City Council — October 8, 2026

Kuyama from the Santa Maria Public Library to go bookmobile with a valid ID. You can start the process online at cityofsantamaria.org slash library to instantly unlock library services with your e-card, then swing by later to pick up your physical card. The Santa Maria Public Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p. m. on Sundays. Learn more and sign up for your library card today at city of santa maria dot org slash library I have a library card today at the Santa Maria Public Library to get books, magazines, movies, music and much more. It is very easy to register for a library card. Visit the Santa Maria Public Library or any of its branches in Guadalupe, Orchard, Los Alamos You can start the process in Lenea at cityofsantamaria.org-library to immediately access library services with your electronic card and then go later to collect your physical card La Biblioteca Pública de Santa Maria está abierta de 10 a.m.

a 6 p.m., de lunes a sábado, y de 1 p. m. a 5 p. M. los domingos. Obten más información y solicita tu tarjeta de biblioteca hoy mismo en cityofsantamaria.org barra library

Hi, my name is Cindy and I work for the City of Santa Maria. We are here at the Santa Maria Public Library to showcase our California State Library Parks Pass and our Adventure Backpack. This project was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the state of California administered by the California State Library. These backpacks and the parks pass allow users to enter California's state parks for day use. You can check out an adventure backpack filled with goodies for three weeks with your black gold library card.

The backpack includes everything you'll need to have a great day out in nature. There are adventure bingo and scavenger hunt sheets for you to complete and keep, a map of California so you don't get lost, the parks pass of course, and we have a neat little notebook and some pencils for you to jot down things that you see along your way. We have books showcasing day hikes in our local areas, including Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

There are also books on camping tips and fun stories and games to play. For our bird watchers we have a book on bird watching and the set of high-powered binoculars. This rugged handheld GPS will help you navigate unfamiliar territory and has a long battery life. Also included is an AM FM radio, which charges its battery using a hand crank and also has a flashlight.

And we also have some handy tools like a magnifier ruler and a compass for those of you who enjoy wild animals. We have books on animal trails and tracks It comes with scat specimen jars, you know if you need a souvenir. Also included of course alcohol wipes and no backpack is complete without a first aid kit inside. You'll find bandages, antiseptic.

Pardon? What can we get for the patient? Mrs. Arcieniga up here yeah. We will now present the proclamation proclaiming week of October 4th through 10th as Fire Prevention Week in the City of Santa Maria.

Proclamation, whereas the city of Santa Maria is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting the city of Santa Maria. And whereas fire remains a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and the presence of devices using lithium batteries increase the risk of fire. And whereas the most rechargeable electrics Including smartphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, scooters and toys are powered by lithium batteries which if misused damaged or improperly charged can overheat starting fire or explode.

And whereas safe charging includes using the manufacturer cord and charger, charging on a hard flat surface. Watching for warning signs like devices that are very hot or start to swell. Unplug the device when fully charged. Charging larger devices like e-bikes outside and away from exits. And whereas residents are encouraged to understand Charging means making smart choices every time they plug in, and whereas the 2026 Fire Prevention Week theme charge into fire safety.

Safe charging is a superpower search to remind all residents that safe charging can help reduce the risk of fires now therefore Mayor Alice Patino of the City of Santa Maria, hereby proclaims October 4th through October 10 as Fire Prevention Week. And here to accept it is Jim Austin, fire marshal.

Thank you honorable mayor and council members for this proclamation. This may seem a little deja vu as last year it was the theme was charging to fire safety lithium ion batteries in your home they just added a little bit of that and charge into safety safe charging is a superpower Like I said last year, everybody here has devices probably in their pockets or their purse but we charge them all the time.

The one thing that they kind of add in there is that the safe practices of charging them Thank you. They're subject to vibration or physical damage and what happens over time is that starts damaging the battery. Same with cords and stuff, we plug them in how many times a day right? And over time they get worn out so I would suggest Paying attention to your devices, the batteries over time.

When they do start having issues inside they will start warming up when you're charging them. Now they might go a period of time just fine like that but I will tell you in my experience if they're starting to heat up there's probably a problem so you might want to get it looked at before it becomes a bigger problem Let's see. And then the components while heating, while they're charging and I might be a violator of this but one of the things that I see is they use their power drill or their impact wrench or something. They put it on their bench and they charge it and then they just walk away and it could sit there for till they use it next time.

Truly, when it's charged and you see the lights green, unplug it. It's charged. It doesn't need to be connected anymore. So undo that. And then in celebration of Fire Prevention Week, the Fire Prevention Bureau is going to have a booth set up at the Cops & Cars event this weekend Saturday at the Police Department from 10 to 2 so I'd like to invite everybody.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Yeah, don't forget the cops and cars event this weekend the car show at the PD thank you for reminding us will now present a proclamation proclaiming the month of October as domestic violence awareness and prevention month in the city of Santa Maria. And Councilmember Flores will be making that presentation

Whereas Congress designated October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989 and 2016 with survivors always call upon communities to move from awareness to action by centering survivors' voices, needs and experience throughout the year. And whereas Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention month provides an opportunity to honor The courage and resilience of survivors, and we commit ourselves to creating a future in which every person can live from fear and abuse in which relationships are rooted in respect and in which homes are places of safety. And whereas Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara provides comprehensive support to survivors throughout Santa Barbara County, including emergency shelter 24-7 crisis line housing support counseling outreach and prevention with the goal to help survivors move from crisis towards safety stability.

And whereas each October DBS hosts its annual brunch Which center survivor voices and former DVS clients who have chosen to share their experience, advocate for themselves with others and inspire hope among survivors throughout our community. And we're outstanding with survivors always requires sustained community investments in the services resources and opportunities.

Survivors need to build safe, stable futures for themselves and for their children. Now therefore I, Alice M. Patino, Mayor of the City of Santa Maria hereby recognize the month of October as 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. And accepting this is Jocelyn Nacornor. Did I say that right? Thank you.

Thank you for recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, and for honoring the work of Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County. My name is Jocelyn Nicanor and I am the North County Lead Advocate here in Santa Maria. I've had the privilege of being involved with DBS for about eight years And during that time I have seen what becomes possible when survivors know they do not have to face what comes alone.

On behalf of the DVS Board of Directors, our staff and the survivors and families we have the privilege of walking alongside. Thank you for this recognition and thank you for standing with survivors not only in October, not only in moments of crisis but always. We want to go ahead and invite everyone out to our walk On October 20th, it's going to be at the Teresa Machado Plaza.

It does start at 530. I'm gonna go ahead and leave flyers in the back as well as crisis cards and business cards in case anyone would like them. Thank you.

And thank you so much for what you do in the City of Santa Maria. You know this happens all over but we certainly appreciate it and it helps so many families and so many women. Thank you. Of course For the last proclamation, we will be commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments in the City of Santa Maria. Whereas for 60 years, governments throughout Santa Barbara County have worked together through regional partnerships to address shared challenges and advanced solutions that cross jurisdictional boundaries. And whereas the City of Santa Maria joined the County of Santa Barbara and other local cities to establish the Santa Barbara County and Cities Area Planning Council which held its first organizational meeting on October 6th 26 1966 beginning a regional partnership that continues today.

And whereas as the region evolved, the organization assumed state and federal transportation planning and funding responsibilities and in 1990 became the independent public agency known as the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, SBCAG. While continuing the regional partnership established in 1966 and whereas through regional planning And whereas Santa Barbara County has changed considerably over six decades.

The principle at the heart of SPCAG remains that communities can accomplish more by working together across jurisdictional boundaries. Now, therefore I, Alice Ampatino, Mayor of the City of Santa Maria do hereby commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments in the city of Santa Maria Recognizing the six decades of regional collaboration and reaffirming its commitment to working together to advance shared priorities and build stronger communities through Santa Barbara County.

In witness, I am here to set my hand up cause a seal of the city of Santa Maria to be affixed this sixth day of October 2026. And here to receive this is the Executive Director of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Margie Kern.

Mayor Patino, members of the City Council, thank you so much for this recognition. And thank you to the city of Santa Maria. Santa Maria was part of SBCAG at the very beginning, you were one of the founding members that started this partnership 60 years ago and is continuing today. For anyone tonight who might not know about SBCAG we are the regional transportation planning agency that brings together Santa Barbara County and all the eight cities to work on transportation and any regional issue that crosses city and county boundaries.

