CITY OF SANTA PAULA
City Council Special Meeting
July 30, 2026,
8:30
AM
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Juarez called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
2)
FLAG SALUTE
Councilmember Chavez led the flag salute.
3)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Carlos Juarez, Jenny Crosswhite, Leslie Cornejo, Pedro A Chavez, and Gabriela Ornelas 4)
PUBLIC COMMENT
City Attorney Monica Castillo pulled item 5.A, with information provided under item 6, Closed Session Report.
Bob Orlando was called to speak in support of City Manager Dan Singer.
Gary Ohst was called to speak in support of City Manager Dan Singer.
Stephanie Becerra was called to speak in support of City Manager Dan Singer.
Connie Tushla was called to speak in support of City Manager Dan Singer.
Anne Thille did not want to comment.
5)
CLOSED SESSION
5.A)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE Pursuant to Government Code § 54957(b)(1) City Attorney Monica Castillo pulled this item.
5.B)
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT Pursuant to Government Code § 54957(b)(1). Title: City Manager Council recessed to closed session.
6)
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Monica Castillo:
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to clarify and correct the report I made on July 15 concerning the closed sessions held on June 23 and June 30, 2026. I previously reported that no action was taken concerning the City Manager’s employment and, for that reason, the City Manager’s Employment Agreement would be sunset on June 30, 2027. That statement incorrectly suggested that the agreement will expire because the Council took no action in closed session.
To clarify, there was no reportable action concerning either the City Manager’s performance or the City Manager’s Employment Agreement. The agreement expires by its own terms on June 30, 2027. No Council action is required for the agreement not to be renewed or extended beyond that date. Likewise, no motion or vote was required merely to allow the agreement to expire according to its terms.
Item 5.A, Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release, is therefore being removed from today’s closed-session agenda because no further closed-session action is needed concerning the expiration of the existing agreement.
For 5B, write: “The City Attorney reported as follows: The City Council recessed into closed session under agenda Item 5.B PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT Pursuant to Government Code § 54957(b)(1). Title: City Manager to discuss the City Manager recruitment process which the Council will be initiating. There is no reportable action.” 7)
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Juarez adjourned the meeting at 9:30 am.
ATTEST:
Julie Latshaw, City Clerk