City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of July 24, 2025
City Council Chambers, 140 West Highway 246
Buellton, California
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Silva called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Hudson Hornick, Council Member John Sanchez, Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis and Mayor David Silva
Staff: City Manager Scott Wolfe, City Attorney Greg Murphy, Finance Director Shannel Zamora (Via Zoom), Planning Director Andrea Keefer, Public Works Director Rose Hess, and City Clerk Linda Reid
REORDERING OF AGENDA
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Dr. Michael Cooper, Buellton, requested that staff look into revising the City’s noise ordinance regarding barking dogs and leaf blowers.
A.J. Tarman, Buellton, spoke about the continued vehicle speeding through Buellton and discussed the Art Deco architecture on the Avenue of Flags.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of July 10, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting
2. List of Claims to be Approved and Ratified for Payment to Date for Fiscal Years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026
3. Designation of Voting Delegate and Alternate for 2025 League of California Cities Annual Conference Business Meeting
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 July 24, 2025
4. Approval of Grant Agreement with Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, approving Consent Calendar Items 1 through 4.
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
5. Proclamation Recognizing Americans with Disabilities Act Day – July 26, 2025 Mayor Silva read the proclamation recognizing Americans with Disabilities Act – July 26, 2025, and presented the proclamation to Shannon Sadecki. Ms. Sadecki and Jillian Knight spoke about the importance of honoring Americans with Disabilities and thanked the Council for their support. Sharon MacDonald spoke about the communication board to be installed at River View Park and thanked the City Council for their support.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
6. Resolution No. 25-24 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Denying the Appeal and Upholding the Planning Commission Denial of Conditional Use Permit (25-CUP-01) to Establish a Private Elementary Educational Facility, Located at 202, 208, 212 and 218 Dairyland Road, Assessor Parcel Numbers 099-660-035,099-660-034,099-660-033, and 099-660-032”
OR
Resolution No. 25-24 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Approving the Appeal and Overturning the Planning Commission Denial of Conditional Use Permit (25-CUP-01) to Establish a Private Elementary Educational Facility, Located at 202, 208, 212 and 218 Dairyland Road, Assessor Parcel Numbers 099-660-035,099-660-034,099-660-033, and 099-660-032” RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider Appeal denial or approval as referenced in Resolution Nos. 25-24.
STAFF REPORT:
Planning Director Keefer presented the staff report. City Manager Wolfe explained the Surplus Lands Act process.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 July 24, 2025
Applicant, Whitney Stevenson discussed the proposed project and why she believes Hundred Hills School is the perfect addition to the Buellton community.
Applicant, Sundeep Chanana, Horatio Partners, LLC, discussed the proposed project and answered questions from the City Council.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Protest correspondence was received and made part of the record from the following individuals:
• Len Fleckenstein, Buellton
• Kady Fleckenstein, Buellton
Mayor Silva opened the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. City Attorney Murphy provided announcements regarding the Public Hearing process and announced that he spoke with all Council Members regarding the proposed project and stated that none of the Council Members have a conflict regarding this item.
The following individuals spoke in support of the Appeal and approval of the proposed project:
• Georgina Latino
• Asha-Rose Sereda, Santa Ynez
• Jenny Hartwig, Buellton
• Lauren Wheeler, Cayucos
• Morgan Stevenson, Buellton
• Raquel Giraldez, Buellton
• Ben Woodall, Buellton
• Pam Gnekow, Buellton
• Melissa, Santa Ynez
• Mary Stevenson, Buellton
• Emily Cotter, Buellton
• Yvette Stevenson, Buellton
• Lydia Jacobsen, Buellton
• Jessica Hyldahl, Santa Ynez
• Joshua Wheeler, Cayucos
• Sherry Uyeda, Buellton
• Savanah Leslie, Santa Ynez
• Chinyelu Kunz, Orcutt
• Katie Humes, Buellton
• Will Humes, Buellton
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 July 24, 2025
The following individuals spoke against the Appeal and denial of the proposed project:
• Lachlan Signa, Buellton
• Collette Clark, Buellton
• Emily Clark, Buellton
• Aura Ibrahim, Buellton
• Briar Bates, Buellton
• Sam Gielow, Buellton
• Patricia Schooter, Buellton
• Chris Clark, Buellton
• Susan Tidmarsh, Buellton
• Ashley Sloane, Buellton
• Ryan Sloane, Buellton
• Amy Small, Buellton
• Diana Paul, Buellton
• Liat Rathbun, Buellton
• Alicia Marin, Buellton
• Matt Niblett, Buellton
• David Schwartz, Buellton
• Patty Hammel, Buellton
• Holly Sierra, Buellton
• Larry Bishop, Buellton
• Leo Elovitz, Buellton
• Lorry Kennedy, Buellton
• Lee Owens, Buellton
• Len Fleckenstein, Buellton
• Amy Wolfslau, Buellton
• Elaine Alvarado, Buellton
• Richard Winer, Buellton
• Katie HAQ, Buellton
• Kady Fleckenstein, Buellton
• Killian Denton, Buellton
• Anwanur Gielow, Buellton
• Francisca Escobar, Buellton
• Al Gately, Buellton
• Lucy Padilla, Buellton
• Candice Signa, Buellton
• Kristen Roylance, Buellton
There being no further public comment, Mayor Silva closed the public hearing at 9:15 p.m.
All Council Members disclosed their discussions with the Applicant regarding the proposed project.
City Attorney Murphy explained and discussed the Surplus Land Act.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 July 24, 2025
The Applicant responded to various questions from the City Council.
The City Council discussed the following issues:
• Lowering the fence height surrounding the school
• All existing trees will remain on the property
• Parking and traffic concerns
• Future uses for the property and creating an Ad Hoc Committee to provide direction related to the Hundred Hills School site
The City Council discussed the pros and cons of the Hundred Hills School development on the proposed site.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Hornick approving Resolution No. 25-24 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Approving the Appeal and Overturning the Planning Commission Denial of Conditional Use Permit (25-CUP-01) and Associated Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Addendum#1 (25-MND-01) for the Willemsen Addition to River View Park Project in Order to Establish A Private Elementary Educational Facility, Located at 202, 208, 212 and 218 Dairyland Road, Assessor Parcel Numbers 099-660-035,099-660- 034,099-660-033, and 099-660-032”
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
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
None
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 July 24, 2025
BUSINESS ITEMS
7. Resolution No. 25-25 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Authorizing and Approving A License Agreement With SYV Waldorf, Inc., for Use of A Portion of the Willemsen Property, Located At 202 Dairyland Road” RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider adoption of Resolution No. 25-25.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Hornick, seconded by Vice Mayor Lewis, adopting Resolution No. 25-25 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Authorizing and Approving A License Agreement With SYV Waldorf, Inc., for Use of A Portion of the Willemsen Property, Located At 202 Dairyland Road” 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’S REPORT
City Manager Wolfe provided an informational report for the record.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Silva adjourned the regular meeting at 10:48 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ____________________________
David Silva
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Linda Reid
City Clerk