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City Council — October 20, 2026

City Council — October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

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BodyCity Council
MeetingRegular Meeting
Date📅 October 20, 2026

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Meeting Summary

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Present: 4-Aguilera-Hernandez, 1-Batalla, 3-Soto, 2-Flores · Absent: Patino

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

Proclamations and Awards

  • A proclamation recognizing World Polio Day was presented and accepted by a Rotary Club representative.
  • A proclamation designating Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week was presented and accepted by a team representative.

City Manager’s Report

  • The City Manager outlined the November 3rd agenda, which includes a graduation presentation, a retirement resolution, and a Measure C town hall.
  • An additional Measure C town hall is scheduled for October 29th at the Elwynn Muscle Senior Center.

Oral Reports of Council Members

  • Council members reported attendance at various community events, including the Hispanic Heritage event and the State of the City.
  • The Mayor inquired about scheduling a response to public comments regarding SB 54 and ICE enforcement compliance.

Full summary

Agenda Item: Proclamations and Awards

  • World Polio Day: A proclamation was presented recognizing October 24th as World Polio Day, acknowledging the efforts of Rotary International and partners to eradicate polio. The award was presented by Council Member Aguilera and accepted by Holly Eads of the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Breakfast.
  • Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week: A proclamation was presented designating the week of October 11th through the 17th as Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week. The award was presented by Council Member Soto and accepted by Don Palacios. The Mayor noted the team’s work regarding parking issues and code violations.

Agenda Item: Public Comment

  • Gary Hall: Spoke on behalf of the North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team (NESBIT). He stated that the 2020 Model Lease and Enforcement Agreement have failed and urged the Council to replace it with a uniform, mandatory, and enforceable mobile home rent stabilization program. He referenced previous Council discussions and asked why the initiative has not been placed on the agenda.
  • Cynthia Gudino: Spoke in support of Measure C, a proposed half-cent tax for public safety, street repairs, and park improvements. She explained that the funds would remain local, subject to citizen oversight and independent audits, and noted that the City faces a deficit with restricted funds for other projects.
  • Unidentified Speaker (Rotary): Expressed appreciation for the recognition of World Polio Day and the community’s support for polio eradication efforts.
  • Unidentified Speaker (Code Enforcement): Expressed appreciation for the proclamation recognizing the Code Enforcement team, noting their small size and dedication to addressing community concerns.
  • Unidentified Speaker (Resident): Offered personal services to remove run-down neighborhood watch signs in the Country Club area, citing fiscal constraints and a desire to improve the neighborhood appearance without cost to the City.
  • Unidentified Speaker (Resident): Requested a presentation from City staff or the Police Chief regarding the City’s compliance with SB 54, specifically ensuring that no City resources, including parking lots, are used to support ICE enforcement or staging operations.

Agenda Item: Consent Calendar

  • Discussion: The Mayor asked if any items should be pulled for discussion. No items were pulled.
  • Motion: A motion was made to approve the consent calendar.
  • Second: The motion was seconded.
  • Decision: The motion was approved.
  • Vote Outcome: Passed.

Agenda Item: City Manager’s Report

  • Report: The City Manager provided a report.
  • Upcoming Meetings: The next City Council meeting is scheduled for November 3rd, which will include a lighter agenda with three presentations: a Business of the Quarter presentation for Commander Todorika’s graduation from the FBI National Academy, a retirement resolution for Senior Dispatcher Laura Brannan, and a town hall for Measure C.
  • Measure C Town Hall: An additional town hall for Measure C is scheduled for October 29th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Elwynn Muscle Senior Center.

Agenda Item: Oral Reports of Council Members

  • Council Member Soto: Reported attending the Hispanic Heritage event on October 9th, the Mayor’s Ball on October 10th, the State of the City on October 13th, and the White and Black Mexican Ladies’ Ball on October 17th. Regarding the public comment regarding SB 54 and ICE enforcement, the Mayor asked if the speaker wanted Chief Williams to address it immediately or schedule a separate meeting.
  • Council Member Aguilera: Reported attending the Hispanic Heritage event on October 9th and the State of the City on October 13th.
  • Council Member Battaia: Reported attending the Women Lawyers Association gala on October 8th, the State of the City on October 14th, a meeting regarding hospitals in Santa Barbara County, and the Black and White Ball on October 17th.

Agenda Item: Adjournment

  • The Mayor concluded the meeting.