MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
VENTURA COUNTY WATERWORKS DISTRICT NO. 8
Simi Valley, California April 7, 2025
CALLED TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m. (OPEN SESSION)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Bill Klepper
ROLL CALL: Present:
Remote:
Absent:
Council Members/Directors Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Cavanaugh
None
None
1. AGENDA REVIEW: None
1A. ACTION: Council Member/Director Ayala moved that all resolutions and ordinances presented tonight be read in title only and all further reading be waived. Council Member/Director Rhodes seconded the motion. (CC/WWD)
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Council Members/Directors Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Cavanaugh
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: 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:
MOTION: Move that the City Council meeting tonight may extend beyond the midnight deadline to conclude the agenda (Section 2-1.106 SVMC). 1C. DECLARATION OF CONFLICT: 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
1D.
2 April 7, 2025
CERTIFICATES/HONORARY RESOLUTIONS/PROCLAMATIONS:
( 1) Presentation of an Honorary Resolution to the 2025 Community Volunteer of the Year (CC)
Office Specialist Candace Gray read, and Mayor Cavanaugh presented 2025 Community Volunteer of the Year Peter Carruba with an Honorary Resolution. (2) Presentation of an Honorary Resolution to the 2025 City Volunteer of the Year (CC)
Office Specialist Candace Gray read, and Mayor Cavanaugh presented 2025 City Volunteer of'the Year Al Brown with an Honorary Resolution. (3) Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing the observance of Arbor Day and declaring the week of April 7 through April 13 as Simi Valley Arbor Week (CC) Associate Planner Zarui Chaparyan read, and Mayor Cavanaugh presented Regional Forrester Darrick Carlson with a Proclamation declaring April 7 through April 13, 2025, as Simi Valley Arbor Week.
(4) Presentation of a Proclamation declaring the month of April as Fair Housing Month (CC)
Community Services Coordinator Kelly Duffy read, and Mayor Cavanaugh presented Senior Management Analyst Cynthia McCullough with a Proclamation declaring the month of April as Fair Housing Month.
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON APPOINTMENTS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None
3. APPOINTMENTS/SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
3A. APPOINTMENTS:
(1) Appointments to the Community Projects Grant Review Committee (Perros) (CC)
ACTION: Council Member/Director Litster moved to approve, and the Mayor appoint, the seven nominees to the Community Projects Grant Review Committee with terms commencing upon appointment and concluding when the City Council awards the FY 2025-26 CPG funding. Council Member/Director Rhodes seconded the motion.
Minutes
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
3 April7,2025
Council Members/Directors Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Cavanaugh
None
None
None
(2) Selection of two City Council members to conduct Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit Advisory Committee interviews (Fuchiwaki)(CC) ACTION: Council Member/Director Rhodes moved to appoint City Council Members Ayala and Litster to interview and nominate prospective ADA Paratransit Advisory Committee members. Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Cavanaugh
None
None
None
(3) Interview and appointment of Planning Commissioner (Perros)(CC) ACTION: Council Member/Director Ayala moved to appoint Lee Kennedy to the Planning Commission for a term to become effective immediately. Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Cavanaugh
None
None
None
38. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
(1) Presentation by Fire Marshal Joe Morelli. Ventura County Fire Department, · regarding the Fire Hazard Severity Maps (CC)
Fire Marshal Joe Morelli provided the City Council with a presentation regarding the Fire Hazard Severity Maps.
Minutes
3C.
4. 4A.
4 April 7, 2025
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
(1) Informational presentation by Youth Employment Service Advisory Board Chair Gloria Bowman (CC)
Youth Employment Service Advisory Board Chair Gloria Bowman provided an informational report to the City Council.
PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HEARINGS.
APPOINTMENTS. AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS:
The following submitted a speaker card and spoke:
1. Gary Mahle, Simi Valley, CA, commented regarding residential fire breaks and the need for brush to be cleared in the hills.
2. Robert Isola and Arissbeth Romero (no address given), owners of Delicious Food (food truck), spoke on a Code Enforcement issue regarding how long the food truck may be parked in a location.
3. Anthony Angelini, Director of Government Affairs and Tourism, Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, Simi Valley, CA, informed the City Council on upcoming Chamber events. ·
4. Jacqueline, Simi Valley, CA, spoke regarding noise issues with airplane flight schools flying over Simi Valley.
CITY COUNCIL/BOARD MEMBER/SPECIAL DISTRICT COMMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC STATEMENTS:
Council Member Rhodes commented on undergrounding utilities and fire prevention, asked Robert Isola and Arissbeth Romero to contact him regarding their food truck issue, and asked City Manager Argabrite for a status on Jacqueline's concern regarding Van Nuys airplane flight schools' flight path over Simi Valley.
City Manager Samantha Argabrite shared that staff investigated the concern raised about airplane flight schools and found the City has no official jurisdiction over the Van Nuys Airport and stated the Federal Aviation Administration is the appropriate agency for noise complaints. She commented about the food truck issue and stated that staff will put together a memo for the City Council regarding what the current ordinance do.es. ·
Council Member Litster commented that she will contact a colleague who works with airports and inquire if there are other ways to address the concern regarding Van Nuys Airport's flight schools' flight path over Simi Valley. She addressed the food truck issue and asked the City Manager for information on the time restriction in the· ordinance.
She spoke about undergrounding utilities and fire prevention.
Minutes 5 April 7, 2025
Mayor Pro Tern Judge addressed the food truck issue and asked for clarification as to where the food truck was parked.
