City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of January 23, 2025
City Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246
Buellton, California
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Mayor Lewis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members Hudson Hornick, Council Member John Sanchez, and Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis
Via Zoom: Mayor David Silva
Staff: City Manager Scott Wolfe (Via Zoom), City Attorney Greg Murphy (Via Zoom), Public Works Director Rose Hess, Finance Director Shannel Zamora, Planning Director Andrea Keefer, and City Clerk Linda Reid
REORDERING OF AGENDA
City Manager Wolfe recommended and the Council agreed by consensus to add Agenda Items 10 and 11 to the Consent Calendar.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Len Fleckenstein and Larry Bishop, Buellton, requested the City Council send a letter to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors by February 21, requesting the Board deny transfer of ownership of the gas pipeline that currently runs through the City of Buellton until the new owner (Sable Offshore Corporation) agrees to relocate the pipeline outside the City limits.
Theresa Reilly, Buellton, expressed her concern regarding the gas pipeline running through the City of Buellton. Ms. Reilly also provided comments regarding the vacant District 4 Council seat.
Frank Ostini and Brit Zotovich spoke in support of the Santa Barbara County Wine Business Improvement District.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 January 23, 2025
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of January 9, 2025 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 – December 31, 2024
4. Ordinance No. 25-01 – “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, to Increase the Buellton Transient Occupancy Tax Rate” (Second Reading)
5. Receive Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27 Biennial Budget Process Schedule
6. Identification of 2025 Recognitions and Cultural Heritage Observances
10. Resolution No. 25-01 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Consenting to the Creation of the Santa Barbara County Wine Business Improvement District”
11. Resolution No. 25-02 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, in Support of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Complex” MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Mayor Silva, approving Consent Calendar Items 1 through 6, 10, and 11 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
PRESENTATIONS
7. Proclamation Recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day Vice Mayor Lewis read the proclamation recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day and stated that staff will deliver the proclamation to the Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 January 23, 2025
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
Council Member Hornick requested and the Council agreed by consensus to agendize support for addressing the gas pipeline that runs through the City of Buellton.
Council Member Hornick requested and the Council agreed by consensus to agendize discussion of creating a 501(c)(3) organization to partner with a local non-profit organization to fund the 1,000 trees program.
Council Member Hornick requested and the Council agreed by consensus to agendize discussion of creating an electronic newsletter to keep the public informed of what is happening in Buellton.
Council Member Sanchez thanked the Arts & Culture Committee and Council Members for attending the Poppy Project Mosaic reveal at Buellton’s Post Office.
Vice Mayor Lewis thanked all residents and business owners for getting involved in local political issues and taking the time to attend Council meetings and email Council Members with their comments and suggestions.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Sanchez announced that he attended the Buellton Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Board 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.
Mayor Silva 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.
BUSINESS ITEMS
8. CalPERS Pension Funding Update and Discussion and Direction on Options for Reducing the City’s CalPERS Pension Unfunded Accrued Liability (UAL) RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider paying an additional discretionary payment of $175,000 during FY 2025-26 and include the payment in the FY 2025-26 budget.
STAFF REPORT:
Finance Director Zamora presented the staff report.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 January 23, 2025
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Derek Lee with GovInvest discussed the CalPERS Pension Unfunded Accrued Liability and provided a presentation representing the City’s UAL.
The City Council discussed how employee cost of living adjustments may affect the UAL.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Mayor Silva, seconded by Council Member Hornick, approving staff’s recommendation of paying an additional discretionary payment of $175,000 during FY 2025-26 and include the payment in the FY 2025-26 budget.
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
9. 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.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Correspondence regarding this item was received and made part of the record from the following individuals:
• Kristina Vail
• Holly Sierra
• Victoria Pointer
• Sean Newton
• Ines Jones
• Imelda Martinez
• Amy Wolfslau
• Ninni Lemus
• Stuart Warren
• Sarah Dasko
• Debbie Pearson
• Lisa Newton
• Christine Herman
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 January 23, 2025
• Seth Hudson
• Larry Bishop
• Monique Bloedau
• Mayra Henson
• Linda Ryles
Carla Mead, Buellton, discussed her desire and qualifications for filling the two-year District 4 seat on the City Council.
Jon Mead, Buellton, spoke in support of Carla Mead filling the two-year District 4 term.
Lianne Hutton, Buellton, spoke in support of Carla Mead to fill the two-year District 4 term.
Randall Lamb, Buellton, requested the two-year District 4 seat be filled by conducting a Special Election.
Eddie Hsueh, Solvang, spoke in support of Dave King to fill the two-year District 4 term.
Victoria Pointer, Buellton, discussed her desire and qualifications for filling the two-year District 4 seat on the City Council.
Ben Forsyth, Buellton, discussed his support for Dave King to fill the two-year District 4 term.
Tanasha Vernstrum, Buellton, discussed her support for Dave King to fill the two-year District 4 term.
Nancy Dorwin, Buellton, spoke in support of Carla Mead to fill the two-year District 4 term, rather than going to a Special Election.
Sean Newton, Buellton, spoke in support of Carla Mead to fill the two-year District 4 term.
The City Council discussed making an appointment to the vacant District 4 seat and then discussed a possible date for a Special Election and how an election may be the best way to hear from voters, versus appointing a resident to fill the vacant seat.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Hornick, seconded by Vice Mayor Lewis directing staff to conduct a Special Election in August 2025.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll-call vote of 3-1, with Mayor Silva voting no.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – No
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 January 23, 2025
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Wolfe provided an informational report for the record.
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
12. 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 12. No reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Lewis adjourned the regular meeting at 8:26 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. ____________________________
Elysia Lewis
Vice Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Linda Reid
City Clerk