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Regular Meeting – 6:30 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.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor David Brown, Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona, Councilmembers Mark Infanti, Elizabeth Orona, Louise Smith
Staff: City Manager Randy Murphy, City Attorney Chelsea O’Sullivan, City Clerk Annamarie Porter, Community Development Director Rafael Castillo, Parks & Recreation Director Jenny McClurg
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Eric Daniels led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS
a. League of Women Voters National Voter Registration Day Proclamation Tracy Beard received the proclamation
2. PRESENTATIONS
a. PG&E Presentation
Eric Daniels, PG&E Public Policy and External Affairs Expert, presented the report.
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS – NON- AGENDA AND CONSENT ITEMS Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Tracy Beard
Vashti Wilson
There were no other public comments.
4. CITY MANAGER REPORT AND ADVANCE CALENDAR
City Manager Murphy reported upcoming items.
5. GC SECTION 53232.3(d) (aka AB 1234) and GC SECTION 84308 (aka SB 1439) REPORT OUT,
COUNCIL COMMENTS, REQUESTS
MINUTES
SOLVANG CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
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Mayor Brown reported attending the rededication of the Mission Church, a People Helping People meeting and a tour of the Village planters; spoke about attending a staff awards luncheon and noted attending the recent SBCAG meeting.
Councilmember Infanti reported attending the Library Advisory Committee meeting
6. CONSENT ITEMS
a. Approve Order of Agenda.
b. Approve City Council Minutes: September 8, 2025
c. Adopt Resolution 25-1301 Adopting Updated Special Events Guidebook (pulled) d. August Report on Santa Ynez Valley Transit Ridership e. Law Enforcement Services Annual Report
f. Adopt Resolution 25-1302 Approving the Salary Schedule for the position of City Manager Mayor Brown pulled Item 6.c for separate discussion.
Motion by Mayor Brown to approve the Consent Calendar, as amended, pulling Item No. 6.c for separate consideration, seconded by Mayor pro tem Claudia Orona, and carried 5-0.
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
c. Adopt Resolution 25-1301 Adopting Updated Special Events Guidebook Parks & Recreation Director McClurg addressed fees, closure of streets and parking and related fees to recover costs, refundable deposit and results of the fee study.
Councilmember Infanti addressed the effective date, noted that staff has been using the Guidebook for a while and added that it will be effective immediately upon adoption.
Motion by Councilmember Elizabeth, to adopt Resolution 25-1301 Adopting Updated Special Events Guidebook as presented, seconded by Mayor Brown, and carried 5-0.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
a. Short Term Rentals Policy & Application
Community Development Director Castillo presented the report. Discussion followed regarding homestays, minimum stay requirements, prohibited types of dwellings, fines, consequences for noncompliance, the need for robust permitting regulations, updating administrative citations and processes, ensuring the City procures the right software and tools, consumption of staff resources, excluded zones and exceptions, transferability of permits.
Discussion followed regarding preserving long-term housing, directing staff to focus on the VMU, working with neighbors to help police compliance and limiting the number of guests.
Mayor Brown invited public comments.
Tracy Beard
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There were no other public comments on this item.
Discussion continued regarding caps, what the rules will be and whether they apply to anything outside of the VMU, considering revenue opportunities outside the VMU and the importance of maintaining long-term rentals for the community, distance requirements, 30-unit cap, & prohibiting homestays.
Community Development Director Castillo recommended setting a cap at 30 units. Based on the direction provided, staff will return at a future meeting with an updated ordinance for Council consideration.
b. Chain Retailers
Community Development Director Castillo presented details of the report.
Discussion followed defining “Chain Retailers”, chain restaurants in the Village, maintaining the City’s small-town Danish character, the lack of large spaces in the City needed for large chain retailers, having the market decide demand, ghost retailers.
There were no public comments on this item.
9. COUNCIL CLOSING COMMENTS
Mayor Brown reminded the public of the upcoming State of the City event.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
Annamarie Porter, CMC, City Clerk
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