CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
September 3, 2025,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
REGULAR MATTERS - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chavez called the meeting to order at 6:32 P.M.
2)
INVOCATION
Chaplain Kay Wilson-Bolton provided the Invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Council Member Crosswhite led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, and Gabriela Ornelas Members Absent: Leslie Cornejo
5)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Monica Castillo reported no reportable actions taken on the following:
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE §54957.6 - City Representatives: City Manager Dan Singer, Finance Director Christy Ramirez, and Human Resources Administrator Lorena Alvarez; Employee Organizations: Community Services Officer Association; Professional & Supervisory Association; Service Employee International Union, Local 721 (SEIU); and CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION - Pursuant to government Code § 54956.9(d)(1) - Fred and Elaine Malzacher - Revocable Trust v. The City of Santa Paula; Ventura County Superior Court Case No. 56-2021-00552735-CU-TT-VTA 6)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Joseph Garcia spoke on the mission of Brite.
Richard Abbot regarding traps and left LA Times article.
Richard Rudmin spoke on Aviation Center activities.
Mrs. Lebron spoke in support of SPIRIT.
Casandra Teofilia spoke for Romona Gonzales in support of SPIRIT.
Daisy Vasquez spoke in support of SPIRIT.
Maria Sanchez spoke in support of SPIRIT.
Daisy Rodriguez spoke in support of SPIRIT.
Constance spoke in support of Ad Hoc Committee on Immigration.
Marie Aguirre spoke in support of SPIRIT.
Ramona Gonzalez spoke in support of SPIRIT.
Connie Leshin spoke in support of SPIRIT.
Cheryl Douglas spoke in support of SPIRIT.
7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
CALIFORNIA 175TH BIRTHDAY PROCLAMATION
Mayor Chavez presented the California 175th Birthday Proclamation.
7.B)
MAYOR’S RECOGNITION AWARDS - FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA FAIR WINNERS Tabled to next meeting.
7.C)
805 UNDOCUFUND - IMMIGRANT RAPID RESPONSE
Primitiva Hernandez, Director of 805 Undocufund - Immigrant Rapid Response, provided a presentation on undocumented immigrants.
Laura Espinosa was called to speak in support of 805 Undocufund - Immigrant Rapid Response, Carolyn Bjerke spoke in support of 805 Undocufund - Immigrant Rapid Response, asking for funding.
Susana Canales-Barron spoke in support of 805 Undocufund.
7.D)
VENTURA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (VCTC) - SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN (SRTP) PRESENTATION Claire Grasty, Transit Director, presented a presentation on Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) - Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP).
7.E)
FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Finance Director Christy Ramirez presented the Finance Department report January 2025 - August 2025.
7.F)
ANNUAL AUDIT PRESENTATION
Veronica Hernandez with Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott, CPA, presented a presentation on the Annual Audit for FY 23/24. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Attended Ventura Council of Governments; Athens Ad Hoc; Southern California Association of Governments meetings; Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance; and Clean Power Alliance.
Councilmember Ornealas:
Attended Labor Day Parade.
Mayor Chavez:
Attended 4th of July event; Chamber Mixer at Parque 1055; Sisters Asian Eatery opening; Blue Ribbon committee; Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Accelerator (Yara) graduation; Labor Day Parade; and Finance Committee.
Vice Mayor Juarez:
Attended Asian sisters ribbon cutting; Blue Ribbon committee; YARA graduation; and attended/organized the Labor Day Parade 9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
Attended the Labor Day Parade; and spoke on Emergency projects 10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
ANNUAL AUDIT - FY 23/24
10.B)
ADVANCED WATER TREATMENT FACILITY PROJECT - RECOMMENDED SHORT-LIST OF PREQUALIFIED CONTRACTORS
10.C)
WATER ENTERPRISE PURCHASE OF FORD F150 LIGHTNING EV TO COMPLY WITH CARB ADVANCED CLEAN FLEETS REGULATIONS
10.D)
2025-2027 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SUPERVISORY & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
10.E)
WATER ENTERPRISE PURCHASE OF 2025 VERMEER CV573SGT HYDRO EXCAVATOR TRAILER VIA SOURCEWELL COOPERATIVE CONTRACT
10.F)
PECK ROAD WATER MAIN REPAIR PROJECT
10.G)
VENTURA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT LEASE (UNION OIL BUILDING LOT) Motion: Approve 10) CONSENT CALENDAR items 10B - 10G
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas Item 10.A was pulled for a future meeting.
11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1347 AMENDING CHAPTERS 16.42 (PERFORMANCE STANDARDS) AND 16.44 (FENCES, WALLS, AND HEDGES) 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: Postpone referring the ordinance back to the Planning Commission to consider amendments.
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Jenny Crosswhite
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas 12)
ACTION ITEMS
12.A)
CONSIDERATION OF A TWO-YEAR INVESTMENT IN HOUSING TRUST FUND VENTURA COUNTY Management Analyst Caesar Hernandez presented this item.
Mary Anne Krause provided information on the Housing Trust Fund.
Zuleth Lucero was called to speak on the rental housing costs.
Motion: Approve Authorizing a budget allocation of $100,000 per year as part of an investment in Housing Trust Fund Ventura County for FY 2025-2026 and FY 2026-2027 for a total of $200,000 allocation from the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund (General Ledger No.219-5-9039-502).
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas
12.B)
CONSIDERATION OF A CITY COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION City Manager Dan Singer presented this item.
Nicole Sanchez was called to speak in support of an ad hoc committee.
Gabriela Gomez was called to speak in support of an ad hoc committee on immigration.
Zuleth Lucero was called to speak in support of an ad hoc committee on immigration.
Mary Ann Krause was called to speak in support of an ad hoc committee on immigration.
Amalia Ochoa was called to speak in support of an ad hoc committee on immigration.
Fabiola Gomez was called to speak in support of an ad hoc committee on immigration.
Nicole Sanchez was called to speak in support of an ad hoc committee on immigration.
Motion: Approve the establishment of the Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Immigration, appointing Councilmember Crosswhite and Councilmember Ornelas to serve on the Committee; and adopt as amended Resolution No. 7588, establishing the Ad Hoc Committee on Immigration.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas 13)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
13.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Crosswhite discussed a Memorandum of Understanding for use of laborers hiring hall. Council was in consensus to bring on agenda in October.
Mayor Chavez discussed bringing for discussion on amending Mobile Home Rent Control Ordinance. Council was in consenses of a workshop.
Tiffany Orr was called to speak in support of amending mobile home park ordinance.
Victor Partida 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.
Lina Partida was called to speak in support of amending the mobile home park ordinance.
Maria Cardenas 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. 14)
CLOSED SESSION
15)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Chavez adjourned the meeting at 9:50 P.M.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk