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
Wastewater Rate Calculation and Billing
- Staff explained the shift to a one-year average billing method, which resulted in significant bill increases for 40% of customers.
- Public commenters reported substantial cost hikes, with some examples ranging from 120% to 640% increases.
- Council members directed staff to investigate software updates or manual adjustments to address resident hardship.
- No formal motion was recorded for this item.
General Plan Land Use and Zoning Code Amendments (Housing Element)
- Staff presented amendments to comply with state housing laws, including changes to assisted housing and density bonus requirements.
- Council members debated the expansion of permitted uses, specifically regarding animal keeping and commercial daycares.
- The Council voted to accept staff’s recommendation with amendments allowing daycares across commercial zones and permitting Mixed-Use Projects.
Ordinance Prohibiting Solid Waste Collection Utility Service Outside the City
- The City Attorney presented an ordinance to prohibit utility and solid waste services for properties outside city limits.
- Council members discussed implications for out-of-area entities like Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Bridge House shelter.
- The Council voted to adopt the ordinance with exceptions for the Bodger Project and potentially other existing MOUs.
Approval of Second Amendment to Long-Term Ground Lease (Pale Blue Dot Ventures)
- The project CEO reported a $50 million equity gap and requested a lease extension to secure initial funding.
- Council members discussed the timeline, noting that a six-month update period might be insufficient for fundraising.
- The Council voted to approve a two-year extension to the ground lease with required six-month progress updates.
Administrative Announcements and Continuations
- The City Manager announced that the Conflicts of Interest item would be continued to the November 17 meeting.
- Staff will review the city’s franchise agreement with SoCal Gas regarding third-party solicitation by Sparks Energy.
- The Mayor provided announcements regarding community events and warned residents about unaffiliated third-party gas solicitations.
Closed Session
- The City Manager reported that no reportable action was taken for three of the four closed session items.
- The Council voted unanimously to authorize the city attorney’s office to file a complaint in one litigation matter.
Full summary
Agenda Item: Consent Calendar
- The Council reviewed items including the approval of previous meeting minutes, ratification of payroll and voucher expenditures, a resolution for a state-mandated minimum wage increase effective January 1, 2027, and the award of an HVAC replacement project RFP to JR Bardo Heating for $591,182. Questions were raised regarding the HVAC project, noting that the units being replaced did not have air conditioning and that a $75,000 contingency was included. The Council also discussed an authorization resolution to apply for statewide park development grant funds for the renovation of Johns Manville Park and Ryan Park; staff clarified the grant cap is $8.5 million per park, the application deadline is December 17, and public meetings are being held to determine the scope of work. Council Member Bull moved to accept the consent calendar with modifications, seconded by Council Member Bridge. The motion passed.
Agenda Item: Wastewater Rate Calculation and Billing
- Staff presented a review of the wastewater billing calculation method, which changed from a multi-year average to a one-year average effective September 1, removing previous caps on usage units. Staff explained the change aims to ensure consistent billing based on actual winter usage, noting that 40% of customers saw no change, 20% saw decreases, and 40% saw increases. Letters were sent to customers with significant increases to check for leaks, and adjustments were made for 28 customers. Public commenters reported significant bill increases, with examples ranging from 120% to 640%. Council members discussed the financial impact on residents, particularly those on fixed incomes, and noted that the current billing software (MUNIS) does not support the previous averaging and capping mechanisms. The City Manager clarified that the city is collecting more revenue under the new system. Council members directed staff to investigate the cost and feasibility of updating the software to include a cap or averaging feature, or to implement manual adjustments, and to return with a recommended approach to address resident hardship. No formal motion was recorded for this item.
Agenda Item: General Plan Land Use and Zoning Code Amendments (Housing Element) – GP 2026-0003 / TA 2025-0001
- Staff presented amendments to comply with state housing laws, including changes to assisted housing requirements, low-barrier navigation centers, farmworker housing, and density bonus law compliance. Specific amendments included deleting notes regarding agricultural general plan designations, removing single-family residential from the commercial allowed uses table in favor of multifamily residential allowances, and updating parking exception language. Council members debated the expansion of permitted uses, specifically regarding animal keeping and daycares. Questions were raised about why commercial daycares are not permitted in the Planned Commercial District (PCD) while other uses are allowed. The Council discussed changing the requirement for commercial daycares from a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to a Minor Use Permit (MUP) in specific zones to streamline the process and align with state requirements. A motion was made to accept staff’s recommendation with amendments to allow daycares across the entire spectrum of commercial zones and to permit Mixed-Use Projects (MUPs). The motion was seconded and passed with a vote of 5-0.
Agenda Item: Ordinance Prohibiting Solid Waste Collection Utility Service Outside the City – Ordinance 175526
- The City Attorney presented an ordinance to prohibit the city from providing utility and solid waste services to properties outside city limits, with an exception for properties already receiving service (grandfathering). The exception applies to existing service levels and types, preventing expansion. Council members discussed the implications for out-of-area entities, specifically Vandenberg Air Force Base and Vandenberg Village, noting that these entities utilize services without contributing proportionally to property taxes or public safety costs. Concerns were raised regarding the Bodger Project and the Bridge House shelter. The developer’s representative for the Bodger Project requested an exception, and public commenters expressed concern for the Bridge House shelter’s access to essential services. A motion was made to adopt the ordinance with exceptions, including an exception for the Bodger Project and potentially other existing MOUs. The motion was seconded and passed with a vote of 3-2.
Agenda Item: Approval of Second Amendment to Long-Term Ground Lease (Pale Blue Dot Ventures / Space Center Project)
- Staff and Steve Frank, CEO of Pale Blue Dot Ventures, presented the status of the proposed space center project on 82 acres of city-owned land. Frank reported that the project requires approximately $150–$160 million in total funding, with a current equity gap of roughly $50 million. He stated that the project description is 70% complete and that the city’s deadline for the project description is December of the current year. Frank requested an extension to the ground lease to allow time to secure the first tranche of $5 million in funding for entitlement, CEQA review, and schematic design. Council members discussed the timeline, noting that a six-month update period might be insufficient given the complexity of fundraising. A motion was made to approve a two-year extension to the ground lease, with six-month updates required to report on progress. The motion was seconded and passed with a vote of 4-1.
Agenda Item: Closed Session Report
- The City Manager reported that the council met in closed session to discuss four items. For items 1, 2, and 4, no reportable action was taken. For item 3, the council voted unanimously to authorize the city attorney’s office to file a complaint in one litigation matter. The details of the complaint will become public when filed.
Agenda Item: Administrative Announcements and Continuations
- The City Manager announced that Item 8 (Conflicts of Interest) would be continued to the next meeting on November 17th to allow time for organizing the discussion. Councilmember Starbuck recused himself from the consent calendar item involving the City Check Register due to a conflict of interest involving a check to the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce. The City Manager also announced that staff would review the city’s franchise agreement with SoCal Gas regarding a third-party company (Sparks Energy) soliciting business in town. The Mayor provided announcements regarding community events, including National Make a Difference Day, the Dunkin’ for Pumpkins event, and the Christmas party. The Mayor also warned residents about a third-party company (Sparks Energy) soliciting natural gas services, clarifying that it is not affiliated with the city.
Agenda Item: Public Comment
- Public comments were received regarding various topics, including criticism of the City Manager regarding accounting mistakes and attendance, concerns about the expansion of the Bridge House shelter and LAFCO decisions, questions regarding business licenses and home occupation permits for a Council Member, and the potential for utility service agreements with Vandenberg Space Force Base. One commenter raised concerns about the drone as first responder program’s flight logs, noting a discrepancy between reported calls for service and actual flight logs. Another commenter addressed the annexation ordinance and the Bridge House, asking for clarification on whether the MOU would remain in effect if the ordinance were passed and whether the Bridge House is part of Lompoc. The meeting was adjourned, with the next session scheduled for November 17 at 6:30 p.m.