MINUTES
City of Guadalupe
Regular Meeting of the Guadalupe City Council
Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 6:00 pm
City Hall, Council Chambers, 918 Obispo Street, Guadalupe CA 93434
1. ROLL CALL:
Council Member Eugene Costa Jr.
Council Member Whitney Furness
Council Member Amelia M. Villegas
Mayor Pro Tempore Christina Hernandez
Mayor Ariston Julian
Mayor Julian called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. All members were present.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. MOMENT OF THANKS, APPRECIATION OR CONDOLENCES.
Mayor Julian mentioned the passing of Janice Degasparis, she was a long-time resident of Guadalupe. He also asked for a moment of silence and condolences for the families in the San Antonio tragedy that lost their lives and property.
4. AGENDA REVIEW
At this time the City Council will review the order of business to be conducted and receive requests for, or make announcements regarding, any change(s) in the order of business.
No changes were made to the agenda.
5. CEREMONIAL CALENDAR
A. Oath of Office - Heath Miller, Police Officer
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION FORUM
Each person will be limited to a discussion of three (3) minutes or as directed by the Mayor. Pursuant to the provisions of the Brown Act, no action may be taken on these matters unless they are listed on the agenda, or unless certain emergency or special circumstances exist. City Council may direct staff to investigate and/or schedule certain matters for consideration at a future City Council meeting.
There were no public comments.
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR (A-F)
The following items are presented for City Council approval without discussion as a single agenda item in order to expedite the meeting. Should a Council Member wish to discuss or disapprove an item, it must be dropped from the blanket motion of approval and considered as a separate item.
A. Waive the reading in full of all Ordinances and Resolutions. Ordinances on the Consent Calendar will be adopted by the same vote cast as the first meeting unless City Council indicates otherwise.
B. Approve payment of warrants for the period ending June 27, 2025.
Approve the Minutes of the City Council regular meeting of June 24, 2025.
D. Appoint Charlene Estabillo to fill the vacant elected City Treasurer seat, to serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending on December 8, 2026.
Approve the design and location for a new commemorative sign to be placed at the Veterans Memorial Plaza.
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-38 directing staff to forward to the Auditor's Controller's Office of the County of Santa Barbara the Water Standby Charges for vacant parcels within the City of Guadalupe for fiscal year 2025-26.
Mayor Julian pulled item 7E.
Motion was made by Council Member Hernandez to approve the remaining balance of the consent calendar and was seconded by Council Member Villegas. 5-0. Motion passed.
Motion was made by Council Member Hernandez and seconded by Council Member Villegas to approve item 7E. 5-0. Motion passed.
MANAGEMENT REPORTS
8. CITY ADMINISTRATOR: (Information Only)
A. City Administrator's report for July 8, 2025
B. Planning Department report for June 2025
C. Building Department report for June 2025
Council Member Hernandez asked Todd Bodem about the upcoming agenda item the State of the City. She wanted to know what the council and the community can expect, and will this be shared on the water bill with the community members. Mr. Bodem responded, "We can certainly do that, he will talk with finance on the water bill notification." He anticipates meeting with staff and will probably do a tea off more of 30,000 view opening for himself with a small PowerPoint. Each department will present current happenings, projects for the city, accomplishments, and future city council goals.
July 8, 2025 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 Mayor Julian wants to make sure the community understands what the city and the departments are doing will be built into the regular city council meeting per Mr. Bodem. as there were not many people, if any, in attendance when the city budget was passed. The presentations Councill Member Furness asked if there were any updates on the RFP for the construction of the Royal Theatre. Mr. Bodem responded yes, it is going out soon, like this week.
9. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY: (Information Only)
A. Director of Public Safety report for July 8, 2025
$1,000.00 and maybe going to $2,000.00 and what would be the recoverable costs go to. Chief Cash Council Member Villegas asked for clarification on the fireworks citation fees being in the amounts of situations." responded, "That the fees would be used for the fire and police personnel that responded to these types of a firework illegal and do people know about these types of citations." Public Comment by Stephanie Krouse she asked, "If the citations were all for legal fireworks and what makes
10. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR: (Information Only)
A. Public Works/Engineering report for June 2025
11. HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER: (Information Only)
A. Human Resources report for June 2025
PUBLIC HEARING
12. Pasadera Landscaping and Lighting District (FY 2025-26).
Written report: Jeff van den Eikhof, City Engineer
Recommendation:
opportunity to speak regarding the assessments for the Pasadera Landscaping and Lighting District That the City Council conduct a public hearing to provide all present with the assessments related thereto for fiscal year 2025-26. and adopt Resolution No. 2025-39 confirming the Engineer's Report, Assessment Diagram, and Public comment opened at 6:45 p.m. and closed 6:48 p.m.
1. Diana Herata spoke on the landscaping stating the gardeners cut the grass and leave a trail of grass as they are driving from one area to the next. There is also trash, shrubs and branches left in the parks.
2. David Gutierrez spoke on the brush and grass that is being left over in the parks.
Resolution No. 2025-39 confirming the Engineer's Report, Assessment Diagram, and assessments related Motion was made by Council Member Villegas and seconded by Council Member Costa, Jr. to adopt thereto for fiscal year 2025-26. 5-0. Motion passed.
July 8, 2025
City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes
13. Guadalupe Benefit Assessment District No. 1 (FY 2025-26).
Written report: Jeff van den Eikhof, City Engineer
Recommendation: That the City Council conduct a public hearing to provide all present with an opportunity to speak regarding the assessments for the Guadalupe Benefit Assessment District No. 1 and adopt Resolution No. 2025-40 setting the proposed assessments for fiscal year 2025-26.
Mayor Julian and Council Member Hernandez recused themselves since they live in this area.
Public comment opened by Council Member Costa, Jr. at 6:52 p.m. and closed 6:53 p.m.
Council Member Furness wanted a better understanding of why the rates were increased for the parcels.
Jeff van den Eikhof, City Engineer responded, "The last several years the rate sheets being used for the streetlights did not cover the entirety of the PG&E bill." Motion was made by Council Member Villegas and Council Member Furness seconded to pass Resolution No. 2025-40 setting the proposed assessments for fiscal year 2025-26. 3-0 Ayes. Motion passed.
REGULAR BUSINESS
14. Cosecha Guadalupe Farmers Market.
Written report: Arnulfo Navarro III, Recreation Services Manager Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Decide whether to approve a 12-month waiver of facility use fees for Le Roy Park for the Cosecha Guadalupe Farmers Market, offer a discounted rate for full park use, or charge the full going rate for full park use.
2. Recognize the Cosecha Guadalupe Farmers Market as a community-serving initiative under the umbrella of the Guadalupe Business Association (GBA).
3. Direct staff to continue supporting the market's coordination and promotion as a local economic and health equity resource and negotiate the terms of a memorandum of understanding concerning the responsibilities of the GBA/Cosecha Guadalupe Farmers Market and the City.
Council Member Furness wanted confirmation it is $650.00 fee a day to rent the park, and it would be one day a week, four times a month. And wanted to know if there were any issues if the city wanted to use the park and had all obstacles been addressed. What about the fees for trash from the vendors and participants.
Council Member Villegas suggested the fees be waved for 6 months and then have the fees reassessed again along with the whole operation.
Council Member Costa, Jr., stated he agreed with Council Member Villegas on the 6-month fee waiver and was also looking at a discounted rate of $220.00 a day and possibly $50.00 a day as there will be some cost to the city.
Mayor Julian wanted to know why the EBT, and market match was not available for 6 to 12 months.
Stephanie Krouse responded, "that was the time frame that took the Route 1 Farmers Market to get the benefits."
July 8, 2025 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 Council Member Hernandez stated
Public comments were opened at 6:52 p.m. and closed at 6:53 p.m.
1. Stephanie Krouse, a Cosecha Farmers Market Committee member, spoke in support of the Cosecha Farmers Market. She stated the Farmers Market committee has overcome hurdles and met with all the parties involved and hoped the fees would be waved for a 12-month period as the daily rate is too high.
The Farmers Market cannot move forward without a designated location and the daily rate is too high with just starting out. The market will benefit the community, bring in tourism and help the other organizations and businesses in the city.
2. Judy Wilson, Guadalupe Business Association President, spoke in support of the Cosecha Farmers Market. She stated the committee has worked very hard and this will be a great benefit to the city long term.
Motion was made by Council Member Furness and seconded by Council Member Costa Jr., to waive the Le Roy Park use fees for 6 months. 5-0. Motion passed.
15. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
There were no additional items added.
16. ANNOUNCEMENTS - COUNCIL ACTIVITY/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Hernandez attended the immigration support team and is looking at leading a hike at the Gudalupe Dunes Nipomo refuge.
Council Member Villegas participated for the first time in the Food Bank distribution.
Mayor Julian added regarding the food bank there were 181 families and about 70 new individuals came in.
The foot traffic has dropped due to people fearing immigration.
He also attended the SBAG meeting last Thursday and they spoke about the Blue Whales Blue Skies agency.
There will be a Caltrans meeting on July 17h to talk about the new school opening.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION
Motion was made by Council Member Costa, Jr. and seconded by Council Member Villegas to adjourn the meeting to closed session. 5-0. Motion passed. 5-0. Motion passed.
Open session adjourned to closed session at 7:33 p.m.
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17. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA
A. Conference with Labor Negotiators
(Subdivision (a) of Gov. Code Section 54957.6)
Agency designated representatives: City Administrator and Human Resources Manager Employee Organizations: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Local 620 B. Public Employee Performance Evaluation
(Subdivision (b) of Gov. Code Section 54957)
Title: City Attorney
C. Public Employee
(Subdivision (b) of Gov. Code Section 54957)
Title: City Attorney
18. ADJOURNMENT TO OPEN SESSION MEETING
Motion to adjourn to open session was made by Council Member Costa, Jr. and seconded by Council Member Hernandez. 5-0. Motion Passed.
19. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Attorney gave the closed session report. He advised that there was no reportable action for items 1 and 2 on the closed session agenda. With respect to item 3, the Council deliberated a proposal from City Attorney Philip Sinco for a new agreement for legal services, accepted it, and directed staff to place the agreement on the next Council agenda for action.
20. ADJOURNMENT
Closed session ended at 8:08 p.m.
Meeting ended at 8:09 p.m.
Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Furness and seconded by Council Member Villegas. 5-
0. Motion Passed
Approved by:
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Judy Wilson, City Clerk Ariston Julian, Mayor
July 8, 2025 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6