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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 and Claudia Orona
Absent: Councilmember Elizabeth Orona
Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, City Attorney Chelsea O’Sullivan, City Clerk Annamarie Porter Planning Manager Rafael Castillo, Planning Consultant Laurie Tamura, Public Works Director Rodger Olds.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Resident Mullen led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS - None
2. PRESENTATIONS
a. CCCE Presentation
Judy Young Senior Account Manager, Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE), via Zoom narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of CCCE and its projects and programs.
Discussion followed regarding previous goals of having 100% renewable energy by 2030 and whether hydrogen comes into play in their systems.
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Mayor Infanti invited public comments.
Dennis Beebe
Mark Oliver
Steven Martin
Craig Kent
Kent Lockhart
Al Cortese
There were no other public communications on Non-Agenda and Consent Items.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, JULY 8, 2024
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4. 5. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy reported the current fire information can be obtained online where residents can register for alerts; addressed Solvang Business Talks and a special events survey; and announced the State of the City on September 27, 2024.
Discussion followed regarding the Red Cross evacuation center and Veterans Hall, the status of the current fire and availability of Federal help.
5. GC SECTION 53232.3(d) (aka AB 1234) and GC SECTION 84308 (aka SB 1439) REPORT OUT, COUNCIL COMMENTS, REQUESTS - None
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented.
b. Approve City Council Minutes: June 24, 2024
c. Receive and file June Monthly Financial Report
d. Approve City Manager Employment Agreement.
e. Adopt Resolution No. 24-1267 to Appoint a Director and Alternate to the Santa Ynez River Valley Basin Eastern Management Area Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board of Directors f. Approve a Cooperation Agreement between the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Solvang CDBG Urban County Program for Federal Fiscal Years (2024-2027), and Adopt Resolution 24-1268 authorizing the City Manager to enter into a cooperation agreement between the County of Santa Barbara and the City of Solvang for participation in the Santa Barbara Urban County Community Development Block Grant CDBG) program for three federal fiscal years (2024-2027)
Motion by Councilmember Claudia Orona, to approve Consent Items, seconded by Councilmember Clarke and carried, 4-0, with Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Public Hearing to consider:
1) Adoption of Resolution No. 24-1253 Certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report, Adopting Findings of Fact Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, Adopting a Mitigation and Monitoring and Reporting Program, and Adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations for the Solvang 2045 General Plan Consisting of the Following Elements: Land Use, Community Design, Economic Development, Mobility, Environment and Sustainability, Safety, and Public Facilities, Services and Infrastructure (SCH#2023060448); and
2) Adopting Resolution No. 24-1254 Adopting the City of Solvang 2045 General Plan Consisting of the Following Elements: Land Use, Community Design, Economic Development, Mobility, Environment and Sustainability, Safety, and Public Facilities, Services and Infrastructure.
Planning Manager Castillo and Planning Consultant Tamura narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the updated Solvang 2045 General Plan and the certification of the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
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Discussion followed regarding being able to make changes four times a year, changes in land use designations relative to existing parking lots at Mission Santa Ynez, and privately-owned facilities serving quasi-public functions.
Mayor Infanti opened the public hearing and invited public comments.
Dennis Beebe
Craig Kent
Al Cortese
There were no other public comments.
Discussion followed regarding the lack of benchmarks for traffic, elimination of levels of service per SB 43 and using Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) as a metric.
Matt Maddox, Rincon Consulting, addressed the issue of VMT and the basis for its calculation.
Discussion continued regarding reducing VMT through in-fill development, reducing barriers to development, satisfying the needs of residents versus demands by Sacramento and the separately approved Housing Element.
Mayor Infanti closed the public hearing.
City Attorney O’Sullivan explained the appropriate motions and recusals.
Motion by Mayor Infanti, to adopt Resolution No. 24-1253, seconded by Councilmember Clarke, and carried, 4-0, with Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
Councilmember Claudia Orona recused herself; noted she is a member of Horzes Entertainment LLC which owns the lot at 376 First Street; declared a potential conflict of interest and left the Chamber.
Motion by Mayor Infanti, to redesignate certain properties from tourist related commercial to public and the Mission Santa Ynez from agricultural to public or agricultural to open space as shown in the 2045 General Plan, seconded by Councilmember Clarke, and failed, 2-1-0, by roll call vote, with Mayor pro tem Brown, opposed, Councilmember Claudia Orona, recused and Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
Discussion followed regarding providing options for the Mission Santa Ynez property, the need to analyze traffic, air quality and environment, keeping it as agricultural, the public facility designation providing a broader latitude and increased opportunities of uses, open space limitations and respecting private property rights. Ensuing discussion followed regarding having the land-use designations reflect what is currently occurring on the property.
Motion by Councilmember Clarke, to redesignate certain properties from tourist related commercial to public and the Mission Santa Ynez from agricultural to public or agricultural to open space as shown in the 2045 General Plan, seconded by Mayor Infanti, and carried 3-0-0, by roll call vote, with Councilmember Claudia Orona, recused and Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
Councilmember Claudia Orona returned to the Chamber and took her place on the dais.
Councilmember Clarke declared he owns property within 500 feet of the Alisal property, recused himself and left the Chamber.
Motion by Mayor Infanti, to redesignate the Alisal property from agricultural to open space as shown in the 2045 General Plan, seconded by Mayor pro tem Brown, and carried 3-0-0, by roll call vote, with Docusign Envelope ID: FDD854A6-92C7-4F33-B14C-42EA0E75EBD9 M 2024-07-08 CC 4
Councilmember Clarke, recused and Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
Councilmember Clarke returned to the Chamber and took his place on the dais.
City Attorney O’Sullivan referenced a Blue Folder Item relative to changes in 7A and 7A2 regarding the effective date of the resolution, making it effective 30 days after adoption.
Motion by Mayor Infanti, to adopt Resolution No. 24-1254 Adopting the City of Solvang 2045 General Plan Consisting of the Following Elements: Land Use, Community Design, Economic Development, Mobility, Environment and Sustainability, Safety, and Public Facilities, Services and Infrastructure, as changed according the Blue Folder Item making the effective date of the resolution 30 days after adoption, seconded by Mayor pro tem Brown, and carried 4-0, by roll call vote, with Elizabeth Orona, absent.
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and possible action to Approve the City of Solvang Active Transportation Plan.
Public Works Director Olds narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the Solvang Active Transportation Plan.
Discussion followed regarding avoiding government abuse and waste, reference to the Santa Ynez Multi-purpose trails Master Bicycle Plan, trail improvement construction costs and controlling pedestrian traffic.
Mayor Infanti invited public comments.
Dennis Beebe
Craig Kent
Hank Homburg, via Zoom
Kent Lockhart
There were no other public comments on this item.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown, to approve the City of Solvang Active Transportation Plan, seconded by Councilmember Claudia Orona, and carried 3-1, by roll call vote, with Councilmember Clarke, opposed and Elizabeth Orona, absent.
b. Discussion and possible direction to Staff regarding RATPDev request for a contract amendment to include rate structure modifications and rate increases to operate the Santa Ynez Valley Transit service.
Public Works Director Olds narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the Santa Ynez Valley Transit operations contract with Santa Ynez Valley Transit.
Mayor Infanti invited public comments.
Discussion followed regarding whether approval is needed by other partners, avoiding improprieties, increased costs, a 10% fare box return ratio, their on-call service and Solvang’s percentage of their overall business.
Wes Cruz, Director of Operations for California responded to questions from Council regarding Solvang’s percentage of their overall business, unforeseen increases in costs and challenges in employee retention.
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Dominic Perez, General Manager, discussed avoiding improprieties and discussed providing raises to their employees, retention and investing to keep operators safe.
There were no other public comments.
City Council concurred to allow staff to proceed with further negotiations regarding a contract amendment to include rate structure modifications and rate increases to operate the Santa Ynez Valley Transit service.
c. Discussion and possible action to receive and file Public Records Requests Report for January 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024.
City Clerk Porter presented details of the report for City Council’s consideration and discussed the number and type of requests in the last six months.
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Discussion followed regarding digitizing public records, software, access to public records, providing a public portal for building permits and plans to bring a report forward on a quarterly basis.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown, to receive and file Public Records Requests Report for January 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024, seconded by Mayor Infanti, and carried 4-0, with Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
d. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve Updated City Council Protocols to Conform with Regulatory Requirements and Make Other Conforming Edits.
City Attorney O’Sullivan presented details of the report.
Discussion followed regarding keeping the section about nepotism in the protocols.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown, to approve Updated City Council Protocols to Conform with Regulatory Requirements and Make Other Conforming Edits, seconded by Councilmember Clarke, and carried 4-0, with Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
Motion by Councilmember Clarke to continue the meeting past 9:30 p.m., seconded by Mayor Infanti, and carried 3-1, by roll call vote, with Councilmember Clarke, opposed and Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
e. Discussion and possible action to reaffirm City Council Legislative Priorities 2021 Platform and make other Conforming edits.
City Manager Murphy presented details of the report.
Discussion followed regarding the number of cities that are members of the League of California Cities, giving staff additional tools to support or oppose State legislation.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown, to table this item to a future meeting to allow City Council to review the procedures, further and carefully, seconded by Councilmember Claudia Orona, and failed 2-2, by roll call vote, with Councilmembers Clarke and Mayor Infanti opposed, and with Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
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Motion by Councilmember Claudia Orona, to reaffirm City Council Legislative Priorities 2021 Platform and make other Conforming edits, seconded by Mayor Infanti, and carried 4-0, by roll call vote, with Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, absent.
f. Discussion and Possible direction to Staff regarding Solvang’s Camping Ordinance in light of the recent Supreme Court of the United States Decision.
City Manager Murphy provided details of the report.
Discussion followed regarding enforcement, having the County pay for that enforcement, invalidation of the Boise decision, potential future edits, the City’s anti-camping ordinance and designating specific areas as zero tolerance.
There were no public comments.
City Council concurred to direct staff to continue working with the Legal Department and the County Sheriff’s regarding Solvang’s Camping Ordinance in light of the recent Supreme Court of the U.S. decision.
9. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS - None
10. ADJOURNMENT – 9:52 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, CMC
City Clerk
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