Meeting Summary
Present: 4-Ball, 1-Bridge, 2-Vega, 3-Starbuck, Mosby
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Closed Session
- The Council met in closed session to discuss labor negotiations with multiple employee groups.
- Direction was provided to staff regarding these negotiations.
- No reportable action was taken during the closed session.
City Manager Report
- Staff highlighted upcoming National Park and Recreation Month events and summer reading progress.
- Dying grass at Beatty and River Parks was attributed to gopher damage in aging irrigation systems.
- Proposals for wireless valve transmitters are under review while manual watering serves as an interim measure.
Council Appointments
- Council Member Ball was appointed to the Santa Barbara Continuum of Care Board.
- Council Member Vega resigned from the Electrical Utility Joint Powers Agency and Associated Municipal Utilities Association.
- Council Member Ball will serve as the interim representative for these agencies.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance Amendment
- Staff proposed code amendments to ensure state compliance regarding unit limits and definitions.
- The Council decided to maintain a parking replacement requirement for garage conversions despite state guidance.
- The ordinance was introduced by first reading with further reading waived.
General Plan Circulation Element
- Staff presented the updated Circulation Element incorporating multimodal plan changes and new transit goals.
- The Council adopted two amendments to balance pedestrian safety with motorist access and on-street parking feasibility.
- Staff confirmed that sidewalk improvements in older neighborhoods are addressed through specific grant programs.
Wastewater Winter Averaging Method
- The Council proposed shifting wastewater billing from a five-year average to a one-year winter average.
- Staff reported that approximately 63% of residential customers would see no change or a decrease in charges.
- The resolution passed after confirming written protests were below the threshold required to block the measure.
Housing Element Sites Inventory
- Staff outlined the process for modifying the inventory of vacant and underutilized sites to maintain legal compliance.
- The Council directed staff to add three specific parcels to the inventory and address the Bodger property.
- The action aims to provide a safety net against potential housing deficits and retain leverage for regional assessments.
SBCAG Regional Growth Forecast
- Staff presented a forecast projecting significant population and household growth by 2060.
- Concerns were raised that the forecast underestimates growth driven by Vandenberg Space Force Base expansion.
- The Council directed staff to gather data from the Base and request electronic models from SBCAG for evaluation.
Full summary
Meeting Call and Closed Session Report
- The Lompoc City Council meeting convened on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Following roll call, the City Attorney reported that the Council had met in closed session to discuss labor negotiations with the International Association of Firefighters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Management Supervisory and Confidential Employees, and Unrepresented Employees. The Council provided direction to staff on this matter, but no reportable action was taken. The meeting proceeded with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Manager Report
- The City Manager announced that July is National Park and Recreation Month, highlighting upcoming events including a free public swim on July 28 and the third annual edible book contest at Ryan Park on July 31. The summer reading program had reached 360,000 minutes read toward a goal of 400,000. A community survey regarding the 2050 General Plan and General Fund update is scheduled for distribution via August utility bills. Regarding park maintenance, staff addressed concerns about dying grass at Beatty Park and River Park, attributing the issue to damaged wiring in decades-old irrigation systems caused by gophers. Proposals for wireless valve transmitters are under review, with manual watering serving as an interim measure. A clock on the irrigation system at 80 is scheduled for replacement.
Consent Calendar
- The City Clerk listed recusals for specific items: Council Member Starbuck recused himself from Item 2 (expenditures involving the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce) and Item 4 (Lompoc Theatre encroachment license); Council Member Ball recused himself from Item 3 (Lompoc Unified School District agreement); and Mayor Mosby recused himself from Item 6 (101 South B Street parking zone) and Item 7 (Opportunity Zone resolution). The consent calendar included seven items: approval of minutes from April 21, 2026; ratification of expenditures totaling approximately $5.58 million for June 2026; approval of an independent contractor agreement with the Lompoc Unified School District for the School Resource Officer program; approval of an encroachment license for the Lompoc Theatre Project; approval of a change order with WSP USA Incorporated for landfill gas compliance; adoption of Resolution 6835 removing a passenger loading zone at 101 South B Street; and adoption of Resolution 6836 expressing support for an Opportunity Zone 2.0 recommendation. No public comment was received. A motion was made to accept the consent calendar with the noted recusals, seconded, and passed 5-0.
Public Comment
- Members of the public addressed the Council regarding the tone and civility of recent Council interactions, civic engagement, transparency, the Mayor's property maintenance, public safety cameras, traffic concerns related to a proposed Chick-fil-A location, civil rights violations, the death of Liliana Zuniga, and reports of crime including electric bicycles on sidewalks and theft.
Council Appointments
- The Council considered an appointment to the Santa Barbara Continuum of Care (COC) Board. Council Member Ball volunteered for the position. A motion was made to appoint Council Member Ball to the COC Board, seconded by Council Member Starbuck. The vote passed 5-0. Council Member Vega announced his resignation from the Electrical Utility Joint Powers Agency and the Associated Municipal Utilities Association, citing concerns regarding transparency in financial decisions. Council Member Ball, currently the alternate, will serve in the interim. A new primary representative for these agencies will be agendized in the future.
