CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
JANUARY 4, 2022 - CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Patino called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Alice Patino, Councilmember Mike Cordero, Councilmember Carlos Escobedo, Councilmember Gloria Soto, and Councilmember Etta Waterfield
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
City Manager Stilwell, City Attorney Watson, Kathleen Wilson and Chief Deputy City Clerk White (for roll call only).
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
There were no requests to speak.
RECESS - CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Patino recessed to a Closed Session at 5:15 p.m. for Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation pursuant to Subdivision (d)(1) of Government Code Section 54956.9. Ed Hadfield v. City of Santa Maria, Workers' Compensation Claim No. 19-141130.
INVOCATION
Peter Kang of St. Peter's Episcopal Church gave the Invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Escobedo led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Patino reconvened the meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, Councilmember Soto, Councilmember Waterfield, and Mayor Patino
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
City Manager Jason Stilwell, City Attorney Thomas Watson, Assistant City Manager Andrew Hackleman, Utility Billing Manager Ricky Hawblitzel, City Librarian Mary Housel, Chief Human Resources Officer Linda Le, Chief Information Officer Jeffrey Marecic, Director of Community Development Chuen Ng, Director of Recreation & Parks Alex Posada, Chief of Police Marc Schneider, Director of Utilities Shad Springer, Community Development Secretary Kathleen Wilson, and Chief Deputy City Clerk Rhonda White
CLOSED SESSION REPORT: CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney Watson announced that, with regard to the Closed Session item, the City Council accepted the settlement agreement as proposed.
1 PROCLAMATIONS
A. RETIREMENT RESOLUTION FOR POLICE OFFICER RONALD MURILLO. Mayor Patino presented a Resolution to Officer Ron Murillo in honor of his retirement.
Action: Resolution adopted commending Police Officer Ronald Murillo for his 27 years of outstanding service to the City of Santa Maria and congratulating him on his retirement.
Moved by Mayor Patino, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-01. 5-0.
B. RETIREMENT RESOLUTION FOR POLICE SERGEANT PAUL FLORES. Councilmember Cordero presented a Resolution to Sergeant Paul Flores in honor of his retirement.
Action: Resolution adopted commending Police Sergeant Paul Flores for his 32 years of outstanding service to the City of Santa Maria and congratulating him on his retirement.
Moved by Councilmember Cordero, seconded by Councilmember Waterfield.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-02. 5-0.
City of Santa Maria January 4, 2022
City Council Meeting
C. BUSINESSES OF THE MONTH. The City Council presented a certificate to each featured Business of the Month for January 2022 - The Okonite Company (Utility Cables) and Cugini's Pizzeria & Trattoria (Italian Restaurant.)
D. Councilmember Waterfield presented a Proclamation recognizing January 16 through 22, 2022, as Respect for Life Week. Pastor Paul Berry of Calvary Chapel of Santa Maria Church accepted the Proclamation.
E. Councilmember Soto presented a Proclamation recognizing the month of January 2022, as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Ann McCarty and Lorena Anguiano of the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center accepted the Proclamation.
2 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Written communication was received from Debra Deyette, a resident of Rancho Santa Ynez Mobile Homes in Solvang, in support of a mobile home rent control ordinance.
Gary Hall, Esther Jensen, and Eileen Armijo also spoke in support of a rent stabilization ordinance for mobile home owners and encouraged the City Council to add the item to a future agenda. 3 CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar Items 3A -3G were approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution No. 2022-03. Item 3H (Library Fine Amnesty Month) was not adopted and Item 31 was pulled for a separate vote. The recorded vote appears with each item below.
A. Waive the reading in full of all Ordinances and Resolutions. Ordinances on the Consent Agenda will be adopted by the same vote cast at the first meeting, unless City Council indicates otherwise.
Action: Readings waived.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. 5-0.
B. Approve the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of December 21, 2021.
Action: Minutes were approved as submitted.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. 5-0.
C. Review staffs recommended response to the Santa Barbara County Civil Grand Jury Report entitled "Keys to Housing the Homeless"; and authorize the Mayor to sign and transmit the City's response to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court with a copy to the current impaneled Grand Jury, and to file a copy with the City Clerk's Office.
