1 City of Portola
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, August 12, 2026 06:00 PM
35 Third Ave, Portola, CA 96122
https://www.cityofportola.com/
https://zoom.us/j/3583067836
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Mayor Bill Powers.
After the roll call and pledge of allegiance, pursuant to Gov Code 54954.2(b)(2), City Attorney Steve Gross asked the Council to amend the agenda to consider an item that requires immediate action and came to the attention of the City after the agenda was posted. The urgency agenda item pertains to the November 3, 2026 General Election. To meet election calendar deadlines, the City Elections Official will present the Certificate of the City Elections Official, pursuant to California Elections Code section 10229, as agenda item No. 8, making adjournment No. 9 on the agenda.
Councilmember Murphy moved that the item described by Attorney Steve Gross be added to the agenda, under an urgency item, to consider the City Elections Official's certificate as Agenda item No. 8. Mayor Pro Tem Battaglia seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
1. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Bill Powers, Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia, Councilmember Jim Murphy, Councilmember Lauren Miller, Councilmember Stephan Mangum Staff Present: City Manager Ryan Bonk, Finance Officer Susan Scarlett, Administrative Services Manager Kristen Schiavone, City Attorney Steve Gross (Zoom)
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Led by Mayor Bill Powers
2. Public Comments
Public commented.
3. City Communications
1. City Council Communications
Councilmember Mangum had nothing to report.
Councilmember Murphy attended the Music in the Park concert last week. It was a wellattended community event. He also attended the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) 2 meeting held at the Portola City Council chambers on August 10th, 2026.
Councilmember Miller stated she would provide her report later in the meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Battaglia reported:
The Portola Firewise Council would be participating in the Wildfire Preparedness Fair this Saturday, August 15th, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Portola. The event starts at 11 a.m., and there will be a free community BBQ.
On August 19th, Lori Pini with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) will present to the Portola Firewise Council on evacuation preparedness.
Mayor Powers reported:
He attended the LAFCo meeting on August 10th.
The Rummy Band will be performing at the Music in the Park event this Friday at the Portola City Park.
Plumas County Transportation Commission will be meeting next Monday, August 17th, where they will discuss the speed limit signage on West Street near C Roy Carmichael Elementary School.
A Pro-Am Disc Golf Tournament fundraiser with Portola High School (PHS) students is being planned for sometime in October, 2026.
The City of Portola will participate in the upcoming Portola Firewise community event on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
2. Reports: Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District / Plumas County Sheriff / Northern Sierra Air Quality
Beckwourth Fire Protection District - No report.
Plumas County Sheriff - No report.
Northern Sierra Air Quality - Mayor Pro Tem Battaglia reported that the wood-burning curtailment season goes into effect next month. She also said a seasonal part-time enforcement officer is being hired to help enforce wood-burning curtailment rules.
3. Staff Communications
No report.
4. City Manager Report
City Manager Bonk reported the monitoring equipment has triggered no alarms on Gulling Street Bridge. He also reported that we are still awaiting the final inspection from Caltrans, and there are no updates on the Structural rehabilitation Funding application.
He provided an overview of the joint Town Hall meeting he participated in with Plumas County Supervisor Dwight Ceresola on July 29th. He stated that 15 members of the public attended the meeting and that the feedback was overall very positive.
He mentioned upcoming events, including the 2026 Wildfire Preparedness Day and the Portola Roadshow event this weekend.
3 He reported on Public Works as follows:
Since the last council meeting, eleven water leaks have occurred throughout the City, and Public Works staff have repaired eight of them and are repairing the remaining leaks. He also stated that, where possible, Public Works is replacing the laterals to maintain the system's viability.
He provided an update on the grant-funded River Walk Yoga and Meditation Garden project.
Concrete has been poured and stamped, and landscaping work will begin next week. Signage will go up over the next few weeks. He stated that community feedback has been positive.
The City sent out the 2025 Consumer Confidence Report with last month's utility billing statements and was posted on the City’s website.
He provided an administrative staff report as follows:
Finance Officer Susan Scarlett is working to close out the Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Staff is preparing for the 2025-2026 Financial Audit.
Staff is in the beginning stages of a Utility Billing Audit, which could take up to 6 months to complete. The audit will begin with a review of finaled accounts.
The Code Enforcement Policy and Procedures Manual is in final staff review and will be presented to the Council for review at a future date.
