CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA

Tuesday, November 07, 2023 at 5:30 P.m. - 6:30 P.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

110 East Cook Street

Santa Maria

Roll Call:

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

Members Absent:

• Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez 

Staff Present:

• Fire Chief Bradley Dandridge, 
• Director of Public Works Brett Fulgoni, 
• Director of Community Development Chuen Wu, 
• Director of Recreation & Parks Alex Posada, 
• Chief of Police Marc Schneider, 
• Director of Utilities Shad Springer, 
• Angela Oslund, 
• Assistant City Clerk Alexandra Valadez, 
• Chief Deputy City Clerk Sarah Lansburgh, 
• Assistant City Attorney Heather Whitham, 
• and Interim Director of Finance Xenia Bradford 

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CLOSED SESSION

1.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Patino called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Councilmembers Mike Cordero, Gloria Soto, and Mayor Alice Patino

Councilmember Carlos Escobedo joined the meeting at 4:35 p.m.

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:

Interim City Manager Alex Posada, Assistant City Attorney Heather Whitham, Deputy Chief City Clerk Lansburgh, and Assistant City Clerk Valadez (for roll call only).

2.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Mayor Patino invited public comment. No public comments were received.

3.

RECESS-CLOSED SESSION

Mayor Patino recessed to a Closed Session at 4:33 p.m. for Conference with Legal Counsel.

3.a

Conference with Legal Counsel, Pursuant to California Government Code §54956.9(d)(2)

3.b

Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation, Pursuant to California Government Code §54956.9 (Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d))

3.c

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

3.d

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

4.

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

OPEN SESSION - 5:30 P.M.

5.

INVOCATION

Pastor Jeff Nellermoe of Bethel Lutheran Church gave the Invocation.

6.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Councilmember Soto led the Pledge of Allegiance.

7.

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Patino convened the meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

8.

REPORT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FROM CLOSED SESSION

City Attorney Watson reported an update on current litigation, City Manager recruitment, and instructions were provided to the City's Labor Negotiator.

9.

PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS

9.a

Presentation – Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce 2022-2023 Annual Report

The City Council received and filed the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Commission, Visitors Bureau & Tourism Marketing District 2022-2023 Annual Report. Glenn Morris, Suzanne Singh, and Jennifer Harrison were present for the presenting entities, respectively.

9.b

Retirement Resolution for Mike Davis

Item 9.b. was heard before Item 9.a.

Councilmember Cordero read the Resolution for retired City staff Mike Davis. Mr. Davis received the Resolution and provided comments thanking the Council and City. Interim City Manager/Recreation and Parks Director Alex Posada thanked Mr. Davis for his service to the City. I.T. Director Jeff Marecic provided comment thanking Mr. Davis for his years of service to the City and listed the accomplishments of Mr. Davis's career.

This item was brought back after hearing Item 9.a. to vote on the adoption of the Resolution.

• Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
  Seconded by: Councilmember Escobedo

  Adopted a Resolution honoring and commending Mike Davis for 34 years of exemplary City service and congratulating him on his upcoming retirement.

  For (4)	Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto
  Absent (1)	Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)

10.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (Not to exceed 15 Minutes)

Mayor Patino invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Gary Hall, Luis Guzman, and Eddie Navarro.

11.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Mayor Patino asked the Council if there were any questions or any items to be pulled from the consent agenda for further discussion. There were none.

Mayor Patino invited public comment. No public comments were received.

Consent Calendar Items 11.a.1 through 11.g.1 were approved as presented.

• Adopt the Consent Calendar as submitted.

  For (4)

  Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)

11.a

CITY MANAGER/CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT

11.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 by a recorded vote

11.a.2

Approval of Minutes

• Approved the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of October 17, 2023.

  Motion carried by a recorded vote
• Approved the Minutes of the special City Council meeting of October 24, 2023.

  Motion carried by a recorded vote

11.b

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

11.b.1

Fiscal Year 2023-24 HOME Consortium Allocation Recommendation

• Adopted a Resolution approving the use of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funding to be allocated to assist the City of Santa Maria’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program and an affordable housing project in Santa Barbara County.

  Motion carried by a recorded vote

11.c

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

11.c.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 by a recorded vote

11.c.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 by a recorded vote

11.d

LIBRARY DEPARTMENT

11.d.1

Approval of an Agreement with the County of Santa Barbara and the Cities of Lompoc, Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria to Provide for the Operation of a County-wide Free Library System for Fiscal Year 2023-2024

• Adopted a Resolution approving an Agreement with the County of Santa Barbara, the Cities of Lompoc, Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria to provide for the operation of a County-wide Free Library System for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

  Motion carried by a recorded vote

11.e

POLICE DEPARTMENT

11.e.1

Donation of Community Outreach Vehicle from the Santa Maria Police Council

• Adopted a Resolution approving the donation of a 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air to the Santa Maria Police Department from the Santa Maria Police Council.

  Motion carried by a recorded vote

11.f

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

11.f.1

Award of Bid for Citywide Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation, Project, Bid No. 2023-09

• Adopted a Resolution awarding a bid to Ayala Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $390,050, for the construction of Citywide Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation Project, Bid No. 2023-09.

  Motion carried by a recorded vote

11.g

UTILITIES DEPARTMENT

11.g.1

Second Reading of Ordinance No. 2023-03 Approving Water and Sewer Rates Commencing Each January 1 from 2024 through 2027

• Conducted the second reading to approve water and sewer rates commencing each January 1 from 2024 through 2027.

  Motion carried by a recorded vote

12.

PUBLIC HEARING

12.a

Santa Maria Cemetery District Expansion General Plan Amendment, Zone Change and Planned Development Permit at the 600 Block of East Newlove Drive

Interim City Manager/Community Development Director Chuen Wu gave the presentation, and recommended Council receive public comment and provide direction to staff. Staff responded to questions from Council.

Mayor Patino invited public comment. No public comments were received.

• Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
  Seconded by: Councilmember Cordero

  Adopted a Resolution to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the General Plan Land Use Map amendment, zone change, and Planned Development Permit for Santa Maria Cemetery District Expansion, located in the 600 block of East Newlove Drive; and

  For (4)

  Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)
• Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
  Seconded by: Councilmember Cordero

  Adopted a Resolution amending the General Plan Land Use Policy Map for approximately 87 acres FROM MDR-12 (Medium Density Residential) TO CF (Community Facilities) for the Santa Maria Cemetery District Expansion, located at the 600 block of East Newlove Drive; and

  For (4)

  Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)
• Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
  Seconded by: Councilmember Cordero

  Introduced for first reading, and continued to a future meeting, an Ordinance amending the General Plan Land Use Policy Map for approximately 0.87acres FROM MDR-12 located at the 600 Block of East Newlove Drive from PD/R-2 (Planned Development/Medium Density Residential) TO CF (Community to PD/PF (Planned Development/Public Facilities) for the Santa Maria Cemetery District Expansion, located at the 600 block of East Newlove Drive; and

  For (4)

  Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)
• Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
  Seconded by: Councilmember Cordero

  Adopted a Resolution approving Planned Development Permit PD2022-0014 for the Santa Maria Cemetery District Expansion, located at the 600 block of East Newlove Drive.

  For (4)	Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto
  Absent (1)	Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)

12.b

Solar Power Award of Contract

Public Works Director Brett Fulgoni provided the staff report presentation, and recommended Council receive public comment and provide direction to staff. Sam Zennigan with ForeFront Power provided project information to Council. Staff responded to questions from Council.

Mayor Patino invited public comment. No public comments were received.

• Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
  Seconded by: Councilmember Cordero

  Adopted a Resolution entering into Power Purchase Agreements and related contract documents with ForeFront Power for facilities at the City’s real property sites.

  For (4)	Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto
  Absent (1)	Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)

13.

REGULAR BUSINESS

13.a

Santa Maria General Plan Update Preferred Land Use Alternative

Councilmember Cordero requested to postpone Item 13.a to a future meeting date when all Council Members are present. Councilmember Soto agreed to postpone the vote on Item 13.a. Assistant City Attorney Heather Whitham advised Council could receive the staff presentation or continue the item to a future date. Councilmember Escobedo requested to receive the staff presentation and postpone the vote. Councilmembers Cordero and Soto requested to not hear the staff presentation. Assistant City Attorney Whitham advised Council did not have to receive the presentation.

Mayor Patino invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Peggy Briarton, Vince Martinez, Gary Wochek, Ken Huff, and Correa.

• Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
  Seconded by: Councilmember Escobedo

  Council continued the item to a date certain of December 5, 2023.

  For (4)	Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto
  Absent (1)	Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez

  Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)

14.

REPORT BY INTERIM CITY MANAGER

Interim City Manager Posada reported the next City Council meeting will be November 21st with upcoming agenda items to include: Closed Session, Business of the Month by the Chamber, a presentation by SB CAG, award of the Stohl Black Rd Waterline Extension Project, a contract amendment for the Autonomous Shuttle Pass Through purchase, TEFRA hearing for the Vista Apartments, and Interim Finance Director Ms. Bradford will present the First Quarter Financial Report. 

15.

ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS)

Councilmember Cordero reported that he attended the following events: Black and White Ball at the Elks Lodge, Closed Session City Manager discussion, "Real Cost of Living" presentation by the Santa Maria Valley Chambers of Commerce and United Way, Santa Maria State of the City, ribbon cutting for Adient Aerospace, Kids Halloween Party at the Elks Lodge,  CCWA meeting in Buellton, Affordable Housing Zoom presentation, goal setting with Jan Perkins, Celebrate Philanthropy at the golf course, and the Teacher of the Year event for Santa Barbara County. Councilmember Cordero also advised of an upcoming open house at 1on November 14, 2023, at 111 South Broadway, Suite 101 hosted by [unintelligible].

Councilmember Escobedo reported that he attended a Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down and a meeting with Jan Perkins regarding the Santa Maria Council Worship.

Councilmember Soto had no items to report.

Mayor Patino reported an upcoming Veterans' Day celebration  on November 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center.

16.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.