CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 1 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Sawatzky called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Council, staff and public stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. 3 3. ROLL CALL AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL. City Manager Duffy 4 established a quorum of Council members. Present: Mayor Sawatzky, Councilmember Napier, 5 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso, Councilmember Scafani and Councilmember Bayles. Staff 6 members present included Jill Duffy, City Manager, Emily Wood, Director of Parks and 7 Recreation, Ryan Plotz, General Counsel and Justin Goad, Videographer. 8 4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. Motion by Councilmember Scafani/Second by 9 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso to approve the agenda as presented. Motion passed 10 unanimously.
5. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA (1 11 st Session 6:35 PM to 7:00 PM) 12 Public Comment on Closed Session agenda item(s) – Julie Christie addressed 13 Council to support the closed session and report out. City Manager Duffy directed 14 Councilmembers to email from Kent Sawatzky.
15 16 Council convened into Closed Session at City Hall Conference Room at 6:35 pm for the 17 purpose of Conference With Labor Negotiators with Agency designated 18 representatives: Elise Scafani, Councilmember; Kat Napier, Councilmember; Ryan Plotz 19 (Attorney for the City) to discuss the Unrepresented employee: City Manager 20 21 Report out of Closed Session – at 7:02 pm, Council reconvened in Skinner Store 22 where Ryan Plotz, General Counsel (via Zoom) reported out that Council considered the 23 comprehensive proposal included in the packet (agenda item 10) and desired to move 24 forward with agreement in Open Session without amendment. Motion by 25 Councilmember Napier/Second by Councilmember Bayles, with unanimous 26 approval.
27 6. PUBLIC COMMENT
28 The following persons addressed Council:
29 • Erin McClure – alleged someone from City Hall poisoned her dogs, that the City 30 Manager was not acting with transparency and demanded an immediate retraction of the 31 letter issued by General Counsel with an apology by City Counsel. 32 • Karina Green-Thanked Councilmembers and staff for their assistance in responding to the flooding conditions on Broderick and Chartin on Sunday, December 21st 33 . She noted
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall that this is the 3 34 rd winter in a row with flooding, that sandbags are not enough to protect 35 the properties and requested Council hold a meeting to prioritize plan development to 36 address drainage issues.
37 • Rebecca Collins – expressed the need for City Council to secure a City Clerk. 38 • Julie Christie – Wished everyone a Happy New Year and thanked the Council and City 39 Manager for all their efforts.
40 • Angela Dare – Inquired about the (missing) Public Commenters in the minutes from 41 November 25, 2025.
42 7. CONSENT AGENDA
43 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso requested the City Council Minutes for 7a. April 22, 2025 be 44 pulled for discussion and correction, along with 7b. City Council Minutes for October 28, 2025, 45 7c City Council Minutes for November 25, 2025, with a correction to 7e City Council Minutes for 46 December 2, 2025 (stated “2026”).
47 48 Councilmember Scafani requested item 7f. SB 707 – Brown Act Modernization Act – 49 Informational Only be pulled for discussion.
50 51 After discussion regarding necessary correction due, primarily, to AI transcription errors, 52 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso motioned approval of items 7d through 7j for approval, with 53 remaining items to returning to the Council at their January meeting/Second by Councilmember 54 Scafani. Motion passed 4:1 vote, with Napier voting nay. 55 56 a. City Council Minutes for April 22, 2025 (correct/return January) 57 b. City Council Minutes for October 28, 2025 (correct/return January) 58 c. City Council Minutes for November 25, 2025 (correct/return January) 59 d. City Council Minutes for December 2, 2025 -correction of “2026” 60 e. City Council Minutes for December 6, 2026 – Special Meeting 61 f. SB 707 – Brown Act Modernization Act – Informational Only 62 g. City Council Board and Committee 2026 Assignments h. Approve Request for Proposal for 7 63 th Cycle Housing Element Planning Services and 64 Initiate Solicitation Process
65 i. Receive Disbursements for period of November 1-November 30, 2025 66 j. Receive Financial Quarterly Report for period of July 1 through September 30, 2025 67 CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 68 PUBLIC HEARING ITEM(S)
69 70 8. COMFORT VARIANCE HEARING – Continuation of Application #025-067- 71 011/2025. Variance for Jace and Lorriane Comfort to allow the construction of a new garage 72 located within the required 15-foot side yard setback pursuant to Municipal Code Section 73 17.24.180(C)(4)(b). Following the staff report by Penelope Kirsch, SHN Planner, 74 Councilmember Napier posed clarifying questions about the project. The applicant’s 75 contractor Frank Golsalves provided additional information, as did co-applicant Lorraine 76 Comfort. The applicant’s contractor and Councilmember Napier discussed items on a map, 77 off microphone. Mayor Sawatzky called for a five minute recess at 8:00 pm. Council 78 reconvened at 8:05 pm.
