MINUTES
CALISTOGA CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, November 4, 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 Councilmembers Eisenberg, Cooper and Gift.
Absent:
2. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSIONS
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION ON CONSENT ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS
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There was public comment by Deborah Testa, Kerri Abreu, Dan Herndon, Gary Himelfarb, Mary Sue Frediani, Emily Bucchianeri and James Lindquist.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Deputy CM Stepp reported:
1. Planning and Building held a lottery for 8 low-income affordable units and the lucky winners were selected; the project is almost complete.
2. Claudia Pouliot of the Planning and Building Department has been promoted to Management Analyst. She is a Calistogan and has been with the City for 12 years.
3. The Finance Department has implemented the new ERP, on Oct 27, Tyler ERP Pro went live for accounts receivable and payable. This is the first phase.
4. Fire Dept wrapped up the Regional Crash Response and Extrication Improvement Program, which was funded by CA Office of Traffic Safety. The total cost of the project was 83k, 55k was covered by a grant, and 28k by the City. Complete set of battery-powered extrication tools.
5. Lane Closure on Grant near HS, Second St will have a partial closure in the next couple of weeks.
Work is still underway to improve traffic safety on Lake St., including speed cushion signage and additional striping delineators.
6. The City received a grant extension from Cal OES for the riverside pond project and this will extend the performance period until March 2026.
7. With the anticipated storm, the City has made sand available at Tedeschi field and sandbags are at Public Works and the Police Department.
8. The Parks and Rec Dept. hosted a Halloween event and trunk or treat this week; it was well attended and went smoothly.
9. The Parks and Rec Dept. has published their Winter 25-26 guide, it is available on the City website.
Councilmember Gift asked about partial occupancy at the Silverado Terrace Apartments or how we can move it forward. Building Official John Chase has permitted temporary occupancy to show the homes. Individual units will have separate occupancy permits, but shared areas need to be completed.
City Council Minutes November 4, 2025
5. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ AWARDS
5.1. Park and Recreation Department update for City Council.
Parks and Rec Director Erin Stroud, Monica Rubio and Danny Brink presented this item.
Council thanked Director Stroud
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
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6.1. Adoption of Consent Calendar
Motion by Councilmember Eisenberg and seconded by Councilmember Cooper to adopt the consent calendar as presented with the exception of 6.2 and 6.5 Motion Carried AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
6.2. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-94 - Authorizing the Interim City Manager to award a purchase order in the amount of $57,390.00 with T&S lntermodal Maintenance, Inc., and authorize a contingency of 10% for change orders not to exceed a total cost of $63,129.00, and authorizes the Public Works Director to negotiate and approve change orders as necessary to re-paint the exterior of the Police Department building.
This item was pulled for discussion by Mayor Williams and presented by Public Works Director Rayner. Mayor Williams suggests the item be deferred to allow local painters the opportunity to bid as well.
Council discussed this item and asked clarifying questions.
Motion by Councilmember Gift and seconded by Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega to approve the agreement with T&S lntermodal as presented Motion Carried AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember Gift,
Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg
Mayor Williams
None
None
6.3. Adoption of Resolution No.2025- 95 - Authorizing the Interim City Manager to Execute a Maintenance and Funding Agreement with the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition for the section of Vine Trail within Calistoga.
6.4. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-96 - Confirming the Mayor's Appointments to the Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC).
City Council Minutes November 4, 2025
6.5. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-97 - Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with Ripe Productions, LLC for a Music Festival at the Calistoga Fairgrounds.
This item was pulled for discussion by Councilmember Gift, who has concerns with the exclusivity clause. She suggested it be changed from 5 years to 2 years or allow a window, in order not to limit the City to just one 2-day rock concert a year for so long.
There was public comment by Kerri Abreu, Gary Himelfarb, Rob Serini, Eric Reichart and Emily Bucchianieri.
Council discussed the item and asked clarifying questions.
Motion by Mayor Williams and seconded by Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega to adopt the resolution approving the agreement with Ripe Productions Motion Carried AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember
Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg
None
Councilmember Gift
None
6.6. Adoption of Resolution No. 2025-98 - Accepting a Donation from the Boy/Cub Scouts of Calistoga.
7. PUBLIC HEARING
7 .1. Consider ordinance #778 of the City of Calistoga amending Title 17 of the Calistoga Municipal Code to add Chapter 17.34 (Short-Term Rentals), and set the ordinance for adoption at the next regular City Council meeting.
This item was presented by Deputy City Manager Rachel Stepp and Planning and Building Director Desmond and discussed by Council. Assistant City Attorney Alan Cohen assisted.
There was public comment by Kerri Abreu.
Motion by Councilmember Eisenberg and seconded by Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega approving the Ordinance Amendment Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
7.2. Consider adopting an ordinance repealing Calistoga Municipal Code Chapters 15.01, General Provisions, 15.04, Administrative Code, 15.08, California Building Code, 15.12, California Residential Code, 15.16, California Electrical Code, 15.20, California Mechanical Code, 15.24, California Plumbing Code, 15.28, California Energy Code, 15.32, California Historical Building City Council Minutes November 4, 2025
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Code, 15.36, California Fire Code, 15.38, California Wildland Urban Interface Code, 15.40, California Existing Building Code, 15.44, California Green Building Standards, 15.48, California Reference Standards of Title 15, Building Standards Codes; and adopting the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Title 24, as adopted by the California State Building Standards Commission, with local amendments.
This item was presented by Planning and Building Director Desmond and Building Official John Chase.
The Council discussed this item and asked clarifying questions.
Motion by Mayor Williams and seconded by Councilmember Eisenberg to approve the Ordinance amendment Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega, Councilmember
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
8.1. Council Discussion of Establishing a Home Repair Program for Income-Qualified Households.
This item was presented by Planning and Building Director Desmond and discussed by Council.
There was no public comment.
Motion by Councilmember Gift and seconded by Mayor Williams to direct staff to complete an RFP 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 Cooper attended an Up Valley Waste Management Association meeting. Clover landfill is set to close, and the cleanup is expected to take 30 years.
Councilmember Gift will be joining Marin Clean Energy for their annual conference and representing Calistoga. She will soon be joining the board. Also, she received community concerns regarding the voting polls not being open in Calistoga and was advised by Registrar Tuteur that it was a combination of financing and staffing issues and St. Helena was more central to the 4 communities.
City Council Minutes November 4, 2025
10. Councilmember Eisenberg congratulated Councilmember Gift on being appointed to Marin Clean Energy.
Vice Mayor Lopez-Ortega attended the NCLG meeting last week and was glad that City Staff was also able to attend.
Mayor Williams attended NCLOG and the Napa County Transportation Authority, and they are reviewing the government structure of the organization. Also, he asked staff to look into possible policies regarding electric bikes, scooters, and skateboards on the street and sidewalks so the Council can discuss this because it is a safety concern.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
PreRared by: Approved by:
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Donald Williams, Mayor
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I APPROVED: 1/6/26
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