City Council — October 12, 2026

SBCAG 60th Anniversary Recognition

• The Council read a proclamation recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments.
• SBCAG’s Executive Director detailed recent transportation studies and the San Ynez Valley Trail project.
• The Mayor acknowledged SBCAG’s support in securing state and federal grants for the city.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Recognition

• The Council read a proclamation emphasizing early detection and support for cancer survivors.
• Representatives from the Cancer Foundation and St. Ann’s Valley Community Outreach described their meal delivery collaboration.
• Speakers noted community fundraising efforts that installed a multidimensional mammogram machine at the local hospital.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month Recognition

• The Council read a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
• A representative from Domestic Violence Solutions outlined services including crisis lines, shelter, and housing support.
• The Mayor highlighted the organization's connection to local community outreach efforts.

Council Member Comments and Items Not on the Agenda

• Council members discussed upcoming community events, Cal League of Cities summit takeaways, and housing trust funds.
• The Council reached consensus for the City Attorney to prepare a report on vacant and blighted property ordinances.
• The Council agreed to form an ad hoc committee to advise on ADA playground equipment accessibility.
• The City Manager agreed to review school zone safety and daylighting improvements with Public Works and partners.

Fall Fest Special Event Permit and Funding

• Staff presented an application for the Fall Fest event scheduled for November 6–8, 2026.
• The applicant requested a special event permit and an $11,000 contribution for traffic control and security.
• The Council approved both the special event permit and the requested funding.

Draft 2026 Legislative Platform

• The City Manager presented a draft platform to streamline responses to state legislative alerts.
• Council members discussed the implications of delegating authority and the need for consultation mechanisms.
• The Council directed staff to revise the draft to include consultation language and specific policy positions.

City Manager’s Report

• The report noted that all five Planning Commission seats are currently open and accepting applications.
• An agenda item regarding storm season and El Niño preparation is scheduled for the October 26 meeting.
• A preliminary review of a proposed mixed-use project at 560 Avenue of Flags is scheduled for October 15.

Agenda Item 3: Recognition of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) 60th Anniversary

• The City Council read a proclamation recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). The proclamation noted that the City of Buellton joined SBCAG in 1992 and highlighted the organization’s role in regional transportation planning, funding advocacy, and partnerships. Margie Kuhn, Executive Director of SBCAG, provided remarks detailing recent transportation studies in the San Ynez Valley, Lompoc Valley, and Santa Maria/Orca areas. She also discussed the San Ynez Valley Trail project, a multi-use trail connecting Buellton, Solvang, and the County. The Mayor thanked SBCAG for its support in securing state and federal grants for the city. No motion was made; the item was for recognition and comment only.

Agenda Item 4: Recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

• The City Council read a proclamation recognizing National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The proclamation emphasized the importance of early detection, screenings, and support for survivors and families. A representative from the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara County and a representative from St. Ann’s Valley Community Outreach spoke regarding their collaboration to provide meals to cancer patients undergoing treatment. They noted that the Cancer Foundation supports special meals for patients who struggle to cook during treatment, and the outreach organization provides these meals. The speakers also mentioned that the "Pink Ladies" of the San Ynez Valley raised funds to install a multidimensional mammogram machine at the local hospital. No motion was made; the item was for recognition and comment only.

Agenda Item 5: Recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

• The City Council read a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, noting the 2026 theme "With Survivors Always." Tina Buellton, Director of Development for Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS) for Santa Barbara County, spoke about the organization’s services, including a 24/7 crisis line, emergency shelter, housing support, and counseling. She emphasized that support continues beyond the initial crisis to help survivors rebuild financial independence and safety. The Mayor noted the connection between DVS and local community outreach efforts. No motion was made; the item was for recognition and comment only.

Public Comment

• There was no public comment on items not on the agenda.

Consent Calendar (Items 4, 5, and 6)

• Note: The transcript indicates the Consent Calendar included items 4, 5, and 6, but the specific content of these items was not detailed in the provided text prior to the vote. The vote occurred immediately after the recognition items. A motion was made to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded. The vote was taken.

Outcome: Passed.

Council Member Comments and Items Not on the Agenda

• Council Member Hornick: Announced a community Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Santa Ana Valley Community Outreach on November 19 at Hanada Gym. She shared takeaways from the Cal League of Cities annual summit, noting that smaller cities are facing Public Records Act requests via AI bots and are using AI to triage requests. She also discussed housing trust funds, noting state matching funds and various financial options for establishing permanent housing funding.
• Vice Mayor Mead: Requested consensus for the City Attorney’s Office to prepare a report on vacant and blighted property ordinances from other cities to inform potential local ordinance development. Consensus was reached to proceed with this request.
• Mayor Silva: Proposed forming an ad hoc committee consisting of two council members and community members with relevant expertise to advise on ADA playground equipment accessibility, starting with Oak Park and potentially expanding to Riverview Park. The Council agreed to bring this back as an agenda item to formally form the committee.
• Mayor Silva: Raised concerns regarding school zone safety and daylighting, suggesting a review by Public Works and law enforcement partners (Move Santa Barbara, Safe Routes to School) to identify potential improvements for child safety. The City Manager agreed to discuss this with the Public Works Director and partners.
• Council Member Hornick: Shared additional insights from the Cal League of Cities summit regarding financial planning for small cities, including the use of one-time revenues, investment policies, and public-private partnerships.
• Council Member Sanchez: Reported on attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Vega Vineyards.
• Mayor Silva: Noted a meeting held with SBCAG staff regarding corridor studies and grant funding opportunities for State Routes 101 and 246.

Business Item 7: Fall Fest Special Event Permit and Funding Request

• Staff presented an application from Andres Nuno for the Fall Fest event, scheduled for November 6–8, 2026. The event will take place on Median 3 and the adjacent 518 property, featuring carnival rides, live music, and a street fair. The applicant requested approval of the special event permit and a financial contribution of $11,000 for traffic control equipment, signage, and security. The applicant noted that the city could potentially purchase this equipment for future use. The City Manager stated that staff would review the cost of purchasing versus renting the equipment and bring a recommendation back to the Council.
• Motion 1: A motion was made to approve the Fall Fest Special Event Permit. The motion was seconded. The vote was taken.

Outcome: Passed.

• Motion 2: A motion was made to approve the funding request of $11,000 for the Fall Festival event. The motion was seconded. The vote was taken.

Outcome: Passed.

Business Item 8: Discussion of Draft 2026 Legislative Platform

• The City Manager presented a draft legislative platform, a document that outlines the city’s general positions on various categories of state legislation (e.g., housing, cannabis, child care). The purpose of the platform is to allow the City Manager to respond to legislative action alerts from the League of California Cities without needing to bring each individual item to the Council for a vote, provided the response aligns with the adopted platform. The City Manager clarified that the platform does not bind the Council to specific local actions and that the Mayor or Vice Mayor would sign any letters generated under this policy.
• Council members discussed the implications of delegating this authority. Some members expressed concern about bypassing the Council for specific legislative positions, while others supported the platform as a necessary tool for small cities to have a voice in state legislation, particularly given short response deadlines. The City Attorney suggested adding language to the platform that would require the City Manager to pause and consult the Council if there is significant opposition from a majority of Council members. The Council agreed to direct staff to revise the draft platform to include this consultation language, add cannabis-related positions, and correct specific references (e.g., Arroyo Vista Recreation Center). The City Manager will return with the revised platform as a consent item on a future agenda. No motion was made to adopt the platform at this time; the item was for discussion and direction to revise.

City Manager’s Report

• Planning Commission: All five Planning Commission seats are open. Applications are being accepted.
• Storm Season: An agenda item regarding storm season and El Niño preparation is scheduled for the October 26 meeting.
• Planning Commission Review: A preliminary review of a proposed mixed-use project at 560 Avenue of Flags (adjacent to the Farmhouse Motel) is scheduled for October 15.

Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 PM.