M 2024-03-25 CC 1
Regular Meeting - 6:30 PM
6:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Infanti called the Regular 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 David Brown, Councilmembers Robert Clarke, Claudia Orona, Elizabeth Orona
Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, City Attorney Chelsea O’Sullivan, Assistant CIty Attorney Dave Fleishman, City Clerk Annamarie Porter, Planning Manager Rafael Castillo, Parks and Recreation Director Jenny McClurg, Marketing Events Coordinator Candice Libera
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Lansing Duncan, Resident, led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS - None
PRESENTATIONS
a. Wastewater Department Presentation
Mayor Infanti announced this item will be moved to the City Council meeting of April 8, 2024.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Mayor Infanti invited public comments.
Sue Turner Cray
Edwin Skytt
Tracy Beard
Denise El Amin
Joanne Clark
There were no other public comments.
2. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy announced the upcoming free Hazardous Waste Collection event; the process of refreshing the paint around town; a poll regarding priorities for the City; an upcoming Active Shooter Training; as of last Friday, Solvang was in First Place as the USA Today, “Best Small Town in the West”, City Council’s goal setting session will be discussed during the City Council meeting on April 8, 2024, and his attempts to improve communications with the community.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024
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3. COUNCIL COMMENTS, REQUESTS, GC SECTION 53232.3(d) (aka AB 1234) and GC SECTION 84308 (aka SB 1439) REPORT OUT
Mayor Infanti spoke about attending the SBCAG meetings, the Air Pollution Control District meetings for the Santa Barbara County, the Conservation District Water Report meeting and a Chamber of Commerce mixer.
4. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented – pulled for further discussion. b. Approve City Council Minutes: March 11, 2024
c. Receive and file Tourism Marketing reports
d. Receive and file February Monthly Investment Report
e. Receive and file January 2024 and December 2023 Monthly Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office report
Motion by Mayor Infanti, to remove Item No. 4.a from Consent Items for separate action, seconded by Councilmember Clarke and carried 5-0.
Motion by Councilmember Clarke, to approve the Consent Items No. 4.b through 4.e, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona and carried 5-0.
EXCLUDED CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, to approve the order of the agenda, as amended, postponing Item No. 6.f, to a future meeting, seconded by Councilmember Claudia Orona and carried 5-0.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Conduct a Public Hearing to consider:
Adopting Resolution No. 24-1244 adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration Adopting Resolution No. 24-1245 Approving a General Plan Amendment for two existing parcels:
Site B (APN 139-031-020) and Site D (APN 137-260-021) to a General Plan designation of High Density Residential and to
Introduce by Title Only Ordinance No. 24-0372 Amending the official zoning map of APN 139- 31-020 and APN 137-260-031, re-designating these properties as Design Residential (DR-20) to implement the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element and for compliance with the California Government Code sections 65583, 65583.2, and 65588
Planning Manager Castillo narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the report, moving forward with rezoning all three sites; using the first two to meet the gap, bifurcating the Housing Element outside of the General Plan process to expedite certification of the Housing Element to prevent additional Builders Remedy from being submitted.
City Attorney O’Sullivan stated there is an urgency to rezone Sites B and D now to create capacity for the remaining 46 units with Side D for low income, the Housing Element identifies the sites as the sites the City is counting on, now, to meet its RHNA allocation and circumstances may change in the future.
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Mayor Infanti opened the public hearing and invited public comments.
Barbara Montgomery
Denise El Amin
Leigh Layman
Margaret Clow
Lansing Duncan
Norman Slzu
Sue Turner Cray
Al Cortese
Karen Newsom
Steve Martin
C.J. Jackson
William Denel
Robert Kennedy
Janice Bradley
Daniella Villanueva
Sara Davidson
There were no other public comments and Mayor Infanti closed the public hearing.
Discussion followed regarding noticing requirements, notifications for the General Plan updates, the current housing crisis, meeting the State’s requirements; all cities having the same obligations and the City meeting its obligations by rezoning. the City does not have to build on the two sites and is only rezoning. Although the Planning Commission failed to approve it because two Commissioners had to recuse themselves from voting; not because they would not have approved it.
City Attorney O’Sullivan noted edits to the Resolution were included under Blue Folder Items and should be approved, as corrected, if approved.