Public Hearing: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance Amendment
- Staff presented a proposal to amend the City Code regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) to ensure compliance with state regulations. The amendments address unit limits, clarify definitions, remove outdated text, and add provisions for the Starter Home Revitalization Act. Discussion focused on a provision requiring parking replacement if a garage is converted to a JADU. The City Attorney stated the Council intends to maintain this requirement, disagreeing with the California Department of Housing and Community Development's (HCD) interpretation that replacement is not required. Staff noted the City is confident in its legal position but acknowledged HCD has a 60-day review period to challenge the ordinance. Public comment expressed concern that requiring parking replacement would reduce affordability. Council discussion highlighted the low number of ADUs currently being built in Lompoc compared to neighboring cities and the need to balance state mandates with local housing goals. A motion was made to introduce the ordinance by first reading with further reading waived, seconded, and passed 4-1.
Public Hearing: General Plan Circulation Element
- Staff presented the updated Circulation Element of the General Plan, the final element of Phase One updates. The update incorporates changes from the Multimodal Plan, updates roadway classifications, and includes new goals regarding transit and connectivity. Council Member Bridge proposed two amendments: modifying language to balance pedestrian and bicycle access with motorist safety on minor arteries, and adding language regarding the feasibility of limiting on-street parking after considering impacts on adjacent commercial uses and alternative parking availability. Public comment addressed the balance between development and safety, the need for sidewalk upgrades in older neighborhoods, and concerns regarding military base expansion impacts. Staff confirmed that sidewalk improvements in older areas are addressed through the Active Transportation Program and Safe Routes to School grants. A motion was made to approve the Circulation Element with the two amendments proposed by Council Member Bridge, seconded, and passed 5-0.
Public Hearing: Wastewater Winter Averaging Method (Resolution 6836)
- Staff presented a proposal to modify the methodology for calculating wastewater bills, shifting from a five-year average of water usage to a one-year average based on winter months (January, February, and March) to determine sewer charges, as most residential properties lack individual sewer meters. The minimum charge of five units remains unchanged, and the per-unit rate is not increasing. The change aims to reflect current usage patterns sooner. Staff reported that approximately 63% of residential customers would see no change or a decrease, while roughly 27% would see an increase. Commercial customers, billed on a 12-month average, would not be affected. Discussion focused on the fiscal impact on fixed-income residents and commercial businesses. Staff clarified that increases for some customers reflect actual usage patterns previously masked by older data or vacancies. Public commenters expressed concern that the change would penalize residents who have conserved water, particularly those with native landscaping or low usage, and raised concerns regarding the impact on low-income households, seniors, and tenants. The City Clerk confirmed that 18 written protests were received out of 11,102 parcels, which is below the 50% threshold required to block the measure under Proposition 218. A motion was made to accept Resolution 6836, seconded, and passed 3-2.
Housing Element Sites Inventory
- Planning Manager Greg Stones presented an update on the General Plan Housing Element regarding the inventory and map of vacant and underutilized sites. Staff outlined the process for modifying the list, which involves analysis, consultation with HCD, and review by the Planning Commission and City Council. Benefits include maintaining compliance with "no net loss" laws, swapping constrained sites for viable ones, and protecting the city from statutory triggers under Assembly Bill 1397. Discussion focused on adding recently rezoned parcels to the inventory to provide a safety net against potential deficits and ensuring strategic alignment of specific properties, including the Bodger property, to retain leverage for Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) numbers. Public comment emphasized the importance of affordable housing and a transparent process. A motion was made to direct staff to initiate the process of adding three specific parcels (two on Ocean Avenue and one on East Street) and to address the Bodger property in alignment with the city's planning goals, seconded, and passed 5-0.
Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Regional Growth Forecast
- Staff presented the 2025-2060 Regional Growth Forecast approved by SBCAG, projecting a population increase of approximately 11,790 (27%) and a household increase of 4,640 (33%) for Lompoc by 2060, along with an employment increase of 2,350 jobs. Council members and public commenters expressed concern that these numbers do not reflect anticipated growth driven by the expansion of the Vandenberg Space Force Base, which is projected to bring over 10,000 jobs. Discussion centered on the discrepancy between the SBCAG forecast and known military base expansion plans, with suggestions that the forecast underestimates local growth potential. A motion was made to direct staff to gather information from the Vandenberg Space Force Base regarding their growth projections and to formally request the electronic models and data from SBCAG to evaluate the forecast's accuracy, seconded with an addition to include a formal public request for the electronic models, and passed 5-0.
Written and Oral Communications
- No written communications were received. No oral communications were presented during the designated time.
Council Comments and Meeting Reports
- Council members provided brief updates, including a note on the success of the Old Town Market event. One member requested a schedule for the municipal code update, which staff confirmed would be provided at the next session. The Mayor requested that the River Bend Park master plan and landfill fees be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. Staff confirmed both items could be included in the upcoming session.
Other Business / Public Information
- A council member addressed the body regarding a May 5, 2023 document concerning county plans for a master homeless shelter on local property, which included a letter from the Community Services Department. The member requested that the clerk distribute copies of the document to the council and make it available to the public. No formal motion, second, or vote was recorded regarding the distribution of the document.
Adjournment
- The chair asked if there were any other items to discuss. The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for August 4, 2026, at 6:30 PM.