Our work is ultimately about serving the people that live, work and travel throughout our region. And making sure the communities that live here and the residents that live here have a voice in the decisions that affect them. Here in Santa Maria one example is the State Route 135 Comprehensive Corridor Study that we're just now kicking off We're working with the city, the county and Caltrans to look at long-term transportation needs along Broadway and State Route 135 between Santa Maria and Orca.

Over the past several weeks we have been out in the community listening to people who use the corridor every day asking about their safety ideas in transit and traffic and biking and walking and what improvements do they believe would be priorities for this corridor? SPCAG also administers Measure A. This is a voter-approved, countywide sales tax measure dedicated to transportation.

Those local dollars help fund transportation improvements here in Santa Maria. We had two major Measure A projects completed soon after the passage in 2008 and those projects were the Santa Maria River Bridge and Union Valley Parkway Interchange. We have two additional Measure A projects that are underway right now, and those projects include the interchanges at 101 and State Route 135 and the interchange at Betteravia Road.

Measure A also helps our region compete for additional state and federal resources so we use the local measures to leverage those state and federal resources so we can bring more resources to our county. So that's really what the 60-year partnership represents, our cities and counties working together on our needs that extend beyond any one community. So on behalf of SBCAG, the SBCAG board which Mayor Patino is a member of and the staff at SBCAG we want to thank you for this recognition and for Santa Maria's 60 years of partnerships. Thank you very much for having me today. Thank You Margie

Some people don't realize how much we actually get done at SBK and I want to thank you because you have led this. It's such fantastic leadership, but sometimes you have to fight up in North County for the things that you want and so we're going to be getting a lot of things done up here And it's so, so important. And over the years in working together and I think we just, it's such a good working group and it wasn't always like that. It's such a good working group and we see the needs and the regional needs that we all have and we help one another. We may not know what Carpentria needs but they know what they need. And then I try to inform them about what we need and what San Maria is like. So, and I want to thank you again for the leadership because it is...I used to hate to go to that meeting and now I love going to that meeting because It's so positive when we get so much done.

But thank you for the leadership,

Margie. And thank you for your leadership and being one of the longest standing members of SBCCAC.

Thank you. Next item on the agenda is a public comment. Madam Clerk, is this all the public comment I have? Yes, ma'am. I have 11. So I have requests to speak. And I have Cliff

Solomon. Would you like me to read the criteria? Oh, please. I'm sorry. That's

okay. Yeah. Speakers may provide public comments on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes maximum 50 minutes for public comment period unless a majority of the council objects. The mayor may provide speakers more or less time to speak all comments or queries shall be addressed to the council as a body and not to any specific member thereof pursuant to government code section 54954 To a to the Ralph and Brown Act. No action or discussion by the city council shall be undertaken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda except to briefly provide information, ask for clarification, provide direction to staff or schedule a matter for future meeting.

Okay thank you now Mr. Solomon followed by Sophia Navarro followed by Gary Hall

Good afternoon Mayor Patino and City Council members. My name is Cliff Solomon, and I'd like to start my comment with a quick story. I first visited Santa Maria when Pam and I came up to escape the L.A. smog. We stayed at the Santa Maria Inn and ate at Jocko's, Jacks in the Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe. We always had a good time. And knew we would eventually retire here, especially because of the weather. And because it was an all American city as the sign on Broadway proclaims.

Now imagine my disappointment and anger at what this All-American City has become. More than that kind of All-American City I had envisioned where all the citizens were valued, it has become a police state. Where its citizens are frightened and being kidnapped at a terrifying pace. And yet you refuse to act, you refuse to follow the lead of St. Gloria Soto.

Instead you say well we can't do anything. Well there are things to do I'm not asking this Santa Maria become a sanctuary city but you need to show honor to its citizens One thing you can do is establish a legal defense fund so detained people can get proper legal support. Or you can make sure that our police department stands ready to ensure our security on November 3rd, on election day because we are really, really scared.

And you can make sure that you efficiently communicate with the community We want to know the real reason how Tuesday City Council meeting of which there were people standing in line waiting to talk, why was it canceled? Why? I know I don't have a lot of time to speak. Let me finish by saying I am proud to be a part of Indivisible Santa Maria and an ally to other organizations that serve all communities.

And I hope you will work with us. Thank you.

Thank you. Sophia Navarro followed by Gary Hall, followed by Celeste Mendoza.

