Colleen Baker, Mayor William Ibershof, City Manager
James Clair, Mayor Pro Tempore Juliana Lucchesi, Asst. City Manager Emily Aldrich, Finance Director
Corey Middleton, Councilmember Matthew Bray, Public Works Director Drake Davis, Councilmember John Elsnab, Human Resources Director Paul McCoy, Councilmember Cyndy Prohaska, City Clerk
IFORNY Patrek Dirksen, Interim Police Chief
Jerry Lemos, Fire Chief
Julia Homaechevarria, City Attorney
YREKA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
August 4, 2026
Regular Session: 6:30 PM
Yreka City Council Chamber, 701 Fourth Street, Yreka, CA Phone 530-841-2386, Facsimile 530-842-4836, email: [email protected] Regular Meetings of the Yreka City Council are held the 1 and 3rd Tuesday of every month.
This meeting is being livestreamed and can be viewed on Siskiyou Media Council's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzx2GSYFCrgE5przvnzitXQ The full agenda packet can be found on the City's website at www.yrekaca.gov/AgendaCenter. Copies of all staff reports and documents subject to disclosure that relate to any item of business referred to on the agenda are available for public inspection 72 hours before each regularly scheduled meeting, and 24 hours before each special meeting, at the City Clerk's office at City Hall, located at 701 4th St, Yreka, California during normal business hours. Any writing that is subject to disclosure that relates to an agenda item for open session distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be available for public inspection at the City Clerk's office during normal business hours.
Materials distributed to a majority of councilmembers less than 72 hours before a meeting will be available for public inspection on the City's website at www.yrekaca.gov/AgendaCenter.
Please note the following change to the City's public comment procedures: Unless a Councilmember is participating in the meeting remotely pursuant to Government Code section 54953(f), remote public comment will not be accepted. Public comment may be provided in-person or via email, as set forth below. Members of the public desiring to provide comments as a part of the meeting are encouraged to either submit written comments by 3:00 p.m. to the City Clerk prior to the meeting or to attend the meeting in person. " Written comments will be distributed to the Councilmembers but will not be read aloud at the meeting.
1. 6:30PM CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM
2. ROLL CALL:
Councilmembers Davis, McCoy, Clair and Baker are present.
Councilmember Middleton has an excused absence.
3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Motion to Approve the Agenda with the change in the order of agenda item NO. 4 - presentations
MOTIONED: Councilmember Clair
SECOND: Councilmember Davis
AYES: Councilmembers McCoy, Davis, Clair and Baker
NO's: -0-
ABSENT: Councilmember Middleton
The motion passes with Councilmember Middleton absent
4. PRESENTATIONS:
** Siskiyou Community Food Bank - Laura Leach
• Health and Human Services - Trish Barberi, Jamie Kimball & Corey Watson * Update from Yreka Police Department - Interim Chief of Police
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Public comment received by: Janet Johnson and Megan Martin
6. CONSENT AGENDA:
All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered routine and non-controversial and will be enacted by one motion unless any member of the Council wishes to remove an item for discussion, a. Approval/ratification of payments issued from July 12, 2026, through July 25, 2026. b. Treasurer's Report for April 2026.
c. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held July 21, 2026. d. Motion to Approve the Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Agreement between the City of Yreka and the County of Siskiyou.
e. Approval of Resolution 2026-26 Adopting an Updated Comprehensive Pay Schedule for all Full-Time Employees, Part-Time Employees, and Elected Officials in Accordance with CaPERS Guidelines. f. Motion to Adopt the Proclamation of the City Council of the City of Yreka Recognizing September 17 as Constitution Day.
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to Adopt the Consent Agenda of the City Council of the City of Yreka as presented.
Motion to Adopt the Consent Agenda of the City Council of the City of Yreka as presented.
