1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
March 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
110 East Cook Street
Santa Maria
Roll Call: Councilmember Gloria Soto, Mayor Pro Tem Gloria Flores, Mayor Alice Patino
Members Absent: Councilmember Maribel Aguilera
Staff Present: City Manager David W . Rowlands, City Attorney Thomas Watson, Director of Finance Rebecca Campbell, Chief Human Resources Officer Graciela Reynoso, Chief Deputy City Clerk Donna Schwartz
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CLOSED SESSION
1. CALL TO ORDER
Invocation was given by Reverend Neil Platon of First Methodist Church.
At 5:12 p.m. Mayor Patino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Councilmember Soto, Mayor Pro Tem Flores, and Mayor Patino.
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Councilmember Aguilera.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
City Manager David W. Rowlands, City Attorney Thomas Watson and Chief Deputy City Clerk Donna G.
Schwartz.
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 Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Pursuant to California Government Code §54956.9(d)(1) [two cases]
3.b Conference with Labor Negotiators, Pursuant to California Government Code §54957.6
4. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
5. REPORT BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Watson reported that instructions were provided to th e counsel for two cases on item
3.a. Item 3.b was continued to a future meeting.
2 6. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Patino declared the City Council meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.
Chief Deputy City Clerk Alice M. Patino, Mayor