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 Action Minutes
Tuesday, September 22, 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 2. Pledge of Allegiance
3 3. Roll Call and Establish a Quorum of the Council
4 5 Councilmembers Present: Mayor John Sawatzky, Mayor Pro Tem Elise Scafani, 6 Councilmember Kat Napier, Councilmember Michelle Lewis-Lusso 7 Councilmembers Absent: Councilmember Terri Bayles
8 9 Staff Present: City Manager Jennie Short, and City Clerk Samantha Green 10 11 4. Approval of the Agenda –
12 13 Motion by Councilmember Napier to approve the agenda. Second by Mayor Pro Tem 14 Scafani.
15 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously.
16 17 5. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items: Kent Sawatzky and Julie Christie. 18 19 6. Consent Agenda
20 a) Approval of August 25, 2026, City Council Action Minutes 21 b) August 2026 Disbursements
22 23 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky and Julie Christie. 24 25 Motion by Councilmember Napier to approve the Consent Agenda. Second by 26 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso.
27 Voice Vote: Motion passed unanimously.
28 29 ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION OR ACTION
30 31 7. Proclaim October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month 32 October is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Humboldt 33 Domestic Violence Services requested a City proclamation in support of ongoing awareness 34 efforts, and a representative from HDVS was in attendance to provide information. 35 36 Public Comment: None
37 38 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to Proclaim October 2026 as Domestic Violence 39 Awareness Month. Second by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso. 40 Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously.
41 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 Action Minutes
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 42 8. HCAOG Unmet Transit Needs
43 The annual Unmet Transit Needs process is underway. A representative from the Humboldt 44 County Association of Governments (HCAOG) was in attendance to provide information 45 about the process and transit services in Blue Lake, and to receive public comments for the 46 upcoming HCAOG public hearing.
47 48 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky, Lin Glen, and Julie Christie. 49 50 No action was taken.
51 52 9. Humboldt County Regional Climate Action Plan [Resolution 1270] 53 In 2019, Blue Lake joined Humboldt County and other incorporated cities in signing an MOU 54 committing to the development of a shared Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) to reduce 55 greenhouse gas emissions countywide. Humboldt County adopted the RCAP in December 56 2025, and the City is now considering adoption of the plan. 57 58 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky, Lisa Hoover, and Julie Christie 59 60 Motion by Councilmember Napier to adopt Resolution 1270 a Resolution of the City Council 61 of Blue Lake Adopting the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan as the City of Blue Lake’s 62 Climate Action Plan and Making Findings as a Responsible Agency Under the California 63 Environmental Quality Act. Second by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso. 64 Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously
65 66 10. Bike and Skate Park Corrective Action Plan Implementation Update 67 At the August Council meeting, Council directed SHN to convert existing topographical 68 surveys into engineered, stamped as-built plans for the Bike and Skate Park. Compaction 69 testing of areas not yet paved was also identified as a means of documenting the quality of 70 the compaction work. SHN provided a scope and fee proposal for these services. 71 72 Public Comment: Lin Glen and Julie Christie.
73 74 Motion by Councilmember Napier to approve SHN’s proposal to prepare the Bike and Skate 75 Park as-built site plans and perform compaction testing and authorize an expenditure of $5,800 76 in anticipation of donation proceeds from the Annie and Mary Day Beer Sales by RCMBA. 77 Second by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso.
78 Voice vote: Motion passed 3:1 with Mayor Sawatzky dissenting. 79 80 11. Public Safety Commission Verbal Update
81 The Vice Chair of the Public Safety Commission gave a report on the Safety Fair held earlier 82 this month and shared additional updates regarding matters within the Commission’s scope. 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 Action Minutes
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 83 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky and Julie Christie.
84 85 No action was taken.
86 87 12. Fee Waiver Policy Concept Discussion
88 Councilmember Napier continued gathering information regarding a potential Fee Waiver 89 Policy. Resolution 1137, adopted in 2019, already addresses fee waivers, prompting 90 discussion about whether to continue developing a separate policy. 91 92 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky and Julie Christie. 93 94 No action was taken.
95 96 13. Hartman Sewer Line Replacement: Informal Bid
97 The City has experienced recurring sewer line blockages along Hartman Avenue despite 98 ongoing maintenance efforts. A recent sewer camera inspection identified two significant 99 offsets contributing to the issue. The proposed project involves replacing a portion of the 100 sewer line and increasing its diameter from 6 to 8 inches to help prevent future blockages. 101 The City received two bids through the informal bidding process. 102
103 Public Comment: None received
104
105 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to award the informal bid to Hooven & Co. in the amount 106 of $36,820 and authorize expenditure of $36,820 from the Sewer Capital Reserve Fund. 107 Second by Councilmember Napier.