Mayor Cavanaugh commented on underground utilities, addressed the food truck issue, and stated that the City Council will look more into the airplane flight schools flying over Simi Valley.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
5A. A public hearing to an appeal {CUP~S-2025-0004) of the Planning Commission's decision to approve Conditional Use Permit No. CUP-S-2023-0011, a request to construct a 24,290 square foot industrial building with accompanying outdoor storage on a 3.84 acre vacant parcel; located north of 875 Cochran Street and approximately 500 feet west of First Street; a determination that the proiect is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; and adoption of a resolution (Perras) (CC) Resolution No. 2025-08 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY DENYING AN APPEAL (CUP-S-2025-0004) AND UPHOLDING THE
PLANNING COMMISSION'S DECISION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. CUP-S-2023-0011, A REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT A 24,290 SQUARE FOOT INDUSTRIAL BUILDING WITH ACCOMPANYING OUTDOOR STORAGE ON A 3.84 AGRE VACANT PARCEL; LOCATED NORTH OF 875 COCHRAN STREET AND APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET WEST OF FIRST STREET; AND A DETERMINATION
THAT THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
Mayor Cavanaugh opened the public portion of the hearing at 8:31 p.m.
The following submitted a speaker card and spoke:
1. Doug Felbinger, Appellant, Simi Valley, CA, opposed.
2. Mike and Brian, Applicant, support.
3. Jeffrey G. Nerdin, For Our Nest, LLC, Thousand Oaks, CA, legal counsel for the applicant, support.
4 . .Pooja Nair, Ervin,. Cohen & Jessup, Cochran Properties - Appellant, opposed.
Mayor Cavanaugh closed the public portion of the hearing at 9:43 p.m.
ACTION: Council Member/Director Rhodes moved to adopt a resolution denying the appeal, upholding the Planning Commission's approval of CUP-S- 2023-0011, and the determination that the Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. Council Member/Director Ayala seconded the motion.
Minutes
6. 7.
8. 9.
6 April 7, 2025
ROLL CALL:
AYES: Council Members/Directors Ayala, Rhodes, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Cavanaugh
NAYS: Council Member/Director Litster
ABSENT: None·
ABSTAIN: None
CONTINUED PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ALL ITEMS OTHER THAN PUBLIC HEARINGS, APPOINTMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL REPORTS: None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
( 1) Authorize issuance of four purchase orders to purchase four emergency generators utilizing the Sourcewell Cooperative Agreement for the Emergency Generators Project, CP76300050 (Fuchiwaki) (WWD)
ACTION: Approved purchase orders.
(2) Award contract to G&S Carpet Mills, Inc. for the City Hall Carpet Replacement Proiect, CP65500013, Specification No. SV 25-21 (Johnson) (CC) ACTION: Awarded contract to G & S Carpet Mills, Inc.
(3) Award contract for the construction of FY 2024-25 Annual Minor Streets Rehabilitation Program. Community Development Block Grant, CP60000019, Specification No. SV 25-03 (Fuchiwaki) (CC)
ACTION: Awarded contract to Toro Enterprises, Inc.
ACTION: Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge moved to approve Consent Calendar Items 1 through 3. Council Member/Director Ayala seconded the motion.
ROLL CALL:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Council Members/Directors Ayala, Rhodes, Litster, Mayor Pro TemNice Chair Judge, and Mayor/Chair Cavanaugh
None
None
None
CONTINUED BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS: None
Minutes
10. 10A.
108.
7 April 7, 2025
REPORTS:
City Council/Board Member/Trustees/Special District Member Reports:
Council Member Ayala reported that he attended the Simi Valley Royal High School Every 15 Minutes Program, met with City of Simi Valley Environmental Services Department Staff, attended Neighborhood Council #1 meeting, and volunteered at t~e Simi Valley Round Up Country Music Festival. He stated he attended the Simi Valley Youth Council Talent Show, met with City of Simi Valley Public Works Director Ron Fuchiwaki, and visited Enso Verde Senior Community facility.
Council Member Rhodes reported he attended the Sober Living & Recovery Home Task Force meeting, the Community Economic Human Development (CEHD) Committee prep meeting (ZOOM), the Simi Valley Royal High School Every 15 Minutes Program, and the honor of doing the flag salute at the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District Board meeting that recognized Living Donor Day. He stated he attended Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Committee meetings, the Clean Power Alliance Board meeting, the Simi Valley Round Up Country Music Festival, and the Boys & Girls Club Masquerade Gala.
Mayor Pro Tern Judge reported he attended SCAG Committee meetings, the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) meeting, and the Simi Valley Round Up Country Music Festival.
Mayor Cavanaugh reported she attended the Simi Valley Royal High School Every 15 Minutes Program, the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Executive Board meeting, the Simi Valley Royal High School Softball game, and the Simi Valley Round Up Country Music Festival.
Council Member Litster commented about the Simi Valley Education Foundation Lew Roth Award recipients. She also stopped by the Youth Council meeting, attended the Simi Valley Royal High School Every 15 Minutes Program, and attended the SCAG Regional Council and Policy Committee meeting. She reported she visited the Oakmont Open House, attended the Simi Valley Police Academy, was a judge for the Simi Valley Youth Council Talent Show, attended and volunteered at the Simi Valley R_ound Up Country Music Festival, and the American Association of University Women meeting. ·
City Council/Board Member/Special District Member Requests for Future City Council Agenda Items:
Council Member Rhodes requested a future agenda item to bring a package of nine bills that have been proposed regarding sober living facilities within the City of Simi Valley and include the topic in the legislative platform. Council Member Litster seconded the motion.
Minutes 8 April 7, 2025
ADJOURNMENT : Mayor/Chair/President Cavanaugh adjourned the meeting at 10:05 p.m. in memory of Patty Maloney, Osmar Rodarte, and Ryan Kenedy, to the meeting of April 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
There being no objections , the motion carried through
acclamation.
£~~~~Ci~ of
Simi Valley , California, Chair of the
Ventura County Waterworks District Ne. 8