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Calistoga council approves $16,000 additional funding to replace Butler Building roof amid debate over fairgrounds plan
Summary
The Calistoga City Council voted 4–1 to add $16,000 to a previously approved contract to replace the Butler Building roof at the fairgrounds. Supporters said the work preserves a valued asset and prevents higher future costs; opponents urged delay until results from an ongoing community survey and broader fairgrounds planning are available.
The Calistoga City Council voted 4–1 on Oct. 14 to approve an amendment to the Butler Building roof replacement contract that requires an additional $16,000 to complete the project.
The measure was presented by city staff as a funding shortfall caused after re-bidding the project to include prevailing-wage requirements; staff said the bulk of the project funding had already been allocated and only the $16,000 increase was needed. Director Shelley Wright told the council the building inspector confirmed the structure is “fundamentally sound” and that leaving the roof unrepaired through the rainy season risks greater water damage and much larger costs later.
Supporters on the council said repairing the roof now is a pragmatic step to preserve a publicly owned asset and keep the building available for reuse. “If you don't have a good roof on the property, it can just disintegrate,” Councilmember Cooper said. Vice Mayor Lopez Ortega said repairing the roof would allow the city to start reusing buildings to generate revenue while a longer-range plan is developed.
Opponents, led by Councilmember Gift, urged postponing the work until the results of an ongoing community survey and related feasibility planning are complete. Gift argued that “until that process is complete, it doesn't make sense to invest additional funds in permanent building improvements” and proposed tabling the contract so community input could guide long-term decisions.
Public comment before the vote included speakers who urged different approaches. Tim Riley, a Calistoga resident, asked for access to environmental due-diligence documents related to the fairgrounds purchase and said the staff report was not detailed enough to justify committing funds ahead of a master plan. Y. Farris, another resident, urged preserving historical uses and noted the fairgrounds’ role in emergency staging for Cal Fire.
Council adopted the amendment with the following roll-call: Councilmember Eisenberg — yes; Councilmember Cooper — yes; Councilmember Gift — no; Vice Mayor Lopez Ortega — yes; Mayor Williams — yes.
The council and staff repeatedly framed the decision as a short-term preservation action rather than a final position on the long-term future of the fairgrounds. Staff said the roof work is scheduled for late November–early December to complete the repair before winter weather.
The Butler Building roof vote occurred amid other fairgrounds-related items discussed at the meeting: staff said the city is conducting a community survey about fairgrounds uses and has scheduled several events at the site, including a hazardous waste collection and a Tour de Calistoga activity. Some speakers requested copies of environmental documentation the city used in due diligence when acquiring the fairgrounds; staff did not provide those documents during the meeting but acknowledged the request.
The council’s action preserves the building for possible future uses while the city proceeds with the survey and subsequent planning steps.
