LABOR RELATIONS
With the SEIU MOU approved in December, there was one item that the City and SEIU agreed to handle in January. That was increasing “Standby Pay” for those who have rotation or weekend duty.
WORKERS COMPENSATION
No new claims reported. Two long-term outstanding claims are still being monitored.
MISCELLANEOUS
Developed Senior and Community Center Activities Coordinator job description.
Working on new job description, Grant Administrator, targeted for the 3/12/24 council meeting.
Ongoing updating of all HR files to ensure correct chronology salary changes and employment history.
GP Implementation Page 1 of 4 February 27, 2024
Agenda Item No. 11
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GUADALUPE
Agenda of February 27, 2024
_________________________________ _____________________________ Prepared by: Approved by:
Larry Appel, Contract Planning Director Todd Bodem, City Administrator SUBJECT: Implementation of various Programs from the 2042 General Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The 2042 General Plan was adopted by City Council on November 22, 2022. As part of the Plan’s adoption, Council required 43 Programs within the nine Elements in order to implement various aspects of the Plan. Recently, individual councilmembers provided information to the staff prioritizing the Programs and identifying one key Program that they would like staff to move forward on immediately. They were also asked to prioritize four additional Programs. This report will highlight those prioritized Programs and request that Council direct staff to move forward with implementation.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1) Receive a presentation from staff; and
2) Provide direction to staff to begin implementing the 2042 General Plan Programs.
BACKGROUND:
Staff prepared a memo to all members of the City Council requesting that they review the 43 Programs of the General Plan and then identify which single Program they would like staff to work on first. They were then asked to identify four other Programs. The first program was given a value of five points which guaranteed that the Program would be worked on. The next four were reviewed cumulatively with each of the councilmembers to see if there were any duplicates selected.
GP Implementation Page 2 of 4 February 27, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The following four Programs were selected by the councilmembers as their priority Programs and will be worked on first. Once the Council vacancy is filled, staff will work with the new person to receive his or her recommendations on what Program should be worked on in the first round of implementation.
Program ED-1.1.1 - Within three years of adoption of the Guadalupe 2042 General Plan, the Building and Planning Department will undertake a process with the City Council to revise the City’s zoning ordinance to allow a fuller mix of commercial and urban residential uses in Downtown Guadalupe and expand retail, food, and drink sales in Commercial-Industrial and Industrial Zones that is consistent with the new mixed-use designation created in the Land Use Element. See also LU-1.1.3.
Circulation 1.1.10 – Ongoing within a 10-year timeframe, the Public Works Department will explore with the City Council ways to implement the Guadalupe to Beach Multi-Use Trail Feasibility Study (2020) to create better pedestrian and bicycle connections between the Westside Neighborhood and Downtown Guadalupe and between Downtown Guadalupe and the Santa Maria River Levee trail that runs east of the city. See also ED- 1.1.4.
Conservation Open Space 1.1.1 - Within three years of adoption of the Guadalupe 2042 General Plan, the Public Works Department will initiate a process with the City Council to develop and adopt a qualified climate action plan that contains:
Targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
Enforceable measures to meet the established targets; Provisionsfor monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of the plan; A mechanism for periodically revising the plan to maintain or improve its effectiveness; and
A plan to protect the community from the direct effects of climate change, including but not limited to flooding, the loss of electric power, and excessive heat events.
Community Design and Historic Preservation 1.1.1 – Within three years of adoption of the Guadalupe 2042 General Plan, the Building and Planning Department will initiate a process with the City Council to update the City’s adopted Downtown Design Guidelines to:
Address the design of new residential and mixed uses, while ensuring that all such resulting guidance and standards are strictly objective in nature, allowing no discretion in the City’s development review process;
Require mechanical equipment, outside storage, and other mechanical objects to be placed in inconspicuous locations and screened from view as much as is feasible; Promote design themes for new development based on existing architectural styles GP Implementation Page 3 of 4 February 27, 2024
found in the city in order to preserve and enhance the unique and original character of Guadalupe;
Preserve, upgrade, and integrate into the urban fabric where feasible, unique landscape features, including but not limited to unusual landforms, scenic vistas, and sensitive habitats. Landscaping should be sufficient to buffer large areas of paving, screen objectionable views, buffer incompatible uses, and enhance both the appearance of the development and the community as a whole;
Provide site planning guidance for new development so that the need for tree removal is minimized. When trees must be removed to accommodate new development, the City will require development sites to be replanted with similar species or other species that are reflective of the community’s character; In commercial, industrial and mixed-use districts, establish standards for signs to ensure that they are consistent with the historic nature of the community and used primarily for identification;
Address needed commercial façade improvements, improvements to the Downtown Plaza, and the treatment of underutilized lots;
Provide guidance under which the City may allow restaurants, cafes, and similar retail establishmentsto make use of outdoor spaces, including city rights-of-way, as appropriate; Provide guidance for outdoor events that make use of public spaces; Provide guidance for the design of new/improved “gateways” that highlight the presence of Downtown Guadalupe;
Provide guidance for the planting and maintenance of street trees; and incorporate street and sidewalk improvement ideas, including those that would help connect the Westside Neighborhood to Downtown Guadalupe, that were developed in the City of Guadalupe Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2014), the Guadalupe Mobility + Revitalization Plan (2019), and the Guadalupe to Beach Multi-Use Trail Feasibility Study (2020).
