Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025
CLOSED SESSION – 4:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING - 5:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL - 501 POLI STREET, VENTURA, CA 93001 DR. JEANNETTE SÁNCHEZ-PALACIOS, MAYOR
Councilmembers:
DISTRICT 1 – LIZ CAMPOS DISTRICT 5 – BILL MCREYNOLDS
DISTRICT 3 – RYYN SCHUMACHER
DISTRICT 2 – DOUG HALTER, DEPUTY
MAYOR
DISTRICT 6 – JIM DURAN
DISTRICT 7 – ALEX MANGONE
Bill Ayub
City Manager
Javan N. Rad
City Attorney
Michael B. MacDonald
City Clerk
PUBLIC ADVISORY: THIS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID MODEL WITH BOTH IN -PERSON ATTENDANCE AND VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION.
Live broadcasts of City Council meetings are available on Cable TV (Channel 15) and via internet accessible video stream at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/718/Videos or on YouTube at https://www.YouTube.com/cityofventura/live.
To access the meeting remotely: Join the WebEx meeting live at :
https://cityofventura.webex.com/cityofventura/j.php?MTID=mb78474db748ba59eb1317a0f6aaecf52 To request to speak on an item, use the chat function to notify the City Clerk by including the Item Agenda Number in your comment. The City Clerk will announce public speakers and promote them to a panelist, which will allow the use of camera and microphone. To join with audio only, call (213) 306-3065 and use access code: 2553 763 9532 ; Use Password Code: 39359347
Please be mindful that the meeting will be recorded, and all rules of procedure and decorum apply for in -person attendees and those participating virtually.
To submit written comments (up to 1,000 characters) for the City Council’s consideration and inclusion in the public records, email [email protected] by 3:00 p.m. on the meeting date, or by using the public comment form at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/publicinput. Please include the Agenda Item Number in the subject.
This meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54953. Any member of the public may attend this meeting. Questions regarding this matter may be addressed to Michael B. MacDonald, City Clerk, (805) 654-4787. The City Council may take action related to any subject listed on the Agenda. Meetings will adjourn at 10:00 p.m. Any items outstanding at that time will be deferred until the next regularly scheduled meeting . 1 Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
CALL TO ORDER – CLOSED SESSION – 4:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS: Public comments on Closed Session Items only.
CLOSED SESSION: Teleconference/Video Conference Meeting. The Public may not participate in the Closed Session, other than for Public Comments.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Name of Case: Johnson v. City of San Buenaventura
Ventura County Superior Court Case No. 2023CUWM014178
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
Name of Case: Devon Anderson v. City of San Buenaventura Date of Injury: September 16, 2022
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Number: ADJ17056017 Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
3. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Title: City Attorney
Authority: Government Code Section 54957
ADJOURNMENT: Adjourn to Regular Meeting.
____________________________________________________________________________________ CALL TO ORDER – REGULAR SESSION – 5:00 p.m: The regular meetings of the San Buenaventura (Ventura) City Council also serve as regular meetings of the Successor Agency and Public Facilities Financing Authority when Successor Agency and Public Facilities Financing Authority items are listed on the agenda.
ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Women’s History Month Proclamation
• Recognition of Montalvo Elementary’s 25th Anniversary – Dual Language Program
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS: Per Government Code Section 54954.2(a)(2), the Council Communications section of the agenda provides City Council the opportunity to ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement, or make a brief report on their own activities. 2 Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS: In compliance with Government Code Section 54954.3, Public Communications is that portion of Council meetings set aside for members of the public to address City Council on items of any City business other than scheduled agenda items. Comments are limited to items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City and are limited to no more than three (3) minutes. Per the City Council Protocols, this initial period for general public communications will be limited to twenty (20) speakers, with priority given to in -person speakers over virtual speakers. If there are ten (10) or fewer speakers, each speaker will have three (3) minutes to speak; if there are more than ten (10) speakers, each speaker will have two (2) minutes to speak. Speakers may not cede their time to another speaker. City Council cannot act on any items not on the agenda.
CONSENT ITEMS: Matters appearing on the Consent Items are expected to be non -controversial and will be acted upon by City Council at one time without discussion unless a Councilmember, City Staff, or a member of the public requests an opportunity to address an item. Items removed from the Consent Calendar will be discussed at the beginning of the Formal Items. Approval by the City Council of Consent Items means the recommendation of Staff is approved along with the terms and conditions described in the Administrative Rep ort.
1. Amendment to Legal Services Agreement with Best, Best & Krieger for the Oxnard Plain Groundwater Litigation
Staff: Javan N. Rad, City Attorney
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Attorney, or designeee, to enter into an amended Legal Services Agreement with the law firm of Best, Best and Krieger, LLP in an amount not -to-exceed $785,000 (an increase of $300,000) to continue representation of the City in the litigation matter of OPV Coalition, et al. v.
Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency, et al . (Super. Ct. Santa Barbara County, 2018, No. VENCI00555357).
2. City Council Minutes – Special Meeting held on February 1, 2025 and Regular Meetings held on February 11, 2025, and February 25, 2025 Staff: Michael MacDonald, City Clerk
RECOMMENDATION
Approve City Council Minutes for Special Meeting held on February 1, 2025, and Regular Meetings held on February 11, 2025, and February 25, 2025.
3 CONSENT ITEMS (CONTINUED)
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
3. Designation of Voting Delegate – 2025 Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) General Assembly
Staff: Michael MacDonald, City Clerk
RECOMMENDATION
Appoint Mayor Dr. Sánchez-Palacios as the City’s voting delegate for the 2025 SCAG General Assembly.
4. Third Amendment to Professional Services Agreement 2023 -029 with Disaster Cost Recovery Services to Maximize the Reimbursement of City Expenses Incurred because of Declared Disasters
Staff: Greg Morley, Chief Financial Officer
RECOMMENDATION
Approve and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Third Amendment to Professional Services Agreement 2023 -029 with Bridgette McInally d/b/a Disaster Cost Recovery Services for a new not-to- exceed amount of $342,500.
5. Second Amendment to General Services Agreement with General Pump Company, Inc. for Well Pump Repair and Maintenance Services
Staff: Gina Dorrington, Ventura Water General Manager
RECOMMENDATION
Approve and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute a Second Amendment to the General Services Agreement P2024 -069 with General Pump Company, Inc. for well pump repair and maintenance services to extend the contract term through June 30, 2026, and to increase the maximum compensation by $925,000, for a total not -to- exceed amount of $1,225,000.
4 CONSENT ITEMS (CONTINUED)
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
6. State Water Project Delta Conveyance Facilities Funding Request to Continue Planning and Design Work
Staff: Gina Dorrington, Ventura Water General Manager
RECOMMENDATION
a. Adopt a Resolution as a Responsible Agency Under the California Environmental Quality Act confirming the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Delta Conveyance Project, making certain Findings under CEQA, adopting the Statement of Overriding Considerations for the EIR, authorizing additional funding for the next phase of pre -construction work for the Delta Conveyance Project in an amount up to $714,505, and directing the Ventura County Watershed Protection District to send a contribut ion letter on behalf of the City of San Buenaventura to the Department of Water Resources in accordance with the Agreement for the Advance or Contribution of Money to the DWR by the Ventura County Watershed Protection District for preliminary Planning and Design Costs Related to a Potential Delta Conveyance Project executed in December 2020.
Resolution titled:
“A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
BUENAVENTURA, CALIFORNIA, (1) CONSIDERING THE FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE DELTA
CONVEYANCE PROJECT (STATE CLEARINGHOUSE NO.
2020010227); (2) MAKING RESPONSIBLE AGENCY FINDINGS FOR
THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT PURSUANT TO THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (“CEQA”) AND
STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15096; (3) ADOPTING CEQA
FINDINGS OF FACT FOR THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT
UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15091; (4)
ADOPTING A STATEME NT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS
UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15093 FOR PRE -
CONSTRUCTION WORK RELATED TO THE DELTA CONVEYANCE
PROJECT; (5) AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN AN
AMOUNT UP TO $714,505; AND (6) DIRECTING THE VENTURA
COUNTY WATERSHED PROTECTION DISTRICT TO EXECUTE A
CONTRIBUTION OR ADVANCE OF MONEY FOR DELTA
CONVEYANCE PLANNING ACTIVITIES PER THE AGREEMENT
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES FOR FUNDING
FURTHER PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR THE POTENTIAL DELTA
CONVEYANCE FACILITY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SAN
BUENAVENTURA”
5 CONSENT ITEMS (CONTINUED)
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
b. Authorize the City Manager , o r d esignee, to execute any documents necessary on behalf of the City of San Buenaventura to execute the Department of Water Resources Funding
Agreement for Preliminary Planning and Design costs related to a potential Delta Conveyance Project on behalf of the City of San Buenaventura.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: Staff shall introduce the public hearing item and present their report to Council.
Councilmembers may ask questions of staff if they desire. Any member of the public may speak or present evidence, after submitting a speaker card and being recognized by the Mayor. All rules of decorum apply during Public Hearings.
