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Special Closed Session – 5:30 PM
Regular Meeting – 6:30 PM
5:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
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, Assistant City Attorney Dave Fleishman, 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 LABOR NEGOTIATOR – The Closed Session is authorized by Government Code Section 54957.6
AGENCY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE:
Dave Fleishman, Assistant City Attorney
EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION:
Teamsters Union Local 986
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – 6:22 PM
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
Acting City Attorney Steele stated there was no reportable action taken during Closed Session.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brown adjourned the Closed Session at 6:22 PM.
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.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025
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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, City Clerk Annamarie Porter; Planning Manager Rafael Castillo
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Lori McConnell led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS
a. Danish Sisterhood Flora Danica Lodge #177 Proclamation Received by Lori McConnell.
2. PRESENTATIONS
a. California Consulting Grant Writing presentation
Tereza Sarkisyan, Steve Samuelian, Clayton Owens, Sammy D’Ambrosio of California Consulting, detailing the work done for Solvang identifying and accessing grant opportunities, ensures eligibility, and crafts the applications.
Discussion followed regarding changes in grant funding from the federal government, how the grant match percentage is assessed, ,the likelihood of winning the grant.
City Manager Murphy stated the work cannot be replicated within Solvang at the same cost and is confident that they will achieve a grant soon.
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON- AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Scott Love
4. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy reported an updated Fire Hazard Severity Map, the City is nominated for Best Main Street, Best Small Town in the West, and Best Small Town Food Scene for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards, community cleanup day May 17th, an upcoming discussion on community homelessness on March 12, 2025, the second informational grant meeting on March 11, 2025, the workshop to discuss things related to zoning updates with the Planning Commission and the DRC on March 13, 2025, the Measure U Committee on March 25, 2025 and Fire Awareness Mitigation meeting on March 31, 2025.
5. GC SECTION 53232.3(d) (aka AB 1234) and GC SECTION 84308 (aka SB 1439) REPORT OUT,
COUNCIL COMMENTS, REQUESTS
Councilmember Smith reported attending the Women Winemakers and Culinarians Celebration on March 8th.
Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona reported attending the Water Education for Latino Leaders 2025 Conference.
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Councilmember Elizabeth Orona reported attending the February meeting of the DRC, the JPA representing three ESA’s releasing the biannual reading and assessment of the wells to report on the health and sustainability of Solvang’s water table and is posted on the JPA website.
Councilmember Infanti reported attending the Groundwater Sustainability Agency for the Eastern Management area and the JPA meeting.
Mayor Brown requested a volunteer advisor to represent the City at the Air Pollution Control District.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented.
b. Approve City Council Minutes: February 24, 2025
c. Receive and file SYVT Transit Appreciation Day
d. Adopt Resolution 25-1280 Approving a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Solvang and the Lompoc Valley Medical Center for Healthcare Services, and Authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City
Motion by Councilmember Infanti, to approve the Consent Calendar, as presented, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 5-0.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and possible action to Approve the Agreement with BrightView Landscape Services Inc for Landscape Services for the Solvang (Skytt) Mesa LLMD in the amount of $274,824.00 plus a 10% Contingency of $27,500.00 for a Total Amount not-to-exceed $302,324 for the term April 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027, and Authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona to approve the agreement with BrightView Landscape Services Inc for Landscape Services for the Solvang (Skytt) Mesa LLMD in the amount of $274,824.00 plus a 10% Contingency of $27,500.00 for a Total Amount not-to-exceed $302,324 for the term April 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027, and Authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City, seconded by Councilmember Infanti, and carried 5-0.
b. Discussion and possible direction to Staff regarding Future Infrastructure and Land Use Planning.
Planning Manager Castillo narrated a PowerPoint presentation on Future Infrastructure and Land Use Planning.
Discussions ensued regarding water independence and State mandates, getting the previous urban growth boundary removed, considering what Council could do about annexing developable space right outside City boundaries and opportunity for City growth, the sphere of influence, urban growth planning, spending time and energy to learn the options, exploring conditions under which the City could grow or annex, involving the public and accepting Option 2 of the report.
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Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Dennis Bebee
There were no other public comments.
9. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS
Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona requested a newsletter be created with information about current issues and upcoming projects to increase transparency with Solvang residents.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, CMC, City Clerk