1 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
24, February 2026 ~ 6:30pm ~ 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 3 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4 5 3. ROLL CALL AND ESTABLISH A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL
6 7 COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: City Clerk Samantha Green established a quorum of 8 council members: Present: Mayor John Sawatzky, Council Member Kat Napier, Council 9 Member Terri Bayles, Council Member Michelle Lewis-Lusso 10 11 COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Mayor Pro Tem Scafani
12 (Note: Mayor Pro Tem Scafani arrived immediately after roll call and participated in 13 the meeting).
14 STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Jennie Short, City Clerk Samantha Green, Park and 15 Recreation Director Emily Wood, and Videographer Justin Goad. 16 17 4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – Motion by Council Member Napier to amend 18 agenda and move the consent agenda after agenda item 15 above closed session. 19 Second by Council Member Bayles.
20 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously
21 22 5. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
23 The following persons addressed Council:
24 • Julie Christie: Requesting improvements to audio for council meetings, 25 both in-person and virtually
26 • Lin Glenn: Addressed ongoing issues with Verizon users not being able to 27 make calls to city hall, the fire department, the school, or the resource 28 center
29 30 ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION OR ACTION
31 32 6. PARKS AND RECREATION APPOINTMENT
33 The terms of three (3) of the five City’s Park and Recreation Commissioners were set to 34 expire on January 30th 2026, and there are two vacancies for an unexpired term ending 35 January 2027. Two of the three applicants were reappointed during the city council meeting 36 held on Jan 27th 2026. City Council is asked to reconsider Tim Daniels for appointment to 37 the partial term ending January 2027
38 39
2 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
24, February 2026 ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 40 Public Comment:
41 • Julie Christie: Commemorated Tim and feels that appointing Tim is a good move. 42 43 Motion by Council Member Napier to appoint Tim Daniels to the Parks and Recreation 44 Commission with a partial term ending in January 2027, Second by Council Member 45 Lewis-Lusso.
46 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously
47 48 7. RFP – SEVENTH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT – AWARD CONTRACT TO 49 PLANWEST PARTNERS
50 The City is required to prepare an update to the Housing Element of the City’s General Plan 51 for the Seventh Cycle (June 30, 2027 – July 15, 2035). Per a Memorandum of 52 Understanding with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the 53 City is required to have a consultant in place to assist the City with updating its Housing 54 Element for the Seventh Cycle by March 31, 2026. To comply with this timeline, the City 55 released a request for proposals (RFP) on January 6, 2026. Proposals were due by 56 February 6, 2026 and three proposals were received in response to the RFP 57 58 Public Comment:
59 • Julie Christie: Asked about CDBG funding, feels that SHN has taken over planning, 60 and would like to see more local consultant outreach. Feels that Gateway Plan in 61 Arcata was a disaster
62 63 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to authorize the City Manager to negotiate a 64 Professional Service Agreement with Planwest Partners, Inc. for planning services for the 65 Seventh Cycle Housing Element Update. Second by Council Member Lewis-Lusso. 66 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously
67 68 8. ADOPT RESOLUTION 1254 FOR UPDATE TO PLANNING, ZONING, AND LAND USE 69 FEE STRUCTURE
70 On November 30, 2010, City Council adopted resolution 969 that implemented a cost 71 recovery system with applicants providing deposits against which the costs for processing 72 their applications were billed. When the deposit was used up, the City Manager would 73 supply an estimate of the cost to complete the remaining work, and the applicant would then 74 supply an additional deposit. The existing fee structure and deposit amounts have not been 75 updated by the City for fifteen years. The costs for processing various permits and approvals 76 have since increased significantly. In addition, customers are disgruntled when they find out 77 that the amount they pay under the cost recovery system is significantly higher than the 78 deposit would indicate. Updated deposit rates that are more consistent with the actual cost 79 recovery amounts incurred for those permits are needed to better inform our customers. 80 3
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
24, February 2026 ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 81 Public Comment:
82 • Julie Christie: Understands inflation, urging city to think about the process when 83 inflating rates. Hopes that the city can continue moving forward so that people feel 84 comfortable and confident spending money.
85 86 Motion by Council Member Lewis-Lusso to Approve Resolution 1254 “A Resolution of 87 the City Council of the City of Blue Lake Updating Various Deposits to Cover the Cost of 88 Planning, Zoning, and Land Use Approvals, Establishing Other Miscellaneous Charges from 89 Resolution 969 with an effective date of April 1, 2026 with corrections to Appendix A-9. Second 90 by Council Member Bayles
91 92 Roll call vote:
93 Aye: Mayor Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Scafani, Council Member Napier, Council Member 94 Lewis-Lusso, Council Member Bayles
95 Noes: None
96 Motion passed unanimously
97 98 9. PARKS AND RECREATION FEE UPDATE- STAFF REPORT SUPPLEMENTAL TO 99 COUNCIL PACKET
100 A Parks and Rec draft fee schedule has been created to include fee adjustments and new 101 line items for cost recovery purposes related to special events and recreation programming. 102 Feedback is requested; including consideration for cost recovery items that may not have 103 been included, proposed fees, defining what constitutes a minor/major special event, and 104 evaluating whether the proposed fee schedule sufficiently captures community impact with 105 respect to cost recovery for special events.
106
107 Public Comment:
108 • Rebecca Collins: Concerned about water/toilets and urging that the city look into 109 the logistics and safety of camping. Would like assigned parking 110 • Lin Glenn: Likes councils’ suggestion of looking into the history of events 111 • Julie Christie: Asking that the community is kept in mind to stay affordable. 112 Suggested having a sliding scale. Expressed concerns with parking at Arena and 113 Taylor way. Suggested asking for volunteers to help with clean up needs 114
115 NO ACTION WAS TAKEN: Emily, the Parks and Recreation Director, will come back with 116 revisions per councils’ recommendations for further discussion at the next council meeting. 117
118 Council took a break at 8:20 p.m. and resumed at 8:29 p.m. 119
4 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
24, February 2026 ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 120 10.ADOPT RESOLUTION 1255 IMPLEMENTING THE ADOPTED WATER AND SEWER 121 RATE INCREASE FOR 2026 AND UPDATE THE TURBIDITY REDUCTION FEE PASS 122 THROUGH
123 City Council adopted Resolutions 1213 and 1214 on January 24, 2023, containing Exhibit A 124 with 5-year water and sewer rates with 2023 rates effective as of February 20, 2023.
Thereafter, each subsequent year’s rate will be effective on February 20th 125 of each year. 126 Exhibit A specified that “The turbidity reduction fee from the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water 127 District (HBMWD) will be passed directly to the customer in the form of a fee. This will be 128 determined by the HBMWD and indicated on the customer’s bill.” The TRF charge from 129 HBMWD has increased, but the pass-through amount was never calculated and increased. 130
131 Public Comment:
132 • Julie Christie: Suggested having a town hall to address increases. 133
134 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to approve Resolution 1255 “A Resolution of the City 135 Council of the City of Blue Lake confirming Implementation of the Adopted Water and Sewage 136 Rate Schedule for FY 25-26 and Updating the Turbidity Reduction Fee Pass Through Amount” 137 Second by Council Member Bayles
138
139 Roll call vote:
140 Aye: Mayor Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Scafani, Council Member Napier, Council Member 141 Lewis-Lusso, Council Member Bayles
142 Noes: None
143 Motion passed unanimously
144
145 11.PRESENTATION BY AD HOC COMMITTEE REGARDING COMMISSIONS 146 STRUCTURE, POSSIBLE CONSOLIDATION, AND MEETING FREQUENCY 147 The AdHoc Committee has met several times to discuss potential options for commission 148 restructuring and/or consolidation.
149
150 Public Comment:
151 • Lin Glenn: Believes that there is already existing structure to help with the issues 152 being addressed. Referenced the ordinances and feels there is a lack of 153 consistency across commissions and not enough guidance from council. Feels that 154 further outreach and establishment of goals would help with recruitment of 155 commissioners.
156 • Rebecca Collins: Acknowledged lack of goals/objectives amongst commissions. 157 Echoed that council needs to provide more guidance and that consolidation won’t 158 help.
5 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
24, February 2026 ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 159 • Julie Christie: Feels that the need to streamline processes is valid and recruitment 160 of commissions is difficult. Sees potential for consolidation of Arts & Heritage, 161 Parks & Recreation, and Economic Development
162 • Justin Goad: Prefers to keep commissions as is. Completely against full 163 consolidation, but open to partial consolidation. Urges council to be careful about 164 appointment/recruitment process.