The four additional Programs selected by Councilmembers are listed below. Those with multiple votes will be moved ahead of the others. At the completion of this first round of implementation, staff will again poll the Council to set the work program for round two.
LU 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.1.3 Land Use
CIR 1.1.2, 1.1.5 (2) Circulation
EJ – none Environmental Justice
COS – none Conservation Open Space
ED 1.1.3 Economic Development
CD 1.1.1 (2), 1.1.4 Community Design and Historic Preservation AQS – none Air Quality Safety
PF 1.1.1 (2) Public Facilities
N – none Noise
GP Implementation Page 4 of 4 February 27, 2024
FISCAL IMPACT:
These Programs are being paid for through the General Fund. If staff can identify any grants, then it might be possible to cover some of the costs. The city is currently working with Santa Barbara County to utilize one of their grants to prepare our Climate Action Plan, which is one of the priority Programs above.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required. Staff is simply requesting that the Council prioritize the work program contained in the General Plan.
Agenda Item No. 12
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GUADALUPE
Agenda of February 27, 2024
_______________________________ _________________________________ Prepared by: Approved by:
Philip F. Sinco, City Attorney Todd Bodem, City Administrator SUBJECT: Compensation Increases for City Officials
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council consider compensation increases for City officials and provide appropriate direction to City staff.
BACKGROUND:
At the November 8, 2022, Council meeting, the City Council considered an item to increase the monthly salary of $150 per month paid to the City’s elected officials. This amount had been set in 1986 and had not been increased since that time. The item also involved a recommendation that a stipend be provided to Recreation and Parks Commission members who do not receive any compensation for their service.
After discussion about both items, a motion to introduce an ordinance to increase salaries for all City elected officials failed on a 2-3 vote. The issue about a stipend for Recreation and Parks Commission members was not discussed after the vote was taken.
In 2023, Governor Newsom signed legislation (SB 329) effective as of January 1, 2024, authorizing salaries for elected and appointed officials to be adjusted for inflation. This legislation authorizes a significantly higher amount for salary increases than what was previously allowed when the Council considered this on November 8, 2022. For this reason, staff is bringing an item to the City Council to discuss whether compensation for City elected officials should be increased and, if so, by how much, since it could be raised significantly higher than it could have been back in November 2022.
DISCUSSION:
SALARIES OF ELECTED OFFICIALS:
City Council: The salaries for members of a city council in general law cities is controlled by Government Code section 36516. SB 329 amended this section so that a city with less than 35,000 in population could increase council member salaries up to $950 per month. Before SB 329 was passed, the maximum amount for council member salaries was $300 per month. The City of Guadalupe set council member salaries at $150 per month) back in 1986 and has not raised salaries since that time.
Philip F. Sinco
Government Code section 36516 allows for a higher salary than the stated maximum amount. Prior to SB 329, a city could increase salaries by 5% for every year since the last increase. SB 329 modified this slightly and now allows council salaries to be increased by the greater of 5% or an amount equal to inflation since January 1, 2024, based upon the California Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to 10 percent, for each calendar year from the last salary adjustment. Back in November 2022, the Council could only raise its salary by the equivalent of 5% of $150 for each of the 36 years since the last increase, which means that the Council could have authorized an increase in the salary up to $420 per month (5% of the $150 per month is $7.50, multiplied by 36 years = $270 + $150 = $420).
Under SB 329, the City Council is authorized to increase its salary up to the maximum amount of $950 per month. Of course, the Council is not required to authorize a salary for elected officials at this maximum amount. These choices lie squarely within the Council’s discretion.
For the Council’s information, any amounts contributed for retirement or health insurance are not considered as part of an elected official’s salary, and reimbursed expenses are also excluded from the definition of “salary.” (Gov. Code, § 36516(d).)
Finally, the Council should be aware that, pursuant to Government Code section 36526.5, any salary increase for a city council member may only take effect only when at least one member of the city council commences a new term. Thus, the earliest that any salary increase the City Council may authorize will not take effect until mid-December 2024.
1. Mayor: A directly elected mayor may receive additional compensation with the consent of the electorate or by ordinance of the city council. (Gov. Code, §36516.1.). It is common for a mayor to receive a higher salary than other members of the City Council, usually in recognition that a mayor must perform additional duties related to this role. City staff believes that it would be appropriate for the Council to authorize additional compensation for the Mayor and recommends it do so, assuming the Council is supportive of increasing compensation for all Council members.
2. City Clerk/City Treasurer: The City Clerk and the City Treasurer are elected offices in the City of Guadalupe. The salaries for these elective offices are determined by the City Council. Government Code section 36517 provides: “The city clerk and the city treasurer shall receive, at stated times, a compensation fixed by ordinance or resolution.”
Currently, the City Clerk and the City Treasurer receive the same monthly $150 salary as the City Council members. This salary was established by adoption of Resolution No. 97-24 on June 30, 1997. This resolution provides that the monthly salaries for the City Clerk and the City Treasurer are fixed at the same amount as that of member of the City Council (as set forth in GMC §2.08.030). Accordingly, unless the City Council wishes to set a different monthly salary amount for the City Treasurer and the City Clerk, Council does not need to take any additional or separate action to increase the salaries of these two offices when the Council adjusts its salary. If the Council does wish to keep the salaries for these two offices the same or increase them to a lesser amount than the salary increases for the City Council members, staff will have to draft a resolution based on Council’s direction and bring it to the Council for approval at a future Council meeting. For purposes of this staff report, staff has assumed that the Council continues to support Resolution 97-24 and that any salary increase the Council approves for itself will also be given to the City Clerk and the City Treasurer.
SALARIES OF APPOINTED OFFICIALS:
The City does not have any appointed officials except for members of the City’s Recreation and Parks Commission (other than the City Administrator, the Director of Public Safety, and the City Attorney, but these offices are not included in this use of the term “officials” for purpose of this item). The City no longer has a planning commission and does not have any other boards or commissions aside from the Recreation and Parks Commission.
The City Council is authorized to establish compensation for appointed officials. Government Code section 36506 provides: “By resolution or ordinance, the city council shall fix the compensation of all appointive officers and employees. Such officers and employees hold office during the pleasure of the city council.”
No compensation has actually been established for members of the Recreation and Parks Commission.
In fact, this appointed board, while clearly having been authorized by this and previous City Councils, has not been officially established by enactment of an ordinance. Staff intends to prepare an ordinance ratifying the establishing the Recreation and Parks Commission to bring to the City Council at a future Council meeting. Staff requests that the Council provide direction to staff as to whether or not is wishes to include a salary or stipend for Recreations and Parks Commissioners and, if so, this will be included in the ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Increasing the salaries for those who serve on the City Council will have an impact on the general fund.
If salary increases are also approved for the City Clerk and the City Treasurer, there will be an additional impact to the general fund. The maximum authorized monthly salary for a City elected official is $950, which is $800 more than the current monthly salary of $150. Assuming that the Council approves the maximum salary increase for the Council members, and provides the same increase to the City Clerk and the City Treasurer’s salaries, the total impact to the general fund will be as follows:
Council salary increases: $800 increase x 5 members = $4,000 per month City Clerk/City Treasurer increases: $800 increase x 2 officials = $1,600 per month $5,600 per month
Since any salary increase may take effect only when at least one member of the Council commences a new term, these salary increases cannot take effect until mid-December 2024. Accordingly, there would be an increase of $33,600 in expenditures to the general fund for the remainder of FY 2024-2025, and $67,200 for each fiscal year thereafter (not including any annual increases, if any). Obviously, the impact to the general fund could be reduced should the Council not increase salaries to the maximum permissible amount or authorize lesser amounts for the City Clerk/City Treasurer offices.
Finally, it should be noted that these fiscal impacts do not include any compensation that the Council may decide to pay to the Recreation and Park Commission members, which is not part of the proposed ordinance, but can be provided if the Council gives this direction to staff.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Agenda Item No. 13
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GUADALUPE
Agenda of February 27, 2024
_________________________________ _________________________________ Prepared by: Approved by:
Philip F. Sinco, City Attorney Todd Bodem, City Administrator SUBJECT: City Council Vacancy
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council make an appointment to the City Council to fill current vacancy on the Council from the list of persons who applied for a previous Council vacancy in December 2022.
BACKGROUND:
Former Council member Tony Ramirez submitted a letter of resignation from the City Council on October 25, 2022, specifying his resignation date as November 29, 2022. At the November 8, 2022, City Council meeting, the City Council decided to make an appointment to fill the vacancy rather than call for a special election considering the of the high cost of conducting such an election. The Council directed staff to solicit letters of interest from City residents to be submitted no later than by December 6, 2022, and to present these letters to the Council for its consideration at the December 13, 2022, Council meeting.
City staff provided notification to City residents by posting a notice on the City’s website and the Royal Theater marquee to inform persons who may be interested in serving the remainder of Councilmember Ramirez’ term. The following persons timely submitted statements of interest for the vacancy:
1. Courtney Cazenave
2. Justin Martin
3. Jesus Gomez
4. Clemente Moreno
5. Megan Lizalde
At the December 13, 2022, Council meeting, the Council interviewed three of the persons who had submitted letters of interest: Courtney Cazenave, Clemente Moreno, and Megan Lizalde. (Mr. Martin had withdrawn prior to the meeting and Mr. Gomez was not in attendance at the Council meeting). After the interviews, the City Council selected Megan Lizalde to fill the vacancy.
DISCUSSION:
On February 9, 2024, City Administrator Todd Bodem received an email from Ms. Lizalde stating that she was resigning her position on the City Council effective immediately. Since there was not enough time to prepare an item for the Council’s agenda for the meeting on February 13, 2024, City Administrator Philip F. Sinco
Bodem informed the Council and the public of Ms. Lizalde’s resignation and this meeting. Mayor Julian expressed his opinion that the seat should be filled by an appointment of one of the persons who previously applied for the Council vacancy in December 2022, and the City Attorney advised that staff was planning on making that recommendation at the next meeting.
Staff recommends that the City Council fill this vacancy by making an appointment from the list of persons who previously applied to fill the vacancy in December 2022. The Council also has the authority to direct staff to commence a new selection process for this appointment.
Assuming that the Council would likely agree that the vacancy should be filled by appointing one of the candidates for previous vacancy, staff contacted (or attempted to contact) the four persons who previously applied but were not selected. Three of these persons (Courtney Cazenave, Justin Martin, and Clemente Moreno) who previously applied expressed their interest advised that they would be interested in filling the current vacancy have all confirmed their interest in filling this vacancy. Although and email was sent, and a telephone call made to, Jesus Gomez, staff had not heard back from him by the deadline for preparation of the agenda for this meeting; however, should staff hear from him prior to the meeting, staff will invite him to submit a new statement of interest if he wants and encourage him to appear for the meeting. The statement of interest he previously submitted is attached to this report as are the statements of interest from Justin Martin and Clemente Moreno. Courtney Cazenave submitted a new statement of interest (even though she was told this was not necessary), so her new statement of interest is attached to this report instead of her previous statement. If any of the other candidates with to provide a new statement of interest, it will be provided to the Council (and posted on the City’s website) as soon as possible, up to and including at the time of the Council meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Statements of interest letters from Courtney Cazenave, Justin Martin, Jesus Gomez, and Clemente Moreno
City Council Position
February 21, 2024
City of Guadalupe
Attention: Todd Bodem City Administrator
P.O. Box 908
Guadalupe, CA 93434
Dear Mr. Bodem,
I am submitting this letter of interest for the City Council position currently held by Megan Lizalde. With Guadalupe being the first town in Santa Barbara County if you are traveling south or the last town if you are traveling north, it is a prime location with lots of potential for businesses, recreational and tourist activities.
