City Manager Review: SW
Council Agenda Item No.: 1
CITY OF BUELLTON
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting of September 25, 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 John Sanchez, Council Member Hudson Hornick, Vice Mayor Elysia Lewis, and Mayor David Silva
Staff: City Attorney Greg Murphy, Planning Director Andrea Keefer, Finance Director Shannel Zamora (Via Zoom), Public Works Director Rose Hess (Via Zoom), Deputy City Clerk Katherine Dary, and City Clerk Linda Reid
REORDERING OF AGENDA
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Corey Evans, owner of Dr. J’s Bicycle Shop, discussed his support for the Santa Ynez Valley River Trail.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Hornick requested that Item 5 be pulled for discussion. City Attorney Murphy suggested that Item 5 be reordered to the end of the agenda for further discussion.
1. Minutes of September 11, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting
2. List of Claims to be Approved and Ratified for Payment to Date for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 and Fiscal Year 2025/2026
3. Monthly Treasurer’s Report – August 31, 2025
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 September 25, 2025
4. Resolution No. 25-26 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Declaring and Certifying the Results of the City of Buellton Special Municipal Election Held on August 26, 2025”
6. Approval of Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Grant Agreement and Consulting Services Agreement with Move Santa Barbara
7. Discussion of Contract Agreement for Investment Advisory Services with Optimized Investment Partners, LLC
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, approving Consent Calendar Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes, abstain as to Item 1.
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
PRESENTATIONS
8. Proclamation in Honor of National Voter Registration Day – September 16, 2025 Mayor Silva read the Proclamation honoring National Voter Registration Day and presented it to Tracy Beard, representing the North County League of Women’s Voters.
Ms. Beard encouraged everyone to register to vote.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS/ITEMS
9. Oath of Office and Seating of District 4 Council Member Carla Mead Council Member Hornick announced the Library parking lot is nearing completion and requested that trees be planted in the parking area.
Council Member Sanchez thanked Mayor Silva for picking up trash along Highway 246.
Mayor Silva thanked other residents who saw his clean-up efforts and stopped to help pick up trash.
Mayor Silva requested that staff schedule a Council retreat in the near future.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 September 25, 2025
Mayor Silva welcomed newly elected Council Member Carla Mead and asked her to step forward to take the Oath of Office. City Clerk Reid issued the Oath of Office to Council Member Mead and congratulated her on her victory.
Mayor Silva called a short meeting recess and resumed the meeting at 6:27 p.m.
Victoria Pointer, Buellton, congratulated Council Member Mead for working so hard to get elected to the City Council.
Christian Alonso, Chair of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party congratulated Council Member Mead on her commitment to representing Buellton.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Sanchez announced that he attended the Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA) board meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
Council Member Sanchez announced that he attended the Buellton Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau board meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
Vice Mayor Lewis announced she attended the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) board meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
Mayor Silva announced that he attended a Central Coast Community Energy board meeting and provided an oral report for the record.
Mayor Silva announced that Village Senior Apartments is accepting rental applications.
BUSINESS ITEMS
10. Consideration of Appointment to the Planning Commission RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider an appointment to the Planning Commission with the term of office expiring December 2026.
STAFF REPORT:
Planning Director Keefer presented the staff report.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 September 25, 2025
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Daniel Contreras discussed his desire to serve on the Planning Commission.
MOTION:
Motion by Council Member Mead, seconded by Council Member Sanchez, appointing Daniel Contreras to the Planning Commission with term of office ending December 2026.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 5-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Mead – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
11. Consideration of Approval of Fall Fest Special Event and Funding Request for the Fall Festival Event
Council Member Sanchez recused himself due to a conflict with En Fuego Events.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider approval of the Fall Fest event and funding request.
STAFF REPORT:
Planning Director Keefer presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Applicant Andres Nuños from En Fuego Events discussed the Fall Fest event and funding request and answered questions from the Council regarding the event.
The City Council discussed traffic control and security at the event, as well as parking and accessibility for residents and businesses.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Hornick approving the Fall Fest event and funding request of $11,000.
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 4-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Mead - Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 September 25, 2025
12. Resolution No. 25-27 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Amending the Monthly Wastewater Service Fees and Low-Income Program in the City of Buellton”
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider adoption of Resolution No. 25-27.
STAFF REPORT:
Public Works Director Hess presented the staff report.
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
The City Council discussed the following issues:
The Care Program and utility companies qualifying residents based on household income.
Staff to provide subsidy details in English and Spanish via social media, water bill inserts, and the Buellton Buzz.
DOCUMENTS:
Staff report with attachments as listed in the staff report.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Mead, adopting Resolution No. 25-27 – “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Buellton, California, Amending the Monthly Wastewater Service Fees and Low-Income Program in the City of Buellton”
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 5-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Mead - Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
5. Consideration of MOU with SBCAG for the Santa Ynez Valley River Trail (Santa Ynez Valley Regional Community Connector)
SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION:
Fred Luna, representing SBCAG discussed the Santa Ynez Valley River Trail and funding for the project.
MOTION:
Motion by Vice Mayor Lewis, seconded by Council Member Hornick, approving the MOU with SBCAG for the Santa Ynez Valley River Trail (Santa Ynez Valley Regional Community Connector)
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 September 25, 2025
VOTE:
Motion passed by a roll call vote of 5-0.
Council Member Hornick – Yes
Council Member Mead – Yes
Council Member Sanchez – Yes
Vice Mayor Lewis – Yes
Mayor Silva – Yes
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
None
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Silva adjourned the regular meeting at 7:28 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The regular City Council meeting of October 9 will be cancelled.
____________________________
David Silva
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Linda Reid
City Clerk