UnGovr Transcript
iHow this transcript is madeUnGovr transcribes the official recording with automated speech-to-text, separates speakers by voice, and matches voices to the seated roster. Names and attributions are AI estimates and may contain errors.Verify any quote yourself: click anywhere in the transcript and the official video jumps to that exact moment, so you can check any quote against the recording.0:07 – 1:408 turns
Good evening and welcome to the August 10th closed session for City Council meeting. Roll call, please. We start at 5 p.m.
Roll call, called by City Clerk
Show transcript
thank
you.
The 13th
justice.
Are there any public communications for our closed session?
Edward St. George v. City of Solvang, et al., Case No. 25-CB07234. Item 2b, Conference with Legal Counsel Existing, excuse me, Anticipated Litigation, Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 549569D4, One Potential Case. Conference with legal counsel. Anticipated litigation, significant exposure to litigation pursuant to government code section 54956.92 one potential case.
Item 2D conference with real property negotiators pursuant to government code section 54956.8 Property 478, 4th Place Solvang California APN 139173014. Agency Negotiator Randy Murphy City Manager and Chelsea O'Sullivan City Attorney. Negotiating Parties CRA Solvange RE LLC. Under negotiation, both press in terms. Item 2E conference with real property negotiators pursuant to government code section 54956.8 property 425 First Street Solvang California APN 139192024 Agency Negotiator Randy Murphy, City Manager and Chelsea O'Sullivan, City Attorney. Negotiating Parties Jameson Elias Holding Limited. Under negotiation both press in terms. Item 2F Conference with Labor Negotiators Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency Designated Representative Chelsea O'sullivan, City Attorney Unrepresented Employee, City Manager Item 2G.
Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6, Agency Designated Representative Dave Fleischman, Assistant City Attorney, Employee Organization Teamsters Union Local 986. Item 2H. Conference with Labor Negotiators pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency Representative Dave Fleischman, Assistant City Attorney, Employee Organization All Unrepresented Employees
Thank you very much. We're at recess. We are back from closed session. We will then adjourn our closed session and begin our open session. The last session is closed at 632, and we are now in session for our open session at 632. Good evening, everyone. Glad you're here. We're here for our August the 10th. We're beginning at 632 and I ask that you please silence your phones and do the housekeeping things of that so we don't have those interruptions particularly while we're doing while you're speaking at public comment. That would be embarrassing.
And we wouldn't want that. So we will have roll call please.
Roll call, called by City Clerk
Show transcript
1:40 – 1:468 turns
Thank you
and to lead us into tonight's Pledge of Allegiance we have Valerie Kissel. Thank you, Valerie. Okay we have no proclamations on our calendar and we have no presentations and we do have some public comments so we will move to public comments madam clerk would you read that into the record please
At this time, you may address the council on items not on the agenda and on consent. Time limit is three minutes and we will start with in-person public comments first.
Thank you. Let's start off with Mr. Steve Palmer
Thank you. Good evening, Mayor Brown and council members. My name is Steve Palmer. I'm presently the president-elect of the Solvang Rotary Club. Also kind of more importantly for tonight, I am the chair of the Solvang Rotary Club's 4th of July Parade Committee. Also here tonight we have Kristen Morrison our current president and I see a couple other members of the Solvang Rotary here as well.
Tonight I'm here to thank you for your support and your continued support from year-to-year of the annual Solvang Fourth of July parade. It's one of the highlights of the city events for residents and visitors alike. Specifically, I want us call out the help from Randy Murphy Wendy Berry, Candace Libera, Tori Stevens, Jonathan Flynn and Lieutenant Henderson and his sheriff deputies for helping us to make this one of the best parades ever. Possibly the biggest ever.
Also tonight I'm here to present a gift to the City of Solvang. What we had prepared was a commemorative declaration of independence that didn't have any signatures on it until it was signed by all the members of the Solvange Rotary Club And we also had, took it over to the vets hall and had the American Legion and the VFW group sign. I believe on here is at least one signature from a World War II veteran.
So with little further ado, I wish to present this to the city. First of all, I want to read their proclamation across the top, sorry. On this day, July 4th 2026 marking the historic 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence we gather to reaffirm our devotion to the nation's founding ideals. We do solemnly pledge our commitment to the sacred principles of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness By our signatures below, we honor the legacy of those who founded this republic and dedicate ourselves to preserving the unalienable rights justice and equality that define the American spirit for generations to come.
Presented to the City of Solvang by the Rotary Club of Solvang. I will hand this over to the capable hands of Mr. Murphy And I do have a pen over here for each of you to sign at some point. I also have a frame here, and hopefully you guys can find a suitable place to display this in the city for people to enjoy.
Thank you and thank you for all you do. Thank You Mr. Palmer on my next list is Valerie Kissel
Good evening again, Honorable Mayor, Distinguished Council and City staff. I'm here this evening representing the Friends of the Library and I just wanted to update you on some of the activities that have been going on over at the library. We just finished a very successful summer reading program where we served 134 children 14 teens and 45 adults Now, our summer reading program included not just reading but presentations from the Manny's reptiles. And we also had a person come in and teach graphic comic book illustration which was pretty interesting. Another thing we tried this summer and we're going to look into providing it again is we did Thursday afternoon matinees in the courtroom The most interesting thing was to see the kids running around through the courtroom and sitting up in the judge's chair.
But anyway, I did want to thank you all for your continued support of the library and Councilman Mark for serving so diligently on our board. I know that you guys all know that we've outgrown our space, and I appreciate everybody working with us on that but we have just shy of 3,000 patrons. And last year we distributed 29,000 materials, that's books, DVDs. So it's a very vibrant library but it's not just reading books.
We brought back the very popular, it's called ARF But it's read to a dog. And that's where the young kids come in and they read to therapy dogs. So we do that every Tuesday afternoon, we have story time, we have a fiber optics club, a garden club, and you know there's just so many things other than just coming in and using the resources. So once again I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your support and let you know what was going on over there. Thank
you. Thank you. Okay Dennis Beebe
1:46 – 1:574 turns
Thank you Mr. Mayor, council members thank you for your continued support to our community it isn't easy I think and my kudos to the Solvang Rotary and Steve Palmer in particular for the greatest parade ever it's the highlight of my year but I must switch subjects so I want to talk about sewerage or more polite term is wastewater A year ago, I warned this council that because the Los Olivos Community Services District was considering a pipeline to Solvang to resolve the wastewater treatment that they were facing, that you were close to violating the 2009 SYV community plan.
And I counseled you not to proceed but like many of my councils You did. You agreed to start negotiations, or at least discussions with the Los Olivos Community Services District to find out what it would take to connect a pipeline from Los Olivos to the Solvang wastewater treatment plant. That's ongoing and you've done it. You provided them a conceptual description and a cost estimate.
I expressed our concern because in the plan, the threat of development all along the 3.4 mile corridor where the pipe would reside opens the floodgate to development. That's what specified in the plan. I must admit, oh my fingerprints are on this plan by the way. The plan does not make it a policy, you know, a numbered alphanumeric policy So the third district supervisor's staff told me, well it's not policy not to have a pipe but it's a narrative. Well things have changed and I'd like to alert you to it and ask you to reconsider your plan to connect Solvang Wastewater to your wastewater treatment plant. What's changed is the general manager's promise That there could be no development along that route. Because of their design, and I'm an engineer so I kind of lean towards design.
I disregarded the promise from the third district supervisor on the board that there would be no development because they wouldn't permit it. Well, they won't be here when the time comes. The design was a pressurized pipe that took the wastewater from Los Olivos to the connection in Solvang. And we were assured technically would not allow development or connections all along the way. It's changed. They've now decided it's not going to be pressurized, it's going to be gravity.
I would like you to reconsider your plan to connect sewerage from Los Olivos to the Solvang wastewater treatment plant.
Thank you. I have no other slips. Is there anybody on Zoom that would like to public communications and move on
Yes, thank you Mr. Mayor and Council. Several things to talk about. First of all I want to remind everybody that our quarterly cleanup day is this Saturday. It'll be over here in lot 5 across the street from City Hall. Due to neighbors' concerns raised about the ongoing collection of the community waste we are moving that beginning in November to Hans Christian Anderson Park. So this will be the last time it will be here at Lot 5. We are in the process of developing the necessary infrastructure or improving it so that it makes it easier for people getting out of there, but that will happen in November.
You may recall I've announced this several times that these events happened on a third Saturday of every third month. So but we're not doing it on the calendar quarter, we're doing so February, May, August and November are the three months or four months that we do this and it's always been up to this point since I've been involved the third Saturday. So that is this coming weekend August 15th from 8 to noon.
Please follow the direction of the staff that are there to help prevent or reduce conflicts in the neighborhood by blocking driveways, etc. I also had an announcement I wanted to share with the Council and the community that June TOT numbers are in And it is the highest we've ever received, the highest amount we've ever received in a single month. $919,187.37. That is 14% of all the rate so that's... I didn't do the math but a lot of money was spent here in the month of June for lodging properties. The fiscal year total, so from July of 25 to June of 26 was also a new record $1 million more than the previous fiscal year of $8,383,651.60 So again, that's 14% of the total value of the rooms rented in Solvang. So that's an amazing number and you know even though tourism is on the decline generally speaking we're doing pretty good so kudos to our marketing group and our staff associated with that.
We have a quarterly update in this week's agenda. I also wanted to share I received an email earlier today, California Governor Office of Emergency Service OES, Cal OES is doing meetings for planning guide update related to climate innovation etc. There's information on our city's website and Facebook page about it they're having virtual workshops one happened last week Next one is Wednesday of next week, in-person ones August 26th in San Francisco and September 1st in San Diego. So for anybody in this area if you have an interest in what it says is Cal OES in partnership with California Natural Resource Agency and the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation Welcome your comments on the Draft California Adaptation Planning Guide.
And so anyway, if you have an interest in that kind of thing, that information is available on our website. Another issue that's going to affect residents here in Solvang and our visitors is that beginning on Wednesday this week through early October, so about the next two months, northbound and southbound at the 246 interchange of 101 is going to be closed. So the entrance and exit ramps north of 246 will be closed to all traffic. And that includes McMurray Road and Avenue flags They're basically blocking off that right-hand side, so you have to go down Santa Rosa Road.
So if you're going to go north on 101, you need to go south on 101 and turn around at Santa Rosa Road and come back up. If you're coming off of 101 from the north, you have to exit Santa Rosa Road and come back around either up Avenue of Flags from the south or come back around on the northbound side of 101. This is part of the improvements they are making in there.
They've had the fast lane block for a while, now they're closing the slow lane. The fast lane will have through traffic you just can't get off at 246 from the north. From the south you can but from the north you won't be able to so that's I wanted to share that Also, State of the City is on the 27th so two weeks from this Thursday we'll be at the Cork. The Chamber is advertising it and I believe it's $65 if you're a chamber member, $75 if you're not that includes lunch. We are providing for individuals in the community who are interested in hearing what is being said and we are making seats available It will not include lunch, it'll be set in the back of the room. It is a public meeting because we only have all five council there and we will be talking unlike previous State of Cities, it's not a conference where there's a keynote speaker, it'll be staff providing updates at their various departments so and it's an opportunity for community to look and listen in on what's going on provide questions related to what's being presented.
We will be having it recorded It will not be broadcast live, but it will be recorded and that information will be available on our YouTube channel probably a week or so later. But I just wanted to make sure that everybody understood it's a fundraiser for the chamber, so they are on all their communications aren't talking about the fact that there are seats available at no cost if you have an interest. Or you can watch it later on on a broadcast.
And that's all I have for now
Thank you. Any questions of the City Manager?
1:57 – 2:0416 turns
Sorry, Randy did we have a occupancy new a new occupancy value that goes with our highest ever TOT revenue?
I do not. It would
be good to hear it when we
inquire. We'll have that soon through our marketing team.
Thank you. Okay,
we'll move on to item 5. If you'd read that into the record please. Madam Clerk?
Government Code section 53232.3 D aka AB 1234 and government code section 84308 aka SB 1439 report out ex parte communications council comments requests.
Thank you. Who would like anybody like to start it's been a while since the last one Okay, go
ahead. Sure I just had a couple of things that a quick comment that I attended and chaired our Eastern Management agent JPA agency groundwater management meeting and This isn't relevant necessarily for Solvang residents, but if the community at large is listening and you happen to use groundwater and have a well this is the month for us to mandatory meet the registration requirement. To let the county know that you have a water well in the Eastern Management boundary.
So there are I think at least one more workshop left to help you work through that portal process and self-service your registration. I also attended, I think twice the Parks and Rec's Master Plan meeting which was great. Kind of pulled together our thinking around what our 5-, 10- and 20-year plan will be for our development for parks and recreation. And we have a public hearing coming up next week for everybody to hear and contribute to that master plan.
I also met with Brian Forster just spent some time with the new chamber leadership Now that he's been in the seat for a couple of months now to hear his point of view before we get to state of the city. And then finally, no small task I did file for my candidacy to rerun for re-election so you'll hear from me requesting the honor to do this four more years.
Thank you. Ms. Smith?
Yes, the only thing I really have to report is I too have filed all my paperwork to rerun for District 3 for this and be on the ballot for November.
I will report that I also attended the last meeting for the committee reviewing the master plan for parks and rec. I am very much looking forward to the open session where everybody can see and review the reality that we have with our parks and rec plan, what we could do better, and most importantly how we're going to pay for it So I'm very much looking forward to that.
Well, let me start with the city manager. I spent last Friday at Vandenberg Space Force Base in the afternoon for memorial service for Senior Airman Luna And a very proper send off for a fallen hero here locally. It was well attended, must have been probably well over 200 maybe 300 people. And so it's an honor to be there and represent Solvang for that. I also welcomed the new Grand Jury last week to Solvang and to their new seats they were just impaneled, I think is the right word?
So I gave him a little bit of background on what's going on in Solvang. And then we attended a Zoom team meetings with the Housing Task Force for Vandenberg Space Force Base, again with the city manager and list of people regarding their growth that they're having there We also had a check presentation regarding the wastewater management. We were presented with a check from Congressman Carbajal for $1 million for the upgrades to our wastewater treatment plant and I think if I quote him properly, He said, cameras are to politicians what candy is to children. So something along those lines but anyway we were happy to have him here and happy to receive the funds for our wastewater treatment plant. It's a start Then finally, quite finally I also gave a rotary presentation regarding Solvang to the Los Olivos Rotary and back in last month.
And then also I had the privilege of donating blood to Vitalant did the double Thank you. I want to thank our Public Works Department. The redoing of all the roads and everything in the community, it's gone on flawlessly and without much indigestion for anyone so thank you to Public Works for overseeing that and our partners CalPortland now for doing that. Appreciate that.
And that's all I have for those items. So we'll, unless there's anything else,
we'll move on to item six consent items. Would you read that into the record please?
Consent is for routine administrative city matters and is approved with one motion. Members of the public were afforded an opportunity to speak during the public communications portion of this agenda.
Okay thank you. Any concerns or modifications?
2:04 – 2:0918 turns
I would call out that- I'll make a modification. 8F and G need to be removed.
Yeah, I'll make a modification on... Well, I'll make a motion to approve all the consent items if there's no questions or concerns or anything else to pull but to change 6A so that we would temporarily table the agenda items 8F and G and proceed with that modification to our rest of the agenda for tonight. That would mean we need to approve consent items 6, B, C, D, E, F and G.
Okay. Does everybody get that? Okay if I may well actually let's see if there's a second first.
I will second.
Okay to rephrase that we're going to approve consent items A through G with a modification to A, whereby we will delete or table items 8F and 8G as in Foxtrot and Golf. Did I repeat that properly? It's been properly moved and seconded. Roll call please.
Roll-call vote Passed 4–0 moved and seconded. Roll call
Show transcript
motion passes 5-0
thank you we are now going to
move on to item 7 and I'm gonna do 7a would you read that in the record please madam clerk
Public hearing to consider a request for a letter of public convenience or necessity for VIP tobacco shop located at 606 Alamo Pintado Road Suite 6, APN 139-540054. Thank you. Staff report please.
Yes, good evening Council. So the Alcohol Beverage, the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control requires a denial for a license when a higher concentration of alcohol ABC licenses exist in a census track and this instance the applicant VIP tobacco has applied for a type 20 wine and beer sales off-site license however there's an over concentration of said licenses within the census track So therefore, the applicant has requested a public convenience or necessity letter which requires the City Council approval for this item.
The applicant... what this type 20 licensure means is that the patrons purchase the beer and wine in store and consume those off-site at a different location. The City Council last approved a PCN in 2024 And so I believe the applicants here to answer any additional questions, but city staff is recommending approval of the PCN this evening. An option that the City Council does have is to deny the request and if that is such then that means that the applicant will not be able to get a type 20 license and they will continue their operations as it exists today with that all open up to any questions the council may have.
Thank you. Any questions? My question is what determines this as either a convenience or necessity?
Again, that's up to the Council. They just need to determine that it is a convenience and necessity so these are based on census tracts so every 10 years the Census revises that and APC typically when a community grows increase the number of licenses that are available So really it's up It's a council decision at this point to whether to grant this license and deem it a convenience and necessity
Thank
you
Is the owner available? I guess my first question is about, is there a demand? Do you have customers that come in
routinely
that were requesting it would be so nice to stop here and
get I believe so, yes. My type of business brings a lot of local people and it's very heavy traffic of people and it's mostly locals. And my target once, Rite Aid closed and with that we felt a little bit in my business with the closure. But I believe that if we are able to offer other items in my store, it would help us increase that revenue and I believe it would be a quick stop for locals to have other options like local wines and nothing too big just an extra revenue
2:09 – 2:1521 turns
May I ask how long you've owned the shop?
We've been in business for 15 years. Thank you.
While you're there, can I ask you what are your hours of operation?
We are from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 7pm.
Okay thank you. I'm going to open it up to public hearing at this point in time. Okay. That being said, I'll be closing it for public comment having given the opportunity and bring it back to the dais for action if there are other questions that you might have.
No, I thought the application was comprehensive and the successful business letter was nice. I think that these seem to be complementary business strategy. I thought it makes sense to me With the added context that the business has been affected with The exit of Rite Aid, I think we could help them. So I'm gonna make a motion to approve this letter of convenience for necessity for the VIP wine tobacco and shop located at 606 Elmo Pintado.
I'll second that.
Very well, it's been properly moved and seconded to approve the request as per the motion. Roll call please.
Roll-call vote Passed 4–0 motion. Roll call
Show transcript
Motion passes 5-0
Thank you very much And
we'll move on to item number 7B as in Baker. Would you read that in the record, please?
Public hearing to consider resolution 261331 approving issuance of an animal-drawn conveyance license for Horses Entertainment LLC.
Thank you very much
and before we start Mr. Mayor I will recuse myself as I have an interest in Horse's Entertainment LLC
Thank you. We'll send for you when we're finished. While you're out, why don't you order lunch first? If life were so simple. Okay any staff report please let's go there first
All right, thank you Mr. Mayor. So this item is for the animal-drawn conveyance license renewal only so this is different from the electronic electric vehicle conveyance license. Horses LLC currently operates the animal drawn conveniences and has applied to renew this license for an additional five years. The proposed operation is from 11 a.m to 6 p.m with weather being the largest factor in whether and being dependent The proposed route that is included in your staff report will remain the same, staying primarily in the village. So this route does not go into the Evelhor Museum nor does it go into the residential neighborhoods and that is the designated route for the animal conveyances.
City staff has added conditions similar to the last renewal that horses LLC had. However, we did add a new set of conditions for insurance requirements as well as an requirement to obtain an encroachment permit for the proposed parking spaces that the animal conveyance will be taking up So with that being said, the applicant has no history of accidents or any reported violations.
So city staff is recommending renewal of this permit for up to five years as included in your attachments, as well as the conditions of approval. And with that, we'll turn it back to you for any questions that you have of city staff.
Thank you. Any questions for my colleagues?
Is the encroachment permit in the resolution language?
Yes, it's in the condition language. It's actually... Let me get to that page there. So there is the resolution itself and then the attachment next to that is the conditions of approval and it is required to have a annual encroachment permit so that permit would need to be renewed on an annual basis.
I'm sorry, oh it's in the Exhibit A.
Correct.
2:15 – 2:2637 turns
And that will run with the license itself? What is that? That will run with the license itself? Correct.
So, essentially what ends up happening is they would renew each year if the city would need to add any conditions or any you know additional demifications based upon which gets codified they would need to then abide by that so that's why we do this on an annual renewal basis And again, it's just to ensure sort of the safety and make sure the operations are done per city code. This is a new condition that was added comparative to the last one.
Okay, the language isn't clear. Raphael, you're saying that encroachment gets renewed every year or the license?
The encroachment gets renewed every
year. And the license is dependent on the encroachment being...
It is required to get and obtain an encroached permit each year.
But can you point out where it says that?
Sure, that would be number five encroachment permit. Issuance of an encroachment permit by city engineers required for use of public right-of-way. Licensees shall obtain annually renew and encroach a permit for use of public right-of way such encroachment permit shall provide the licensee identification to the City of Solvang.
And is there a fee associated with that?
Yes
Where's that pointed out?
That's in your adopted fee schedule
Which is what value?
I actually do not know that value because it's dependent on what that encroachment is. I believe it's a blocking encroachments.
So the encroachment is not treated as unique or is it called out specifically for the trolley? It's
called out specifically for the animal conveyances.
Okay, so I'm going to look that up.
Okay. Um, the um, I guess I had a question about the hours for holidays and things of that nature. How flexible are those hours if there's special events or, I remember we used to have carriages during Yule Fest and it would go to late in the evening so does this accommodate for that?
Yes, it does. So item three is hours of operation so it covers the again the licensee, the applicant has provided to us in exhibit B the hours from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the exception of Tuesday with no operations and then the next line says licensee may operate different hours from time to time for other events special holidays etc. with approval of the community development director and shall notify the director within 30 days So it does give a little leeway, especially for planning such as Yule Fest and other major holidays.
Is this an exclusive license?
No, other operators can operate one if they go through the application process.
But we wouldn't have more than one horse-drawn trolley would we? I mean are we going to issue more than one license?
That's up to you as the council
That question is not before us right now, but like you said that would be if somebody else were to ask for one we'd have to consider it just as we are this one.
That is correct so if an applicant came and applied for a license and provided the information we would go through the application as we've done this and then bring it to the City Council for
consideration. You mentioned that there was a modification to the insurance. Are you satisfied that these levels are adequate?
Yes, the modification was suggested by our finance
director. I
can wait because I think I have a question for the applicant and when it's the appropriate time.
All right well if we will now open it to public comment and We're opening the public hearing part and opening it to public comment. And why don't we start with the applicant? Do you have anything you'd like to say before we
Good afternoon or good evening Mayor, City Councils, staff and members of the community. It's an honor for me to present and ask for the renewal of our license because we have 19 years operating the Hot Ground Trolling Solvang that now is a part integral of the community, the tradition and culture from Solvang because we not only operate the business for like that for business. We operate the service to Get a welcome to our guest, that is our tourist.
And at the same time if somebody require information, education about the horses, the service, their capabilities We are more than welcome, and we do that too many times. And every time someone from the community asks for a service, we are willing to do that always. I don't want to say songs like... I'm going to say my words now is missing, but I am proud that in all those years we don't have a simple accident. And it's easy to say 20 years without no accidents with the horse and covians in the city with the tourists with the motorcycles when all the stuff that running around us all day long is not easy believe me and I am proud that in all these times we don' Any accident or any issue or complaints, not Quide City.
Quide County Animal Service is a clean record and I'm proud to say after all these years we feel like we are home. Now we have 20 years here but at the beginning when we arrived here was tough time We grow the company from just get two teams that work in that time every single day when we buy the company. get six teams, now some of those I retire. Our horses after war too many people think we have only two horses all the time they think are the same horses no we have 12 horses working or well some of those now when i retire and our horses retired we promise our horses because we treat the horses like our kids they are my kids The time comes and they can't work anymore for some reason, I decided to retire because I noticed it's time for them to be retired.
They get the same care that the horses are working making money. And the other thing is the company grows because we have demand from the public And even we have tourists that come to us to want to ride the trolley from overseas, believe it or not. Just they tell me, we come to Solvang just because we want to see the trolley running in the streets because you see trolleys pulling by horses in amusement park but in the live streets running in the traffic only in Solvang.
Any questions? You are more than welcome. I am here to clarify, ask for anything. I
think we might bring you back up but we're going to go through the list of other people as well unless... I do have one question.
Is it okay? Yeah thank you Mr. Aron and I want to before I ask my questions I want to tell you that I appreciate seeing the trolleys especially the horse-drawn trolleys As much as some residents worry and complain about traffic or the tourist population, you guys do your best to make it special. Really appreciate it. One question had to do with the routing.
The routing diagrams don't have any directional arrows. I assume that means you want the flexibility to go both ways?
Well, especially the time to time when the city has special events and we need to make a detour or something. We have to change the direction. It's a mistake don't place the arrows it's something that we can fix it but yes you are right I asked to get the flexibility to change the directions. The main road is going to be like this in the round We work really hard to, I know sometimes the people complain because the trolley runs so slow but at the same time okay please understand they are horses. They are not racehorses you know and it's part of the charm. The quiet and that special song that produce the hooves when they walk is just If you have a little imagination, you go back on the time when those horses build this beautiful country.
The reason I brought up the arrows and the directional is when you're on mission are you turning left with the horses from mission to first or left from Alisal to mission?
Well, the road is we turn from first to mission on the right always follow next to the car. And then when we reach Alisal, we turn right in Alisal. The same thing and it's the only place where the trolley run on mission because it's easy to get into the traffic and then next to a few foot, we have a special lane to turn. Then we immediately go to the right and we left all the cars pass.
I'm afraid to make those two left turns in my car. It just concerns me that maybe we hardwire that right turn only on those two, just when they are horse drawn.
2:26 – 2:3113 turns
We can see what we can do. It's important to get that part of the route because we show and use that little block from Mission. Originally, the trolley was running too many years ago make a big loop all Copenhagen to Fifth and all Mission but for the traffic I understand now it is impossible
On the busiest days, it's very difficult.
Yes
I did pull up the encroachment fee schedule. I believe it's under engineering and encroachment fees so I just have a simple question did you these are new fees that we either updated increased or added in the July 2026 approval cycle. Did you budget for those fees?
Well, I understand it's something that we have to cover and it's fair.
I'm not sure which ones apply because the next set of questions are probably going to have to go back to Rafael because they're not very specific.
Salvatore, nice to see you. I absolutely am enchanted by your horse-drawn honan. I just found out in the application that honan means chicken. That was a new one on me, but you list in here several other like the omnibus and the wagonette. I never see these when do these get used?
Well some of those like the bus that is a special piece of equipment for us because that comes from Tejero. He was a former rancher from Santa Ynez. And he provided carriage to us and we rebuilt it from the frame to the top, and we use it for special occasion weddings or parades or sometimes in Valentine's when we saw the demand for that kind of service, we used that one. Or the wagonette is the same thing.
I think these are fantastic. I would like to see these sometime. Thank you very much.
Hi. Should I just get started right here?
You're on the timer.
Oh okay, sorry. There are many sites in the immediate blocks around us that are classically Solvang like our windmills, our Danish architecture and of course the horse-drawn Solvang trolley. You see it on the postcards inside newspaper articles and also social media posts. Visitors come here to be enlightened by the Solvang experience and to see and do things they can't do at home.
Solvang's soul is its identity and over the past 60 years the trolley and its horses have become a part of that identity To see the horses walk down the street is an experience that I've had many times since I was a small child. Having lived here for years, it isn't much of novelty to see our idyllic trolley making its way down the street. However, there are many people who come to Solvang from massive cities like Los Angeles. For some of these visitors, both adults and especially small children, the sight of a trolley being pulled by genuine horses is not only a sight to behold, it's also a wonder they haven't ever seen before.
I'm lucky to know the Oronas and witness how they treat their animals. The legacy of this jewel of Solvang is in good hands. The Belgian draft horses, the trolley they pull, and the feeling that they create are one of the reasons people choose this town to visit. After all these years, the horse-drawn trolley has become an integral part of this town's identity, and renewing their license to operate is a necessity in regards to keeping the spirit of the Danish capital of America alive. Thank you.
Thank you. Mazie. Curtis.
Mayor. Hello, my name is Maisie and I'm speaking in favor of the Solvang Trolley getting their license renewed for the use of their Belgian Draft Horses. I've heard murmurs from people who are worried about the horses working long and on hot days. When I was at my barn where I rode horses for many years, my teacher started teaching us a lesson one day about horses and their jobs. She used the horses on the trolley in Solvang as an example and said that the draft horses love pulling things. It makes them happy to pull the trolley around and it's their life's work.
We should not worry about them and their care because they are well taken care of by the Aronas. The draft horses that pull the trolleys at Disneyland often work in the heat with crowds, dodging people and many other factors. The Solvang trolley draft horses don't work half the time and in the heat like the ones in Disneyland and Anaheim. I am confident that the horses are happy and healthy so you should let the Aronas renew their license. This is just my opinion. Thank you.
2:31 – 2:3913 turns
Okay Lorena Rodriguez and followed by
Kim. Mr. Mayor, members of the City Council my name is Lorena Rodriguez Orona I'm the mom of the Trolley family. I just want to talk about our babies you know in 2008 we started this company with Claire and Rita And one day we promised to them, you know, one day your girls will have your forever home. So this company really make that dream happen so just I want to say thank you for all the support of the visitors, the residents, the city council, all the people who love this company Hans, thank you so much for coming.
This is very emotional for me because this is a real American dream. You know we rode, we have that mermaid restaurant, the ice cream parlor, the windmill and the whole day mechanic trolley will help a lot with the horses staying home when it's too busy when it's hot We have eight draft horses, four of them are already retired. The young ones we are brothers. We have the biggest horse in California maybe the biggest horse in United States his name is Herman, Herman Muster so he's a success when he come to town everybody's taking pictures of Herman.
So thank you so much for everything they are not horses they are family they are our souls like I say to Kim I always say Say thank you to God. You guys have a home, you have food, you have friends, you have family. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Kim? I pronounce your last name how?
Guian.
Of course I do.
Well good evening everyone. I am the tour guide for the Belgian Draft Horses. They every day People are asked, where are the horses? Why aren't they here? What are they doing? When are they coming
back?
We drove all the way here. My child wants to see these horses. The Ronas love these animals. I take care of them as my horses when I'm working with them. The Honan as you mentioned the chicken the trolley that has been in Solvang for a very very long time and we still use it take care of it. And it's got a lot of history to it but just be a sad story if the horses weren't back out in Solvang they need to be here on their own as our wonderful family. They're my family and they take really good care of these horses so thank you.
Thank you. That's the end of the slips that I have. Is there anyone else here? Mr. Deuce, please. And followed by Dennis Beebe Actually, Dennis once you go first they'll give you time Hans to come up. Let's do that yeah no worries.
Thank You Mr. Mayor I'm Dennis Beebe Solvang most of the people that ride the horse-drawn trolley are visitors not all of them it's the most wonderful part of solving my daughter and I ride it Every Yule Fest, it's just a special, special quiet horse clopping experience. I don't know why you are spending so much time on this subject. I think you ought to certainly bring the proponents forward but this is a slam dunk.
So, you know, let's get on with it. It's a wonderful, wonderful experience for both residents and visitors.
Thank you. Your turn, Hans. The floor is yours.
Guess what? I'm a Dane and I know a lot of Danish, too. Henen is hen. A hen, yes. So that's your information for the night. You know it is a no-brainer on the trolley And I think what we really need to do is just exactly what we are doing, pump them up. Let them know that you guys up there on the dais making the rules are supporting them too because you understand what this little company does for the town They're all over, they're all over the place and you know yeah there's some great stores but they're locked in.
These guys are in your face the whole time reminding and you know kids hey that sells them Yeah, I'm right. They're going to spend that $25, $30, $40 or whatever getting on that trolley because all the kids are going to want to be on it. So anyway, I am just babbling now. Good to see you all and yeah, I remember back about 20, I don't know a bunch of years ago Yeah, yeah and you guys had just come up from Carpinteria.
And the next fall I believe I was elected by 35 votes. Anyway, I'll shut up now and you can have your meeting back.
Thank you Hans. Nice to see you Hans. I'm glad you're here with us. Okay was there anybody else in the audience that want to speak because if not I'll go to Zoom. Anybody on zoom that has a hand up? I do see a thumb up here. Who is that? Ann Smith, would you please wait while we have one more? You will be next. Stand by.
2:39 – 2:4412 turns
And I have been lucky enough to be their property managers for the last 10 years. So, I do leasing that's my specialty just what you guys are doing with them and I actually we all know the business is great Solvang. We need the tourists they love the trolley. I have several shops in town and businesses in town that I manage and I will say that this is probably one of the busiest ones that people talk about We want to know where the trolley is, you know. What's going on? Are people coming? Where can I get the tickets? And my office is above them and so I constantly get people looking for tickets in my office which is a great thing for a landlord because I know that it's busy but I really wanted to speak about character what you're seeing is honestly what they're saying who they are and how they're acting right now is what I have seen on a daily basis for over 10 years now their quality And quality people, quality business and exactly what I think is important for people who come to Solvang to get to meet.
This type of people are exactly who we want to be known in our community and what our community is known for good people so I just kind of wanted to put that word out. I adore them you know and I'm just thankful to have the Ms. Tenets and I hope it continues.
Thank you okay Miss Smith Ann Smith, go ahead.
Hello. Sorry I couldn't be there. I have a special point for this conversation because I get to work specifically with the horses. I work on the ranch. I clean these guys. I put their harnesses on and every day they're happy to work. You know they're happy to work because when you put the collars on they're ready to go And I've worked with horses all my life, but you will never find the same experience that Saul has with his horses and the care he gives them. And the carefulness if there's anything, if anything's going on in town, he will not risk the horses. He takes the best care of them.
I adore this family. I've worked with them for four years and I hope to continue to work for them many more years to come. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Okay, if there's... Yes we have one more. Is this? Hopefully it's not repetitive.
Okay so my name is Denise Cornwell. People you see here, we all work for the trolley. We are here supporting them making sure that everything is right They are our family. All of us are family. I just want you to know that this front row, we are Charlie people.
Thank you. Okay. Is there anybody else in on Zoom? Okay. I am now going to close public comment and move on to other questions you might have. We're closing the public hearing part and we'll bring it back here for action.
I still have some questions on the fees and can we just get clarity on the encroachment fees and the license fee, is there one?
So the encroachment fee, there is an under our fee schedule. There's a item for special encroachment agreement review private encroachments in the public right away which is exactly this and so that fee is 557 while it's not an annual fee that typically covers the cost it takes to run the encroachment That's typically done by the Public Works Office. So that's the fee that would be done and then obviously there's a set time to enter the encroachment, it wouldn't be in perpetuity. It would instead be either renewed every year at either reduced fee or give it a set of years so but again that's something that will be worked between the Public Works Department and the applicant
I don't follow what you just said. There is an electronic trolley fee. Then there's an encroachment fee for right of way. And is that renewed annually, or you said something about it being negotiated?
It's negotiated. It's what we call a private agreement so it gets negotiated and that could be, and so the encroachment could last a few years, it could be one two three four years or five years however the amount of the encroachment agreement lasts to. Does that make sense?
Makes me ask more questions. What's the basis for that negotiation?
Again, it's the avenue that we typically use for in most instances this avenue is used for permanent encroachments in the right-of-way. So we would use this fee to do that but it wouldn't be a permanent encroachment.
2:44 – 2:5244 turns
Because it gets renewed every year?
It can based on the language.
That's where the issue is, the language is very loose so let's start like you refer to exhibit B there's no exhibit B I assume it's the application?
Yes that is exhibit A as a conditions exhibit B is the application.
It's not necessarily tied to that so we should tighten that up. The encroachment permit language does not reflect what you just said It just says it's renewed annually and it does not describe what parts of the encroachment fees, it maps to. And it sounds like it's totally subjective is that's negotiated under conditions that are TBD So can we get new language that describes exactly what this is? Otherwise, you know we just had some great commentary about us all being one family but how do we it's sort of like rules for thee but not for me.
How do we even represent that we have applicable fee schedule that is actually referred to Massive gap.
This is kind of a different, and we've not done this before...
Okay but we have a separate, this is a separate license for the horse-drawn trolley than the electronic trolley. Do we have a reference in the electronic trolley? No we
do not.
So we so we had the same issue across both licenses.
Correct as long as well as businesses in town that use the public right away for their personal business
public right-of-way but we also have, is that including the parking spaces that are being dedicated to?
It could. The issue is right now the permit has expired. We're trying to get them back if they can't run the horses right now without the permit so what I would recommend... So
why don't we give you direction
Right, that's what I was going to request.
Extend the permit until we correct some of this language and identify...
I think that's the best option yes
Okay, can we come back with corrected and more specific language around encroachment fees? And perhaps routing because the routing has scenarios especially when we close down for events. YuleFest is probably a great example and the application sort of describes these alternate Vehicles that can be used, but we don't define under what conditions we say yes to those things and it sounds like those alternate routes also get negotiated with the Community Service Director. Is that right? Community Development Director.
So I think those are massive undefined components in a license that's going to last five years. We should temporarily extend and come back and tighten those items up.
I would like to see that temporarily extend so they can continue operating while we settle what these things that you're bringing up, which I think is a great idea. But we need to give them the license
extension. No issue there.
Okay. Just for my edification, do you want clarification on the encroachment?
Encroachment, the permit fees, the encroachment mapping to our new encroachment fee schedule at the process defined and the routing alternatives defined.
And you want arrows on the... Yeah, because we
do have complaints. I know that language says the fact is we've never had any safety complaints but we've had resident complaints and it's not just for the horse trolley, it's for trolley, I'll just say in general. It would be good for residents to know what those alternate route options look like. It's a, it's like disclosure right? You're disclosing to a neighborhood this may happen in your neighborhood
Okay the this route though is only in the VMU so we're not really talking about neighborhoods. That's
not necessarily true, it goes down to Elverhoi and in Christmastown. The electronic does.
Let's be exclusive just yeah
but acknowledge we need to sit and we need to resolve for both.
Okay and then also encroachment Is that one license for both businesses?
Again, this encroachment would only involve the animal drawn
conveyor.
It would be a separate one. And then Wendy has an answer for the permit for the license itself.
Okay Wendy Berry, Director of Administrative Services. Good evening Mr. Mayor and members of the council. The animal drawn license is actually good for five years so the new license is $753,000 and a renewal license is $547,000 for five years.
Just to clarify if we agree it's yes good for five years? Yes And is that fee a one-time fee for the five year license? Yes.
But it is subject to the cost of living annually, the CPI.
If it's a one-time
fee, how would you adjust that? Well if somebody new comes in then they would pay the CPI for the following year. But the current ones so if they if you were to approve it tonight they would pay the 547 because its renewal and that's good for five years but in five years when you go to renew it again they'll have to pay the CPI for those
compounded but yeah okay
But this fee, that fee does not cover the cost of the encroachment. That's a totally separate issue and that's something that you know recently dealt with related to some of the queuing that goes on in some of the more popular eating facilities in town.
We've made exactly Randy thanks for bringing that up because we made a bunch of other changes to the queueing on streets to make sure we're not encroaching another businesses we need to make sure our We've made huge work and huge strides on that, but now it's sort of confirming that every renewal of whatever it is has done the reconciliation of
new code. And that's the intention of the private encroachment because a private encroachment essentially becomes an agreement that's signed by the city and the applicant and usually pinpoints exactly what the use is exactly what the obligations are etc And so again, that's why the agreement is a little bit different than your standard encroachments that we issue on a daily basis.
I get it Raphael but you're making it sound like it's an off-the-books negotiation with no rules. So let's make sure there's a framework around it.
Well
if I might suggest approving the permit and then coming back with information about the encroachment process But that way they could, because they haven't been able to operate since the permit
expired in June. Oh they haven't? Okay so let's give them a temporary extension let's call it I don't know two months or whatever and that encroachment language has to be in the license renewal or we could amend it. Lawyer can advise what would you advise?
2:53 – 3:0139 turns
I'm having difficulty understanding what the issue is because there is a reference to issuance of an encroachment permit by the city engineer as required for the use of public right-of-way. Licensee shall obtain and annually renew an encroachment permit, very similar to anyone else who's using public right-of way they have to get this permit I'm not understanding what the concern is about the nature of the encroachment permit or the fee and so on that you are looking to tighten up in that language, uh, that is an exhibit to the resolution.
The encroachment permit it's not clear what is being encroached so you can't map it to the fee schedule?
But ultimately, that's true in any kind of encroachment. So for example if PG&E comes in and they say we need to shut down First Street from X to Y, that is going to be subject to the encroachment at that period of time. It's not something necessarily it's going to be locked in here as long as... But it is locked in for 5
years' date because we know exactly which space they use
And that could change depending on the nature of traffic flow, depending on the nature of development in downtown. It is that today but ultimately if they changed the encroachment or reduced the encroachment or increased the encrochement this permit Condition requires them to get that encroachment permit, whatever the nature of the encroachment is. So to lock it in forecloses an increase or a decrease or a change in location whereas the current language allows that flexibility should the need for the encroachments specifics changed during the term of the permit
Okay, glad you pointed that out. But it does not include, should it include, our encroachment doesn't say anything about, encroachment fee doesn't list anything about parking spaces?
Generally, encroachment permits are a specific amount of territory. The fact that it's parking spaces there on the street, it's similar to encroachments for PG&E. They need to block off a portion of the street so it's going to be described in the actual encroachment permit. The valuation of it, obviously that's something that was set forth in the fee schedule.
If you were going to lock that in here there'd be some additional steps that you would want to do to amend the fee schedule to say this is an exception as granted by permit.
Okay okay you've clarified so it's really our fee schedule that needs to be updated because it's not specific enough for this example
That's possible. I haven't looked at what the nature of the fee is that is for this specific type of encroachment, but that is something that would come up during the fee schedule discussion.
Well we've had it. Maybe that's what needs to be amended. We did it in July.
The encroachment?
The whole fee schedule which includes encroachment fees. Yeah.
Okay. Does that seem to alleviate most of your concerns?
Yeah, it does so let me revisit the fee and I may bring it up for another revisit or suggestion but the routing probably I don't think we should Unless it's fun to have you back, Dave. Our lawyer suggests a better alternative. But the routing I think is something that should be proposed or scenarioed
You mean the
alternate plans? We have had neighbors and I know this is different from the electric to the horse-drawn, but it does have traffic impact during Yule Fest and things like that. It would be good to know what those real options can and cannot look like
It does say that if they do deviate, they have to give this community development part 30 days which is a sufficient amount of time for us to review with our partners in fire and police as well as public works. And then it's substantial, it's enough amount of time to then notify the neighbors if we need to whether through door hangers or other things.
Do we have that process in our methodology? When we...do we notify neighbors
What would be the radius and what would be the parameters for notification?
Well, I think the radius would only be VMU because isn't that only where we would put the horse drawn?
Well, I think the current permit allows for various routings for special events. So it may or may not with the approval of Community Development Directorate says the animal drought and conveyance may use alternate routes from time to time for other events, special holidays and so on. So it's not necessarily just the VMU. I could see if there was, for example, a need to go from lot 72 back to downtown and that was a special use for particular period That might be something the Community Development Director could approve.
But where would the notification be? Would it just be along that particular routing and on both sides of the street or within
300 feet? Yeah, I guess let's think generally about it if there are residents affected... wherever the routing is in the City of Solvang, then we would include neighborhood notifications.
It would make a streamline just to say if routing affects new property that's not identified. That way it's just a streamline tells us to identify all the neighbors regardless of whether it's commercial or residential and we have software that can do that and it just makes life a lot easier.
Okay, and
but we don't know if that would be
accepted by
the licensor. And again we would be notifying, the city staff would be notifying the residents not the licensee.
I understand that, but I just want to make sure the conditions are adequate for the licensee.
I think the burden is on us to do the notification process. As a
condition they have to approve it as well?
They would negotiate with the community development director what the new routing would be once that's decided or agreed to then it's on us to notify.
Well, are we prepared to go ahead and issue this license or an extension? What's the pleasure? I would...
I think we resolved it. I think we resolved it because we'll have to go look at the fee schedule, not the license.
Right so we can approve the license and that's fine. That's what I think we should do.
I think this as has been stated here, this is an iconic business and facility that we have. We treasure it and I think we want to see it extended And with that being said, I'll move to adopt resolution 261331 approving the issuance of an animal-drawn conveyance license for horses entertainment LLC.
Do you want to add the qualifier for Condition 4?
With a qualifier for Condition 4.
Yes thank you.
I'll second that. It's been moved and seconded to approve item 7B as modified. Roll call, please.
Roll call, called by City Clerk
Show transcript
3:01 – 3:167 turns
Motion passes 4-0, 1.
Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing all the horses and we appreciate you. Okay pleasure. We are now
moving to item 8a as in alpha would you read that into the record please Oh yeah, let's somebody send her back. I'll go get her. She wasn't kidding about the front row. I think the trolleys parked out front. Would you ask Miss Arona to rejoin us? Is she on her way?
Okay,
let's see. Would you read item 8A into the record please?
You back report out and just direction to begin working with lab coat to explore modification of the city's sphere of influence.
Thank you. Staff report, please. Thank you Mayor. So we'll bring this item to you this evening and so just to go over the purpose of what UBEC is...so here's the purpose of tonight's items is to report out our UBEC committee and its series of meetings over the last few months. The second one is to direct city staff to begin the process requesting a modification to the sphere of influence.
This allows a pre-application meeting with the Santa Barbara County LAFCO or Local Area Formation Committee for the SOI only. Just so we're all on the same page, no map has been chosen or developed. Areas identified for potential SOI amendments have been identified but not explored and that there is no annexation application request that has been received. So an annexation is essentially trying to get into the city limits So I just want to make those clarification of the two. And the second one is direct city staff to codify the urban growth boundary and clarify certain items, so essentially develop a policy for formal acceptance of potential annexation applications as well as formally codify the urban growth boundary.
So those are, that is the purpose of tonight's items. So sort of working now backwards so what is UBEC? UBEC is the Urban Boundary Exploration Committee which was established by the direction City Council in November of 2025. The purpose of this committee was to examine Solvang's long-term growth options. That includes the urban growth boundary itself or the UGB Future housing obligations under state law and the limited availability of infill development opportunities within our existing city limits.
The UBIC committee consisted of 13 members of our community, all ranging from various walks of life and of that two planning commissioners and two City Council members were a part of this committee. So to give you an idea of what we are talking about, again we are talking about two vastly different boundaries. The first one is the actual city limits and that's in black. The second one is what's called the sphere of influence or the SOI and that's in blue.
The parcels that you see in gray on your screen, those are parcels that are outside of the city limits but within our sphere of influence. So what that means is these are parcels that are in unincorporated Santa Barbara County but if there's an action, an entitlement action that comes before the county, the city is notified and the city has a chance to have an opinion on potential development of those parcels.
So the UBEC format, we had a series of five meetings that we completed starting in April. And we first started off with a background and state housing requirements. So what is an urban growth boundary? What is a sphere of influence? What is the city limit? We actually went back into the time machine and went to talk about our original urban growth boundaries. Actually it was growth management proposal that was part of the city for quite some time.
In the second meeting, we went over the annexation in the LAFCO process. Again, LAFCO stands for Local Area Formation Committee. We did have LAFCO come into that meeting and give a PowerPoint presentation as well as have committee members ask questions and sort of as this reminder that the committee and the meetings were open to the public The third meeting dealt with the infrastructure, our fiscal and community considerations. So what would happen with the infrastructure specifically water and wastewater, our roads as well as our public parks?
The two meetings after that, or the meeting after that was in June and discussed sort of these growth alternatives and whether we go in out up down left right. And then finally our final meeting in July we discussed final deliberation So what was the conclusion of the committee? The conclusion of the committee was to proactively plan for future growth and to maintain local control.
Again, we can only maintain our local control in which the boundary we control it. Nearly all committee members, and it's not all of them and wasn't unanimous, supported including expansion of the city boundaries as a part of a long-term growth strategy. But also many members wish to continue to explore infill opportunities so that is looking at ways we can develop what remaining vacant parcels we have in the city And how do we go about whether it's accommodating our future RENA numbers, which RENA stands for Regional Housing Needs Allocation or economic development.
And finally the direction to for the city to pursue expansion of the sphere of influence through LAFCO to preserve our future planning options and local decision-making authority so again as I mentioned in the earlier slide Those gray areas, while we don't control those parcels in our city limit, we do have a little bit of a say and potential development of them.
So this isn't just about housing. This is really about twofold, it's housing infrastructure and our economic development and sort of as a reminder to the council that our infill development can only go so far and really what we're speaking to is what our future RHNA cycle is looking at. So we do have a few develop lots that remain. This council went through a very difficult rezone process of three sites in the city And it more than likely will have to go through another rezone process for the next arena cycle. We don't know what that look like and what numbers, what those numbers will be.
Zoning and low-hanging fruit has been completed to accommodate housing development and target new business growth in the village so what does that look like? Well, in this instance we looked at setbacks. We looked at lot coverage. We did away with some additional regulations in the village to incubate business growth within the village and so what we consider in planning as the low-hanging fruit that's already been done So your next step is tougher infill decisions loom for the RHNA cycle. And so what do those look at? But what do those kind of look like? Well, those look like parking regulations. So specifically, do we incentivize additional infill development by eliminating parking regulations for residences?
The second one is building heights. It's a very touchy issue. In order to accommodate infill development, we would really have to take a serious look at our building heights and whether or not 35 feet is as tall as we can go. Or do we have to go taller to accommodate that increase in residential density? And finally increased lot coverage and that's another one that's...
