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Special Closed Session – 6:00 PM
Regular Meeting – 6:30 PM
6:00 PM SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Infanti called the Special Closed Session meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang, California.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Mark Infanti, Mayor pro tem David Brown, Councilmember Robert Clarke
Absent: Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, City Attorney Chelsea O’Sullivan, RWG Attorney Daniel Parlow (via Zoom), City Clerk Annamarie Porter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Infanti led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS ON CLOSED SESSION ONLY
There were no public comments on Closed Session Items.
2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION – 6:04 p.m.
City Attorney O’Sullivan read title of items to be considered under Closed Session.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – Existing Litigation – pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Name of case: South Coast Property Company 13-B, LP v. City of Solvang et al, Case No. 22- cv-00254
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – 6:28 p.m.
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
City Attorney O’Sullivan reported no reportable items from Closed Session.
ADJOURNMENT TO THE REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Infanti adjourned to the regular meeting at 6:29 p.m.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024
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6:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Infanti called the regular meeting of the Solvang City Council 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, Councilmember Robert Clarke
Absent: Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, City Attorney Chelsea O’Sullivan, City Clerk Annamarie Porter, Public Works Director/City Engineer Rodger Olds
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Stacey Otte led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS - None
2. PRESENTATIONS
a. Receive and File Quarterly Marketing Update
Consultant John Sorgenfrei, TJA, presented an update of Marketing Services including digital marketing highlights, events, increasing subscriptions, and a recap of the Fall campaign statistics.
Discussion followed regarding targeting mid-week travelers, availability of a walking guide, online, and accessible languages on the City’s website.
Susan Lee, Solvang Visitor’s Center, addressed programs such as their “Bear Hug”, social media birthday postings, the vendor application on the City’s website, the new Jul daylight tours during Julefest and tracking visitors to the center.
Liana Cabrera, via Zoom, presented an update on social media statistics for this quarter; addressed organic reach and continued opportunities.
Discussion followed regarding the source for the videos and content created by influencers.
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Mayor Infanti invited public comments.
Arthur George, The Village Collection
Frank Smithson, The Village Collection
Stacy Otte, California Natural Art Museum
Hank Homburg
Dennis Beebe
Susan Bott, We Watch, via Zoom
There were no other public communications on Non-Agenda and Consent Items.
4. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy introduced new Utility Director Jose Acosta and new Assistant to the City Docusign Envelope ID: 9D4CC89D-B6BE-40E8-B0FE-280DB9BEEF9D M 2024-10-28 CC 3
Manager Olivia Uribe-Mutal who introduced themselves and provided information regarding their backgrounds and qualifications.
City Manager Murphy discussed an upcoming Business Talks meeting, the Parks and Recreation Turkey Bingo and Clean up Day. He added that the Haunted House was a big success, and the next City Council meeting will be held on November 12, 2024.
5. GC SECTION 53232.3(d) (aka AB 1234) and GC SECTION 84308 (aka SB 1439) REPORT OUT,
COUNCIL COMMENTS, REQUESTS
Mayor pro tem Brown reported attending the California League of Cities Convention and thanked the League of Women Voters for their recent forum in the City.
Mayor Infanti reported attending the Viking Car Show, Dinner at Mendenhall’s and SBCAG and APCD meetings in Santa Maria and announced the Air Pollution Control District will end its Landscape Electrification Equipment Program on November 11, 2024.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented
b. Approve City Council Minutes: October 14, 2024
c. Approve Quarterly Financial Update
d. This item was pulled for separate discussion by Mayor Infanti. e. This item was pulled for separate discussion by Mayor pro tem Brown. f. Approve Amendment 2 to the Agreement with Inner Nature to amend the scope of work for the additional amount of $29,400, for a total contract amount not to exceed $117,330, and extend the term to June 30, 2025, and authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City.
Mayor pro tem Brown pulled Item No. 6.e from Consent for separate discussion and Mayor Infanti pulled Item 6.d.
Motion by Councilmember Clarke to approve Consent Items 6.a, 6.b, 6.c and 6.f as presented, seconded by Mayor Infanti and carried, 3-0. Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona absent.
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
d. Receive and file City Council Goals Update
Mayor Infanti referenced No. 17; explained this was done by public meeting and was presented to the public; felt comments about Lot 72 are valid and in response to his questions, City Manager Murphy addressed No. 13 relative to the HCA middle well and available options, No. 2, Planning goals, and No. 9 relative to local volunteer organizations.
Motion by Mayor Infanti to receive and file the City Council Goals Update, seconded by Mayor pro tem Brown and carried, 3-0. Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona absent. e. Award Auditing Services Contract to Badawi and Associates in the amount not to exceed $270,980.00 for the term October 28, 2024 - June 30, 3030 and authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City.
Mayor pro tem Brown expressed concerns that the auditor has already been serving the City for the last five years and now is preparing to approve a contract for another six years and noted there needs to be an independent firm that rotates every two or three years in duration. He added that this would not Docusign Envelope ID: 9D4CC89D-B6BE-40E8-B0FE-280DB9BEEF9D M 2024-10-28 CC 4
pass in the public sector and that the auditor needs to be independent.
City Manager Murphy reported reviewing the proposals received and explained other bidders were not responsive. In reply to Mayor pro tem Brown’s inquiry, he spoke about the possibility of a three-year contract with a two-year extension.
Mayor pro tem Brown suggested a maximum three-year term and City Manager Murphy mentioned changing the terms may change the price and explained the terms are for three years with possible two, one-year extensions.
There were no public comments on this matter.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown to approve Item No. e, for a three-year agreement and subsequently return to Council for review of the options to extend, seconded by Mayor Infanti and carried, 3-0.
Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona absent.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and possible action to approve Agency Grant Funding Guidelines.
City Manager Murphy presented details of the report.
Discussion followed regarding changing the term, “PowerPoint presentations” to “multimedia presentations”.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Brown to approve the Agency Grant Funding Guidelines, seconded by Councilmember Clarke and carried 3-0. Councilmembers Claudia Orona and Elizabeth Orona absent.
9. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS
Mayor pro tem Brown encouraged residents to vote.
10. ADJOURNMENT – 7:43 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, CMC
City Clerk
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