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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 5:32 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 Chelsea O'Sullivan, City Clerk Annamarie Porter
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Smith 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 5:35 p.m.
a. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION – pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title: City Manager
b. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS – pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency Designated Representative: Chelsea O’Sullivan, City Attorney Unrepresented employee: City Manager
RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Mayor Brown reconvened to Open Session at 6:30 p.m.
3. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
City Attorney O'Sullivan announced there was no reportable action taken during Closed Session; however, direction was provided to staff.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Brown adjourned the Closed Session at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025
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6:30 PM REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Brown called the Regular meeting to order at 6:33 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 Chelsea O'Sullivan, City Clerk Annamarie Porter Administrative Services Director Wendy Berry, Public Works Director Bridget Paris, Utilities Director Jose Acosta, Management Analyst Olivia Uribe-Mutal
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Scouting America Life Scout, Troop 33, Leo Brownstein led the Presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS
a. Troop 33 Scouting America Proclamation
2. PRESENTATIONS
a. Flag etiquette presentation
Scouting America Life Scout Brownstein narrated a presentation on flag etiquette.
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON-AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Aaron Peterson
There were no other public communications on Non-Agenda and Consent Items.
4. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy reported the next city cleanup is on August 16th, waste management rates will increase effective July 1st, and the landscaping goats will be leaving on June 11th.
5. GC SECTION 53232.3(d) (aka AB 1234) and GC SECTION 84308 (aka SB 1439) REPORT OUT,
COUNCIL COMMENTS, REQUESTS
Councilmember Smith reported having a conversation with Site C owner, Josh Richmond and attending the San Ynez Valley Economic Summit on June 5th.
Councilmember Elizabeth Orona reported attending a budget ad hoc meeting on May 27th, Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona reported having a conversation with Site C owner, Josh Richmond.
Mayor Brown reported attending the San Ynez Valley Economic Summit on June 5th, a meeting with Docusign Envelope ID: CF2E203B-F1FC-4890-9806-465ADFACA3D9 M 2025-06-09 CC 3
the City Manager and General Manager of Alisal Ranch and attended the Annual Meeting for Visit San Ynez Valley.
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda as Presented
b. Approve City Council Minutes: May 27, 2025
c. Approve Warrants May 2025
d. This item was pulled from consent by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, for separate discussion. e. This item was pulled from consent by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, for separate discussion. f. This item was pulled from consent by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, for separate discussion. g. This item was pulled from consent by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, for separate discussion. h. For Second Reading Adoption by Title Only Ordinance No. 25-0380 Amending the Title of Chapter 6 of Title 2 of the Solvang Municipal Code and Sections 1-11-2(B)(10), 2-6-1 and 2-6- 3(A) and (B) to revise the name of the Measure U Citizens’ Oversight Committee to the Revenue Measures Oversight Committee and Finding such action to be Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
i. For Second Reading Adoption by Title Only, Ordinance No. 25-0381 Amending Sections 7-3-10 and Chapter 6 (Camping) to Title 5 (Public Health and Safety) of the Solvang Municipal Code and Making a Determination of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act. j. Receive and file SYVT Quarterly Memo FY 2025 Q4
k. Receive and file Letter of Opposition to SB 79 (Wiener) Transit Oriented Development Councilmember Elizabeth Orona requested pulling Items 6.d, 6.e, 6.f and 6.g for separate discussion.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to approve consent items, 6.a, 6.b, 6.c, 6.h, 6i, 6.j and 6k, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried 5-0.
Excluded from Consent
d. Approve the Agreement with Tom Jones & Associates, Inc for Tourism Marketing Services in the amount of $393,000 plus $246,000 for paid advertising campaigns, $21,000 pass through for Crowdriff subscription, and a $103,500 contingency for a total Contract Amount not to Exceed $763,500 for the term July 01, 2025 – June 30, 2028. e. Approve the Agreement with Islett Agency, Inc for Organic Social Media Marketing for the Amount not to Exceed $187,500 for the term July 01, 2025 – June 30, 2028. f. Approve the Agreement with Anna Ferguson dba Stiletto Marketing for PR and media relations in the amount of $136,188 plus $52,016 paid media budget for a total Contract Amount not to Exceed $188,204 for the term July 01, 2025 – June 30, 2028.
