1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
March 7, 2023, 4:30 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, 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, Chief of Police Marc Schneider, Director of Utilities Shad Springer, Chief Deputy City Clerk Rhonda White, Deputy City Clerk Beth Cleary
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CLOSED SESSION - 4:30 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Patino called the meeting to order at 4:33 p.m.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
There were no requests to speak.
3. CLOSED SESSION
The City Council recessed to a Closed Session for the following:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS pursuant to Section 54957.6 of the Government Code.
Agency representative: City Manager Jason Stilwell. Employee Organizations: All bargaining units, unrepresented employees, managers, and executives.
4. RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING
OPEN SESSION - 5:30 P.M.
5. INVOCATION
Scott Campbell of South Valley Church gave the Invocation.
2 6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Cordero led the Pledge of Allegiance.
7. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Patino reconvened the meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
8. CLOSED SESSION REPORT - CITY ATTORNEY
City Attorney Watson reported that in the conference with labor negotiators, instructions were provided to the negotiator.
9. PROCLAMATIONS
There were no Proclamations.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Jerry Kaufman spoke about a wreath ceremony taking place on December 16th at noon for fallen veterans. He asked for volunteers to sing the National Anthem, play Taps, help place the wreaths, and give Blessings. Help would also be needed cleaning up the wreaths on Jan. 6th. The wreaths will cost $17 each.
Jeanette Contreras spoke about issues with the recent storms and flooding at Black Road and Mahoney Road. She mentioned that her car had been damaged driving on the road and asked that the City repair the road.
Gary Hall spoke positively about recent stakeholder meetings with City staff regarding rent protections for mobile home residents. He announced that there would also be a meeting this month with park owners.
City Manager Stilwell mentioned that the City is looking into funding to repair Mahoney Road. Black Road was a more complicated issue as it involves another party and its subdivision.
11. CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember Soto requested that Item 11g - Acquistapace (Blosser Ranch) Final Map and Subdivision Agreement (erroneously read as Item 11f - Raimi and Associates Professional Services Agreement) be pulled from the Consent Calendar for a separate vote.
Consent Calendar Items 11a - 11h (except 11g) were approved as presented, including the adoptio n of Resolution Nos. 2023-45, 2023-46, 2023-47, and 2023-49.
Item 11g was approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution No. 2023 -48. The recorded vote appears with each item below.
To adopt the Consent Calendar as submitted.
CITY MANAGER/CLERK DEPARTMENT
11.a Ordinances and Resolutions
3 Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember 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 unanimously
11.b Approval of Minutes
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Approve the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 21, 2023.
Motion carried unanimously
11.c Police Records Technician Job Classification Series Salary Update Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-45.
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution approving salary increases for the Police Records Technician job classification series and adopting a comprehensive Schematic Pay Schedule for all full-time and part-time employees in accordance with CalPERS guidelines.
Motion carried unanimously
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
11.d Payment of Payroll.
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.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
11.e CDBG Minor Amendments to Annual Action Plan FY 2019-2022 Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-46
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution approving minor amendments to the Annual Action Plans for Fiscal Years 2019- 2020 and 2021-2022 under the Community Development Block Grant program.
4 Motion carried unanimously
11.f Raimi and Associates Professional Services Agreement for Design Standards (Housing) Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-47
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution approving a Professional Services Agreement with Raimi and Associates for the preparation of Objective Design Standards for housing projects in the City of Santa Maria.
Motion carried unanimously
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
11.g Acquistapace (Blosser Ranch) Final Map and Subdivision Agreement Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-48
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution approving the Final Map and Subdivision Improvement Agreement for the Acquistapace (Blosser Ranch) Final Map, Tract 6022.
For (3): Mayor Patino, Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez, and Councilmember Cordero Noes (2): Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Soto Motion carried by a recorded vote (3 to 2)
RECREATION AND PARKS
11.h PLAY, Inc., and the City's Public Art Master Plan
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-49
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt a Resolution designating People for Leisure and Youth, Inc., as the non -profit agency to solicit, receive, and manage donat ions for the City's Public Art Master Plan, and designating the Recreation and Parks Commission as the oversight committee for the Public Art Master Plan.
Motion carried unanimously
12. PUBLIC HEARING
5 12.a 201 TOWN CENTER WEST - DOWNTOWN PERMIT FOR HERITAGE WALK LOFTS The City Council considered a recommendation of the Planning Commission to review a Downtown Permit (DT2022-0018) for The Vernon Group to convert an existing 84,000-square-foot structure to a two-story 104-unit residential use on a 1.3-acre site in the Town Center District of the Downtown Specific Plan. Community Development Director Ng gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Public input
The Applicant (Vernon Group) gave a brief follow-up presentation and entertained questions from the City Council.
Mayor Patino opened the public hearing at 6:26 p.m.
Cliff Solomon spoke about his concern for parking issues with the nearby church, particularly for seniors.
Mayor Patino closed the public hearing at 6:29 p.m.
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-50
Moved by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
Adopt a Resolution approving a Downtown Permit (DT2022-0018) for Heritage Walk Lofts at 201 Town Center West.
Motion carried unanimously
13. REGULAR BUSINESS
13.a FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL UPDATE
The City Council received an update on stakeholder discussions and proposed improvements to the Firefighters’ Memorial on the southeast corner of Main and Broadway.
Assistant City Manager Hackleman and Community Development Director Ng gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Public input
Fire Captain Matt Chircop and the family of the late Firefighter Alvin Newton spoke in favor of the item.
Receive and file report.
14. REPORT BY CITY MANAGER
6 City Manager Stilwell reported the next City Council meeting would be March 21st and items on the agenda would include a User Fee Update; the Measure U Committee Report; the General Plan Annual Report; and the Businesses of the Month.
15. ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS) Councilmember Cordero reported he attended a CCWA meeting and a Black History Month event.
Councilmember Escobedo reported he participated in Read Across America.
Councilmember Soto reported she attended a couple of mobile home park meetings.
Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez reported she attended the Read Across America Day and a City Investment Committee meeting. She also requested current statistics from the ongoing Community Needs Assessment to determine specific programming approaches toward the prevention of violence.
She asked that a youth and children's safety and recreational program in each district be added to a future agenda for review. She also requested adding Council Salaries to a future agenda.
Mayor Patino reported she attended a Marian Foundation Board of Directors meeting; a Business Expo; a City Leadership of SB County meeting; the Alan Hancock Fine Arts Complex Grand Opening; a LAFCO Orientation and meeting; the APCD Board meeting; and Read Across America Day.
16. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.
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Rhonda M. White, Chief Deputy City Clerk
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Alice M. Patino, Mayor