We did increase the lot coverage but we haven't really maxed that because again we still want to be able to see some green space and open space in our parcels But those are sort of the three things that are just a lot more tougher decision to go, that comes with infill development. And again diversification of our local economy to be less reliant on tourism.
I know Randy noted this you know earlier this evening about having you know the highest TOT in June ever but again as tourism may decline As we've seen in 2020 with Corona-19 and the pandemic, being less reliant on tourism is pretty key to economic diversification. Specifically looking at one of our economic incubators in our community and we look towards Vandenberg as a big partner in that as they are going to be expanding their operations over the next several years.
So knowing all that, we have to ask ourselves what is a sphere of influence amendment? And so this is outlined in your staff report. It's not an overnight process and it's not something that's done in the dark meeting behind closed doors. So it first starts off with a pre-application meeting with SB LAFCO. We will need to retain a consultant to complete the required work based on that application meeting and obviously come in and check in with the council to ensure that's the direction we want to go And then it does require a submittal of an application and any associated fees.
LAFCO reviews that application for completeness, so very similar to what our developers do with us. LAFCO does it with us as the city as the applicant. So we do this little back-and-forth dance of making sure we have all the required information. And then we are required to review for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA And then there is what's called an updated Municipal Service Review. So we've recently gone through or LAFCO has recently gone through updating that Municipal Service Review, it's a rather lengthy document so they would have to update that again or we update it with through our dime and then finally public hearings for both LAFCO and the City and then the final approval actually left is left to LAFCO So it's not necessarily a city decision that we can expand our SOI willy-nilly.
We do have to take this to LAFCO for final approval so during all these points there's a substantial amount of check ins with the public, with the council and so again it is very much a public process and it's a lengthy process at that. So as a part of UBEC, there were areas that were identified as potential areas to expand our boundary. So the areas that you see in red are areas that were potentially identified to expand the boundary but again as a reminder nothing's been laid out in stone in terms of where we're going to go these are just areas that were identified by UBEC particularly areas to the west. There is that one circle area that you see on our screen uh that area is actually our wastewater treatment plant which for whatever reason is not in our sphere of influence, nor is it our city limit.
So that's something that if we go through this exercise, we almost have to make sure that it's in our SOI at minimum and then again areas to the north and then areas to sort of that southeast. So again there's nothing definitive on the map but again these are just the areas that were identified as part of the UBEC process And finally, as a part of that process establishing guiding principles.
We've gone through a very elaborate general plan process for about five you know for almost three years this essentially needs to do the same thing and so UBEC as a part of the report out was to establish how any future annexation or development be guided by these principles to preserve our character, as well as provide tangible community benefits. And I think that's the big difference between what we're doing now versus what was tried in the past is sort of establishing these guiding principles and one being promoting housing diversity not just putting it in the backs of high-density residential but also diversification of housing whether it's missing middle whether it's single family residential executive housing etc having that diversity would be key Securing additional water resources, so as a part of any annexation that's something we definitely would need to look into is securing those water resources.
Expanding our infrastructure that includes parks trails as well as preserving greenbelts or establishing greenbelts for that matter So this is something where any future planning isn't just a resolution, it's not just words on a piece of paper. It's actually executing and implementing so as a part of any master planning effort if you're looking to dedicate open space for a future green belt then you do that as a part of that process. Supporting economic diversification as I mentioned earlier this isn't just about housing but it's also an economic development how do we go about Moving away from tourism is our main driver. How do we incubate and tear off of some of our major employers in the region?
And how do we bring those good paying jobs to the city? And finally, ensuring that future development is fiscally neutral or beneficial to the city. This is really key for any annexation as we move forward. Ensuring that our taxpayers that are existing here don't necessarily pay for new roads that are in this new annexed area or going through a landscape and lighting district, which ultimately costs city staff substantial amount of time. So again having that guiding principle that it is either fiscally neutral or beneficial to the city in some way shape or form So we do have a recommendation in motion this evening and that is to move, to receive and file the EBIC report that's provided tonight. It was done in partnership with Tripepi Smith who was on the call tonight and also direct city staff to initiate the LAFCO process in order to amend Solvang sphere of influence and also to return to the City Council with draft policies that will clarify requirements for applications that request future annexation to the city as well as codification of the UGB.
And so with that, I will open up to council for any questions.
3:16 – 3:2434 turns
Thank you. Any comments or questions?
Raphael, the map with the red circles... Can you just tell us how we went from that version to the current proposed SOI?
So again there's no proposed SOI
Oh, I thought the map was supposed to be the...
No it's just the areas identified for potential sphere expansion. That that's it are you talking about our existing SOI?
Is that what this is?
That map yes that's our existing SOI so that that's what's in the books today.
Up to Quail Valley and okay so I misunderstood what that was But we never got a version of that in our packet.
Yes, it is. No no
not that one the red one.
Yeah so that one's not in your packet. So those
are the real potentials that we're going after is that?
That is again it starts with the pre-application and really the pre application sets the ground rules for what LAFCO is looking for and what we need to analyze and then it is envisioned to take something to keep you back alive and go through the actual process of seeing where we want to expand our SOI. What are the areas that make sense? What are the areas that may or may not make any more sense to be a part of it? So
how
does
the decision get made, what is the new boundary?
What is
that? How will the process that we go through next if we approve it or give you that direction, how is it decided what the new sphere of influence boundary looks like? What is that?
So it's a process between this council, again we're trying to continue UBEC so UBEC would be involved and then through other public meetings. Are you looking for a wide criteria or what are we looking for in terms of SOI?
We go to LAFCO and what do they say yes to? I mean,
I
guess I don't know how the boundary gets defined.
So LAFCO again it's a pre-application process so LAFCO basically tells us hey if you want to apply to amend your SOI these are the steps you need to bring forth And so then we would go through an RFP process. Before that, we'd obviously tell the council what those steps would be involved, go through a RFP process to get a consultant and then as a part of that RFP they would include a task to essentially begin alternatives for amending the map.
Give us, if you would, an example. If there's a new proposed development on the other side of the city limits which is not in our SOI what would that look like and what would it be different if it was within our SOI?
So if there's a proposed development that's not currently in our SOI so let's for hypotheticals let's go ahead point to this area down
here.
So hypothetically there's a proposed development there. The county doesn't have to notify us of the development in theory, they do out of just good partners but aside from that there is not much we can do or say. We can provide input, we can provide comments, we can review and analyze whatever docs there are. But ultimately again it's a process that's done in the county with the city not really involved as a part of our SOI it's a different story.
Because that type of project would likely require some sort of amendment to the unincorporated counties document for the valley. So it's a little bit more onerous, but again it would be a little bit more weighted consideration in terms of what Thank you.
I want to thank everybody that was on the UBEC committee
and the inputs. I found it very
enlightening It's educational for sure. And I think as I was explaining to somebody earlier today, the reason that this committee was adopted or rallied was the forthcoming RHNA numbers that we can anticipate as a mandate from the state and somewhat of a preemptive strike. What will we do when those numbers come in? and how will we deal with it. So, we know it will but now let's plan for that and let's have a strategy so that was the genesis of this whole conversation. Other questions?
If not, we'll open it up to public comment
I have a simple question. an annexation to the city boundary or modification to our urban growth boundaries?
Correct. You could either have to do it before, correct you have to do it before or conversely um you could do it concurrently when you have uh you know if an application's before you. Um a great example was Buelton. Buelton has an SOI and they recently they have a very similar urban growth boundary measure that we have They voted to annex property that was already in their sphere of influence. So, so it very much is the precursor.
It is... As a planner, it pains me that we didn't do this as a part of our general plan update. That we didn't
ask- We didn't have the foresight. Yeah. We had the pressure. We had a lot of pressure. No excuses but the focus was really intense on a very specific task
Correct, but a general plan update for that magnitude really needs to look at and it did. It looked at you know 2040 but also needs to look at beyond that and set us up in a way that needs to be set up so we are doing that now and as Mayor Brown had mentioned it is sort of that first strike because it does really need to take a look at what in the future because what if any are we potentially may grow out And what do we want to be able to bring into our fold?
And properly plan, not just on a willy-nilly one off two off three off.
3:24 – 3:3112 turns
What does it obligate us to have more of a sphere of influence diameter? What is it obligating the city to do, anything we have to provide? I thought there was some comment about
it. Are
we obligated to provide services or that's only when we formally annex?
That's only when we formally annex and that's part of the Municipal Service Review and that is why that is there, the MSR. It acts as sort of that precursor because if you read through our MSR and again it recently was updated SP CAG did a wonderful job Um, of sort of encapsulating what we our current services are you know what it takes to run our city etc.
That MSR essentially asked that question of hey if the city were to expand what would it take and it allows us to properly then Plan for those expansions and properly do a land use planning, whether it's specific plan masterplan etc exercise to then be able to provide the numbers. that really speaks to these guiding principles have been developed, but particularly that last one and where it's got to be cost neutral or beneficial to the city.
And you know I'm a firm believer that a development that goes out and expands out there has to be something back to the city and it can't cost us more to bring in. It's gotta be revenue neutral
And keep in mind that this is a step one. There's landmines all along the way that could stop this at any given time, the least of which is not, which is a vote of the citizens of Solvang. So with only one or two exceptions to that but it would end up coming to a vote if there were annexation, if it got that far
And again, one of the things we're asking for is to return back is codifying the urban growth boundary. Get that in our books versus just a measure and also getting the policy language that's incorporated in there to really ask that question because right now if an applicant were to come today to our counter and asked for an application for annexation, we don't really have a process set up for that and we don't have any directives or principles or policies that say, okay if you want to annex, you got to do these five things.
Even just acknowledging that is a big step forward in providing a framework for something to happen whether it's voted on or not.
Okay, any other questions? Otherwise I have public comment. Mr. Beebe, Dennis Beebe You're up. That's the only slip I have, if there are any others let me know and also raise your hand in Zoom thank you.
Go ahead Mayor. Dennis Beebe-Solvang as a member of UBEC I just want to give you some perspective of this member obviously there's other members on the dais and there's other members in the audience tonight I'm in favor of planning, not reacting. But in fact Rina or the threat of Rina was the biggest elephant in the room for every meeting. I agree housing isn't everything but it sure seemed to be driving the worry and I agree that there's very little wiggle room via infill, you know. So I agree that we must consider expansion of the city boundaries to accommodate, unfortunately, to accommodate state mandates.
I don't agree it must be in our future plan, in other words expanded city boundaries. I agree we must consider it. That's my engineering background. I gotta look and evaluate options I would say that the UBEC had very little data, very little requirements were presented to us where we could consider how much acreage should we consider. That was not the detail that we were tasked to do so and this map that Raphael just showed you, I guess it's not in your packet, we didn't make that map, we never saw it showing areas that we had pointed to during the meeting, we pointed to directions.
And we didn't have much data at all as far as expanding the SOI this way or that way or that way. We honestly didn't. The only data I remember was parks and recs Got up and said we don't currently meet the state requirements for, I don't know what it is, acreage per population. That was data but that was the only data we had. So a lot of feelings and druthers and ignorance unfortunately.
However,
I hope that will be called back to be with you during this planning process because I certainly don't want to go through this reactionary panic when the state mandate comes down again in about six years. So, I'm with you. We got a plan. We've got to consider expansion of the city boundaries for lots of reasons not just housing but in fact that's the elephant in the room.
Thank
you.
On zoom, we have Nancy Emerson. Is that correct? You're unmuted. Go ahead. Thank you, Nancy.
3:31 – 3:374 turns
I'm Nancy Emerson, a Solvang resident for 26 years. I was on the UGB initiative committee and I was involved with Builton's recent UGB renewal which included two substantial spheres of influence and I did support those. My comments include some suggested corrections before adoption of the Urban Growth Boundary Board and a few opinions. One, required tax sharing negotiations with the county were mentioned on page five but not on page eight's facts.
I assume the group agreed that that was a fact and it should be included. Two, information about SB CAG housing allocations does not reflect the fact that not only projected in existing household population but also forecast and existing jobs are considered when SB CAG develops each eight-year housing allocation. Solvang's next allocation numbers may increase And it's hard to know how much it was. I thought a little too positive that there probably wouldn't be much change.
And there are several typewriters on page 22 through 29 that changed the meaning of those phrases, and I submitted that information to staff this afternoon. Now to opinion. Shouldn't the existing spheres of influence and whether or not to annex them be discussed as part of this study process? The western sphere is zoned industrial, and it is logical to go ahead and annex it if the property owners are willing.
Our city industrial zone is not yet optimally developed, and we need to see how doing those two things might improve the city's income before going to new industrial spheres. The Janine Acres-Quail Valley sphere is residential. Do those property owners wish to be annexed? They're already part of the San Dines Township If you want new spheres, might it be wise to let go of that one?
My opinion based on earlier citizen reaction to a large sphere of influence explored by a previous council is that if you propose extensive adoption of new smears of influence residents will be concerned given current traffic and other problems with which we deal. There may be valid reasons to explore a small new western sphere for housing and water, but it is also important to retain as much prime ag land and open space as possible, and it helps define our tourist-attracting village character. Thank you.
Thank you. Okay. Anybody else in Zoom? Okay. We have another volunteer. Did you have a comment? This is the time. Come up to the podium please.
Good evening mayor, council members. My name is Hank Homburg, Solvang resident. This is just an opinion on this. It seems like the push for this is from these people. The administrative staff that want a bigger sphere of influence because Solvang needs a new city hall according to them. We got to get bigger. We got to get more modern. The reality is Solvang is a small little town that you guys work for. There are 6,200 people that live here.
It's not an industrial city. It's a smokeless city that's based on tourism and it's always going to be that way. And you guys are pondering this before we're even pondering or addressing the wastewater treatment situation Two councils I've been talking about. It's not even done yet, it's not even close to being done. I think we got a million dollars from Salud or something for a grant?
Well where's the other 28 million? Maybe it's 40 million now, I don't know nobody's nobody's talking about it so I just hope the administration of the city, the people that make up the city administrators and the city employees understand that this is a small town you work for. It''s not going to be A growing metropolitan municipality. It's a small town, it's a tourist town, that's what it is.
Okay? And I just want to clarify that. And we have issues right now that aren't being addressed like that wastewater treatment center and our roads and infrastructure. They're...it's a mess! And now we're...I'm going to talk about Fredensburg Canyon too but that's coming up. You know, let's take care of our situation now before the state tells us hey we need diversified housing which means low income housing. Tons of it. That's what they want. They want people here that are dependent on us so you know let's take care of what we have now first and get our ducks in a row before we start talking about sphere influences and building new boundaries. Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you. Okay, any other speakers for this subject? All right I'll bring it back to the dais and close it to public comment. Any questions or action items?
3:37 – 3:5219 turns
I actually appreciate Hank's comments, but I see things just very similarly but with a different twist. The state is mandating things on us as a city that we have no choice but to respond if we were not the city and we were unincorporated We would have more flexibility, at least we'd be part of the county. We could look elsewhere to find affordable housing.
These pressure points are on us because we're a small city, a very small city. You might argue like I think about this all the time. The wastewater treatment plant is extremely expensive. It's infrastructure that was built many years ago with some foresight from you know city developers and founding fathers but it Does it do, does a city of our size? We run at less than 50% of that wastewater treatment plant capacity. I don't know if that's well known but we don't use it all We don't use the capacity that we have because we're a small city, yet we have this piece of infrastructure that we have to maintain and rebuild.
So these things that are forced on us because we're a tiny city sort of says well it's incongruous the things that are asked of us as a small city. We should have bigger denominators for things like water rates and RHNA numbers, and wastewater treatment capacities. Denominators being the number of residents and the number of households, and we don't. So that's why things end up being expensive for us.
So what do you do when you're a small city being asked- being mandated to do big city things? That's our dilemma.
Any questions or concerns? Let's take some action or even no action.
I'll move to, what is the motion? I'll make the motion.
We're supposed to receive and file.
Receive and file and direct City Staff to initiate a LAFCO process in order to amend this Solvang sphere of influence and return to Council draft policies that will clarify their requirements for the applications at request future annexations to the city.
I second that.
And I'll just underscore, it gives us options. It's not definitive but this move gives us flexible options.
Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. The only thing I would add to that motion is if you'd make edits as per our Speaker Nancy for those detailed items?
Yes, we did receive that and really appreciative of Nancy to come through with that one last time as an extra set of eyes.
Thank you very well. It has been moved and seconded roll call please Our clerk has left and so we promoted our attorney to finish out the evening.
Roll-call vote Passed 4–0 moved and seconded roll call
Show transcript
Motion passes 5-0
Thank you see that's easy even an attorney can do it You're hired Okay, don't get me started with attorney jokes. We're going to
move on to item 8B. Would you read that into the record please? Or I'll read it into the record. Discussion of Fredensburg Canyon Road Municipal Multipurpose Trail Public Survey Results Staff Report
Good evening, Council. So this is not the final report. This is just for the survey results. I just wanted to clarify that for you all. Earlier this year we did a public survey to get community feedback regarding the Freidensburg Canyon multipurpose trail and the potential for converting the road from a two-way to a one-way traffic to accommodate the trail without building a retaining wall.
And so the survey was conducted earlier this year. There was 693 total responses to the survey, which considering the fact that the population of Solvang is 6126, it's more than 10% probably our general population responded. So we had a really great response rate on- Were
those unique? There wasn't multiple people with the
same unique
responses.
Those were all unique responses, but I think what you're alluding to is we dug further into the survey and looked at the IP addresses which is kind of the unique locations where the surveys come from. And about 30% of the surveys were done in the same possibly household or location with the same IP address But, you know, over 68% were their own unique responses. So that's still pretty a high number of responses that we received and in looking at that information and going more into the IP addresses it was interesting that there were Occasions where the IP address, you know, they were kind of like a split household on not on whether the road should be a one way or two way but really more about the trail itself.
So as far as the results go for the survey itself I'll just kind of go into that a little bit more for you. The question number one, are you in favor of the multipurpose trail proposed along the segment? 33% said yes. 62% said no. How often do you anticipate using it? 21% said often. 13% said sometimes 16%. Rarely 48%, never. But then, do you think the segment of Fredensburg Canyon should be converted to a one-way operation? And over 90% said no.
So in the analysis if you look at the questions 1 and 7, the data strongly suggests that the low support of the trail question 1 was heavily skewed by the high unpopularity of the one way. So I think that although the, I was, I think the support of the trail is actually higher than what we're seeing here because people were frustrated by the one way and so they were no all the way across the board when it came to the survey itself.
In addition, as far as how people are using Freidensburg Canyon, several people over 50% of the population is using it on almost a daily basis or those who took the survey. And the majority of the transportation is vehicles, although 21% pedestrians, 16% bicycles. Which is significant. As I talked to community members about this which was a very popular thing for me to talk about on nights and weekends.
You know, people were generally in support of the trail. But yeah, everybody was a hard no on the one way and mostly because it's as you can see in question five, it's used as a bypass. 65% of the community uses it to bypass the downtown area and for commuting 38%, drop offs 14%. Which coincide with when you look at our radar Sign information, you can see the peaks and valleys. And that's school drop off and after work so people are using it as a commuting avenue.
Nobody had real concerns with the current configuration. About half of the population were somewhat in support of speed humps, that has been an idea brought up before by residents to quell some of the speeding along that road. The majority of those who took the responses from question 9, you know, were people immediately impacted by that road. So that's Skid Mesa residents, that's Creekside, Fyborg, Chalk Hill downtown. There were also neighboring communities that did participate and then the other comments in general for question 10 were basically Just kind of the analysis of just in general what people were saying. And they were concerned about safety, they were concerned about fire evacuation should it turn into a one-way delayed for the ambulances and things like that.
They were also frustrated with the overall, you know, just concern about traffic. Like we hear the number one concern at least on the public works side specifically for what I do is traffic in the community. So eliminating partially eliminating bypass in this area was not seen as favorable. You know people also brought up that We're going to have more people go through the school and you'd have to go over Alice L. Road, which has a little bit of a 90-degree bend up at the top there, which isn't easy to navigate.
And then, yeah, the speed humps as I had mentioned. And then they brought up that they'd like to see more focus, less focus on studies and more focus on real road repairs and things like that. So a group of people did express that if That they are totally in support of a safe walking path provided it doesn't eliminate the ability for the vehicle lanes to remain in both directions.
Survey information. I felt like we did have an opportunity to choose to continue to move forward and close out this report itself in all task items, one through four or I called the consultants and I was like since you guys haven't moved forward on task four is there an opportunity should the council decide not It's like the finished development of the 15% site plan and cost estimates for both the one way and retaining wall options to fully complete the contract itself. Would you be amicable to relinquishing that task force?
We're willing to stand by that. So now that we've gone through this exercise with the survey itself, I just wanted to mention that task forward for the cost estimating in the site plan is still something that needs to be done and there's an opportunity should the council decide to not move forward with that. to, you know, absorb, reabsorb that direct savings of $15,000, $440 for the proposed services.
I will say that through this process, it's been a ride. But it has been good because I'm just overwhelmed by The level of participation from the community. If they get behind something or interested in something, how many people come out to provide feedback to us? So I'm super excited about more survey opportunities and I think we'll be able to with AI and other elements be able to really kind of dig deeper into this data. And I know you guys are always interested in data. But, you know going through 693 responses is a lot. So but it's also I mean it's pretty clear now you know nobody wants the one-way but I think it kind of opens up it just made my brains just start going crazy about yeah what about these trails and what about these parks and what did that about these parking lots?
And all of the things that you know as members of the community have spoke tonight like It makes me curious like what. control do we have as administration and as council members, and pairing that with what our requirements are by the state with what the community wants. I think there's... We have a great community that is very interested in providing feedback to us to guide us so that's the bright side of all of the results and communication that I've had My compliments on the report. That
was a tremendous amount of data and laid out in a very easily readable format, this was terrific I think
3:52 – 3:585 turns
And it's obvious to me from the responses that we need to get rid of the idea of a one-way. Okay, so that's out. What isn't obvious to me because the wall was part of this task for apparently. So I'm hearing that we're going to have horrendous rains coming up if we have that and that unfinished hill on the side of Friedensburg is going to slush mud all the way across the street, I presume I haven't heard anything that seems to want to protect us from that or correct that.
Have anything that Tetra Tech's done studied that, or looked at that, or asked about that?
So the 15% here is kind of enough to get us to a point where should, you know had we wanted to move forward just kind of give us some estimates for costs or like pie in the sky planning costs for one or the other option. They haven't looked into right now until this report was finished they haven't continued on their main It's a design task to design the multi-purpose trail.
I can't imagine even if we didn't have the go ahead to do the construction by tomorrow, there's no way.
Do we have a problem?
Well, I mean or maybe... I'm going to be optimistic and say that those giant oak trees are going to hold everything back. No if something happens and there is a landslide you know maybe that's one less oak tree that we have to remove for the retaining wall. You know, I don't know but we don't have currently a plan to do If that happens, we are going to lose access
The summary is 90.48% oppose a one-way operation, and I'm not exaggerating when I say like a quarter of this report double printed is the actual survey responses. 700 people responding is like a fantastic reminder that on occasion we can do something really stupid and give us a great opportunity to correct ourselves. I think that but the fact that we got so many responses is I didn't read every one of them. But there are some actually really good feedback in here, right? There's good data just to remind you that like the public who lives this everyday have solid feedback for us, and it's good for us to hear.
So I just want to... There was a question that came from reading a few of these point comments. It's pretty clear this part of Friedenberg is used as a thoroughfare. We can't ignore that anymore. It is an artery for our city altering that is going to affect people's, you know, routing or wayfinding or pathing through the town. We've been told that the clear input is put speed bumps in but there was another comment that was sort of like this used to be a country road people walked their horses down two lane or small country road that no one used and it got me thinking well okay why don't we force that segment section of our road not to stop being a thoroughfare but to force it to be slower and smaller and narrower and controlled in the way or designed in a different route, you know, way the turns are.
You made the point that Alisal Turn is a 90 degree turn up at Upper Alisal. It forces you to slow down So, is there something that Tetra Tech could continue to do to provide alternatives to how to slow that traffic down? There are studies that say if you narrow the road to say 10 feet per lane It reduces miles per hour by a few magnitudes, a few percentage points.
And those are federal studies and we can point to examples in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria that have done that with good effect. So that's the question. Can we ask them to re-scope a little bit? What can be done to redesign the roadway that slows people down? Don't change the thoroughfare, just make them more conscious of speed.
3:58 – 4:079 turns
Police
cars? That's another can for another day and Police are only there intermittently, even when we have an agreement. I'm looking for something that is a daily habit-changing modification.
I think they could look at it. I would say that from my own experience, the main things like you said the road diet, that's an option. Speed humps are an option as well as like you mentioned the 90 degree This is a public service announcement. We are talking about the people who use this. That's myself included. I get kind of a lead foot sometimes, especially when the roads look as good as they do now. No, just kidding.
But I mean, it's really important. We have to have a culture of just take a deep breath and slow down because all of these other costs beyond the painting of doing some minor striping is still a significant cost. But I mean, it's up to the council what you guys would like. And I'm sure they can discuss with them about taking the remainder of the funds and giving us options for what we could do on the road as far as speed control.
And I can also look into... We, I think Roger Olds, the previous Public Works Director had done a local road safety plan And so I can look into that plan and see what recommendations were, there were for Freedonsburg Canyon and provide that to the council.
I would just emphasize we should look at this part of the road as a thoroughfare. And if we can't, and we don't have control of mission yet but we do have control of this so if we say this thoroughfare that is the community clearly is highly sensitized to it they use it we need to make it We need to improve it. We need to focus on it and part of that improvement is to make it safer, and if part of making it safer means slowing people down by how we've designed the roadway this is our opportunity do it.
I think we'll open up the public comment. I have one speaker slip for Hank Hamburg.
First off, I want to thank you guys for having that survey out. I told everybody that I knew in Skip Mesa and Chalk Hill and Vyborg to fill it out but anyway I just want to say first off thanks for the survey I think it's pretty evident that it is a thoroughfare now. And of course the school, the junior high school and the school. That's just you know a lot of people and it is a lot of people that live in Skip Mesa, Chalk Hill area that use Freidensburg but it's also a lot of people that commute into town from Lompoc that work into the St. Nez Valley area at the ranches and stuff too that take that road because they take the back way Chalk Hill to Ballard Canyon to Buellton.
So that's another popular thoroughfare. But I appreciate the survey, I just want to say I'm in support of upgrading it if you'd like. The trail i think is a good idea. I'm one of the people that think the trail is a good idea but also to keep it two-way as far as Fredensburg in general. It's still a huge fire hazard with overgrown trees and canopy I hope it never burns.
But yeah, that's another issue and then the speeding of course is all over town because we don't have speed enforcement. We have one deputy and he's not certified to issue any speeding tickets. He has been sitting on Vyborg and Freidensburg occasionally to give out stop sign tickets for rolling stops, but he cannot do speeding. So unless we augment our contract with the Sheriff's Department or if we go to Lompoc or whatever, we should definitely have some type of speed enforcement in our cafeteria contract with the Sheriff's Department or Lompoc PD if we go that direction because we have absolutely no speed enforcement in this city right now.
So again, thank you. Paris? Ms. Paris is that your last name? Yeah. Thank you very much and I appreciate it and also Chalk Hill being redone recently when they did the asphalt they had extra asphalt and they laid it on Chalk Hill which really needed it so thank you for that. Appreciate it.
Thank you. Is there anybody on Zoom? Okay yeah I don't have a speaker slip but come on up share with us You want to speak, Ron? OK. Why don't you? You're on deck. You're after this gentleman? Go ahead.
I also want to thank the Public Works Department for all of their work on this and I appreciate their willingness to ask all the people in Solvang, not just the people living on Freedmoor Canyon Road. And I appreciate that very much. I will say that I'm 80 years old and a QR code is a strange thing to me and I'm impressed with the answers given a lot of the people up there have the same issues about how to manage this modern communication process, so I really appreciate that. That means that 600 and whatever is even more impressive for all the people who figured out how to answer the survey with or without that.
I did want to say that I think this speeding thing, I'd like to know what the definition of speeding is there because I lived on Alice Hall on the curve at the 90 degree and I guarantee they speed all the time and it does not slow them down. I know for a fact, I sat there for five years and it passed right past my window. So that is maybe a myth that it slows them down. I will say on Friedenborg Canyon narrowing it would create more potential for accidents and we might look at the accident record to see if there actually is an accident record in Friedenborg based upon what we have there. I know it's inconvenient to speed and it's dangerous I'm against that. I also tried to drive 25 miles an hour and it's really hard if you've tried to drive 10 to 15 to 20 miles an hour, it's difficult.
Now speeding means 27 28 29 yes that's speeding but that's not the same thing as people going 30 plus which I think is very dangerous. And the other thing is we have deer on Friedenburg Canyon at if you want roadblocks there's a bump there's a speed bump potential as well as course fallen trees and people walking along the sides I will suggest, however, that this organization look at that 90 degrees on Alisaw because it's got the same safety issue for walkers and bikers as Friedenberg Canyon. Six to eight times more people travel that than travel Friedenberg. So that's equally dangerous if we're going to fix something. Let's also work on that.
And I'm one of those people who absolutely does not want one way, but I very much support the safety of people walking on Freedom Road Canyon and anywhere else. Whatever we can do, but not by making it more difficult for the traffic to travel up there. The speed bumps I can handle especially if they're not those kind that make your car fall apart every time you go over them. But basically I think the idea of what is speeding is important. The idea of what we need to do to manage that We've got to be flexible but not inconvenience your thoroughfare traffic. That is a very important route for most of us, especially if you're going to the hospital or someplace like that. I thank you very much.
Thank you. Ron, you're up.
4:07 – 4:139 turns
Good evening Mr. Mayor, good evening City Council. My name is Ron Jones I've lived here in Solvang on Fredensburg Canyon in the stretch of the road in question for the past 26 years my greatest fear tonight is that The council will decide this is such a big problem, we're just going to let it slide again. That is my biggest fear. So many people here in Solvang do use it as a way to get from point A to point B I get that but I'm one of the residents in those 12 homes and it's actually more there's Adobe Hill and some others that cut off at Friedensburg But for us that live there, imagine living in a place here within the city limits where you asked yourself each and every time that you wanted to go take a walk out of your own house onto the street whether it's safe or whether you wanted to get on your bike and go into town on your bike.
And you thought man is it safe? My fear is that the council will just say, this is too hard a problem to deal with. It's too expensive. The hill may slide down in the next rain. People want to have the two-way road, whatever it is, please, please finally Let something be done to try to work with this situation. 26 years we have waited, and nothing has happened in 26 years. Please let this be the time to change that. Thank you.
Thank you. Is there anyone on Zoom or anybody else in the room that wishes to speak? Dennis. We have one more speaker. Please.
My name is Dennis Bales, and I too live on Freedomsburg Canyon for 26 years. The traffic has gotten worse. I've been complaining for 26 years, okay? And I can't...I've talked to other city managers and my... 26 years ago, 25 years ago, I was requesting the speed bumps, and i was told that it wasn't possible because of the emergency traffic emergency vehicles that need to use that road.
But I'm pleading, I'm begging, please do something sooner and don't put this off. And you mentioned the hill sliding down. Where the retaining wall needs to be built is not where the hill's sliding, okay? We're right across the street from where the hill is that slid and had all the mud that caused the lady to wreck and come in almost into our driveway, her Tesla last year.
So that's where the hillside, the slides is down by the Adderdack Village where the retaining walls will probably need to be built if they're built. But I talked to somebody today and it was suggested, and I think I do say narrow the road. I hadn't thought about that but it's to me I lived in Santa Barbara before here, and they've narrowed Chapala. They've narrowed Arriaga. And in front of City College they have narrowed that as well to slow the traffic down.
To me that sounds like a great way to go. But please, please, please do something. Thank you.
Okay, we're going to bring it back to council. Finished with the public comment and any additional questions that you have? I wanted to say that I would encourage you to use the data that you've received and have a couple of solutions or options for minimizing speed Whether it be speed bumps or changing the speed zone or different, I don't even know what the speed zone is there. 25 miles an hour? That can be reduced. It doesn't have to be 25 but look at the different options from the survey that you've gotten. The answers are there we just have to figure out how to make it happen I think.
But did you have a comment? Do
you want to use some of the remaining funds to actually formalize what that might look like
I think by the consultant?
Yeah.
They're allocated but we could, I leave that to the, I know we're not going forward with existing.
The suggestion is I think Paris didn't or I mean Bridgette, the suggestion is to stop task four But is there any other remaining scope that would give us a speed reduction analysis on the road? Thank you.
4:13 – 4:2332 turns
They haven't finalized the report or anything like that, but I know that some more dialogue about speeding options will be in there. To what extent? I'm not sure. So maybe we could get the report and then once we have the report, I could let them know in that report we're looking for I'm going to give staff, you know, with permission here discretionary use of that for this endeavor.
I'm fine with that. The report is written for us to make a decision on that task and I am okay just letting Bridget use her judgment how to use those remaining funds with the objective of finding decision-making feedback on how we reduce speed. Do
we need to make a motion or is it okay? We need a motion to accept and file.
And terminate the incomplete task 4.
We are saying we will leave it open so she has the judgment to decide what to do with
it. Task 4 will be completed or deleted. The remaining money is at her discretion. Is there a motion? This
is just discussion and no direction, but we can take what you've talked about. As was pointed out, we'll investigate options on how we can use the remaining money to find some actionable way to deal with this speeding.
Okay, I'm seeing a recommended motion here. Is that not necessary? Okay very well then if there's no other questions we're going to
move on to item 8 Charlie.
Thank you.
Would you read that into the record for us, substitute clerk?
All right. Amendment with Exit Inc., DBA exit solutions in the total amount not to exceed $187,889. Thank you. Staff report please.
Good evening, Mayor and Council Members. So tonight you're going to be discussing the amendment to the XIT surveillance camera contract. This amendment completes the nine-camera downtown pilot project and authorizes the purchase and installation of solar power systems at the three remaining camera locations. In July of 2025, the City Council approved an agreement with XIT Inc. for an AI-enabled surveillance system. The total contract was for $147,407,000.
The scope included nine camera locations, seven strategic downtown locations plus two buildings, two city buildings with a three year camera licensing agreement running through December 31st of 2028 This was part of the city's effort to enhance public safety and provide better real-time surveillance of the downtown commercial area. Currently there are six operational cameras in May 2026 footage from a recently installed camera identified suspects in a burglary investigation, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Three camera locations remain to complete the nine camera deployment The three remaining locations are all along State Route 246 where Mission Drive intersects with 5th Street, Adderdag and Alicell. That's the three locations that are missing Staff determined that these locations require buried steel poles installed in city easements. Installation methods satisfy permitting requirements and protects against future utility conflicts. Originally we plan to use the existing mountings and coordinate with Caltrans and PG&E for reliable electricity access, however the coordination became protracted And staff faced the choice to relocate these cameras to different locations, defer their installation indefinitely or identify an alternative power solution.
We determined that on-site solar power generation on the buried poles were the best path forward to complete the pilot without compromise. The solution involves solar power systems with gridless sentry battery technology that enables continuous camera operation regardless of the weather or the seasonal conditions. These solar panels and battery systems will be installed on buried steel poles at each of the three remaining locations.
The technical components include solar equipment, hardware The gridless sentry battery system with integrated monitoring and the labor required for pull installation and the site preparation. The prevailing wage labor cost for the pull installation and site preparation is approximately, no it's exactly $15,550. And the cost for change order number two which is all of this is $35,426.
Previously we had a change order number one which was approved administratively in September of 2025, which was upgrading the camera on Solvang Park. Instead of a single point camera, we turned it into a multi-sensor capability so we could capture the crosswalk, the park and the parking lot entrance and that change was $5,055. Change order number two, which is before council tonight covers all of the solar power components and pole installation for approximately $35,426. Together these two change orders add approximately $40,481 to the original $147,407 agreement and the new contract value is approximately $187,889 The amendment represents an addition of approximately $40,481 to the original agreement.
Staff recommends the approval of this amendment to complete the nine-camera deployment. Council is asked to approve the amendment, authorize necessary budget adjustments and authorize a mayor to execute the amendment on behalf of the city. Thank you and we have Craig May, the Chief Executive Officer of XIT Solutions as well as Ryan Barraza, Director of AV and Security Solutions available as well as Randy and myself to answer any questions.
Thank you. I'm sure there's a few questions on that side, this side maybe but I wanted to know so at the I did see can't what looked like it'd be a camera on the Caltrans light at Alice all in mission
Yes, that camera is a Caltrans camera and it doesn't record. It belongs to them and it's used for traffic purposes but does not record.
Okay, but they won't let us put ours on
that? That is correct we've had several hours of meetings between the consultant and the Sheriff's Department who actually has to require the cameras
Would it be redundant to have another camera there even though if it weren't ours?
I'm sorry
You want to put one of the three new cameras at that location? Correct. Does it matter, is it redundant to have... It's
not. These cameras would belong to us and we would be the ones that would have access to the footage and they would record within what the surveillance policy allows and we would be able to share footage with the Sheriff's Department as needed
Are there plans to have, with the success of this project, are there plans to have one done at Alamopentado and Mission as well?
It's a pilot program and we haven't completed the pilot yet. At the time that we complete the pilot, we can then evaluate its success, its cost... My
concern
is
there's
three
banks on that one corner or on the corners. Sure. Financial institutions and from a security perspective, it makes perfect sense to me to have security cameras there. But
yeah
okay
that would make sense could be part of the evaluation process
you that's that's what I had any other questions
4:23 – 4:2831 turns
There's a description of new camera multi-sensor capability. Is that, can you just explain what is it? Is that just triggering or defining what we're saving or are we recording anything new?
