MINUTES
CALISTOGA CITY COUNCIL - REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 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 6:02 p.m.
Present: Mayor Williams, Vice Mayor Gift and Councilmembers Lopez-Ortega, Eisenberg and Cooper
Absent:
2. REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSIONS
Council met for a closed session on 1/16 and 1/26 regarding an employee evaluation. No reportable action.
3. ORAL COMMUNICATION ON CONSENT ITEMS OR NON-AGENDA ITEMS
4. There was public comment by Cindy Yant, Kerri Abreu, Kathleen Butts, Sadie Beltz, Millie Pease, Dom Tallerico, Raymundo Mendoza, Elizabeth Ortiz and Mr. Lopez.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
Interim City Manager Celaya Reported:
1. Introduced new-hire Building Permit Tech. Noa Aumbaugh.
2. Sixty residents attended the City's Utilities Open House, which was productive and staff was able to explain the complexities of the water systems and rate setting. All the materials are available on the City's website.
3. Calistoga Joint Unified School District is having a third open house for their Workforce Housing Project on 2/3/26 6 pm at the CHS in the multipurpose room.
4. Parks and Recreation's Winter/Spring Programs are now available online; registration opens 2/2/26.
5. The Butler Roof project is scheduled to be completed on Monday.
6. This Monday-Wednesday, the Maxfield Pathway will be closed for construction.
7. The Mid-Year Adjustments. item (#8.7) contains information regarding the Fire Department requests; this item will be agendized for an in-depth discussion by Council at a future meeting.
5. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ AWARDS
5.1. The Planning and Building Department Director Greg Desmond provided Council with an annual departmental report.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
6.1. Adoption of Consent Calendar
Motion by Councilmember Eisenberg and seconded by Councilmember Lopez-Ortega to adopt consent calendar as presented Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
Mayor Williams, Councilmember Lopez-Ortega, Vice Mayor
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
City Council - Regular Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026 ABSENT: None
6.2. Council Adopted Meeting Minutes of 1/6 and 1/15 as presented.
6.3. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-04 -Authorizing a not-to-exceed project cost of $2, 183, 123 to complete the construction, construction management and inspection services to replace the Conn Creek Waterline. This price includes: Authorizing the City Manager to award Argonaut Constructors Inc., the lowest bidder, the construction contract for the base bid amount of $1,743,123, and allocates an additional $175,000 (10%) contingency for change orders:
allowing the Public Works Director to negotiate change orders within this amount, and authorizes Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Consor North America Inc. in an amount of $265,000 (15%) to perform construction management, environmental compliance, special inspections, and material testing.
6.4. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-05 - Authorizing the Application for California Intergovernmental Risk Authority (CIRA) Flexible Spending Funding for Replacement of Structural Firefighting Personal Protective Equipment and Fire Department Radios, and for the City Manager to Execute Purchases if Grant Funding is Awarded.
6.5. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-06 - Accepting a Notice of Completion for the Riverside Ponds & Headworks Mitigation Project.
6.6. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-07 and 2026-08 -Approving that the Maintenance of Effort was met for Fiscal Year 2024/25 Under the Measure T Program and Approving Certification of Equivalent Fund Expenditures under the Measure T Program.
6. 7. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-09 - Approving an agreement with the Napa Sped Investigations Bureau for services that focus on narcotics trafficking and human trafficking, primarily in the County of Napa.
6.8. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-10 - Authorizing Revisions to the Joint Use Agreement Between the City of Calistoga and Calistoga Joint Unified School District to Allow Mutual Use of All Facilities, Establish Use Priorities, and Modify the Cost Recovery Structure.
6.9. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-11 - Approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with UBEO West, LLC for the rental, maintenance, and support of multifunction copiers and related document management services, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
7. PUBLIC HEARING
8. GENERAL GOVERNMENT
8.1. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-12 and 2026-13 -Approving the ATAC 2026 Work Plan, Lincoln Ave. and Fair Way 4-Way Stop Study, and Vinyl Art Wrap for Washington St. Bike Parklet
This item was presented by ATAC Staff Liaison/Secretary David Fradelizio.
There was public comment by Wyatt Farris, Aaron Heth, Kara Vernor and Dom Tallerico.
