BodyCity Council
MeetingRegular Meeting
Date📅 June 11, 2026

UnGovr Transcript

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0:06 – 0:1522 turns

Pledge of Allegianceceremonial · click to expand
UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed5:59

We will call tonight's meeting to order at 6.03-ish. Council Member Sanchez, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed6:09

allegiance to

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 3Proposed6:11

the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed6:24

Thank you. If we could please have roll call.

Any reordering of the agenda tonight?

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated6:36

No reordering but I would note for the

Roll call — called by Unidentified speaker 4
Show transcript
Council Member Hornick, here. Council Member Lewis, here. Council Member Sanchez, here. Vice Mayor Mead, here and Mayor Silva, here
Agenda Discussionitems moved / continued / pulled — click to expand
Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated6:38

record right up front that the closed session items that are listed on the agenda will not need to be discussed this evening so we'll cancel those.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed6:47

Okay do we have any

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed6:49

public comment this evening for non-agendized items?

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 4Proposed6:51

There are no public comments.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed6:53

And anyone online? Okay, we'll move over to our consent calendar now for items one through five. Would anyone like to pull any items at this time from the council? And if not would anyone care to make a motion to approve?

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 5Proposed7:07

I move

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 4Proposed7:07

to approve.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed7:09

I second. Okay.

Roll-call vote Passed 5–0 move to approve. I second. Okay.
Show transcript
Council Member Lewis. Aye. Council Member Sanchez. Aye. Council Member Horne. Aye Vice Mayor Mead. Aye and Mayor Sutliff. Aye
UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 6Proposed7:19

All right we're gonna ride along.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated7:25

Okay, Mr. Mayor and members of the City Council item number six is a public hearing, a resolution of the City Council of the city of Buellton California regarding the amendments and publishing the report required by the Central Coast Water Authority resolution numbers 92-02 and 92-11 our resolution tonight would be resolution number 26-09 and our staff contact this evening for this report is our Public Works Director Rose Hess

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 7Proposed8:03

Thank you so much. In this public hearing before you is an annual report that we bring to council. Again, as Scott mentioned, this is one of our requirements for the Central Coast Water Authority. This is essentially our state water project water. As part of the requirements, we're required to publish an annual water supply report. Fortunately everything's been pretty consistent. We haven't any new spikes or any issues so we've updated the report with the water use from last year and same predictions for future uses in the next coming years as we've got steady This is the public hearing item.

Water supply report added to our online display of support of reports on the public works web page, and that will be available for the public to continuously peruse and go through as well. So with that staff is available to answer any questions you may have.

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UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed9:38

Thank you very much. I guess before we go to staff questions, do we have any public comment on this item at this time? Can we open public comment? Public comment is now open. Public hearing public comment is now

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated9:52

open.

Roll-call vote Failed 0–3 · 2 under review
Show transcript
We will now close public hearing slash public comment. Great! We'll bring it down back to Council for any questions of staff at this time. Any questions Council Member Hornick? Councilmember Lewis? No. Councilmember Sanchez? No questions. Vice Mayor Mead? No
UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed10:11

questions.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed10:12

All right, then we'll bring it for further discussion any further comments or possible motion of approval at this time?

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 5Proposed10:18

I move to approve resolution number 2609 a resolution of the City Council of the city of Buellton regarding the commitments and publishing the report required by Central Coast Water Authority resolutions numbers 92-02 and 92-11. And do we have a second?

Roll-call vote Passed 5–0 move to approve resolution number 2609 a resolution of the City Council of the city of Buellton regarding the commitments and publishing the
Show transcript
Okay, Council Member Lewis. Aye. Vice Mayor Mead. Aye Council Member Hornet. Aye Council Member Sanchez. Aye And Mayor Sobo. Aye
UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 6Proposed10:46

Thank you very much Rose. Thank you.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated10:54

Right, public hearing item number seven. This is a public hearing on status vacancies recruitment and retention efforts as required by government code section 3502.03 and our staff contact for this is our finance director Chanel Zamora.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role11:10

Good evening Mayor and members of the City Council. As required public agencies are We are supposed to present a, the status of retention and recruitment efforts. This must be done before budget adoption so tonight I'm just going to give a little overview at what the city has done this past year. So 1st, I'll start with some overview of staffing currently. The city has 20 authorized full time employees we have 1 vacancy which means we have a 5% vacancy rate.

As far as recruitment and retention efforts, the City has been advertising job openings on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, the City website in order to reach more applicants. We've also allowed remote work depending on the position. In the last in the past fiscal year, or this current fiscal year we've authorized a 5 points or percent cost of living adjustment known as the cola. And for this upcoming fiscal year 2627 city council has authorized a 3.2% Cola.

