minutes March 11th, June 23rd, 57 June 24th, and June 27th with the stated corrections. [1:37:00] 58 Motion by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
59 Second by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
60 Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
61 62 PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: [1:37:26] (Comments are summarized) 63 Dave Ponti reminded the council of a previous proposal to honor Scotty Hornen, a dedicated 64 public works employee, by naming a bridge after him and suggested placing a commemorative 65 plaque, noting that recognition has yet to happen despite the idea being raised several years 66 ago.
67 Karina announced the formation of a volunteer group called Friends of Powers Creek. In 68 collaboration with local watershed organizations, the group aims to restore the creek’s 69 ecological health and reduce flooding through educational events and hands-on activities like 38 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 70 invasive species removal and native plant restoration. She invited community members to get 71 involved and stay updated on the project’s progress. 72 Adelene Jones informed community members about upcoming local events, including a public 73 forum on battery energy storage hosted by the Redwood Coast Energy Authority and several 74 activities in Blue Lake: the Humboldt Folk Life festival, a free event on July 26th, a city yard 75 waste day also on July 26th, and the 56th annual Annie and Mary Day on August 3rd, featuring 76 a parade, craft booths, live music, train rides, and the museum will be open with 77 refreshments.
78 Kent Sawatzky engaged in several discussions with Sheriff Billy Hansel, who expressed 79 satisfaction with the current level of law enforcement presence around Blue Lake. Recent 80 initiatives have included clearing a local encampment and executing a significant operation on 81 a drug house just outside Blue Lake. Additional activities are ongoing, generating positive 82 attention that stands to benefit our city. Additionally, there was a homicide in Glendale, which 83 falls within our jurisdiction. Notably, the resolution of this case was facilitated by the use of 84 flock cameras and exemplary investigative efforts. While some areas have reservations about 85 installing these cameras, their demonstrated effectiveness in swiftly resolving criminal cases is 86 evident. Deputy Mullen raised concerns regarding homeless encampments, particularly the 87 issue of curbside items from yard sales being abandoned and subsequently moved to these 88 sites. In response, I recommend that the safety commission devise a strategy for citywide 89 sales events to ensure all items placed at curbs are properly removed post-event—whether 90 stored, donated, or disposed of—rather than left unattended. This suggestion comes at the 91 request of the sheriff's department in hopes of reducing abandoned materials in public 92 spaces. The development of a policy on this matter would be preferable, ideally encouraging 93 voluntary compliance and negating the need for a formal ordinance. 94 Rebecca Collins, we want to acknowledge the maker space for the beautiful mural. The 95 chamber is doing an excellent job supporting the community. I'm glad to see positive 96 developments and look forward to Annie and Mary Day. 97 Jennifer announced that during this Thursday's food pantry distribution at Sprint of Skinner 98 Store, I'll be offering free blood pressure screenings and providing stroke awareness education 99 to the community. Data shows Humboldt County has stroke death rates twice the state 100 average. Screenings will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.—all are welcome. 101
102 CONSENT AGENDA - WARRANTS AND DISBURSEMENTS: [1:47:23 part 1] 103 Motion: to pull Item 7a – Warrants and Disbursements from the consent agenda. 104 Motion by: Council Member Kat Napier
39 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 105 Second by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
106 Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
107
108 Motion: to accept the warrants and disbursements.
109 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
110 Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
111 Public Comment: None received
112 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0)
113 Council Member Kat Napier voted NAY as there is not an MOU in place with regards to 114 collection and disbursement of donations to the bike park. 115
116 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE AND RESOLUTION NO. 117 1235: [1:52:59 Part 1]
118 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart stated that in meetings with HCD, which were attended by 119 Council Member Kat Napier and Mayor John Sawatzky as part of an ad hoc committee, HCD 120 requested that the timeline be expedited as much as possible. Even if the measure is approved 121 tonight, the rezoning process will still be close to the 12/15 deadline previously established for 122 completing the action. In order to stay ahead of this deadline, the housing element is being 123 presented now.
124 City Planner Gary Rees reported that the California Department of Housing and Community 125 Development (HCD) has requested a meeting to establish a more detailed timeline with specific 126 milestones. HCD is also pursuing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formally record 127 these arrangements, preferring this approach over a stipulated judgment. Gary Rees also 128 addressed public comments received.
129 Mayor John Sawatzky formally opened the public hearing and asked for public comments. 130
131 Public Comment Received. [2:23:50 part 1]
132
133 Motion: to adopt resolution 1235, adopting the six-cycle housing element update. [2:36:25 part 134 1]
135 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
136 Second by: Council Member Kat Napier
137 Motion Summary: Council Member Kat Napier - AYE, Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso – 138 AYE, Mayor John Sawatzky – AYE, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani – AYE, Council Member Terri 139 Bayles – AYE: Motion carried 5/0
40 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 140
141 SECOND READING BY TITLE ONLY AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 547-2025 – 142 SAFETY GEAR FOR WHEELED RECREATIONAL DEVICES: [0:01 part 2] 143 The document explains that enforcement of the rules will be overseen by the parks director or 144 their designated representative, though this does not mean they will always be present. The 145 area will only be open when a staff member is onsite, and enforcement will mainly rely on 146 complaints from the public or observations by park staff during their regular rounds. Because 147 there are not enough staff members to provide constant coverage, and budget limits prevent 148 continuous staffing, it is not possible to have personnel available at all times. Still, the plan will 149 move forward, and staff will be given the authority to issue fines and administrative citations as 150 needed.
151
152 Public Comment Received [1:33 part 2]
153
154 Motion: to adopt ordinance number 547-2025 entitled An Ordinance of the City Council of the 155 City of Blue Lake Adopting Helmet Protective Gear Use at the Blue Lake Bike and Skate Park and 156 wave the full reading of the ordinance with a reading by title. [6:34 part 2] 157 Motion by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
158 Second by: Council Member Terri Bayles
159 Motion Summary: Council Member Kat Napier – AYE, Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso – 160 AYE, Mayor John Sawatzky – AYE, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani – AYE, Council Member Terri 161 Bayles – AYE. Motion carried 5/0
162
163 CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 1238 APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR THE 164 LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND: Blue Lake Bike and Skate Park project: [9:20 part 2] 165 The council discussed applying for a grant to fund the Blue Lake Bike and Skate Park, covering a 166 portion of the cost with matching funds from donations or partner contributions. They clarified 167 that previous expenses could count as matching funds, and that funding commitments were 168 only required when signing the grant agreement. The group also debated who should serve as 169 the authorized representative, agreeing the city manager could fill this role. Ultimately, they 170 proceeded with the application, ensuring flexibility in project scope and funding sources. 171
172 Public Comment Received [18:28 part 2]
173
41 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 174 Motion: to adopt resolution number 1238, approving the application for land and water 175 conservation fund assistance for the Blue Lake Bike and Skate Park project, and authorizing the 176 city manager to execute and submit all required documentation. 177 Motion by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
178 Second by: Council Member Kat Napier
179 Motion Summary: Council Member Kat Napier – AYE, Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso – 180 AYE, Mayor John Sawatzky – AYE, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani – AYE, Council Member Terri 181 Bayles – AYE. Motion carried 5/0.
182
183 DRAFT A LETTER TO THE BLUE LAKE RANCHERIA TRIBAL COUNCIL: [28:14 part 2] 184 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani read the draft letter into the record. 185 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso acknowledges the past is beneficial she would prefer it 186 say that “we believe by working together we can establish a foundation for a more cooperative 187 future.”, instead of “move beyond past difficulties”, as it keeps a positive flavor to the letter and 188 the intention.
189
190 Public Comment Received. [31:39 part 2]
191
192 Motion: to direct staff to draft a letter to Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Council as written with the 193 amendment stated. [34:17 part 2]
194 Motion by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
195 Second by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
196 Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
197
198 CONSIDER CHANGES TO COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE: [34:42 part 2] 199 To facilitate more regular meetings, it is necessary to draft and adopt an ordinance. This would 200 enable us to schedule meetings in advance on the calendar and cancel them if they are deemed 201 unnecessary. Implementing this process would enhance our ability to plan effectively, increase 202 flexibility, streamline meetings for greater efficiency, and eliminate the constraints associated 203 with special meetings.
204
205 Public Comment Received: [36:20 part 2]
206
207 DIRECTION: The Council directed Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart to draft an ordinance in 208 support of two regular meetings (the second and fourth Tuesday) a month. 42 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 209
210 CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE AGENDA SETTING AD HOC: [39:18 part 2] 211 Council members discussed the process for setting meeting agendas, referencing relevant 212 municipal code provisions. There was debate about the current ad hoc committee's role in 213 agenda setting versus following the code, which places responsibility on the city clerk, city 214 manager, and potentially a designated council member. Concerns were raised about possible 215 Brown Act violations if the ad hoc committee included more than two council members. The 216 group considered whether to maintain the rotational member process or move to a more 217 formal system or revert to the process outlined in the municipal code. Discussion included how 218 council members could submit agenda items and the timeline for submission, public by 219 Wednesday noon and council by Thursday noon, as well as the discretion the city manager and 220 mayor should have in prioritizing and assembling the agenda. 221
222 Public Comment Received. [51:44 part 2]
223
224 DIRECTION: The council reached consensus to disband the agenda setting ad hoc committee 225 and revert to the process described in the municipal code. Agenda preparation by the city clerk 226 and city manager, with input from the mayor or mayor pro tem. Council members can submit 227 agenda items individually to the city manager, with a copy to the mayor, though there is no 228 guarantee that submitted items will appear on the next agenda. This process will be tested for a 229 couple of months and may be refined further, if necessary, with any future changes to be added 230 as agenda items for council discussion.