Motion by Councilmember Eisenberg and seconded by Councilmember Cooper Approving the 2026 Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) Workplan as presented, the recommendation to evaluate the installation of stop signs at Lincoln Avenue and Fair Way City Council - Regular Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026 and request to affix a vinyl art wrap on the Washington Street Bike Parklet, with the individual projects coming back to Council for approval when cost and all other information is available.
Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Councilmember Lopez-Ortega, Vice Mayor
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
8.2. Approved - Council approved the 2026 Work Plan for the City of Calistoga Housing Advisory Committee.
This item was presented by HAC Staff Liaison/Secretary Andrew Amelung and discussed by the Council. There was no public comment.
Motion by Vice Mayor Gift and seconded by Councilmember Lopez-Ortega approving the 2026 work plan for the City of Calistoga Housing Advisory Committee with the individual projects coming back to Council for approval when cost and all other information is available.
Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Councilmember Lopez-Ortega, Vice Mayor
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
8.3. Approved - Council approved the 2026 Green Committee workplan as presented.
This item was presented by Green Committee Staff Liaison/Secretary and discussed by Council. There was no public comment.
Motion by Mayor Williams and seconded by Councilmember Lopez-Ortega to approve the 2026 work plan for the City of Calistoga Green Committee with the individual projects coming back to Council for approval when cost and all other information is available. Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Councilmember Lopez-Ortega, Vice Mayor
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
City Council - Regular Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026
8.4. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-14 - Formally establishing the Fairgrounds Advisory Committee as a standing advisory committee and approving the 2026 Fairgrounds Advisor Committee Work Plan.
This item was presented by Fairgrounds Director Sheli Wright and Committee Chair Shane Pavitt and discussed by Council.
There was public comment by Aaron Heath, Cindy Yant, Wyatt Farris and Dom Tallerico.
Motion by Mayor Williams and seconded by Councilmember Cooper approving the 2026 Fairgrounds Advisory Committee Workplan and approving its formal establishment as a formal committee including the extension of some committee members' terms to allow for staggered terms. Motion Carried
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Mayor Williams, Councilmember Lopez-Ortega, Vice Mayor
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
8.5. Council received an informational presentation on e-bikes, scooters and hoverboards.
This item was presented by Police Chief Mccaffrey and discussed by Council.
There was public comment by Kara Varnor and Cindy Yant.
8.6. Council received a Presentation on Possible Noise Ordinance Changes - This item was tabled for further discussion.
This item was presented by Police Chief McCaffrey and discussed by Council.
8.7. Adoption of Resolution No. 2026-15 - Council will consider approving the Fiscal Year 25-26 Mid-Year Budget Amendments.
This item was presented by Administrative Services Director Connie Cardenas and discussed by the Council whb asked clarifying questions of Director Wright and Director Rayner.
There was public comment by Cindy Yant.
Motion by Councilmember Eisenberg and seconded by Vice Mayor Gift to adopt the resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget with the exception of the $35,000 budgeted for the golf course pond fencing. Motion Carried AYES:
NOES:
Mayor Williams, Councilmember Lopez-Ortega, Vice Mayor
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
City Council - Regular Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026 7 9.
10. ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
None
None
Motion by Vice Mayor Gift and seconded by Councilmember Cooper to move item 8.7 to be the first item heard on General Government. Motion Carried AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Williams, Councilmember Lopez-Ortega, Vice Mayor
Gift, Councilmember Cooper, and Councilmember Eisenberg None
None
None
Councilmember Lopez-Ortega attended a League of CA Cities Councilmembers' Academy along with Interim City Manager Celaya.
Councilmember Eisenberg had his first meeting as Chair of the Napa County Climate Action Committee, there was a presentation about edible food recovery and composting.
Mayor Williams has attended all of the City Advisory Committee meetings as they discussed their workplans. He also attended all the County meetings, including NVTA, where they discussed America Canyon's road widening project. Our committees have new members and the staff was helpful in onboarding them. Great ideas are coming out of these committees. Altogether, there are about 30 committee members, which speaks to our community's participation in their local government
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:55 p.m. Mayor Williams made a motion to extend the meeting's adjournment time to 9:30 p.m.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Prepared by: Approved by:
~~~~
I APPROVED: 2/17/26