CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
September 17, 2025,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
REGULAR MATTERS - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chavez called the meeting to order at 6:35 P.M.
2)
INVOCATION
Father Tom provided the invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Vice Mayor Juarez led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas, and Leslie Cornejo 5)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Council recessed into closed session on item 5A in the special meeting agenda, Conference with legal counsel anticipated litigation pursuant to government code 5456.9 D4 with the initiation of litigation for one case and items 5B conference with real property negotiators pursuant to Government Code 54956.8 for Property address at 160 South Palm Santa Paula California the agency negotiator with James Mason Community economic development director with negotiating parties involving the city of Santa Paula and Farmers Irrigation company, City Attorney reported no action taken 6)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Richard Rudman was called to speak on upcoming events.
Nicole Sanchez was called to speak in support of immigration.
Angel Garza was called to speak on 400 Mobile Estates updates.
Amalia Ochoa was called to speak on immigration.
Nidia Bello was called to speak on ICE activities in the city, requesting funding to lead to results to help. 7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
SCOUTING AMERICA RECOGNITION - SANTA PAULA TROOP 304
Mayor provided recognition to Scouting America - Santa Paula Troop 304.
7.B)
VENTURA COUNTY MUSEUM CHANGES IN OPERATIONS
Elena Brokaw provided a presentation on the Ventura County Museum changes in operations.
7.C)
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION
Mayor Chavez presented National Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation to Elvia Hernandez.
7.D)
CAUSE SANTA PAULA - PRESENTATION
Chris Gabrielle presented a presentation on CAUSE Santa Paula.
Amalia Ochoa spoke on CAUSE and fighting for justice.
7.E)
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
Not available for presentation.
7.F)
VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Fire Chief Joe Williams provided the Ventura County Fire Department Report. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Ornelas:
Attended the Immigration Ad Hoc Committee meeting.
Vice Mayor Juarez:
Attended the Limoneira Directors lunch; closed session on upcoming employee survey; met with the Mobile Home Rent control to discuss dates of a workshop; Santa Paula Unified School District Building and Construction Academy; Cruise Night; and Senior Advisory Committee.
Councilmember Cornejo:
Attended the Property Business Improvement District meeting; Youth Apprentice Readiness Accelerator (Yara) graduation; and mural dedication at the Community Center.
Councilmember Crosswhite:
Attended the Limoneira Directors lunch; Santa Paula Unified School District Building and Trades grand opening; Housing Trust Fund of Ventura County's dinner; several Southern California Association of Governments meetings; Clean Power Alliance; Local Agency Formation Commission meeting; and Ventura County Transportation Commission. 9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council Special Meeting June 18, 2025
City Council Regular Meeting June 18, 2025
City Council Special Meeting June 30, 2025
10.B)
JULY 2025 WARRANTS AND CERTIFICATIONS
10.C)
AUGUST 2025 WARRANTS AND CERTIFICATIONS
10.D)
REVISED SALARY SCHEDULE RESOLUTION FOR FY 2025-2026 AND FY 2026-2027
10.E)
ANNUAL AUDIT - FY 23/24
10.F)
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFFICER CONTRACT WITH SANTA PAULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Prepared by: Police Chief Don Aguilar
10.G)
CITY LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE MENDOCINO RAILWAY FOR USE OF 200 NORTH 10TH STREET (TRAIN DEPOT) FOR OFFICE PURPOSES Motion: Approve 10) CONSENT CALENDAR with edits to 10G
Moved by Carlos Juarez, seconded by Jenny Crosswhite
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas, Leslie Cornejo 11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
PROJECT NO. 2025-CDP-01: APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, DESIGN REVIEW, AND VESTING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 6114 FOR A CONDOMINIUM PROJECT AT 895 FAULKER ROAD Assistant Planner Anna Arroyo presented this item
Mayor Chavez opened the public hearing.
Gabriella Vignone was called to speak reading letter from Elena Brokaw as a public comment, urging to adopt resolution.
Dania was called to speak interested in the property becoming retail.
Carlos Espinosa was called to speak expressing concerns of no parking and large volume of traffic. Would prefer retail on the property.