108 Voice vote: Motion passed unanimously.
109
110 14. Resolution 1271 Authorizing Signature: Carbon Reduction Program – Purchase 111 Electric Maintenance Fleet Vehicles Project: CRPLNI-5190(014) 112 At the August Council meeting, Council authorized the City Manager to execute documents 113 related to the acceptance of $80,000 in STIP funding and toll credits for the purchase of 114 electric fleet vehicles. Resolution 1271 authorizes the City Manager to execute the master 115 agreement and other necessary documents for the project. 116
117 Public Comment: None received
118
119 Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Scafani to adopt Resolution 1271: a Resolution of the City Council 120 of the City of Blue Lake Authorizing the Execution of Master Agreements, Program 121 Supplements, and Confirmation Documents for the Carbon Reduction Program: Project 122 CRPLNI-5190(014) with the California Department of Transportation. Second by 123 Councilmember Lewis-Lusso.
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 Action Minutes
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 124 Roll call vote:
125 Aye: Sawatzky, Scafani, Napier, Lewis-Lusso.
126 Absent: Bayles
127 Motion passed unanimously.
128
129 15. Amendment to FY 2026-2027 Budget Approval – Increase Health Insurance 130 Premium Contribution [Resolution 1272]
131 CalPERS has announced the 2027 health insurance premium rates. The proposed 132 contribution increases would maintain the City’s coverage of the full employee-only premium 133 and adjust the employee + 1 dependent and family contribution from $2,050 to $2,240. The 134 anticipated increase was included in the adopted FY 2026-27 budget. 135
136 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky and Julie Christie.
137
138 Motion by Councilmember Napier to Adopt Resolution 1272: A Resolution of the City Council 139 of the City of Blue Lake Amending Chapter Attachment “C” for the Adopted Operating Budget 140 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Second by Councilmember Lewis-Lusso. 141
142 Roll call vote:
143 Aye: Sawatzky, Scafani, Napier, Lewis-Lusso.
144 Absent: Bayles
145 Motion passed unanimously.
146
16. 7 147 th Cycle Housing Element Update
148 The second draft Housing Element was released for public review and comment on 149 September 14 2026. Written comments are welcome and may be submitted to City Hall or 150 emailed to [email protected]. The Public Hearing is scheduled for October 6, 151 2026.
152
153 Public Comment: Julie Christie
154
155 No action was taken.
156
157 17. Requests for Proposals – Professional Services
158 The City contracts with several local consulting firms for professional services on an as159 needed basis, including the City Attorney, Accountant, Engineer, Planner, and Auditor. 160 These contracts have been in place for several years, and the City is considering 161 establishing a routine schedule for reviewing consultant performance and determining 162 whether contracts should be extended, renewed, or terminated. The item also addresses the 163 potential use of Requests for Proposals for select services in 2027 while maintaining 164 continuity during the transition of City staff.
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 Action Minutes
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 165 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky.
166
167 No action was taken.
168
169 18. Power Plant Property Interconnect Discussion
170 Councilmember Napier requested that the item be brought before the City Council for 171 discussion and potential direction to City staff.
172
173 Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky and Julie Christie.
174
175 No action was taken.
176
177 19.Council Correspondence
178
179 20.Reports Of Council and Staff
180 a) City Manager Report
181 b) Ad hoc Committee Reports
182 c) Commission Updates
183
184 21.Future Agenda Items Requested by Council
185
186 22.Closed Session Agenda:
187 a) Public Comment: Kent Sawatzky and Julie Christie. 188 b) Council convened into Closed Session at Skinner Store at 10:21pm for the purpose 189 of: CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
190 Property: approximately three (3) acres of land that is a portion of the 191 parcels designated as Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 312-161-018 and 312-161-015 in 192 the City of Blue Lake, California
193 Agency negotiator: Jennie Short, City Manager
194 Negotiating parties: Danco Communities, a California Corporation 195 Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
196 c) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION 197 Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: one 198 case.
199 d) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION 200 (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9) 201 Name of case: Erin McClure, Trustee of the Richard V. McClure Testamentary Trust v. 202 City of Blue Lake, et al., Humboldt County Superior Court Case No. CV2601646. 203
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 Action Minutes
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, ~ 6:30pm ~ Regular Council Meeting Skinner Store Building ~ 111 Greenwood Rd., Blue Lake ~ Behind City Hall 204 e) Report Out of Closed Session. Council reconvened at 12:10am at Skinner Store to 205 give a report out of Closed Session. The court filing for the McClure lawsuit was 206 reviewed and legal documents can be viewed on the City’s Website. 207
208 Prepared by: Samantha Green, City Clerk