City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of January 9, 2025
City Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246
Buellton, California
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Silva called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
OATH OF OFFICE – COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN SANCHEZ – DISTRICT 3 City Clerk Reid issued the Oath of Office to Council Member John Sanchez, representing District 3. Council Member Sanchez thanked his supporters and pledged to do his best to represent the City of Buellton.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members Hudson Hornick, Council Member John Sanchez, Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis, and Mayor David Silva
Staff: City Manager Scott Wolfe, City Attorney Greg Murphy (Via Zoom), Public Works Director Rose Hess, Finance Director Shannel Zamora (Via Zoom), Planning Director Andrea Keefer, and City Clerk Linda Reid
REORDERING OF AGENDA
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
A.J. Tarman, Buellton, called for traffic calming measures on Highway 246. Mr. Tarman suggested Buellton create an architectural review board and recommended the Council consider the appointment of Dave King to represent District 4.
Holly Sierra, Buellton, representing Friends of the Library, spoke about the opening of the new Library and invited everyone to attend the “preview night” on February 7 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 January 9, 2025
Larry Bishop, Buellton, discussed the underground pipeline that runs through the City of Buellton and requested the City oppose the restart of the pipeline as it could present a danger to Buellton residents.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of December 12, 2024 Regular City Council Meeting
2. List of Claims to be Approved and Ratified for Payment to Date for Fiscal Year 2024/2025
3. Monthly Treasurer’s Report – November 30, 2024
4. Approval of First Amendment to Lease and Agreement for the Provision of Library Management Services between the City of Buellton and the City of Goleta at the Buellton Library
Council Member Hornick requested that Item 4 be pulled for discussion.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Council Member Hornick, approving Consent Calendar Items 1 through 3 as listed.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
City Manager Wolfe explained the First Amendment to Lease and Agreement for the Provision of Library Management Services between the City of Buellton and the City of Goleta at the Buellton Library.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Council Member Hornick, approving Consent Calendar Item 4 as listed.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 January 9, 2025
PRESENTATIONS
5. Proclamation Recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month Mayor Silva read the proclamation recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Ann McCarty, Executive Director of the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center accepted the proclamation and discussed the importance of human trafficking awareness.
6. Proclamation Recognizing Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Mayor Silva read the proclamation recognizing Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and presented it to Deputy Derek Taylor. The City Council thanked all law enforcement officers for their efforts in keeping Buellton a safe place to live and work.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
7. Ordinance No. 25-01 – “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, to Increase the Buellton Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Rate” (Introduction and First Reading)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider the introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 25-01.
STAFF REPORT:
City Attorney Murphy presented the staff report.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Mayor Silva opened the Public Hearing at 6:27 p.m. There being no public comment, Mayor Silva closed the Public Hearing at 6:28 p.m.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, approving the introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 25-01 – “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, to increase the Buellton Transient Occupancy Tax TOT Rate” by title only and waive further reading.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 January 9, 2025
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
Council Member Sanchez spoke about the fires in Los Angeles and stated that Buellton’s water status is very good.
Council Member Sanchez suggested that City staff contact Valley Gardener before new trees are planted to ensure they do not present a problem as they mature.
Council Member Hornick thanked Larry Bishop for discussing the risk of an active pipeline running through the City of Buellton.
Vice Mayor Lewis thanked the public for their email messages expressing support for candidates interested in the District 4 seat.
Vice Mayor Lewis spoke about traffic calming measures through Buellton and stated that Council and staff are working with Caltrans to remedy this issue.
Mayor Silva requested that residents contact Caltrans regarding issues involving Highway 246 and stated that Caltrans contact information is available on the side table as they exit the Council Chambers.
Mayor Silva requested that staff agendize discussion and possible approval of a resolution supporting the Winery Business Improvement District (Wine BID) at the January 23rd meeting.
