MINUTES
City of Guadalupe
Regular Meeting of the Guadalupe City Council
Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6:00 pm
City Hall, Council Chambers, 918 Obispo Street, Guadalupe CA 93434 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 Present
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. MOMENT OF THANKS, APPRECIATION OR CONDOLENCES
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 changes) in the order of business.
Mayor Julian requested to move regular business item 13 the Approval of Employment Agreement with David Trujill as City Administrator to position number 12 and move item 12 Root One request for public benefit fee reduction and its support for a cannabis tax ordinance to position 13.
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.
CEREMONIAL CALENDAR
National Donate Life Month Proclamation
Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month Proclamation National Library Week, April 19-25, 2026, Proclamation
Scott Burns spoke on promoting organ donation awareness and the importance of registering as a donor.
Ann McCarty, the Executive Director of the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center addressed the council regarding Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month.
April 14, 2026 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 Dawn Jackson, Library Director for the City of Santa Maria addressed the council to celebrate National Library Week.
7. PRESENTATIONS
A. Boys and Girls Club Quarterly Report - Presentation by Daisy Perez Daisy Perez highlighted the ongoing youth programs and upcoming events.
8. 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. Ratify payment of warrants for the period ending March 20, 2026, and March 27, 2026.
C. Approve the Minutes of the City Council regular meeting of March 24, 2026.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-14, reassigning the signatory for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program Grant.
Authorizing the City Administrator to enter into an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Services (EFS) for the procurement and lifecycle management of City fleet vehicles, including the transition toward electric vehicles (EVs) in compliance with California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations.
Adopt Resolution No. 2026-15 terminating the proclamation of the existence of a public facilities emergency made by the City Council on September 23, 2025, concerning the partial failure of the City of Guadalupe's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
No items were pulled for discussion. An email from Scott Wenz was sent in for Item #8E.
Motion was made by Council Member Furness and seconded by Council Member Costa Jr. to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion passed. 5-0
MANAGEMENT REPORTS
9. INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR: (Information Only)
A. Interim City Administrator's report for April 14, 2026 B. Planning Department report for March 2026
C. Building Department report for March 2026
D. Public Works/Engineering report for March 2026
April 14, 2026 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5
10. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY: (Information Only)
A. Director of Public Safety report for April 14, 2026
• Insurance Services Office (ISO) and Public Protection Classification (PPC) Update
11. FINANCE DIRECTOR: (Information Only)
A. Financial report for April 2026
REGULAR BUSINESS
12. Root One request for public benefit fee reduction and its support for a cannabis tax ordinance.
Written report: Philip F. Sinco, City Attorney
Recommendation: That the City Council consider the information provided by staff during its presentation of this report, and also, from representative(s) of SLOCAL Roots Management LLC dba Root One ("Root One") and any interested members of the public before deliberating on Root One's request for a temporary reduction in its 6% annual public benefit fee and its support for a cannabis tax ordinance.
Council Member Hernandez stated support on moving forward toward a tax on the ballot noting it is important the city does not lose cannabis-related revenue.
Mayor Julian agreed with the idea of a tax ordinance and expressed the importance of retaining the local business.
Council Member Costa Jr. indicated his agreement to pursue the tax ordinance and agreement with the Mayor.
Attorney Philip Sinco made remarks on the staff recommendations for non-support due to the 6% rate being a factor in the city's selection of the entity and current budget deficit. Root One's records indicate a 40% gross profit margin is below the 60% statewide average. Neighboring jurisdictions maintain a 6% fee. Staff remain neutral regarding a transition to a formal cannabis tax but are prepared to assist with the necessary steps for a ballot measure if directed by the council.
Public Comment
Austen Connella. Mr. Connella spoke on behalf of Root One regarding a temporary reduction for the public benefit fee.
Motion was made by Council Member Furness and seconded by Council Member Costa Jr. to temporarily reduce the public benefit fee for Root One from 6% to 4% for a period of one year, with the provision that the reduction would end early if a formal cannabis tax ordinance were passed by the voters before that year concludes. Motion passed. 5-0.
April 14, 2026 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5
13. Approval of Employment Agreement with David Trujillo as City Administrator.
Written report: Sylvia Estrada, Human Resources Manager Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-16 approving the Employment Agreement with David Trujillo as City Administrator and authorize the Mayor to sign on behalf of the City.
Council Member Villegas expressed concern regarding the administrate leave accrual language within the employment contract for Mr. Trujillo. She noted there were 80 hours of leave upfront and the accrual rate of 20 hours per month did not mathematically align with the intended annual total. And suggested this maybe a clerical error carried over from the previous contract and requested clarification the document was accurate before approval. Acknowledgement was made by city staff for the error, and it was confirmed it would be corrected.
Motion was made by Council Member Hernandez and seconded by Council Member Furness to adopt Resolution No. 2026-16 approving the Employment Agreement with David Trujillo as City Administrator.
Motion passed. 5-0.
14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
15. ANNOUNCEMENTS - COUNCIL ACTIVITY/COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Julian
• Attended the monthly Santa Barbara Association of Governments (SBCAG) in Santa Maria. • Guadalupe Earth Day Clean-up - Saturday April 25th, 9:00 am-11:00 am - Veterans Memorial Plaza.
Invitation Boys and Girls Club of Mid Central Coast - Diamonds are Forever Annual Spring Auction - Saturday, May 9th, 5:30 pm at the Veterans Memorial Center Santa Maria.
Council Member Hernandez
Participated in the park clean up event.
• Participated in Cafecito.
Conducted a presentation with the Barajas House Foundation at Kermit McKenzie for Career Day.
Council Member Furness
• Spoke at the Kermit McKenzie Career Day giving seven twenty-minute presentations to the 6th graders on her position with NASA, City Council and her residency here in Guadalupe.
Council Member Villegas
Attended the bimonthly zoom meeting for the housing and homelessness issue on Friday, April the Participated in the park clean up event.
David Trujillo, City Administrator
• Announced that the Firefighters Association is hosting a car wash at the Veterans building on Saturday the April 18th.
April 14, 2026 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5
16. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Council Member Furness and seconded by Council Member Costa Jr. to adjourn.
Motion passed. 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 pm.
Approved by:
Ariston Julian, Mayor
April 14, 2026 City of Guadalupe Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5