MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
June 30, 2022 City of Watsonville
City Council Chambers
4:01 p.m.
Note: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(b) Member Dutra attended the Council meeting via telephone from: 346 Carlton Road, Watsonville, CA 95076 Tel: 831-768-3044
1. ROLL CALL
Mayor Parker, Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino and Council Members Dutra (via telephone), Estrada, García, Hurst, and Quiroz-Carter (arrived at 4:42 p.m.) were present.
Staff members present were City Manager Pro Tempore Vides, City Attorney Zutler, City Clerk Ortiz, Principal Planner Orbach, and Deputy City Clerk Pacheco.
1.a. MOTION TO EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCIL MEMBERS (None)
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS
2.a. ORDERING AN ELECTION, PLACING A MEASURE TO AMEND THE WATSONVILLE 2005
GENERAL PLAN TO AMEND THE WATSONVILLE URBAN LIMIT & APPROVING
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH PROPONENTS
1) Staff Report by Principal Planner Orbach
2) City Council Clarifying & Technical Questions
In answering Member Garcia, Principal Planner Orbach spoke about proposed conditions that would need to be met to allow the City to annex specific property.
Sarah Clark, Attorney for Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection, in answering Member Garcia spoke about their efforts to collaborate with the City and engage the community in the urban limit line renewal process.
In answering Member Estrada, City Attorney Zutler stated the reasons why the Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County (LAFCO) was not involved in the preparation of the proposed compromise measure.
City Manager Pro Tempore Vides spoke about LAFCO’s work in assisting cities with annexations and farmland preservation. He further explained the reasons they were not involved in the process of preparing a compromised measure.
Principal Planner Orbach, in answering Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino, stated there was an exception in the measure proposed by the Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection that would allow annexation of property used to build housing should specific conditions outlined in the measure be met.
City Attorney Zutler spoke about the different processes the City had to follow to annex property for housing with and without an urban limit in place.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: F9092CDF-FEF8-4CCE-81C9-B71A90F1CA96 In answering Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino, City Manager Pro Tempore Vides stated there was an initial compromise with the Committee and explained a new initiative could be created and placed on the November 8, 2022 ballot if approved by Council.
City Attorney Zutler, in answering Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino, spoke about steps the City could take if the modified initiative and settlement agreement were not be approved by Council.
In answering Member Garcia, City Attorney Zutler spoke about potential exceptions to the urban limit outlined in both the Committee and the City’s proposed measures that would allow annexation of property in order to meet housing requirements set by the State.
Attorney Clark stated specific findings would be required in order to allow exceptions for annexations in accordance to language in the Committee’s proposed measure.
In answering Member Hurst, City Manager Pro Tempore Vides stated possible annexation of the gas station located in front of 320 Lee Road was not included in the compromise measure and settlement.
3) Public Comments
Amy Newell, District 1, spoke in favor of the settlement agreement and about the benefits Measure U had brought the City.
Sam Earnshaw, District 7, spoke in favor of the compromise measure and about the potential uses of the Redman House located at 320 Lee Road.
Joe Serrano, LAFCO Executive Officer, spoke about their purpose and collaboration with different jurisdictions on issues including annexation and determining provision of public services, and how they could assist the City with such issues.
Haj Tut, 320 Lee Road property owner, spoke about the potential new revenue source the development of 320 Lee Road would create for the City and stated he and his family would welcome community input in exploring best uses.
4) 1
st MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino, seconded by Member García to deny the resolutions listed under Items 2.a.6. and 2.a.7. 5) City Council Deliberation on Motion
Member Hurst expressed concerns with the modified initiative but acknowledged its potential benefits for the City and its residents.
Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino spoke about his concerns with the modified initiative and the need for housing in the City.
Member Dutra spoke about development potential for 320 Lee Road, housing needs in the City, and in favor of the compromise measure. He expressed his concerns with potential negative impacts of not approving Items 2.a.6. and 2.a.7.
Member Estrada stated his concerns regarding transparency and community engagement in preparing the measure to extend the urban limit.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: F9092CDF-FEF8-4CCE-81C9-B71A90F1CA96 Member García stated she would support the motion because she did not believe there had been sufficient community input, had concerns with potential restrictions on housing, and stated the 320 Lee Road property was not suitable for developing housing.
Mayor Parker expressed concerns with not approving the compromise measure and settlement agreement, and spoke about the importance of collaboration. 1 st MOTION: The above motion failed by the following vote.
AYES: MEMBERS: Estrada, García, Montesino
NOES: MEMBERS: Dutra, Hurst, Quiroz-Carter, Parker
ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
2 nd MOTION: It was moved by Member Dutra, seconded by Mayor Parker to approve the resolutions listed under Item 2.a.6.and 2.a.7.
Member Hurst spoke about the housing and employment opportunities that the compromise measure could bring for residents.
Member Quiroz-Carter expressed concerns with the proposed revised measure not providing sufficient opportunity for growth but stated compromising was important.
Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino explained his concerns with the compromise measure restricting growth and housing opportunities.
Mayor Parker spoke in favor of the compromise measure.
Member Estrada spoke about challenges with housing in the City and expressed concern with the duration of the urban limit proposed in the measure prepared by the Committee. 2 nd MOTION: The above motion failed by the following vote.
AYES: MEMBERS: Dutra, Hurst, Parker
NOES: MEMBERS: Estrada, García, Montesino, Quiroz-Carter ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
6) A RESOLUTION ORDERING AN ELECTION, PLACING A MEASURE TO AMEND THE WATSONVILLE 2005 GENERAL PLAN TO IMPOSE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON
SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS AS PROVIDED IN THE CITY MODIFIED INITIATIVE ON THE NOVEMBER 8, 2022 BALLOT, AND ALL ATTENDANT ACTIONS
7) A RESOLUTION APPROVING SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND
COMMITTEE FOR THE PLANNED GROWTH AND FARMLAND DEVELOPMENT
INITIATIVE
Mayor Parker recessed the meeting at 5:16 p.m and reconvened at 5:27 p.m.
City Attorney Zutler stated the Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection was willing to explore the possibility of adding language to the compromise measure that would allow annexation of land and approval of residential development on certain parcels.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: F9092CDF-FEF8-4CCE-81C9-B71A90F1CA96 3 rd MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino, seconded by Member García to direct staff to prepare a countermeasure and continue working on additional modifications to the compromise measure.
In answering Member Dutra, City Attorney Zutler provided the deadlines for placing a countermeasure on the ballot and for approving a compromise measure.
Mayor Parker directed staff to explore adding provisions to the compromise measure that would allow additional opportunities for housing.
3 rd MOTION: The above motion carried by the following vote.
AYES: MEMBERS: Dutra, García, Hurst, Montesino, Quiroz-Carter, Parker NOES: MEMBERS: Estrada
ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
Council provided direction to Principal Planner Orbach regarding exploring potential areas outside the existing urban limit line that could be suited for housing developments.
3. EMERGENCY ITEMS ADDED TO AGENDA – None
4. REQUESTS & SCHEDULING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - None
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.
__________________________ __
Ari Parker, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________ _________
Irwin I. Ortiz, City Clerk
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DocuSign Envelope ID: F9092CDF-FEF8-4CCE-81C9-B71A90F1CA96