Lastly, he reported that the League of California Cities informed him of a legislative policy that would limit public agency recovery from utility-caused wildfires and, if passed, would limit damage claims on public property and infrastructure. He was asked to provide feedback and potentially co-sign a letter with other cities to oppose this legislative policy. He responded to the League of California Cities with the City’s logo and support. He said he would send information to Council on how to submit individual opposition letters to the state regarding the policy.
Councilmember Murphy inquired about the City Pool. City Manager Bonk explained that today, around 2 pm, the pool pump failed and could not be repaired, and the pool was closed for the season. The pump will be replaced ahead of the season next year.
4. Consent Agenda
1. Claims:
Adopt Resolution No. 2666. The resolution authorizes payment of payroll from July 11th, 2026 through July 24th, 2026 and accounts payable from July 23rd, 2026 through August 12th, 2026 The amount of payroll to be paid is $47,019.49
The amount of accounts payable to be paid is $133,510.56 The total amount to be paid is $180,530.05
2. Minutes
Adopt the minutes of the July 22nd, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting.
Councilmember Jim Murphy motioned to approve. Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia seconded the motion.
The roll call vote:
Aye Mayor Bill Powers Aye Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia Aye Councilmember Jim 4 Murphy Aye Councilmember Lauren Miller Aye Councilmember Stephan Mangum
5. 7th Cycle Housing Element Public Hearing, Adoption, and Resolution 2665 City Planning Consultant Karen Downs, with RVi Planning & Landscape Architecture, presented staff with an overview of the state-approved and posted 7th Cycle Housing Element Update. Karen Downs and City Manager Bonk answered Council’s questions. Council adopted Resolution No. 2665 by roll call vote.
Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia motioned to approve. Councilmember Stephan Mangum seconded the motion.
The roll call vote:
Aye Mayor Bill Powers Aye Mayor Pro Tem Mikki Battaglia Aye Councilmember Jim Murphy Aye Councilmember Lauren Miller Aye Councilmember Stephan Mangum
6. Ordinance No. 364: Repealing Ordinance No. 284 and Amending the City's Conflict of Interest Code (Introduction and First Reading)
Council voted in favor to repeal Ordinance No. 284 and adopt Ordinance No. 364, first reading and waiving the second reading, which allows Council to amend, repeal and replace the City's Conflict of Interest Code via resolution going forward.
The Ordinance will be brought before Council for final consideration at a future meeting.
Councilmember Jim Murphy motioned to approve. Councilmember Lauren Miller seconded the motion.
The motion passed with the following vote:
5 In Favor Opposed
Abstained Absent Recused
7. Ad Hoc Committee: Potential Portola Community Forest Project Exploration Councilmember Miller provided an update on exploration of the proposed Portola Community Forest. The Ad Hoc committee continues discussions with the Feather River Land Trust and the owners of the 580 acres of land. The committee’s goal is to map out the donation process, identify benefits and risks and gather community feedback by holding public informational workshops. The first workshop is tentatively scheduled for September 8th, 2026, at the Portola Library from 6 pm to 8 pm.
The public commented on the Portola Community Forest project.
8. Certificate of the City Elections Official
Pursuant to Elections Code 10229, the City Elections Official presented the Certificate of the City Elections Official to the Council.
City Attorney Steve Gross provided an overview and timeline of the nomination process and results stating that the deadline for incumbents to submit nomination papers was last Friday, August 7th at 5:00 pm. By that deadline, two council members had filed nomination papers for the two four-year seats, and one council member had filed for the two-year term. The nomination papers for the two- 5 year term did not have sufficient qualified signatures, and the County Clerk Election Official rejected the nomination, reopening the nomination period for anyone other than the incumbent to file nomination paperwork for five days. The extension ended on August 12, 2026, at 5 pm and the City did not receive any nomination papers before the extended deadline. The Council can fill this seat through appointment or by holding the General Election in November.
Council directed staff to open the application window for applicants to the two-year City Council Seat. The application window is to be published on the City's website and social media platforms.
The application window will close on 8/17/2026 at 12:00 pm, and a special meeting will be held on August 18th at 5 pm to consider the following actions.
(a) Appoint to the office of the 4-year seats persons having been nominated (Elec. Code § 10229(a)(1));
(b) Appoint to the office of the 2-year seat any eligible elector, no person having been nominated (Elec. Code § 10229(a)(2));
(c) Hold the election (Elec. Code § 10229(a)(3)).
9. Adjournment
The regular meeting of the Portola City Council adjourned at 7:23pm.