In addition to the cost of living, we've also provided employees with additional incentive pay offering opportunities for professional development certification licenses compensating them for bilingual skills or having continued education. We've also provided a housing allowance for employees. We've also increased the employer paid contribution towards employee medical benefits, and just recently we've updated our personnel roles to transition the longevity pay from a fixed monthly amount to a percentage-based structure.

Um, and the next section is the policy and procedural barriers to hiring. So we've identified some barriers that the city faces when it comes to hiring new employees. The 1st, 1 is budgeted compensation is slightly below market medium for some key classifications. We brought. Most of our positions up to par, but due to the nature that other cities have their own cola and have been having their market adjustment.

Even though we've caught up, we may still fall behind in the future. Our location, due to the high price homes and the expensive area we live in that limits the candidate pool. So we have to offer a good amount of compensation even influence people to move into the area. As I mentioned these barriers are high housing costs challenges for relocation and settling for current staff and potential candidates As required by Government Code Section 3502.3b, the recognized employee organizations are entitled to make presentation during this hearing and the City of Buellton does not have a bargaining unit however staff members are able to present any concerns they have to city council So there's no fiscal impact as a result of this hearing. This is just information shared that could potentially impact future budgets.

So staff recommends that the City Council conduct the public hearing and receive and file this report on the current vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts as required by government code section 3502.3. I may now answer any questions you have. Thank you.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed15:03

Okay, I think we'll follow the same procedures as the last one. We will now open public hearing slash public comment. Is there any public hearing slash public comment?

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated15:13

There are no public speakers online.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed15:16

Great! We will now close public hearing and public comment if we could bring it back now to staff or council for any questions of staff. Any questions...we'll go the other direction. Council Member Sanchez, any questions of staff at this

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed15:26

time? What's the vacancy that we have?

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role15:30

We have the administrative analyst currently vacant. We've been staffing it through a temp agency but it's been budgeted for full-time regular employee.

Roll-call vote Failed 0–3 · 2 under review
Show transcript
Council Member Hornick, any questions? No thank you. Council Member Lewis? No questions. Vice Mayor Mead? No

0:15 – 0:2020 turns

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed15:48

questions.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed15:49

And none from me. Do we need to do any form of adoption tonight too? Okay great well then unless there's further discussion by our council we'll go ahead and close the matter consider it received and filed

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed16:01

Great. Thank you.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated16:02

Thank you. It's time for Council Member comments and items.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed16:08

All right, so any comments? Council Member Hornick?

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 3Proposed16:14

I don't have any

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed16:15

comments. No comments. Council Member Sanchez, any comments tonight? No comments. Vice Mayor Mead?

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed16:23

Thank you for having me.

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UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed16:45

I just had one item I wanted to bring up as a possible discussion. It's in talking with our city manager, we were going over the schedule or calendar of meetings for us for the upcoming summer and throughout the rest of the year and between a few of our obligations whether it's the League of Cities conferences, the JPIA conferences or even with me with California Air Resource Board. We're finding that sometimes the quorum for our council is becoming a bit more difficult to reach with having three of us physically able to be in the room. I know we've been able to utilize Zoom, but i was curious if the Council maybe wanted to give the City Manager direction to possibly explore meeting with each one of us individually and talk about if Thursday's would make the most sense for us to keep our meeting times with considering that every time there's a conference we may have to cancel a meeting?

I believe we're looking at having to cancel One in September

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated17:31

right now. We will have to cancel one in September due to the league's annual conference and then there's potential as you mentioned if sufficient members would like to attend the JPIA educational forum in October that could be a conflict as well

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed17:47

So I just thought maybe with us coming into this space, it might be worthwhile for us to have the city manager reach out to each of us and see if there might be a better night that could work for this. If it works with staff impact, but just wanted to see if council might be open to exploring that

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed18:00

definitely open. Yeah, same definitely open. Yeah.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 3Proposed18:15

Is held, so I would tread lightly on on switch around.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed18:22

You move it up a week on those months or we could do the 1st and 3rd. Maybe on that month but.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated18:29

Is it planning commission? Either way, we would need to amend the municipal code. If we change it the night or the week, we would need to change the municipal code either way. So if a change is desired by the city council, we would need to come back with a discussion about an ordinance to make that happen.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed18:49

I think it might be worthwhile for him to speak to us each individually and kind of talk through it and see if it might make sense for it. I just know that as we're trying to have us represent on all these other boards for Buellton, and then also with the trainings that take place, to not have it be impacted by a quorum concern would be the one thing that might make it easier for us to attend these and not have it be limiting factor

