M 2025-04-14 CC 1
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, City Attorney Craig Steele, City Clerk Annamarie Porter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Led by Councilmember Smith.
1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS ON CLOSED SESSION ONLY - None
2. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Brown invited public comments. There were no public comments at this time.
Mayor Brown recessed to Closed Session at 5:32 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:
Dave Fleishman, Assistant City Attorney
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025
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EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION:
Teamsters Union Local 986
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Mayor Brown reconvened to Open Session at 6:30 p.m.
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
City Attorney Steele announced only items A and B were discussed and there was no reportable action taken during closed session.
4. ADJOURNMENT: 6:30 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, Public Works Director Bridget Paris, Planning Manager Rafael Castillo
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chief of Police Services Travis Henderson led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS
a. DMV/Donate Life Proclamation
Received by Scott Burns.
b. Library Week Proclamation
Received by Librarian Erin Herzog.
2. PRESENTATIONS - None
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Ellen Albertoni, Solvang Senior Center
Matthew Clint Orr
There were no other public communications on Non-Agenda and Consent Items.
4. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
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City Manager Murphy introduced the new Chief of Police Services Travis Henderson and Chief Deputy for the Law Enforcement Branch Brad Welch.
City Manager Murphy announced Solvang was voted the “Best Small Town in the West”, by USA Today; spoke about changes in the bus schedules for the Santa Ynez Valley Transit,
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 the recent Wildfire Awareness Workshop.
Councilmember Smith reported that she too attended the Wildfire Awareness Workshop, a show at Solvang School, the Peasant’s Feast 5-year anniversary, and attended a tour of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.
Mayor Brown attended a Chamber of Commerce Board meeting and a tour of Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Mayor Brown asked to place a discussion on a future agenda, regarding term limits for commissions and committees with staggered terms.
City Manager Murphy reported on work that is being conducted at Hans Christian Andersen Park.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented.
b. Approve City Council Minutes: March 24, 2025
c. Adopt Resolution 25-1285 amending the Investment Policy to include Mechanics Bank on the approved list of financial institutions and authorize the City Manager to execute the new account documents.
d. Receive and file Solvang letter of support for Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians to support outreach and education efforts for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. e. Receive and File Santa Ynez Valley Transit TDA Triennial Performance Audit, FY 2022 – FY 2024 f. Receive and file Santa Barbara County Fire Statistics Quarterly Report Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to approve consent items, seconded by Councilmember Infanti, and carried 5-0.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and possible action to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1286 Initiating Intention of the Annual Assessment for the Solvang Mesa Landscape & Lighting Maintenance District No. 2004- 1 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and setting May 12, 2025 as the date for the Public Hearing.
Public Works Director Bridget Paris presented details of the staff report.
Discussion followed regarding the Proposition 218 process, holding the public hearing, and the purpose of the resolution.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1286 Initiating Intention of the Annual Assessment for the Solvang Mesa Landscape & Lighting Maintenance District No. 2004- 1 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and setting May 12, 2025 as the date for the Public Hearing, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 5-0.
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b. Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1287 to Approve Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee Guidelines.
City Manager Murphy presented the staff report.
Geoff Yarema, Chair of the Measure U Committee, spoke about the guidelines and if Council so directs, the Committee would be willing to oversee Measure E funds.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Mayor Brown to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1287 to Approve Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee Guidelines, seconded by Councilmember Infanti, and carried 5-0. c. Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1288 Granting Advisory Oversight of Measure E Revenue to the Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Councilmember Infanti to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1288 Granting Advisory Oversight of Measure E Revenue to the Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee, seconded by Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona, and carried 5-0.
d. Discussion and Possible Action to Adopt Resolution No. 25-1289 Renaming the Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee to the Revenue Measures Oversight Committee.
City Manager Murphy provided a brief report.
There were no public comments.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to adopt Resolution No. 25-1289 Renaming the Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee to the Revenue Measures Oversight Committee, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried 5-0.
9. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS - None
10. ADJOURNMENT – 7:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, CMC, City Clerk
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