Minutes of the Blythe City Council Meeting
October 14, 2025
The October 14, 2025 meeting of the Blythe City Council was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers by Mayor DeConinck. Also in attendance were Vice Mayor Rodriguez and Council Members Halby and Spraggins. Council Member Burton was excused from the meeting.
Staff in attendance included: Interim City Manager and City Clerk Crecelius, City Attorney Roberto, Finance Director and City Treasurer Elms, Chief Building Official Brown, Public Works Director Elegores, Fire Chief Hasler and Police Chief Dale.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor DeConinck.
The Invocation was led by Council Member Spraggins
CONSENT CALENDAR: Items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted with one motion of the Council. If any item requires individual consideration, it will be removed from the consent calendar and acted upon separately.
1. Posting of the Agenda.
The agenda was posted on the bulletin boards on the outside of the public entrance to the Council Chamber and near the inside entrance of the Council Chamber and on the City’s website on Friday, October 8, 2025.
2. Approval of the Warrant Register.
Recommendation: Approve 10/14/25, warrants numbered 11228 through 11247 and 80128 through 80183 in the amount of $552,939.78; 10/14/25, Utility Billing Refunds warrants numbered 80184 through 80198 in the amount of $1,482.92, and 10/14/25, warrants numbered 11248 through 11249 and 80199 through 80271 in the amount of $441,675.61.
3. Approval of the Payroll Register.
Recommendation: Approve 10/14/25, warrants numbered 55384 through 55399 and Direct Deposits warrants numbered 63123 through 63203 in the amount of $318,915.24; 10/14/25, warrants numbered 55400 through 55416, and Direct Deposit warrants numbered 63204 through 63284 in the amount of $311,56.59, and 10/14/25, warrants numbered 55417 through 55428 and Direct Deposits warrants numbered 63285 through 63380 in the amount of $95,111.57.
4. Minutes of the September 9, 2025 City Council Meeting.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the September 9, 2025 Meeting.
5. Minutes of the September 11, 2025 Special City Council Meeting.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the September 11, 2025 Special Meeting.
6. City of Blythe Permits Issued in the Month of September 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
7. City of Blythe Fire Department Monthly Activity Report for September 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
8. City of Blythe Police Department Monthly Activity Report for September 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
9. Quality of Life Program Activity Report for September 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
10. Request to Waive Community Center Rental Fees for the Rec-N-Crew’s Annual Homecoming Event.
Recommendation: Waive the Community Center Rental Fees excluding the $150 Deposit and $100 Labor Fee for the Rec-N-Crew’s Homecoming event at Todd Park on Friday, October 24, 2025.
11. Acceptance of Work – WWTP E. Brine Basin Pond Liner Installation Project.
Recommendation: Accept the work performed by Layfield USA Corporation for the WWTP E.
Brine Pond Liner Installation Project and authorize the City Clerk to execute and file the Notice of Completion for the project. It is further recommended to authorize the Interim City Manager to release retention payments once the Notice of Completion is recorded and release project bonds once appropriate.
12. Resolution No. 2025-026 Authorizing the Destruction of Certain Financial Records and Documents for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.
Recommendation: Adopt the Resolution No. 2025-026:
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-026. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING THE DESTRUCTION OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS AS AUTHORIZED BY THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE.
No Public Comment. Vice Mayor Rodriguez moved approval of the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Council Member Halby with a unanimous aye vote.
CONTINUED BUSINESS:
Palo Verde Hospital Ad Hoc Committee Update. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated since we last met, LAFCO has held a Public Hearing on the Municipal Services Review prepared for Palo Verde Health Care District. At the meeting, LAFCO directed the County and with them the City, to work on a plan with the ultimate glad in the future to dissolve the Palo Verde Health Care District. The big question is who the successor agency will be once the board is dissolved. Since then, the City has met weekly with County staff and other agency partners.