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed19:09

And it's my understanding that a lot of those conferences and trainings happen on Thursdays because most other city councils do not have their meetings. They have their meetings earlier in the week, and so I think that that's important. If our citizens want us to be out in the greater governmental world representing Buellton and learning more about things, we need to attend those meetings, and so it behooves us to talk about that change I think it's important to have a conversation about what we can do

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 9Proposed19:40

in the broader scope. So without much more conversation, because we're starting to get into what will be your substantive discussion about what change you might want to make, if the council is at least willing to consider putting it on the agenda, then I think what the mayor was asking was just kind of consensus that

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed20:06

We hadn't had a policy. If we don't have quorum, we've canceled the second meeting and that's never hurt anybody without making a big reduction. We don't have a second meeting. That's an option.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed20:24

We're looking to cancel one in September and we're looking to cancel one in October. So it's becoming a more frequent problem so I just thought it might be worthwhile to have him reach out to us and bring back if we would like to. Moving on to written communications.

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0:21 – 0:2710 turns

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed21:04

I attended the community services and policy committee from California League of Cities. It was last week, unfortunately, the bill that we wanted that we supported AB 1708 was not passed it died. Unfortunately and so. I have the intention of finding out basically, apparently they are talking about bringing that bill back. This is the perhaps funding essentially and so there is a lot of concern from smaller cities like Buellton that we need this kind of funding to help with transitional and unhoused help. So it's currently not being discussed but I don't think it'll be the last time that we hear about it.

And so there's a few other bills as well that were of interest. Suggest that if anyone is interested in what's going on, um, in our house legislature to do their research because the bills are coming forward now and the votes are gonna be happening. So it's important to stay informed just so you can make sure that your legislatures are doing what you want them to be doing. Thank

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed22:06

you very much. One item I have is we had the SBCAG North County subregional yesterday. And they were going over the kind of as the 101 closes in on being completed with the Whiting and South County, there's been a redirection of emphasis on North County projects and in that I believe it started in 2008. The passing lanes of the 246 was In the last 10 years they did phase one and now that they're looking at doing phase two of passing lanes between us and Lompoc, kind of around the drum canyon areas where they're looking for the second section.

It was brought up just to confirm one that's still a priority to be done which the North County Subregional voted yes on but then myself and Supervisor Hartman requested to expand the scope of study to have it be not just It's important to acknowledge not only what the 246 passing lanes are but also to acknowledge that the cogs at either end of the traffic on 246 with Buellton and Lompoc should be looked at how this increased traffic anticipated is impacting If we anticipate the need for traffic to increase on the 246 for these passing lanes, we should also look at the continuation of the experience into Buellton and into Lompoc so that there might be some space for making mitigation efforts for that traffic coming into it. So this is a five-, six-year kind of plan going on but that was just something that was discussed to keep that moving forward with Measure A funding.

So that was one piece and then SPCAG was here I believe last week or two weeks ago. The staff was here and they were walking The proposed location for the river trail to look at identifying locations per point of entry. And they were looking at the Thumbelina area for the sidewalk piece that they've been looking at across from the hitching post, so they were looking at that. And then finally we had a discussion I brought to the attention of the Caltrans representative at this that with the road closures taking place within Buellton for Santa Rosa Road and north on-ramp of Rufus T. Buell I just referenced again to the representative that with how unfortunate the timing success has been for the 246 lights, that Caltrans really we are I think we're still in scope of

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UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 3Proposed25:13

I just wanted to make sure. I'm not sure if that's something we should be concerned about. Providing loggerheads with our idea of the road diet on the 246, is that going to be a concern? Hey, we're expanding our scope here and potentially this could be an issue.

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UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed25:57

They need to be, it was basically a way for them to identify if there's concerns or issues at either end that their study and scope provides the background for us to be able to have them acknowledge what's happening just outside of our city limits. So yeah it's more just... Be aware of us. ...be aware that we exist is a weird accomplishment that took place but yes they will now be more thoughtful. We should think about where these cars are going after they pass each other and how they're entering Buellton. Thank you

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed26:22

I had a question too Yeah, what did where are the passing lanes for lanes. I believe

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed26:30

it's on the lanes. It's where it's one lane either direction and then they added passing lanes, and it's more on the east or the western side of it. And they already completed phase 1. Phase 2, I believe is right around Drum Canyon heading towards us. So that's the next phase. I think it's four and a half miles. The first phase was four and a half miles. Second phase is four and half miles of passing lanes to add an additional lane for passing. So just out of middle? I think it's side lanes or turn lanes.

