CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
June 18, 2025,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chavez called the meeting to order at 6:41pm.
2)
INVOCATION
Deacon Al Guilin provided the Invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember 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 announced Council met in closed session on the following, reporting there was no reportable action was taken.
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 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
None.
7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS PRESENTATION
Dr. Loretta Denering, Director of Ventura County and Assistant Director Connie Moreno-Peraza provided a presentation on Mental Health Awareness.
7.B)
DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR
On behalf of the Santa Paula Police Department, Commander Starna announced Carlos Alarcon as Dispatcher of the Year.
7.C)
PROJECT ESPERANZA RECOGNITION
Mayor Chavez presented Project Esperanza Recognition to Lizbeth Magana, Alison Medina, Victoria Carrillo, and Master Carlos Urrutia.
7.D)
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REPORT
Community and Economic Development Director James Mason provided the Community and Economic Development Department Activity Report. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Attended the Ventura County Transportation Commission meeting.
Councilmember Cornejo:
Announced that the State of the City Event was a success. Announced the Rose Garden dedication to Gary and Nancy Nasalroad was beautiful and appreciated by the family.
Vice Mayor Juarez:
Announced that he was thankful to everyone who was involved in the opening of the Time Capsule on June 16 and mentioned that the artifacts are now displayed in the hallway of City Hall for the public to see. 9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
MAY 2025 WARRANTS AND CERTIFICATIONS
10.B)
THREE-YEAR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MKN & ASSOCIATES
10.C)
AMENDMENT TO THREE-YEAR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GSI WATER SOLUTIONS, INC.
10.D)
AMENDMENT TO THREE-YEAR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LARRY WALKER ASSOCIATES
10.E)
2025 LABOR DAY PARADE REQUEST FOR FEE WAIVER
City Attorney Monica Castillo announced redline on item 10.B with MKN and associates. The correction is to add language to limit rates to a budget amount that is contingent upon the city's approved fiscal year each year.
Motion: Approve consent calendar items 10.A, 10.C, 10.D, and 10.E, and approve as amended item 10.B.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Jenny Crosswhite
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. 1346 AMENDING CHAPTERS 16.13, 16.15, 16.23, 16.25, 16.29, 16.31, 16.33, 16.34, 16.35 AND 16.40 OF THE SANTA PAULA MUNICIPAL CODE IN ORDER TO CORRECT INCONSISTENCIES, OUTDATED LANGUAGE AND FORMATTING AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER SECTION 15061(b)(3) AND 15168(c)(2) OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE.
City Attorney Monica Castillo presented this item.
Mayor Chavez opened the public hearing. With no public comments, the public hearing was closed.
Motion: Approve Waiving the first reading by title only, and introduce Ordinance No. 1346, entitled “An Ordinance amending Chapters 16.13, 16.15, 16.23, 16.25, 16.29, 16.31, 16.33, 16.34, 16.35, and 16.40 of the Santa Paula Municipal Code in order to correct inconsistencies, outdated language and formatting and finding the action to be statutorily exempt from CEQA under Section 15061(b)(3) and 15168(c)(2) of the Public Resources Code”.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas 12)
ACTION ITEMS
12.A)
PUBLIC SAFETY USE OF UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS) DRAFT POLICY APPROVAL Police Chief Aguilar presented a presentation on Public Safety Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
Motion: Approve as amended Public Safety Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems (USAS) draft policy, with the addition of language naming SMS/Text message in the sentence about "unless for official business of any type shall not be posted to or distributed" Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas
12.B)
DISCUSSION ON POTENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OPTIONS Police Chief Aguilar provided information on potential public safety committee.
Council provided feedback for Police Chief Aguilar to develop a Police Chief Advisory Committee without it being appointed by Council and bring back guidelines for Council to review.
Council was in consensus.
12.C)
CONSIDERATION OF A TENDER OFFER OF LIMCO STOCK
City Manager Dan Singer presented this item.
Council provided staff with feedback to research and bring back on a future agenda. 13)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
13.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
14)
BUDGET WORKSHOP (Continued from 6/18/2025 Special Meeting) Council continued the Budget Workshop from earlier at 4:30 pm Special meeting, providing staff with changes. 15)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Chavez adjourned the meeting in memory of Ray Luna and Bob Russell at 10:00 pm. Council recessed back to closed session, adjourning closed session at 11:06 pm.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk