CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
April 1, 2026,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Juarez called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2)
INVOCATION
Deacon Al Guilin provided the Invocation.
3)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Chavez led the flag salute.
4)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Carlos Juarez, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, and Gabriela Ornelas Members Absent: Jenny Crosswhite
5)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Monica Castillo reported Council attended closed session on the following reporting no reportable actions taken on PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Pursuant to Government Code § 54957(b)(1) 6)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dee Dee Chambers was called to speak with concerns of fireworks going off in the evening. 7)
PRESENTATIONS
7.A)
NATIONAL FAIR HOUSING MONTH PROCLAMATION
Mayor Juarez presented National Fair Housing Month Proclamation to VCCAR President Jeri Becker and VCCAR member Julio Gomes.
7.B)
VENTURA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Fire Chief Joe Williams provided the Ventura County Fire Department Report. 8)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Cornejo:
Attended Ventura Council of Governments meeting; employee appreciation lunch; and met with residents on upcoming cannabis meeting.
Councilmember Chavez:
Spoke of upcoming study session on the growth of our city; and attended Bi-national Foreign Relations Tour.
Councilmember Ornelas:
No Reportable events.
Mayor Juarez:
Attended the employee appreciation lunch; traveled to Washington DC to promote legislation for Santa Paula; coffee with a cop; chamber mixer; Parks & Recreation Commission meeting; Business connect at Hot Rod Customs; and gave a History of Police Department presentation to newcomer Cesar Ayala at the police department. 9)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Dan Singer:
Traveled to Washington DC to promote legislation for Santa Paula; attended League of Cities Revenue and Taxation Policy Committee in Orange County; reported on the drop of homeless in our city; announced special meeting on the consideration of adding a measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot to allow retail cannabis to exist in the city on Monday April, 6th at 6:30pm at the Santa Paula Community Center; and announced a meeting was held to prepare for the upcoming Property Business Improvement District meeting. 10)
CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A)
AGREEMENT WITH THE SANTA PAULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR AFTER SCHOOL YOUTH SPORTS
10.B)
PECK ROAD WATER MAIN REPAIR PROJECT NOTICE OF COMPLETION
10.C)
CDBG LOAN EARLY CLOSEOUT
10.D)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council Special Meeting March 4, 2026
City Council Regular Meeting March 4, 2026
City Council Special Meeting March 18, 2026
City Council Regular Meeting March 18, 2026
Special Joint Meeting with Santa Paula Unified School District March 2, 2026 (approved by SPUSD 3/25/2026) Motion: Approve Consent Calendar 10.A-10.D.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas 11)
PUBLIC HEARING
11.A)
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE TO REGULATE SUCCESSIVE RENT INCREASE APPLICATIONS This item was presented by City Attorney Monica Castillo.
There were no Public Comments on this item.
Motion: Approve Introducing, and waive first reading of, and read by title only, Ordinance No. 1353 entitled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Santa Paula Amending Chapter 152 (Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks) of the Santa Paula Municipal Code to Regulate Successive Rent Increase Applications, and Finding the Ordinance is Exempt from the Environmental Quality Act." Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas 12)
ACTION ITEMS
12.A)
ST. FRANCIS DAM FLOODPATH PROJECT CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
Mr. Nelson and Mr. Wilson spoke on the background of the St. Francis Dam disaster.
Motion: Approve the St. Francis Dam Project conceptual design and direct staff to return with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Santa Paula Historical Society once they have obtained approval from both the Ventura County Transportation Commission and Sierra Northern Railway.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas
12.B)
RESOLUTION NO. 7609 AUTHORIZING OPERATIONAL AND FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF 330 WATER PRESSURE ZONE FACILITIES AND SUPPORTING IMPROVEMENTS, FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF A PORTION OF 330 WATER PRESSURE ZONE LINE, AND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPERTY INTERESTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACILITIES AND IMPROVEMENTS (HARVEST AT LIMONEIRA) Motion: Approve Resolution No. 7609 Authorizing Operational and Final Acceptance of 330 Water Pressure Zone Facilities and Supporting Improvements, Final Acceptance of a Portion of 330 Water Pressure Zone Line, and Acceptance of Property Interests Associated with the Facilities and Improvements.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas
12.C)
MOU WITH THE SANTA PAULA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE OPTIMIST CLUB OF SANTA PAULA FOR COMMUNITY EVENT SUPPORT Al Escobedo was called to speak expressing events bring the people together.
Motion: Approve Memorandum of Understanding with the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce for Cruise Night, and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Optimist Club of Santa Paula for both the Labor Day Parade and the Holiday Christmas Parade.
Moved by Leslie Cornejo, seconded by Pedro A Chavez
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Carlos Juarez, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas 13)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
13.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
14)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Juarez adjourned the meeting at 8:38 pm
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk