1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
February 21, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
110 East Cook Street
Santa Maria
Roll Call: Mayor Alice Patino, Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez, Councilmember Mike Cordero, Councilmember Carlos Escobedo, Councilmember Gloria Soto
Staff Present: City Manager Jason Stilwell, City Attorney Thomas Watson, Police Commander Dan Cohen, Deputy Fire Chief Bradley Dandridge, Director of Public Works Brett Fulgoni, Assistant City Manager Andrew Hackleman, Director of Finance Mary Harvey, Library Director 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, Community Programs Manager Rosie Rojo, Director of Utilities Shad Springer, Chief Deputy City Clerk Rhonda White, Deputy City Clerk Beth Cleary, Business Program Leader Alexandra Valadez
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CLOSED SESSION
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
There were no requests to speak.
3. CLOSED SESSION - CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8:
Mayor Patino recessed to a Closed Session at 5:01 p.m.
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION - 5:30 P.M.
4. INVOCATION
City Attorney Thomas Watson gave the Invocation.
5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2 6. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Patino convened the meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
7. CITY ATTORNEY CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Watson reported that direction was provided by the City Council to the Agency Negotiator regarding price and terms of payment.
8. PROCLAMATIONS/COMMENDATIONS
8.a PROCLAMATION - NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Mayor Patino presented a Proclamation recognizing the month of February 2023 as "National Blac k History Month" in the City of Santa Maria and encouraging all residents and businesses to celebrate with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. Lawanda Lyons -Pruitt (remote) accepted the Proclamation.
8.b PROCLAMATION - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
Councilmember Aguilera -Hernandez presented a Proclamation recognizing March 8, 2023, as "International Women's Day" in the City of Santa Maria and encouraging all residents and businesses to celebrate with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activitie s. Lata Murti accepted the Proclamation on behalf of the Santa Maria Valley Women's March.
8.c BUSINESSES OF THE MONTH.
Councilmember Soto and Glenn Morris, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director/CEO, presented Terri Leifeste (Santa Maria Times) and Greta Pankratz (Santa Maria Counseling) with Certificates of Recognition as the recognized Businesses of Month for February 2023.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Written comment was received from Clayton Long asking that the City investigate weekly vehicle break-ins on Biscayne Street between Sonya Lane and Carmen Lane.
Gary Hall, representing the North Santa Barbara County Mobile Homeowners Team, spoke about recent stakeholders' meetings and said he hoped the process of providing protection for mobile homeowners against rent increases would involve mobile home park owners.
Tim Mahoney of Southern California Gas provided an update on recently increased gas prices and announced that a $50 rebate would be going out to all residential customers.
City Manager Stilwell commen ted in response to the written correspondence saying that people need to contact the police and report criminal activity. If the activity is in progress, they should call 911. If it is after the fact, they should call the Police Department non -emergency phone number at (805) 928 - 3781 extension 2277. The City is not as effectively able to respond to non-reported crimes.
Mayor Patino commented that accurate crime data is important for lawmakers in Sacramento to understand crime trends.
3 10. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Aguilera -Hernandez requested that Item 10.e (2nd Reading of the Ordinance No. 2023-01 for Betteravia Place) be pulled for a separate vote as she would be abstaining from voting.
Consent Calendar Items 10.a through 10.n (ex cept 10.e.) were approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution Nos. 2023-31, 2023-32, 2023-33, 2023-34, 2023-35, 2023-36, 2023-37, 2023-38, 2023-39, 2023 -40, and 2023 -41. The recorded vote appears with each item below.
Item 10.e (Ordinance No. 2023 -01) was adopted as presented. The item with the recorded vote appears at the end of the Consent Calendar as it was pulled for a separate vote.
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
To adopt the Consent Calendar as submitted.
Motion carried
CITY MANAGER/CLERK DEPARTMENT
10.a Ordinances and Resolutions
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
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.
Motion carried
10.b Approval of Minutes
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Approve the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 7, 2023.
Motion carried
10.c Termination of Local Emergency
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution proclaiming the termination of the local emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic pursuant to Resolution No. 2020-21.
4 Motion carried
10.d Bond Release for Bradley West, Tract 6011
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
By motion, accept as complete the public improvements associated with Bradley West, Tract 6011, and authorize the release of a Faithful Performance Bond [#0708967] in the reduced amount of $100,0 00 posted in the form of a Surety to guarantee the construction and installation of public improvements off-site; and order that the Contractor, Labor, and Material Bond in the amount of $195,707 and the Guarantee and Defective Material Bond in the amount of $19,571 be retained for six (6) months and one (1) year, respectively, from the date of the release of the Faithful Performance Bond for public improvements.
Motion carried
10.f Fiscal Year 2022-23 Home Consortium Allocation
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution approving the use of Fiscal Year 2022-23 HOME Investment Partnerships funding to be allocated to assist the City of Santa Maria’s Tenant -Based Rental Assistance program and an affordable housing project in Santa Barbara County.
Motion carried
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
10.g Payment of Warrants.
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Order ratified subject to having been certified as being in conformity with the budget and having been approved for payment by the Director of Finance.
Motion carried
10.h Payment of Payroll.
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
5 Order 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.
Motion carried
PUBLIC WORKS
10.i Award of Bid for the Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility Improvement Project, Bid No. 2023/02 Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution awarding a bid to V. Lopez Jr & Sons for the construction of the Pedestrian Safety and Accessibility Project, Bid No. 2023/02.
Motion carried
10.j Award of Bid for the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center Equipment Upgrade Project, Bid No. 2023/03 Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution awarding a bid to Knorr Systems, Inc. for the construction of the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center Equipment Upgrade Project, Bid No. 2023/03.
Motion carried
10.k Professional Service Agreements for On-call Landscape Architecture and Site Design.
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt Resolutions awarding Professional Services Agreements in the amount of $300,000 for on-call Landscape Architecture and Site Design Professional Services to: 1) BMLA, Inc. and 2) Omni Design, Inc.
Motion carried
10.l Professional Service Agreements for On-call Traffic Engineering Services Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt Resolutions to award a Professional Services Agreement in the amount of $300,000 for on-call Traffic Engineering Services to: 1) Associated Transportation Engineers; 2) Kimley-Horn; and 3) Interwest Group.
6 Motion carried
10.m School Mill Investors, LLC Amendment No. 2 to Reimbursement Agreement Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution approving Amendment No. 2 to the Reimbursement Agreement with School Mill Investors, LLC for the construction upgrade of sanitary sewer segment D-13.
Motion carried
10.n Acquisition of the Battles Road Trail Property
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to enter negotiations for the acquis ition of Assessor Parcel Numbers 117 -250-030, 117-250-026, 117-490-030, 128-066-018, 128-066-019, 128- 174-014, and 128 -174-015 from the Chevron Corporation, representing 417,304± square feet (9.58± acres) for the enhancement of the Battles Road Trail.
Motion carried
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
10.e 2nd Reading of Ordinance 2023-01 - Betteravia Place Action: Adopted as Ordinance No. 2023-01
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Cordero
Conduct the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-01 amending the Official Zoning Map for 16.84 -net acres located at Lots 1 and 4 of Tract 6008 (APNs 117 -990-001 and 117 -990-004, respectively), and at the addresses of 2050 and 2051 South Blosser Road (APNs 117 -330-084 and 117- 330-100, respectively), FROM PD/C-2 (Planned Development/General Commercial) and PD/M -1 (Planned Development/ Light Industrial) TO PD/R-3 (Planned Development/High Density Residential) and PD/C-2 (Planned Development/General Commercial) zoning district.
For (3): Mayor Patino, Councilmember Cordero, and Councilmember Soto Noes (1): Councilmember Escobedo
Abstain (1): Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez
Motion carried by a recorded vote (3 to 1)
7 11. PUBLIC HEARING
11.a Measure A Five-Year Local Program of Projects for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 through 2027/2028 The City Council considered approving the Measure "A" Five -Year Local Program of Projects for fiscal years 2023 through 2028. Director of Public Works Fulgoni gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Councilmember Soto suggested that staff consider increasing the budget for Alternative Transportation Programs and Education by 10 percent year -over-year given that the costs would typically increase each year with inflation.
Public Input
Mayor Patino opened the Public Hearing at 6:31 p.m. and immediately closed it having no requests to speak.
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-42
Moved by: Councilmember Soto
Seconded by: Councilmember Escobedo
Adopt a Resolution approving the Measure A Five -Year L ocal Program of Projects for fiscal years 2023/2024 through 2027/2028; and certifying that the City of Santa Maria will provide sufficient funding in the 2023/2024 budget to meet the Measure A Maintenance of Effort requirement, while taking into considerat ion the increasing costs of community outreach.
Motion carried
12. REGULAR BUSINESS
12.a City Council Governance Review
The City Council reviewed Resolution 2018 -17 Citywide Governance by District Elected Policy and reaffirmed its intent to continue its practice of governing with a Citywide perspective following the shift to elections of Councilmembers by Council Districts. City Manager St ilwell gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Public input
There were no requests to speak.
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Escobedo
By motion, reaffirm the City Council's intent to continue the practice of governing with a Citywide perspective pursuant to Resolution No. 2018-17.
8 Motion carried
12.b Performing Arts and Convention Center Feasibility Study The City Council considered approving a Professional Services Agreement with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce to conduct a feasibility study for a potential Santa Maria Performing Arts and Convention Center. Assistant City Manager Hackleman gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Public input
Glenn Morris announced that the vendor chosen to perform the study was AEA Consulting. He also clarified that about $4,500 of the budget set aside for the study would be for administrative costs.
Fran Saveriano, Executive Director of the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society, spoke in favor of the item saying that the group had a hard time finding venues to perform.
Robert Dickerson spoke in favor of the item pointing out that the Performing Arts Center would bring additional jobs and housing opportunities to the City of Santa Maria.
Ramon Eriquez spoke in favor of the item.
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-43
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
Adopt a Resolution approving a Professional Services Agreement with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce to conduct a feasibility study for a potential Santa Maria Performing Arts and Convention Center.
Motion carried
12.c 2nd Quarter Financial Report
The City Council received and filed the Financial Report for the Second Quarter ending December 31, 2022, and considered an amendment to the 2022-23 Budget for operational changes. Director of Finance Harvey gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Public input
There were no requests to speak.
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-44
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
9 Receive and file the 2nd Quarter Financial Report and adopt a Resolution approving second quarter amendments to the 2022-23 Budget for operational changes.
Motion carried
13. REPORT BY CITY MANAGER
City Manager Stilwell reported that the next meeting would be March 7, 2023. Items on the agenda would include an update on the Firefighter Memorial, minor amendments to CDBG Action Plans, and the PLAY fiduciary authorization.
14. ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS) Councilmembers Soto and Aguilera-Hernandez had no reportable AB1234 items.
Councilmember Escobedo reported he attended a User Fees stakeholder meeting and the Employee Awards Dinner.
Councilmember Cordero reported he attended the User Fees stakeholder meeting and a Cal Cities Roundtable regarding homelessness, a 3CE Board meeting, a Black History Month celebration, and the Library Fundraising Dinner.
Mayor Patino reported she attended the North County Subregional Planning Committee meeting, two SBCAG meetings, an EconAlliance meeting, two Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley meetings, the User Fees stakeholder meeting, a roundtable on housing, a Black History Month celebration, the Library Fundraising Dinner, and the Employee Appreciation Dinner.
15. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
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Rhonda M. White, Chief Deputy City Clerk
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Alice M. Patino, Mayor