So if you go from one either direction to two, either direction so you can pass each other.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed27:04

Okay

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed27:06

I can uh it's available the maps on the website so i will send you the link because that'll be much better than me doing finger gestures like that but yes I can send that to

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed27:14

you okay thank you

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated27:17

okay All right. Mr. Mayor, if we're ready for our business items, we have only one business item this evening. That is our mid-cycle budget study session related to fiscal year 2026-27. Again, our finance director will be the staff contact. There we go. All right.

0:28 – 0:3813 turns

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed28:04

Here we go.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role28:09

Okay. So, tonight I will be going over the proposed budget amendments for fiscal year. 2627 of the original 2627 budget was. For the most part. Budgeted, uh, you know, 3% inflationary factor from the previous year. Or if at the time department had had certain priorities that's the amount that was budgeted. I'll go over each department as we go along the presentation and I'll highlight the major significant changes in that budget.

So, this table in front of you is a proposed budget overview. I do want to know that the table 1 on the staff report needed updating for capital improvement projects instead of 9.4 it actually ends up being 8.15. So, the overall city operating budget is about 19.6 dollars and the total capital permit budget 8.1 for a total citywide expenditures of 27.7Million.

So, I would 1st want to start off with our general fund revenue. And highlight certain revenue streams. That were that were highly surprising to us the 1st one being the transient occupancy tax. So, the proposed budget in 2627 assumed a full year of. Revenue from the 14% occupancy tax rate that was approved November 2024. The 2425 out of 6 months. Or not, 6 months from February to June a revenue that was coming in with the 14%.

Increase so the 2526 budget assumed an increase. Of about 600,000 dollars. Uh, the targeted budget or the targeted revenue for 2526 is looking like we're coming under. So in order to budget conservatively for the next fiscal year. He went ahead and assumed 4 point about 4.3 dollars until T. revenue. Which we assume would be a 2% increase from the projected. Or 2526.

Um, we're seeing that the occupancy rate has decreased us. As of April of 2026, the average occupancy rate was or occupancy was 60 per 62%. Versus 68% compared to last year. And then he. 2nd, significant change was just in property taxes. We receive property taxes. From January from assessed value date of January 1st. 2026 we received that in 2627 so we updated the projections to reflect what projects based on the county records.

So, overall operating revenue on this proposed budget is expected to decrease for $246,862. In addition, our original budget projected a draw from reserves of 1.8 million but this time we're looking at a drop of 3.3 which is an increase of about 1.5 million.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed32:04

Where are you?

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role32:06

Uh, so this would be page 70 of the. Page let me go back 68 of the packet where list to the schedule of revenue. So in this slide I'm just highlighting the major changes.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed32:24

You said page 60 of the packet? Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role32:29

You're welcome. So, the next revenue sources that needed updating were wastewater funds. So, the original 2627 budget assumed no rate increase. We maintained a status quo because at that time we didn't know what way council was going to vote since the public hearing was after adoption. Uh, so the 2627 proposed budget projections project the revenue based on the new rates that will become effective July 1st 2026.

So charges for total services is expected to change about 1.1 million dollars. There was a decrease in interest earned just due to the fact that since we've been spending more money, there's less money in investment so we decreased that and we also wanted it to be a conservative measure And then we're projecting an increase or a decrease in transfer of reserves because we are bringing in more revenue.

So, we can draw less which is a decrease of transfer from reserve of 1.1 million dollars.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 5Proposed33:54

And just a quick question, we have separate reserves for the wastewater versus the general fund? Or when you say transfer from reserve?

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role34:00

No it's separate yeah each one has its own reserve.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 5Proposed34:03

Thank you.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role34:03

You're welcome And then the 2nd, our wastewater fund is always water capital from that was funded through connection fees and interest. So this 1 because there's no connection fees budgeted we're going to draw. Or have a transfer from the sewer fun into sewer capital for capital projects. Uh, so that's just a slight increase of 30000 dollars. And then our next 1 is water fund revenues.

Again, the original adopted budget did not account for the revenue increases from the water rate study. Rate increases so proposed budget for charges for services is an increase of 431,006 dollars. And this 1 also. Although we have an increase in revenue, we're drawing more from reserves because we had capital projects that were carried over to the new fiscal year. Therefore, we're using those reserves for those 2 fundos capital projects and that's an increase of. 460 dollars and 964.

And then our next, our water capital fund. This 1 requires us to transfer an additional 10,000 dollars. From reserves and no additional transfers from water fund will be needed. And then I just wanted to point out another fund that. Needed updating and these figures are proposed come from California city. So, these are gas tax funds. So every year in January and May, California cities puts out a report. And these figures are the latest reports for me 2026.

So we just adjusted it to match what were projected to receive from gas tax. And that was just a slight increase of $8,912. So now we're going to look at the general fund expenditures and we're going to be looking at every single department individually. Um so as a whole you'll see the employee services increase and I just want to go over All the factors that contributed to the increase that way when I don't go, when I go through a department, I'll just get that part. The 1st time being it, the budget reflects a 3.2% cola effective July 1st, 2026.

This applies to all regular full-time employees and the city manager. It also projects a full time accounting technician. It also reflects the employer health premium contribution increase effective July 1st, 2026. The car allowance for department heads longevity pay changes. On call pay increases and pay increases to part time employees. So, first we're looking at city council, the city council.

Department only showed a slight increase of 3000 dollars. Operating expenses, um. And this is just due to the travel and training cost it's been. A little bit more expensive since the cost of hotel, the mileage rate goes up every year and sometimes registration fees as well. Next city manager. This one, we increased travel and training but I think you, I don't know if you had a comment on that Scott?

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated38:10

Yes travel and training, let's see. Travel and training budget here was in the current or original budget for the city manager where did it go?

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role38:27

It was $7,725 for the original and proposed is $9,000.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated38:31

Right, I think the original amount here is adequate for the coming fiscal year as well. I don't think we need to increase that. The other thing I will note is that the expenditures from last year came in a little over the budget and actually that was I think we can go ahead and leave the travel

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0:39 – 0:4710 turns

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role39:14

Okay, so moving along to city clerk human resources. I want to know that the. Code update has projected 2000 dollar increase and this has been a current trend in the past years where the cost for those code updates have been increasing significantly. And the 6000 dollars came about based on actual data in the last 3 or 4 years. The biggest increase in this department is for travel and training of an increase of $6,000. And this is due to succession planning effort and professional development to allow employees to grow in their apartment. In this case we have an employee wanting to pursue their master's degree.

Additionally, we have a increase in miscellaneous. And office supplies based on past data. The next department city attorney are. Although the dollar change was not that significant. We are required to disclose that the new proposed budget includes a 3.3% rate increase effective July 1st, 2026 in the contract.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 5Proposed40:44

That's it I'm done.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role40:49

So, non departmental is our largest department because this 1 has our transfers out for capital improvement projects and there was a few items that. Changed some are pretty small on them somewhere large but. We're going to look at the liability insurance. That was updated to reflect the latest quote received from. The next 1 shows an increase of 19,232. I noted in the staff report that this includes a potential migration to the cloud for our ERP system.

The quote came about 15 dollars, $15,000 more than we currently pay. We're hosting our in house. And the reason this was brought up is because we've been constantly needing to either buy a new server or clean our server. It seems more often than not and it just takes away more staff time, because we have to stop what we're doing and have. I T, clean it out so this is just potentially in the budget if we do decide to go this way.

Um, but other than that, if you take away the 15,000 of the computer maintenance is. Expected to go up about 4000 and that's just the nature of all our contracts where they'll grow up anywhere from 4 to 5% annually. And then membership and publication of this includes. Membership to League of cities, and the Association of California water agencies. And this has been increasing about 5% each year as well.

So that's increase up about 2000 dollars. And then our next 1 contract services. Our contract with California consultant writing contract they. Are set to increase their rate 250 dollars per month. If starting June 23, 2026. So the next budget line item and non departmental is for utility sewer and utilities water. So the amount proposed is based on the increase that is. Effective July 1st, 2026.

And then we have utilities electric, and that's just based on the. The trend of great heights and then Internet access website. The increase in this is about 9000 bars. And the reason for this is because the city just recently transitioned to fiber Internet. Which resulted in 400 dollars more per month, and that was necessary to make sure that the city. Had a reliable and consistent Internet connection at City Hall.

Um, and the next 1. Is last summer as part of the water group. Water and sewer rates. Increase city council decided to create a low income program. So, when the budget was 1st originally adopted this wasn't included so now we're including the 30000 dollars we set aside for this discount program. And then the next budget line item telephone, this is expected to go up 2450. we add a new cell phone line and also reflects increases to frontier and Verizon charges.

And the transfer to other funds of 50,000 dollars. This says this is for the sign is Valley bike and trails. So, the general fund. Transfers 50,000 dollars to fund, which is then put on reserves. Where it's the sinus sinus valley trail. River trial. And the last budget line item here. Is the largest, it's an increase of 718,660 and this just reflects the prior carryovers for capital improvement projects.

And next for finance, the only increase here is in employee services and that's mainly due to the addition of a full time accounting technician. Public safety of the total increase to the department is 25,571. I want to note that the contract services for sheriff. Projects a 2.78% agreed upon escalator as a 4% you. The decrease in the motor that because was based on the most current cost sheets provided by the county Sheriff's Department.

