City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of January 25, 2024
City Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246
Buellton, California
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor King called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members Hudson Hornick, Elysia Lewis, and John Sanchez, Vice Mayor David Silva and Mayor Dave King
Staff: City Manager Scott Wolfe, City Attorney Greg Murphy, Public Works Director Rose Hess, Finance Director Shannel Zamora, Planning Director Andrea Keefer (Via Zoom), and City Clerk Linda Reid
REORDERING OF AGENDA
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Nancy Dorwin, Buellton, provided a handout for the record and requested a meeting with City staff regarding the City Attorney’s response to the Rancho de Maria HOA’s objection and opposition to HUB/BUE-17 Final Map recordation and conditions of approval incorporating the HOA’s common area property, dated December 14, 2023.
Lt. Mark Valencia announced that the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department will bring back the Motor Officer in Buellton on a part-time basis within the next few weeks.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of January 11, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
2. List of Claims to be Approved and Ratified for Payment to Date for Fiscal Year 2023/2024
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 January 25, 2024
3. Monthly Treasurer’s Report – December 31, 2023
4. Award of Bid for McMurray Road/Highway 246 Improvement Project
5. Award of Bid for the SYVCO CDBG – 140 Highway 246 TI Projects
6. Clarification of Council Appointment to GSA Committee MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Lewis, seconded by Vice Mayor Silva, approving Consent Calendar Items 1-6 as listed.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 5-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes as to Items 2-6, abstain as to Item 1.
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Council Member Sanchez - Yes
Vice Mayor Silva – Yes
Mayor King – Yes
PRESENTATIONS
7. Presentation of Gold Cards to Boys and Girls Club Recipients Michael Baker, representing the United Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County thanked the Council for their support and recognition of the Gold Card recipients.
Mayor King presented Gold Cards and congratulated each of the Boys and Girls Club Recipients, representing their attendance at the Buellton Club Site for 105 or more days.
8. Proclamation Recognizing California Nature Art Museum (Formerly the Wildling Museum)
Mayor King read the proclamation recognizing California Nature Art Museum for their rebranding of the Museum and presented the proclamation to Stacey Otte-Demangate, Executive Director of the California Nature Art Museum. Ms. Otte-Demangate spoke about the Museum and invited everyone to visit the rebranded facility.
9. Proclamation Recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day Mayor King read the proclamation recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day and presented the proclamation to Susie Pierson, President of the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community. Ms. Pierson spoke about the importance of honoring Holocaust survivors and never forgetting the suffering that was endured.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 January 25, 2024
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
Council Member Hornick requested the status of the speed trailer on the Avenue of Flags.
Council Member Hornick thanked Mayor King for his efforts to get the motor officer back in Buellton.
Vice Mayor Silva thanked Council Member Lewis for bringing the Holocaust Remembrance Day proclamation forward. Vice Mayor Silva questioned staff regarding the status of purchasing the second speed trailer. Public Works Director Hess stated that staff is awaiting grant funding for the second speed trailer. Vice Mayor Silva stated there are overnight RV campers parking on Valley Vineyard Circle. City Manager Wolfe stated that staff will look into possible options to limit camping on the street.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Hornick announced that he attended a Green Team meeting and provided an oral report regarding the meeting.
Council Member Sanchez announced that he attended the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) Board meeting and provided an oral report regarding the meeting.
Council Member Sanchez and Mayor King announced that they attended the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation meeting and provided an oral report regarding the meeting.
Vice Mayor Silva announced that he attended the Affordable Housing Task Force meeting and provided an oral report regarding the meeting.
Mayor King announced that he attended board meetings for Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) and Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and provided oral reports regarding the meetings.
Mayor King announced that he attended the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) North County Sub-Regional Planning Committee meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 January 25, 2024
BUSINESS ITEMS
10. Consideration of Arts & Culture Project Applications:
A. Post Office Poppies Project
B. Buellton Art – Banners Project
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider funding for the Arts & Culture projects listed above.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report and introduced Recreation Coordinator Allison Firey, who will be taking over the Arts and Culture program for the City going forward.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
A. Post Office Poppies Project
Veronica Medina discussed the proposed Poppies project and answered questions from the Council.
The City Council discussed the following issues:
• Cost to add artwork to the entire east wall of the Buellton Post Office, which is estimated at $100,000
• Involving the community in the artwork fabrication process for those who are interested, which was supported by the artist
• That staff use social media to inform the community about the Poppies project, including the project’s progress
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Lewis, seconded by Council Member Hornick, approving the amount of $22,060 to fund the Post Office Poppies Project.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 5-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Council Member Sanchez - Yes
Vice Mayor Silva – Yes
Mayor King – Yes
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 January 25, 2024
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
B. Buellton Art – Banners Project
Kristin Merz discussed the proposed Banners project and answered questions from the Council.
The City Council discussed the following issues:
• Inviting students to participate in the Banners project • Coordinate the project with Buellton Rec to make this an educational process • How to fund the Banner project on an annual basis, rather than continuing to use Arts & Culture funding each year
• Discussion of the different project options and associated costs DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Lewis, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, approving Option E (88 banners) as listed in the project application, which includes the installation of banners on Industrial Way, with a cost of $22,291 to fund the Buellton Art – Banners Project.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-1, with Mayor King voting no.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Council Member Sanchez - Yes
Vice Mayor Silva – Yes
Mayor King - No
11. Identification of 2024 Recognitions and Cultural Heritage Observances RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council discuss this matter and direct staff as appropriate.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 January 25, 2024
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION/DIRECTION:
The City Council agreed by consensus to recognize the following observances in 2024, via proclamation as follows:
• January 9 - Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
• May 15 - Peace Officers Memorial Day
• May – National Military Appreciation Month
• June 19 - Juneteenth
• June – Pride Month
• July 26 – Americans with Disabilities Act Day
• September – National Hispanic Heritage Month
• November 29– National Native American Heritage Day
12. Consideration of Pre-emptive Adjustment of Staff Salary Ranges RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council discuss the salary range adjustments for the department head and non-department head positions, and if deemed appropriate, direct the staff to return with a resolution reflecting this change.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
The City Council discussed the proposed pre-emptive salary adjustments in order to attract and retain qualified employees going forward.
MOTION:
Motion by Mayor King, seconded by Council Member Hornick approving a one-step increase for all non-department head positions and approving a two-step increase for all department head positions effective immediately and that staff return to Council with a resolution documenting the salary adjustments.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 5-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Lewis – Yes
Council Member Sanchez - Yes
Vice Mayor Silva – Yes
Mayor King – Yes
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Wolfe provided an informational report for the record.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 January 25, 2024
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
13. Closed Session - California Government Code Section 54957 regarding:
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Manager
The City Council met in closed session to discuss Item 13. No reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor King adjourned the regular meeting at 9:05 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. __________________________
Dave King
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Linda Reid
City Clerk