MOTIONED: Councilmember Clair
SECOND: Councilmember McCoy
AYES: Councilmembers McCoy, Davis, Clair & Baker
NO's: -0-
ABSENT: Councilmember Middleton
The motion carries with Councilmember Middleton absent
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: (NONE)
Public Hearing Protocol:
i. Mayor will describe the purpose of the Public Hearing.
City Staff will provide the Staff Report.
City Staff will respond to questions from the City Council.
Mayor will open the Public Hearing.
Public wanting to comment will come to the podium, provide the City Clerk with their name and address, and provide their comments.
Mayor will close the Public Hearing.
City Council will deliberate and act on the item.
8. CITY BUSINESS:
Finance Director
a. Agenda Title: Financial Quarterly Report
Recommended City Council Action: Informational Item Only. No Action.
No public comment received.
Informational item only - No action taken by council.
Planning Manager
b. Agenda Title: 2026-38 Jones Conditional Use Permit for the Construction of a Metal Shed in the Historic District.
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to Approve Resolution 2026-27 of the City Council of the City of Yreka Approving Conditional Use Permit 2026-38 for the Construction of an Accessory Storage Structure within the R-1 (Single Family Residential) Zone and the Historic Downtown District, and Adoption of a Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of a Small Structures) Categorical Exemption Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at 403 Third Street, Assessor's Parcel number 053-202-060.
Public comment received by: John Mercier, Charna Wilson, and Chris Thias Motion to Approve Resolution 2026-27 of the City Council of the City of Yreka Approving Conditional Use Permit 2026-38 for the Construction of an Accessory Storage Structure within the R-1 (Single Family Residential) Zone and the Historic Downtown District, and Adoption of a Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of a Small Structures) Categorical Exemption Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at 403 Third Street, Assessor's Parcel number 053-202-060.
MOTIONED: Councilmember Baker
SECOND: Councilmember Davis
AYES: Councilmembers Davis. Clair & Baker
NO's: Councilmember McCoy
ABSENT: Councilmember Middleton
The motion passes with Councilmember McCoy voting No and Councilmember Middleton absent.
Fire Chief
c. Agenda Title: Discussion/Possible Action on Approving a Length of Service Award for Yreka Fire Department Volunteer Firefighters.
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to Approve a Firefighter Length of Service Award for eligible members at age 60 or older and continuing for 10 years at an amount set by the City Council, to be administered by the City of Yreka.
Public comment received by: Rick Dean, Mike Mallory, Dawnmarie Autry and Leah Dean
Motion that the City Council takes no further action on the length of service award for volunteer firefighters.
MOTIONED: Councilmember Baker
**Motion dies for lack of second **
Motion to Deny a Firefighter Length of Service Award for eligible members at age 60 or older and continuing for 10 years at an amount set by the City Council, to be administered by the City of Yreka.
MOTIONED: Councilmember Clair
SECOND: Councilmember Baker
AYES: Councilmembers McCoy, Clair & Baker
NO's: Councilmember Davis
ABSENT: Councilmember Middleton
The motion passes with Councilmember Davis voting No and Councilmember Middleton absent. ** Councilmember Baker requested the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee with two (2) city councilmembers to explore options for recognition and compensation, with members of the Fire Department participating solely as staff resources to provide information to the Ad Hoc Committee.** f. CITY MANAGER/STAFF REPORTS:
City Clerk Cyndy Prohaska gave an update
g. MAYOR/COUNCILMEMBERS REPORTS, STATEMENTS AND REQUESTS:
AB 1234" Conference and Meeting Report (verbal, if any) *(In accordance with AB 1234, Councilmembers shall make a Councilmember Davis gave an update on Fire Safe Council.
Councilmember Clair requested city staff research the possibility of bringing back the Historic Commission as part of the Planning Commission.
Councilmember Baker gave an update.
h. ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting adjourned at 9:22 pm
Mayor of the City of Yreka
Minutes approved by City Council
Motion on August 18, 2026
Cyndy Prohaska, C