CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY 1, 2022 - CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
INVOCATION
Pastor Jon Stone of Crosspointe Church gave the Invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Cordero led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Pursuant to AB 361, the City conducted this meeting using a combination of virtual/in-person (hybrid) meeting platforms to promote social distancing and facilitate continuity of government due to the recent surge in the Omicron COVID-19 cases within the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Santa Maria.
All City Council Members and City Staff participated in the meeting via Zoom.
Mayor Patino called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Councilmember Cordero, Councilmember Escobedo, Councilmember Soto, Councilmember Waterfield, and Mayor Patino
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
City Manager Jason Stilwell, City Attorney Thomas Watson, Interim Director of Public Works Brett Fulgoni, Assistant City Manager Andrew Hackleman, Director of Finance Mary Harvey, Librarian III Dawn Jackson, 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, Recreation Services Manager Dennis Smitherman, Director of Utilities Shad Springer, Fire Chief Todd Tuggle, Chief Deputy City Clerk Rhonda White, and Deputy City Clerk Beth Cleary 1 PROCLAMATIONS/COMMENDATIONS
A. Councilmember Escobedo presented a Proclamation recognizing February 2022 as Black History Month in the City of Santa Maria. The Proclamation was accepted by Lawanda Lyons -Pruitt, President of the Santa Maria -Lompoc NAACP, and she discussed the contributions of local medical leaders Dr. Robert Hammond, Dr. Albert Hawkins, Mrs. Charletha Anderson, R.N, and Dr. Sanford.
B. Councilmember Soto presented a retirement Resolution for Senior Plans Examiner, Tom Jack.
Action: Adopt a Resolution commending Senior Plans Examiner Thomas (Tom) Jack for his 18 years of outstanding service to the City of Santa Maria and congratulating him on his retirement.
Moved by Councilmember Soto, seconded by Councilmember Escobedo.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-07. 5-0. 2 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Written communications were received from:
Diane Stevens recognizing the achievements of former City Librarian, Mary Housel, as a City Director of the Santa Maria Public Library and founder of the Library Foundation.
Lata Murti in support of the Corazon del Pueblo condemning the recent vandalism and alleged racial hatred. Ms. Murti also wrote in appreciation of former City Librarian, Mary Housel, and wished her well in her retirement.
City of Santa Maria February 1, 2022
City Council Meeting
Janet Freckleton expressing her appreciation for former City Librarian, Mary House', and said she hoped to work with her again in the future.
Eileen Armijo seeking help from the City Council to establish a rent stabilization ordinance for mobile home residents.
Public comments were received from:
Peggy Brierton spoke in person requesting that the City Council re-establish stakeholder meetings to create a rent stabilization ordinance for the City.
Lynn Burchard spoke about increasing violence in the City.
Gary Hall and Mary Harrison requested that the City add a mobile home rent stabilization ordinance to a future agenda.
Gale McNeeley (via Zoom) requested that all Councilmembers wear masks.
Joe Skoda (via Zoom) spoke about his concern with parking restrictions near the Veterans' Memorial Building during park renovations.
City Manager Stilwell commented that the Police Department continues to be fully funded and the City is actively recruiting additional Police Officers. City staff will follow up with the American Legion to work on accommodating parking in the Veterans' Memorial Building area during renovations.
Recreation & Parks Director Posada added that staff was already working with the American Legion to meet parking needs, including offering the space between the building and the park as additional parking when there are no events taking place. He invited anyone with concerns about parking to contact him directly.
3 CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar Items 3A -3J were approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution Nos. 2022-08, 2022-09, 2022-10, 2022-11, 2022-12, and 2022-13. 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 Soto.
Motion carried. 5-0.
B. Approve the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of January 18, 2022.
Action: Minutes approved as presented.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. 5-0.
C. Adopt a Resolution ratifying and approving the tentative agreement and a successor Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Santa Maria Police Officers' Association (POA) and the Santa Maria Police Association of Middle Management (SMPAMM); and authorizing the establishment of
City of Santa Maria February 1, 2022
City Council Meeting
a comprehensive Schematic Pay Schedule for all full-time and part-time employees in accordance with CaIPERS guidelines.
Action: POA and SMPAMM MOUs, and Salary Schematic were approved as submitted.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-08. 5-0.
D. Adopt a Resolution confirming local emergency orders and actions of the Director of Emergency Services regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), which includes Local Emergency Order No. 2022-1 proclaiming a hybrid work environment and implementing an emergency supplemental paid sick leave program for City employees.
Action: Local emergency orders confirmed and actions of the Director of Emergency Services approved.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-09. 5-0.
E. 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: Extension of hybrid meeting flexibility approved.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-10. 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 Soto.
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.
Action: Payroll ratified.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. 5-0.
H. Adopt a Resolution accepting a bequest from the Estate of Mary Ellen C. Knapp in the name of the Santa Maria Public Library.
Action: Bequest from Estate of Mary Ellen C. Knapp accepted.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-11. 5-0.
I. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the submission of an application for the Fiscal Year 2023 Grant Cycle of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant.
Action: Application to Office of Traffic Safety for STEP Grant approved.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-12. 5-0.
City of Santa Maria February 1, 2022
City Council Meeting
J.
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the submission of applications to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery ("CalRecycle") for grant and payment programs.
Action: Application to CalRecycle for grant funding approved.
Moved by Councilmember Waterfield, seconded by Councilmember Soto.
Motion carried. Adopted as Resolution No. 2022-13. 5-0. 4 PRESENTATIONS
A. CITY ART MASTER PLAN. The City Council received a presentation from the Recreation and Parks Department on the Public Art Master Plan and progress with art projects to date. Recreation Services Manager Smitherman gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Public input
Laurie Tamura of Urban Planning Concepts suggested that staff post their presentation at the same time the agenda goes up so the public could be informed prior to the presentation. She also asked how much money the City had collected over the last 2-1/2 years toward the Art Plan, where the money came from (grants/donations), and requested that various projects in the City be recognized accordingly. She asked that the Art Plan be prominently placed on the City's website homepage.
REPORT BY CITY MANAGER
City Manager Stilwell reported that the next regular City Council meeting would be February 15, 2022.
Items on the agenda would include a retirement Resolution for Dispatcher Vonda Damore, a presentation of the Fire Strategic Plan, and the 2nd Quarter Financial Report. He also mentioned the March 1st Council meeting would be canceled as there is a Special Meeting of the City Council scheduled for March 2nd that will focus on redistricting.
ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS) Councilmember Waterfield had no reportable meetings.
Councilmember Soto had no reportable meetings and requested that a mobile home rent stabilization ordinance be placed on a future agenda.
Mayor Patino reported she attended the Board of Supervisor's meeting regarding the County's interest in converting Motel 6 on E. Main Street into housing for the homeless, noting this item would be coming for the City Council for consideration.
Councilmember Cordero asked that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Jason Rivera, one of the officers recently killed during a domestic violence incident in New York.
Councilmember Escobedo reported he attended a Board of Supervisors meeting. ///
///
City of Santa Maria February 1, 2022
City Council Meeting
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
Approved at a regular meeting on February 15, 2022.
Rhonda M. White, CMC
Chief Deputy City Clerk and ex officio Clerk
of the City Council
ATTEST:
Rhonda M. White, CMC Alice M. Patino
Chief Deputy City Clerk Mayor of the City of Santa Maria