231
232 REPORTS OF COUNCIL AND STAFF: [56:27 part 2]
233 COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS: [56:34 part 2]
234 Council Member Kat Napier learned from attending HCAOG that the housing allocation 235 numbers for the region are expected to increase dramatically in the upcoming cycle, potentially 236 doubling previous targets. Cities like Eureka and Arcata have already reached their resource 237 limits. Future allocations will likely consider not just population but also the efforts and 238 resources cities have already committed. The speaker stresses the need for strategic planning to 239 address these significant changes.
240 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso reported that she was unable to attend the HWMA 241 meeting but is looking forward to the next meeting. 242 Mayor John Sawatzky reports he attended a Chamber of Commerce meeting, and they spoke 243 about Annie and Mary Day.
43 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 244 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani reports she attended a Public Safety Commission meeting where 245 we discussed a number of topics. The one that probably received the most attention was the 246 potential traffic measures on I Street. A survey is being developed to gather input from 247 residents on I, H, J, and the surrounding side-streets aiming to identify those most impacted by 248 the street’s conditions. That process is currently underway. 249 Additionally, Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) is making a loan to a company that is 250 installing a demonstration wind turbine in Southern California off the coast. The company had 251 been working on this project for years, but all their funding was recently withdrawn due to 252 changes in the political climate. To help the project move forward, RCEA is providing some 253 capital to bridge the funding gap until more permanent funding becomes available. It’s quite 254 interesting and exciting to see this initiative continuing. 255
256 CITY MANAGER REPORT: [1:00:27 part 2]
257 Acting City Manager Dani Burkhart reported that, due to the high number of uncashed checks 258 needing to be voided and reissued at the end of the fiscal year, and the associated $30 bank fee 259 for each voided check, council stipends will now be issued quarterly instead of monthly. This 260 change is intended to save staff time and reduce unnecessary fees. Council members are 261 reminded to cash their stipend checks promptly to avoid these issues. 262
263 COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEES: [1:02:03 PART 2]
264 The city manager recruitment ad hoc committee reported receiving more than five candidate 265 names since the process began. Tripepi Smith is currently developing a city manager profile and 266 a recruitment brochure, gathering input from council members through questionnaires and 267 interviews, with staff interviews scheduled next. This information will help shape the materials 268 used for the recruitment process, which is expected to be launched in about two weeks. The 269 committee clarified that their focus is specifically on the recruitment with Tripepi Smith, not the 270 broader interim or permanent city manager roles. If unsolicited resumes or candidate names 271 are received, these should be forwarded to the city attorney. Council members confirmed that 272 any such materials are already being sent to the appropriate parties. 273
274 Public Comment Received. [1:05:53 part 2]
275
276 COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE: [1:06:41 part 2] Received.
277
278 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: [1:06:47 part 2]
44 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 279 Council Member Kat Napier suggested that, with our new council member, it may be 280 appropriate to reevaluate and determine redistribution of liaison duties. 281 Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani suggests a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the 282 bike park, and committee reassignments be on the future agenda items list. 283 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso suggested placing the City of Blue Lake City Council 284 roles and responsibilities protocol manual last revised September 10, 2013, on an agenda, and I 285 would like to bring that up as a discussion item, possibly an ad hoc committee formation where 286 I could work with one other individual on drafting a revision update. 287 Council Member Terri Bayles asked when the budget will be placed on an agenda, as the resolution was for 60 days from the 27th 288 : so, August 27, 2025, to finalize the budget. 289 Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso would also like to put the International City Management 290 Association (ICMA) code of ethics, with guidelines, on the agenda for discussion and possible 291 adoption, because I didn't see anything in our municipal code about any code of ethics. 292
293 Public Comment Received: [1:11:27 part 2]
294 Comment by (Julie Christi): I would like to place on the agenda any entities that have a MOU or 295 could potentially have a MOU with our city. I would like some reflection on which ones actually 296 constitute us getting a MOU, like the Powers Creek Restoration, and the Bike Park RCMBA. 297 There are a few so just keep that in mind when looking at how we can construct them moving 298 forward.
299
300 PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS: [1:12:03 part 2] None received. 301
302 Motion: to move into closed session.
303 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
304 Second by: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso
305 Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
306
307 REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION:
308 A) CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS:
309 B) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT:
310 C) PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EVALUATION:
311 D) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION:
312
313 ADJOURNMENT: [0:00 part 2]
45 Agenda Item: 3f
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, July 22, 2025 ~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 314 Motion: to adjourn the July 22, 2025, special meeting at 2:22 a.m. 315 Motion by:
316 Second by:
317 Motion Summary: Consensus (5/0)
318
319 Laura McClenagan
320 Deputy Clerk, City of Blue Lake
46 Agenda Item: 3g
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.go
v
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 ~ 5:30 p.m. ~Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 1 CALL TO ORDER: Mayor John Sawatzky called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2 3 ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL: [0:24]
4 COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani, Council 5 Member Kat Napier, Council Member Terri Bayles
6 COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso 7 STAFF PRESENT: City Attorneys Ryan Plotz, Deputy Clerk Laura McClenagan and Videographer 8 9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
10 11 AGENDA APPROVAL: [0:54]
12 Motion: to approve the agenda
13 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
14 Second by: Council Member Kat Napier
15 Public Comment Received: None
16 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0) with Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso absent. 17 18 PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: [1:07]
19 Kent Sawatzky discussed with Carol from Destination Boulevard the possibility of hosting an 20 event in Blue Lake for 500 attendees. Carol inquired about parking availability, mentioning 21 prior use of Camp Bower and the fairgrounds, and expressing preference against using the 22 Rancheria due to shuttle requirements. Alternative parking options, including Jim Canada and 23 the park near the bike area, were considered feasible. The conversation reflected growing 24 interest in Blue Lake as an event destination, with Carol likely to attend Annie and Mary Day for 25 further discussions.
26 Julie Christi expressed appreciation for the productive participation during the recent meeting, 27 especially noting Terry’s contributions. There was interest in establishing a regular update 28 between the community and public works, perhaps not at every meeting, but in a way that 29 would foster ongoing collaboration. The importance of flood mitigation was highlighted, with 30 suggestions to discuss this further at future council or public safety meetings. Overall, there 31 was a sense of anticipation for continued positive engagement and enjoyable council days 32 ahead.
33 34 CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF JILL DUFFY AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND APPROVE 35 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT: [4:00]
47 Agenda Item: 3g
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.go
v
Blue Lake City Council Minutes
Tuesday, July 29, 2025 ~ 5:30 p.m. ~Special Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 36 The council is considering the appointment of Jill Duffy as interim city manager while the search 37 for a permanent city manager continues. Following a closed session interview and review of her 38 qualifications, the council is prepared to formalize her appointment and approve an 39 employment agreement. As a CalPERS retiree, Ms. Duffy is restricted in both compensation and 40 the number of hours she can serve, limited to 960 hours for the fiscal year and not eligible to 41 become the permanent city manager. The proposed contract reflects these constraints, and Ms. 42 Duffy would serve in the interim role until either a permanent appointment is made or she 43 reaches her hour limit. The council’s ad hoc committee was invited to present any additional 44 recommendations regarding her employment.
45 46 Public Comment Received: [11:30]
47 48 Motion: to appoint Jill Duffy as interim city manager and approve the employment agreement 49 between the city and Miss Duffy and authorize the mayor to sign the agreement. I would like to add 50 that the effective date should be July 30th and the fuel statement should be as described by our 51 attorney. (Reimbursement as a travel stipend, at the IRS rate, for the mileage to and from Blue Lake for 52 when Jill Duffy is on site.) [18:50]
53 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
54 Second by: Council Member Kat Napier
55 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0) with Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso absent. 56 57 ADJOURNMENT: [19:49]
58 Motion: to adjourn the July 29, 2025, special meeting at 5:50 p.m. 59 Motion by: Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani
60 Second by: Council Member Terri Bayles
61 Motion Summary: Consensus (4/0) with Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso absent. 62 63 Laura McClenagan
64 Deputy Clerk, City of Blue Lake
48 Agenda Item: 3h
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
Agenda Item #: 3.h
Date: August 19, 2025 For Meeting Of: August 26, 2025
Subject: Monthly Report on Disbursements
Recommended Action: That the City Council:
1. Approve the monthly report on disbursements for the period July 1, 2025 through July 31, 2025
SUMMARY:
The attached list shows the checks and electronic payments made during the period listed above. The Finance Manager confirms that all of these payments were made for expenses that are part of the City Council’s approved budget.