Motion by Mayor Infanti, to
Adopt Resolution No. 24-1244 adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration; Adopt Resolution No. 24-1245 Approving a General Plan Amendment for two existing parcels: Site B (APN 139-031-020) and Site D (APN 137-260-021) to a General Plan designation of High Density Residential
Introduce by Title Only Ordinance No. 24-0372 Amending the official zoning map of APN 139-31-020 and APN 137-260-031, re-designating these properties as Design Residential (DR-20) to implement the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element and for compliance with the California Government Code sections 65583, 65583.2, and 65588, as corrected, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 4-1, Councilmember Clarke, opposed.
RECESS/RECONVENE
Mayor Infanti called for a recess at 8:17 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:30 p.m. with all Councilmembers, present.
6. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and possible staff direction on further negotiation of joint powers agreement for Santa Ynez Valley Basin Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency Assistant City Attorney Fleishman presented details of the report and the negotiations of a Joint Powers Agreement for Santa Ynez Valley Basin Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
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Discussion followed regarding having one director, one vote, criteria for qualifications for the fifth member, ensuring Solvang’s interests are protected, ensuring pump charges are not creating a profit center, benefits of the JPA, anticipating issues that may arise, availability of grant funding and the benefits of having an agricultural director.
Mayor Infanti invited public comments.
Denise El Amin
Bill Buelow, General Manager, Sana Ynez River WCD
Mary Heyden, Santa Ynez Water Group
Peter Garcia, ID#1
There were no other public comments.
Discussion followed regarding agriculture being critical in the valley, needing to understand why the County does not represent the agricultural interests, pros and cons of Solvang’s participation, costs, why the Western Management Area does not have agricultural representation, the ability of agencies to withdraw from the JPA or to add members in the future and the need for transparency, the need to review the final version of the agreement prior to approving it and understanding how Solvang deals with risk.
There was consensus by City Council to direct the Assistant City Attorney to move ahead with adding an agricultural director for the Groundwater Sustainability Agency with guardrails and return to City Council at a future meeting with appropriate language.
b. Discussion and Possible Action to Choose regarding the City of Solvang Logo options Marketing Events Coordinator Libera narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the report and presented options for the City’s official logo and tourism logo.
Discussion followed regarding copyrighted material, the similarity of the Solvang logo to Danish Mill Pastries and using different logos for City business and City tourism.
There were no public comments.
There was consensus by City Council to move ahead with getting a refined version of the mermaid logo for City business and use the current windmill logo for tourism business. c. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve 2024 Julefest Projects Parks and Recreation Director McClurg listed proposed 2024 Julefest Projects including an iceskating rink and a permanent light show at Solvang Park.
Discussion followed regarding building the skating rink big enough, exploring options, partnering with people who have the expertise to run a skating rink, lighting, hiring a third party, liability insurance and the proposed location for the rink.
Mayor Infanti opened public comments.
Susan Lee, Manager, Visitor Center
There were no other public comments.
City Council concurred to direct staff to explore the Julefest programs, as proposed.
Motion by Councilmember Clarke, to continue the meeting after 9:30 p.m., seconded by Mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: A27040F6-AD63-4625-8CA2-BA556AC32A8D M 2024-03-25 CC 5
Infanti, and carried 3-2, Councilmembers Clarke and Elizabeth Orona, opposed.
Councilmember Elizabeth Orona left the meeting.
d. Discussion and possible action to Approve the Annual General Plan and Housing Element Progress Report
Planning Manager Castillo narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the progress of the General Plan and Housing Element.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown, to approve the Annual General Plan and Housing Element Progress Report, seconded by Councilmember Claudia Orona, and carried 4-0, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
e. Discussion and possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 24-1247 Approving a list of Delinquent and Unpaid Charges and Penalties for Water and Sewer Utility Bills City Attorney O’Sullivan presented details of the report.
City Manager Murphy added that the property has been delinquent for over ten years.
There were no public comments on this item.
Discussion followed regarding the City’s ability to place liens on properties for delinquent charges.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown, to adopt Resolution No. 24-1247 Approving a list of Delinquent and Unpaid Charges and Penalties for Water and Sewer Utility Bills, seconded by Councilmember Clarke, and carried 4-0, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent. f. Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 24-1246 Adopting the Annual Investment Policy for 2024 –
This Item was continued to a future meeting.
7. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS - None
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, City Clerk
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