1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
March 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, Interim 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 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, Business Program Leader Alexandra Valadez _____________________________________________________________________
1. INVOCATION
Veronica Leach with Santa Maria Valley Community of Prayer gave the Invocation.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Cordero led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Patino convened the meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
4. PROCLAMATIONS/COMMENDATIONS
4.a PROCLAMATION - "AUTISM AWARENESS DAY"
Councilmember Cordero presented a Proclamation recognizing the day of April 2, 2023, as "Autism Awareness Day" in the City of Santa Maria and encouraging all residents and businesses to celebrate with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. Kirst en Escobedo, representing Santa Barbara County Education Office, accepted the Proclamation.
4.b PROCLAMATION - "ARBOR WEEK"
Councilmember Soto presented a Proclamation recognizing March 7-14, 2023, as "Arbor Week" in the City of Santa Maria and inviting all residents and businesses to celebrate and take part in the festivities
2 by planting trees and acknowledging the important role trees have in the City. Recreation & Parks Commissioners Ann Batterson and Rebecca Carey accepted the Proclamation.
4.c BUSINESSES OF THE MONTH
Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez presented Certificates of Recognition to the Featured Businesses of the Month for March 2023 - The Wisdom Center and Engel & Gray, Inc. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Glenn Morris summarized details of each organization, along with their contributions to the City of Santa Maria. Amanda Sillars, Victoria Griffith, Tania Rael, Bob and Carl Engel accepted the certificates, respectively.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Gary Hall spoke about mobile homeowners' meetings.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar Items 6.a through 6.f. were approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution Nos. 2023-51 and 2023-52. The recorded vote appears with each item below.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
To adopt the Consent Calendar as submitted.
Motion carried unanimously
CITY MANAGER/CLERK DEPARTMENT
6.a Ordinances and Resolutions
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
Waive the reading in full of all Ordina nces 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
6.b Approval of Minutes
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
Approve the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of March 7, 2023.
Motion carried unanimously
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
3 6.c Payment of Warrants.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
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 unanimously
6.d Payment of Payroll.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
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 unanimously
FIRE DEPARTMENT
6.e Donation of Fire Apparatus
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-51.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
Adopt a Resolution declaring a 1999 International Navistar Type III Engine, Asset Number F231 -99 (License 1004886), as surplus property and approving its donation to La Misión Rotary Club.
Motion carried unanimously
LIBRARY
6.f Amendment to Countywide Library Agreement
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-52.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
Adopt a Resolution approving an Amendment to the Agreement with the County of Santa Barbara and the Cities of Lompoc, Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria to provide for the operation of a Countywide Free Library System for Fiscal Year 2022-23.
4 Motion carried unanimously
7. PUBLIC HEARING
7.a User Fee Update - RE-SCHEDULED TO APRIL 4TH
At the request of staff, the item was pulled and the public hearing would be re -noticed and rescheduled to the April 4th City Council meeting. No comments were received.
8. REGULAR BUSINESS
8.a Measure U Citizens' Oversight Committee Annual Report Assistant City Manager Hackleman introduced Measure U Citizens' Oversight Committee Vice -Chair Jack Owen who gave a brief presentation about Measure U funding activities for t he year. He thanked staff and the community for supporting the Measure U initiative.
The annual report was received and would be filed.
8.b General Plan Annual Report
Director of Community Development Mr. Wu gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report and reviewed a PowerPoint slide detailing the fifth cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) progress for the year.
Moved by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Seconded by: Councilmember Soto
Receive the 2022 General Plan Annual Report and direct the filing of the report with the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the State Housing and Community Development Department (HCD).
Motion carried unanimously
8.c Council Salaries
City Manager Stilwell gave a presentation as detailed in the Council Agenda Report.
Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez expressed an interest in increasing Councilmember salaries to provide an opportunity for members of the public to serve on the City Council without concern that the service would be an economic burden. Councilmember Cordero commented that running for elected office in Santa Maria was a role in volunteerism, but that due to the City’s size, increased compensation could be considered at a later time. Councilmember Soto suggested that expanded City Council duties should be considered in correlation to an increase in salary. Councilmember Escobedo expressed interest in convening a committee of residents to explore salaries for Councilmembers.
Mayor Patino added that a ballot measure was also an option for gaining public opinion.
Public input
Gary Hall spoke in favor of a City Council salary increase based on inflation.
5 Direction was provided to staff to defer this item to the mid -cycle budget in May 2023 for further consideration.
9. REPORT BY CITY MANAGER
City Manager Stilwell reported that the next regular City Council meeting would be held on April 4, 2023. Items on the agenda would include a closed session and two public hearings regarding the Draft CDBG Action Plan and the rescheduled User Fees Update.
10. ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS) Councilmember Soto reported that she attended a meeting with staff regarding the City's collaboration with the Airport and Airport District Quarterly Meeting.
Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez reported that she participated in a book reading at Taylor School and attended the Housing and Economic Development Committee with the California League of Cities.
Councilmember Cordero reported that he attended the Central Coast Water Authority Meeting, United Way Meeting, International Women's Day Event at the Santa Maria Public Library.
Councilmember Escobedo reported that he attended the International Women's Day at the Santa Maria Public Library, Ribbon Cutting for That One Photobooth, Boys and Girls Club Opening of Ron Estabillo Clubhouse, and Airport District Quarterly Meeting.
Mayor Patino reported that she attended the Ben Heighes Show, North County Subregional Planning Committee, International Women's Day Event at the Santa Maria Public Library, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Meeting, Eagle Scout - Court of Honor Presentation, two Alliance of Local Electeds Meetings, State of Vandenberg Space Force Base, Planning Commission Meeting on Hope Village, SBCAG Executive Committee Meeting, SBCAG Monthly Board Meeting, Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Meeting, and Follow-up Meeting with Bradley Square Residents.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
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Rhonda M. White, Chief Deputy City Clerk
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Alice M. Patino, Mayor