Mayor Silva requested that staff look into re-establishing the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Hornick announced that he attended the Green Team meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
BUSINESS ITEMS
8. Consider Appointment to Vacant City Council Seat – District 4 RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider appointment to the vacant two-year District 4 Council seat.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 January 9, 2025
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Carla Mead, Buellton, discussed her desire and qualifications for filling the District 4 seat on the City Council.
Dave King, Buellton, discussed his desire and qualifications for filling the District 4 seat on the City Council.
The following individuals spoke in support of Carla Mead being appointed to the District 4 seat:
• Vivian Engel
• Larry Bishop
• Jon Mead
• Sandy Lincoln
• Sean Newton
• Seth Hudson
• Laura Benard
• Wendy Garth
A.J. Tarman, Buellton, discussed his support for Dave King being appointed to the District 4 seat.
The City Council discussed the appointment process and their respective support perspectives.
City Manager Wolfe described the options moving forward and stated a decision to appoint a representative to District 4 must be made by February 10 or the City will be forced to conduct a Special Election.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Hornick, seconded by Council Member Sanchez appointing Dave King to the vacant two-year District 4 seat with term of office expiring December 2026.
VOTE:
Motion tied by a roll call vote of 2-2, with Vice Mayor Lewis and Mayor Silva voting no.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – No
Mayor Silva – No
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Mayor Silva appointing Carla Mead to the vacant two-year District 4 seat with term of office expiring December 2026.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 January 9, 2025
VOTE:
Motion tied by a roll call vote of 2-2, with Council Members Hornick and Sanchez voting no.
Council Member Hornick – No
Council Member Sanchez – No
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Hornick, seconded by Mayor Silva to continue this item for two weeks for further discussion and possible action.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 3-1, with Vice Mayor Lewis voting no.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – No
Mayor Silva – Yes
9. Consideration of Appointments to the Planning Commission RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider appointments to the Planning Commission with the terms of office expiring December 2026.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Council Member Hornick requested appointment of Kasey Kump to the Planning Commission with the term of office expiring December 2026.
Mayor Silva requested appointment of Brian Campbell to the Planning Commission with the term of office expiring December 2026.
Motion by Mayor Silva, seconded by Vice Mayor Lewis appointing Brian Campbell and Kasey Kump to the Planning Commission with the term of office expiring December 2026.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 January 9, 2025
10. Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees A. Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA)
B. County Library Advisory Committee
C. Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) D. Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
E. California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
F. League of California Cities (LOCC) – Voting Delegate G. Buellton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (Ex Officio Member) H. Multi-Jurisdictional Solid Waste Task Group
I. Economic Development Task Force
J. City/School District Joint Use Committee
K. Joint Cities-County Affordable Housing Task Group
L. Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Powers Insurance Authority M. Central Management Area Committee for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)/JPA
N. Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) – (Policy Board/Operations Board)
O. Arts & Culture Committee
P. Other Committees Per Council Direction
The City Council agreed by consensus to nominate members of the Council to the Boards Commissions and Committees who have upcoming meetings in the next few weeks and the remainder of the nominations will be agendized for discussion at a future meeting.
Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA)
Council Member Sanchez
Mayor Silva (Alternate)
Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Mayor Silva
Vice Mayor Lewis (Alternate)
Air Pollution Control District (APCD)
Mayor Silva
Vice Mayor Lewis (Alternate)
Central Management Area Committee for the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
Council Member Sanchez
Council Member Hornick
DIRECTION:
The City Council agreed by consensus to appoint Council Members as listed above to the respective Boards, Commissions, and Committees for 2025.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 8 January 9, 2025
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Wolfe provided an informational report for the record.
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
11. Closed Session Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 Conference with Real Property Negotiator
Property: 202 Dairyland Road, Buellton, CA (APN: 099-66-032, -033, -034) Agency Negotiator: Scott Wolfe, City Manager
Negotiating Party: Horatio Partners, LLC
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
The City Council met in closed session to discuss Item 11. No reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Silva adjourned the regular meeting at 8:32 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. ____________________________
David Silva
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Linda Reid
City Clerk