Council approves one-year concession lease for Clements Snack Shack after public concerns

The Blue Lake City Council voted March 24 to approve a revised one‑year lease for the Clements Snack Shack, the concession stand at the city ballpark, after extended public comment and council questions about costs and operations. Council member Nick Napier moved to approve the contract; the motion was seconded by Louis Lusso and passed by voice vote.

The lease returned to the council with changes discussed at an earlier meeting, including an allowance for weekend rentals and a flat monthly rate for the operator. A city staff member said staff worked with the renter and revised the draft to reflect council requests. During the presentation staff said PG&E had run an energy check but could not separate usage on a shared meter without shutting facilities down, making precise utility allocation difficult.

Owner-operator Darcy told the council she wants the concession to remain and argued it brings visitors to Blue Lake. "I feel that the dog house is really appreciated by people all over the county," Darcy said, asking the council to avoid changes that would jeopardize the business. Multiple public commenters echoed that the snack shack is a community fixture and urged the council to prioritize stability for the current operator.

Council discussion focused on whether the monthly fee and the allowance for weekend use reflected city costs, and on practical steps to measure utilities. One council member suggested short-term metering devices or a temporary evaluation period; staff said the agreement could be revisited well before the next renewal. The motion to approve included direction that council and staff examine utility allocation and revisit terms in advance of the next extension.