Vol 66 Min-CC070722 Special
MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
July 7, 2022 City of Watsonville
City Council Chambers
6:00 p.m.
1. ROLL CALL
Mayor Parker, Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino and Council Members Dutra, Estrada, García, Hurst, and Quiroz-Carter were present.
Staff members present were City Manager Mendez, City Attorney Zutler, City Clerk Ortiz (arrived at 6:59 p.m.), Principal Planner Orbach, and Deputy City Clerk Pacheco.
1.a. MOTION TO EXCUSE ABSENT COUNCIL MEMBERS (None)
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES, & APPEALS
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 and Assistant City Manager Vides 2) City Council Clarifying & Technical Questions
In answering Member García, Assistant City Manager Vides stated the Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection declined to include additional exceptions to the urban limit to allow housing developments.
3) Public Comments
? male, Committee for Planned Growth and Farmland Protection, spoke about potential for housing units outlined in the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan and exploring alternate areas for housing developments.
Tom Wiley spoke about the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan’s housing element, the importance of continuing to infill while protecting farmland, and in support of the compromise measure.
Amy Newell, District 1, spoke in favor of the compromise measure, the potential for housing identified in the Downtown Watsonville Specific Plan, and the importance of protecting water supplies and farmland.
Javier Zamora spoke about the importance of farmland for the local economy and exploring other areas for housing developments.
Arnett Young, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau President, spoke about opportunities for continued infill housing and the importance of collaboration among all interested parties.
Joanne Bumgarner, District 7, spoke about the value of farmland, concerns with the state of the Redman House located at 320 Lee Road, and the potential for having an Agricultural Education Center built there.
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Tom Wiley, stated the importance of planned growth and the negative impacts of urban sprawl in jurisdictions where it had been allowed.
Peter Navarro, District 6, spoke in support of the compromise measure, the benefits of farming for the local economy, and the importance of protecting existing farmland.
Yesenia, District 7, expressed concerns with allowing urban sprawl and the advantages of infill housing. She asked Council to support the compromise measure and to pursue expanding mixed use developments within the City.
Sam Earnshaw, District 7, spoke about resident support for the Committee’s initiative and the importance of collaboration.
Daniel Dodge Sr., Monterey Bay Central Labor Council President, spoke about housing and employment challenges faced by residents. He asked Council not to approve the compromise measure and expressed concerns with the lack of public engagement. 4) MOTION: It was moved by Member Hurst, seconded by Member Dutra to approve the resolutions listed under Item 2.a.6.and 2.a.7.
5) City Council Deliberation on Motion
Member Dutra expressed concerns with infill housing and challenges with potentially using certain areas in the City for housing developments. He stated his reasons for supporting the motion.
Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino spoke about City efforts and challenges to build infill housing and his reasons for not supporting the motion.
Member García expressed her concerns with the amount of community engagement done by the Committee and spoke about the importance of giving residents opportunities to own their homes.
Member Estrada spoke about the effect of past policy decisions on current residents and stated his concerns with the compromise measure and the potential effects it could have on those wishing to purchase homes.
Member Dutra spoke about challenges and possible negative impacts of placing a countermeasure on the ballot.
Member Hurst spoke about challenges with housing and job creation due to land restrictions and in favor of the compromise measure.
Mayor Parker stated all generations faced challenges with housing and employment due to the high cost of living, and that the compromise measure would aid the City in continuing to grow in various aspects.
MOTION: The above motion failed by the following vote.
AYES: MEMBERS: Dutra, Hurst, Parker
NOES: MEMBERS: Estrada, García, Montesino, Quiroz-Carter ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
The Council moved to consider placing a countermeasure on the November 8, 2022 ballot.
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1) Staff Report by Principal Planner Orbach and Assistant City Manager Vides 2) City Council Clarifying & Technical Questions
In answering Member García, Assistant City Manager Vides, spoke about provisions regarding annexation of property included in the countermeasure.
Assistant City Manager Vides, in answering Member Hurst, spoke about potential unintended consequences of the countermeasure.
Principal Planner Orbach added that the City would still need to follow its normal process if it were to seek annexation of a property.
In answering Mayor Parker, Principal Planner Orbach spoke about the length of time an annexation would take.
Assistant City Manager Vides, in answering Member García, explained the Council’s options should they not move forward with a countermeasure. 3) Public Comments – None
4) MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino, seconded by Member Estrada to direct staff to move forward with placing the countermeasure on the November 8, 2022 ballot.
5) City Council Deliberation on Motion
Member García expressed concerns with funding sources for a campaign for the countermeasure and possible voter confusion should they see both urban limit measures on the ballot.
Member Dutra stated concerns with potential negative consequences of the countermeasure, campaign challenges, and the possible revenue developing 320 Lee Road could have brought the City.
In answering Member Estrada, Assistant City Manager Vides stated she did not believe the Committee would be willing to withdraw their measure and work to place a new one in collaboration with the City on the ballot at a future election.
Member Hurst spoke about the importance of the City having various avenues to continue with growth and development.
Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino stated he would be encouraging all residents to vote in the upcoming election.
Mayor Parker expressed concerns with the provisions for annexation found in both the Committee’s measure and the countermeasure and spoke about the potential benefits for the City in developing 320 Lee Road.
City Manager Mendez spoke about the 2050 General Plan and challenges with developing in certain areas within the City.
DocuSign Envelope ID: F9092CDF-FEF8-4CCE-81C9-B71A90F1CA96 In answering Member García, City Manager Mendez spoke about the work staff would do to prepare the 2050 General Plan.
City Manager Mendez, in answering Member García, stated the City had not identified anyone who would run a campaign in favor of the countermeasure.
Mayor Parker spoke about the importance of allowing voters input on potential property annexations.
Member Dutra spoke about challenges with ensuring voters were made aware of the countermeasure that would go on the ballot, expressed concerns with provisions in it that would allow Council to annex property without voter approval, and possible revenue for the City if 320 Lee Road were developed.
Mayor Parker stated the importance of resident participation and engagement in civic matters.
Member Hurst stated he supported job creation opportunities and smart growth, and expressed concerns with overcrowding in housing.
Member Estrada expressed concerns with the duration of the urban limit outlined in the Committee’s measure and spoke about the importance of community engagement and obtaining input from various organizations.
In answering Mayor Parker, Assistant City Manager Vides spoke about the cost of placing the countermeasure on the ballot.
City Clerk Ortiz stated the total cost of the election for the City depended on how many items it placed on the ballot.
City Attorney Zutler, in response to a previous question from Mayor Pro Tempore Montesino, stated sections of the urban limit would remain in place should both the Committee’s measure and the countermeasure fail. She spoke about provisions in the countermeasure for annexing property outside the urban limit.
MOTION: The above motion carried by the following vote.
AYES: MEMBERS: Estrada, Hurst, Montesino, Quiroz-Carter NOES: MEMBERS: Dutra, García, Parker
ABSENT: MEMBERS: None
3. EMERGENCY ITEMS ADDED TO AGENDA – None
4. REQUESTS & SCHEDULING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS – None
5. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
__________________________ __
Ari Parker, Mayor
Vol 66 Min-CC070722 Special
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_____________________ _________
Irwin I. Ortiz, City Clerk
ATTEST:
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