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Special Closed Session – 5:30 PM
Regular Meeting – 6:30 PM
5:30 PM SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Brown called the Special Closed Session meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang, California.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor David Brown, Mayor pro tem, Claudia Orona, Councilmembers Elizabeth Orona, Mark Infanti, Louise Smith
Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, Acting City Attorney Craig Steele, Contract Attorney Dave Fleishman and Outside Legal Counsel Dan Parlow, City Clerk Annamarie Porter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Infanti led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS ON CLOSED SESSION ONLY - None
2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
a. 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 b. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION – pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Name of Case:
City of Solvang — Petition to Change Water-Right Permit 15878 (Application No. A022423), under protest by California Trout and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, and comment by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. c. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION – Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Two potential cases
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – 6:24 p.m.
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
Acting City Attorney Steele announced there was no reportable action taken during Closed Session.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025
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4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brown adjourned the Closed Session at 6:25 p.m.
6:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Brown 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 David Brown, Councilmembers Elizabeth Orona, Mark Infanti, Louise Smith
Absent: Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona
Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, Acting City Attorney Craig Steele, City Clerk Annamarie Porter, Administrative Services Director Wendy Berry
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Craig Kent led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS
a. Human Trafficking Awareness
Anne McCarthy, Executive Director of the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center accepted the proclamation on behalf of the Santa Barbara County Human Trafficking Task Force. b. Black History Month
Mayor Brown proclaimed February as Black History Month in the City of Solvang.
2. PRESENTATIONS
a. Marketing & Tourism October – December 2024 Quarterly Update John Sorgenfrei, TJA, narrated a PowerPoint presentation with a quarterly update of Marketing Services.
Liana Cabrera, Islet Agency, via Zoom, narrated a PowerPoint presentation detailing a social media report.
Anna Ferguson-Sparks of Stiletto Marketing narrated a PowerPoint presentation on press communications, topics, and collaborations advertised.
Susan Lee from the Solvang Visitor Center; announced gifting emergency bags to visitors.
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Jamie Baker
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There were no other public communications on Non-Agenda and Consent Items.
4. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy reported the quarterly cleanup is on February 15, 2025 at Lot 4, the grant cycle is opening soon and there will be two workshops on the proper procedure on February 19, 2025 and March 11, 2025; added the Measure U Committee is hosting a workshop on January 28, 2025
5. GC SECTION 53232.3(d) (aka AB 1234) and GC SECTION 84308 (aka SB 1439) REPORT OUT,
COUNCIL COMMENTS, REQUESTS
Councilmember Elizabeth Orona reported attending a meeting for the EMAJPA and believes a loan will be requested of Solvang by the organization. Additionally, she reported attending the Senior Center groundbreaking ceremony and having a conversation with Joan Hartman about getting Solvang fire wise.
Mayor Brown reported being on a board at Allen Hancock College for the Upward Mobility Summit, attending a SB County Association Governments meeting.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented
b. Approve City Council Minutes: January 13, 2025
c. Receive and file 4th Quarter 2024 Public Records Requests c. Receive and File Classification and Compensation Study Motion by Councilmember Infanti to approve consent items, as presented, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 4-0. Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona absent.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and possible action to approve the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Administrative Services Director Berry reported the types of funds the city has and the available balance.
Melish Desai, Badawi & Associates, via Zoom, narrated a PowerPoint presentation on details of the financial report.
Discussion followed on compensated absences.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to approve the Annual 2023-2024 Audit Report, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried 4-0. Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona absent. b. Discussion and possible action to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1278 Granting Consent to the County of Santa Barbara to Establish the Santa Barbara County Wine Improvement District Docusign Envelope ID: A3D65FFD-9629-4E0D-8C57-D072A17FAE9A M 2025-01-27 CC 4
(SBCWID) and Include the City of Solvang in the Established SBCWID Alison Laslett, CEO of Santa Barbara Vintners, narrated a PowerPoint presentation on details of the Santa Barbara County Winery Improvement District.
Discussion followed on payer benefit, the current and anticipated budget and annual revenues, the City of Lompoc’s denial to join the SBCWID, marketing methods, the 1% assessment, membership structure and procedures, and wine bids.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Shelby Sim
Brit Zotovich
Karen Steinwachs
Brandon Sparks-Gillis
Keith Sarloos
Stephen Janes
Tyler Thomas
AJ Fairbanks
Amy Christine
Chase Carhartt
Luke Sundquist
Tracey Beard
There were no further public comments.
Councilmember Infanti stated he is in support of joining SBCWID citing personal communications he has had with producers and consumers.
Councilmember Smith stated she is in support of joining SBCWID citing how it does not impact City staff or residents, that people come to Solvang to spend money and relax, and the overwhelming support for it.
Motion by Mayor Brown to adopt Resolution No. 25-1278 Granting Consent to the County of Santa Barbra to Establish the Santa Barbara County Wine Improvement District (SBWCID) and Include the City of Solvang in the Established SBCWID, seconded by Councilmember Infanti, and carried 4-0.
Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona absent.
9. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS
Councilmember Smith stated she is still learning about the City and how it works, she is honored to be the voice of District 3 and offered to have a cup of coffee or glass of wine to anyone who wants to have a discussion.
10. ADJOURNMENT – 8:55 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, CMC
City Clerk
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