Jerry Marquez was called to speak expressing concern that there is no parking available for this project and it will create a large volume of traffic.
Mayor Chavez closed the public hearing.
Motion: Approve Adoption of City Council Resolution No. 7568 approving Project No. 25-CDP-01, a Conditional Use Permit to allow for the development of 213 attached condominiums, Design Review, and Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6114 at property located at 895 Faulkner Road, subject to the conditions of approval, and adopting an Addendum to the 2040 General Plan Final EIR.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas, Leslie Cornejo
11.B)
PROJECT NO. 2025-CI-07: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 16.52 SWIMMING POOLS, 16.56 AMUSEMENT ARCADES, 16.58 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SALES, 16.60 CHILD DAY CARE FACILITIES, 16.62 ASSEMBLY HALLS, 16.64 COMMUNITY CARE FACILITIES, 16.66 DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITIES, 16.68 NEWRACKS, 16.70 RECYCLING FACILITIES, 16.72 SERVICE STATIONS, 16.74 VENDING MACHINES, 16.75 PROHIBITION ON INDUSTRIAL HEMP CULTIVATION, 16.76 YARD AND GARAGE SALES, 16.77 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEMS; STREAMLINED PERMITTING, 16.78 EMERGENCY SHELTERS, 16.79 REGULATION OF CANNABIS ACTIVITIES, 16.80 SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, 16.85 CONDOMINIUMS AND CONVERSIONS, 16.96 GRADING PERMITS, 16.97 GRADING REGULATION, 16.98 HILLSIDE GRADING PRACTICES, 16.99 DRAINAGE, EROSION, AND DUST CONTROL, 16.100 GENERAL PROVISIONS, 16.102 PERMIT AND RECLAMATION PLAN, 16.104 REGULATIONS FOR OPERATION OF SURFACE MINE, 16.106 GROWTH MANAGEMENT, 16.108 TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT, AND 16.110 NONCONFORMITIES 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) OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE Mayor Chavez opened the public hearing. With no public comments, the public hearing was closed.
City Attorney Monica Castillo presented this item.
Motion: Approve Waiving the first reading by title only, and introduce Ordinance No. 1348, entitled “An Ordinance Amending Chapters 16.52 Swimming Pools, 16.56 Amusement Arcades, 16.58 Alcoholic Beverage Sales, 16.60 Child Day Care Facilities, 16.62 Assembly Halls, 16.64 Community Care Facilities, 16.66 Drive-Through Facilities, 16.68 Newsracks, 16.70 Recycling Facilities, 16.72 Service Stations, 16.74 Vending Machines, 16.75 Prohibition On Industrial Hemp Cultivation, 16.76 Yard And Garage Sales, 16.77 Electric Vehicle Charging Systems; Streamlined Permitting, 16.78 Emergency Shelters, 16.79 Regulation Of Cannabis Activities, 16.80 Subdivision Regulations, 16.85 Condominiums And Conversions, 16.96 Grading Permits, 16.97 Grading Regulation, 16.98 Hillside Grading Practices, 16.99 Drainage, Erosion, And Dust Control, 16.100 General Provisions, 16.102 Permit And Reclamation Plan, 16.104 Regulations For Operation Of Surface Mine, 16.106 Growth Management, 16.108 Transportation Demand Management, And 16.110 Nonconformities 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) Of The Public Resources Code Moved by Gabriela Ornelas, seconded by Carlos Juarez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Pedro A Chavez, Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Gabriela Ornelas, Leslie Cornejo 12)
ACTION ITEMS
12.A)
TELEGRAPH ROAD WIDENING AND ROUNDABOUT UPDATE
Sam Potts with MNS and City Engineer Robert Woodward provided a presentation on the Telegraph Road widening and roundabout update.
12.B)
MOBILE HOME RENT REVIEW COMMISSION COMPENSATION
Chris Gabriele was called to speak asking to have transcript and court reporters at hearings.
Community Development Director James Mason presented this item.
Council directed staff to return with a resolution to adopt compensation at $100 per meeting. 13)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
13.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
14)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Chavez Adjourned the meeting at 10:25 P.M.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk