Minutes of the Blythe City Council Meeting
November 12, 2025
The November 12, 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, Burton and Spraggins. Staff in attendance included: Interim City Manager and City Clerk Crecelius, City Attorney Roberto, Chief Building Official Brown, Public Works Director Elegores, and Police Chief Dale.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor DeConinck.
The Invocation was led by Council Member Burton.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION: City Attorney Roberto stated there was no reportable action.
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, November 7, 2025.
2. Approval of the Warrant Register.
Recommendation: Approve 11/12/25, Utility Billing Refund warrants numbered 80329 through 80343 in the amount of $2,307.55; 11/12/25, warrants numbered 11250 through 11270 and 80273 through 80328 and 80344 in the amount of $372,030.77, and 11/12/25, warrants numbered 11271 through 11279 and 80345 through 80387 in the amount of $210,530.00.
3. Approval of the Payroll Register.
Recommendation: Approve 11/12/25, warrants numbered 55429 through 55444 and Direct Deposits warrants numbered 63381 through 63461 in the amount of $314,877.20; 11/12/25, warrants numbered 55445 through 55446, in the amount of $475.74, and 11/12/25, warrants numbered 55447 through 55458 and Direct Deposits warrants numbered 63462 through 63540 in the amount of $285,484.26.
4. Minutes of the October 14, 2025 City Council Meeting.
Recommendation: Approve the Minutes of the October 14, 2025, Meeting.
5. City of Blythe Permits Issued in the Month of October 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
6. City of Blythe Fire Department Monthly Activity Report for October 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
7. City of Blythe Police Department Monthly Activity Report for October 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
8. Quality of Life Program Activity Report for October 2025.
Recommendation: Receive and file the monthly report.
9. Investment Report for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Recommendation: Accept and file the quarterly investment report.
10. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between City and PVUSD for the 2025-26 School Year and 2026 Summer School Programs.
Recommendation: Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the MOU once reviewed and approved by the City Attorney.
11. Adoption of Ordinance No. 944-25 Amending Title 17 (Zoning) to Establish Regulations Relating to Commercial Solar Energy Facilities.
Recommendation: Council adopt Ordinance No. 944-24:
ORDINANCE NO. 944-25. AN 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).
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 the Healthcare District submitted a letter to our elected representatives at the State and Federal levels asking for emergency funding. It’s critical they have roughly $3.8 million by 10 a.m. on November 21st to participate in the IGT program. It has to do with reimbursement. They pay in the $3.8 million and sometime early next year the State will return to them roughly $9 million. It’s unknown if funds will flow unless changes are made at the hospital and its current Board of Directors.
The item was received and filed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Determination of Public Convenience or Necessity – Proposed Issuance of Type 21.
Interim City Manager Crecelius stated the owner of 301 S. Seventh Street has applied for an ABC Type 21 (Off-Sale General) license which authorizes the sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits for consumption off the premises where sold. The proposed convenience store has a Neighborhood Commercial (C-N) zoning designation. The General Plan designates property in the C-N zone for convenience sales and services so the proposed Blythe Liquor would be a use permitted by right in the C-N zone. The property is surrounded by Interstate 10 to the north, residential uses to the south, vacant land to the east and residential units to the west. The site is located within Census Tract 462 which has a population of 3,084. One off-sale license is authorized for the tract. Currently there are twelve active licenses. The nearest full-service grocery or package store offering comparable products if located several miles away, creating an unmet need for convenient access within the neighborhood. Staff agree that the proposed store would provide nearby residents with a convenient location to purchase items, including distilled spirits in the neighborhood as there are currently no convenience stores south of the I-10.
Therefore, it is recommended Council determine that the public convenience or necessity would be served by the issuance of a Type 21 (Off-Sale General) Alcoholic Beverage Control license to the proposed Blythe Liquor located at 301 S. Seventh Street in Blythe; authorize the Mayor to execute the attached letter reflecting the City Council’s determination; and authorize the City Clerk to execute and submit any documents required by ABC regarding the City Council’s determination.
No public comment.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez will abstain from voting as his family owns a convenience store.
Council Member Halby moved approval of staff’s recommendation. The motion was seconded Council Member Burton with aye votes from DeConinck, Halby, Burton and Spraggins and an abstention from Rodriguez.
ORAL REPORTS:
Council Member Halby stated Facebook is wondering why we have not hired a City Manager.
Two times out of the last three years during Budget Study Sessions, which are open to the public, I have requested we have a line item for a City Manager. It’s nothing against Mallory, she just doesn’t want the full-time position, so I felt we need to listen to the state on their recommendation to hire a City Manager. I am the only one that has wanted that and that is why it has not happened. For those that blame me for touching the city that is not the truth. I am only one vote, and it takes three. I want to let you know what the truth is.
Mayor DeConinck thanked the Police Department for the National Night out and Cancer Resource Center for the Annual Cancer Walk.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Rudy Armstrong of 574 Bell Ln. stated he is following up on the Recreation Center problem and why he was fired.
Amad Patel discussed the City’s water hardness and how it is affecting the pipes of his and other local hotels. We were able to have water softeners and now we are not. We have water data showing our levels are higher.
Councilman Halby asked why they had to decommission their water softeners. If homes can have it, why can’t you? I would like to see that in writing.
Interim City Manager Crecelius stated the City was under an order by the State due to our tds levels. We hired The Holt Group to do a Salinity Study. It took many years and many hundreds of thousands of dollars to get through this. The State said we had a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) problem at our Wastewater Treatment Plant. The tds levels at the WWTP were too high. Adding salt into the water compounded the issue along with already have salinity levels that are naturally occurring in the water supply. We looked at all high-water consumers. Those included restaurants, hotels and car washes. We had numerous Study Sessions, and it was brought to Council several times and the decision was made to we would enforce it on commercial users vs. residential users to meet our tds levels. So, our residential customers can have salt-based water systems. Our commercial customers cannot. We did offer some alternatives for treatment that did not include the use of salt, but I am not familiar with cost differences. Culligan is one as they collect it and dispose of it at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Brine Basin. The City spent money updating a new bond so that they can dump their discharge there. We can look at it, but at the end of the day we need a reduction in the salinity levels at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Hilda Birdsong of the Hampton Inn stated potassium chloride is an option; but the cost is almost $4,000 a month. We have looked at Culligan as well. It was supposed to be once a week; but our water is so hard it’s twice a week which brought my cost to $4,500 a month which is not feasible.
We replaced our coffee and ice machines; we are dealing with our lines and shower heads. I have invoices that show all of this was caused by the disconnection of our water softener.
ADJOURN: The City Council meeting was adjourned at 6:33pm. ________________________________
Joseph DeConinck, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________
Mallory Crecelius, City Clerk