M 2025-03-24 CC 1
Special Closed Session – 5:00 PM
Regular Meeting – 6:30 PM
5:00 PM SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Brown called the Special Closed Session meeting to order at 5:00 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, City Attorney Craig Steele, City Clerk Annamarie Porter, Patty Howard, Regional Government Services Consultant
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS ON CLOSED SESSION ONLY –
None
2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Brown recessed to Closed Session at 5:02 p.m.
a. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNCIL – EXISTING LITIGATION – The closed Session is authorized by Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Name of Case:
S.Y. Valley Residents Association v. City of Solvang, et al.
Case No. 25CV01519
b. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS – The Closed Session is authorized by Government Code Section 54957.6
AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE:
Randy Murphy, City Manager
EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION:
All Unrepresented Employees
c. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR – The Closed Session is authorized by Government Code Section 54957.6
AGENCY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE:
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025
Docusign Envelope ID: 296868C8-AAF4-4F4A-8DA3-8C0DBBDCCC02 M 2025-03-24 CC 2
Dave Fleishman, Assistant City Attorney
EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION:
Teamsters Union Local 986
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Mayor Brown reconvened to Open Session at 6:27 p.m.
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
City Attorney Steele announced there was no reportable action taken during Closed Session.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brown adjourned the Closed Session at 6:27 p.m.
6:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Brown called the Regular meeting to order at 6:32 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, City Attorney Craig Steele, City Clerk Annamarie Porter, Management Analyst Olivia Uribe-Mutal, Planning Manager Rafael Castillo, Public Works Director Bridget Paris
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Engineering Technician Cole Phillips led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Brown announced an emergency item will be added to the agenda as Item 8.e.
Motion by Councilmember Infanti, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, to add Item 8.e to the agenda and address it immediately after Item 3, and carried 5-0.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS - None
2. PRESENTATIONS
a. Fire Chief Year in Review Presentation
Deputy Chief Garrett Huff of Emergency Services narrated a PowerPoint presentation detailing a public safety review.
Battalion Chief Lonnie Maniscalco reported on recent fires in the area emphasizing that none of the structures were equipped with sprinklers or fire detection systems and that two of them were caused by the incorrect storage of oily rags.
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Docusign Envelope ID: 296868C8-AAF4-4F4A-8DA3-8C0DBBDCCC02 M 2025-03-24 CC 3
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Lisa Palmer, Santa Ynez Valley Aquatics Center
There were no other public communications.
Mayor Brown moved to Item 8.e.
a. Discussion and possible action to take a position on the Chumash Casino Hotel and Resorts request to modify its ABC License.
City Manager Murphy introduced the item and provided a brief report.
Sam Cohen, Government Affairs and Legal Officer of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, explained why they want to modify the conditions of their permit, citing competition with other casinos and establishments.
Mayor Brown stated he had offered a gentleman’s agreement with Head Chef Sherlock to allow a happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to receive and file the petition on the Chumash Casino Hotel and Resort’s request to modify its ABC license, seconded by Councilmember Infanti, and carried 5-0.
Mayor Brown returned to Item 4.
4. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy reported voting for USA Today’s 10 Best Reader Choice Awards, a Measure U Committee meeting on March 25th, a fire mitigation meeting for the Santa Ynez Valley, the Solvang cleanup day on May 17th, QR codes attached to City staff and Councilmember cards for the public to rate their service and experience, and reports from the Measure U Committee at the next City Council meeting.
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 Solvang Chamber of Commerce mixer on March 13th, the joint Planning Commission and DRC meeting, a League of California City’s dinner on March 14th, and the Buellton Chili Festival on March 16th.
Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona reported attending a League of California City’s dinner where she spoke to Assemblymember Hart and Congressmember Carbajal.
Councilmember Elizabeth Orona reported attending the EMA JPA meeting and requested a report on the joint workshop of the Planning Commission and DRC and an update on the plans to combine the Measure U and Measure E Committees.
Councilmember Infanti reported attending the joint Planning Commission and DRC meeting, the GSA EMA joint meeting, and the Santa Barbara County Library Advisory Council meeting.
Mayor Brown reported attending the Sheriff’s Awards, a blood drive, a SBCAG meeting, an APCD meeting; future attendance to a meeting with the Board Directors of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, a visit to Diablo Canyon on April 3rd and requested a future agenda items regarding Docusign Envelope ID: 296868C8-AAF4-4F4A-8DA3-8C0DBBDCCC02 M 2025-03-24 CC 4
regulations on chain retailers and codes, handouts from stores and harassment of patrons.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented.
b. Approve City Council Minutes: March 10, 2025
c. Approve an Agreement with Tetra Tech Inc for Development of Cross-Connection Control Plan and Hazard Assessment, for the total amount not to exceed $108,596 for the term March 24, 2025 – December 31, 2029, and authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City. d. Approve the Fifth Amendment to the Agreement with Carollo Engineers Inc to Support Solvang’s USDA Grant Application for the WWTP Project to extend the term to June 30, 2026, and authorize the Mayor to execute on behalf of the City.
e. Adopt Resolution No. 25-1281 in Support of the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Complex. f. Adopt Resolution No. 25-1284 authorizing the City Manager to Execute an FTA 5311 Grant Agreement with Caltrans for Operation Assistance for Public Transit. g. Adopt Resolution No. 25-1283 Authorizing the Filing of a Claim with the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments for Allocation of Transportation Development Act funds for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
h. Receive and file January and February Financial Reports. i. Receive and file letter to Congressman Carbajal in support of HR 1267.
Motion by Councilmember Infanti to approve consent items, as presented, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried 5-0.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
b. Discussion and possible action to Receive and file the Fire Abatement and Brush Removal Program update.
Management Analyst Uribe-Mutal gave a report on the fire abatement and brush removal program, detailing ongoing vegetation management, new initiatives, long term plans, fire map updates, and community engagement.
City Attorney Steele discussed the tools available for the City to regulate vegetation management, including distances from structures and challenges in terms of rural areas.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
There were no public comments.
c. Discussion and possible direction to Staff regarding Vacation Rental/Short Term Rental Ordinance Amendment (Solvang Municipal Code 11-12-20)
Planning Manager Castillo narrated a PowerPoint presentation detailing vacation rental/short term rental ordinance amendments.
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Discussion followed on how short-term rentals not in tourist related zones would be affected if the City does nothing, Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) of short-term rentals, making the short term-rental permit annual to make revenue or be cost neutral for the City and the use and implementation of the software in other cities, how to regulate the number of short-term rentals, caps that may be envisioned, developing permit fees and annual registration requirements, enforcement and compliance Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Brandon Sparks-Gillis
There were no other public comments.
City Council directed staff to do the appropriate and required research and bring it back for later discussion.
d. Discussion and possible action to receive and file the 2024 Annual General Plan and Housing Element Progress report.
Planning Manager Castillo narrated a PowerPoint presentation detailing the Annual General Plan and Housing Report, and opined the Capital Improvement Plan should be recategorized as a red topic with highest priority.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
There were no public comments.
e. Discussion and possible action to Approve Amendment 2 to the Agreement with JJ Fisher Construction, Inc. for PW 24-04 Concrete Repairs Change Order 2 for an additional $2,300 for a total Contract Amount of $537,300, to Accept as Complete PW 24-04, and authorize the City Engineer to Record the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder.
Public Works Director Paris narrated a PowerPoint presentation on the Solvang Concrete Repair Project in the Alisal Glen neighborhood.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
There were no public comments.
Motion by mayor pro tem Claudia Orona, to approve Amendment 2 to the Agreement with JJ Fisher Construction, Inc. for PW 24-04 Concrete Repairs Change Order 2 for an additional $2,300 for a total Contract Amount of $537,300, to accept as Complete PW 24-04, and authorize the City Engineer to Record the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 5-0.
There were no public comments on this item.
9. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS - None
10. ADJOURNMENT – 9:02 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, CMC, City Clerk
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