165
166 NO ACTION WAS TAKEN: Will revisit the item for further discussion with potential plan and 167 direction on how to move forward
168
169 12.COUNCIL CORRESPONDENCE: None
170
171 13.REPORTS OF COUNCIL AND STAFF
172 a. Ad hoc Committee Reports
173 i. None
174 b. Commission Updates
175 i. HWMA: Considering whether to move forward with proposal with studying 176 organics processing. Looking at proposal to build facility to process 177 organics aka food and green waste.
178 ii. HCOG: HCD approved arena allocation designations that were submitted, 179 Eureka may be contesting. No timeline. Designated bus stop areas, but 180 may affect future planning for areas.
181 iii. REDAC: Cancelled
182 c. City Manager Report
183 i. NOAA: Mad River reaching critical stages and talked with county about 184 how to try and identify what has been contributing to higher levels of water 185 and flooding
186 ii. Cannifest: Not happening this year, hopeful for next year. 187
188 Public Comment:
189 • Julie Christie: Need support of city to get county to help mitigate water issues. 190
191 14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
192 a. Building Permit Fee Updates
193 b. Amending Blue Lake Municipal Code Chapter 13.12 Regulating Cross 194 Connections
195 c. Bring Back Parks and Recreation Fees
196 d. Dog House Lease
197 e. Update Ordinance in Chapter 13.08 section 050 C Regarding City Clerk and 198 Water & Sewer Billing
199 f. Updated JPA for RREDC (potential special meeting) 6 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
24, February 2026 ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 200 g. Update Signatories on Tri Counties Bank Accounts (potential special meeting) 201 h. Closing the Office to the Public on Fridays
202 i. Two Meetings Per Month
203
204 15.CONSENT AGENDA
a. City Council Minutes for January 20th 205 , 2026- Special Meeting b. City Council Minutes for January 27th 206 , 2026- Regular Meeting 207 c. Blue Lake Fieldbrook Little League Lease
208 d. Humboldt Fast Pitch
209 e. Dog House Lease
210
211 Council Member Lewis Lusso requested to pull item 6e for discussion to get 212 clarification about inspection timeframe due to conflicting information on the lease. 213 Council continued discussion regarding terms of lease. 214
215 Public Comment:
216 • Julie Christie: Did not make a request to pull any consent items but commented on 217 fee schedule.
218
219 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to approve all consent agenda a-d. Second by 220 Council Member Napier
221 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously
222
223 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to amend Dog House contract to M-F leaving it 224 open on weekends for other rentals. Second by Lewis-Lusso 225 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously
226
227 Public Comment:
228 • Julie Christie: Suggested making a motion, letting it die, and then starting a new one 229 if necessary. Agrees with Scafani regarding concession stand, as it’s historically been 230 available for others to use. Suggested addressing this again in closed session for 231 contract negotiations.
232
233 16. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA:
234
235 Public Comment:
236 • Julie Christie: Commented on attorney fees, hoping that issues are being resolved. 237
238 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to move into closed session. Second by Council 239 Member Bayles.
240 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously
7 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
24, February 2026 ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting
Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 241 Council convened into Closed Session at 10:23p.m for the purpose of:
242 CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
243 Property: Approximately three (3) acres of land that is a portion of City owned 244 Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 312-161-018-000 and 312-161-015-000 245 Agency Negotiator: John Sawatzky, Kat Napier, Jennie Short, City Manager; and 246 Ethan Walsh (attorney for City) and Russ Gans (attorney for City) 247 Negotiating parties: DANCO parties Chris Dart, McKenzie Dibble 248 Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment.
249
250 a. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
251 Property: Portions of APN Nos. 312-131-037-000, 312-131-045-0003, 312-131-046- 252 000 and 312-190-010-000, in the unincorporated area of the County of Humboldt, 253 State of California.
254 Agency Negotiator: Jennie Short, City Manager; Ryan Plotz (attorney for the City) 255 Negotiating parties: Erin McClure, Trustee
256 Under negotiation: Price and terms.
257
258 c. Report Out of Closed Session. Council reconvened at 12:02a.m at the Skinner Store 259 to report out of Closed Session. No reportable action 260
261 Adjourn
262
263 Prepared by: Samantha Green
264 City Clerk, City of Blue Lake