CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
March 6, 2024,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
REGULAR MATTERS - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Cornejo called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2)
INVOCATION
None.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Juarez led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, and Andy Sobel 5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Pattie Braga, Executive Director of Ventura County Leadership Academy was called to speak, providing an update on issues throughout Ventura County.
Richard Abbott was called to speak on concerns of the rodent glue trap asking to consider banning these traps, as the City of Ojai has done. 6)
PRESENTATIONS
6.A)
LEAD FOR AMERICA AMERICAN CONNECTION CORPS WEEK 2024 PROCLAMATION Mayor Cornejo presented Lead for America American Connection Corps Week 2024 Proclamation to many of the current and previous hometown Fellows.
6.B)
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Police Chief Don Aguilar provided the Police Department Report, covering the period August 2023 through October 2023. 7)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Sobel:
Attended presentation at Cal Lutheran; League of California Cities Channel Division; County Mental Health Services meeting; Center for Economic Research and Forecasting Annual Report; Ventura County Industry Council; Chef David Celebration of Life; Caltrans virtual meeting on Hwy 150; and Communication Ad Hoc.
Vice Mayor Chavez:
Attended Chef David Celebration of Life; also passing was Florence Elwell; present at the Bedell Elementary School Career Day; announced upcoming night at the Oscars fundraiser for Santa Paula Times; Saint Sebastian Fiesta Family Fun; and expressed concern that there was only a 21% turnout at elections.
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Attended Caltrans virtual meeting on Hwy 150; Southern California Association of Governments; Ventura County Transportation Commission; and Redtail Project Ad Hoc.
Councilmember Juarez:
Provided update on Cruise Night; Caltrans virtual meeting on Hwy 150; and Citizen Corp.
Mayor Cornejo:
Attended meeting with Caitlin Barringer and Gloria Martinez; League of California Cities Channel Division; spoke with residents on Clean Power Alliance; virtual meeting with Senator Limon; Redtail Project Ad Hoc; Celebration of Life for Glenn Deines; and meeting with County Supervisors regarding Hwy 150 closure; 8)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Dan Singer:
Attended the Economic Forum; Senator Limon's office; Measure T Oversite Committee meeting; and reported on water meter reading issues; and announced 19 applicants have already been received for the Santa Paula Leadership Academy.
Vice Mayor Chavez requested update on the trucks on Harvard. Public Works Director Saunier provided information of noncompliance for street debris. 9)
CONSENT CALENDAR
9.A)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Joint City Council and Planning Commission Minutes January 29, 2024 City Council Special Minutes February 13, 2024
City Council Special Regular Minutes February 13, 2024
City Council Special Minutes February 21, 2024
City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2024
9.B)
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDING AMENDMENT
Deputy City Manager Jonathan Royas answered questions for Council.
Mayor requested to add more of a brief description on the chart on page 44-45 of the staff report.
Motion: Approve amendment to the ARPA reallocations which took place on February 21, 2024; and Adopt Resolution No. 7503 memorializing an amendment to the ARPA allocations.
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.C)
SENATE BILL 1 PROJECT FUNDING ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 City Engineer Bob Woodward answered questions for council.
Motion: Approve budget adjustments and allocations for the Harvard Boulevard Project SB 1 Fund.
Moved by Andy Sobel, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel
9.D)
EXPENDITURE PLAN FOR THE FY 23/24 OFFICER WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH GRANT AWARD Items 9.B and 9.C were pulled for separate discussion and vote.
Motion: Approve Consent Calendar items 9A and 9D.
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)
24-MISC-01: A REQUEST THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1335 AMENDING CHAPTER 16.35 “HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES OVERLAY ZONE” OF THE SANTA PAULA MUNICIPAL CODE, UPDATING THE CITY’S DESIGN REVIEW PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY’S COMMERCIAL/LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONE, AND FIND THAT THE ORDINANCE IS NOT A “PROJECT” OR IS OTHERWISE EXEMPT FROM CEQA Motion: Approve Staff recommends the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 1335 amending Chapter 16.35 "Housing Opportunities Overlay Zone" of the Santa Paula Municipal Code, updating the City's Design Review procedures pertaining to Affordable Housing located within the City's Commercial/Light Industrial Zone, and find that the Ordinance is not a "Project" or is otherwise exempt from CEQA.
Presented by: James Mason, Community Development Director 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 Mayor Cornejo opened the public hearing.
James Mason, Community & Economic Development Director presented a presentation on amending Chapter 16.36 "Housing Opportunities Overlay Zone".
Mayor Cornejo closed the public hearing following public comments.
Joseph Beerhalter was called to speak opposing the Ordinance. 11)
ACTION ITEMS
11.A)
STREETS CIP PROJECT PLANNING REPORT
This item was presented by City Engineer Bob Woodward and Deputy City Engineer Tatiana Arnaout.
Aaron Dunkel was called to speak providing ideas on the projects.
Council provided staff with guidance supporting priority of projects.
11.B)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH NBS FOR 2024 WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE STUDY Public Works Director Clete Saunier presented this item. Director Saunier explained the request to appoint two Councilmembers will come back on a different date, and announced changes to the Agreement, Section 3.3.11.3 (C) on the redline copy provided to Council.
Motion: Approve as amended to authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with NBS in an amount not to exceed $53,235 for professional consulting services related to the 2024 Water and Wastewater Rate Study in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Andy Sobel
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Carlos Juarez, Andy Sobel 12)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
12.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Cornejo adjourned the meeting at 10:08 p.m. in memory of John Lister, Glenn Deines, David Raigoza aka Chef David, and Florence Elwell.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk