CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Regular Meeting
May 5, 2026,
6:30
PM
MINUTES
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Vice Mayor Crosswhite 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: Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, and Gabriela Ornelas Members Absent: Carlos Juarez
5)
PUBLIC COMMENT
Angel Garza was called to speak requesting flyers go out to the Mobile Home Park community for the next community forum on the Mobile Home Rent Control.
Constance Leshin was called to speak thanking Council for adopting immigration resolution.
Paul Sangston was called to speak requesting the review of fees on film production to bring more filming to the city. 6)
PRESENTATIONS
6.A)
OLDER AMERICAN’S MONTH PROCLAMATION
Vice Mayor Crosswhite presented the Older American's Month Proclamation.
6.B)
SANTA PAULA MASTER PLAN FOR AGING UPDATE
Parks & Recreation Director Gregory Barnes and Administrative Analyst Michael Schouten provided a presentation on the Santa Paula Master Plan for Aging Update.
6.C)
CITY MANAGER’S DEPARTMENT REPORT - NOVEMBER 2025 - APRIL 2026 City Manager Dan Singer presented the City Manager's Department Report November 2025 through April 2026. 7)
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmember Ornelas:
Attended the Planning Commission meeting; and announced Dutch Bros. Coffee will be coming to Santa Paula.
Councilmember Chavez:
Spoke of travel to 6 different countries in Europe.
Councilmember Cornejo:
Attended Ventura Council of Governments; Ventura College East Campus 100 Year Celebration; Arbor Day event; Harding Park Advisory Board; Police and K9 Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser; and Chamber Local Business Roundtable.
Vice Mayor Crosswhite:
Attended Arbor Day event; Project Isabella Parent Conference at Glenn City School; Chamber Mixer; Police and K9 fundraiser; Chamber Local Business Roundtable; Cruise Night; Dia de los Niños event at Veterans Park; Clean Power Alliance; Three Southern California Association of Governments meetings; Ventura County Transportation Commission meeting; announced Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 15th; and Santa Paula Unified School District received a grant for Green School Yards. 8)
CITY MANAGER REPORTS
City Manager Dan Singer:
Attended Staff All-Hands meeting; monthly birthday celebration; Police and K9 Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser; Chamber Local Business Roundtable; ribbon cutting for Casa Raiz Studio and Bookkeeping and accounting services; Cruise Night; annual Ventura County Leadership Academy lunch; Arbor Day event; and Future Leader Academy meetings. 9)
CONSENT CALENDAR
9.A)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Council Special Meeting April 1, 2026
City Council Regular Meeting April 1, 2026
City Council Special Meeting April 6, 2026, 4:00 pm
City Council Special Meeting April 6, 2026, 6:30 pm
City Clerk Julie Latshaw requested this item pulled, as these minutes were already approved at the April 15, 2026 meeting.
9.B)
2026 CITYWIDE STREET MAINTENANCE PROJECT CONTRACT AWARD City Engineer Robert Woodward provided an update on the 2026 Citywide Street Maintenance Project.
9.C)
WATER ENTERPRISE PURCHASE OF FORD F150 LIGHTNING EV TO COMPLY WITH CARB ADVANCED CLEAN FLEETS REGULATIONS
9.D)
PACIFIC ENERGY CONCEPTS LLC MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT TO UPGRADE EXISTING FACILITY LIGHTING
9.E)
ACCEPTANCE OF QUITCLAIM DEED FROM FARMERS IRRIGATION COMPANY FOR PROPERTY IN FAGAN BARANCA City Clerk Julie Latshaw request item 9.A pulled; and item 9.B City Engineer Robert Woodward provided update on the 2026 Citywide Street Maintenance Project.
Motion: Approve Consent Calendar Items 9.B through 9.E.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas 10)
ACTION ITEMS
10.A)
LICENSE AGREEMENT AND MOU WITH THE RESPONSIBLE ENERGY COUNCIL FOR PARTIAL USE OF THE UNION OIL BUILDING David Compton was called to speak in support of the License Agreement and MOU with the Responsible Energy Council.
Tim Truwe was called to speak in support of the License Agreement and MOU with the Responsible Energy Council.
Motion: Approve as amended Staff Recommends that the City Council:1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a license agreement with the Responsible Energy Council for use of the Union Oil Building and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for content management, with changes as follows: Regarding the License Agreement, Section 11 will be clarified to specify that the signage will be installed on the second-floor exit door; Regarding the Loan Agreement, the item will return to a future Council meeting with proposed language requiring that the collection remain within the City, except for limited duration exhibitions or loans, which may be approved by council. Any arrangement involving a longer-term removal of the collection would require additional review and approval; In addition, although not reflected in the presentation slides, the agreement includes a provision requested by the City establishing mutual rights of first refusal. Specifically, if the City elects to sell the collection, REC would have the first right of refusal, and likewise, if REC elects to sell the collection, the City will have the first right of refusal.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Leslie Cornejo
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas
10.B)
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING UNJUST AND DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES AND AFFIRMING THE CITY’S COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND RIGHTS OF ALL RESIDENTS This item was presented by Gloria Parra, ACC Fellow & The Council Ad-hoc Committee on Immigration.
Ron Merkord was called to speak is in support of the Resolution.
Motion: Approve as amended Resolution No. 7612, Condemning Unjust and Discriminatory Immigration Enforcement Practices and Affirming the City’s Commitment to the Safety, Dignity, and Rights of All Residents, amending the title to include By Advocating for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas
10.C)
AUGMENTATION TO THE DOWNTOWN FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM This item was presented by Community and Economic Development Director James Mason.
Motion: Approve additional allocation totaling $30,000 in GL 100-5-3002-209 using available fund balance, to augment original applicants who were relying on the program to factor prevailing wages.
Moved by Pedro A Chavez, seconded by Gabriela Ornelas
Vote: Motion carried 4-0
Yes: Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, Gabriela Ornelas 11)
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
11.A)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
12)
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Mayor Crosswhite adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk