Minutes 2023-07-24 CC 1
July 24, 2023, Monday
Special Closed Session – 5:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting – 6:30 p.m.
5:30 PM SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Infanti called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang, California.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Mark Infanti, Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona, Councilmembers David Brown, Robert Clarke, Claudia Orona
Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, City Attorney David Fleishman, City Clerk Annamarie Porter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Infanti led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – CLOSED SESSION
No public comment
2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION – 5:32 p.m.
a. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATION – The closed session is authorized by Gov. Code 54957.6
AGENCY NEGOTIATOR:
Dave Fleishman, City Attorney
EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION:
Teamsters Union Local 986
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
City Attorney Fleishman announced there was no reportable action.
4. ADJOURNMENT – 6:18 p.m.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
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6:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Infanti called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang, California.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Mark Infanti, Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona, Councilmembers David Brown, Robert Clarke, Claudia Orona
Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, City Attorney David Fleishman, City Clerk Annamarie Porter, Public Works Director Rodger Olds
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Claudia Orona led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS
a. Welcome to Elverhøj Museum of History & Art Executive Director Sandie Mullin Mayor Infanti welcomed new Elverhøj Museum of History & Art Executive Director Sandie Mullin.
Executive Director Mullin expressed her excitement working for the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art; spoke about having a deep connection to the community and looked forward to serving.
PRESENTATIONS
a. Public Works Department presentation
Public Works Director Olds narrated a PowerPoint presentation of the Public Works Department and operations.
Discussion followed regarding fees for Dial-a-Ride and staff’s quick response times to reported issues and emergencies.
Mayor Infanti invited public comments. There were no public comments for this item.
City Manager Murphy reported that Mark Valencia with the Sheriff’s Department will give a presentation next month.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON- AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS No public comments were received.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy announced the Solvang Mesa community has requested a meeting with Brightview which has been scheduled for August 29, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chamber; reported attending a recent Rotary Club meeting, the Esther Jacobsen Bates Retirement Ceremony and the Park Place Art Show; noted he has moved into Solvang; stated information about cooling centers in Santa Barbara County is available at www.readysbc.org; provided an update on recruitment efforts for the Planning Manager position and confirmed Jenny McClurg has accepted the position of Parks and Recreation Director, effective Monday, July 31, 2023 and spoke about an upcoming tour of Diablo DocuSign Envelope ID: D24D889D-298C-4FEC-BC78-791C143D2A5D Minutes 2023-07-24 CC 3
Canyon Nuclear Plant.
Councilmember Clarke advised those touring Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant not to forget their Driver’s License.
3. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
Councilmember Clarke asked staff to address the concerns of residents of Creekside regarding Sunny Fields including music and increased patrol.
City Manager Murphy reported he has asked the new Parks and Recreation Director to address the issue; stated she has been in touch with the concerned resident and is committed to adding signage with the rules of the park.
Councilmember Clarke spoke about increasing TOT and stated he is happy to be back discussing the issues that matter to the community and the City.
Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona agreed with the need to review a TOT analysis; noted during the last meeting there was a reference to a study that had already been completed and stated if it is to be pursued, it should be done now for the initiative to be included in the 2024 ballot.
The majority of Council agreed to place a discussion item regarding TOT on a future agenda.
Councilmember Claudia Orona thanked Code Enforcement for their work in enforcing City ordinances.
Councilmember Brown thanked Public Works for the tree and the bench and noted it is still an eyesore.
Public Works Director Olds noted Council will be considering a contract with West Coast Arborists later on the agenda.
Councilmember Brown asked that staff prioritize the pickleball courts and improvements at Hans Christian Andersen Park.
City Manager Murphy provided a brief update on the pickleball courts project, noting it is included in the CIP which will be reviewed by the Planning Commission at its upcoming meeting.
Councilmember Brown spoke about the possibility of exploring partnerships with other agencies to share facilities for expanding programming.
Mayor Infanti announced that Waste Management will host a community cleanup and bulk waste dropoff on August 19, 2023 in Parking Lot 4 and announced a Community Networking Fair on July 29, 2023 at Bethania Lutheran Church.
4. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented
b. Approve City Council Special Closed Session and Regular meeting minutes of July 10, 2023 c. Receive and file Quarterly Investment Report
d. Receive and file Santa Barbara County Fire FY 2022 4th quarter reports e. Receive and file Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Calls for Service report DocuSign Envelope ID: D24D889D-298C-4FEC-BC78-791C143D2A5D Minutes 2023-07-24 CC 4
Motion by Councilmember Clarke, to approve Consent Items, seconded by Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona and carried 5-0.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Direction and possible action to receive and file the Tourism Marketing update from Tom Jones & Associates (TJA), Islett Agency and Stiletto Marketing City Manager Murphy introduced the item; provided a brief background and deferred to John Sorgenfrei, TJA, for a presentation.
Consultant Sorgenfrei introduced TJA Representatives Claudia Parkinson and Rick Turton; narrated a PowerPoint presentation with a one-month update of their work under the current six-month contract with the City; discussed the website, social media and the email database and addressed a recent email blast and contractor cooperation.
Consultant Parkinson continued with the presentation with details of the social media phased approach for marketing and discussed creation of a master list of new usernames and passwords.
Consultant Turton presented an update of the current and new website.
Discussion followed regarding the 49% open rate for the email blast, upcoming events in Solvang, developing an event calendar, the necessity of a TAC and considering hiring an event planning coordinator.
Anna Fegueson, Stiletto Marketing, presented an update on Solvang Tourism including PR briefs, PRIDE events, upcoming influencer visit and upcoming press releases.
Discussion followed regarding including Theater Fest and upcoming August events.
Leanna Cabrer and Jamie Weeks Islett Agency, narrated a PowerPoint presentation with an update of their marketing efforts.
City Manager Murphy reported that updates will be provided each month.
There were no public comments on this item.
b. Discussion and possible action to Adopt Resolution No. 23-1226, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Solvang, California, Adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the City of Solvang’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Water Quality Improvement Project
City Manager Murphy introduced Bill Gibson, Meridian Consultants and deferred to him for a presentation.
Consultant Gibson, via Zoom, narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of upgrades to Solvang’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Water Quality Improvement Project.
There were no public comments on this item.
Discussion followed regarding expansion of the area outside of the current boundary, negotiations with Alisal Ranch, the need for CEQA review prior to action being given to the project and acquisition of the land for expansion.
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Motion by Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona, to adopt Resolution No. 23-1226, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Solvang, California, Adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the City of Solvang’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Water Quality Improvement Project, seconded by Councilmember Brown and carried 5-0. c. Discussion and possible action to Award the Contract to West Coast Arborists for City Wide On-Call Tree Services in the amount not to exceed $136,000 per year, for a total amount not to exceed $408,000 for the term July 24, 2023 – June 30, 2026, and authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City
Public Works Director Olds presented details of the report.
Discussion responses to the RFP, past experience working with West Coast Arborists and tree inventory services.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Councilmember Brown, to award the Contract to West Coast Arborists for City Wide On-Call Tree Services in the amount not to exceed $136,000 per year, for a total amount not to exceed $408,000 for the term July 24, 2023 – June 30, 2026, and authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City, seconded by Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona and carried 5-0. d. Discussion and possible action to approve the request for a Letter of Public Convenience or Necessity for El Rinconsito Market at 1656 Fir Avenue
City Manager Murphy provided details of the report.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona, to approve the request for a Letter of Public Convenience or Necessity for El Rinconsito Market at 1656 Fir Avenue, seconded by Councilmember Brown and carried 4-1, with Councilmember Clarke, opposed.
7. AB1234 REPORT OUT AND COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS
Councilmember Brown discussed his attendance at a recent JPIA meeting and reported he will attend the upcoming tour of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant.
Mayor pro tem Elizabeth Orona spoke about attending CERF (Community Economic Resilience Fund) training.
Mayor Infanti reported on Assemblymember Greg Hart’s sidewalk office hours on July 18th and noted attending the Vandenberg Space Launch Delta 30 Change of Command ceremony.
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, City Clerk
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