City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of February 13, 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.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
City Attorney Murphy announced that Vice Mayor Lewis will attend the Council meeting via Zoom due to an Emergency Circumstances Exception (Illness) and explained the admonitions for the exception.
Present: Council Members Hudson Hornick, Council Member John Sanchez, Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis (Via Zoom), and Mayor David Silva Staff: City Manager Scott Wolfe, City Attorney Greg Murphy, Public Works Director Rose Hess, Finance Director Shannel Zamora (Via Zoom), Planning Director Andrea Keefer (Via Zoom), and City Clerk Linda Reid
REORDERING OF AGENDA
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of January 23, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting
2. List of Claims to be Approved and Ratified for Payment to Date for Fiscal Year 2024/2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 February 13, 2025
3. Resolutions Pertaining to Mail-In Ballot Special Election to be Held Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Resolution No. 25-03 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Calling and Giving Notice of the Holding of a Mail-In Ballot Special Election to be Held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 for the Election of Certain Officers as Required by the Provisions of the Laws of the State of California Relating to General Law Cities”
Resolution No. 25-04 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara to Consolidate a Mail-In Ballot Special Election to be Held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 with the Santa Barbara County Elections Office”
Resolution No. 25-05 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Adopting Regulations for Candidates for Elective Office Pertaining to Candidate’s Statements, Materials Submitted to the Electorate, and the Cost Thereof, Submitted to the Voters at a Mail-in Ballot Special Election to be Held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025”
4. Allocation of Funds from 2023 State Earmark for SYV River Trail
5. Six-Month Report for Fiscal Year 2024-25 from the Buellton Visitors Bureau Council Member Sanchez questioned the date that Mail-In Ballots for the Special Election would be mailed out and when candidates can take out nomination papers to run for District
4. City Clerk Reid stated that ballots will begin being mailed to residents in District 4 on July 28 and candidates can take out papers to run for District 4 beginning May 5 through May 30.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Sanchez, seconded by Vice Mayor Lewis, approving Consent Calendar Items 1 through 5 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
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 February 13, 2025
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
Council Member Sanchez and Vice Mayor Lewis thanked staff and the Friends of the Library for hosting the Grand Opening of the new Library.
Council Member Hornick requested and the Council agreed by consensus to have staff look into partnering with the United Way to help defray the cost of early childhood education for Buellton families in need.
Mayor Silva announced that the Buellton Library staff is asking residents to take a survey regarding their preferred hours of operation of the Library and various other survey questions related to the Library.
Mayor Silva thanked People Helping People for reaching out to residents currently living on the Avenue of Flags regarding affordable housing units that are available in Buellton.
Mayor Silva requested and the Council agreed by consensus to have staff invite representatives from the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum to a Council Meeting so they can provide an update regarding the Museum’s status.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Hornick stated that he attended an ad hoc committee meeting regarding the 1000 trees initiative and is working with the Green Team regarding this project.
Mayor Silva 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.
BUSINESS ITEMS
6. Consideration of Stating a Formal City Position on the Appeal of the Transfer of Pipeline Permits for the Petroleum Pipeline Traversing the City of Buellton to Sable Offshore
Council Member Hornick announced his recusal from Item 6 based on his employment with Santa Barbara County. Mr. Hornick left the dais and sat in the audience.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council discuss the matter and direct staff as appropriate.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 February 13, 2025
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Correspondence was received and made part of the record from Len Fleckenstein, WE Watch Board of Directors, Scott Harvey, Lee Danielson, and Linda Ryles.
The following individuals spoke in opposition of the County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors approving the transfer of pipeline permits to Sable Offshore based on the fact that their gas pipeline runs through the City of Buellton:
• Diane Craig, Buellton
• Larry Bishop, Buellton
• Theresa Reilly, representing WE Watch
• Len Fleckenstein, Buellton
The City Council discussed where the gas pipeline is located in the City, when it was installed, and how the pipeline could affect residents if it were to develop leaks in residential neighborhoods.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Sanchez to take no formal action regarding this issue. The Motion failed for lack of a second.
MOTION:
Motion by Mayor Silva, seconded by Vice Mayor Lewis, directing staff to draft a letter to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors supporting the appeal of the pipeline permits granted to Sable Offshore by the County Planning Commission by highlighting the issues which directly impact the City of Buellton as a result of the gas pipeline that runs through the City.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 2-1, with Council Member Sanchez voting no.
Council Member Sanchez – No
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
Council Member Hornick returned to the dais following the discussion of Item 6.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 February 13, 2025
7. Discussion for Strategic Goals and Objectives for Biennial Budget FY 2025/26 and FY 2026/27
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council review the mission statement and set goals and objectives for the Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
STAFF REPORT:
Finance Director Zamora presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
The City Council discussed the City’s current goals and objectives and stated they are satisfied with the current listing. Mayor Silva requested better clarity with regard to economic development in the City.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
DIRECTION:
The City Council agreed by consensus to direct staff to pursue the goals and objectives listed for 2025.
8. Appointments to Boards, Commissions, and Committees
A. County Library Advisory Committee
B. California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
C. League of California Cities (LOCC) – Voting Delegate D. Buellton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (Ex Officio Member) E. Multi-Jurisdictional Solid Waste Task Group
F. Economic Development Task Force
G. City/School District Joint Use Committee
H. Joint Cities-County Affordable Housing Task Group
I. Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Powers Insurance Authority J. Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) – (Policy Board/Operations Board)
K. Arts & Culture Committee
L. Other Committees Per Council Direction
The City Council nominated the following Council Members to the following Boards, Commissions, and Committees for 2025:
A. County Library Advisory Committee
Vice Mayor Lewis
Council Member Sanchez (Alternate)
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 February 13, 2025
B. California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
Vice Mayor Lewis
Council Member Sanchez (Alternate)
C. League of California Cities (LOCC)
Mayor Silva (Voting Delegate-Annual Conference)
Vice Mayor Lewis (Alternate Voting Delegate-Annual Conference) D. Buellton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (Ex Officio Member) Council Member Sanchez
E. Multi-Jurisdictional Solid Waste Task Group
Council Member Hornick
Mayor Silva
F. Economic Development Task Force
Council Member Hornick
Mayor Silva
G. City/School District Joint Use Committee
Vice Mayor Lewis
H. Joint Cities-County Affordable Housing Task Group
Council Member Hornick
I. Association of California Water Agencies/Joint Power Insurance Authority Council Member Hornick
J. Central Coast Community Energy (3CE)
Mayor Silva
K. Arts & Culture Committee
Council Member Sanchez
L. Other Committees Per Council Direction
1000 Trees Initiative Committee
Mayor Silva
Council Member Hornick
Green Team
Council Member Hornick
Santa Ynez Valley Aquatics Complex Committee
Mayor Silva
Council Member Sanchez
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 February 13, 2025
SYV Community Outreach
Mayor Silva
Council Member Sanchez
DIRECTION:
The City Council agreed by consensus to appoint Council Members as listed above to the respective Boards, Commissions, and Committees for 2025.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Wolfe provided an informational report for the record.
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
9. 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 9. No reportable action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Silva adjourned the regular meeting at 8:04 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. ____________________________
David Silva
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Linda Reid
City Clerk