BL's council changes chairs, tackles issues By Matt Kapko Eye Reporter The Arcata Eye 01-14-2003 The November elections brought one new and one familiar face to the Blue Lake City Council for its next term, and with those changes came a shuffling of the councilmembers positions and appointments. City Councilmember Dave Nakamura has been named Blue Lake’s new mayor by his peers, and plans to see many of the council’s goals come to fruition. Nakamura will also be representative to the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission. Adelene Jones, who served as mayor during the council’s last session, will now serve as mayor pro tem and continue her work as Blue Lake’s representative for the Humboldt County Association of Governments. Jones had sought re-appointment by her fellow councilmembers to the mayoral position, but Councilmember Brian Julian nominated Nakamura, suggesting that he might run meetings more expeditiously. Fellow councilmembers agreed. Numerous issues face the reformulated Blue Lake City Council. First on the list is the replacement of former City Manager Duane Rigge, who resigned in December to accept the same post in Fortuna. “We’re in what are hopefully the final stages of hiring a city manager,” Nakamura said. “We could have something as soon as (tonight),” he said. Nakamura anticipates that the council’s major challenge will be the budget. “We’re taking into account the state budget problems,” he added. Another plan the council has is to help jumpstart Blue Lake’s vulnerable economy. “We’re looking at an improved revenue stream, particularly with our industrial park,” he said. Nakamura is in the process of working out plans designed to entice more businesses to come to Blue Lake and fill vacancies, including those at the industrial park. Soon, annexation plans will also be coming by way of the council. In recent meetings, the planning commission has been mapping out annexation plans for what it thinks would best serve the needs of Blue Lake and its residents. Once the commission completes its recommendations for annexation, it will be presented to the council. Finally, the council wants to create an “improved working relationship with the tribe,” Nakamura said. On the agenda for tonight’s meeting are plans to name one of the councilmembers as a liaison to the Blue Lake Rancheria to help increase dialogue between the council and the Tribe. Nakamura said the Tribe has been notified of the council’s plans to name a liaison to better communicate to the council the Rancheria’s desires and/or frustrations. He hopes the council’s attempts to increase dialogue will resolve some unforeseen conflicts before they erupt. The council’s next meeting is scheduled for tonight at 7:30. Home