CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
January 21, 2026,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Juarez called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.
2)
INVOCATION
Deacon Al Guilin provided the Invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Ornelas led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, and Gabriela Ornelas 5)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Monica Castillo announced Council met in closed session with no reportable actions taken on the following: 4.A) CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION - Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code §54956.9(d)(2) and (e)(1): 1 potential case 6)
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
RECOGNITION OF 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CITY WATER ENTERPRISE Mayor Juarez presented recognition of the 30 Year Anniversary of the City Water Enterprise, in addition certificates of recognitions were presented to Joe Dugas and Tim Martinez for their 30 Year Anniversary with the city.
7.B)
FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Accountant Fabian Castellon presented the Finance Department Activity Report September 2025 - December 2025.
7.C)
POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW AND INDEPENDENT AUDIT Police Chief Don Aguilar presented a presentation on the Police Department Operational Overview and Independent Audit. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Ornelas:
Attended the swearing in of Senator Pro Tem Monique Limón.
Councilmember Chavez:
Attended Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board meeting; League of California Cities Policy Committee meeting; and Martin Luther King Jr Day celebration in Oxnard.
Councilmember Cornejo:
Attended Ventura Council of Governments meeting; Ventura Regional Broadband Ad hoc Committee meeting; Senior Advisory Committee meeting; and Ventura County Air Pollution District Advisory Committee meeting.
Vice Mayor Crosswhite:
Attended the swearing in of Senator Pro Tem Monique Limón; Athen's meeting; Economic Development Committee meeting; received an update on Street Festival data; Ventura County Transportation Commission meeting; Southern California Association of Governments meeting; Ventura Local Agency Formation Commission meeting; and Clean Power Alliance meeting.
Mayor Juarez:
Attended the Santa and Me event; the Rotary Christmas Basket event; Homeless and Housing Committee meeting; swearing in of Senator Pro Tem Monique Limón; Cannabis Standing Committee meeting; Parque 1055 One Year Anniversary; Art Museum event opening; presented the Santa Paula Lions Club a Proclamation for 100 years of existence; and provided a reminder of upcoming Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. 9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Dan Singer:
Announced bridge over Santa Paula Creek construction has begun; provided an update on the employee survey and animal shelter options. 10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
DECEMBER 2025 WARRANTS AND CERTIFICATIONS
10.B)
AWARD CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF LIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR THE 8TH STREET SOLAR STREET LIGHTING PROJECT
10.C)
APPROVAL TO PROCURE COMPOST THROUGH STATE-APPROVED DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER PROGRAM FOR SENATE BILL 1383 COMPLIANCE City Manager Dan Singer requested item 10.C pulled.
10.D)
NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR THE POLICE STATION SECURITY FENCE INSTALLATION
10.E)
CHANNEL ISLANDS BICYCLE CLUB, BIKE GRANT FOR FY 2025-2026
10.F)
CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH ZENCITY
10.G)
LICENSE AGREEMENT AND MOU WITH POTENTIAL UNION OIL BUILDING USERS Mayor Juarez recused himself from this item.
Public Comments:
Michael Shanklin was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Michael Nelson was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Tim Truwe was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Cliff Simonson was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Joseph Fonseca was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Josh Yarbrough was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Henry Lopez was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Bob Orlando was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Rebecca Enriquez was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Miguel Enriquez was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
David Compton was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Olivia Simonson was called to speak in support of License Agreement.
Motion: Table the item and bring back after further negotiations with the parties.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 3-1
Yes: Jenny Crosswhite, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas No: Leslie Cornejo
Motion: Approve Consent items 10A, 10B, 10D, 10E, 10F
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Pedro A Chavez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas 11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
REQUEST FOR ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 7600 APPROVING PROJECT NO. 2025-TM-01 FOR VESTING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 6091 (ORIGINAL EA1 APPROVAL PROJECT NO. 2006-CDP-02 EAST AREA 1 SP-4) - INDEPENDENCE AT THE HARVEST Councilmember Chavez recused himself.
Mayor Juarez opened the public hearing.
Community & Economic Development Director James Mason presented this item.
Daniella Bonilla with MNS provided a presentation on the project.
With no public comments, Mayor Juarez closed the public hearing.
Motion: Approve as amended Resolution No. 7600 to approve Project No. 25-TM-01 for Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 6091 to merge a subdivision of three existing lots (Lots 1 – 3) and Parcel A into one lot that would allow for the development of 298 residential condominium units, 6,358 sf of retail/office space, seven (7) common buildings, and ten (10) lettered lots (A thru J) for private streets and landscaping, subject to the conditions of approval., as amended in redline copy.
Moved by Gabriela Ornelas, seconded by Jenny Crosswhite Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Gabriela Ornelas 12)
ACTION ITEMS
12.A)
SPIRIT OF SANTA PAULA HARVARD SHELTER OPERATING AGREEMENT Community & Economic Development Director James Mason presented this item.
Motion: Approve Authorizing the City Manager to execute an Operating Agreement, in substantially the form submitted, with Spirit of Santa Paula for the operation of the Spirit of Santa Paula Harvard Shelter located at 1498 East Harvard Boulevard, in accordance with the requirements of the joint funding agreement between the City of Fillmore, Ventura County, and the City of Santa Paula.
Moved by Jenny Crosswhite, seconded by Pedro A Chavez
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas
12.B)
CONSIDERATION OF TEMPORARY LABOR AGREEMENTS FOR AUGMENTED CITY SERVICES Council directed staff to come back with research and timeline.
12.C)
REVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL RECOGNITION POLICY
Council directed staff to bring back as a future study session.
Motion: Approve the meeting going past 10:30 p.m.
Moved by Leslie Cornejo, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 5-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas 13)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
13.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Juarez submitted an agenda request form on electric motorcycle, bicycle, scooter ordinance.
Council was in consensus to bring the item on a future agenda. 14)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Juarez adjourned the meeting at 10:40 p.m.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk