CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
February 15, 2023,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
REGULAR MATTERS - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Sobel asked Interim City Attorney Monica Castillo to report out on closed session held before the City Council Regular meeting.
Interim City Attorney Monica Castillo reported Council met in closed session on:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION - Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) - Ventura County Fire Protection District, et al, v. Santa Clara Waste Water Company, et al (Ventura County Superior Court Cose No. 56-2016-00484523-CU-PO-VTA).
There were no reportable actions.
Mayor Sobel then adjourned the closed session.
Mayor Sobel called the City of Santa Paula City Council Regular meeting to order at 6:40 pm. 2)
INVOCATION
Rev. Lupita Alonso-Redondo, M.Div provided the Invocation and announced she was leaving Santa Paula, transferring to Bardsdale United Methodist Church in Fillmore.
Mayor Sobel presented a Certificate of Appreciation for her services to the City of Santa Paula. 3)
FLAG SALUTE
Vice Mayor Cornejo led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Andy Sobel, Leslie Cornejo, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, and Pedro A Chavez 5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jerry Mead was called to speak regarding a water main break and a notice received on contaminated water not received soon enough. City Manager spoke of the water main break and testing required to receive clearance.
Maria Espinosa was called to speak on problem with the homeless and needed housing. 6)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Chavez:
Provided copies of his activity report for the public, along with announcing attending League of California Cities Newly Elected Officials Acadamy; Water Assistance Day; and Community College Education Center.
Vice Mayor Cornejo:
Attended the employee recognition breakfast; Property Business Improvement District; Boys & Girls Club fundraiser; and Harding Park Advisory Board meeting.
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Attended Boys & Girls Club fundraiser; employee recognition breakfast; Young Professionals mixer; Clean Power Alliance; LAFCO; and Southern California Association of Governments.
Councilmember Juarez:
Attended the employee recognition breakfast; City birthday celebration; Boys & Girls Club fundraiser; Rotary where District Attorney Erik Nasarenko spoke of crime rates, cold cases and fentanyl drug problem; and Hospital Blue Ribbon Committee; Mayor Sobel:
Attended his last Southern Council Association of Governments meeting; Womans Economic Ventures; early childhood education presentations; college center townhall; Cycle Cal Coast; California Poet Laureate at the ag museum; Hospital Blue Ribbon meeting; webinar on the 2022 election; and Boys & Girls fundraiser. 7)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Dan Singer:
Attended Newly Elected Official Acadamy; City Manager's Conference; and Boys & Girls fundraiser. 8)
CONSENT CALENDAR
8.A)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council Regular Minutes for January 18, 2023
City Council Special Minutes for January 18, 2023
City Council Special Minutes for January 23, 2023
City Council Special Minutes for January 31, 2023
City Council Regular Minutes for February 1, 2023
8.B)
JANUARY 2023 WARRANTS AND CERTIFICATIONS
8.C)
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 7447, AMENDING THE POLICE COMMANDER JOB DESCRIPTION Interim Police Chief Aguilar answered questions from Council.
8.D)
REQUEST AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY PERSONNEL TO MEET WITH LEGISLATORS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
8.E)
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO SANTA CLARA RIVER TMDL MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
8.F)
RESOLUTION NO. 7432, AMENDING THE CITY OF SANTA PAULA PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS TO INCORPORATE A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY Motion: Approve as amended Consent Calendar with typographical corrections on 8A and 8F.
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Andy Sobel, Leslie Cornejo, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Pedro A Chavez 9)
ACTION ITEMS
9.A)
WASTEWATER SYSTEM CHLORIDE STUDY UPDATE
This item was presented by Eileen Shields, MKN and Associates.
Motion: Approve receive and file the Wastewater System Chloride Study Update and Chloride Source Identification Work Plan and direct staff to pursue Option 1: Complete Chloride Source Identification Study to Explore Chloride Control Strategies.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Andy Sobel, Leslie Cornejo, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Pedro A Chavez 10)
PRESENTATIONS
10.A)
ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION REPORT AND PRESENTATION This item was presented by Alexander Wallsten, Public Works Administrative Analyst I.
10.B)
WHY DISTRICTING? A PRESENTATION ON THE DISTRICTING PROCESS IN SANTA PAULA, CA Management Analyst Jonathan Royas presented this item.
Also presenting, Dr. Douglas Johnson and Dr. Justin Levitt with National Demographic Corporation.
Public Comments:
Richard Rudman was called to speak opposing districting.
Walter Adair was called to speak opposing districting.
Ginger Gherardi was called to speak opposing districting.
Jeri Mead was called to speak opposing districting.
Rey Frutos was called to speak on issues of meetings and process districting, providing copies of his maps. Opposing districting.
Pamela Murphy was called to speak opposing districting.
Connie Tushla was called to speak opposing districting.
Jerry Olivas was called to speak opposing districting.
Laura Staben was called to speak opposing districting.
11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
DISTRICTING – FOURTH PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY REGARDING DRAFT MAPS OF ELECTION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, COUNCIL SELECTION OF FINAL MAP, AND ELECTION SEQUENCING Mayor Sobel opened the public hearing.
Jonathan Royas, Management Analyst and Dr. Justin Levitt, National Demographic Corporation presented this item.
Public Comments:
Brandon Martinez was called to speak in support of map 119.
Richard Rudman was called to speak opposing maps.
Walter Adair was called to speak, speaking on other cities districting.
Ginger Gherardi was called to speak expressing not selecting a map at this time.
Kay Wilson-Bolton was called to speak expressing to delay making a decision on a map at this time.
Nidia Bello with CAUSE was called to speak supporting map 119.
Nidia Bello was called to speak on behalf of Luis Montalvo supporting map 119.
Zuleth Lucero was called to speak in support of map 119.
Luz Hernandez was called to speak in Spanish, translated to English, in support of map 119.
Nidia Bello was called to speak on behalf of Maria Alejos supporting map 119.
Fabiola Gomez was called to speak in support of map 119.
Laura Espinosa was called to speak in support of map 119.
Nidia Bello spoke on behalf of Guadalupe Guadian in support of map 119.
Nidia was called to speak on behalf of Kate English in support of districting.
Cynthia Salas was called to speak in support of districting.
Mayor Sobel Closed the public hearing.
Council discussed the maps, narrowing down to map 119.
Motion: Approve receiving an updated presentation from staff and Dr. Justin Levitt of National Demographic Corporation (NDC), regarding draft maps for City Council voting districts, to be implemented in November, 2024; making final map selection of map 119 and the suggested sequences of election years for each district, District 1 - 2024 (Sobel), District 2 - 2026 (Juarez & Crosswhite), District 3 - 2026 (Chavez), District 4 - 2026 (vacant), District 5 - 2024 - (Cornejo); and directed staff to prepare an ordinance that adopts the selected final draft map and sets forth the election years for each district.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Jenny Crosswhite
Vote: Motion carried 3-2
Yes: Andy Sobel, Jenny Crosswhite, Pedro A Chavez
No: Leslie Cornejo, Carlos Juarez
12)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
12.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Motion: Approve to continue the meeting after the 10:30 deadline.
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Andy Sobel, Leslie Cornejo, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Pedro A Chavez Councilmember Chavez requested staff to begin looking into neighborhood councils. Council supported bringing this topic up as part of the Strategic Plan process. 13)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Sobel adjourned the meeting at 11:10 p.m.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk