1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
March 4, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
110 East Cook Street
Santa Maria
Roll Call: Mayor Alice Patino, Councilmember Gloria Soto, Councilmember Maribel Aguilera -Hernandez, Councilmember Carlos Escobedo, and Councilmember Gloria Flores
Staff Present: City Manager David W. Rowlands, Assistant City Manager Chuen Wu, City Attorney Thomas Watson, Interim Finance Director Xenia Bradford, Fire Chief Bradley Dandridge, Director of Public Works Brett Fulgoni, Library Director Dawn Jackson, Interim Chief of Pol ice Daniel Cohen, Director of Utilities Shad Springer, Director of Community Development Chenin Dow, Assistant City Clerk Alexandra Valadez, and Deputy City Clerk Ashley Arciniega.
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CLOSED SESSION
1. CALL TO ORDER
At 4:30 p.m. Mayor Patino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Councilmembers Maribel Aguilera -Hernandez (arrived at 4:42 p.m.), Gloria Flores, Gloria Soto, Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Escobedo, and Mayor Alice Patino.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
City Manager David W. Rowlands , City Attorney Thomas Watson and Assistant City Clerk Alexandra Valadez.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Mayor Patino opened public comment, there being none, closed public comment.
3. RECESS-CLOSED SESSION
At 4:30 p.m. Mayor Patino recessed to Closed Session.
3.a Conference with Labor Negotiators, Pursuant to California Government Code §54957.6
3.b Conference with Real Property Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code §54956.8
3.c Conference with Real Property Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code §54956.8
4. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
OPEN SESSION - 5:30 P .M.
5. INVOCATION
Pastor Israel Gonzalez from Central City Church gave the Invocation.
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2 7. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Patino convened the meeting and called the meeting to order at 5:51 p.m.
8. REPORT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Watson reported instructions were provided to the City's Labor Negotiator for items 3.a,
3.b, and 3.c.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (Not to exceed 15 Minutes)
Mayor Patino invited public comment. Speaking from the public was Eddie Navarro, Gary Hall, and Gwenever Cannon.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar Items 10.a.1 through 10.d.1 were approved as presented, including the adoption of Resolution Nos. 2025 -29, 2025-30, 2025-31, and 2025 -32. The recorded vote appears with each item below.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopted the Consent Calendar as submitted.
Ayes (5): Mayor Patino, Councilmember Soto, Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez, Councilmember Escobedo, and Councilmember Gloria Flores
Motion carried by a recorded vote (5 to 0)
10.a CITY MANAGER/CITY CLERK DEPARTMENT
10.a.1 Ordinances and Resolutions
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Waived 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 by a recorded vote
10.a.2 Approval of Minutes
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Approved Minutes of the Regular City Council meeting of February 18, 2025.
Motion carried by a recorded vote
10.b FINANCE DEPARTMENT
10.b.1 Payment of Warrants
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Order ratified subject to having been certified as being in conform ity with the budget and having been approved for payment by the Director of Finance.
Motion carried by a recorded vote
3 10.b.2 Payment of Payroll
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
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 by a recorded vote
10.c PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
10.c.1 Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Grant of Non-Exclusive Easements for Encroachment Purposes to Southern California Gas Company, Inc.
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2025-29.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopted a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign both non -exclusive easements to Southern California Gas Company, Inc. and authorizing the Chief Deputy City Clerk to certify the easements and forward the easements to the County Clerk-Recorder for official recordation.
Motion carried by a recorded vote
10.c.2 Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Establishment of a Large Vehicle Parking Restriction on Southside Parkway
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2025-30.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopted a resolution establishing a large vehicle parking restriction on Southside Parkway, along the northerly and southerly right of way, beginning at the intersection of Southside Parkway and Centerpointe Parkway and extending 590 feet east to the South College Roundabout.
Motion carried by a recorded vote
10.c.3 Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Proposed Establishment of a Passenger Loading Zone On Panther Drive
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2025-31.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
Adopted a resolution establishing a Passenger Loading Zone on Panther Drive.
Motion carried by a recorded vote
10.d UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
10.d.1 Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City of Santa Maria as Enforcement Agency for Compliance with California Assembly Bill 1276, Single Use Foodware Accessories and Standard Condiments
Action: Adopted as Resolution No. 2025-32.
Moved by: Councilmember Escobedo
Seconded by: Councilmember Aguilera-Hernandez
4 Adopted a resolution authorizing the City of Santa Maria as the Enforcement Agency for California Assembly Bill 1276, Single-Use Foodware Accessories and Standard Condiments.
Motion carried by a recorded vote
11. REPORT BY CITY MANAGER
City Manager Rowlands reported the next City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18th.
Items on the agenda would include the General Plan Annual Report, 2024 Annual Fire Department Report, and the Measure U Annua l Report. The agenda for the City Council Meeting of April 1st would include the Quarterly Encampment Response and the CDBG Drafted Five Year Plan for FY 2025-26.
City Manager Rowlands also shared the City of Santa Maria is actively negotiating with all b argaining units.
12. ORAL REPORTS OF COUNCILMEMBERS AND OFFICERS (INCLUDING AB 1234 REPORTS) Councilmember Flores reported she attended the Firefighter Appreciation Night, Groundbreaking Plans for the Air Show, Y outh Making Change (Y MC) Grant Awards, and the Read Across America Event at Taylor Elementary.
Councilmember Escobedo reported he attended Firefighter Appreciation Night, Central Coast Water Authority Board Meeting, and the Read Across America Event at Taylor Elementary.
Councilmember Aguilera -Hernandez reported she attended the Firefighter Appreciation Night.
Councilmember Soto reported she attended the Firefighter Appreciation Night.
Mayor Patino reported she attended the Firefighter Appreciation Night, Livable California Teleconference, Food Truck/Pop-Up Vendors Informational Meeting, Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation Board Meeting, KCOY Interview with Scott Hennessee and Jeff Martin, S anta Barbara County Association of Governments (S BCAG) Board of Directors Retreat, and the Read Across America Event at Taylor Elementary.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m. in the memory of Jim Glines.
Chief Deputy City Clerk Alice M. Patino, Mayor