79 80 Mayor Sawatzky called for Public Comment. Frank Golsalves provided public comment 81 responding to Council members comments and questions. 82 83 Garry Rees, SHN Planner, provided a summary of updated of information regarding 1) 84 Building and/or Fire Code Requirements for Garage Setbacks; and 2) Building and/or Fire 85 Code Requirements for Setbacks Between Structures and responses received from the Blue 86 Lake Fire Department, City Public Works and City Building Official. Additionally, information 87 was presented regarding verification of Alley Abandonment, as requested at the meeting of November 25th 88 .
89 90 Motion by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso/Second by Bayles to approve the variance and 91 adopt Resolution 1245, read by title only “Resolution of the City Council of the City of Blue 92 Lake Approving the Variance Application for Jace and Lorraine Comfort to Allow the 93 Construction of a New Garage Within the Side Year Setback”. Motion passed 4:1, with 94 Napier dissenting.
95 96 9. CONDUCT SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 546 – An Ordinance of the City 97 Council of Blue Lake Adopting Amendments to Title 17, Zoning Regulations of the Blue 98 Lake Municipal Code, By Adding Section 17.20.070, Multi-Family Or MF Combining Zone, 99 and Amending the Zoning Map to Apply The Multi-Family Combining Zone to a 1-Acre 100 Portion of Assessor’s Parcel Number 025-201-023 and Adopting a Mitigate Negative 101 Declaration; Waive Reading of the Text and Consent to Read by Title Only. 102
103 Councilmember Bayles asked Garry Rees for the rationale for this particular site. Garry 104 explained that HCD asked that the City look for those city parcels 1 acre or larger, and that 105 this lot was preferrable. The Danco planned lot was not looked at because it was already 106 being considered for development and that HCD could determine that its inclusion would be 107 double counting.
108
109
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 110 Considerable information was presented by Councilmember Bayles regarding the Mad River 111 levee, under co-management between the City and the County, with responses by Garry 112 Rees. There is a need to re-establish coordination with the City and County to possible 113 secure a grant that could assess levee condition.
114
115 Councilmember Scafani thanked Garry Rees and stated she was comfortable moving 116 forward.
117 Public Comment Received from:
118 Debra Heberly – Expressed appreciation for information presented by Councilmember 119 Bayles and her position on this matter.
120 Rebecca Collins – Echoed both Debra’s appreciation and Councilmember Bayles work. 121 Noted there’s some policy issues and need to coordinate work with the County (Dept. 122 Public Works) on the levees.
123 Julie Christie – Expressed appreciation for the concerns Councilmember Bayles raised, 124 and believes there are a number of missed opportunities related to Powers Creek and 125 the City’s General Plan. She noted that the Blue Lake Rancheria also conducted some 126 studies, and there are flooding concerns and willows. 127 Motion by Councilmember Napier/Second by Scafani to conduct a second reading by 128 title and approve Ordinance 564. Roll call vote: Ayes: Napier, Lewis-Lusso, Sawatzky 129 and Scafani. No: Bayles. Motion passes 4:1, with Bayles dissenting. 130
131 ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION OR ACTION
132
133 10. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT 134 AGREEMENT WITH JENNIE SHORT
135
136 Public Comment:
137 o Jennie Short addressed Council and looks forward to the opportunity to work on 138 behalf of the City.
139 o Julie Christie – expressed support for the appointment and hiring of Ms. Short, 140 and appreciation to interim City Manager Duffy
141 o Karina Green – Posed a question to Ms. Short asking whether residents will have 142 direct access to staff.
143 o Rebecca Collins -Encourages Ms. Short to secure a City Clerk 144 o Angela Dare – Welcomed Ms. Short.
145
146
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 147
148 Motion by Councilmember Scafani/Second by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso to 1.) appoint 149 Jennie Short as City Manager effective January 5, 2026; and 2) approve the employment 150 contract. Voice Vote: Ayes: Bayles, Napier, Lewis-Lusso, Sawatzky and Scafani. Noes:
151 None. Motion passes unanimously 5:0
152
153 11. RECEIVE AND APPROVE REVISED FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 BUDGET, APPROVE 154 RESOLUTION 1248; TAKE ACTION AS APPROPRIATE
155 Interim City Manager Duffy provided a presentation outlining a summary of the budgetary 156 revisions and recommendations for the FY 2025-26 Budget. This included program 157 reduction/discontinuance and operational recommendations to achieve the Council goals set forth at the November 25th 158 council meeting that could resolve the total estimated budget deficit 159 of over $206,541 to being balanced. Specifically, Council requested that the General Fund 160 (Fund 10) deficit of $170,647 be balanced. The revised budget version presented December 23rd 161 had a preliminary surplus budget of $2,497, pending confirmation from the City’s 162 accountant.
163
164 Interim City Manager Duffy noted staff had continued budget revisions up to the point of agenda/staff report distribution on Friday, December 19 165 th with a notation that those latest 166 figures were submitted to the City’s accountant with a request for his final review and 167 clarification on several items listed below.
168
169 During this review the following were noted:
170
171 1. In Fund 60 and Fund 70, staff identified that the Part Time Labor Budget (GL 5002) 172 was over-cushioned in the original July 2025 draft budget, in part because the on-call and 173 rounds used by Full-Time employees was attributed to the incorrect line item. The 174 accountant agrees that this appears to have created a double allocation in both Fund 60 175 and 70 with GL Line 5002 and 5014.
176
177 2. Town Square loan repayment was NOT included in the draft July budget, and 178 represents an expenditure of $11,250.
179
180 3. Title Correction for Fund 38 on the budgetary layout sheet – not substantive, but clean 181 up.
182
183
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 184
185 4. A need to refine City Hall personnel staff cost estimates. The City Clerk position was 186 included in the July draft budget, but only at a part-time rate. Council had requested a full 187 time position.
188
189 5. Need for clarification on CDBG programs and allocations. 190
191 6. Accountant needs to submit appropriations transfer amounts for inclusion on the 192 resolution approving the fiscal year budget.
193
For the reasons above, Council was asked to approve Resolution 1248 to approve a 4th 194 195 extension to continue the FY 24-25 budget so staff could refine the above information and 196 complete the budget.
197
198 Councilmember Napier reiterated that she wants to see a Special Fund established specifically 199 for the Bike & Skate Park. Staff clarified that revenues and expenditures are tracked internally 200 to the General Fund 10, Dept. 445, under a Project Code with the ability to produce reports 201 detailing activities within the account. Councilmember Napier identified that the concern was 202 related to General Funds could be moved and desired to see that revenues and expenditures 203 be managed as a Special Fund so tracking and authorizations to transfer funds are handled in a 204 transparent manner.
205
206 Public Comment:
207 o Debra Heberly – Supports continuation of the greenwaste program and supports 208 resumption of Pickleball.
209 o Karina Green – Desires to see funding included for drainage infrastructure and upgrades. 210 o Julie Christie – Desires Blue Lake to advocate for additional funding/representation 211 during the County’s budgetary process.
212
213 Motion by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso/Second by Councilmember Bayles to adopt 214 Resolution 1248 “Authorizing a Temporary Extension of Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2024-25 215 Pending Adoption of the Annual Budget. Voice Vote: Ayes: Bayles, Napier, Lewis-Lusso, 216 Sawatzky and Scafani. Noes: None. Motion passes unanimously 5:0 217
218
219
220
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 221 12. CONDUCT SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 549, An Ordinance Amending 222 Chapter 13.12 Regulating Cross Connections Control
223
224 Public Comment: None Received.
225
226 Motion by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso/Second by Councilmember Scafani to adopt 227 Ordinance 549 to Amend Chapter 13.12 Regulating Cross Connections Control by reading title. 228 Roll Call Vote Vote: Ayes: Bayles, Napier, Lewis-Lusso, Sawatzky and Scafani. Noes:
229 None. Motion passes unanimously 5:0
230
231
232 13. CONDUCT SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 545 - An Ordinance of the City 233 Council of the City Of Blue Lake Adopting The State Of California Fire Hazard Severity Zone 234 Map Designating Moderate And High Fire Hazard Areas In The City Of Blue Lake 235
236 Public Comment: None Received.
237
238 Motion by Councilmember Scafani/Second by Councilmember Napier to adopt Ordinance 239 545 to Adopt the State of California Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map Designating Moderate and 240 High Fire Hazard Areas in the City of Blue Lake. Roll Call Vote Vote: Ayes: Bayles, Napier, 241 Lewis-Lusso, Sawatzky and Scafani. Noes: None. Motion passes unanimously 5:0 242
243
244 14. COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE - Written correspondence from Kent Sawatzky provided 245 in packet and two additional emails from Mr. Sawatzky submitted prior to the meeting, and an 246 email from Aiyana Gregori.
247
248 15. REPORTS OF COUNCIL AND STAFF
249 a. Ad hoc Committee Reports-continue to next meeting. 250 b. Commission Updates – continue to next meeting.
251 c. City Manager Report – City Manager Duffy noted that over the past 3 weeks she had 252 been preparing and submitting information for various agency audits (e.g. RRDEC, 253 HCAOG) and State reports (e.g. SB 1, CalRecycle, and Local Streets and Road 254 funding). Additionally submittal of application for CalRecycle’s Cities/County non255 competitve grant funding and claim submittals to HCAOG for TDA, RSTP and Bike 256 and Pedestrian fund allocations.
257
258 16. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS BY REQUESTED BY COUNCIL – continue to next meeting. 259
260
CITY OF BLUE LAKE
CALIFORNIA
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
December 23, 2025~ 6:30 p.m. ~Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 261 17. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA:
262
263 a. Public Comment on Closed Session agenda item(s). None Received 264
265 b. Council convened into Closed Session at City Hall Conference Room at 10:55 pm for the 266 purpose of CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS 267 Property: Portions of APN Nos. 312-131-037-000, 312-131-045-0003, 312-131-046-000 268 and 312-190-010-000, in the unincorporated area of the County of Humboldt, State of 269 California. Under negotiation: Price and terms.
270
271 c. Report Out of Closed Session. Council reconvened at 11:25 at the Skinner Store for a 272 report out of Closed Session. No action to report out. 273
274 18. ADJOURN
275
276 Prepared and submitted by Jill K Duffy, Acting City Clerk