MINUTES
CALISTOGA CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, September 23, 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
There was a closed session this afternoon regarding labor negotiations, there is no reportable action.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION ON CONSENT ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS There was public comment by Jesse Lopez, Amy Bolten, Trent Sanson and Cindy Yant.
4. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Interim City Manager Celaya Reported:
1. On 10/31-11/1 is the hazardous waste event at the Fairgrounds
2. On 10/9-10/12 Flyn Creek Circus at the Fairgrounds
3.The Races that occurred over Labor Day Weekend was a sold-out event, over 10 k people came to town for this event.
4. Last Sunday, there was a Jaripeo event at the Fairgrounds, no significant incidents; there were 8 complaints
5. 9/15 there was a DUI checkpoint in town. There were 236 screened vehicles resulting in 6. DUI arrests, one probation violation and one unlicensed driver citation.
7. The Police Department will be filling a dispatcher position; the new employee is starting on Monday.
8.On 10/31 City is hosting a Halloween parade and a trunk or treat 6pm-8pm
9. Vine trail is now open and has been repaved.
10.This weekend Rotary held a Coastal Cleanup day, we collected about a 1/3 of all the trash collected in the County.
11. The Brannan Flashing Beacon has been completed and the Lake St paving project is very close to being completed. Also, Speed cushions are coming in mid-October.
12. Risk Map Flood Risk Review is occurring on 9/30.
13. On Monday, a new Admin Tech is starting in PW and a Senior Planner is starting in Planning and Building.
14.The Indian Springs expansion project has been permitted for both vertical and horizontal building.
15. The Fire Department is hosting an Open House on October 5th 10am-2pm.
15. A new Executive Assistant to the City Manager starts on Monday.
5. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ AWARDS
5.1. The Council proclaimed September 2025 National Suicide Prevention Month. Mayor Williams presented the proclamation to Jenny Olson of Mentis.
5.2. Calistoga Fire Chief Matcham presented an annual report and answered Council questions.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council - Regular Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025
6.1. Adoption of Consent Calendar
Motion by Councilmember Eisenberg and seconded by Councilmember Cooper to adopt the 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 Resolution No. 2025-84 - Updating the Emergency Operations Plan
6.3. This item was continued to the next Regular Council Meeting - Consideration of a Resolution Approving the Cinnabar Grove Final Map - Located at 2008 Grant St.
6.4. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-85 - Declaring certain property surplus and authorizing the disposal of said property.
6.5. Adoption of Resolution 2025-86 - Confirming the appointment of Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega as a voting delegate and Councilmember Eisenberg as an alternate voting delegate at the League of California Cities Annual Business Meeting to be held on October 8-10, 2025.
7. PUBLIC HEARING - None
8. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
8.1. Council provided direction on office space priorities, including evaluation of options for consolidating administrative and management staff into a primary shared facility.
This item was presented by Deputy City Manager Stepp and discussed by the Council, who asked clarifying questions.
There was public comment by Wyatt Farris, Cindy Yant and Pat Merchant.
The Council directed staff to explore the following options: a classroom near City Hall, utilizing the Community Center, and using the Tubbs Building for the FG Director and Planning and Building Staff. They asked that this item come back to Council with more information about each option.
9. COUNCIL REPORTS
Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega attended a Flood Control meeting where they approved 48 million dollars for the project that began 20 years ago for a wall along the riverbank in downtown Napa to protect from flooding.
Councilmember Eisenberg attended an NVTA Meeting and reports that September is National Transit Month. Route 10 from Napa to Calistoga is the most efficient in Napa County in terms of ridership. Overall ridership has increased steadily for 5 years, although it has not reached preCOVID levels. Napa County students may enter a naming contest for the shuttles. Eisenberg requested an item be added to the agenda so Council can review the City's criteria for flag lowering, and there was support.
City Council - Regular Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Councilmember Gift reported that the Fairgrounds Survey postcards are being delivered in the mail this week, please look out for them. She thanked the County for the RCAAP educational workshop they held in the City. Also, this last Saturday, we had a visit from our Senator and our District Representative who toured the Resiliency Center, it was a great visit.
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting, at 8:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Prepared by: Approved by:
______________________ ______________________
Yudiana Galvan, City Clerk Donald Williams, Mayor