Mayor
Donald Williams
Vice Mayor
Irais Lopez-Ortega
Councilmembers
Lisa M. Gift
Scott Cooper
Kevin Eisenberg
AGENDA
City Council Special Meeting - Closed Session
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 - 12:00 PM
In-Person
Please participate in the meeting by observing or listening to the meeting in one of the following ways:
1. In-Person – Community Center - 1307 Washington Street, Calistoga.
COMMENT ON THIS MATTER: Please participate in the meeting by providing public comment on the item on the agenda.
Participate in the meeting by providing public comment on the item on the agenda via email. Please submit your comment, limited to 350 words or less, via email to [email protected]. Written public comments submitted by email should clearly indicate the Agenda Item No. or specify “Oral Communications” in the Subject Line for items not on the agenda and are requested to include the submitter’s full name. Comments received by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting will be posted online with the agenda packet and included in the record but will not be read aloud. If a comment is received after the agenda item is heard but before the close of the meeting, the comment will still be included as a part of the record of the meeting but will not be read aloud. Note: The methods of observing or listening to the meeting or providing public comments may be altered or the meeting may be cancelled, if needed. You may check on the status of the meeting by visiting the City website at www.ci.calistoga.ca.us for any updates.
1. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL
2. ORAL COMMUNICATION
This is a Special Meeting, pursuant to provisions of the Government Code §54957, this is the time provided for members of the public to address the City Council regarding matters of municipal concern for the item listed below (maximum of three minutes per speaker).
2.1. 10.17.13 CS Public Comment_Redacted 3 - 7
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER:
3.1. Public Employee Performance Evaluation, GC §54957, City Manager
4. ADJOURNMENT
NOTICE: If you challenge a city’s zoning, planning, or other decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing. Judicial review of any City administrative decision may be had only if a petition is filed with the court not later than the 90th day following the date upon which the decision becomes final. Judicial review of environmental determinations may be subject to a shorter time period for Litigation, in certain cases 30 days following the date of final decision.
Pursuant to GC §54957.5: any writings/documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection on the City website at www.ci.calistoga.ca.us.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: The City can provide special assistance for persons with disabilities to participate in public meetings. To make a request for disability-related modification or accommodation please contact the City Clerk at [email protected] or (707) 942-2807. If you need assistance or accommodation, please provide notice at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. For TTY/ Speech-to-Speech users, dial 7-1-1 for the California Relay Service, offering free textto-speech, speech-to-speech, and Spanish language services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
ACTA DE AMERICANOS CON DISCAPACIDADES: Se les pide por favor que avise con 48 horas de anticipación cuando necesite hacer un pedido para asistencia. Esto les da suficiente tiempo antes de la junta para permitir que la ciudad tome medidas razonables.
POSTING: I declare a copy of this agenda was posted at City Hall, 1232 Washington Street, Calistoga, among other locations in the city limits of Calistoga, on October 16, 2023 by 4:30 p.m.
Yudiana Galvan, City Clerk
AdditionalWritings
“°*t:::;;—°a9i"L°°
Distributedrm D
Vudiana Galvan
From: Lana Richardson
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2023 2:46 PM
Ta: Public Comment
Subject: 10/17 closed session; agenda item 3,1
CAUTION:Thisemail originated from outside of the organization. Do not click linksor open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content issafe.
Mayor Donald Williams
Vice-Mayor lrais Lopez-Ortega
Council member Scott Cooper
Council member Kevin Eisenberg
Council member Lisa Gift
RE:City Manager performance
As Istated in my recent letter to Council and the Tribune, the City Manager's style of communication and managing of employees is causing serious issues related to employee retention for the City. I believe it's also a significant factor in our ability to attract employees in an already diminished labor pool. Her reputation iswidely known.
In my prior corporate career, Isewed for more than a decade as VP of Human Resources for a nationwide company. Thistype of behavior and communication would not have been accepted from any department manager, supervisor or executive. Itisthe City Counci|‘s responsibility to ensure a good work environment for employees. Council must take action to stop this behavior and support the employees of Calistoga.
Lana Richardson
Calistoga
AdditionalWritings
Meelingm‘ I0» - '56‘:
[mu No.
Yudiana Gama“ Dismbulmonws MM
From:
Sent:
Gardom
Monday, OctobeW, .
To: Public Comment
Subject City manager ’
CAUTION:Thisemail originated from outside of the organization. Do not click linksor open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content issafe.
Itissad that qualified Calistoga employees are resigning and leaving because of the city manager's hostile work ethic. The city needs to do something before more qualified people leave. Especially when the city manager's previous work environment was well known .
Calistoga deserves better.
Deanna Gardam
Sent from my iPhone
AdditionalWritings
Mcctingol u- 1.» C6
_lr:mNo. %T
Drslnburedon
Vudiana Galvan
From: Richard Hopper
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 8:19 AM
To: Public Comment
Subject: CityManager
CAUTION:Thisemail originated from outside ofthe organization. Do not clicklinks or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
In an effort to restore dignity, professionalism and functionality of our City, please take steps to remove the source of the breakdown of our local government and remove the current City Manager.
Thank you.
Add ‘
l W
Meetingtlilonlo :91‘ 551/5C9
lleln No.
Dhnibnwdm ans_‘zu,L19_,(
Vudlana Galvan
Fram: KellyCoudert
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, :1
To: Public Comment
Subject: Comment for closed session
CAUTION:This email originated from outside nf the organization. Do not clicklinks or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Council Members and Mayor \Williams,
I trust that you willmake a decision that appears to be in alignmentwith the recent and ongoing behavioral concerns related to our city manager. It seems evident that relieving her of her duties would be the most suitable course of action. Her performance does not seem to alignwith the needs of our city, which is evident in the decliningmaintenance standards and her interactions with staff, resulting in the departure of several team members due to her conduct.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope you will do what is best for the overall well being of Calistoga.
Kelli Barrett Coudert
Calistoga,CA 94515
Mi. . Me¢t,i‘ngo|;‘0M1l
(‘{T'17n.glS3
cs
item No. 5 Distributeduntrf; ,,.d,,,_
Vudiana Galvan
From: AlexJohnson
Sent: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 9:32 AM
To: Public Comment
Subject: A Cry from the Community- UREGENT
w.rnoii:'rh1semailatwnafédfromoutsidevf?te organization. Do not clidtllnksnr'openattachmentsunlessyou reoognitethe sender and knowthe content issafe.
Dear Council Members and Community,
The City is currently facing significant personnel challenges, Including resignations, early retirements, and a reduced pool of quali?ed candidates, largely stemming from concerns surrounding the City Manager's reputation and conduct. We recently lost a highly skilled Planning Director, and the resignation letter explicitlycited the City Manager as the primary reason. Do you, the council, realize what it takes for someone to pick up their whole life and leave? Do you realizehow largely that must have impacted their mental well-being and that of their families? Thisis about how people treat people. It isimperative for the Council to take prompt action, and not to allow any more innocent and hardworking individualsto be exposed to such toxicity.
To call Laura Snideman a 'leader' would simply be untrue, she undermines community trust and cohesion, eroding the sense of safety and unity among its members. Ifwe continue to let her act in her current role we willcontinue to experience a decline in the quality of services this city should provide, negatively impacting the well-being of residents.
This hinders progress, perpetuates conflict, and can have long-lasting detrimental effects on the community's social and economic health.
Please consider this cry from Calistoga’s community and the longing we have for peace as the turning point. Please do the right thing.
Sincerely,
Anonymous