City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of November 10, 2022
City Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246
Buellton, California
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sierra called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members Elysia Lewis, John Sanchez, Vice Mayor Dave King and Mayor Holly Sierra
Staff: City Manager Scott Wolfe, Finance Director Shannel Zamora (Via Zoom), City Clerk Linda Reid, City Attorney Greg Murphy, Public Works Director Rose Hess, Planning Director Andrea Keefer, and Lt. Mark Valencia
REORDERING OF AGENDA
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Lori Youngman, Buellton, requested the Council listen to the public’s comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of October 27, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting
2. List of Claims to be Approved and Ratified for Payment to Date for Fiscal Year 2022/2023
3. Financial Report for the First Quarter Ending September 30, 2022 (Staff Contact: Finance Director Shannel Zamora)
4. Acceptance of and Issuance of a Notice of Completion for the ENGIE Energy Savings and Solar Project
(Staff Contact: Public Works Director Rose Hess)
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 November 10, 2022
5. Consideration of Amendment No. 1 to Architectural Contract with Marchi & Associates
(Staff Contact: Public Works Director Rose Hess)
6. Consideration of Proposal to Prepare Environmental Document for the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update and Contract Amendment for Civic Solutions MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor King, seconded by Council Member Lewis, approving Consent Calendar Items 1 through 6 as listed.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Sanchez - Yes
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Vice Mayor King – Yes
Mayor Sierra - Yes
PRESENTATIONS
7. Presentation of Boys and Girls Club Gold Cards
Michael Baker, representing the United Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County explained the meaning behind Gold Cards and the Mayor announced this year’s Gold Card recipients.
8. Presentation of Helen Putnam Award by Dave Mullinax – League of California Cities Dave Mullinax with the League of California Cities presented the Council and staff with the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in the Arts for the hard work and dedication of the Buellton Arts & Culture Committee. Mayor Sierra recognized members of the Arts & Culture Committee and local artists. Stacey Kiss and Annie Yakutis thanked the Council and staff for supporting the Arts & Culture Committee.
Mayor Sierra called a recess in the meeting so everyone could enjoy cake in celebration of the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence at 6:15 p.m. The Council reconvened at 6:35 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
9. Resolution No. 22-32 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Requesting Either Approval or Denial of a One-Year Time Extension (22- TE-04) Request for Final Development Plan (16-FDP-06) and Tentative Tract Map (TTM 31061) for the Buellton Hub Project Located at the Southern Terminus of Industrial Way on Assessor’s Parcel Number 099-690-048” City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 November 10, 2022
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider approval of Resolution No. 22-32.
STAFF REPORT:
Planning Director Keefer presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Mayor Sierra opened the public hearing at 6:43 p.m.
Joseph Manser, President of the Rancho de Maria Homeowner’s Association (HOA) submitted an email supporting open communication between the proposed project and the HOA.
Howard Zelefsky, representing HB Architects discussed the applicant’s request for a oneyear time extension on the proposed project.
The following Buellton residents discussed their opposition regarding the requested time extension:
• Mark Cavanaugh
• Lori Oakley
• John Dorwin
• Hudson Hornick
There being no further public comment, Mayor Sierra closed the Public Hearing at 6:51 p.m.
The City Council discussed the following issues:
• The importance of approving the time extension given the Pandemic, inflation, construction costs, and other factors
• Additional time extensions related to the proposed project could be requested DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Mayor Sierra, seconded by Council Member Lewis denying Resolution No. 22- 32 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Requesting Either Approval or Denial of a One-Year Time Extension (22-TE-04) Request for Final Development Plan (16-FDP-06) and Tentative Tract Map (TTM 31061) for the Buellton Hub Project Located at the Southern Terminus of Industrial Way on Assessor’s Parcel Number 099-690-048”
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 November 10, 2022
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 3-1, with Vice Mayor King voting no.
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor King – No
Mayor Sierra – Yes
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
Council Member Sanchez and Mayor Sierra thanked staff and the vendors for hosting Fall Fest on the Avenue of Flags.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Sierra announced that she attended the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments North County Sub-Regional Committee meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
BUSINESS ITEMS
10. Consideration of Affordable Housing Agreement with Palm Communities for the Polo Village Project
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider authorizing the City Manager to execute the Draft Affordable Housing Agreement for the Polo Village Project, within the next year.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
The City Council questioned whether the affordable housing application fee can be lowered or income based.
Laura Romano, Buellton, questioned whether the affordable housing agreement at Polo Village would help to meet Buellton’s affordable housing requirement.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 November 10, 2022
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Council Member Lewis, authorizing the City Manager to execute the Draft Affordable Housing Agreement for the Polo Village Project, within the next year.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Council Member Sanchez - Yes
Vice Mayor King – Yes
Mayor Sierra – Yes
11. Direction to Staff Regarding Special Events - Enchanted Garden Holiday Lights Festival and Cowboy Christmas
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider a change to the adopted policy pertaining to size and frequency of events in River View Park.
STAFF REPORT:
Planning Director Keefer presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Correspondence was received and added to the record concerning holding conflicting events at the same time from the following individuals:
• Len Fleckenstein, Buellton
• Kyle Abello, Solvang
• Eva Powers, Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Board Member • Puck Erickson Lohnas, Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden Board Member • Tashina Sanders, Buellton
Bob and Evie Sweeney, Solvang, discussed the Cowboy Christmas event and how the event will coordinate with the Botanic Garden’s Enchanted Garden Holiday Lights Festival.
Andres Nunez, En Fuego Events, discussed how he plans to manage the Enchanted Garden Holiday Lights Festival and how the two events can coexist.
Derek Glas, Buellton, discussed the Botanic Garden’s Enchanted Garden Holiday Lights Festival and how it will operate.
The City Council discussed the following issues:
• Using large passenger golf carts to transport individuals to and from the events • Involving local non-profits to sell food and drinks at the events City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 November 10, 2022
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
DIRECTION:
The Council agreed by consensus to authorize a change to the adopted policy pertaining to size and frequency of events in River View Park and requested that staff return after the holidays to discuss how the events are conducted and whether a policy change is warranted.
12. Discussion and Direction on Options for Reducing the City’s CalPERS Pension Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider paying off the current UAL by June 15, 2023 and placing $1.6 million into a Pension Reserve Fund and invest it in a 6-month treasury with the intent to pay-off the UAL at maturity plus any interest earned.
STAFF REPORT:
Finance Director Zamora presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Dan Matusiewicz, Senior Public Finance Consultant for GovInvest discussed the CalPERS Pension Unfunded Accrued Liability.
The City Council discussed how a recession could affect the City’s pension liability.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Vice Mayor King, approving staff’s recommendation of paying off the current UAL by June 15, 2023 and placing $1.6 million into a Pension Reserve Fund and invest it in a 6-month treasury with the intent to pay-off the UAL at maturity plus any interest earned.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Council Member Sanchez - Yes
Vice Mayor King – Yes
Mayor Sierra – Yes
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Wolfe provided an informational report for the record.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 November 10, 2022
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sierra adjourned the regular meeting at 8:33 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. _________________________________
Holly Sierra
Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Linda Reid
City Clerk