1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
October 3, 2023, 5:00 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
Members Absent: Councilmember Gloria Soto
Staff Present: Interim City Manager Alex Posada, City Attorney Thomas Watson, Fire Chief Bradley Dandridge, Director of Public Works Brett Fulgoni, Director of Finance Mary Harvey, Interim Director of Finance Xenia Bradford, Interim Chief Human Resources Director Dawn Jackson, Chief Information Officer Jeffrey Marecic, Interim Director of Recreation & Parks Angela Oslund, Director of Community Development Chuen Wu, Chief of Police Marc Schneider, Director of Utilities Shad Springer, Administrative Assistant Brittany Short, Assistant City Clerk Alexandra Valadez
_____________________________________________________________________
1. INVOCATION
Pastor Daniel Cassels 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 5:33 p.m.
4. PROCLAMATIONS
4.a Proclamation – “Orcutt 14U All-Stars Baseball Team” City Council presented a Proclamation recognizing the Orcutt 14U All-Stars baseball team for becoming the first baseball team for the Santa Maria Valley to win a Babe Ruth World Series age group title. Matt and Mason Majewski accepted the Proclamation.
4.b Proclamation – "Active Aging Week"
2 The City Council presented a Proclamation recognizing October 2 thro ugh October 9, 2023, as "Active Aging Week" in the City of Santa Maria. Members of the Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens Club accepted the Proclamation.
4.c Proclamation – “Fire Prevention Week”
The City Council presented a Proclamation recognizing the week of October 8 through 14, 2023, as “Fire Prevention Week” in the City of Santa Maria. Fire Marshal Jim Austin accepted the Proclamation.
4.d Proclamation – “Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week” The City Council presented a Proclamation to recogni ze October 9 through 13, 2023, as “Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week” to recognize and celebrate the role Code Enforcement Officers have in our communities. Members of the Code Enforcement Division accepted the Proclamation.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (Not to exceed 15 Minutes)
Gary Hall representing North Santa Barbara County Mobile Homeowners Team (NSBMHT) spoke about the concerns the Mobile Homeowners Team has regarding the pace of negotiations. Mr. Hall stated that the team looks forward to continuing discussions with the City team.
Wilma Kilpatrick spoke about the construction delays the affordable housing project on Battles Road has experienced. She shared that this delay has caused her to experience homelessness.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Cal endar Items 6.a.1 through 6.d.1 were approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution Nos. 2023-129, 2023-130, and 2023-131. The recorded vote appears with each item below.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopt the Consent Calendar as submitted.
For (4): Mayor Patino, Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez, Councilmember Cordero, and Councilmember Escobedo
Absent (1): Councilmember Soto
Motion carried by a recorded vote (4 to 0)
6.a CITY MANAGER/CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
6.a.1 Ordinances and Resolutions
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.
3 Motion carried unanimously
6.a.2 Approval of Minutes
Approve the Minutes of the regular City Council meeting of August 15, 2023.
Motion carried unanimously
Approve the Minutes of the special City Council meeting of September 6, 2023.
Motion carried unanimously
Approve the Minutes of the special City Council meeting of September 14, 2023.
Motion carried unanimously
6.a.3 CalPERS Comprehensive Salary Schematic
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-129
Adopt a Resolution approving a comprehensive s alary schematic for all full -time and part -time employees in accordance with CalPERS guidelines.
Motion carried unanimously
6.a.4 Employment Agreement for Interim City Manager Services Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-130
Adopt a Resolution approving an Employment Agreement for Interim City Manager Services.
Motion carried unanimously
6.b COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
6.b.1 Community Development Block Grant Final Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year
Receive and file information concerning the Final Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year.
Motion carried unanimously
6.c FINANCE DEPARTMENT
6.c.1 Payment of Warrants
4 Order ratified su bject 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.c.2 Payment of Payroll
Order ratified subject to having been certified by the proper Depart ment 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
6.d POLICE DEPARTMENT
6.d.1 Donation of Horse Trailer from the Santa Maria Police Council Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2023-131
Adopt a Resolution approving the donation of a horse trailer to the Santa Maria Police Department from the Santa Maria Police Council.
Motion carried unanimously
7. PUBLIC HEARING
7.a Alvin Newton Apartments Downtown Permit at the Southeast Corner of Main Street and Broadway Mayor Patino opened the public hearing at 6:23 p.m.
Glenn Morris representing Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mr. & Mrs. Paredes representing The Maya Restaurant, and Matt Chircop representing Fire Fighter Memorial Stakeholder group all spoke in favor of the approval of the Downtown Permit.
Mayor Patino closed the public hearing at 6:56 p.m.
Moved by: Councilmember Cordero
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and adopt a Resolution approving Downtown Permit (DT2022 -0022) for Alvin Newton Apartments at the southeast corner of Main Street and Broadway.
For (3): Mayor Patino, Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez, and Councilmember Cordero Noes (1): Councilmember Escobedo
Absent (1): Councilmember Soto
5 Motion carried by a recorded vote (3 to 1)
8. REGULAR BUSINESS
8.a Review and Prioritize Community Development Block Grant Capital Project Proposals The City Council reviewed the Capital project proposals for Fiscal Year 2024-25 Community Development Block Grant funding.
Public Input
There was no public comment on this item.
Councilmembers Aguilera -Hernandez, Escobedo, and Mayor Patino agreed that the Santa Maria Community Sports Complex is the priority. Priorities after Sports Complex would be the minor home repairs proposals (CommUnify and CAPSLO) and Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley.
Councilmember Cordero stated that his priorities lie with feeding and warming residents.
That the City Council review and prioritize the Capital project proposals for Fiscal Year 2024 -25 Community Development Block Grant funding and provides the Block Grants Advisory Committee and participating applicants with direction as to the projects that should be given priority for the upcoming funding cycle.
Motion carried unanimously
9. REPORT BY CITY MANAGER
Interim City Manager Posada introduced Interim Director of Recreation and Parks Angela Oslund and Interim Finance Directo r Zenia Bradford. Mr. Posada announced that the Santa Maria Airshow is October 14th and 15th and the Kiwanis Club is celebrating its 19th year. Mr. Posada reported that the next City Council Meeting would be October 17th. Items on the agenda would include a Closed Session, a Proclamation for World Polio Day, an Award of Professional Services, Water and Sewer Rates 1st Reading, and a General Plan Update.
10. ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB1234 REPORTS) Councilmember Cordero reported that he attended a meeting with Ross Realty regarding a project South of Foster Road, two Central Coast Water Authority meetings, two meetings with United Way to discuss the merging of Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County entities, an SEIU Meeting, and a Water and Sewer Rates Public Workshop. He also mentioned that Assemblyman Greg Hart is holding Sidewalk Hours in front of City Hall on October 4th.
Councilmember Escobedo reported that he attended the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala.
Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez reported that she attended the Ben Heighes Show, Annual League of California Cities Conference - Sacramento, and Mayor's Ball.
6 Mayor Patino reported that she attended the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center Check Presentation with Salud Carbajal, SBCAG Meeting, APCD Meeting, Measure A interviews - Oversight Committee, Orcutt Babe Ruth Celebration Event, Channel Counties Legislative Lunch Webinar, Santa Maria Day at CalPoly, Project Opiod Meeting, Japanese Community Center Groundbreaking, the Rick Blaemire, California Alliance of Local Electeds, September 11th Commemoration Ceremony, Voting Delegate Webinar, Santa Maria Police Department Badge Pinning, Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting, Fentanyl Town Hall Meeting, 3CE Annual Meeting, Vandenberg MOU Kickoff, Fiestas - Santa Maria El Grito, Santa Maria Valley PACC Steering Committee, Annual League of California Cities Conference - Sacramento, Libbon Elementary School Classroom Visit, Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation Board Meeting, SBCAG Board Meeting - Briefing on Highway 166 Black Road Project, and Mayor Teen Council.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business bef ore the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. in remembrance of Senator Dianne Feinstein.
_________________________
Alexandra Valadez, Assistant City Clerk
_________________________
Alice M. Patino, Mayor