Today there was a rapid response for hospital employees. A Warn Notice was sent to hospital staff effectively stating as of November 23
rd staff would be laid off. We believe that was part of the Chapter 9 Bankruptcy proceedings. It is the City and County’s priority to keep the ER open and keep the employees paid.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez stated on Monday the hospital held a special meeting related to an advance of property taxes to help make payroll.
Mayor DeConinck stated they are working with La Paz regional and others to bring supplies in. I want to complement County CEO Jeff VanWagenen. He has taken this head on and has been very involved along with his staff. Hopefully we will find a way to keep this going. Everyone is learning about Chapter 9 Bankruptcy. They did have one hearing and there is a lot to learn as it’s not a typical bankruptcy. We want to make sure they have enough cash on hand to meet payroll.
The County and other hospitals are working hard on a solution.
No public comment. The item was received and filed.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Consideration of Adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. 943-25-U Amending Title 17 (Zoning) of the Blythe Municipal Code to Establish Regulations Relating to Commercial Solar Energy Facilities and Review of Ordinance No. 944-25 Amending Title 17 (Zoning) to Establish Regulations Relating to Commercial Solar Energy Facilities. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated the Blythe Municipal Code did not define or regulate commercial Solar energy facilities. In October of 2023, the City Council adopted an Urgency Ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium on the establishment of new commercial solar energy facilities in the City. The Urgency Ordinance was extended and was set to expire on October 9, 2025. On August 5th, the City Council held a study session to provide direction to staff on the preparation of an Ordinance to regulate the development of commercial energy facilities in the City. On September 9
th the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 943-25-U which amended Title 17 to establish regulations relating to commercial solar energy facilities to be effective immediately. Ordinance No. 944-25 contains the exact same changes to Title 17 but is being brought forth through the normal procedures in order to provide the public with an opportunity to be heard on the matter. Therefore, subsequent to the public hearing, it is recommended Council Introduce Ordinance No. 944-25 relating to Commercial Solar energy facilities and finding the Ordinance exempt from CEQA.
Public Comment. Kathy Linares of 2545 Fairway Drive asked how we are making an Ordinance without a City Planner?
Council Member Halby moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Council Member Burton with a unanimous aye vote.
ORDINANCE NO. 943-25-U. AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLYTHE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17.04 (DEFINITIONS) AND CHAPTER 17.08 (PERMITTED USES) AND ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 17.57 (SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES) TO THE BLYTHE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING
TO COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(b)(3).
Categorical Exemption for the Greenlane Vehicle Charging Station, Temporary Truck Parking and Solar Power Generation with Battery Energy Storage System Project Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15183. Interim City Manager Crecelius stated Greenlane Infrastructure, LLC applied to develop an electric vehicle fast charging station, with a temporary truck and trailer parking facility, and solar power generation with a battery energy storage system. The proposed project site includes three parcels totaling 37.38 acres located at 241 Neighbors Boulevard. The project site is vacant at present and was once used for a concrete batch plant. Surrounding land uses include the I-10 to the south, and a mix of light-industrial, commercial, low-density residential and agricultural uses on surrounding lands to the north, east and west. The station would be equipped with ten charging lanes for medium- and heavy-duty transportation vehicles operating along Interstate 10. Construction will occur in two phases to align with Southern California Edison’s timeline for delivering electrical capacity to the site. An amenities building may be incorporated at a future date. The project will advance sustainable freight truck parking facilities identified in the 2022 California Statewide Truck Parking Study and will address some of the truck parking deficiencies along the I-10 Blythe Corridor. As the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, the City has undertaken preliminary review and determined that the proposed development qualifies for a Categorical Exemption from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 projects consistent with a community plan or zoning. The proposed project is consistent with the development density established by existing zoning and general plan. An EIR documenting environmental assessments of those policies was certified at the time the General Plan was adopted. Therefore, the environmental report is limited to examination of project specific effects peculiar to the project or its site. It has been determined that these project specific and sitespecific potential effects can be substantially mitigated by the imposition of uniformly applied development policies or standards. Therefore, the environmental document presents analysis of those potential environmental effects for which the City has authority to require conditions of approval based upon applicable mitigation measures specified in the EIR. Based on the analyses presented in the environment document, the City concludes the project does not require additional environmental review pursuant to CEQA Sections 21000 and the 2025 State CEQA Guidelines Title 14 Chapter 3 section 15000. Consistent with the CEQA Guidelines, the environmental report includes a project description, a summary assessment of the resource categories. The environmental resource categories assessed include Aesthetics, Agriculture and forestry, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural resources, Energy Use, Geology and soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Hazards/hazardous materials, Hydrology and water quality. Land use/planning, mineral resources, noise, population/housing, public services, recreation, transportation, tribal cultural resources, utilities and service systems, wildfire and cumulative effects. Therefore, subsequent to the public hearing, it is recommended Council direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, projects consistent with a community plan or zoning for the Greenlane EV Charging Station Project.