Action: Mayor was authorized to sign the City's response to the Grand Jury Report.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. 5-0.
D. Adopt a Resolution extending the City's ability to conduct meetings of the City Council and City Boards, Commissions, and Committees partially or completely remotely by using a combination of in-person/virtual (hybrid) platforms as authorized by Government Code § 54953(e)(1)(A) to promote social distancing, prioritize the Public's Health and Wellbeing under Santa Barbara County Health Officer Orders, and provide flexibility as needed to facilitate continuity of government.
Action: Remote/hybrid options extended for conduct of City meetings pursuant to Government Code §54953(e)(1)(A).
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-03. 5-0.
E. Conduct the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2021-09 amending the Official Zoning Map for the People's Self -Help Housing Project (GPZ2021-0001) located at 3170 Santa Maria Way.
Action: People's Self -Help Housing zoning Ordinance change adopted.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. Adopted as Ordinance No. 2021-09. 5-0.
F. Payment of Warrants. Ordered ratified subject to having been certified as being in conformity with the budget and having been approved for payment by the Director of Finance.
Action: Warrants ratified.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. 5-0.
G. Payment of Payroll. Ordered ratified subject to having been certified by the proper Department Directors, as shown on records on file in the Department of Finance, and having been approved for payment by the Director of Finance.
City of Santa Maria January 4, 2022
City Council Meeting
Action: Payroll ratified.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. 5-0.
H. Adopt a Resolution approving January as Library Fine Amnesty Month for the Santa Maria Public Library and its four County -funded branches.
Action: Not adopted.
Moved by Councilmember Soto, seconded by Councilmember Escobedo.
Motion failed. 2-3. Noes: Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, and Councilmember Waterfield.
Conduct a second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2021-10 adding Chapter 8-21 to Title 8 of the Santa Maria Municipal Code regulating mandatory organic waste disposal reduction.
Action: Organic waste disposal reduction Ordinance adopted.
Moved by Councilmember Soto, seconded by Councilmember Cordero.
Motion carried. Adopted as Ordinance. No. 2021-10. 3-2. Noes: Mayor Patino and Councilmember Waterfield.
4 REGULAR BUSINESS
A. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/COMMITTEES REVIEW AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE
ELIMINATION OF THE LANDMARK COMMITTEE AND TRANSFER OF LANDMARK COMMITTEE DUTIES TO THE RECREATION & PARKS COMMISSION. The City Council reviewed the activities of the City's Boards/Commissions/Committees and considered eliminating the Landmark Committee and transferring the Landmark Committee's duties to the Recreation & Parks Commission. City Manager Stilwell gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Action: City Council directed that each Board/Committee/Commission continue maintaining meeting attendance in writing, require respective members to attend no less than 75 percent of the annual meetings, and staff to draft an Ordinance amendment restructuring the Landmark Committee and transferring its duties to the Recreation and Parks Commission.
REPORT BY CITY MANAGER
City Manager Stilwell reported that the next regular City Council meeting would be January 18, 2022.
Items on the agenda would include a Grand Jury Response regarding pensions. At the February 1st meeting, there would be a presentation of the City's Art Plan, Municipal Code updates, and the Fire Strategic Plan.
ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS) Councilmembers Escobedo, Soto, and Waterfield had no reportable AB1234 items.
Councilmember Cordero reported he attended a meeting regarding the positive partnership between the Elks Lodge and the Recreation & Parks Department.
Mayor Patino reported she attended the North County Subregional Meeting; the workshop in preparation for the Goal Setting Workshop in February; an SB County redistricting meeting; the Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Board meeting; the graduation and reception for the 2021 Graduating Class of Leadership Santa Maria Valley; the Mayor's Teen Council meeting; a SMJUHSD redistricting meeting; a C3E Policy Board meeting; and the SBCAG and APCD monthly meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
Approved at a regular meeting on January 18, 2022.
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City of Santa Maria
City Council Meeting
January 4, 2022
ATTEST:
Rhonda ldl. White, CMC
Chief Deputy City Clerk
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Rhonda M`White, CMC
Chief Deputy City Clerk and ex officio Clerk
of the City Council
Alice M. Patino
Mayor of the City of Santa Maria
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