And next, the library at the 1st item science that would be a new budget line item. I will proposing 15,000 dollars for new signs. Um, and then the next 1 contract services and increase of about 60,000 dollars. And this includes expanded hours. Um, and then you have smaller increases for utilities to run water when that's due to reflect the water rate increase affected July 1st, 2026.

And then a proposed budget of 5000 dollars for office furniture for the library.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 3Proposed46:46

Good question we increased hours.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated46:50

The budget numbers reflect increased hours. We are in the process of doing recruitments right now to allow the increased hours there's some additional staffing that's required and some transitioning of positions from one to another to make that work.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed47:07

Thank you, we'll announce it though.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated47:09

Yes we will announce them.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed47:11

So just to confirm that means we're realizing the budget increase now but we're not actually spending them? That's

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated47:15

correct

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 6Proposed47:16

yeah.

0:47 – 1:0515 turns

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role47:20

Okay, moving along recreation department the recreation department shows a overall department increase of 635,267 dollars. There's a new budget line item in this department it's for membership and publication and that's for participation in the California parks and Recreation Society. Also there's a slight increase in the contract services and that's for the janitorial services Um, the next 1 is a new expense in the built recreation program. And again this this is something that city council will discuss in the future but we're just putting it in the budget now if city council wishes so the additional 50000 dollars and build to recreation program is a projected cost for a drone show during winter fest.

The next budget line item arts and culture. Shows an increase of 82,011 dollars and what this amount is is just unspent rollover funds from fiscal year 2526. And then. The next 1 is aquatics foundation. We're showing an expenditure of 500,000 dollars and this is just a placeholder to reflect the pledge that city council authorized for the pool at the high school.

So we wrote over the pledge from fiscal year 2526. And then the next 1 that I highlighted, this is a new budget line item. It's called swim 5050 and what this is is with. We are in partnership with the city of solving and we're splitting 50% of expenditure towards the administration and. Oversight of everything this summer at the swim so we're sharing 50% revenue and 50% expenditures.

1 thing I want to know is that the budget. In your packet shows 2500. And rack actually said it's 25,000 so when we come back next. City council meeting will show this as 25,000 instead of 2500 and that's based on a total cost of 50,000 dollars to run that program. And this is our share.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed49:47

And that's I'm sorry, that's just for this summer program. That's occurring like the summer right?

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role49:52

So this would be yes because it starts this month. Okay

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed49:59

so 50 total for the summer program that's currently going to

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role50:03

happen. Yeah

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed50:04

we're paying out.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role50:06

Okay and then the next one to know is they plan to update their laptops so we're increasing computer equipment to $1200. Uh, we can skip along public or street lights. There's no changes and there's no changes to storm water. No changes too far. There is only a small change to the landscape maintenance department and this is for utilities electric again it just reflects rate hikes.

Okay, and now public works general. This 1 only had 2 significant changes where the 1st was not too significant, but I wanted to. Point it out because it is as a result of the personnel update approved in March where we increase their allowance for uniform. And then the budget proposed budget shows an increase of 14000 dollars due to the increased fuel prices.

And then the last department in the general fund planning. So, for this particular department just shows a small increase of 7. About 1700 hours for travel and training. Um, 5,000 dollars increased to the contracts and this was previously approved by city council when they when. If I doesn't increase to the annual contract was approved. It went from 20,000 to 25,000 a year.

And then the largest budget increase here about 145,000 dollars. Is due to a rollover from higher on spent funds for the comprehensive general plan update. And then the next change is for utilities electric. And then we have a small increase of 800 dollars for computer equipment. The 1200 hours was not enough for the actual replacement of what they need. Now, moving along to wastewater and waste capital fund.

Um, the 1st change is a small amount but it's for to insurance. To the insurance liability as proposed as. As proposed on the quote. The laundry uniform again to reflect the increase. Approved previously. And then travel and training. So, here it has a large increase of 8000 dollars and again this is due to professional development. We have an employee that's interested in their continued education and those will allow the city to provide tuition towards them meeting that goal.

And then the next budget increase of 19,000 dollars to chemical analysis as due to the general cost increase for for those tests. And then the next 1, as I mentioned before utilities electric due to the rate increases. And but. The next one I want to point out is depreciation. The wastewater and water funds are treated for accounting. So they record appreciation and this is proposing increase because we have increased our capital assets, which means we have more depreciation And then next 1 transfer to other funds that shows a decrease of 145,000 dollars. And those would have been transfers or capital projects.