Discussion regarding the reason for staff´s recommendation of a three-year contract, AI enhancing the work, ensuring there is a group in place that knows Solvang, continuing reporting quarterly and yearly and termination of contract with thirty days’ notice.
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City Manager Murphy reported there will be no quarterly briefings, but they will continue to do quarterly updates.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to approve consent item, 6.d, seconded by Councilmember Infanti, and carried 5-0.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to approve consent item, 6.e, seconded by Councilmember Smith, and carried 5-0.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to approve consent item, 6.f, seconded by Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona, and carried 5-0.
g. For Second Reading Adoption by Title Only Ordinance 25-0382 amending Chapter 2 Fire Prevention and Protection of Title 10 (Building Codes) of the Solvang Municipal Code, Adopting the Fire Severity Zone Map in a Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Pursuant California Government Code Section 51178.5, as recommended by the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection under the Direction of the Office of the State Fire Marshal and Making a Determination of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Councilmember Elizabeth Orona recommended ensuring the maps get fed into the Genasys System.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona to approve consent item, 6.d, seconded by Councilmember Infanti, and carried 5-0.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and possible action to Approve the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City of Solvang and the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (SBC OEM) for activation of the ReadySBC Alerts system and access to and use of the Genasys EVAC emergency zone mapping platform for zero dollars for the term June 10, 2025 – until terminated; and Authorize the City Manager to execute on behalf of the City Management Analyst Uribe-Mutal presented details of the staff report.
Discussion followed regarding narrowing down zones, distinction with the Fire Emergency Maps, the incident specific system.
Stacy Silva of Santa Barbara County Emergency Services narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the system.
Discussion followed regarding staff training, ongoing budget costs, allocation of costs, the number of zones in Solvang, staff readiness, security, passing on requirements to IT providers, links to PlusPoint.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Darlene Bayer
There were no other public comments on this item.
Motion by Councilmember Infanti to approve item 8.a, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 5-0.
b. Discussion and possible action to Approve Purchase of an Emergency Generator for Water Facilities from Quinn Power Systems in the amount not to Exceed $175,777 Docusign Envelope ID: CF2E203B-F1FC-4890-9806-465ADFACA3D9 M 2025-06-09 CC 5
Utility Director Acosta presented details of the report.
Discussion followed regarding the trailer mounted generators and the possibility of solar backup for specific facilities.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
There were no public comments on this item.
Motion by Councilmember Infanti to approve item 8.b, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 5-0.
c. Award Contract to Tierra Contracting Inc. for the Nyborg Estates Waterline Replacement Project PW 25-001 for the Amount not to Exceed $2,224,170 plus a contingency of $222,417 for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,446,587, for the term June 9, 2025 – January 31, 2026, and Authorize the Mayor to Execute on behalf of the City Utility Director Acosta presented details of the report.
Discussion followed regarding problems in the area and prior experience with this contractor.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Crystal Joseph, Joseph Engineering
There were no other public comments on this matter.
City Attorney O'Sullivan reported that although they provided clarification, the city is under no obligation to accept the lowest bid because they provided the information after the bid period closed.
Motion by Councilmember Infanti to approve item 8.c, seconded by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona, and carried 5-0.
d. Discussion and possible action to review the FY 2025-26 Draft Budget Administrative Services Director Berry narrated a PowerPoint presentation with details of the FY 2025- 26 Draft Budget.
Discussion followed regarding the water fund as source of funding for the generator, Lot 72 parking improvements, depreciation expense in the water fund, the work done by the Measure U Committee, and moving additional funds for Fire Safety and for TheaterFest.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Darlene Bayer, Village Collection
There were no other public comments.
Councilmember Elizabeth Orona recommended removing $25,000 for Theater Fest from Measure U to Measure E which will free up $25,000 to increase the Fire Safety value to $50,000 and asked to underscore the language recommended for the aquatic pool pledge that is articulated as a pledge, which includes services for seniors, adults and children, to include Solvang residents and that it is eligible for withdrawal if there is no progress to break ground on the project.
Discussion followed regarding Alamo Pintado, the importance of funding to be available, working with Docusign Envelope ID: CF2E203B-F1FC-4890-9806-465ADFACA3D9 M 2025-06-09 CC 6
Public Works and Utilities regarding Vyborg, completion of repair work.
Council directed staff to make the modifications recommended by Councilmember Elizabeth Orona and return with the final draft for approval at the next City Council meeting.
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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