I moved to Guadalupe to be close to my place of employment. I plan to retire here, and I am passionate about helping the city to thrive. Since purchasing my home in October 2021, I have attended the city council meetings. I volunteer for things in town and believe I will be an asset to the council by bringing wisdom, diversity, sensitivity, and a positive perspective to the council and the city. The city of Guadalupe has a bright future in this county, and I would like to be part of helping the city of Guadalupe to be its optimal best.
I appreciate the City Council's goals of attracting new and profitable businesses, reorganizing the city's fee structure, giving small businesses an opportunity, providing activities for residents of all ages, and beautifying the city. We have exceptional leadership that cares about Guadalupe, and I would like to join them in this process.
I look forward to being a part of the City Council.
Respectfully,
Courtney Cazenave
ATTACHMENT 1
Agenda Item No. 14
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GUADALUPE
Agenda of February 27, 2024
________________________________ __________________________________ Prepared by: Approved by:
Philip F. Sinco, City Attorney Todd Bodem, City Administrator SUBJECT: Approve a policy for external links on City of Guadalupe website that will be included in a more comprehensive “City of Guadalupe Website Policy”
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council, by motion, approve a policy for external links on the City of Guadalupe website (set forth in full in this staff report) which will eventually be included in a more comprehensive policy for the City’s website.
BACKGROUND:
Public and private entities have requested the city post items on the city website related to services they could provide and/or items they would like to advertise. The city currently does not have a policy regarding the acceptance or denial of outside requests for postings on the city website.
DISCUSSION:
City staff are working on a comprehensive “City of Guadalupe Website Policy” but requires more time to complete it. There are public and private entities that can provide resources or valuable services to City residents and it would be appropriate to include external links to the websites of the public and private entities on the City’s website, but there is currently no approved policy allowing for such external links.
Rather than wait until the entire website policy has been completed before allowing external links to other public and private entities on the City’s website, staff is asking the City Council to approve only the external link portion of the website policy. If the Council approves this external link policy, it will be included in the more comprehensive website policy when it has been completed, and it will allow external links to the websites of public or private entities with useful or valuable resources or services at this time, rather than when the comprehensive policy has been adopted.
The proposed external link policy for the City’s website is as follows:
EXTERNAL LINKING
The City’s website contains links to local, state, and federal government agencies and to other, non-government websites. Links to external content on the City’s website will be permitted at the City’s sole discretion and place appropriately as determined by the City.
Philip F. Sinco
The City may provide links to sites that meet the following criteria: The specific and limited purpose of the permitted external links is to help the public obtain timely information about City-related programs, services, activities, policies, or committees, and is intended to be directly in context to specific site content to address as defined user need.
Examples of acceptable sites are:
- Other governmental agencies;
- Public utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer, garbage, recycling, cable television) serving the City;
- Public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary schools or educational institutions; - Museums, libraries, historical organizations, and similar kinds of established, bona fide organizations that provide cultural resources to residents and visitors to the City; - Organizations whose primary purpose is providing resources for businesses in the City; - Entities and organizations whose primary purpose is to provide environmental, social, or health care information and resources.
These are meant to be examples and not an inclusive list. The City will not allow links to websites for: office holders or candidates for political office; organizations or groups engaging in political activities; media; and corporate or other for-profit organizations; unless the group or organization has an existing relationship or formal, written relationship with the City; or other generalized links that are well-served through the use of commercial search engines. Under no circumstances will the City link to individual or personal sites.
City policy prohibits departments to negotiate for the use of the City website(s) for the purposes of soliciting customers, selling products or services, or linking to websites that do not directly further the City’s goals and support public policy. It is not part of the City’s business to direct free traffic to external websites, or to compete with popular search engines, therefore the City does not accept outside link solicitations or mutual linking requests.
The City shall maintain sole discretion over the determination of which links may be included on its website and reserves the right to remove any link at any time without cause. If there is a question about the interpretation of this policy, it will go for resolution to the City Administrator, and with any further escalation to the City Attorney’s office.
The City is not responsible for the content, quality, accuracy, or completeness of any offsite materials referenced or linked through the City’s website. By using the City’s website, the user acknowledges and accepts the City is not responsible for any material stored on other websites, nor is it liable for any inaccurate, defamatory, offensive, or illegal materials found on other websites, and that the risk or damage from viewing, hearing, downloading, or storing such materials rests entirely with the user. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by the City or any association between the City and the
operators of the site. Links going outside the City’s website will open in a new browser window.
If the Council approves this external link policy, City staff can start including external links to public and private entities in the manner provided for in the policy.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.