Several changes were made during the Nov. 10 Mount Shasta City Council meeting including the election of a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, the departure of councilor and apparent supervisor-elect Ed Valenzuela, and the swearing in of new council member Katrina Howard.
First on the agenda was the mayoral presentation of  awards to outgoing Planning Commission Chair Michael Backes and Valenzuela.
Backes, who has served on the Planning Commission for nine years, is leaving the position “to allow someone else a chance to do the job.” He was praised by Porterfield for “making a huge difference” in the Mount Shasta community.
Though the Nov. 4 election results are not final yet, Valenzuela continues to hold a 41 vote lead in the race for District 2 supervisor and appears to be the winner. He served two terms on the city council. “It’s been a great honor serving the citizens of Mount Shasta,” he said as he accepted his award.
Spelliscy commented that she appreciates Valenzuela’s commitment to public service, and will miss his guidance and leadership.
The meeting commenced with the swearing in of city council members Michael Murray, Russ Porterfield, and newcomer Katrina Howard, as well as City Treasurer Karen Dettman and City Clerk Prudy Kennedy.
Howard began her duties on the council right away by casting her vote for the mayoral position.
After two rounds of voting, Stearns was selected to serve as mayor, a position he also held in 2005. The other two nominees were Porterfield and Spelliscy. Murray was elected Mayor Pro Tem.
Porterfield presented the gavel to Stearns, and the two switched seats immediately with a handshake and friendly banter.
During the time allotted for comments from council and staff, MSPD Chief Parish Cross announced that the much discussed videoconferencing system for the hearing impaired will be installed at Mercy Medical Center – possibly in their cafeteria ­– where the system can be accessed by the public 24 hours a day.
The brief meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m. Afterward, those who wished to stick around were welcomed to enjoy refreshments courtesy of City Clerk Studer in celebration of the evening. The council’s next regularly scheduled meeting will take place on Monday, Nov. 24 at the Mount Shasta Community Center at 6:30 p.m.