Under California law (Government Code Section 37208), the City is allowed to pay these expenses right away, without waiting for the City Council to review them first. However, the law also requires that the full list of payments be given to the City Council at its next regular meeting. This report fulfills that requirement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
ATTACHMENT:
3.h.1 – City of Blue Lake Check/Voucher Register for period of July 1, 2025 Through July 31, 2025 Review Information:
City Manager Review: ☒ Legal Review: ☐ Planner Review: ☐ Engineer: ☐ Comments:
City of Blue Lake
Staff Report
49 City of Blue Lake
Check/Voucher Register - City Council Check Report
From 7/1/2025 Through 7/31/2025
Check Number Check Date Payee Transaction Description Check Amount 2415 7/2/2025 David Dixon Deposit Refund #20339002 Dixon 167.58 2416 7/2/2025 Kathleen Martin Deposit Refund #40586101 Martin 10.05 2417 7/2/2025 Nancy Brunson Deposit Refund #60748001 Brunson 17.69 2418 7/2/2025 City of Blue Lake Utilities paid from Deposits 7/1/25 Billing 146.37 13090 7/11/2025 Isabella G. Crawford Employee: crawfordi; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 880.81 13091 7/11/2025 Daniel L. Dimick Employee: dimickd; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 693.85 13092 7/11/2025 Michael D. Downard Employee: downardm; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 959.80 13093 7/11/2025 Liesl A. Finkler Employee: finklerl; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 98.99 13094 7/11/2025 Vicki L. Hutton Employee: huttonv; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 1,847.60 13095 7/11/2025 Canyon L. Martin Employee: martinc; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 802.64 13096 7/11/2025 Sarah K. Morais Employee: moraiss; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 382.83 13097 7/11/2025 Kolter L. Nicholls Employee: nichollsk; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 674.54 250711A01250711A01 7/11/2025 Christopher A. Ball Employee: ballc; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 797.99 250711A02250711A02 7/11/2025 Glenn R. Bernald Employee: bernaldg; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 2,751.24 250711A03250711A03 7/11/2025 Rosine S. Boyce-Derricott Employee: boycer; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 609.28 250711A04250711A04 7/11/2025 Danielle L. Burkhart Employee: burkhartd; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 2,351.10 250711A05250711A05 7/11/2025 Skyler A. Coke Employee: cokes; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 925.48 250711A06250711A06 7/11/2025 Melissa M. Combs Employee: combsm; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 537.28 250711A07250711A07 7/11/2025 Christopher B. Edgar Employee: edgarc; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 1,929.55 250711A08250711A08 7/11/2025 Adeline L. Esh Employee: esha; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 103.67 250711A09250711A09 7/11/2025 Kanoa K. Jones Employee: jonesk; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 448.55 250711A10250711A10 7/11/2025 Austin R. Jones Employee: jonesa; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 1,163.99 250711A11250711A11 7/11/2025 Amanda L. Mager Employee: magera; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 2,525.53 250711A12250711A12 7/11/2025 Charles K. Mager Employee: magerc; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 715.99 250711A13250711A13 7/11/2025 Laura A. McClenagan Employee: mcclenaganl; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 961.86 250711A14250711A14 7/11/2025 Aislin N. McKinney Employee: mckinneya; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 299.93 250711A15250711A15 7/11/2025 Jacob P. Meng Employee: mengj; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 1,251.72 250711A16250711A16 7/11/2025 Antoinette M. Quigley Employee: quigleya; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 1,355.39 250711A17250711A17 7/11/2025 Quinn Sousa Employee: sousaq; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 667.73 250711A18250711A18 7/11/2025 Emily P. Wood Employee: woode; Pay Date: 7/11/2025 1,506.63 250711EFT-01 7/11/2025 U. S. Department of Treasury EFTPS federal tax pmt 7/11/25 PR 9,450.43 250711EFT-02 7/11/2025 Employment Development Dept. DE88 state tax pmt 7/11/25 PR 1,880.16 250711EFT-03 7/11/2025 Cal PERS PERS retirement pmt 7/11/25 PR 3,951.08 250711EFT-04 7/11/2025 Freedom Voice Freedom Voice 7/1/25 statement 119.88 250711EFT-05 7/11/2025 CA State Disbursement Unit 7/11/25 CS PR deduction-Coke 92.30 250711EFT-06 7/11/2025 CA State Disbursement Unit 7/11/25 CS PR deduction-Edgar 104.30 13098 7/14/2025 Advanced Security Systems INV739672 7/1/25 Jul-Sep 2025 388.50 13099 7/14/2025 Albee & Buck INV101406 7/9/25 Concession supplies 2,098.42 13100 7/14/2025 ASCAP Acct500735174 6/20/25 FY Annual Fee 450.50 13101 7/14/2025 AT&T ACCT233841-57271066 6/20/25 31.54
7/14/2025 AT&T ACCT238381-11108003 6/20/25 31.54
13102 7/14/2025 Best Best & Krieger LLP INV1033894 7/8/25 AHP legal 684.00 13103 7/14/2025 Blue Lake Chamber of Commerce Re-issue stale dated ck#12144 Chamber 50.00 13104 7/14/2025 City of Blue Lake water/Sewer Payments 7/1/25 3,908.84 13105 7/14/2025 Charis Bowman Re-issue stale dated ck#11269 Bowman 79.26 13106 7/14/2025 Colantuono, Highsmith, Whatley INV65841 7/3/25 Jun 2025 150.00 13107 7/14/2025 Daniel Dimick Re-issue lost ck#13022 dated 6/13/25-Dimick 693.85 13108 7/14/2025 Dito, LLC INV97053 6/24/25 Annual Renewal 5,280.00 13109 7/14/2025 Eureka Broadcasting Co., Inc. INV25060173 6/30/25 KINS 175.00 7/14/2025 Eureka Broadcasting Co., Inc. INV25060174 6/30/25 KEKA 175.00 7/14/2025 Eureka Broadcasting Co., Inc. INV25060175 6/30/25 KWSW 135.00 13110 7/14/2025 Justin Goad INV9 7/1/25 May-Jun meetings 680.00 13111 7/14/2025 Ahna Hubner refund overpmt for business license-Hubner 20.00 13112 7/14/2025 Humb. Bay Municipal Water Dist Billing Period 5/31/25-6/30/25 17,102.27 13113 7/14/2025 Vicki L. Hutton 6/23/25-7/3/25 mileage reimb - Hutton 19.60 13114 7/14/2025 Michelle Lewis-Lusso Jun 2025 council stipend 50.00 Date: 8/19/25 11:03:04 AM Page: 1 50 City of Blue Lake
Check/Voucher Register - City Council Check Report
From 7/1/2025 Through 7/31/2025
Check Number Check Date Payee Transaction Description Check Amount 13115 7/14/2025 Erin McClure McClure-Right of Way-Agreement 50.00 13116 7/14/2025 Katheryn Napier Jun 2025 council stipend 50.00 13117 7/14/2025 National Rural Water Assoc. SCADA loan pmt due 8/1/25 965.00 13118 7/14/2025 Optimum Billing Period 7/1/25-7/31/25 558.22 13119 7/14/2025 Paradise Cay Publications IN647276 6/20/25 Fire Works Banner 65.25 13120 7/14/2025 RREDC Town Square loan pmt due 8/1/25 1,236.87 13121 7/14/2025 John Sawatzky Jun 2025 council stipend 50.00 13122 7/14/2025 Elise G. Scafani Jun 2025 council stipend 50.00 7/14/2025 Elise G. Scafani Re-issue stale dated checks - Scafani 300.00 13123 7/14/2025 SHN Consulting INV126057 6/25/25 May 2025 Engineering 5,110.75 13124 7/14/2025 Verizon Wireless Billing Period 5/22/25-6/21/25 334.58 13125 7/16/2025 Almquist Lumber Co. INV2506-077176 6/18/25 Skinner maint. 61.00 13126 7/16/2025 Pacific Paper Co INV233673 6/3/25 office supplies 141.51 7/16/2025 Pacific Paper Co INV233726 6/3/25 office supplies 4.92 7/16/2025 Pacific Paper Co INV234112 6/12/25 office supplies 63.52 13127 7/16/2025 Les Schwab Tire Center INV61600648998 6/4/25 mower 39.14 7/16/2025 Les Schwab Tire Center INV61600650283 6/12/25 mower 20.99 13128 7/16/2025 McKinleyville Ace Hardware INV501221 6/12/25 facility maint. 231.39 13129 7/16/2025 Miller Farms Nursery, Inc. CM176003 6/10/25 Park Maint. (38.66) 7/16/2025 Miller Farms Nursery, Inc. INV175973 6/9/25 shop supplies 89.63 7/16/2025 Miller Farms Nursery, Inc. INV176002 6/10/25 Park Maint. 293.12 13130 7/16/2025 The Mill Yard INV508521 6/18/25 Skinner maint. 124.16 13131 7/16/2025 Thomas Home Center JOB935633 6/9/25 sprinklers 13.03 13132 7/17/2025 Access Humboldt INV2297 6/30/25 franchise oversight 112.50 13133 7/17/2025 AT&T INV23724822 7/4/25 phone service 197.55 7/17/2025 AT&T INV23724824 7/4/25 phone service 60.48
7/17/2025 AT&T INV23726260 7/4/25 phone service 31.61
7/17/2025 AT&T INV23726261 7/4/25 phone service 62.51
13134 7/17/2025 Department of Justice INV829746 6/30/25 fingerprint apps 32.00 13135 7/17/2025 Fire Risk Mgmt Services Billing Period 104-8/1/25 to 8/31/25 Health ins. 22,366.89 13136 7/17/2025 Gaynor Telesystems, Inc. INV000046231 6/30/25 phone system 482.24 13137 7/17/2025 Intedata Systems INV30405 6/30/25 CASS Service 40.00 7/17/2025 Intedata Systems INV30433 6/30/25 w/s support 95.00 13138 7/17/2025 Jackson & Eklund INV444820 7/3/25 accounting svcs 7,449.99 13139 7/17/2025 Austin Jones 7/11/25 Vision Payment - Jones 53.97 13140 7/17/2025 Pacific Gas and Electric ACCT9008287254-1 PG&E stmt 5/2/25 10.28 7/17/2025 Pacific Gas and Electric ACCT9126744508-7 7/2/25 PG&E 12,099.34 13141 7/17/2025 Tensor IT INV11269 7/1/25 IT support 31.25 7/17/2025 Tensor IT INV11291 7/1/25 IT support 720.45
7/17/2025 Tensor IT INV11292 7/1/25 IT support 200.70
13142 7/17/2025 Terminix International INV461225887 6/18/25 Skinner maint. 65.27 7/17/2025 Terminix International INV461228248 6/18/25 CH maint. 60.12 13143 7/17/2025 US Bank Corp. Payment Systems 6/23/25 statement CalCard 1,886.79 13144 7/25/2025 Isabella G. Crawford Employee: crawfordi; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 593.28 13145 7/25/2025 Daniel L. Dimick Employee: dimickd; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 724.99 13146 7/25/2025 Michael D. Downard Employee: downardm; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 923.59 13147 7/25/2025 Liesl A. Finkler Employee: finklerl; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 193.87 13148 7/25/2025 Vicki L. Hutton Employee: huttonv; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,847.60 13149 7/25/2025 Canyon L. Martin Employee: martinc; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,013.15 13150 7/25/2025 Sarah K. Morais Employee: moraiss; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 812.71 13151 7/25/2025 Kolter L. Nicholls Employee: nichollsk; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 568.93 250725A01250725A01 7/25/2025 Christopher A. Ball Employee: ballc; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 770.66 250725A02250725A02 7/25/2025 Glenn R. Bernald Employee: bernaldg; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 3,746.61 250725A03250725A03 7/25/2025 Rosine S. Boyce-Derricott Employee: boycer; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 673.45 250725A04250725A04 7/25/2025 Danielle L. Burkhart Employee: burkhartd; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 2,074.00 250725A05250725A05 7/25/2025 Skyler A. Coke Employee: cokes; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,128.17 Date: 8/19/25 11:03:04 AM Page: 2 51 City of Blue Lake
Check/Voucher Register - City Council Check Report
From 7/1/2025 Through 7/31/2025
Check Number Check Date Payee Transaction Description Check Amount 250725A06250725A06 7/25/2025 Melissa M. Combs Employee: combsm; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 636.31 250725A07250725A07 7/25/2025 Christopher B. Edgar Employee: edgarc; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,847.34 250725A08250725A08 7/25/2025 Adeline L. Esh Employee: esha; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 778.18 250725A09250725A09 7/25/2025 Hazel E. Hale Employee: haleh; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 306.04 250725A10250725A10 7/25/2025 Austin R. Jones Employee: jonesa; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,270.02 250725A11250725A11 7/25/2025 Kanoa K. Jones Employee: jonesk; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 372.39 250725A12250725A12 7/25/2025 Amanda L. Mager Employee: magera; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 2,651.42 250725A13250725A13 7/25/2025 Charles K. Mager Employee: magerc; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 895.33 250725A14250725A14 7/25/2025 Laura A. McClenagan Employee: mcclenaganl; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 751.94 250725A15250725A15 7/25/2025 Aislin N. McKinney Employee: mckinneya; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 131.47 250725A16250725A16 7/25/2025 Jacob P. Meng Employee: mengj; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,195.76 250725A17250725A17 7/25/2025 Antoinette M. Quigley Employee: quigleya; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,240.71 250725A18250725A18 7/25/2025 Quinn Sousa Employee: sousaq; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,001.19 250725A19250725A19 7/25/2025 Emily P. Wood Employee: woode; Pay Date: 7/25/2025 1,672.81 250725EFT-01 7/25/2025 U. S. Department of Treasury EFTPS federal tax pmt 7.25.25 PR 10,295.66 250725EFT-02 7/25/2025 Employment Development Dept. DE88 state tax pmt 7.25.25 PR 2,077.77 250725EFT-03 7/25/2025 Cal PERS PERS retirement pmt 7.25.25 PR 3,964.86 250725EFT-04 7/25/2025 CA State Disbursement Unit 7.25.25 CS PR deduction-Coke 92.30 250725EFT-05 7/25/2025 CA State Disbursement Unit 7.25.25 CS PR deduction-Edgar 104.30 13152 7/29/2025 Aflac INV789317 7/25/25 July 2025 304.44 13153 7/29/2025 Wesley Altice Skate Party Refund 7/13/25 Altice 200.00 13154 7/29/2025 Blue Lake Garbage Co. INV54GWCLUP 4/2/25 greenwaste 3/29/25 3,499.20 13155 7/29/2025 CA Building Standards Comm. CBSC Qtrly Report Fees Apr-Jun 2025 7.20 13156 7/29/2025 CIRA INV-2718 6/30/25 WC & Liab. Apr-Jun 2025 1,486.34 13157 7/29/2025 Don's Rent-All, Inc. INV261813 7/21/25 equip. rental 104.74 13158 7/29/2025 Hensel's Ace Hardware INV308947/1 6/12/25 Prasch Hall 141.08 7/29/2025 Hensel's Ace Hardware INV309950/1 6/26/25 PH facility 102.80 7/29/2025 Hensel's Ace Hardware INV309952/1 6/26/25 park supplies 38.51 13159 7/29/2025 Humboldt Termite and Pest INV571566 6/21/25 PH maint. 72.00 13160 7/29/2025 Laura McClenagan Refund CalPERS Payroll Deductions 280.64 13161 7/29/2025 O'Reilly Auto Parts CM3537-263272 5/30/25 return (22.17) 7/29/2025 O'Reilly Auto Parts INV3537-263417 5/31/25 Veh #173 23.10 7/29/2025 O'Reilly Auto Parts INV3537-264096 6/4/25 shop supplies 8.88 7/29/2025 O'Reilly Auto Parts INV3537-265246 6/10/25 shop supplies 43.48 7/29/2025 O'Reilly Auto Parts INV3537-265313 6/10/25 lift station 69.41 13162 7/29/2025 Veronica Peltier Facility Rental Refund 7/13/25 Swanlund/Peltier 200.00 13163 7/29/2025 Restif Cleaning Service INV146227 6/30/25 CH janitorial 110.00 13164 7/29/2025 SHN Consulting INV125723 5/30/25 Planning Apr 2025 4,883.75 13165 7/29/2025 SHN Consulting INV126094 6/30/25 Planning May 2025 6,339.87 13166 7/29/2025 Uline Shipping Supply Spec. INV194851032 7/1/25 PW supplies 2,469.84 13167 7/29/2025 Underground Service Alert INV2025111922 - FY 25/26 annual fees 300.00 13168 7/29/2025 U. S. Postal Service Replenish W/S Trust Account 1,200.00 13169 7/29/2025 Wes Green Co. INV22891 7/3/25 park supplies 435.00 Report Total 199,915.41 Date: 8/19/25 11:03:04 AM Page: 3 52 Agenda Item: 4
1 Item #: 4
Date: August 26, 2025
Item Subject: Housing Element Status Update & Next Steps
Recommendation: That the Council:
1. Receive a presentation from City staff on the status of the Housing Element Update process.
2. Open the item for public comment.
3. Close the item for public comment.
4. Discuss the next steps in the Housing Element Update process and ask questions of City staff; and
5. Provide direction as appropriate.
This information item is intended to provide the City Council and public with an update on the status of the City’s efforts to achieve compliance with State Housing Law.
Summary of Steps Completed:
On July 18, 2025, the City Planner submitted a letter to HCD outlining their opinion of the quickest possible timeline for the City to achieve substantial compliance with State Housing Law (Attachment 1). Since that time, the following tasks have been completed (also refer to Table 1 below):
1) The City Council adopted the Housing Element Update on July 22, 2025. The timing for adoption was consistent with the timeline submitted to HCD by the City Planner.
After adoption of the Housing Element Update, City staff filed the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Notice of Determination with the County ClerkRecorder’s Office and State Clearinghouse on July 25, 2025. 2) City staff submitted the adopted Housing Element Update and draft Electronic Site Inventory to HCD on July 30, 2025. Comments were received on the Electronic Site Inventory and City staff are working with HCD to finalize the inventory.
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
Post Office Box 458 • 111 Greenwood Road • Blue Lake, CA 95525 Phone 707.668.5655 Fax 707.668.5916
53 Agenda Item: 4
2 Table 1. Housing Element Update Adoption
Task Timeline Status
City Council adop.on of Housing
Element Update
July 22, 2025 City Council
mee.ng
Completed
File CEQA No.ce of Determina.on File with County ClerkRecorder’s Office by July 25, 2025
Completed
Finalize Electronic Site Inventory Complete by July 25, 2025 Par<ally completed (see below)
Submit adopted Housing Element
Update and Electronic Site Inventory
to HCD
Submit by July 31, 2025 Housing Element
Update and dra?
Electronic Site
Inventory were
submiCed to HCD on
July 30, 2025. City
staff are working on
revisions to the
inventory based on
comments from HCD.
Housing Element Update determined
to meet statutory requirements
HCD to provide
determina.on by August
2025
In review
In addition to the City completing several of the tasks related to adoption of the Housing Element Update, City staff submitted a revised grant closeout report to HCD on July 29, 2025 for the Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant program. The closeout report was accepted by HCD and the City’s LEAP grant was closed out on August 6, 2025.
Next Steps:
The next step in the process for achieving compliance is for the City to complete the rezoning action required by Implementation Program HI-14 in the Housing Element Update. This program proposes creation of a new Multi-Family (MF) Combining Zone and application of the zone to a site of 1 acre or greater in the City.
The process for completing the rezoning action involves review by the Planning Commission at a public hearing and the Commission making a recommendation to the City Council regarding the content of a proposed MF Combing Zone and a site for application of the zone. The Planning Commission recommendation would then be reviewed by the City Council at a public hearing and the Council would take final action on the rezoning action. 54 Agenda Item: 4
3 In the timeline submitted to HCD by the City Planner, there are two timelines provided for completing the rezoning action. This includes a timeline with use of a CEQA exemption (see Table 2 below) and a timeline that includes preparation of a CEQA initial study (see Table 3 below). Two timelines were provided because the revisions to CEQA enacted by SB 131 (Public Resources Code § 21080.085) were still being evaluated by HCD for applicability to the City’s proposed rezoning action.
