CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Special Regular Meeting
February 13, 2024,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Cornejo called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Invocation was provided by Chaplain Kay Wilson-Bolton.
2)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Sobel led the flag salute.
3)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, and Andy Sobel 4)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Monica Castillo reported there was no reportable action taken on the following item:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION - Pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1) – Verdun v. The City of Santa Paula, et al.; Ventura County Superior Court Case No. 56-2024-CUWMO19170 5)
PRESENTATIONS
5.A)
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT
Parks & Recreation Director Gregory Barnes provided a presentation on Parks & Recreation Department Activity Report August 2023 - December 2023.
5.B)
SANTA PAULA YOUTH AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
This item was pulled by staff for a future date.
6)
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
7)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Attended Southern California Association of Governments; Clean Power Alliance; Ventura County Transportation Commission; employee recognition breakfast; Ventura College study session; event for permanent Police Chief Aguilar; and 211 open house.
Councilmember Juarez:
Spoke of the farmworker's monument is in need of repair; Community College District; Police Chief swearing in; annual meeting of the Chamber Commerce; Boys & Girls Club fund raiser; attended swearing in of several new Police Officers and promotion of Police Department staff.
Vice Mayor Chavez:
Provided a positive shoutout to Chef David due to illness, appreciation to the Santa Paula Lions Club for free vision and eyeglasses; announced Parks & Recreation welcomed newest member Kasidy; and that Anita Ramirez passed away.
Councilmember Sobel:
Attended the Quarterly Business Round Table; Joint City Council and Planning Commission; spoke on the sponsored coffee with the City Manager and Police of Chief; Boys & Girls Club fund raiser; Sip n Shop event with downtown vendors, and swearing in of the permanent Police of Chief and Police Officers.
Mayor Cornejo:
Attended the swearing in of the permanent Police of Chief and new Officers; recognition breakfast for city employees; Business Round Table; Boys & Girls Club fund raiser; and Art about Ag event. 8)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Dan Singer:
Announced Chief Williams provided a tour of soon to be open Fire Station; attended HOA meeting at the Harvest; swearing in of the permanent Police of Chief and Police Officers; announced the city Housing Element is now certified; and that the city has been selected to participate in a consortium sponsored by the National League of Cities to work on early childhood learning and development opportunities.
Public Works Director Clete Saunier reported on the status of the concerns of residents on 12th and Harvard of the dust and debris. 9)
CONSENT CALENDAR
9.A)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council Regular Minutes January 24, 2024
9.B)
AGREEMENT WITH THE SANTA PAULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS
9.C)
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PHOENIX CIVIL ENGINEERING FOR THE MESA TANKS REPLACEMENT PROJECT Interim City Engineer Robert Woodward answered questions from Council on the project.
Motion: Approve the City Manager to execute Contract Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Phoenix Civil Engineering in a form approved by the City Attorney; and approve budget adjustments as shown in Table 2 of the Staff Report to allocate $242,644.29 in funds from the Water Main Replacement Program to the Mesa Tanks Replacement Project, to complete the necessary funding of $621,574.29 needed for this contract.
Moved by Andy Sobel, seconded by Pedro A Chavez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel
9.D)
TELEGRAPH ROAD WIDENING AND MAIN STREET/HARVARD BOULEVARD/TELEGRAPH ROAD ROUNDABOUT PROJECT Interim City Engineer Robert Woodward answered questions from Council on the project.
Motion: Approve budget adjustments and allocations as recommended by staff for the Telegraph Road Widening Project and Main Street/Harvard Boulevard/Telegraph Road Roundabout Project.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel
9.E)
SANTA PAULA CREEK BRIDGE OFFSITE IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT (HARVEST AT LIMONEIRA PROJECT) City Attorney Monica Castillo announced Vice Mayor Chavez would need to recuse himself from this item due to a conflict of interest. Vice Mayor Chavez recused himself from this item and left the Dias.
Mark Wilde with Willdan provided information on the plans for the site.
David Lauletta spoke on the timeline on the bridge.
Motion: Approve the City Manager to execute the proposed Offsite Improvement Agreement with Limoneira Lewis Community Builders LLC for construction of the Santa Paula Creek Bridge; and authorize the City Manager or designee to make technical corrections to the proposed Offsite Improvement Agreement subject to the approval of the City Attorney.
Moved by Andy Sobel, seconded by Jenny Crosswhite
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel Items 9C, 9D and 9E were pulled for separate discussion and vote.
Motion: Approve Consent Calendar items 9A and 9B.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Pedro A Chavez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel 10)
PUBLIC HEARING
10.A)
EIR ADDENDUM FOR THE EAST AREA 1 PROJECT AND AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (HARVEST AT LIMONEIRA PROJECT) Vice Mayor Chavez recused himself from this item.
Mayor Cornejo opened the public hearing.
City Attorney Monica Castillo, City Manager Dan Singer, and Economic Development Director James Mason presented a presentation on the project.
David Lauletta presented information on the project.
Mayor Cornejo closed the public hearing after public comment.
Nidia Bello was called to speak of concerns on a lack of affordable housing.
Amalia Ochoa was called to speak of concerns on a lack of affordable housing.
Graciano Magana was called to speak of concerns on a lack of affordable housing.
Nicole Kearby was called to speak of concern on transparency, fast moving project, and does not want affordable housing next to her area.
Joe Beerhalter was called to speak opposing additional housing added to the project.
Fabiola Gomez was called to speak. Not available to speak at time called.
Lucas Reyes was called to speak. Not available to speak at time called.
George Esses was called to speak on concern of the devalue of homes with this project.
Laura Miller was called to speak with questions on mello-roos tax fees and distribution between tenants.
Susan Esses was called to speak with concern on safety with increased housing.
Tim Eubanks was called to speak. Not available to speak at time called.
Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7500 approving Addendum No. 3 to the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIR) associated with the East Area 1 Specific Plan Amendment No. 4 and Amendment No. 3 to the Development Agreement; and Introduce and waive first reading of Ordinance No. 1333 entitled "An Ordinance Approving (1) Addendum No. 3 to the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Associated with East Area 1 Specific Plan Amendment No. 4 and Amendment No. 3 to the Development Agreement and (2) Amendment No. 3 to the Development Agreement Subject to City Council Approval of East 1 Specific Plan Amendment No. 4." Moved by Andy Sobel, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel 11)
ACTION ITEMS
11.A)
URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 1334 AMENDING CHAPTER 16.35 "HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES OVERLAY ZONE" OF THE SANTA PAULA MUNICIPAL CODE, UPDATING THE CITY’S PERMIT REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR QUALIFYING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE SANTA PAULA GENERAL PLAN, AND FINDING THAT THE ORDINANCE IS NOT A "PROJECT" OR IS OTHERWISE EXEMPT FROM CEQA Motion: Approve adopting Urgency Ordinance No. 1334 amending Chapter 16.35 “Housing Opportunities Overlay Zone” of the Santa Paula Municipal Code, updating the City’s permit review procedures for qualifying housing development projects consistent with state law and the Housing Element of the Santa Paula General Plan, and finding that the Ordinance is not a “Project” or is otherwise exempt from CEQA.
Moved by Andy Sobel, seconded by Pedro A Chavez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel
11.B)
SANTA PAULA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS Community Development Director James Mason presented this item.
Elenore Vaughn provided a presentation on the Santa Paula Housing Authority and the request for affordable housing trust funds.
Motion: Approve the allocation of Housing In-lieu fees from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Housing Authority of Santa Paula in an amount not to exceed $389,209.82; and Authorize the City Manager to pay up to $389,209.82 in funds from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Housing Authority of Santa Paula.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel
11.C)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council discussed bringing both items back on a future item.
Councilmember Sobel created an Agenda Request form for Establishment of a Climate Action Plan ad-hoc. Council discussed bringing back on future agenda with the following vote: AYES: Sobel, Chavez. NOES: Crosswhite, Juarez, Cornejo. Vote failed 3-2.
Vice Mayor Chavez created an Agenda Request form for Tenant Protections & Eviction Prevention Ordinance. Council discussed bringing back on a future agenda with the following vote: With no objection, no vote was needed. 12)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Cornejo adjourned the meeting at 11:03 p.m.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk