CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
May 21, 2025,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chavez called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
2)
INVOCATION
Chaplain Kay Wilson-Bolton provided the Invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Ornelas led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, and Gabriela Ornelas Members Absent: Jenny Crosswhite, and Leslie Cornejo
5)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Monica Castillo announced Council met in closed session on the below item, reporting there was no reportable action taken.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT T O GOVERNMENT CODE §54957.6 - City Representatives: Chief Labor Negotiator Irma Rodriguez Moisa, City Manager Dan Singer, Finance Director Christy Ramirez, and Human Resources Administrator 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
Ginger Gherardi was called to speak of the new location of the Fourth of July Event with activities the full day. 7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT
Parks & Recreation Director Gregory Barnes provided the Parks & Recreation Department's Activity Report for the period of January 1st through April 30th, 2025. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Vice Mayor Carlos Juarez:
Attended the Police Memorial; Blue Ribbon Committee meeting; Rotary scholarship ceremony; swearing in of two Santa Paula Police Officers, and the memorial service of Ventura County Officers.
Councilmember Ornelas:
Attended the Sports Park Grand Opening, and Día de la Mujer event in Veterans Park.
Mayor Chavez:
Announced he gave his written report for the quarter and announced to everyone that Santa Paula will have a lot of visitors as the Santo Niño de Atocha will be at Our Guadelupe Church which takes place on Saturday. Attended the Rose Garden dedication for late Carmen Ramirez. 9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council Special Meeting April 16, 2025
City Council Regular Meeting April 16, 2025
City Council Special Meeting April 24, 2025
10.B)
APRIL 2025 WARRANTS AND CERTIFICATIONS
10.C)
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH HUNT DESIGN ASSOCIATES INC. FOR A CITYWIDE WAYFINDING PROGRAM
10.D)
FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 PROJECT LIST FOR SENATE BILL 1 ROAD MAINENANCE AND REHABILITATION FUNDING
10.E)
AGREEMENT WITH CLP ENGINEERING FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON’S MICROGRID INCENTIVE PROGRAM
10.F)
ORDINANCE AMENDING SANTA PAULA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 103 FIREWORKS This item was pulled for separate discussion and vote. Police Chief Don Aguilar provided the proposed Ordinance.
Motion: Approve Ordinance No. 1344 entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA AMENDING CHAPTER 103 OF THE SANTA PAULA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING FIREWORKS and Adopt Resolution No. 7566 increasing administrative citation fine amounts for violations of Chapter 103 of the Santa Paula Municipal Code regarding fireworks.
Moved by Gabriela Ornelas, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 3-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Gabriela Ornelas
10.G)
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE SR 150 CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT Yovani Mancilla and Ximena Lozano was called to speak on their High School project regarding the safety in crosswalks.
Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7565 approving the plans and specifications for the SR 150 Crosswalk Improvements Project Authorize Staff to advertise for Project bids.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 3-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Gabriela Ornelas
Items 10F and 10G were pulled for separate discussion and vote.
Motion: Approve Consent Calendar Items 10.A through 10.E.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 3-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Gabriela Ornelas
11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
VENTURA COUNTY WATERSHED PROTECTION DISTRICT’S BENEFIT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR FY 2025-2026 Mayor Chavez opened the public hearing. With no public comments the public hearing was closed.
Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7563 requesting the Ventura County Watershed Protection District to continue the City’s assessment of $37.74 per Benefit Assessment Unit (BAU) per year to fund a portion of the City’s Stormwater Management Program.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 3-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Gabriela Ornelas
11.B)
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1345 AMENDING CHAPTERS 16.07, 16.09, 16.11, 16.21, AND 16.27 OF THE SANTA PAULA MUNICIPAL CODE IN ORDER TO CORRECT INCONSISTENCIES, OUTDATED LANGUAGE AND FORMATTING, AND THE GENERAL PLAN ZONING MAP TO CHANGE THE ZONE ON VARIOUS PROPERTIES GENERALLY LOCATED NORTH OF AND ADJACENT TO THE SANTA PAULA AIRPORT AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 126 FROM MANUFACTURING (M-1) TO AIRPORT OPERATIONAL (KO), AND FINDING THE ACTIONS TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA City Attorney Monica Castillo and Planning & Economic Development Manager Tom Tarantino provided a presentation on Amending Chapters of the Santa Paula Municipal Code.
Mayor Chavez opened the public hearing. With no public comments, the public hearing was closed.
Motion: Approve as amended Waive first reading, read by title only, and introduce Ordinance No. 1345, entitled "An Ordinance amending Chapters 16.07, 16.09, 16.11, 16.21, and 16.27 of the Santa Paula Municipal Code in order to correct inconsistencies, outdated language and formatting, and the General Plan Zoning Map to change the zone on various properties generally located north of and adjacent to the Santa Paula Airport and south of Highway 126 from Manufacturing (M-1) to Airport Operational (KO), and finding the actions to be statutorily exempt from CEQA", with redline changes.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 3-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Gabriela Ornelas
12)
ACTION ITEMS
12.A)
THIRD QUARTER FISCAL REPORT
Finance Director Christy Ramirez presented the third Quarter Fiscal Report.
Motion: Approve as amended budget allocations noted in the Fiscal Impacts Section with the allocation of $8,000 for professional services to the City Manager's department.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 3-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Gabriela Ornelas
13)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
13.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
City Manager Dan Singer explained the process of placement for future agendas items by submitting requests for Council to consider. Mayor Chavez has submitted an Agenda Request Form requesting that staff review amending its Mobile Home Park Rental Ordinance to allow the Santa Paula City Council to serve as the Final decision-making body on its appeal process to ensure public transparency and accountability. Following public comments, Council was in consensus for this request on the June 4th agenda meeting.
Maria Cancino was called to speak in support of amending the mobile home park ordinance.
Lina Partida was called to speak in support of amending the mobile home park ordinance.
Daniel Melendez was called to speak in support of amending the mobile home park ordinance.
Angel Garza was called to speak in support of amending the mobile home park ordinance.
Gladys Valdvinos was called to speak in support of amending the mobile home park ordinance.
Trino Lopez was called to speak in support of amending the mobile home park ordinance. 14)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Chavez adjourned the meeting in honor of the late Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez at 9:04pm.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk