M 2022-08-22 CC 1
August 22, 2022
Monday
6:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor pro tem Infanti called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Charlie Uhrig; Mayor pro tem Mark Infanti; Councilmembers Robert Clarke, Claudia Orona,Jim Thomas
Staff: City Manager Xenia Bradford, City Attorney David Fleishman, City Clerk Annamarie Porter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Councilmember Thomas
PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS - None
PRESENTATIONS
a. Safer from Wildfire
Zuleimy Delgadillo, California Department of Insurance, narrated a PowerPoint presentation regarding keeping Safer from Wildfire.
Discussion followed regarding the source of the discounts provided and steps residents can take to mitigate insurance pricing.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS David Brown reported he will be running as a Council candidate for District 3 and looked forward to an energetic campaign.
Michael Miller reported submitting paperwork to Councilmember Orona in hopes that she would take action on the matter and spoke about government corruption.
There were no other public comments.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Bradford narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the report including the upcoming State of the City event, an ongoing survey regarding the Downtown European Plaza, the General Municipal Election, upcoming meetings for the Planning Commission, the Design Review Committee and the Tourism Advisory Committee and details of the Advance Calendar.
3. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
Mayor Uhrig discussed Food Bank statistics and announced the Music in the Park event and Wheels and Windmills event and the 2022 California Coach Classic.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
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4. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented
b. Approve City Council Minutes of July 19, 2022, July 25, 2022, and August 8, 2022 c. Approve Quarterly Investment Report for April – June 2022 There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Councilmember Clarke, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, seconded by Councilmember Orona, and carried 5-0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
BUSINESS ITEMS
5. APPROVE ONE-YEAR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH TEAMSTERS UNION LOCAL 986
a. Approve renegotiated one-year Memorandum of Understanding with Teamsters Union Local 986; and
b. Authorize the City Manager to Execute approved documents; and c. Authorize the City Manager to process a budget adjustment in the amount of $116,000 to various salaries and benefits accounts.
City Manager Bradford narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the staff report.
Mayor Uhrig opened public comments.
There was no response and Mayor Uhrig closed public comments.
Motion by Councilmember Thomas, to approve renegotiated one-year Memorandum of Understanding with Teamsters Union Local 986; and authorize the City Manager to Execute approved documents; and authorize the City Manager to process a budget adjustment in the amount of $116,000 to various salaries and benefits accounts, seconded by Mayor pro tem Infanti, and carried 4-1, with Councilmember Clarke, opposed.
6. RESOLUTION 22-1190 SETTING PAY RANGES AND BENEFITS FOR UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2022
a. Approve Resolution setting pay ranges and benefits for unrepresented employees effective August 1, 2022; and,
b. Authorize the City Manager to process a budget adjustment in the total amount of $53,000 to various salary and benefits accounts.
City Manager Bradford presented details of the staff report.
Mayor Uhrig opened public comments.
There was no response and Mayor Uhrig closed public comments.
Discussion followed regarding the total budget adjustments of $53,000.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Infanti, to approve Resolution setting pay ranges and benefits for unrepresented employees effective August 1, 2022; and authorize the City Manager to process a DocuSign Envelope ID: CD4D85DC-7971-4BAF-82D8-280334ECCEE0 M 2022-08-22 CC 3
budget adjustment in the total amount of $53,000 to various salary and benefits accounts, seconded by Councilmember Thomas, and carried 4-1, with Councilmember Clarke, opposed.
7. PARKING IN-LIEU REGULATIONS POLICY DISCUSSION
Receive a presentation on City of Solvang parking in-lieu regulations and provide policy direction if desired.
City Manager Bradford narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the report and deferred to City Attorney Fleishman for the legal aspects of the matter.
City Attorney Fleishman reported that there is some uncertainty regarding how to apply parking in-lieu fees to restaurants and other establishments that are not explicitly set forth and requested direction from Council.
Discussion followed regarding enforcement where there has been a change of use, considering whether there is intensification of use, determining whether there is additional parking required on a case-by-case basis, consideration of the matter by the Planning Commission, the amount of the in-lieu fee and providing businesses the option of paying a parking in-lieu fee if they are unable to provide onsite parking.
Mayor Uhrig stated he would like to issue an RFP for the parking facility priced at $904K.
Mayor pro tem Infanti stated the primary purpose of the fees is for the City to be able to provide additional parking. He expressed concerns that the fee is steep and still does not get the City to where it wants to be and noted the Fire Department is interested in Parking Lot 5.
Councilmember Orona agreed with the idea of having a program that encourages developers to provide parking on their projects.
Councilmember Clarke agreed with the idea of establishing public/private partnerships; felt the parking in-lieu fee is arbitrary and almost punitive to some businesses that are trying to invest in the community; opined that vehicle traffic in Solvang will likely decrease and suggested a flat fee be built into the permitting system.
There were no public comments on this item.
Councilmember Clarke stated he would like to look into the possibility of a private/public partnership with a long-term lease.
City Manager Bradford reported staff is working to develop an RFP to study parking options; noted the City is in the final stages of the General Plan update which will set forth direction on land use, traffic circulation and other issues which will guide the City’s CIP, going forward and discussed an existing RFP regarding an impact fees study.
City Council concurred to allow restaurants to be able to use the in-lieu parking program if they wish not to provide parking spaces on site.
8. LANGUAGE MODIFICATIONS TO REGULATIONS DURING DROUGHT CONDITIONS Approve language modifications to resolution setting standard for Drought Stage 2 penalties.
City Manager Bradford narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the staff report.
Mayor pro tem Infanti commented the flyer and thanked staff for the clarification.
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Discussion followed regarding multifamily rates, higher requirements of water for single-family homes, development of the rate formula and its basis, finding other measures for water use reduction, considering another year (other than 2019) as the benchmark and the possibility of installing smart water meters.
Mayor Uhrig invited public comments.
Keith Adler referenced the original proposal to increase water, sewer and meter rates; noted it was handled in a way to guarantee its passage; noted protesting the changes involved having residents submit their opposition in writing; reported residents were not aware of the process; alleged the process was deceptive and undemocratic; felt that using the benchmark of 18 HCF for all single-family residences does not take into account family size nor property size; listed his efforts at reducing water usage; questioned why the City is issuing permits for new hotels and housing when there is not enough water for existing residents and commented on the possibility of researching whether there is state or federal money so that the City does not have to increase water rates so much.
Manuel Valdez agreed with the previous speaker; discussed his efforts to reduce water use; reported he protested increases in water rates with a letter; expressed concerns that rates will be up by 65% five years and encouraged Council to review the engineering study.
Sheila Benedict, via Zoom, suggested that Council place a moratorium on any big building projects to ensure reductions in water use.
Nancy Emerson, via Zoom, expressed concern the City may not have enough water to last the rest of the year; suggested working with other organizations to implement a campaign focused on teaching residents and tourists about water conservation and suggested brushing teeth and using a cup to swish which would save up to ten gallons of water per day.
Nick Dicroce, via Zoom, representing We Watch, spoke about the state’s orders mandating a reduction in water use; agreed with the proposed changes to the base year to calendar year 2019; spoke about the City not achieving its 20% reduction in water use and questioned the amount of the proposed penalties.
There were no other public comments.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Infanti, to approve language modifications to resolution setting standard for Drought Stage 2 penalties, seconded by Councilmember Clarke, and carried 5-0.
9. SPECIAL EVENT GRANT FUNDING POLICY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-24. a. Per Council general direction, receive and approve Special Event Grant Funding policy to be applied to Fiscal Year 2023-24 Supplemental Budget development process. b. Approve minor modifications to the Special Events Permitting Guide City Manager Bradford narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the staff report.
Discussion followed regarding eligible organizations, creating a process for the future, determination of the number of attendees expected at an event, requiring organizations to provide details of the budget for an event and providing information regarding parade routes that are typically used.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Councilmember Orona, to receive and approve Special Event Grant Funding policy to be applied to Fiscal Year 2023-24 Supplemental Budget development process and approve minor modifications to the Special Events Permitting Guide, seconded by Councilmember Clarke, and carried 5-0.
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5. AB1234 REPORT OUT AND COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS - None
6. ADJOURNMENT- Mayor Uhrig adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, City Clerk
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