Table 2. Implementation of Rezoning Action with CEQA Exemption Task Timeline
Planning Commission recommend adop1on and applica1on of Mul1-Family (MF) Combining Zone to a site in the City (1 acre or larger)
August 18, 2025 Planning
Commission mee1ng
City Council consider recommenda1on from Planning
Commission and conduct first reading of ordinance
September 9, 2025 City Council
mee1ng
City Council conduct second reading of ordinance September 23, 2025 City Council mee1ng
File CEQA No1ce of Exemp1on File with County Clerk-Recorder’s Office by September 25, 2025
SubmiSal of ordinance to HCD Submit by September 30, 2025 City of Blue Lake determined to be in substan1al compliance with State Housing Law
HCD provide determina1on by
October 2025
Table 3. Implementation of Rezoning Action with CEQA Initial Study Task Timeline
Prepare CEQA Ini1al Study for rezoning ac1on and circulate for 30-day comment period
Dra[ CEQA Ini1al Study prepared
by late-August and 30-day
comment period end in lateSeptember
Planning Commission recommend adop1on and applica1on of Mul1-Family (MF) Combining Zone to a site in the City (1 acre or larger)
October 20, 2025 Planning
Commission mee1ng
City Council consider recommenda1on from Planning
Commission and conduct first reading of ordinance
November 11, 2025 City Council
mee1ng
City Council conduct second reading of ordinance November 25, 2025 City Council mee1ng
File CEQA No1ce of Determina1on File with County Clerk-Recorder’s Office by November 26, 2025
SubmiSal of ordinance to HCD Submit by December 1, 2025 City of Blue Lake determined to be in substan1al compliance with State Housing Law
HCD provide determina1on by
January 2026
55 Agenda Item: 4
4 Following City Council’s adoption of the Housing Element Update, the City Planner has made progress towards implementation of the rezoning action. The steps completed are noted below.
• On August 8, 2025, the City Planner met with HCD to discuss potential sites for the rezoning action. Through this discussion, HCD provided guidance on a suitable site for application of the MF Combining Zone. The potential rezoning site is a Cityowned property in the Powers Creek District that is zoned Opportunity (APN 025- 201-023). The staff recommendation to the Planning Commission on the rezoning action will be consistent with the guidance from HCD.
• On August 12, 2025, HCD emailed the City Planner with a determination that the City’s rezoning action would be exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code § 21080.085 (see Attachment 2). The staff recommendation regarding CEQA compliance for the rezoning action will be consistent with the determination from HCD.
Based on the direction provided by HCD, the process and timeline for the rezoning action would be similar to what is described in Table 2 above. As outlined in Table 2, the next step in the process was for the rezoning action to be reviewed by the Planning Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting on August 18, 2025. However, due to a lack of quorum, the August 18th meeting was not held. City staff are currently in the process of surveying the Planning Commissioners about availability for a potential special meeting in the next few weeks.
Although the Planning Commission meeting will occur later than estimated in Table 2, it is anticipated that the timeline for the City to achieve substantial compliance with State Housing Law will occur several weeks prior to the December 15th date proposed to HCD by the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Email from HCD regarding CEQA Exemption Determination-Rezoning Action (dated August 12, 2025)
2. Planner Opinion-Substantial Compliance Timeline (dated July 18, 2025) 56 Attachment 1
July 18, 2025 Letter to HCD – City Planner Opinion of Quickest Potential Timeline for Achieving Substantial Compliance with State Housing Law
57 1
July 18, 2025
California Department of Housing and Community Development Housing Accountability Unit
Isaac O’Connell, Housing Policy Analyst/Rep
RE: Opinion of Quickest Potential Timeline for Achieving Substantial Compliance with State Housing Law
As requested by HCD in an email dated July 7, 2025, I am providing my opinion of the quickest potential timeline for the City of Blue Lake to achieve substantial compliance with State Housing Law. Please note that this is my professional opinion as the City’s consulting City Planner and not necessarily the timeline that the City will undertake as they navigate through the public review process. As HCD is aware, the City Council has previously committed to achieving compliance with State Housing Law by December 15, 2025.
The timeline is broken into two primary tasks, which includes: 1) adoption of the Housing Element Update; and 2) implementation of the proposed rezoning action (Housing Element Implementation Programs HI-14). For the rezoning action, I have provided a timeline with use of a CEQA exemption and a timeline that includes preparation of a CEQA initial study.
Two timelines are provided because the revisions to the Public Resources Code following AB 130 and SB 131 are still being evaluated for applicability to the City’s proposed rezoning action.
Housing Element Update Adoption
Task Timeline
City Council adoption of Housing Element Update July 22, 2025 City Council meeting
File CEQA Notice of Determination File with County ClerkRecorder’s Office by July 25, 2025
Finalize Electronic Site Inventory Complete by July 25, 2025 Submit adopted Housing Element Update and Electronic
Site Inventory to HCD
Submit by July 31, 2025
Housing Element Update determined to meet statutory
requirements
HCD provide determination by
August 2025
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
Post Office Box 458 • 111 Greenwood Road • Blue Lake, CA 95525 Phone 707.668.5655 Fax 707.668.5916
58 2
Implementation of Rezoning Action with CEQA Exemption
Task Timeline
Planning Commission recommend adoption and
application of Multi-Family (MF) Combining Zone to a site in the City (1 acre or larger)
August 18, 2025 Planning
Commission meeting
City Council consider recommendation from Planning
Commission and conduct first reading of ordinance
September 9, 2025 City Council
meeting
City Council conduct second reading of ordinance September 23, 2025 City Council meeting
File CEQA Notice of Exemption File with County ClerkRecorder’s Office by September 25, 2025
Submittal of ordinance to HCD Submit by September 30, 2025 City of Blue Lake determined to be in substantial
compliance with State Housing Law
HCD provide determination by
October 2025
Implementation of Rezoning Action with CEQA Initial Study Task Timeline
Prepare CEQA Initial Study for rezoning action and
circulate for 30-day comment period
Draft CEQA Initial Study
prepared by late-August and 30-
day comment period end in lateSeptember
Planning Commission recommend adoption and
application of Multi-Family (MF) Combining Zone to a site in the City (1 acre or larger)
October 20, 2025 Planning
Commission meeting
City Council consider recommendation from Planning
Commission and conduct first reading of ordinance
November 11, 2025 City Council
meeting
City Council conduct second reading of ordinance November 25, 2025 City Council meeting
File CEQA Notice of Determination File with County ClerkRecorder’s Office by November 26, 2025
Submittal of ordinance to HCD Submit by December 1, 2025 City of Blue Lake determined to be in substantial
compliance with State Housing Law
HCD provide determination by
January 2026
59 3
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the above timeline further, please contact me at [email protected] or (707) 441-8855.
Sincerely,
Garry Rees, AICP
Consulting City Planner
60 Attachment 2
August 12, 2025 Email from HCD – Determination Regarding the Applicability of Public Resources Code § 21080.085 to the City’s Rezoning Action
61
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Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
Agenda Item #: 5
Date: August 17, 2025 For Meeting Of: August 26, 2025
Subject: Receive and File Certificate of Sufficiency of Three Recall Petitions and Set Date for Special Municipal Election for the Recall of One Council Member Position.
Recommended Action: That the City Council:
1. Receive and File Certificate of Sufficiency/Insufficiency of Local Recall Petitions Seeking Removal of Councilmembers Napier, Sawatsky and Scafini; and
2. Discuss and Issue a Call to Set a Special Municipal Election Date; and
3. Discuss and Express Voting Method Preference; and
4. Authorize Use of Prasch Hall at No-Charge to Humboldt County Registrar of Voters For In-Person Voting
5. Approve Resolution No. 1239 to Certify the Sufficiency or Insufficiency of Recall Petitions Seeking Removal of Councilmembers Napier, Sawatsky and Scafani; and
6. Approve Resolution No. 1240 Calling a Special Municipal Election for the Proposed Recall of Councilmember Scafani
SUMMARY:
On August 4, 2025, local proponents seeking the removal of Council Members Napier, Sawatsky and Scafani timely filed in the City of Blue Lake’s City Hall three recall petitions. Following signature verification by the Humboldt County Registrar of Voters, Juan P. Cervantes, County Clerk, Records & Registrar of Voters certified that only one petition - Councilmember Elise Scafini- met the required signature threshold for placing a recall election on the ballot.
The remaining petitions for Napier and Sawatsky failed to meet the required threshold, thus no further action will be taken.
The Council must now: 1) certify the outcome of the signature review and 2) within 14 days, call a special municipal election to conduct the recall. As to the election, the Council must select a Tuesday between November 22 and December 23 for the election and 3) determine whether to conduct the elections entirely by mail or with a polling place in addition to mailed ballots (which are now mandatory for all California elections). Council is also asked to 4) request that the Humboldt County Registrar of Voters perform full services to the City relating to the conduct of a Special Municipal Election, and 5) waive rental charges for use of Prasch Hall as a voting location.
City of Blue Lake
Staff Report
67 Agenda Item: 5
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
BACKGROUND:
On Monday, August 4, 2025, recall proponents seeking the removal of three Councilmembers submitted three recall petitions to Blue Lake’s City Hall in a timely manner. The Interim City Manager and Recall Proponent conducted a side-by-side raw count of signatures for each recall petition, and it was determined that each of the three petitions contained sufficient raw signatures to merit the County Registrar’s review of signatures. Therefore the Interim City Manager accepted the three recall petitions for filing and delivered the petitions to the Humboldt County Election’s Office for formal signature verification with official County voter records.
The verification of signatures was completed by the Humboldt County Election’s Office, and based on their review, only one petition was determined to be sufficient – that as to Councilmember Elise Scafani.
Under the California Election’s Code, the required number of signatures to qualify was 250, which represents 30% of the City’s 833 registered voters.
Name Minimum
Signatures
Total No.
Signatures
Submitted
Invalid
Signatures
Valid No.
of
Signatures
Qualify
Yes/No
K. Napier 250 269 23 246 No
J. Sawatsky 250 267 22 245 No
E. Scafani 250 276 22 254 Yes
The Humboldt County Election’s Official submitted to the City of Blue Lake certificate of sufficiency for one petition. At this regular meeting of the City, the City Council shall accept that certification by resolution and adopt a resolution calling an election pursuant to Elections Code sections 11240 et. seq to determine whether or not the officer named in the petition shall be recalled.
Pursuant to Elections Code Section 11240, the City Council must consider the certificate of sufficiency at this regularly scheduled meeting of August 26, 2025. Special Municipal Election at this regular meeting tonight. If Council does not call the Special Municipal Election by September 9, the Humboldt County Registrar of Voters shall call the election for the City of Blue Lake.
Proposed Election Dates
The dates which a recall election shall occur are set by State Elections Code. The recall election shall be held on a Tuesday that is not on a State holiday, and which is not less than 88, nor more than 125 days from the date the City Council orders the election.
68 Agenda Item: 5
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
If Council calls the Special Municipal Election at their regular meeting of August 26, the 88-125 day window will fall between November 22, 2025 and December 23, 2025. Tentative Tuesday election dates would be as follows:
• Tuesday, November 25 (earliest eligible date) – Not recommended as it is two days prior to Thanksgiving • Tuesday, December 2
• Tuesday, December 9 - Preferrable
• Tuesday, December 16-Preferrable
• Tuesday, December 23 (latest eligible date) - Not recommended as it is two days prior to Christmas If the Council waits until September 9 to call the election the available dates would be between December 6th and January 12th and would be:
• Tuesday, December 9 - Preferrable
• Tuesday, December 16- Preferrable
• Tuesday, December 23 – Not recommended as it is two days prior to Christmas • Tuesday, December 30 - Not recommended as it is two days prior to New Year’s Day • Tuesday, January 6, 2026
The Humboldt County Registrar of Voters recommends Council select either Tuesday, December 9th or 16th for the Special Municipal Election
Voting Method and Location
Given the number of registered voters in the City of Blue Lake (less than 1,000), California Elections Code Section 4000 allows for the possibility of conducting the election as an all-mailed ballot election.
This option is available when the recall is not consolidated with a regularly scheduled election. The decision to conduct the election entirely by mail is subject to legal review and must comply with notice, accessibility, and voter service requirements
Alternatively, the Council could call an at-the-polls election, which would still involve mailing ballots to all registered voters but, in addition to accepting ballots by mail, the County Elections would staff at least one polling place at which voters could vote in person (or return mailed ballots) on election day.
Staff recommends the combination of mail-in and in-person voting. Further, to reduce some cost, staff recommends the City Council waive the Prasch Hall rental fee to the County of Humboldt’s Registrar of Voter’s office.
69 Agenda Item: 5
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
Additional Information
The recall ballot will include only one question: "Shall Elise G. Scafani be recalled (removed) from the office of Blue Lake City Council Member?" (Elections Code Section 11382, and 11320).
Unlike prior elections, instead of holding a simultaneous election for successor, State law amended in 2023 now provides that if a recall is successful, a vacancy is created in the office that shall be filled according to standard City vacancy procedures through either a City Council appointment or by a subsequent special municipal election. If the incumbent resigns or otherwise vacates the office, the recall election still proceeds in per Elections Code Section 11302.
FISCAL IMPACT: The County provided estimate for the Special Municipal Election is anticipated to be between $10,000 to $12,000 (or more), and is the City’s sole responsibility to cover. Staff recommends Council approve funding in an amount not to exceed $15,000 inclusive of contingency of $3,000 for unforeseen cost. This cost has not been budgeted.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Continue this item to a date certain (no later than September 9, 2025) at which point Council must select an election date for the recall. This is not recommended because it would push the election date further into the holiday season.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Resolution No. 1239 to Certify the Sufficiency or Insufficiency of Recall Petitions Seeking Removal of Councilmembers Napier, Sawatsky and Scafani; and
2. Approve Resolution No. 1240 calling a Special Municipal Election for the Proposed Recall of Councilmember Scafani
3. Certificate of Sufficiency for Council Member Napier
4. Certificate of Sufficiency for Council Member Sawatzky
5. Certificate of Sufficiency for Council Member Scafini Review Information:
City Manager Review: ☒ Legal Review: ☐ Planner Review: ☐ Engineer: ☐ Comments:
70
RESOLUTION NO. 1239
RESOLUTION NO. 1239
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CERTIFYING SUFFICIENCY AND INSUFFICIENCY OF RECALL PETITIONS WHEREAS, on May 28,2025, the City Clerk, acting as the election official, received a copy of the Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition titled “Initiative Blue Lake Recall 2025” which proposed the recalls of Council Members Napier, Sawatzky and Scafani (the “Petition”); and
WHEREAS, on June 4, 2025, Council Members Napier and Scafani filed Answers to the Notice of Intention on June 4 and June 3, 2025 respectively, a response by Sawatzky was determined to 1) exceed 200 words with 2) substantive changes and a response was not filed; and
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2025, the City Clerk found the Petition forms to meet statutory requirements and approved them for signature gathering; and WHEREAS, Elections Code 11221 states the number of requisite signatures is thirtypercent (30%) of registered voters in the City because registration is less than 1,000; and
WHEREAS, according to the most recent Report of Registration filed with the Secretary of State, Blue Lake has 833 registered voters, and thus 250 verified signatures were required for this Petition; and
WHEREAS, on August 4, 2025, the Petitions were filed with the City Clerk’s Office in accordance with Elections Code 11220, the deadline to do so; and WHEREAS, after completing a preliminary review, the City identified more than the 250 required signatures on each of the three petitions, and delivered them to the Humboldt County Clerk, Recorder, and Registrar of Voters (“Registrar of Voters”) for verification of the signatures on August 4, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 2025, the Registrar of Voters provided information for the Certificate of Sufficiency of Petition, attached hereto as Attachments 1–3, indicating:
Name Minimum
Signatures
Total No.
Signatures
Submitted
Invalid
Signatures
Valid No.
of
Signatures
Qualify
Yes/No
1. K. Napier 250 269 23 246 No
2. J. Sawatzky 250 267 22 245 No
3. E. Scafani 250 276 22 254 Yes
71
RESOLUTION NO. 1239
WHEREAS, the City staff have reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that this activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change to the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the actions proposed are not subject to CEQA; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blue Lake, California that:
Section 1. The recitals above are true and correct and incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. The City Council hereby certifies the Sufficiency of the Signatures on the Petition as to Councilmember Scafani and certifies the insufficiency of signatures as to Councilmembers Napier and Sawatzky. The City will take no further action as to the Napier and Sawatzky petitions.
Section 3. The City Clerk shall certify the passage and adoption of this resolution and file it with the City’s original resolutions.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 26th day of August, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY OF BLUE LAKE, CALIFORNIA
______________________________
John Sawatzky, Mayor
City of Blue Lake
______________________________
Date
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Dani Burkhart
City Clerk, City of Blue Lake
72 I, Dani Burkhart, City Clerk of the City of Blue Lake, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution, City of Blue Lake Resolution No. 1239, was passed and adopted by the Blue Lake City Council at its regular meeting on August 26, 2025.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Blue Lake on this 26th day of August 2025.
______________________________________
Dani Burkhart, City Clerk
73
RESOLUTION NO. 1240
RESOLUTION NO. 1240
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLUE LAKE CITY
CALLING FOR THE HOLDING OF A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE
HELD ON TUESDAY, ,
WHEREAS, on August 26, 2025 the City Council adopted City Resolution No. 1239 certifying the sufficiency of signatures on a petition to recall Councilmember Scafani; and
WHEREAS, California Elections Code Section 11240 requires that the City Council, within 14 days after the meeting at which it accepts the Certificate of Sufficiency, to call for an election to be held to determine whether the officer named in the Petition shall be recalled; and
WHEREAS, California Elections Code Section 11242 requires that the election be held not less than 88, nor more than 125, days from the order calling for the Recall Election; and
WHEREAS, under the provisions of the laws relating to general law cities in California, a Recall Election shall be held on ___________________________ to determine whether Council Member Scafani shall be recalled; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable that the County Registrar of Voters conduct the election and canvass the returns, and that the City Clerk or her duly appointed authorized agents be authorized to carry out all other necessary procedures for the election; and WHEREAS, there are costs associated with holding the election; and WHEREAS, regularly scheduled elections in the City occur in November of evennumbered years, thus no funding has been approved for the cost of an election in FY 2025–2026; and
WHEREAS, based on the cost estimates provided by Registrar of Voters for a special election, funding is in an amount not to exceed $15,000, inclusive of a contingency of $3,000 for unforeseen costs must be appropriated; and
WHEREAS, the City staff have reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that this activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change to the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the actions proposed are not subject to CEQA.
74
RESOLUTION NO. 1240
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blue Lake, California that:
Section 1. The recitals above are true and correct and incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. That pursuant to the requirements of the laws of California relating to general law cities, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of Blue Lake on ______________________, a special
municipal election to determine whether to recall Council Member Scafani.
Section 3. The following question shall appear on the ballot:
Shall Elise G. Scafani be recalled (removed) from
the office of Blue Lake City Council Member?
YES
NO
Section 4. If a majority of the votes are “yes”, then the officer shall be removed and the office shall be vacant until it is filled according to law.
Section 5. That the Humboldt County Registrar of Voters is hereby requested to perform and render all services and proceedings and to procure and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter, and all supplies and equipment and paraphernalia incidental to and connected with the conduct of the subject election, with the cooperation and assistance of the City Clerk or her duly appointed authorized agents, to properly and lawfully conduct the election.
For such services, the City agrees to reimburse the County.
Section 6. The City Clerk is hereby directed to forthwith file a certified copy of this resolution with the Registrar of Voters and to issue instructions to the Registrar of Voters to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the election.
75
RESOLUTION NO. 1240
Section 7. Select one by marking with an “X”:
Should City Council determine that the election shall be conducted wholly by mailed ballot per Chapter 2 of Division 4 (Commencing with Section 4100) of the California Elections Code.
Notwithstanding Elections Code Section 4103, ballots cast in this Election shall be returned to the Registrar of Voters no later than 8 p.m. on election day in order to be counted. Ballots that are postmarked on election day and received no later than three days following the day of the election will also be counted.
Should City Council determine that the election be
conducted by mail-in and in-person ballots, the City requests the Registrar of Voters/Election Department to perform, and which such officer is hereby authorized and directed to perform if the Registrar consents, includes: the preparation, printing, and mailing of voter information guides and sample ballots, making such publications as are required by law in connection therewith; the establishment of voting centers and ballot drop boxes, the preparation, printing, mailing and furnishing of vote-by-mail ballots and other necessary supplies or materials to conduct the election; the canvassing of the returns of the election and the furnishing of the results of such canvassing to the City Clerk of the City of Blue Lake; and the performance of such other election services as may be requested by the City Clerk.
Section 8. That the ballots to be used at the election shall be in the form and content as required by law
Section 9. In all particulars not recited in this resolution, said election shall be held and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections in the City.
Section 10. That the Interim City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a service agreement with the County to render specified services to the City relating to the election.
Section 11. That notice of the time and place of holding the election is given and the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further additional notice of election, in time, form and manner as required by law.
76
RESOLUTION NO. 1240
Section 12. That the City Clerk of the City is hereby directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the Registrar of Voters as soon as possible and in no event later than 88 days prior to the election.
Section 13. If the special election called in this resolution occurs in Fiscal Year 2025/26, the City Council appropriates $15,000 from the General Fund reserve to the City Clerk’s supplies and services expenditure category to fund the costs of the election.
Section 14. The City Clerk shall certify the passage and adoption of this resolution and file it with the City’s original resolutions and is directed to forward without delay to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the Humboldt County Registrar of Voters.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 26th day of August, 2025 by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY OF BLUE LAKE, CALIFORNIA
______________________________
John Sawatzky, Mayor
City of Blue Lake
______________________________
Date
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Dani Burkhart
City Clerk, City of Blue Lake
77
RESOLUTION NO. 1240
I, Dani Burkhart, City Clerk of the City of Blue Lake, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution, City of Blue Lake Resolution No. 1240 was passed and adopted by the Blue Lake City Council at its regular meeting on August 26, 2025.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Blue Lake on this 26th day of August 2025.
______________________________________
Dani Burkhart, City Clerk
78 ATTACHMENT 3: KATHERYN "KAT" NAPIER
79 80
ATTACHMENT 4: JOHN SAWATZKY
81 82
ATTACHMENT 5: ELISE SCAFANI
83 84
Agenda Item: 6
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
Agenda Item #: 6
Date: August 19, 2025 For Meeting Of: August 26, 2025
Subject: Extend Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year Budget 2025-26 Recommended Action: By Roll Call Vote, that the City Council:
1. Approve Resolution No. 1241“Authorizing A Temporary Extension Of Appropriations For Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Pending Adoption Of The Annual Budget”; and
2. File the approved Resolution with the Humboldt County Auditor’s Office.
SUMMARY:
Approve a resolution to authorize a second 60-day extension so the City can continue using the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 budget for spending and revenues until the FY 2025/26 budget is completed and adopted by the City Counsel.
DISCUSSION:
Staff presented to the City Council at their regular meeting of May 27, 2025 the draft Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget. Since that time, there have been significant changes in City leadership, including the separation of the former City Manager, the appointment of an Acting City Manager, and most recently, the hiring of an Interim City Manager. These leadership transitions, combined with loss in key budget preparation personnel, have significantly slowed the budget development process.
The current draft budget remains unchanged and is not ready for adoption. Attempting to finalize it by the end of the first 60-day extension period (ending August 27, 2025) could result in errors or incomplete information. Staff believes it is better to take the necessary time to complete the work properly and present Council with an accurate and reliable proposed budget.
Under State law, local governments must adopt a budget – or, at a minimum, file a listing of expected revenue and expenses – within 60 days after the start of the fiscal year. If a budget is not adopted on time, the City Council must approve a “Continuing Resolution”. This allows last year’s budget to remain in effect temporarily so that services can continue and bills can be paid. Without either a budget or a Continuing Resolution, the City would have no legal authority to spend money and operations would be forced to stop.
City of Blue Lake
Staff Report
85 Agenda Item: 6
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
Approving a second 60-day extension through the attached Continuing Resolution ensures that the City can keep operating while staff and the Interim City Manager work to finalize the FY 2025/26 budget for Council’s review and adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approving the Continuing Resolution allows the City to continue its daily operations, service delivery and meet payroll and other financial obligations without interruptions.
ALTERNATIVES:
Council could opt not to approve the Continuing Resolution. This is not recommended because the impact will be that City operations are suspended because there is no legal authorization to spend City funds.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Resolution No. 1241“Authorizing A Temporary Extension Of Appropriations For Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Pending Adoption Of The Annual Budget”
2. Resolution No. 1237 “Authorizing A Temporary Extension Of Appropriations For Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Pending Adoption Of The Annual Budget” (for a period of 60 days) Approved June 27, 2025 and submitted for information.
Review Information:
City Manager Review: ☒ Legal Review: ☒ Planner Review: ☐ Engineer: ☐ Comments:
86 Agenda Item: 6
RESOLUTION NO. 1241
RESOLUTION NO. 1241
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLUE LAKE,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING A TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025–2026 PENDING ADOPTION OF THE
ANNUAL BUDGET
WHEREAS, the City of Blue Lake, a general law city, is required by California law to adopt an annual budget for each fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30; and WHEREAS, the City Council has not yet adopted the annual operating and capital budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 1237 on June 27, 2025, authorizing temporary appropriations for a 60-day period to provide for the continued operation of the City pending adoption of the new budget; and WHEREAS, due a extenuating circumstances, additional time is required to complete the budget process, and it is therefore necessary to extend temporary appropriations to ensure continuity of municipal operations and services; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 4 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 4 of the California Government Code and related provisions authorize the City Council to approve appropriations and expenditures by resolution, provided such actions are duly adopted and recorded.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Blue Lake as follows:
1. Temporary Authority to Expend Funds. The Interim City Manager is hereby authorized to continue expenditures necessary for the ordinary and ongoing operations of the City. Expenditures shall not exceed a prorated monthly share (one-twelfth per month) of the appropriations approved in the Fiscal Year 2024–2025 budget, unless otherwise approved by the City Council.
2. Duration. This authority shall remain in effect until the earlier of: (a) adoption of the official Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget by the City Council, or (b) sixty (60) days from the date of this Resolution, unless extended by further action of the Council.
3. Limitations. No new capital projects or significant new expenditures shall be initiated during this interim period without prior approval of the City Council. 87 Agenda Item: 6
RESOLUTION NO. 1241
4. Reporting. If the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 budget has not been adopted prior to expiration of this Resolution, the City Manager shall present to the Council a written report on the status of the budget process and options for further action.
5. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this ___ day of __________, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
________________________
John Sawatzky, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Dani Burkhart
City Clerk, City of Blue Lake
88 89
90 Agenda Item: 7
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
Agenda Item #: 7
Date: August 19, 2025 For Meeting Of: August 26, 2025
Subject: Consideration of Transition from Verbatim to Action-Style Minutes Recommended Action: That the City Council:
1. Discuss Use of Brief Summary-style Minutes for City Council; and
2. Provide direction to staff as appropriate regarding the preferred minute format of City Council minutes.
SUMMARY:
Open for discussion that the City Council discuss and consider transitioning the City of Blue Lake’s meeting minutes from verbatim-style to brief summary-style minutes. Continue discussion to a future meeting for additional discussion and direction if necessary.
BACKGROUND:
California Government Code requires that the City Clerk maintain a journal of proceedings of the City Council. These minutes are retained permanently, may be subpoenaed, and are often reviewed by auditors to confirm Council authorizations for expenditures.
The City of Blue Lake has used a combination of verbatim minutes (capturing nearly every statement made during a meeting) and brief summary-style minutes. While comprehensive, the verbatim format requires substantial staff resources and may contribute to delays in the adoption of final minutes.
The previous City Manager was responsible for both leading staff report presentations and preparing the minutes, relying on post-meeting review of video recordings to capture and transcribe the proceedings.
This approach was highly time-consuming and detracted from core management responsibilities.