No public comment. Vice Mayor Rodriguez moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded by Council Member Spraggins with a unanimous aye vote.
ORAL REPORTS:
Chief Dale reported on the upcoming 1
st responder night at Blythe Speedway and National Night out.
Interim City Manager Crecelius reported on the City’s attendance at the ICSC Western Conference and Cal Cities annual conference.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez stated you must build relationships and it takes time. This year they seemed to be much more receptive. They asked for Retail Strategies to follow up with their people. If people wonder what becomes of it, Chipotle and Grocery Outlet are the kinds of things that become of it and we hope to get others.
Council Member Halby asked about the cell phone tower project in E. Hobsonway.
Mayor DeConinck reported on the ECV event at Quechan Park, the Farm Olympics and St. Joan of Arc Bazaar.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Kathy Linares of 2545 Fairway Drive stated we had a special meeting on September 11th and people are asking for Minutes. That $8.5 million grant is viable for the sewer project on the Mesa. I spoke to Bruce Wilson at CIF and Jason Rollo and they both said it was a good idea.
Maria Grecko Hicks of 212 Shaded Palm addressed the current conditions of the roads. What about Hobsonway and Lovekin, our two main roads? I have an adult son who is severely handicap and he cannot ride his cars on these roads. He has to walk to the pool in over 110 degrees.
Rudy Armstrong of 544 Bell Ln. stated I was terminated from the Recreation Center. I was a big factor to the kids. I go there a few days a week after I was fired. I was recently removed by the Police Department without warning. How would I be allowed back in the Recreation Center? I don’t think you should be let go at any time.
Jovita Perez 14171 W. Broadway stated she also cannot go to the Rec center pending an investigation. I did not do anything wrong, but I have missed out on my grandkid’s summer camps. I am looking for the reason why I cannot go there. When am I allowed to go back? Tasja Hartwell stated I have some concerns with staffing at the Rec. The kids respected Rudy, he interacted with them and a lot of the staff don’t. I felt safe sending my kids there when he was there. There have been fights that were not broken up by staff. I feel the employes are insensitive. Kids are running in and out of the Center.
Alexandra Diaz of 736 Michelle Street stated I stopped taking my kids there for the same reason.
Without Rudy and a few other employes not there my kids don’t go. I coach and when I go there, I don’t see anyone dealing with the kids. Lately it has been out of control. Where is the supervision?
Interim City Manager Crecelius stated a staff meeting was held Friday to address these issues.
The front door is a problem. This session of ELOP is huge with over 200 kids. Next Council meeting will be bringing an item to hire additional staff. We’ve had an issue with the older kids who have been the ones fighting and this happens when the younger kids are there. Tomorrow I will be there along with additional staff to have some extra hands and also for me to put my eyes on the situation to see what needs to be done better to address these issues that have been brought to my attention by parents.
ADJOURN: The City Council meeting was adjourned at 6:57pm. ________________________________
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Mallory Crecelius, City Clerk