Hello everybody. Hello Council. First I would like to thank Ms. Gloria Soto for holding the press conference and addressing the immoral kidnapping of our community member that was taken at our local college, and taking action to make sure the community felt supported. I'm here to remind the rest of you to please take positive actions in protecting your community. They are grabbing people that are on their way to work, just to make a quota? Also they could just lock us up in their for-profit detention centers.

Come on! They're just trying to live. That's all we're all trying to do. Please believe me, y'all are blaming the wrong people for the problems that greedy billionaires are responsible for. Your neighbor is not your enemy. Don't let hate guide your decisions. Also I wanted to address the recent news articles about the City Council meetings you all called off on Tuesday. Safety reasons, safety for whom?

Are the ICE agents allowed in here? Are you all at risk for deportation to your original country? Tell me am I at risk for deportation for coming to a city council meeting? Otherwise what possible safety concern could you have because we know We know the rest of the council does not see us immigrants as human beings. Why else would you not do all you possibly can to oppose this immoral operation the federal government is unleashing on our streets? So I wonder, safety for whom from who?

Thank you for your time. Thank you.

Gary Hall followed by Celeste Mendoza followed by Patricia Solorio

Good evening Madam Mayor, Councilmembers, staff and the citizens of Santa Maria. My name is Gary Hall I'm a resident of Rancho Buena Vista Mobile Estates at 2135 North Railroad Avenue here in Santa Maria. I represent the North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team or NESBIT. NESBIT's primary goal remains to provide protection to all Santa Maria mobile home residents presently living in an unregulated rental market Yes, we continue to ask the City of Santa Maria to stand with us maintaining affordable housing.

Affordable mobile home living is vanishing here in Santa Maria and all across the state. I have and will continue to point out to you how the 2020 model lease and enforcement agreement with all their flaws have proven to be ineffective in protecting homeowner equity and maintaining affordable mobile home housing Which is of course what it was originally intended to do.

I have repeatedly reminded you that on June 7th, 2022 four years ago over four years ago this council passed a motion with the intention of improving the 2020 model lease or replacing it. The City Council has done neither. I am encouraged...I was encouraged at the June 16th city council meeting This year when I heard both council members Soto and Pattaya voice support for bringing forward a discussion of the mobile home model lease and enforcement agreement.

And again, thank you both. But now nearly four months later, I have to wonder why? Why that discussion has yet to become an agenda item Why does it seem so difficult to get this worthwhile initiative on the agenda? Why now isn't the right time to investigate the mobile home rent stabilization successes of neighboring city and county jurisdictions. Why now isn't the right time to start taking action to replace the model lease with a uniform, mandatory and enforceable mobile home rent stabilization program?

This is, of course, an election year and three seats on the City Council are up for election. I believe every candidate has voiced and or written in support of replacing the model lease but I wonder why? Why that action couldn't start immediately? MoMA home residents in Santa Maria are in the process of voting and we were asking why has it taken so long? Let's get started.

Now on a personal note As I first stated in February this year, I have found the ongoing ICE abuse of power both locally and nationally appalling. Immigrants documented or not are human beings and should be treated humanely. The Constitution and due process should be enforced not ignored. We must find appropriate ways to address immigration one sentence I thought the February 3rd resolution of support made by this council was a good step, a good first step.

It shouldn't be the last step.

Celeste Mendoza followed by Patricio Solario followed by Adam Pacheco.

Good afternoon my name is Celeste Mendoza. And just to start, it's really appalling and upsetting to see what's happening here in our communities. As someone who has grown up here and have family who are immigrants and are individuals who came from other countries, it's really upsetting just to see what the presence of ICE has done in our communities. I want to speak about the presence of ICE in our communities and the fear that so many families are experiencing right now.

Our immigrant communities matter, they are vital to our livelihood, growth and vitality of Santa Maria. They are our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers and our family members. They contribute to our local economy. They support our small businesses and work hard every day and help make Santa Maria the community we know and love. I have no disregard for those who go to work every day to fulfill their responsibilities, but instilling fear in our communities creating uncertainty for families and tearing families apart is not the way to address these situations.

No one should have to live in constant fear of going to work taking their children to school or simply going about their daily lives Santa Maria is a city Santa Maria is a community and a city built by people from different backgrounds, and every resident deserves to be treated with dignity and humanity. We cannot claim to care about our community while ignoring the fear and harm our residents are experiencing.

