CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
July 2, 2025,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chavez called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.
2)
INVOCATION
Deacon Al Guilin provided the Invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Cornejo 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 FROM SPECIAL MEETING 6/30/2025 AND SPECIAL MEETING 7/2/2025 City Attorney Monica Castillo announced no reportable action was taken on the following:
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.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Pursuant to Government Coode 54957(b)(1), Title: City Manager. 6)
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
REY FRUTOS PROCLAMATION
Mayor Chavez alongside Council presented Rey Frutos with a proclamation for positive impact in the community.
7.B)
VENTURA COUNTY FAIR POSTER PRESENTATION
Members of the Ventura County Junior Fair Board presented this year's Ventura County Fair poster.
7.C)
FARM BUREAU OF VENTURA COUNTY PRESENTATION
Maureen from the Ventura County Farm Bureau gave a presentation on the overview and profile of the agriculture in Ventura County.
7.D)
PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH PROCLAMATION
Mayor Chavez alongside Council presented the Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Vanessa Olmos and the Parks and Recreation department staff with a proclamation for Parks and Recreation month.
7.E)
POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Chief Don Aguilar presented his Police Department report. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Vice Mayor Juarez:
Attended the Senior Advisory Committee meeting; State of the City Event; Rose Garden dedication for Gary Nasal; the Centennial Time Capsulez; the Birthday and Anniversary Celebration for City Staff; the Santa Paula Pride event; and the Annual Santa Paula Historical Society.
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Announced the Ventura County Transportation Commission should be reaching out for the city to schedule a presentation on the short-range transit plan this summer; and work on the SESPE Railroad bridge should begin soon. Attended the California Association of Local Governments meetings and retreat; the Santa Paula Beautiful event; and the ribbon cutting ceremony for Santa Paula Cellars.
Councilmember Ornelas:
Attended similar events to Vice Mayor Juarez.
Councilmember Cornejo:
Attended many of the city events mentioned by the other councilmembers also, attended the Ventura Regional Sanitation District meeting. 9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Singer:
Reported: Closed on 4th of July, no council meetings until August 6th, attended several events attended by Councilmember Cornejo, but did not attend the Ventura Regional Sanitation District meeting. 10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
CANYON BOOSTER PUMP UPGRADE PROJECT
10.B)
CITY SUBLEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE SANTA PAULA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AT 866 E. MAIN STREET Motion: Approve the sublease agreement with the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce for 209 square feet of office space at 866 East Main Street for customer service and general office use; and Authorize the City Manager to execute the sublease agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas Vice Mayor Juarez recused from this item.
10.C)
AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION OFFICE OF GRANTS AND LOCAL SERVICES
10.D)
ADOPTION 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.
Motion: Approve CONSENT CALENDAR items 10 A, 10 C and 10 D.
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas Mayor Pedro A Chavez Pulled Item 10B for seperate discussion and vote 11)
ACTION ITEMS
11.A)
SANTA PAULA MASTER PLAN FOR AGING
Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7576 Santa Paula Master Plan for Aging.
Moved by Leslie Cornejo, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas
11.B)
RESOLUTION NO. 7572 OF THE CITY OF SANTA PAULA AUTHORIZING A LOAN FROM THE CITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO PEOPLE’S SELF HELP HOUSING Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7572 authorizing a City Affordable Housing Fund loan to People Self Help Housing (PSSH) ("Nonprofit Organization") for the People's Place project at 714–716 West Harvard Boulevard in the amount of $600,000 in the form of a loan at 4% interest for a 30-year term, contingent upon the following:
County amends its documents to reflect changes in Residual Receipts.
HCD includes the City Loan in the list of approved loan in the documents it has drafted.
The Investor prepares an amendment to the Partnership Agreement to reflect the additional funding source Chase Bank prepares a Subordination Agreement with the City The City prepares a Promissory Note, Deed of Trust, and Regulatory Agreement
2. Adopt a budget allocation of $600,000 in GL account 219-5-9093-502. Staff will do year end entries to book as Loans Payable.
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.C)
RESOLUTION NO. 7573 AUTHORIZING CONDITIONAL, SEQUENTIAL ACCEPTANCE OF EAST AREA ONE THREE-MILLION GALLON TANK IMPROVEMENTS (HARVEST AT LIMONEIRA) Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7573 Authorizing Conditional Sequential Acceptance of East Area One Three-Million Gallon Tank Improvements.
Authorize the City Manager to enter into a license agreement with LLCB and Lennar to access the tank site after it is owned by the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Authorize the City Manager to sign and record storm drain easements on the tank site to the City from Lennar and LLCB after the site is owned by the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas
11.D)
CITY OF SANTA PAULA 2025-2027 POLICY & LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7575, approving the 2025–2027 Policy & Legislative Agenda and updating the 2023 Legislative Platform.
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Pedro A Chavez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas
11.E)
APPROVAL OF THE SANTA PAULA CITY COUNCIL 2-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2025-2027 Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7571, establishing the City of Santa Paula Council 2-Year Strategic Plan for 2025-2027.
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.F)
CONSIDERATION OF A TENDER OFFER OF LIMCO STOCK
Council provide staff with direction on the offer. No action was taken. 12)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
12.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Chavez adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk