CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

110 East Cook Street

Santa Maria

Roll Call:

• Mayor Alice Patino, 
• Councilmember Mike Cordero, 
• and Councilmember Gloria Soto 

Members Absent:

• Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez 
• and Councilmember Carlos Escobedo 

Staff Present:

• Interim City Manager Alex Posada, 
• City Attorney Thomas Watson, 
• Interim Chief Human Resources Officer Dawn Jackson, 
• Fire Chief Bradley Dandridge, 
• Director of Public Works Brett Fulgoni, 
• Interim Director of Finance Xenia Bradford, 
• Chief Information Officer Jeffrey Marecic (Remotely), 
• Chief of Police Marc Schneider, 
• Interim Director of Recreation & Parks Angela Oslund, 
• Community Programs Manager Rosa Rojo (Remotely), 
• Chief Deputy City Clerk Sarah Lansburgh, 
• and Assistant City Clerk Alexandra Valadez 

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CLOSED SESSION

1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Patino called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Councilmembers Mike Cordero, Gloria Soto, and Mayor Alice Patino

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Mayor Pro Tem Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez and Councilmember Carlos Escobedo

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Interim City Manager Posada, City Attorney Watson, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Lansburgh (for roll call only).

2.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Mayor Patino invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Matt Chircop.

3.

RECESS-CLOSED SESSION

Mayor Patino recessed to a Closed Session at 5:11 p.m.

3.a

Conference with Labor Negotiators, Pursuant to California Government Code §54957.6

3.b

Public Employment Recruitment - City Manager, Pursuant to California Government Code §54957(b)(1)

3.c

Conference with Real Property Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code §54956.8

4.

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

OPEN SESSION - 5:30 P.M.

5.

INVOCATION

Pastor Neil Platon of First United Methodist Church gave the Invocation.

6.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Councilmember Cordero led the Pledge of Allegiance.

7.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Patino convened the meeting and called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m.

8.

REPORT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FROM CLOSED SESSION

City Attorney Watson reported that instructions were provided to the City's Negotiators for items 3.a, 3.b, and 3.c.

9.

PROCLAMATIONS

9.a

Businesses of the Month – December 2023

The City Council presented certificates to the featured Businesses for December 2023 – Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc., and Jay Cee Trophy. 

10.

PRESENTATIONS

10.a

Performing Arts and Convention Center Feasibility Study - Findings Presentation

City Council received a presentation from the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce to provide its findings of the feasibility study for a potential Santa Maria Performing Arts and Convention Center.

Mayor Patino invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Vicki Connor and Lynne Garrett.

11.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (Not to exceed 15 Minutes)

Mayor Patino invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Gary Hall and Laurie Tamaura.

12.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Consent Calendar Items 12.a.1 through 12.c.1 were approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution Nos. 2023-160 and 2023-161.  The recorded vote appears with each item below.

• Moved by: Councilmember Soto
  Seconded by: Councilmember Cordero

  Adopt the Consent Calendar as submitted.

  For (3)	Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, and Councilmember Soto
  Absent (2)	Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (3 to 0)

12.a

CITY MANAGER/CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

12.a.1

Ordinances and Resolutions

• Waived the reading in full of all Ordinances and Resolutions. Ordinances on the Consent Agenda will be adopted by the same vote cast at the first meeting, unless City Council indicates otherwise.

  Motion carried unanimously

12.a.2

Approval of Minutes

• Approved the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of December 5, 2023.

  Motion carried unanimously

12.a.3

Salary Increase for Crime Analyst Classification; Establishing New Classification of Legal Office Specialist; Establishing January 2024 Minimum Wage Increase; and Adoption of a Resolution Approving the CalPERS Comprehensive Schematic Pay Schedule

• Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-160

  1) Adopted a Resolution approving the Comprehensive Schematic Pay Schedule for all full-time and part-time employees in accordance with CalPERS guidelines; 2) Approved the salary increase for the Crime Analyst job classification; 3) Established one new classification of the Legal Office Specialist; and 4) Established the January 2024 Minimum Wage Increase.

  Motion carried unanimously

12.a.4

*Consideration of awarding Professional Services Agreement for Consulting Services to Imperium Consulting Group, LLC

• Awarded a Professional Services Agreement for consulting services to Imperium Consulting Group, LLC, in the amount of $217,960.75 for claim preparation and presentation services for damaged City facilities.

  Motion carried unanimously

12.b

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

12.b.1

Payment of Warrants

• Order ratified subject to having been certified as being in conformity with the budget and having been approved for payment by the Director of Finance.

  Motion carried unanimously

12.b.2

Payment of Payroll

• Order ratified subject to having been certified by the proper Department Directors, as shown on records on file in the Department of Finance, and having been approved for payment by the Director of Finance.

  Motion carried unanimously

12.b.3

Receive and File the Growth Mitigation Annual Compliance Report – AB 1600

• Received, reviewed, and filed the Growth Mitigation Annual Compliance Report.

  Motion carried unanimously

12.c

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

12.c.1

Adoption of a Resolution Awarding a Bid to Main Line Engineering for the Stowell-Black Road Waterline Extension Project, Bid No. 2023-13

• Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-161

  Adopted a Resolution awarding a bid to Main Line Engineering, in the amount of $887,060 for the construction of the Stowell-Black Road Waterline Extension Project, Bid No. 2023-13.

  Motion carried unanimously

13.

REGULAR BUSINESS

13.a

Annual Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem

The City Council entertained nominations for the position of Mayor Pro Tem for a one-year term.

• Moved by: Mayor Patino
  Seconded by: Councilmember Soto

  Mayor Patino nominated Councilmember Soto as Mayor Pro Tem for calendar year 2024.

  For (3)	Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, and Councilmember Soto
  Absent (2)	Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (3 to 0)

14.

REPORT BY INTERIM CITY MANAGER

Interim City Manager Posada reported that the next City Council Meeting on January 2nd has been cancelled. Items on the January 16th agenda would include a closed session for Labor and a Purchase/Sales Agreement, a Presentation of Marian Trauma Program, Annual Boards and Committee Appointments, Office of Traffic Safety Grant Application, Award of Contract for Citywide Pedestrian Safety Project, and Interim Assistant City Manager Wu hopes to present an update on the Mobile Home Discussions.

15.

ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS)

Councilmember Cordero reported that he attended the Public Works Appreciation BBQ, the Check presentation for Soccer Complex by Assemblymember Gregg Hart and Senator Monique Limón, the Central Coast Community Energy Policy Board Meeting, and the Elks Club.

Councilmember Soto did not have a report.

Mayor Patino reported that she attended the Ben Heighes Show, a Teacher Tour Appreciation Event, the Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Board Meeting, the Central Coast Community Energy Policy Board Meeting, the Check presentation for Soccer Complex by Assemblymember Gregg Hart and Senator Monique Limón, SBCAG Meeting, LAFCO Meeting, Elks Club, City Leadership of Santa Barbara, 150 Years of Life and Ministry - First Methodist Church, and Badge Pinning at Santa Maria Police Department.

16.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.