Each member of the Council shall verbally disclose all ex parte communications concerning the subject of the hearing.
7. Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan Amendment - Short- Term Vacation Rental & Homestay Ordinance
Staff: Javan N. Rad, City Attorney
RECOMMENDATION
a. Conduct a public hearing.
b. Adopt a Resolution approving submission of the Local Coastal Program (LCP) Implementation Plan (IP) amendment associated with Ordinance No. 2024 -09 to the California Coastal Commission for certification. Resolution titled:
“A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
BUENAVENTURA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A
LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA
COASTAL COMMISSION CONSISTING OF SAN BUENAVENTURA
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 6.455, “SHORT -TERM VACATION
RENTALS AND HOMESTAYS”
c. Determine that the City’s action is not subject to CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.9 and State CEQA Guidelines Section 15265.
8. Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026 - 2030 Capital Improvement Program
Staff: Charles W. Ebeling, Public Works Director
RECOMMENDATION
a. Conduct a Public Hearing on the amended proposed FY 2026 - 2030 Capital Improvement Program.
6 PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS (CONTINUED)
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
b.1. Adopt a Resolution adopting the FY 2026 - 2030 Capital Improvement Program adding project FA19-1149 and ST24-1269 Resolution titled:
“A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
BUENAVENTURA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEARS 2026 – 2030,
ADDING PROJECT NUMBERS FA19-1149 and ST24-1269”; or
b.2. In the alternative, if Council adds the Main Street Moves Bollards and Planters project to the FY2026 -2030 CIP, Adopt the following Resolution titled:
“A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
BUENAVENTURA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEARS 2026 – 2030,
ADDING PROJECT NUMBERS FA19 -1149, ST24 -1269 and ST25 - 1276”
FORMAL ITEMS: The public may comment on each item listed on the agenda for Formal Items as the item is taken up. Formal Items may be reordered at the discretion of the Chair. The public may speak up to three (3) minutes on each agenda item.
9. Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Workshop #2 (Continued from March 18, 2025)
Staff: Greg Morley, Chief Financial Officer
RECOMMENDATION
Provide feedback to staff on any additional budget items desired in advance of the Proposed Budget on April 22, 2025.
10. General Plan Update - Draft Land Use Designations, Land Use Designation Map, and Land Use Element (Continued from March 18, 2025)
Staff: Rachel Dimond, Community Development Director
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction on the outstanding Land Use Designations Map area, and endorse the Land Use Designations Map, and Goals, Policies and Actions of the Land Use Element of the draft General Plan Update.
7 FORMAL ITEMS (CONTINUED)
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
11. Adoption of the Strategic Priorities and Focus Areas
Staff: Bill Ayub, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION
a. Adopt Strategic Priorities for the period of July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029.
b. Adopt Focus Areas to reflect specific areas of Council interest within each broader Strategic Priority for the period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS: In compliance with Government Code Section 54954.3, Public Communications is that portion of Council meetings set aside for members of the public to address City Council on items of any City business other than scheduled agenda items. Comments are limited to items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City and are limited to no more than three (3) minutes. Per the City Council Protocols, speakers may not cede their time to another speaker. If a person speaks during the first general public communications period, they do not have an opportunity to speak again during this second period, even if their time was shortened to two (2) minutes during the first period. City Council cannot act on any items not on the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT: Communications to the City Council are public record and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: e -mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required, but if included in any communication to the City Council, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e -mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service to the City Cl erk’s Office at 501 Poli Street, Room 204, Ventura, CA 93001. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the City Clerk Department for further information.
In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (805) 658-4787 or the California Relay Service at 711. Notification 72 hours prior will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements for accessibility to this meeting. AP&P 6.04, accessible at the link below, explains procedures for receiving and resolving requests for accommodation to participate in or conduct this meeting.
https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/43474/APP-604-21225
Live Spanish interpretation will be available. No advanced request for interpretation services required.
La traducción al español estará disponible en vivo. No es necesario solicitar la traducción al español anticipadamente.
Administrative Reports relating to this agenda are available on the City’s website – https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/AgendaCenter.
8 Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Ventura City Council Agenda www.cityofventura.ca.gov
Resource Items for the Public:
• City Council Protocols which includes Rules of Decorum for the Public • City Council Goals 2024
• Budget Principles 2023-2024
• City Charter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This agenda was posted on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Clerk’s Office, on the City Hall Public Notices Board and on the internet.
Michael B. MacDonald, CMC
City Clerk
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