CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
March 5, 2025,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
REGULAR MATTERS - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chavez called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.
2)
INVOCATION
Chaplain Kay Wilson-Bolton provided the Invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Gabriela Ornelas led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, and Gabriela Ornelas 5)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Monica Castillo reported Council met in closed session and there was no reportable action taken on the following items:
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - LIABILITY CLAIM Consideration of a liability claim pursuant to Government Code §§ 54956.9(d)(3) & 54956.95(c)- Claimant: Aldersgate Investment LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company; Agency Claimed Against: the City of Santa Paula CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - LIABILITY CLAIM Consideration of a liability claim pursuant to Government Code §§ 54956.9(d)(3) & 54956.95(c)- Claimant: Fit N’ Fine Fitness; Agency Claimed Against: the City of Santa Paula CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE §54957.6 - City Representatives: Chief Labor Negotiator Irma Rodriguez Moisa, City Manager Dan Singer, Finance Director Christy Ramirez, and Human Resources Manager Lorena Alvarez; Employee Organizations: Community Services Officer Association; Mid-Management Association; Professional & Supervisory Association; Service Employee International Union, Local 721 (SEIU); Santa Paula Police Officers Association (SPPOA); and Unrepresented Employees: Executive Management; Confidential employees; Part-time employees. 6)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Richard Abbott was called to speak announcing he provided staff with information they requested as a follow up from a prior meeting. 7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
2025 AMERICORPS WEEK PROCLAMATION
Mayor Chavez presented the 2025 Americorps Week Proclamation to current and former Fellows.
7.B)
2024 EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION
2024 Employees of the Year Recognition was presented to the Field Employee of the Year Javier Cancino and Administrative Employee Commander Eric Starna.
7.C)
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Police Chief Don Aguilar presented the Police Department Report. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Ornelas:
Attended the Parks & Recreation meeting.
Vice Mayor Juarez:
Attended the employee birthday celebration; and the grand opening for the Lokahi Veterinary Lab.
Councilmember Cornejo:
Attended the Ventura Regional Sanitation District meeting; the grand opening for the Lokahi Veterinary Lab; the Ventura Council of Governments meeting; and announced the Ventura Regional Sanitation District is recruiting for a General Manager.
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Announced Southern California Association of Governments has scholarships available; attended Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance meeting; the Clean Power Alliance meeting; and the California Council of Governments meeting on behalf of the Ventura County Transportation Commission.
Mayor Chavez:
Will provide a written report at the end of the month.
9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Dan Singer:
Announced upcoming events.
10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE CANYON BOOSTER PUMP STATION
10.B)
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR WELL 12 REHABILITIATION PROJECT
10.C)
RESOLUTION NO. 7561 ESTABLISHING THE MEASURE R OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE & ADOPTING OPERATING GUIDELINES Cytlalli Salgado was called to speak in support of an Oversight Committee.
Ricardo Soto was called to speak in support of Oversight Committee.
Council provided staff with direction for changes on the resolution and guidelines and to return at the next meeting with final language.
Item 10.C was pulled for separate discussion and vote.
Motion: Approve Consent Calendar items 10.A and 10.B.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas 11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1342 AMENDING CHAPTER 16.79 "REGULATION OF CANNABIS ACTIVITIES" OF THE SANTA PAULA MUNICIPAL CODE AND OTHER AFFECTED CODE SECTIONS TO ALIGN WITH SENATE BILL (SB) 1186 Mayor Chavez reopened the public hearing, to reintroduce as amended language from the March 5, 2025 Council meeting.
Tom Tarantino, Planning & Economic Development Manager presented this item.
Mary Bagtuzion was called to speak opposing cannabis activities.
With no further public comments, Mayor Chavez closed the public hear.
Motion: Approve Waiving first reading, read by title only, and introduce Ordinance No. 1342, entitled "An Ordinance amending Chapter 16.79 'Regulation of Cannabis Activities' of the Santa Paula Municipal Code and other affected code sections to align with Senate Bill (SB) 1186, and finding that the Ordinance is not a “Project” or is otherwise exempt from CEQA." Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas 12)
ACTION ITEMS
12.A)
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM UPDATE
Jonathan Royas, Deputy City Manager presented this item.
Council provided staff with direction on changes and bring back on consent. 13)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
13.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
City Manager Singer explained there is a full calendar in April and requested moving the Study Session for Council Procedural Guidelines to the first meeting in May. Council was in agreement with this change. 14)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Chavez adjourned the meeting at 9:36 p.m.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk