City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of August 14, 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
Present: Council Member Hudson Hornick, Council Member John Sanchez (Via Zoom), 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 (Via Zoom), and City Clerk Linda Reid
REORDERING OF AGENDA
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of July 24, 2025, City Council Meeting
2. List of Claims to be Approved and Ratified for Payment to Date for Fiscal Year 2025/2026
3. Monthly Treasurer’s Report – June 30, 2025
4. Acceptance of Public Trail and Pedestrian Access Easements (Village Senior Apartments)
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 August 14, 2025
5. Acceptance of Bid and Award of Construction Contract for the WWTP Groundwater Monitoring Wells Project
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Mayor Silva, approving Consent Calendar Items 1 through 5.
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
6. Ordinance No. 25-06 – “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Amending Chapter 3.28.060 of the Buellton Municipal Code Pertaining to Registration Requirements of Hotel Operators Subject to Transient Occupancy Tax, and Adding Chapter 19.06.290 of the Buellton Municipal Code Pertaining to the Operation of Hotels for Short Term Rental Use Only (25-ZOA-01)” (Introduction and First Reading)
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider the introduction and first reading of Ordinance No. 25-06.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Correspondence was received and made part of the record from attorney Chris Guillen with Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, and Schreck regarding Ordinance No. 25-06.
Mayor Silva opened the public hearing at 6:10 p.m.
Kerry Moriarty, Buellton, stated that his property, The Farmhouse Motel, is the only property on the Avenue of Flags that will be affected by Ordinance No. 25-06.
Chris Guillen, Attorney with Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, and Schreck, discussed the letter he submitted to the City Council regarding Ordinance No. 26-05.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 August 14, 2025
Guy Maler, Buellton, stated he lives at the Farmhouse Motel because it is the only housing he can afford.
Miranda Braid, Buellton, stated she lives at the Farmhouse Motel and the residents who live there cannot afford other locations in Buellton and have not been accepted into affordable housing units.
City Attorney Murphy stated he will look into Mr. Guillen’s letter submitted to the City Council on August 14, 2025, and will report back to the Council on or before the second reading of the Ordinance on September 11, 2025.
There being no further public comment, Mayor Silva closed the public hearing at 6:25 p.m.
The City Council discussed aspects of Ordinance No. 25-06.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Hornick introducing for first reading Ordinance No. 25-06 – “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Amending Chapter 3.28.060 of the Buellton Municipal Code Pertaining to Registration Requirements of Hotel Operators Subject to Transient Occupancy Tax, and Adding Chapter 19.06.290 of the Buellton Municipal Code Pertaining to the Operation of Hotels for Short Term Rental Use Only (25-ZOA-01)” by title only and waive further reading, with revisions to Section 3a, extending the grace period to revert to hotel usage until April 1, 2026 and Section 3b, extending the timeframe for tenants to obtain prequalification for affordable housing until October 1, 2026.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 3-1, with Council Member Sanchez voting no.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – No
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
Council Member Hornick thanked staff for contacting Frontier Communications regarding their disruptive work in the Rancho de Maria neighborhood.
Council Member Hornick requested that staff look into traffic calming measures in the neighborhood surrounding the new Library.
Council Member Sanchez announced that he attended an event at River View Park that supported mobility impaired individuals and stated it was an enlightening experience.
Vice Mayor Lewis thanked the Recreation Department staff for their hard work during Summer Camp and for introducing the children to many local businesses.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 August 14, 2025
Mayor Silva questioned the status of the second speed trailer. Public Works Director Hess stated the second speed trailer has been programed and is currently in use.
Mayor Silva requested, and the Council agreed by consensus to agendize discussion regarding fund raising efforts to build an outdoor pergola in front of the Friends of the Library room at the new Library.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Hornick reminded everyone to get their Central Coast Community Energy rebates before the end of 2025.
Council Member Sanchez announced that he attended the Arts & Culture Committee meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
BUSINESS ITEMS
7. Consideration of Arts and Culture Project Application: Buellton Theatre Project City Attorney Murphy explained why City Manager Wolfe was presenting the Arts & Culture project request and that staff member Firey would not be benefiting from the project funding, as she is a volunteer with the Buellton Theatre Project.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider funding for the Buellton Theatre project.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Allison Firey discussed the proposed project and the project’s timeline.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Mayor Silva, approving the funding of $48,800 in support of the Buellton Theatre project.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 August 14, 2025
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
8. Initiation of Process for Investigation of Future Use(s) of City Owned Property at 202 Dairyland Road
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council direct staff to prepare a preliminary process and conduct a Town Hall style meeting to begin the dialogue for future use(s) of City owned property at 202 Dairyland Road.
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 process to be used to determine future use(s) for the City owned property at 202 Dairyland Road.
DIRECTION:
The City Council agreed by consensus to schedule Town Hall style meetings to discuss future use(s) for the City owned property at 202 Dairyland Road.
9. Appointment of Ad Hoc Committee for Investigation of Future Use(s) of City Owned Property at 202 Dairyland Road
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider appointment of Mayor Silva and Council Member Hornick (or two other Council Members, as deemed appropriate) as an Ad Hoc Committee for the oversight of a process to investigate and identify future uses of the property located at 202 Dairyland Road.
STAFF REPORT:
City Manager Wolfe presented the staff report.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 August 14, 2025
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Elaine Alvarado, Buellton, stated that Council Member Hornick and Mayor Silva should be appointed to the Ad Hoc Committee to determine future uses of the property located at 202 Dairyland Road.
MOTION:
Council Member Sanchez made a motion to appoint Council Member Hornick and himself to the Ad Hoc Committee to determine future uses of the property located at 202 Dairyland Road. The motion failed for lack of a second.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Mayor Silva, appointing Council Member Hornick and Mayor Silva to the Ad Hoc Committtee to determine future uses of the property located at 202 Dairyland Road.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 3-1, with Council Member Sanchez voting no.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – No
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Wolfe provided an informational report for the record.
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS
10. Closed Session – California Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) regarding:
EXISTING LITIGATION (1 matter): Central Coast Water Authority v. Santa Barbara County Flood Control & Water Conservation District (SB County Superior Court Case No. 21CV02432)
The City Council met in Closed Session to discuss Item 10. The City Council directed staff to approve a settlement agreement on defined terms, subject to City Attorney review, and execution by Mayor Silva. Upon approval by the parties and the court, the settlement agreement will be available at the City Clerk’s office.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7 August 14, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Silva adjourned the regular meeting at 8:05 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The Regular Council meeting of August 28th has been cancelled.
____________________________
David Silva
Mayor
ATTEST:
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Linda Reid
City Clerk