Waste water capital this is again increase in depreciation of 30,000 dollars. Next water and water capital funds. This one's almost identical to a sewer. So, we show an increase of insurance liability laundry uniforms. Office supplies this 1 had a type on the original it should have been 2525000 so we will correct that. So that shows us saving us 22500

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed54:42

solves for the park situation. Yeah,

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role54:46

it's a net. And then utilities electric, that's just an increase of 29,100 due to the PG and E rate increases. And then an increase of 100,000 dollars for depreciation. And an increase of 800 dollars for transfer to other fund. For capital improvement project carryovers, and then a 3000 dollar expense for computer equipment. Um, and that's due to an unspent fund from the prior year.

And for what was water capital, a 10,000 dollar increase in depreciation. So now we're going to look at our 1st special fund housing from. So this 1 had no budget changes and gas tax fund. The gas tax fund had a 10000 increase to contract services. And a 284,454 increase due to prior carryovers for capital improvement projects. And now local transportation from.

There was no changes here. Transportation planning fund there was no changes. And our last special revenue from measure a. So, due to prior year carriers were showing an increase of 460,000. 156 for capital improvement projects. So now we'll move on to our capital projects. These are just like I mentioned earlier, we're. Expecting to spend about 8.15M dollars for capital improvement.

And I'll just go over each project, do a brief summary of what we're expecting to do this upcoming fiscal year.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed56:48

So, sorry I'm going to interrupt really quickly and just ask a clarifying question. So in the budget with all those line items you reference capital improvement projects so is this. Is this the same projects or

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role56:59

that's the same project? So I've referenced transfer to other funds to capital projects right? So this slide here is a projected 5 year projection into 5 years. So this is categorized by funding source. Okay. So general fund it's about 2.5 million. If you go to the department, I want. 410 transfer to other fund that you see that transfer and at the same time you've got a waste water transfer too.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 8Proposed57:28

So basically just like, that's what I said this isn't. This is an additional capital projects. You're just listing out the projects that you've already referenced in the line. Yes. Okay. Correct? I just wanted to make sure I understood. Thank you. Thank you. You

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role57:40

know, you're welcome. Okay so the 1st. Project here 1 or 2, I just wanted to bring up. Bring it up because there was a current budget and we're showing that we've completed it so we don't have to transfer that 1 over. We're looking to fund the sign as for every trial. Uh, we're projecting 225,000 dollars. For the next fiscal year. The avenue improvements, medium 3 or projecting 150,000 dollars towards design and permitting.

For city hall emergency generator this has been an ongoing project that has been a carry over year after year and staff have been working to apply for a grant for this to fund this particular project. This other project, the Riverview Park basketball course. Court resurfacing is also a prior carry over. And this has a projected cost of 80,000 dollars.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed58:56

That includes striping for pickleball

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role58:58

yes it does. The next project at. Well, it's in parking lot this. Is a continuation of the current face 1 was completed. And this would be phase 2, so we projected about. 985,900 or phase 2 of the project. McMurray road, right? This ones are ongoing and remaining, but the construction was completed during fiscal year 2526. But there may be additional expenditures 2627 as we find this product.

On North Avenue, this is another carry over project that we've been pushing off every year. And it has a total of 50,000. Dollars for design and permitting. What's highway 246 safety improvements? Um, we are currently working on consensual plan and feasibility out of a post budget. Projects design and permitting and project management for total cost fiscal year cost of 243,650.

And road maintenance project 2526 of this project is a carry over design. The design phase is currently happening right now, so we're projecting that we're going to start construction next fiscal year. So the projected cost for this project is 883. 720. And then fiscal year project 2627 road maintenance we're projecting at 1,000,225 thousand dollars. And I'll skip over these as part of the capital improvement project that we show a 5-year plan so this is proposed road maintenance projects for 2728 2829 2930 And now we're at Riverview Park miscellaneous improvement. This is another project that is a carry over from prior years and includes electric charging station, bicycle pump trails on miscellaneous improvements. Um, this is has a budget of 50000 dollars.

Now we're looking at water treatment plant improvements. This is an ongoing project, and it's also a carryover. So we're budgeting 200,000 dollars. Water treatment plant backlash reclamation project. We're projecting 100,000 dollars. And then for supplemental wall storage, water chip impact feasibility. This project is being carried over from the prior year and we're projecting 100,000 dollars.

Water distribution system improvement this is an ongoing project. Um, and we're protecting 100,000 dollars. I'm like, my water treatment plant generator. This is a prior year carryover and we're projecting 700000 dollars. And water distribution system master plan implementation again, a carry over from the prior year and for fiscal year 2627, we're projecting 300000.

A water treatment plant, so water treatment plan implementation. Um, this includes um. Oh, this is a 20 to 2030 project so we can skip over that 1. Skater upgrades water. This is a prior carryover. It was in budgeted for 200000 dollars. Reservoir 1 roof replacement another prior year carry over. So, from fiscal year 2627, we're projecting 750,000 dollars. And then reservoir 3 that's for future years.

New reservoir or this is a prior your carryover and we're projecting 200,000 dollars. Uh, so our replacement this has been an ongoing project. And since it's an ongoing project, we kind of push it back again. So for fiscal year 2627, we're projecting 250,000 dollars. Wastewater treatment plant facilities improvement. This is an ongoing project for fiscal year 2627. We're projecting 400,000.

A wastewater treatment plant and master implementation improvement. This is a prior year carry over as well. And so the new budget is 300,000. Skate upgrades for sewer prior year carryover. And a total expenditure of 200,000 Wastewater treatment and plant electrical improvement, another carryover. So for fiscal year 26-27 we're projecting $75,000. And that concludes my presentation of the operational budget and capital improvement projects so City Council has any questions I'm now open to answer them thank you.

Roll-call vote Failed 0–4 · 1 under review
Show transcript
Right before we go to any staff or questions for staff do we have any public comment on this item? And no one on Zoom. Great, all right we'll bring it back to Council for questions. Council Member Hornick? I have no questions. Council Member Lewis? No questions. Council Member Sanchez? No questions. Vice Mayor Mead? No

1:05 – 1:1020 turns

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:05:36

questions. My own question is just to confirm, as I always feel like we have to explain it a little bit better. So if you're observing this the way we structure our budget is every year we assume we're going to do everything and we realize it in the year and then what you'll find is we all have our expected budget but then when we do actuals there's a decent drop-off of what really happened because we just keep moving the budget forward each year with what we haven't accomplished. Is that correct how this is structured right now?

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role1:06:02

Yes, correct and what usually happens is we have budget savings for those projects. And so those uncompleted projects or projects we have not started, we just push another year.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:06:16

So we didn't do a project of $235,000 I'd say as an example. If we didn't do that it's not that then we spend it somewhere else. It's just we just slid it to the next year and we just keep realizing so that our budget is always balanced and there's not this kind of... The capital projects are always assumed to maybe happen this year but by the nature of construction they may not

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role1:06:33

occur. Yes, that's correct.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:06:34

So let me make sure I understand that because it's drastic. There's a lot of projects here. Okay thank you.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role1:06:39

You're

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:06:39

welcome. Is this just a receiving file or an adoption formally? Just so I know with action?

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated1:06:47

Councilmember Hornick.

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UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:07:06

Okay, neither for me. So at this point we would be needing a motion for... Nope! We can just say

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated1:07:11

direction.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:07:12

So we're all good with the direction to bring back for adoption at a future meeting? Great well thank you I know that's a lot of work from your team it's also reason why we get so many awards every year from it so I really appreciate your time with all that.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role1:07:22

You're welcome yeah and I'll bring this back with the changes as I mentioned with their removal of the increase for city manager and the corrections for the recreation and um... $2,500

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:07:32

to $25,000? That's some good accounting.

UnidentifiedCity ManagerProposed · by role1:07:39

Thank you

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:07:40

very much.

Commentright up front thatProposedself-stated1:07:48

Thank you. We have a lot of work to do. I also wanted to take the opportunity tonight to address a matter that's come up in the press over the last couple of weeks. There has been quite a bit of news regarding the City of Solvang and their decision to pursue potential negotiations for changing law enforcement services The city of Solvang is looking City of Lompoc has also reached out to the city of Buellton and wanted to discuss this. I've had some brief discussions with the city manager over there and the chief of police, and as I mentioned to each of you prior to this meeting we are... well, I am not in a position at this point where I'm ready to bring anything to the city council. I'm still in a due diligence mode right now I think that clearly the City Council is aware that there have been issues and concerns regarding the cost of the Sheriff's Department contract.

By no means have we been concerned with the services we receive, but simply the cost of that. And so I feel it's incumbent upon me as the city manager to investigate potential alternatives to that service The ultimate decision as to whether or not those services are changed from the Sheriff's Department to another entity belongs to the City Council. But at this point, I don't yet have enough information to bring you even a preliminary report. I plan to do that sometime during the summer based upon when I receive additional information from the city of Lompoc and or the sheriff's department.

Okay? And I'm happy to answer any questions that I can regarding this tonight. I don't anticipate I'll be able to

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UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 6Proposed1:10:18

answer much, but please. Any questions for our City Manager at this time?

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 2Proposed1:10:24

No questions.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 6Proposed1:10:25

Great! That's it? That's all I have for tonight. Okay anything from you Mr.

UnidentifiedUnidentified speaker 1Proposed1:10:30

Notify? Nothing. Okay and just to reconfirm we will not be going into closed session? Correct. All right well then we thank you all for this evening. We will adjourn the meeting at 7 0 8 p.m.