ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING THE SANTA MARIA MUNICIPAL CODE
TITLE 2 “ADMINISTRATION,” CHAPTER 2-14
“RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION,”
SECTION 2-14.06 “RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL:
POWERS GENERALLY” AND TITLE 10 “RECREATION
AND PARKS,” CHAPTER 10-1 “ADMINISTRATION,”
SECTION 10-1.02 “ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS”
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, at their June 3, 2025, meeting approved the methodology for setting fees for recreation programs and services; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this methodology presents the opportunity to revise the process by which fees are set for these programs and services; and
WHEREAS, Title 2 “Administration,” Chapter 2 -14 “Recreation and Parks Commission,” Section 2 -14.06 “Recommendations to Council: Powers Generally” and Title 10 “Recreation and Parks,” Chapter 10-1 “Administration,” Section 10-1.02 “Adoption of Regulations” of the Santa Maria Municipal Code provide the authorities granted to the Recreation and Parks Commission by the City Council, and
WHEREAS, the Recreation and Parks Commission has reviewed and requests the City Council’s approval of the proposed amendments to the Santa Maria Municipal Code, and
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, State of California, as follows:
SECTION 1 . Title 2 “Administration,” Chapter 2 -14 “Recreation and Parks Commission,” Section 2-14.06 “Recommendations to Council: Powers Generally” of the Santa Maria Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 2-14.06 Recommendations to Council: Powers Generally.
The Recreation and Parks Commission may make such recommendations to the City Council as it deems necessary concerning the organization, promotion, conduct and management of programs of community recreation in the City and the establishment of systems of playgrounds and recreation, and the acquisition, improvement, maintenance, operation and management of recreation facilities within or without the territorial limits of the City, as well as parkland dedications and subdivision in -lieu fees, residential development taxes, and urban forestry. The Recreation and Parks Commission shall Attachment A
have the power and authority to hold public hearings and meetings and to conduct investigations and surveys for the purpose of secur ing facts and data concerning the matters enumerated in this section. The Recreation and Parks shall have the authority to hold public hearings related to fees charged for recreational programs and services provided by the department and may impose fee adj ustments as they find necessary.
Such adjustments shall be subject to review by City Council as provided in Section 10 -
1.02. The Recreation and Parks Commission shall have only such powers as are expressly granted by this chapter or as are granted by motion of the City Council.
The Recreation and Parks Commission shall also perform the duties provided in Chapter 8-3 (Historical Landmarks).
SECTION 2 . Title 10 “Recreation and Parks,” Chapter 10-1 “Administration,” Section 10-1.02 “Adoption of Regulations” of the Santa Maria Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 10-1.02. Adoption of fees and regulations
The Recreation and Parks Commission is authorized to adopt such reasonable regulations for the safe use of City parks as it deems necessary; provided, that the adoption of each such regulation shall be reported to the City Council at its first regular meeting next following the adoption of the regulation. At the meeting the City Council may consider the regulation and, if it deems the regulation unnecessary, unreasonable or not in the best interest of the City and of the public, may order the regulation repealed and voided forthwith, by motion of a majority of the Counc il, and the regulation shall be then and there null and void; provided, that such action shall not affect the validity of such regulations, or actions based thereon, prior to such avoidance and repeal by the Council.
Proposed updates and changes to 10-1.02 authorize the Recreation and Parks Commission to enact fees and regulations.
The Recreation and Parks Commission is authorized to adopt such reasonable fees and regulations for the safe and enjoyable use of City parks and recreation programs/services, as it deems necessary; the fee or regulation shall be enforced 30 days after adoption. Any adopted fee or regulation shall be reported to the City Council at its next regular meeting following the adoption of the fee or regulation by the Commission.
At that meeting, the City Council may consider the fee or regulation for its appropriateness and may find the fee or regulation unnecessary, unreasonable, or not in the best interest of the City and of the public and may order the fee or regulation to be immediately repealed.
SECTION 3. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make m inor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary.
Attachment A
SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect thirty (30) days after its passage. Within fifteen days following its passage, the City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in accordance with State Law; or when deemed necessary due to the length or complexity of the Ordinance, cause a summary of the Ordinance to be prepared and published at least five days prior to the City Council meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted. If a summary is published at least five days prior to the City Council meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted, then within 15 days after adoption of the Ordinance the City Clerk shall publish a summary of the Ordinance with the names of those City Council Members voting for and against the Ordinance and shall post a certified copy of the full text of such adopted Ordinance along with the n ames of those City Council Members voting for and against the Ordinance.
INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 17th day of June 2025, and PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting held on the ____day of ____ 2025, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAINED:
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
_______________________________
Department Director
_______________________________
City Manager
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David W. Rowlands, City Manager
DATE: June 17, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Establishing a City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee and Appointing two Members of the City Council
Description:
The City Council will consider approving a resolution establishing and appointing two members of the City Council to a Budget Ad Hoc Committee.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution establishing a City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee and appointing two members of the City Council.
BACKGROUND:
At the June 3, 2025, City Council meeting during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget update it was proposed to bring back to City Council a Resolution establishing a budget ad hoc committee and appointing two members of the City Council to participate in a budget rebalancing initiative.
DISCUSSION:
On June 3, 2025, the City Council adopted an amended FY 2025 -26 budget that used $26.1 million of short-term funding sources (budget reserve funds) to balance the budget.
Included in the presentation was a “Rebalancing Initiative Plan” that included several next steps related to the budget for review and analysis to reduce the structural deficit. Those next steps included the creation of a, “budget ad hoc committee” to participate in the review of the budget along the way.
2 The Ralph M. Brown Act and Ad Hoc Committees
According to Government Code Section 54952(b), the Ralph M. Brown Act applies to a “commission, committee, board, or other body of a local agency, whether permanent or temporary, decision -making or advisory,” if it is created by charter, ordinance, resolution, or formal action of a legislative body.
However, advisory committees that are composed solely of less than a quorum of the legislative body, and which do not have continuing subject matter jurisdiction or a meeting schedule fixed by formal action, are not considered legislative bodies under the Brown Act. Therefore, such Ad Hoc Committees are not subject to the Brown Act’s open meeting requirements.
Impact to the Community
This appointment will provide a closer connection to the community of Santa Maria, as the Council members are elected by community members.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution
ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA,
ESTABLISING A BUDGET AD HOC COMMITTEE
AND APPOINTING TWO MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, at the June 3, 2025, City Council meeting, during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget update it was proposed to return to the City Council with a Resolution appointing a budget ad hoc committee of the Council to participate in a budget rebalancing initiative; and
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2025, the City Council adopted an ame nded FY 2025-26 budget that used $26.1 million of short -term funding sources (budget reserve funds) to balance the budget; and
WHEREAS, the “Rebalancing Initiative Plan” outlined several next steps which included the creation of a budget ad hoc committee to participate in the review of the budget along the way; and
WHEREAS, According to Government Code Section 54952(b), the Ralph M.
Brown Act applies to a “commission, committee, board, or other body of a local agency, whether permanent or temporary, decision-making or advisory,” if it is created by charter, ordinance, resolution, or formal action of a legislative body.
However, advisory committees that are composed solely of less than a quorum of the legislative body, and which do not have continuing subject matter jurisdiction or a meeting schedule fixed by formal action, are not considered legislative bodies under the Brown Act. Therefore, such Ad Hoc Committees are not subject to the Brown Act’s open meeting requirements.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Establish a City Council Budget Ad Hoc Committee; and SECTION 2. For the City Council to appoint two members to the Budget Ad Hoc Committee; and
SECTION 3. This Resolution is effective on its date of adoption; and SECTION 4. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make minor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Santa Maria held this 17th day of June 2025.
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
_______________________________
Department Director
_______________________________
City Manager