Susanville City Council
Regular Council Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 – 4:30 PM
Mayor Schuster called the meeting to order at 4:30PM.
Council Members in attendance: Schuster, Miller, Parrish, & Hibbitts
Absent: Bortle
1. Approval of Agenda:
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Miller
SECONDER: Council Member Patrick Parrish
AYES: Mayor Mendy Schuster, Council Member Patrick Parrish, Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Miller, Council Member Gerry Hibbitts
NAYS: None
RESULT: Passed
2. Public Comment Regarding Closed Session Items (if any): No comments.
A. Public Employment - pursuant to Government Code §54957
1. Public Safety Chief
2. City Manager
3. Acting City Manager - Evaluation
4. Return to Open Session: (recess if necessary)
• Reconvene in open session at 5:00 PM
Council Member Bortle entered the Council Chambers at 5:00PM. • Pledge of Allegiance
• Invocation
• Report any changes to agenda
Chandra Jabbs, Acting City Manager/Finance Director, stated that prior to going into closed session, the Council approved the agenda as presented.
• Report any action out of Closed Session
Kelsey Walsh, City Assistant Attorney, stated that direction was provided to staff with no reportable action taken.
• Awards or Presentations by the City Council
5. Business from the Floor:
Jason Vial, Health and Social Services Director for Lassen County, thanked City staff for hosting senior meals at the Community Center at Roop's Fort since the fairgrounds will not be available through November. He requested servers if anyone wanted to volunteer their time.
Kim Page, public member, is concerned with the lack of licensed dogs in the area and the overall way animals are dumped in Susanville.
Jerry, public member from Gold Run area, voiced his concern with children on motorized scooters and the lack of safely operating them.
6. Consent Calendar: All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine by the City Council. There will be no separate discussion on these items. Any member of the public or the City Council may request removal of an item from the Consent Calendar to be considered separately.
MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Miller
SECONDER: Council Member Gerry Hibbitts
AYES: Mayor Mendy Schuster, Council Member Patrick Parrish, Council Member Curtis Bortle, Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Miller, Council Member Gerry Hibbitts
NAYS: None
RESULT: Passed
6.A. Minutes of the City Council August 5, 2026 regular meeting.
6.B. Vendor and Payroll Warrants
6.C. Consider Resolution No. 26-6562, Approving Side Letter No. 1 to the Operating Engineers Local Union no. 3 Firefighters Unit
7. Public Hearings - no business
8. Council Discussion/Announcements:
Council Member Bortle offered a Land Acknowledgment Statement.
Council Member Bortle also stated that he would like to discuss the HLVRA pool as he is happy to see new interest in the pool. He added that he would like to receive a quarterly report from the pool board to help make a decision on whether the City would continue funding the pool.
Council Member Parrish thanked Council Member Bortle for his suggestion. He added that he also tried to get the item on the agenda for discussion.
Mayor Schuster offered that the HLVRA pool minutes are available on the city's website if anyone would like to read the minutes.
9. New Business:
9.A. Consider Resolution No. 26-6564, approving a modification to the City's Natural Gas Purchasing Policy.
Ms. Jabbs introduced the item and introduced Dan Bergmann, of IGI, to provide an explanation of the item.
MOVER: Council Member Curtis Bortle
SECONDER: Council Member Patrick Parrish
AYES: Mayor Mendy Schuster, Council Member Patrick Parrish, Council Member Curtis Bortle, Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Miller, Council Member Gerry Hibbitts
NAYS: None
RESULT: Passed
9.B. Consider Resolution No. 26-6565, Authorizing the Implementation of a Natural Gas Greenhouse Gas Reduction Cap and Invest Program, as Required by the State of California Global Warming Solution Act of 2006 Ms. Jabbs provided a brief explanation of the required state program and again, handed it over to Mr. Bergmann to provide an explanation of the item.
Mr. Bergmann provided more information as reflected in his presentation.
Council Member Parrish wanted confirmation that ultimately, the rates will be going up, to which it was confirmed with future action to be taken.
MOVER: Council Member Curtis Bortle
SECONDER: Council Member Gerry Hibbitts
AYES: Mayor Mendy Schuster, Council Member Patrick Parrish, Council Member Curtis Bortle, Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Miller, Council Member Gerry Hibbitts
NAYS: None
RESULT: Passed
10. Planning Commission - no business
11. Susanville Community Redevelopment Agency - no business
12. Susanville Municipal Energy Corporation - no business
13. Continuing Business:
13.A. Discussion Regarding Emergency Work Associated with the Failure of the Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) at Well 3 on Johnstonville Road Erik Edholm, Acting Public Works Director, provided an explanation of the item and stated that although the project is not complete, the emergency action can be completed.
It was the consensus of the Council to stop the emergency action.
14. City Manager's Reports:
14.A. Department Reports - Police Department Update
Allen Sobol, Acting Public Safety Chief, provided an update on the happenings within the Police Department.
15. Future Council Items:
15.A. Future Council Items
Mayor Schuster inquired as to whether any Council members had items to add to the list.
Council Member Bortle requested a quarterly pool report be brought to the City Council. Parrish and Hibbitts agreed.
16. Adjournment:
Adjourn at 6:26PM.
• The next regular meeting of the Susanville City Council will be held on September 2, 2026 at 4:30PM.
Heidi Whitlock, City Clerk Mendy Schuster, Mayor
Approved on: September 2, 2026