To address this burden, the City created a Deputy City Clerk position and appointed a Deputy Clerk on May 13, 2025. The Deputy Clerk is compensated at $29.99 per hour with no additional benefits and currently requires 20–40 hours per pay period (depending on the complexity and contentiousness of the meeting) to transcribe and prepare draft minutes. A general rule of thumb is that one hour of clear audio can take 2-4 hours, or longer, to transcribe verbatim, depending on the topic.
City of Blue Lake
Staff Report
91 Agenda Item: 7
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
According to the City of Fairfax (California) City Clerk, approximately 75% of California cities use action minutes, 23% use brief summary minutes, while only 2% continue to use verbatim minutes. That reinforces what the professional guidelines suggest—that brief summary and action minutes are both efficient and legally sufficient, while verbatim minutes are now the exception.
BACKGROUND:
The Government Code does not mandate a specific style of minutes, only that proceedings and final actions be recorded. The City Clerks Association of California issued guidelines (attached) that identify action or brief summary minutes as the most appropriate, efficient, and legally sufficient formats.
Continuing with verbatim minutes in Blue Lake is neither cost-effective nor sustainable. Transitioning to brief summary or action minutes would:
• Align the City with common practice among California municipalities. • Reduce staff workload and costs by eliminating the need for lengthy transcription. • Provide a timely and accurate record of Council decisions. • Maintain transparency through the City’s agendas, staff reports, and video recordings. • Ensure sustainability given the current staffing vacancy.
FISCAL IMPACT:
At the current compensation rate of $29.99/hour, verbatim minutes preparation requires a range between 20–40 hours per pay period, for the City Council and Planning Commission meetings, which equates to approximately $15,600–$31,200 annually, not including staff review of the minutes prior to submittal into agenda packets for review and approval. Transitioning to brief summary or action minutes is expected to reduce these costs and allow limited staff resources to be redirected toward higher-priority tasks.
ATTACHMENT:
1. City Clerks Association of California Guidelines for Preparing Minutes for Governmental Agencies (2015)
Review Information:
City Manager Review: ☒ Legal Review: ☐ Planner Review: ☐ Engineer: ☐ Comments:
92 9/18/2015
CITY CLERKS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
GUIDELINES FOR
PREPARING MINUTES FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
PURPOSE
The City Clerks Association of California issues these guidelines as a tool for government agencies to transition to minutes styles that are efficient, succinct, cost-effective for staff to prepare, and more appropriately aligned with the intent of the Government Code.
FINDINGS
• Legislative bodies must act, and must be seen to act, within the laws of the State of California and local charters, if applicable. Being seen to act within the law is important, because the legislative body’s decisions may be subject to external scrutiny by the public, auditors, or judicial inquiry.
Minutes testify that the correct procedures for decision-making were followed. • Legislative body minutes shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the intent of the Government Code. Relevant Government Codes are as follows:
Government Code 40801. The city clerk shall keep an accurate record of the proceeding of the legislative body and the board of equalization in books bearing appropriate titles and devoted exclusively to such purposes, respectively. The books shall have a comprehensive general index. Government Code 36814. The council shall cause the clerk to keep a correct record of its proceedings. At the request of a member, the city clerk shall enter the ayes and noes in the journal. Government Code 54953(c)(2). The legislative body of a local agency shall publicly report any action taken and the vote or abstention on that action of each member present for the action. Government Code 53232.3(d). Members of a legislative body shall provide brief reports on meetings attended at the expense of the local agency at the next regular meeting of the legislative body. • All components of minutes shall be for the primary purpose of memorializing decisions made by the legislative body. Any minute component that does not serve this primary purpose should be minimized or eliminated; this includes comments made by individual body members and members of the public.
GUIDELINES
• Minutes should provide a record of a) when and where a meeting took place, and who was present (including member absences, late arrivals, departures, adjournment time); b) type of meeting (Regular/Special/Adjourned Regular); c) what was considered; d) what was decided; and e) agreed upon follow-up action. Pursuant to Government Code 54953(c)(2), minutes shall report any action taken and the vote or abstention on that action of each member present for the action. • Appropriate styles are action minutes or brief summary minutes. Verbatim style minutes should not be used, because verbatim or lengthy summary minutes do not serve the intent of the Government Code, which is to record the proceedings of the legislative body. • Action minutes merely record final decisions made.
93
• Brief summary minutes, at a minimum, record the final decisions made; and, at a maximum, may record what advice the body was given to enable it to make its decisions, the body’s thought process in making the decision, and the final decisions made. Emphasis is given on the body’s thought process, not individual members’ thought processes. The minutes should summarize only the main points which arose in discussion if and only if they are relevant to the decision. • Comments made by members such as “for the record” or “for the minutes” have no bearing on the content of minutes and are given no greater and no lesser consideration than other comments made at the public meeting. Members seeking to memorialize comments should incorporate such verbiage into the language of the motion. As an alternative, members may submit written statements to be retained with the agenda item.
• Since the main purpose of minutes is to record the legislative body’s decision, summary minutes should be brief. By concentrating on the legislative body’s decision, brief summary minutes will provide only a select recording of what was discussed at the meeting. Brief summary minutes should not attempt to reproduce, however summarily, what every speaker said. It should only record the essence of the discussion and include the main threads that lead to the body’s conclusion. • To the fullest extent possible, brief summary minutes should be impersonal and should not attribute views to individual persons. Only the positions and decisions taken by the whole legislative body are relevant, not those of individual members. The passive voice is favored i.e. “It was suggested that…,” “It was generally felt that...,” “It was questioned whether…,” “During discussion, it was clarified…” • There are reasons for not attributing comments to specific speakers. First, it makes for brevity--a point can be recorded more concisely in impersonal form. Second, a point raised by one speaker will often be further developed by others—in impersonal brief summary minutes, only the fully-developed point is recorded in its final form. Third, points by several speakers can be consolidated into a single paragraph. Fourth, the impersonal style averts future corrections to minutes. • While the primary purpose of minutes is to memorialize decisions made by the legislative body as a whole, under limited circumstances it is necessary and/or appropriate to attribute comments to individual members including:
o Individual member’s reports pursuant to Government Code 53232.3(d) (enacted by AB 1234, 2005). The minute record shall include the type of meeting attended at the expense of the local agency and the subject matter.
o Individual member’s reports on intergovernmental agencies. Brief summary minutes should include the type of meeting at a minimum, and, at the maximum, include the subject matter. o Individuals speaking under public comment. Brief summary minutes shall, at a minimum, list the public member’s name (if provided); and, at a maximum, include the overall topic and stance/position. Such as Mr. Jones spoke in opposition to the Project X. Being mindful that the minutes are recordings of the legislative body’s proceedings, it is not appropriate to include detail of individual comments. There is an exception for public testimony provided during public hearings, for which the minutes shall include the speaker’s name (if provided) and a summary position of the speaker (i.e., supported or opposed). • For purposes of meeting Government Code 36814 and/or 54953(c)(2), the city clerk should enter the ayes and noes in the minutes. For informal consensus (i.e. providing staff direction), it is appropriate to note the dissention of one or more members by, at a minimum, stating the dissenting member’s name and dissention, such as “Mr. Jones dissented,” and at a maximum to also include a brief reason, such as “Mr. Jones dissented citing budget concerns.”
• While the primary purpose of legislative body meetings is for the legislative body to take legislative action and make decisions to advance agency business, it is acknowledged that agency meetings also 94
serve as platforms for ceremonial presentations and reports on social and community events. At a minimum, brief summary minutes should identify that presentations were made and event reports were given; and, at a maximum, report only the subject matter of the presentation or event. • For community workshops and town hall meetings subject to the Brown Act, brief summary minutes, at a maximum, record the overall topic, provided that no legislative actions were taken. It is advisable to note in the minutes that no legislative action was taken. • The guidelines contained herein are applicable to committees and commissions subject to the Brown Act. It is acknowledged that many boards and commissions take few legislative actions, and the tendency is to include more detail in the minutes on event reports and planning. At a maximum, brief summary minutes may include key points of the final reports or determinations, and all comments shall be attributable to the entire body and not attributable to individual members. • Brief summary minutes shall serve to clarify decisions taken and who is expected to execute the decisions. It is not necessary to write down all action points or all tasks identified. Minutes shall not serve as a substitute for task lists, and the focus shall remain on the final decisions made by the legislative body.
• The language of brief summary minutes should be relatively restrained and neutral, however impassioned the discussion. Brief summary minutes will record the substance of the point in an intemperate way.
• To the fullest extent possible, minutes should be self-contained to be intelligible without reference to other documents.
• As a general rule, individual member comments are not identified in the brief summary minutes of discussions, and minutes should concentrate on the collective body’s thought process and the collective decisions made by the majority, not individuals. • Brief summary minutes should concentrate on central issues germane to the final decision. The record of the discussion should be presented in a logical sequence, rather than reproduced in the actual order they were made in discussion.
• The legislative body may wish to choose more, substantive (summary) minutes if there’s no archival audio/video backup recording available of its proceedings. If audio/video recording is available for future reference, minute notations can be more limited (action). 95 Agenda Item: 8
Submitted By: Jill K Duffy, Interim City Manager
Agenda Item #: 8
Date: August 20, 2025 For Meeting Of: August 26, 2025
Subject: Receive Report and Survey Permission Request from the Safety Commission
Recommended Action: That the City Council:
1. Receive a Report from Ted Hale, Safety Commission; and
2. Provide direction to staff as appropriate.
SUMMARY:
Council is requested to formally receive the report and recommendations submitted by Safety Commissioner Ted Hale, and to provide direction on any follow-up actions or next steps.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact for receiving report.
Review Information:
City Manager Review: ☒ Legal Review: ☐ Planner Review: ☐ Engineer: ☐ Comments:
City of Blue Lake
Staff Report
96