MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VENTURA COUNTY WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 8
SIMI VALLEY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
SIMI VALLEY PUBLIC FACILITIES FINANCING AUTHORITY
SIMI VALLEY LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Simi Valley, California
CALLED TO ORDER: 6:00 p.m. (CLOSED SESSION)
March 10, 2025
ROLL CALL: Present: Council Members Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro Tern Judge, and Mayor Cavanaugh
Remote: None
Absent: None
a. PUBLIC STATEMENTS: Having no public statements, the City Council adjourned to Closed Session at 6:01 p.~.
b. CLOSED SESSION:
(1) Conference with Property Negotiator (CC)
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8:
Property APN:
Agency Negotiator:
Negotiating Parties:
Under Negotiation:
612-0-240-045; 612-0-240-065; 612-0-240-075; 612-
0-240-085; 612-0-240-095; 612-0-240-155; 612-0-
240-175; 612-0-240-185
Samantha C. Argabrite, City Manager
SVTCSC LLC
Instruction to negotiator regarding price and
terms
CALLED TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. (OPEN SESSION)
CLOSED SESSION REPORTS: City Attorney Ford stated there was no reportable action as a result of the Closed Session meeting held on March 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Richard Holloman
ROLL CALL: Present: Council Members/Directors/Trustees Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TeinNice Chair/President Pro Tern
Judge, and Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh
Remote: None
Absent: None
Note: If this is a joint meeting of the City Council and Boards of Directors, the applicable entity is identified at the end of each agenda item.
CC - City Council
WNO - Waterworks District No. 8
IDA - Industrial Development Authority
PFFA- Simi Valley Public Facilities Financing Authority PFA- Public Financing Authority
SA - Successor Agency
LB - Simi Valley Library Board of Trustees
Materials related to. an item on this Agenda submitted to the CC, WNO, IDA, PFFA, PFA, SA, and/or LB after distribution of the agenda packet are available for. public inspection in the City Clerk's Office at 2929 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, CA during normal business hours. ·
Minutes 2 March 10, 2025
1. AGENDA REVIEW: City Manager Argabrite stated Agenda Item 3A.1. would be presented by the Environmental Services Department and Agenda Item Consent 6 is being pulled to the March 31, 2025, meeting.
1A. ACTION: Council Member/Directorrrrustee Ayala moved that all resolutions and ordinances presented tonight be read in title only and all further reading be waived.
Council Member/Directorrrrustee Rhodes seconded the motion. (CC/WWD/PFFA/SA/LB)
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directorsrrrustees Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro · Tern Judge, and
Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh
None
None
None
1 B. It is the policy of the City Council that upon reaching 11 :30 p.m., the City Council will not address any new agenda items. Should the City Council continue to address agenda items past 12:00 midnight, the following motion is in order:
1C.
1D.
MOTION: Move that the City Council meeting tonight may extend beyond t~e midnight deadline to conclude the agenda (Section 2-1.106 SVMC).
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT: None
CERTIFICATES/HONORARY RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS:
(1) Presentation of an Honorary Resolution in celebration of Senior Concerns 50th Anniversary (CC)
Deputy Community Services Director Anna Medina read and Mayor Cavanaugh presented Senior Concerns President Andrea Gallagher, Senior Concerns Board Chair Kara Buss, and Senior Concerns Director of Development Julie Harvey with an Honorary Resolution.
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON APPOINTMENTS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None .
3. APPOINTMENTS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
3A. APPOINTMENTS:
(1) Appointment of a City Council Member to the Housing Solutions Ad Hoc Committee (Argabrite) (CC)
Minutes 3 March 10, 2025
ACTION: Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge moved that the Council authorize and the Mayor appoint Mayor Pro Tern Judge to serve on the Housing Solutions Ad Hoc Committee for a four-year term expiring on March 17, 2029.
Council Member/Director/Trustee Rhodes seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors/Trustees Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge, and
Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh
None
None
None
(2) Appointment of representation of City Council/Board members on Boards, Commissions, and Committees and consideration of recommended changes (Blanco)(CC/WWD/PFFA/IDA/LB)
ACTION: Council Member/Director/Trustee Litster moved that the Council authorize and the Mayor appoint City Council Member Ayala to serve on the Americans- with Disabilities Act Paratransit Advisory Committee, Ventura· County--Regional Energy.
Alliance, Regional Defense Partnership for the 21 st Century, liaJson-to--the-Simi Valley Youth __ Council and serve as an alternate on the Ventura County Animal Services Commission. Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors/Trustees Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge, and
Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh
None
None
None
38. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
(1) Presentation on campus update of Moorpark College, by President Dr. Julius Sokenu (CC)
Moorpark College President Dr. Julius Sokenu provided City Council with a campus update presentation.
Presentation on the Durango Patrol Vehicles. by Commander Craig Dungan (CC)
Commander Craig Dungan provided City Council with a presentation on the Durango Patrol Vehicles.
Minutes 4 March 10, 2025
3C. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None
4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HEARINGS.
APPOINTMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
The following submitted a speaker card and spoke:
1. Michael Shaw, Simi Valley, CA, asked City Council for a status of the Bicycle Master Plan, and spoke in support of Community gardens in Simi Valley.
2. Bill Oliver, Volunteer, Meals on Wheels, Simi Valley, CA, spoke in support of the Simi Valley Senior Center Nutrition Program.
3. Michelle Liddell, Board Chair, Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, Simi Valley, CA, thanked City Council for their support and partnership of the Business Community, and announced upcoming events that can be found on their website at simivalleychamber.org.
4. Martin Erickson, Executive Director Ventura County Transportation Commission, Camarillo, CA, reported on the Commission's 2025 Annual Community Impact Report.
5. John Lapper, Simi Valley, CA, commended all involved in Mayor Fred Thomas's Remembrance Ceremony. He spoke regarding a lack of City Council response to his emails and shared a concern he had with the interview process to appoint the new City Council Member.
6. Al Brown (no address given), spoke in support of the Simi Valley Senior Center Meals on Wheels Program.
7. Alynne Eason, Simi Valley, CA, spoke in opposition to short term rentals in Simi Valley.
8. Anthony Eason, Simi Valley, CA, spoke in opposition to short term rentals in Simi Valley.
9. Leo Pretti, Simi Valley, CA, spoke in opposition to short term rentals in Simi Valley.
10. Nikki Lian, Body Brain Train, & Howard Pachter, Clean Threads Laundry, Simi Valley, CA, spoke in support of the Meals on Wheels and Simi Valley Senior Nutrition Program.
11. Douglas Lipsky, Simi Valley, CA, commented regarding landscape maintenance needed throughout Simi Valley and portions of the 118 Freeway.
12. Richard Holloman, Simi Valley, CA, spoke in opposition to short term rentals in Simi Val_ley.
13. James Greenfield (no address given) expressed concern regarding the City Council meeting held on February 24, 2025. He stated that several City Council Minutes
4A.
5 March 10, 2025
meeting minutes are missing from the City website, and spoke about the need for more sound walls on the freeway.
The following submitted a speaker card but did not speak:
14. Julius Sokenu, Moorpark College President, Ventura County Leadership Academy
CITY COUNCIUBOARD MEMBER/SPECIAL DISTRICT COMMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
Council Member Rhodes asked City Manager Argabrite for a status on the Bicycle Master Plan. He thanked the speakers who spoke in support of the-Senior Nutrition and Wheels on Meals Programs and stated that taking care of our seniors is what a community should do. He addressed the short-term rental concerns and acknowledged the speakers were dealing with an important issue that is impacting lives. Council Member Rhodes apologized to James Greenfield for the confusion on the start time of the prior City Council meeting and he asked him to email the Council Members with concern he was unable to speak about. He addressed Douglas Lipsky's concerns and explained that City Council may not be aware of an issue until someone from the community reports it.
City Manager Samantha Argabrite gave an update on the Bicycle Master Plan stating she anticipates the plan will be presented this summer and that opportunities for citizen input were done through multiple public meetings.
Council Member Litster thanked Michael Shaw for his suggestion about City gardens, she thanked the speakers who spoke in support of the Senior Nutrition Program, she recognized Bill Oliver for his years of service to the Meals on Wheels Program, and thanked Martin Erickson, Executive Director Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) for coming to the meeting to speak about the Annual Community Impact Report. She thanked Al Brown for his involvement in the Senior Nutrition Program, and thanked Nikki Lian and Howard Pachter for the work they are doing on t:,ehalf of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Senior Services Alliance. Council Member Litster addressed Mr. Lipsky's concern about the bike path and indicated ·the City Manager will look into it, and she agreed with Mr. Greenfiled that more soundwalls are needed and thanked him for bringing it to City Council's attention.
Mayor Cavanaugh thanked everyone who spoke about their concerns with short-term rentals, and stated there will be more discussion on the topic. She thanked the speakers who came in support of the Meals on Wheels Program, and recognized Michael Shaw for speaking about the Bicycle Master Plan. Mayor Cavanaugh thanked Michelle Liddell for representing the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and Ma.rtin Erickson for representing VCTC. She addressed Douglas Lipsky and commented there is new information from the State regarding fire clean up and more information will be coming. Mayor Cavanaugh apologized to Mr. Greenfield for the confusion during the prior City Council meeting and stated it would not happen again.
Minutes
5. 6.
7. 6 March 10, 2025
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
CONTINUED PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HEARINGS, APPOINTMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Council Member Litster pulled Consent Items 8 and 11 for discussion. (1) Approval of the General Plan Annual Progress Report for Calendar-Year 2024 for submission to the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and to California's Department of Housing and Community Development (Perros) (CC)
ACTION: Approved request.
(2) Approval to ioin and accept the California Statewide Transit Mutual Aid Compact (TRANSMAC) agreement and authorize the City Manager to execute and approve the agreement. and Regional Agency Map (Fuchiwaki) (CC) ACTION: Approved request.
(3) Authorization to accept a donation from the Simi Valley Police Foundation, and authorize the City Manager to sign request document. for an amount not to exceed $50,000 for the purchase of two police canines. two police canine basic handler training courses. and two police canine kennels, and approval of a Supplemental Budget Request for Fund 100 (Shorts) (CC)
ACTION: Approved request.
(4) Authorization to accept a donation from the Simi Valley Police Foundation (SVPF) to supplement the 2024 California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation {OHMVR) Program Grant, authorize the City Manager to sign request document, and approve a Supplemental Budget Request for Fund 100 (Shorts) (CC) .
ACTION: Approved request.
(5) Consideration and possible action to amend the budget for the Digester Mixer and Secondary Clarifier Removal and Installation Project, {CP70200055 & CP70200056, SV 24-28) (Fuchiwaki) (CC)
ACTION: Approved Supplemental Budget Request.
(6) Award of professional services contracts for On-Call Real Property Services, RFQ No. PW 24-11 (Fuchiwaki) (CC)
ACTION: Item pulled to the meeting of March 31, 2025.
Minutes 7 March 10, 2025
(7) Award of professional services contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.; for a traffic signal condition assessment and final report, approve a supplemental budget request. and authorize the City Manager or designee to approve any subsequent contract amendments and incorporate future budgeted funds to the contract amount (Fuchiwaki) (CC)
ACTION: Awarded contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (8) Approval of the fifth amendment to the Fiscal Agent Agreement for the East County Transit Alliance (ECTA} Intercity Dial-A-Ride Services (Fuchiwaki) (CC) ACTION: Approved fifth amendment for ECTA.
(9) Approval of fifth amendment to the contract between the City of Simi Valley and Safety Vision, LLC. for professional services to replace and install transit on board video surveillance system. CP75000009, RFP No. PW 20-23R (Fuchiwaki) (CC)
ACTION: Approved fifth amendment with Safety Vision, LLC. (10) Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager of Assistant City Manager to execute agreements, assurances. and reimbursement claims to obtain federal financial assistance under Public Law 93-288 as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988, and/or state financial assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act (Shorts) (CC) ACTION: Adopted Cal OES 130 Resolution.
(11) Adoption of a resolution approving a Subdivision Improvement Agreement and securities for LD-S-2021-0001, located at 2196 Tapo Street (Fuchiwaki) (CC) Resolution No. 2025-04 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SIMI VALLEY APPROVING THE SUBDIVISION IMPROVEMENT AGREEMENT AND SECURITIES FOR LD-S-2021 LOCATED AT 2196 TAPO STREET
ACTION: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-04.
ACTION: Council Member/Directorrrrustee Rhodes moved to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through 5, 7, 9, and 10. Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directorsrrrustees Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, M~yor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge, and
Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh
None
None
None
Minutes 8 March 10, 2025
ACTION: Council Member/Directorrrrustee Litster moved to approve Consent Calendar Items 8 and 11. Council Members/Directorsrrrustees Rhodes seconded the motion. .
~OLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directorsrrrustees Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge, and
Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh
None
None
None
8. CONTINUED BUSINESS: None
9. NEW BUSINESS:
9A. Senior Nutrition Program update and request for direction on solutions to address
10. 10A.
future program deficits (Garibay) (CC) ·
ACTION: Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge moved tomaintain current meal program service levels, have staff pursue alternate funding sources and partnering with the Council On Aging to explore fundraising opportunities. Council Members/Directorsrrrustees Rhodes seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
REPORTS:
Council Members/Directorsrrrustees Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair/President Pro Tern Judge, and
Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh
None ·
None
None
City Council/Board Memberrrrustees/Special District Member Reports:
Council Member Ayala reported he attended the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Legislative Advocacy Forum, the Chamber of Commerce Staff meeting, took a tour at the Water & Sanitation Plant, and attended a Neighborhood Council meeting.
Council Member Rhodes reported he was out of the Country for part of this time. He stated he attended the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Community Economic and Human Development meeting, the Clean Power Alliance meeting and the Remembrance Ceremony for Mayor Fred Thomas remotely while he was out of the Country.
Minutes
10B.
9 March 10, 2025
Council Member Litster reported participating in Read Across America at Berylwood Elementary School, attended the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce Legislative Advocacy Forum, the Samaritan Center Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, and the Remembrance Ceremony for Mayor Fred Thomas . She attended the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Energy and Environment Policy Committee meeting, and shared that she is a new member of the Simi Valley Police Department Citizens Academy .
Mayor Pro Tern Judge reported he attended the Remembrance Ceremony for Mayor Fred Thomas, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) meeting.
Mayor Cavanaugh reported she attended the Simi Valley Baseball League Opening Day, the Remembrance Ceremony for Mayor Fred Thomas , participated in Read Across America at Atherwood Elementary School and Hollow Hills Elementary School, and was a speaker at the Simi Valley Police Department Citizens Academy.
City Council/Board Member/Special District Member Requests for Future City Council Agenda Items: None
ADJOURNMENT : Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh adjourned the meeting at 9:26 p.m. in memory of Ventura County Fire Department Engineer, Thomas James Daniel Minadeo, to the meeting of March 31, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. There being no objections , the motion carried through acclamation .
D~~~ Cify of
Simi Valley , California, Chair of the
Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8,
and President of the Simi Valley Library
Board of Trustees
Board Secretary