Page | 1 City Council Meeting Minutes (November 4, 2025)
CITY OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
CITY COUNCIL
UNOFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 4, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Jordan called the special meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located at 311 Second Street, San Juan Bautista, California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Freels led the Pledge of Allegiance
ROLL CALL Present:
Councilmember Jose Aranda – arrived at
Councilmember Scott Freels
Councilmember Jackie Morris-Lopez
Mayor Leslie Q. Jordan
Absent:
Mayor Pro Tem EJ Sabathia
Staff Present:
Jon R. Giffen, City Attorney
Ashley Collick, City Manager
Elizabeth Soto, City Clerk
2. ACTION
A. Authorizing the City Manager (or Designee) to Execute Right-Of-Way Certifications and Related Documents for Caltrans Projects Recommendation: Approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute all the right-of- way certifications, agreements, and related documents required by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for projects administered by or in cooperation with the City of San Juan Bautista.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is requesting authorization which aims to streamline the process for projects administered by or in cooperation with the city.
Currently, the city adopts project-specific resolutions for transportation projects, such as Resolution No. 2025-47 for the SR 156 / The Alameda Right Turn Lane Project. However, Caltrans has requested a standing authorization to designate a city official with blanket authority to handle these certifications and documents.
Page | 2 City Council Meeting Minutes (November 4, 2025) No public comment was received.
MOTION:
Upon motion by Councilmember Freels, seconded by Councilmember Aranda, a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute all the right-of- way certifications, agreements, and related documents required by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for projects administered by or in cooperation with the City of San Juan Bautista, was approved.
AYES: Councilmembers: Aranda, Freels, Morris-Lopez, and Mayor Jordan; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Councilmember Sabathia
3. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn the meeting by Councilmember Aranda, seconded by Councilmember Freels.
All in favor.
There being no other business, Mayor Jordan adjourned the meeting at 5:34 p.m.
APPROVED:
_____________________
Leslie Q. Jordan, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________
Elizabeth Soto, City Clerk
Item: 9.A
City Council Meeting
November 18, 2025
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CITY OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: NOVEMBER 18, 2025
DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER
FROM: ASHLEY COLLICK, CITY MANAGER
TITLE: REQUEST FROM MERITAGE HOMES TO EXTEND THE TERM
OF THE RANCHO VISTA REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
The Council may choose from the following three options:
1. Approve the proposed resolution authorizing staff to prepare an amendment extending the reimbursement period, to be presented for Council consideration at a future meeting.
2. Deny the request and retain the existing agreement term, which expires on August 23, 2031.
3. Provide direction to staff to perform additional analysis or negotiate revised terms before returning the item to Council for further consideration.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council consider the request from Meritage Homes to extend the term of the Reimbursement Agreement for Public Improvements (executed August 23, 2021) associated with the First Street and Lavagnino Drive Roundabout Project, and provide direction to staff regarding whether to proceed with preparation of an amendment.
BACKGROUND:
On August 23, 2021, the City of San Juan Bautista and Meritage Homes executed a Reimbursement Agreement for Public Improvements in connection with the construction of the First Street and Lavagnino Drive Roundabout Project (“Project”).
Under Section 2.1 of the agreement, Meritage is to be reimbursed “over a ten-year period or until reimbursed in full for the improvement costs.” The term of the agreement therefore extends through August 23, 2031, or until full reimbursement of eligible costs, whichever occurs pursuant to the stated contract language.
The reimbursement mechanism is limited to eligible Traffic Impact Fee (Department 87) revenues collected under the City’s adopted fee program and the Mitigation Fee Act (Gov. Code §66000 et seq.). Other fee sources are not eligible under the agreement.
Current Status
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To date, the City’s Finance Department has confirmed an available eligible reimbursement balance of $5,825.95. These funds have been remitted to Meritage Homes consistent with the agreement.
Meritage has expressed concern that the expected level of development—and associated fee generation—did not occur as anticipated, limiting reimbursement potential during the original ten-year term.
In correspondence dated October 23, 2025, Meritage Homes, through Mel Faraoni, Vice President/Associate General Counsel, formally requested that the City consider an extension of the reimbursement term to allow additional time for recovery of eligible costs.
Analysis
The City Manager and City Attorney have reviewed the request and confirmed that the existing agreement does not authorize administrative extension or modification.
Any change to the reimbursement period or other substantive provisions would therefore require formal approval by the City Council through an amendment to the existing agreement.
Key considerations for Council include:
1. The City’s ongoing collection of Traffic Impact Fees and anticipated growth in eligible revenues through 2031.
2. The proportional relationship between Meritage’s constructed improvements and the City’s long-term transportation network needs.
3. Potential precedent for future reimbursement agreements or extension requests.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with consideration of this item.
Any future reimbursements will continue to be paid exclusively from eligible Traffic Impact Fee revenues as they are collected; no General Fund resources are involved.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Resolution 2025-xx Consideration of Extension to Rancho Vista Reimbursement Agreement
2. Reimbursement Agreement with Meritage Homes dated August 23, 2021 Page | 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
DIRECTING STAFF TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO THE RANCHO VISTA
REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH MERITAGE HOMES FOR COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION
WHEREAS, the City of San Juan Bautista and Meritage Homes entered into a Reimbursement Agreement for Public Improvements on August 23, 2021, relating to the construction of the First Street and Lavagnino Drive Roundabout; and WHEREAS, the Agreement provides for reimbursement to Meritage Homes over a tenyear period or until reimbursed in full for eligible improvement costs, funded solely from Traffic Impact Fee revenues collected under the City’s Mitigation Fee Program; and WHEREAS, Meritage Homes has requested that the City consider an extension of the reimbursement term due to lower-than-anticipated Traffic Impact Fee collections resulting from delayed development activity; and
WHEREAS, any modification to the reimbursement agreement requires formal approval by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to consider the requested extension in a transparent and lawful manner consistent with the Mitigation Fee Act and the City’s adopted financial policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San Juan Bautista as follows:
1. The City Council acknowledges receipt of Meritage Homes’ request to extend the reimbursement period established in the 2021 Reimbursement Agreement.
2. The City Manager and City Attorney are hereby directed to prepare a draft amendment to the Reimbursement Agreement for review and consideration at a future City Council meeting.
3. The amendment shall ensure that reimbursement obligations remain limited to eligible Traffic Impact Fee revenues in accordance with the Mitigation Fee Act.
4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of San Juan Bautista on this 18th day of November, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
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ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
____________________
Leslie Q. Jordan, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________
Elizabeth Soto, City Clerk