MINUTES
CALISTOGA CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 - 6:00 PM
Calistoga Community Center 11307 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 6:01 p.m.
Present: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega and Councilmember Eisenberg, Cooper and Gift.
Absent:
2. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSIONS
There was a Closed Session City Council Meeting on August 27th regarding a City Manager Evaluation, there was no reportable action.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION ON CONSENT ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS
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There was public comment by Debora Keegan, Cindy Yant, Mr. Serini and Cindy Yant again.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Interim City Manager Celaya Reported:
1. All evacuation orders were lifted as of today at noon. The fire is at 1600 acres, is over 90% contained. Calistoga FD was the first on scene and the last relieved.
2. Welcomed new employee Charlie Sakai as a Fairgrounds Maintenance Tech.
3. Pavement work continues on lower Washington between Gerard St. and Earl St. this week, Tues.- Fri. from 7 am-3:30 pm, please pay attention to the no parking signs. Also, on Sept 2nd and 3rd from 7 am -5 pm, there will be pavement work at Brannan/Lincoln/Wappo intersection.
4. Vine Trail Closure - Thurs. Sept 4th - Fri. Sept 9 for piping and repaving.
5. Staff is working on issuing a temporary occupancy permit to Silverado Terrace and the resiliency center. Last week, final occupancy was issued to the Brannan Center, and Dr. Wilkinson completed insulation of their mud separator.
6. The FD and PD collaborated to make an educational video about the Hi-Lo Siren, it has been posted.
7. Saturday, Sept 20th is Coastal Cleanup Day. Rotary and PW are working together to provide supplies for volunteers.
8. The FD will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, Sept. 5th, from 10 am-2 pm.
9. Parks and Rec is hosting a pumpkin float at the pool on Sunday, Oct. 5th at 1 pm.
10. A 2nd Ford Lighting has been added to our fleet; we are making headway in becoming a more sustainable City.
11. The Louie Vermeil Classic is this weekend! The work that went into making this event happen is incredible. There was approximately 41 k in revenue just from the RV Park.
PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ AWARDS
5.1. Council presented a proclamation of gratitude honoring the UpValley Family Centers Promotoras Group, who were present to share information about the services they offer our community.
5.2. Council received a presentation regarding the Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
City Council Minutes September 2, 2025
This item was presented by Napa County Regional Climate Action Director Erik DeKok and discussed by Council.
There was public comment by Chris Benz.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
6.1. Adoption of Consent Calendar
Motion by Councilmember Cooper and seconded by Councilmember Gift to adopt consent calendar as presented Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Council member Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
6.2. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-73 - Authorizing the City Manager to Declare the Failure of Maxfield Pathway and Water Main Relocation Project an Emergency and to Execute a Purchase Order in an amount not to exceed $121,418 to Allard General Engineering to Complete the Repair Work.
6.3. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-74 - Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into Professional Services Agreement with the Boys & Girls Club of St. Helena and Calistoga fv1 Teen Programming at the Calistoga Teen Center.
6.4. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-75 - Accepting a Donation from the Calistoga Farmers Market Board for a Memorial Bench for Karen Verzosa, the Long-time Farmers Market Manager.
6.5. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-76 - Authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Calistoga Tribune for publication of legal advertisements in an amount not to exceed $15,000 per year for multiple fiscal years 25/26 - 27/28.
6.6. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-77 - Authorizing the City Manager to execute Professional Services Agreements with M-Group (Consultant) for land use planning services.
6.7. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-79, 2025-80, 2025-81 - Authorizing the City Manager to execute Professional Services Agreements for limited and highly specialized Plan Check and Inspection Services for the Planning/Building, Fire, and Public Works Departments.
6.8. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-82 - Approving the Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency caused by the Pickett Fire.
7. PUBLIC HEARING
8. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
8.1. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-83 - Approving the Riverside Pond Project expenditures pending a FEMA response.
City Council Minutes September 2, 2025
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This item was presented by Public Works Director Derek Rayner, Council asked clarifying questions and discussed the options presented.
There was no public comment.
Council directed Staff to proceed with the project and draw from the City sewer funds if necessary, as proposed by the resolution.
Motion by Mayor Williams and seconded by Councilmember Eisenberg to adopt the resolution Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
Councilmember Gift in the spirit of Labor Day, expressed appreciation for City Staff and their dedication and hard work. Special thanks to Interim City Manager Mitch Celaya. September is Suicide Prevention Month, this is an issue that is deeply personal to her and central to her advocacy. At the next City Council meeting, Council will be making a proclamation recognizing this important month.
She invited everyone to join the Napa County SuiGide Prevention Council in Yountville by Mentis on September 17th where she will be the keynote speaker. Councilmember Gift looks forward to joining with the community to continue to break down the stigma and foster open and lifesaving conversations surrounding this very sensitive topic.
Council member Eisenberg concurred with Councilmember Gifts' accolades to City Staff and wished his wife a happy anniversary!
Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega acknowledged all the hard work by City Staff and thanked them for their support in moving forward with all the projects in town. She requested Parks and Rec update regarding the events that Celebrate NV will not be hosting. Deputy CM Stepp confirmed that the City did receive notification that Celebrate would no longer be operating as of Sept. 30th. Parks and Recreation has already stepped up to host the Halloween parade and a meeting has been set up with the Chamber to speak about the remaining events.
Mayor Williams attended a FG Committee meeting, where they discussed the survey. He also attended an NVTC meeting, and it looks like they will be moving forward with a couple of recommendations made by Council, one was to separate Visit NV from the NVTC board and the second one was that additional money be allocated to the welcome centers. Looks like the allocation will be increased from 30k to 40k if approved by the board of supervisors.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting, at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
City Council Minutes September 2, 2025
Approved by,: A
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Donald Williams, Mayor
I APPROVED: 11/18/25