MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
SOLVANG
February 14, 2022
Monday
6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Charlie Uhrig; Mayor pro tem Mark Infanti; Councilmembers Robert Clarke, Claudia Orona and Jim Thomas
Staff: City Manager Xenia Bradford, City Attorney David Fleishman, City Clerk Annamarie Porter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Councilmember Thomas
CEREMONIAL ITEMS/COMMENDATIONS - None
PRESENTATIONS
4"h of July Celebration - Rotary Presentation
Tammy Westwood, President, Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club, spoke about the organization; addressed programs, events and activities and asked the City to partner with them to celebrate the 4'h of July fireworks event with a $25,000 grant.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS - NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS WRITTEN OR VERBAL
Hank Hamburg discussed increasing contract costs with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department; addressed the importance of public safety and maintaining the City's infrastructure; understood the annual cost for one Deputy to the City is close to $3 million and encouraged the City to consider a feasibility study for policing services options beyond the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and commented on the City of Buellton's willingness to join Solvang in the feasibility study.
There were no other public comments.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Bradford provided an update on COVID-19 including State regulation changes; announced upcoming events; presented updates on the utility rate study, the General Plan update, FY 2022-2024 Financial Plan Development, Solvang Elections Redistricting, Commissions and Committees, Copenhagen Drive closure, and details of the Advance Calendar.
3. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
Councilmember Orona commended the Solvang and Buellton Parks and Recreation Departments on the success of Valley Wide Teenage Dance.
Councilmember Thomas discussed a recent meeting of the Cal Cities Public Safety Committee.
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Councilmember Clarke discussed a meeting with Library representatives regarding their goals and how to work together; discussed a meeting of the Ad Hoc Library Committee with County Supervisors and a meeting of the L.A. Library Advisory Committee.
Mayor Uhrig discussed announcements by the California 2022 Redistricting Commission; presented an update on drought conditions in the State; reported he will attend an upcoming SBCAG meeting; addressed Caltrans Transportation Plans and availability of broadband; provided statistics of food bank activities and announced his retirement from the Sherriffs Department.
City Manager Bradford presented Mayor Uhrig with a plaque and a card from staff, congratulating him on his retirement from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff Lieutenant Green congratulated Mayor Uhrig and wished him well in his upcoming retirement.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Approval of Agenda as Presented.
b. Approve the Minutes of the City Council meeting of January 24, 2022 and the Financial Plan Development Workshop of January 27, 2022
c. Approve Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable for the Month of January 2022 d. Adopt Resolution No. 22-1156, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Solvang, California Authorizing Remote Teleconference Meetings of the City Council e. Adopt Resolution 22-1157 a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Solvang, California authorizing submittal of application(s) for all CalRecycle grants for which the City of Solvang is eligible f. Receive and file Santa Barbara County Fire Incident report for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4, 2021 g. Approve budget adjustment request in the amount of $149,000 for custodial services and $15,000 for restroom supplies for restrooms 2 and 3
h. Approve contract with Santa Ynez Valley Hotel Assn. Inc. dba Visit the Santa Ynez Valley for Tourism Business Improvement District Administration for the term of July 1, 2021, - June 30, 2027
i. Approve proposal from Meridian Consultants (Consultant) and from GSI Water Solutions Inc. (Consultant) for review and analysis of settlement proposal regarding River Wells petition with the State of California Water Resources Control Board and authorize City Manager to execute contract regarding the same and make minor amendments, if necessary, based on written change orders Motion by Councilmember Clarke to approve the Consent Agenda, as corrected, seconded by Councilmember Thomas, and carried with a roll call vote of 5-0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
REGULAR BUSINESS AGENDA
5. RECEIVE REPORT ON COMMUNITY INPUT ON THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES
Receive community input on the General Plan Update Alternatives Choices Report and provide staff with general comment and policy direction
City Manager Bradford introduced the item and deferred to Consultant Gibbons for a report.
Brent Gibbons, Mintier Harnish, narrated a PowerPoint presentation with an overview of the General Plan Update process and timeline, the alternatives process, community feedback received and next steps.
Discussion followed regarding the possibility of implementing an employee parking program with shuttle service to free parking for customers, challenges with enforcement, corrections to the map listing a high-density residential area and the need change the designation, counting ADUs as part of the City's Housing Element, Minutes 2022-02-14 CC 2
encouraging more people to get involved, alternatives to meet RHNA, utilities, existing vacant land within the community, scope of the analysis and the City's sphere of influence.
Mayor Uhrig opened public comments.
Aaron Petersen, GPAC Member, spoke about the process being a collaboration and discussed ADU's, mixed use, commercial and residential uses.
There were no other public comments.
Discussion followed regarding next steps.
No action was required on this item.
6. RECEIVE TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MARKETING
SERVICES OPERATING STRUCTURE AND SCOPE OF WORK
Receive Tourism Advisory Committee recommendations for marketing services operating structure and scope of work recommendations and provide staff with policy direction City Manager Bradford narrated a PowerPoint presentation of the TAC's recommendations for marketing services, operating structure and scope of work.
Mayor pro tem Infanti reported attending the TAC meeting; commented on forming a new organization/position that would provide local representation for coordination and added control of events and support marketing efforts and spoke in support of having the TAC develop a scope of work for an RFP.
In response to Councilmember Orona's inquiry, City Attorney Fleishman commented on the SCVB and challenges with reinstating it as it is currently structured and noted that if City Council is interested in oversight, the simplest way to do so is to keep it in-house.
Mayor Uhrig commented on the need for a local point person to oversee special events.
Mayor pro tem Infanti commented on the need for a community events calendar.
Discussion followed regarding separating marketing and management of special events, the possibility of keeping management of special events, in-house and the need for Council to decide, as a group, the events/parades occurring in Solvang.
Aaron Petersen reported that events, for the sake of events, is not preferred; spoke about the importance of attracting hotel guests and noted the need for an "umbrella organization" to coordinate and manage the various events to represent local interests.
Mayor Uhrig invited public comments.
Bob Stokes, President, Wheels n Windmills Car Show, spoke about having to postpone the last two car shows because of COVID-19; reported that after IDK took over, there was no local contact and support and the event suffered.
There were no other public comments.
Discussion followed regarding hiring a point person to manage special events, directing the TAC to develop an RFP, an upcoming Lego competition event, issuing one RFP for media and marketing and another for events, the TAC's suggestion to hire a full time Marketing Director, directing the TAC to continue to work with staff on development of RFPs, the need to share information throughout the City, developing an events calendar and asking the TAC to discuss the possibility of issuing two RFPs as discussed.
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7. APPOINT TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER DUE TO RESIGNATION Tourism Advisory Committee member Barry Prescott has resigned from the Committee resulting in a vacancy for the seat appointed by Councilmember Clarke. Councilmember Clarke may appoint an alternate Committee member or direct staff to open a recruitment
Councilmember Clarke appointed David Brents to the TAC.
8. AB1234 REPORT OUT AND COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS - None
9. ADJOURNMENT- Mayor Uhrig adjourned the meeting at 9:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, City Clerk
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