The City of Santa Maria has a responsibility to take action within its authority to protect all residents. That means providing clear information about people's rights, connecting families with trusted legal resources, supporting community organizations and ensuring our city resources contribute to the safety well-being of everybody who calls Santa Maria home.

We cannot allow fear to divide us or silence our neighbors. We need leadership that listens, responds and stands with our community during these difficult times. Protecting our residents means recognizing that safety, dignity and the sense of belonging matter to every single person who lives here. At the end of the day this is about people, about families, childrens and workers in the future of Santa Maria.

Our immigrant communities are not only separate from Santa Maria, they are and make up Santa Maria. And every person who calls this city home deserves to feel safe, respected and supported. I believe our city must do its part to ensure no resident feels forgotten, unheard or alone during these difficult times. Remember what Santa Maria is built on and what continues to run Santa Maria the biggest part of Santa Barbara County. Thank you

Thank you. Patricia Solorio, followed by Adam Pacheco, followed by Teresa Suarez.

Good evening my name is Patricia Solorio and I'm the deputy director at the Fund for Santa Barbara and I'm just here to Just be appalled and disappointed in voice, I think the overall just in sense that the community is feeling over sitting on your hands. Not having the courage to speak up. Doing what you can. We all understand that the feds are doing what they're doing, but you all can be courageous and be on the right side of history and say something and demonstrate to the community that you give a flying.

It's just disappointing. Mayor I've known you for a really long time And I just don't understand. I can't wrap my head around the type of Christianity of just standing by. I challenge you to do more.

Teresa Suarez. Followed by Michelle Ambrose.

Excuse me, I think you might have missed Adam as well?

Pardon?

Did you miss Adam?

I called him but nobody came up

then we were still clapping that's why

okay well go ahead and you can speak then Adam come up afterwards

okay Well, good evening. My name is Teresa and I am the youth program manager with Proyecto Mixteco Indígena and I'm a proud resident of Santa Maria from District 4. As an indigenous person of the Mixteco Nation, I stand in solidarity with our undocumented indigenous communities in the city of Santa Maria In response to the recent immigration enforcement activities that have separated more than 32 families in our communities only in these past few days.

Particularly affecting farm workers families, their children's mostly indigenous Mexican communities. We continue to ask that you address the issues of discriminatory detentions and unlawful arrests carried out without sufficient reasonable suspicions and that you take sensible meaningful actions. We continue to hear that there is nothing you can do or that can be done, which offers little hopes of protections for our community.

We're repeatedly told to seek resources yet you are not providing those resources yourselves. I have not seen any effort to partner up with local organizations to ensure that our community has access to those support and resources it needs. and you postponed a meeting because you felt threatened. Yet our families are being taken away every day, and they cannot simply postpone going to work.

Our community is living in fear and needs more than suggestions and words. We need to see concrete actions and meaningful partnerships, a real effort to protect our families from you as our representatives.

Thank you. Adam Pacheco?

Okay so if I'm going to be honest, I don't have a proper speech because I just ran here from work. But I still feel the need to be here because I don't feel safe and I have been... Can you give your name? Oh my name is Adam Pacheco and I've been here multiple times like it's I think the first time I came up here I was probably 16 and I don' know how many times I as a youth and other youth have to tell you we don't feel safe. I really don't know how most of you live With yourself knowing that you're really just hurting us and I'm saying most of you but I'm starting at three people specifically.

Um, I don't know I'm just so tired of hearing like oh just do it the legal way like I don' t know maybe it's because these these families this hard-working people see their family starving back in their home country so they're like okay well I have to do what to do to make sure my family survives and I'm tired I'm tired I'm so tired of hearing the same excuses oh I don''t know what we can do Well, I can't tell you because that's not my job. So I thought, oh are we electing these people? Maybe they can tell us but instead the only thing I'm hearing is excuses after excuses. But yeah that's mostly all I wanted to say and now I have to run back to work. Thank you. Thank you.

Michelle Ambriz followed by Armando Santiago

Just to confirm, you guys called Michelle, right? I was next. Yeah, cool. Okay. Good evening council members. My name is Michelle Ambriz. I'm a community member and also policy advocate with cause and I reside in district one. I am here today because of the concerning surge in ice activity happening with city limits and wanted to start off by addressing the narrative that this council can do nothing in regards to what's happening in our neighborhood This is the same response that we got from this council, with the exception of Council Member Soto earlier this year when our community was facing the exact same attacks.

And our community, some of the folks here came together to plead for the most basic action you can take just a simple ad hoc committee to address these concerns on immigration Yet nothing was done, and nothing continues to be done. So let me remind you of some of the actions this council can take to protect our community from these attacks. You can provide public funds towards legal aid and relief for families impacted by the recent kidnappings You can make requests to ICE such as Council Member Soto has already done, to receive more information on these arrests made within city limits. You can motion to establish ice-free zones within the city and require clear signage on city properties and you can even end city contracts with FLOC which is known to collaborate with ICE to target immigrant community members.

Those are just some of the things you can do there's a plethora of other things you can do as well However, staying on the sideline and turning your heads is not an option. Your community calls for you to take a stance and to take action. Lastly, to Mayor Petito who attended festivities for Mexican Independence Day but has refused to condemn the unconstitutional actions of the ICE agents running rampant Who has continuously voted against providing support or relief for immigrant families. And who over the last year, continuously criminalized Latino community members referring to us as drunk drivers and labeling rapid responders and protesters as aggressive. You cannot enjoy the beauty of our culture without or while simultaneously refusing to protect the people that uphold it.

Do better. Thank you.

Followed by, it looks like Sergio Castillo followed by Renaldo Rodriguez.

Good evening Mayor Patino and City Council members.

My name is Armando Santiago. I'm a community organizer with the Mixteco Indigenous Community, organizing projects also known as MICOP and a resident of the City of Santa

Maria. Soy orgullosamente nacido de la nación Nu-Savi, hablo Mixteco.

I am a proud member of the Nu-Savi Nation and I speak Mixtecho.

My family and I are indigenous migrants. It is concerning and heartbreaking to see that the city of Santa Maria has been terrorized by ICE. I am here in solidarity with the 32 families in our community who have been separated by ICE, abducted one of their family members.

And many of these families are agricultural workers who harvest the food and put the food on the tables every day. So I'm going to tell the case of my aunt who woke up every morning at 4am to get ready to go to work harvesting blackberries. On the days she did not work, she would take her grandchildren to school and my aunt and her co-worker were abducted by ICE.

They were taken away, and even though he had no criminal record and was simply trying to earn a living and provide for his household. Now his children have been left without their father who is our primary provider. Is separating families beneficial for children? What is the future of this country?

Is it favorable to separate families for the children who are the future of this country? I am saddened to see how they destroy families in the Santa Maria community and now we really have to make a difference from this great injustice. My time is running out, so I would like if you could support us and support our entire community with so much injustice from the ICE arrests that are happening right now It saddens me to see how families in my community and

in Santa Maria are being torn apart, and it is

time to make a change and stand against all this injustice.

I ask the Mayor and City Council members of Santa Maria to take immediate action in response to these actions by ICE. Prohibit the entry of ICE into the facilities and courts in Santa Maria. Also establish an ad hoc committee on immigration, and allocate humanitarian funds to support legal defense in the matter of immigration of people facing deportation.

It's including the following. Prohibit ICE from entering Santa Maria facilities and courts, establish an ad hoc immigration committee to respond to the effects of immigration enforcement measures, and allocate humanitarian funding or funds to support legal defense in immigration cases for individuals facing deportation as well as educational activities and outreach efforts.

I would like to end with this, it is not on the agenda but I would like to finish by saying that perhaps you feel very difficult in being able to support us. Perhaps you consider that there is a lot of pressure up there but I assure you that you are part of the community Thank you.

And even though it might be a little bit difficult for the council members to be able to help, or they might face pressures from above. Every help, every assistance really helps our community and you guys are part of the community as well. So any help that you guys can provide we would really appreciate it. Our community is very hardworking and thank you. Thank you.

Sergio Castillo followed by Rinaldo Rodriguez

Good evening Mayor Patino, member of the City Council. My name is Sergio. I live and work in the city of Santa Maria as a community organizer with Proyecto Mixteco Indígena. I'm here today to speak on behalf of Santa Maria's indigenous immigrant families who are living with fear and uncertainty Recently they showed a separate 32 families in our community. Behind each of these cases are children who miss their parents, that have lost their source of income and families who do not know what tomorrow will bring.

