MINUTES
CALISTOGA CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 - 6:00 PM
Calistoga Community Center | 1307 Washington Street Calistoga, CA 94515
1. Call to Order/Roll Call/Pledge of Allegiance and Optional Patriotic Activity Mayor Williams called the regular session to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, and Councilmembers Eisenberg, Cooper and Gift.
Absent:
2. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSIONS - None
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION ON CONSENT ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS There was public comment by Cindy Yant.
4. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
1. Welcomed new hire Police Officer Nick Dobusch and welcomed back Fire Engineer Eric Paine.
2. This Sunday there is going to be a Mexican rodeo at the fairgrounds, and Monday begins youth soccer with Napa United and SH Parks and Rec. Concerns regarding noise from the rodeo were discussed.
3. We sold out our first bocce league, Monday and Wednesday night at our new bocce courts.
4. Sprint Car races 30th and 31st, and Sunday Oct 5th the FD is having an open house from 10-2.
5. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ AWARDS
5.1. Council proclaimed September National Hispanic Heritage Month and Raising the Mexican Flag.
5.2. Updating the City Council on the Capital Improvement Program Schedule Tracking for FY24/25 & FY25/26.
This item was presented by Public Works Director Rayner who answered Council questions.
There was public comment by Cindy Yant.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
6.1. Adoption of Consent Calendar
Motion by Councilmember Eisenberg and seconded by Councilmember Cooper to adopt consent calendar as presented Motion Carried
AYES: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
6.2. Adoption of minutes from the 7/22/25 Regular City Council Meeting.
6.3. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-69 - Awarding the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Community City Council Minutes August 12, 2025
Enrichment Grant Program.
6.4. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-70 - Approving the Measure U Master Agreement between the City of Calistoga and the Napa Valley Transportation Authority.
7. PUBLIC HEARING - None
8. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
8.1. The City Council discussed specific criteria and allocations for projects eligible for Measure D Funding and provided direction to staff.
Planning and Building Director Greg Desmond presented this item, there was no public comment.
Council discussed this item and asked clarifying questions.
Motion by Councilmember Gift and seconded by to approve the proposed structure of allocations with an amendment to ensure that the $100,000 utility bill allocation be reviewed in June during the regular budget session. NO SECOND Motion Carried AYES: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
9. COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Eisenberg - reported on the Climate Action Committee's Regional Climate Action & Adaptation Plan on how to reduce greenhouse gases in Napa County. There is currently a draft of the plan that is open for public comment; there will be an open forum in Yountville on Aug 20th from 6-8pm.
Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega attended the flood control meeting and received basic reports, nothing to report.
Councilmember Gift requested a future discussion on the FD's funding request to move from 12 part-time firefighters to 3 full-time positions in the next two months. Council supported to bring this item to Council as soon as reasonably possible, taking into consideration the Fire Department's needs, labor negotiation timeline, and the CM's Office structure. Councilmember Gift thanked PG&E for their informational workshop and all the participants of the Energy Vault's ribbon cutting and commends the community and all the agencies involved for working together.
Mayor Williams attended a FG advisory committee meeting and the recommendation that is coming to Council is that the FG survey reach all residents within the school district. The survey company will be attending the next meeting to help answer questions and avoid confusion as to how the survey came to be. Williams reported on the erosion of the walking path at the western edge of the fairgrounds: Public Works is discussing re-routing part of the path into the fairgrounds.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting, at 7:16 p.m.
City Council Minutes August 12, 2025
Respectfully submitted:
Prepared by: Approved by:
______________________ ______________________
Yudiana Galvan, City Clerk Donald Williams, Mayor