City Council — January 27, 2026

Management Reports

• Updates were provided on groundbreaking events and progress at the 303 Courtyard and Amtrak project.
• The city will absorb project management for the Royal Theater after the current manager steps down.
• Work on the theater marquee removal and gas line capping is scheduled to begin soon.

Public Safety Updates

• The ISO fire protection classification rating dropped from Class 4 to Class 10 due to staffing response requirements.
• Staffing constraints and potential solutions like cross-training police officers were discussed by the council.
• Members requested investigation into state or federal assistance regarding the rating firm's standards.

Human Resources and Recruitment

• Recruitment efforts are ongoing for the City Administrator, Fire Captain, and Finance Director positions.
• New hires include a police officer, a building attendant, and a Wastewater Operator.
• The employee handbook has been submitted for council review and approval.

Recreation Services

• Upcoming events include a February movie night and a Father-Daughter Dance.
• Registration for adult softball and youth baseball programs is set to begin in April.
• Field maintenance and volunteer coordination were identified as program priorities.

Food Truck Regulation Hearing

• A public hearing on regulating food trucks was held and recommended for continuation by Planning.
• The hearing was continued to February 24 for further consideration.

City Hall Repair Project

• An architectural study identified water damage, seismic deficiencies, and ADA non-compliance at City Hall.
• Staff recommended prioritizing roof repairs and seismic retrofitting in a phased plan.
• Council discussed funding sources including grants and the need for temporary facilities.

Six-Month Financial Report

• The General Fund revenue was reported at 39.9% of the budget at the fiscal year midpoint.
• A projected structural shortfall for the fiscal year was noted during the review.
• Water and Wastewater funds were reported as being in line with the budget.

Future Agenda Items

• Support was considered for a resolution celebrating the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden centennial.
• An ordinance regarding abandoned buildings and a Royal Theater update were scheduled for future discussion.

City of Guadalupe City Council Meeting Summary

Opening and Community Participation

• The meeting commenced with roll call establishing a quorum. A moment of silence was observed for deceased residents and two individuals from the area killed in Minnesota. The agenda order was reviewed and approved without changes. During the community participation segment, residents addressed the council regarding homeowner's insurance increases attributed to fire protection classification changes. One resident requested information on the resolution status and accountability for the matter. Another resident discussed receiving parking tickets and vehicle towing in a zone she believed was not marked as a no-parking zone. The Director of Public Safety acknowledged the comments and indicated information regarding the insurance issue would be presented later.

Consent Calendar

• A motion was made and seconded to approve all consent calendar items except Item B (Warrants). The motion passed. Discussion ensued regarding Item B, specifically concerning a marketing website redesign, a software subscription for compliance, police vehicle rotation, and late invoices for cleaning services. A subsequent motion was made and seconded to approve Item B. The motion passed.

Management Reports

• The Interim City Administrator provided updates on several projects, including a groundbreaking event for a new facility, earthwork at the 303 Courtyard, and progress on the Amtrak project. It was reported that the Royal Theater project manager would step down, and the city would absorb project management while retaining him for the capital campaign. The theater marquee is scheduled for removal to begin work, with gas line capping set for the following week.

Director of Public Safety

• The Police Chief presented information regarding a recent laundromat theft resolved through Crime Stoppers. He shared an announcement from the California Attorney General confirming local law enforcement authority to investigate crimes by federal agents. A significant portion of the report addressed the ISO fire protection classification rating change from Class 4 to Class 10. The Chief detailed that the change resulted from not meeting the minimum response requirement of four firefighters on the initial alarm. He outlined staffing history, budget constraints, and potential solutions such as cross-training police officers or hiring additional personnel. Council members discussed the financial implications and the need to investigate state or federal assistance regarding the rating firm's standards.

Human Resources

• The Human Resources Manager reported on recruitment status. Interviews for the City Administrator position are pending scheduling. A police officer has been hired, and interviews for a Fire Captain are set for the second week of February. A building attendant for Parks and Rec has started, and a Wastewater Operator accepted an offer. The Finance Director offer was declined, with another interview scheduled. The employee handbook was submitted for council review.

Recreation Services

• The Recreation Service Manager reviewed attendance for recent events, including movie nights, the Christmas Parade, and a volleyball tournament. Upcoming events were announced, including a movie night in February and a Father-Daughter Dance. Plans for adult softball and a Junior Giants youth baseball/softball program were discussed, with registration set to begin in April. Maintenance of the ball field and volunteer coordination were identified as priorities.

Public Hearing: Food Truck Regulation

• A public hearing was held to consider regulating food trucks. The Planning Director recommended continuing the hearing as the item was not ready. A motion was made and seconded to continue the hearing to February 24. The motion passed.

City Hall Repair Project

• An architectural firm presented a comprehensive study of City Hall. Findings included water damage, dry rot, seismic deficiencies, and non-compliance with ADA standards. The firm proposed a phased repair plan, estimating significant costs. Staff recommended prioritizing the roof and seismic retrofit. Council discussed funding sources, including potential grants for essential facilities, and the need for temporary facilities during repairs.

Six-Month Financial Report

• The Interim Finance Director presented the financial report for the period ending December 31, 2025. The General Fund revenue was 39.9% of the budget at the 50% mark of the fiscal year, primarily due to property tax timing. A projected structural shortfall for the fiscal year was noted. Water and Wastewater funds were reported as being in line with the budget. Council discussed the deficit, reserve fund audit status, and the need to monitor expenditures.

Future Agenda Items

• The council discussed adding an ordinance regarding abandoned buildings to the agenda. Support was considered for a resolution celebrating the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden centennial and for submitting a public comment opposing offshore drilling inclusion in federal programs. The Royal Theater financial update was scheduled for February 10, followed by an Oversight Committee discussion on February 24.

Announcements and Adjournment

• Council members shared updates from various community engagements, including a human trafficking forum, a presentation on Japanese detention camps, and a meeting with Caltrans representatives. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn. The motion passed.