Santa Maria has been the most affected city in Santa Maria County by this enforcement operation. For many members of our community, of our indigenous community, Spanish is the Spanish is not their first language. They speak indigenous languages and when they need guidance or legal assistance, finding services in their own language can be extremely difficult.

When a father or mother is detained the impact goes for beyond one individual. It affects the entire family. Children suffer, households lose income and our community lives in fear. What's happening does not affect only the families directly impacted. It affects our entire city because a city is more than just a place where we live. It's a community where everyone deserves to live with dignity, peace of mind and freedom from fear.

That's why we ask you to listen to our community and take concrete steps to protect families and defend the right. Because protecting Santa Maria also means protecting the families who work every day to keep our city alive and thriving, thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening Mayor and Council Members.

I am proudly a member of the indigenous Mixtec community from the state of Guerrero in Mexico.

I live and work in the city of Santa Maria as a community organizer for MICOP.

Estoy aquí porque lo que está ocurriendo en nuestra comunidad son hechos muy lamentables por el actuar de los agentes de ICE.

I am here because what is happening in our community is deeply troubling due to the actions of the ICE agents.

Creo que como yo y todos los que vivimos en esta ciudad de Santa Maria, pareciera que no tenemos autoridad que nos represente

I believe that like myself and everyone who lives in the city of Santa Maria, we feel as though we have no elected officials representing us.

Mucho menos nos ayuden en estos momentos de horror que atraviesan nuestra gente.

Or helping us during these horrifying times that our people are experiencing.

Solo una concejal ha alzado la voz y eso no es suficiente. Ahora que Santa Maria enfrenta retos de deuda presupuestaria

Only one council member has spoken up and that is not enough. Now, that Santa Maria's facing budget deficits you're considering how to collect more

taxes?

How to collect more taxes from the community in order to cover the city's debt and your salaries? When the community needs

you,

where are you?

I ask that you address the issue of discriminatory detentions and unlawful arrests carried out without sufficient reasonable suspicion.

And that you adopt sensible measures to protect the residents of Santa Maria.

I also ask for your support and solidarity with the families who have suffered the abduction of their loved ones by ICE.

I urge you to take firm and decisive action. We are all Santa Maria, and we all need one another.

Fuera ICE de Santa Maria y del 805. Gracias.

ICE out of Santa Maria and the 805. Thank

you. We'll now move on to the consent calendar. Does anyone have items they wish to pull for discussion?

Yes. Ms. Soto? Yes, I'd like to pull items 4A4 and... 4A3 for separate vote and discussion.

Okay, Madam Clerk can you read the 4A-4 and 4A 3?

I'll begin with 4A3. Adoption of resolution approving a wage and benefits package for the non-represented management and confidential employees, and increase city's contribution to health benefits premiums. 4A4 is adoption of a resolution approving a wage and benefits package for the public safety managers increased to city's contribution to health benefits premiums.

If I may hear directly from city staff on what is being proposed in front of council today and how we got to this.

Good afternoon, can you hear me? A little bit louder. Good afternoon, good evening. Yes we have two items before council one is to To restate our wage and benefits resolution for our non-represented management and confidential technician group. And the restatement would be to authorize the benefits rates for 2027, to fully cover the CalPERS gold at all tiers which is what we currently have right now The second part of the non-represented and confidential resolution is to offer a 2% increase to base salary as a cost-of-living adjustment.

The PSM group, which is our public safety managers group has a restatement of the resolution presented before you and that is solely to increase in 2027 so beginning January again to increase the benefits rates to fully cover benefits for CalPERS gold for all

tiers offered to employees. Thank you for that. My question before we move forward with these two items is, was there a gap in or was there a lapse in their contracts?

The resolutions don't have a finite time like we do for represented groups, so there is no lapse. At this point we are in the middle of open enrollment which indicates that all employees must select their benefits for 2027 and because of that we needed to bring before council the updated benefits rates. So there is no lapse, generally speaking. I should point out, I apologize, I didn't mention for the non-represented management group, there are only certain classifications that will be getting the 2%. So anybody who is a director or deputy director would not be offered the 2% COLA salary adjustment.

Thank you for that clarification. Those are all my questions, thank you.

So do I have a motion and a second? Do I have a second? Are we doing each item separate? Are we doing 4-3? 4-4 and 4A-4