So I'm going to let Craig or Ryan speak to that just because I don't want to misspeak and because they've traveled all the way here
There was a point in our report that there's multi-sensor capability and that's why we're adding a couple more cameras. What is the multi sensor? Is it new functionality from what we originally acquired, and what is the multi sensor trigger?
First of all, a multi-sensor is a camera that encompasses four cameras in one. So it's a multi meaning it has — you could actually call it a four camera if you want to call it a multi type camera. What it does is these have the ability to capture AI, has analytics facial and also license plates so the multi is just that it's almost going into 360. That's why we're putting them at intersections
So sorry, but we did not approve facial recognition capability. Are you saying that now we're doing that?
It's just a feature that it has. You can just simply turn it
off
and they are not on by the way.
Correct. So it's the system, but what you're approving tonight is not the multi-sensor that's already on several of the cameras that are in place. What you're approving is a solar component. We were hoping to put them on an existing pole and tap into their electricity because we can't do that. We have to put our own pole and therefore create a power of electricity that will power these.
And so that hence the solar panels with a battery backup. That's what the change is and the poll, of course.
We proposed the solar solution so that we wouldn't have to tap into existing power, and there's no existing power to tap into anyway. So we went with the solar solution.
Okay I'm gonna confirm that something I tried to confirm which we did from the last time but I'm going to double-confirm now you're not capturing audio either correct?
That's correct facial recognition license plate reader and audio are not enabled capabilities at this time.
Capability it's a function but we're not using it correct okay
exactly
What about surrounding buildings that are high enough? I guess, I don't know if you evaluated that.
We did. You know
they're like at Mission
and...
We did
before we moved on to this approach we looked at different options and identified two options for each of the street corners but then we'd have to get building and property owners involved potentially and it would just again fall out of our scope of responsibility, and we're hoping to do this without as many players as possible. And it wouldn't necessarily reduce the cost once you add all
that. I'm more engaged with the aesthetics quite honestly The top three feet will be utilized for the solar panels.
We try to aim to get the camera at around 12 feet in height.
And what are those decks? It's like an empty telephone pole standing up there?
Realistically, it is just a black pole. There's nothing fancy about it. We can order cosmetic caps for them but We can provide pictures and different variations that you could choose from also.
Were there any other alternatives that you looked at for aesthetics or just, we want hair and so
we're going
to put our pole down?
We did attempt to mount to your idea that you said mounting the buildings. We have entertained that idea it just didn't pan out so to speak.
Okay.
And I wasn't part of that I'm just...
Right.
4:28 – 4:3328 turns
Just to throw it out, most of our streetlight poles in the downtown are the same diameter or real close to it. Black sometimes or fiberglass mostly they're metal so other than the height wouldn't be significantly different than anything we already have.
Except there's no light coming from it. So it's equivalent to one of the light poles is what you're saying? It would be very
similar,
yeah. We don't have any light poles along Mission. We just...
we don't know that's why we had to try and work with Caltrans at PG&E. Right
And even if we had light pulse along mission then we'd have to get an encroachment permit from them and they would, we went down that route.
Right well also partly why we want to vacate the ask the Caltrans contract okay any other questions? I'm
just going to go back again um we didn't get really a map of where these cameras are going now i think we increased the count correct Olivia? We didn't increase the... I thought we were going with seven.
We didn't increase it, yeah so there was seven in the downtown corridor but there's two in the city building so there's one here on this building and one on the annex building
And so, are we moving to multi-sensor on all of those or just on the Mission Corridor?
There are multi-sensor cameras along Alisal too and there is the one at the Solvang Park right at the bathrooms. I'm trying to think, the last one you just installed that was a single or? It's on the corner. And on First Street.
So i'm going to say this probably as frankly as I can. I don't want to Trojan horse a bunch of functionality in here that gets turned on later because someone's requested it. We're either using the functionality or we're not. The cameras have this capability is The facial recognition and license plate recognition, a function of software. So it's already recorded but software says you can actually find someone on the recording and we aren't using the software. We don't have that capability is that correct?
That's correct
You haven't given us that software
Have we given you the software?
Yes. Do we have the rights to use that functionality?
We, we have the access of software and it's a simple toggle where you you toggle on or off for license plate reader facial capability so it's currently all disabled but should a future council come you know in 10 years and say oh we'd like to revise our policy then they could very well do that in ten years
I don't want to, but the position he was talking about around the banks and the financial institutions. If you were to use it it would be a bonus if something were to happen.
That's exactly what we don't want to happen from my perspective sorry I'll speak just for myself but yeah if we have a policy there should be no overruling it in any instance from my perspective I know what you want to do. Let's open it up for public comment.
Okay, well there's nobody chiming in on this. So we're back here for either action or direction for this particular item. Anybody?
Mark? Yeah I'll move to approve the amendment to the agreement with XIT Inc.
I'll second it.
Thank you. It's been moved and seconded to approve the amendment Item 8C. Roll call please.
Council Member Infante
Yes.
Yes. Thank you.
We'll move on to item 8D, amendment number one. Because of the time we're going to have to make a decision here. Should anybody have any comment or concern about extending our meeting beyond the threshold of 930?
We don't have another meeting this month right?
4:33 – 4:4111 turns
Let's have a motion. I move to extend the meeting beyond the 930 deadline.
I'll second that.
Roll call, please.
Roll-call vote Passed 4–0 move to extend the meeting beyond the 930 deadline. I'll second that. Roll call,
Show transcript
Motion passes 5-0
Okay, we're moving on. We're making great progress here. I'll make it in as much as most of the audience has left. Would anybody care for a personal break for five minutes? Five minutes is a great idea. A personal break will begin again at 932.
We are
back from recess.
Amendment number one to the library management service agreement with the City of Goleta for additional compensation in the amount not to exceed $25,765. Increasing the total agreement amount not to exceed three hundred and nineteen thousand one hundred and sixty five dollars for fiscal year 26-27 Thank
you staff report please
Good evening. The City Council approved the Library Management Services Agreement with the city of Goleta on June 23rd, 2025 effective in July 1st, 2025 and the agreement commenced concurrent with a citywide library services agreement and established a not to exceed compensation amount of $284,855 for the first of the fiscal years 2025 through 26 And per the agreement terms, this amount was set to increase by 3% for fiscal year 26-27 resulting in a compensation ceiling of $293,400 for the entire agreement.
During this first year of the agreement's implementation, the operational costs exceeded the initial projections and staffing requirements and related expenses needed to maintain the level service in the agreement have also grown beyond the original budget. Additionally, the supervising library technician position was reclassified to professional librarian number two reflecting the expanded qualifications and responsibilities required for library operations.
The City of Goleta has formally proposed amendment number one to address these increased costs and recommends the additional $25,765 in additional annual compensation bringing the total not to exceed for fiscal year 26-27 to $319,165. This amendment maintains consistency with the service levels and operational standards established in the original agreement.
and aligns compensation with actual operational needs. The finance department has reviewed the proposed increase and determined the amounts are reasonable and justified given the expanded scope, and the reclassification. Solvang has the option to allow Goleta to invoice a full additional amount or to utilize the fund balance established under the agreement's annual reporting provisions We also have on the line Joanne Plummer, the Director of Community Services with the City of Goleta who can answer any additional questions and you can find a motion in your staff report.
Thank you my first question if I may You said that there was a statement of work or the scope has grown beyond the original budget. What's, what work or what scope of work has changed?
4:41 – 4:475 turns
Joanne do you want to talk to the detail?
Sure I'll take that and thank you Mayor Pro Tem and Council Thanks for having me this evening. So the technically the scope of work as far as your library operations, your hours of operation have not changed. What we looked at changing was your reclassification from a supervising library technician to a professional librarian. A professional librarian carries with them a degree in library service, a master's degree in library services. Your current librarian Erin Herzog she does actually have a master's degree in library services so Solvang is extremely fortunate that she does carry that and you do have a professional librarian in that position currently With a professional librarian and having that professional librarian classification, a librarian can then choose your actual collection and be responsible for the purchasing of the collection specifically for Solvang.
Right now that collection while Erin does make recommendations to the librarians, your collection is actually chosen by Goleta staff and purchased by Goleta staff so your librarian would be making those purchases The classification by the structure would also be making other purchases on behalf of Solvang, obviously with oversight. But would be making purchases on behalf of Solvang to be immediately responsive day-to-day. The current classification doesn't allow for those day-to day purchases so purchases made in response to anything that's happening in Solvang, have to go through Goleta then go back to Solvang.
So there are some minor expansions of the duties as a librarian too. There is also just that responsiveness as a librarian, that professional level as a librarian. If you've been in the library recently, you heard from Valerie Kissel earlier tonight. I've been watching all evening while I've been in my office listening. You've heard All the different and exciting things that we've done in the library since Erin's been in her position. And I use Erin not just as a person, but the fact that she is a professional librarian. She's trained professionally. She brings experience as a librarian to your library currently. There's that subject matter expertise That while you've had consistency with your team and with your leadership in the library, you've had consistency and commitment by the team members that have been there.
You haven't had that professional librarian in that capacity for a long time. And in the year — the two years that I have been present in watching the jurisdictions, I have really seen a significant difference in the quality and the level of service The quality and level of service in the training of your existing staff, in the service delivery to your customers.
In the type of programming that we're doing and the reinvigoration of the programs that were offering The feeling that you get in the library, Valerie spoke earlier this evening from the Friends organization about how we've outgrown the library. Very true statement but for that very small space Erin has been able to find space within that small space She hasn't taken things away. She's been able to reorganize, reshift things around and open it up so that it doesn't feel congested as congested as it did 18 months ago. So just really having that opportunity to look at things from that professional lens as the librarian.
So that is something that I think really elevates the library services In Solvang is that reclassification to that librarian position. So that is part of it and there is some expanded scope that the classification of supervising library technician does not allow us to have unfortunately just by nature of the position so there is a bit of a little expanded scope. There is not expanded scope of the offerings but we always look to expand any type of programming and services. You heard this evening we expanded and have the movies for the summer reading program. And then the summer reading program is always done in collaboration but again with having a librarian at the helm having more of that hands-on specific having those librarian duties locally gives that more flexibility for solving independent flexibility of what happens in Goleta because the librarians, we have three librarians in the Goleta service structure right now and they're all in Goleta.
So all the librarian type of decisions have to be done by Goleta staff and this gives the jurisdictions a little bit more librarian independence so it just has that immediate effect and that immediate response opportunity. So that is that scope, if that answers that question. And I'm sorry-
No but it didn't answer the question but sure great sales presentation so. Sorry. Mark did you have anything you want to chime in on here? You're our representative
If you read through the report, it talks about basically the fact that as she was saying that Erin, our librarian has actually got credit. She has the credentials to be elevated a lot of what you're seeing in this additional cost is going to be her elevation. She's been doing a terrific job we don't want to lose her there's even an opportunity where she could actually go to Buellton because they have an opening So this is, for everything I've read in here, it's warranted. It's a minor increase to my mind.
What was it? $25,000? And it does get us, keeps us Erin as our librarian which I think we should do. Okay.
Does Erin live in Solvang?
4:48 – 4:5820 turns
I don't know that.
No she does not. She lives in Lompoc.
But she works out of the Solvang office, I mean the Solvang library.
Yes she does previously she actually worked in Oxnard so she's not um she's not shy for commuting so she loves coming to Solvang.
And Joanne she's I questioned the report earlier yesterday and today is her total compensation $319,000?
Oh no, that is the total operations compensation. So the Solvang library is... The operations exceed the $300,000 but you're made up of a variety of revenue sources. One is the city's contribution, one is your per capita from the county, one is just other general revenue And that is whether it's donations or anything else that kind of comes in. And so what, anything that doesn't come in through per capita and other revenues, what's left is the city's contribution and then that is what makes up the entire library operations. So that's all staff salaries, all programming costs, all the black gold costs, all licensing costs, the collection cost everything.
Okay and then can you give me the percentage what just in the framework of salary with this increase at $25,000. What is the percentage increase to salary we would be applying?
Sure it is a reclassification she's reclassifying from we have categories that are numbered She's currently in the grade of a 1-121 and she would be reclassing to a 126. And that is a 7.75 percent reclassification adjustment. And annually that equates to just under so the $25,000 is not all Erin. So the $25 thousand dollars total is some of it is the actual salary some of it is the benefit package that goes with a salary. Some of it has increased costs associated to increased benefit package just in general with insurance cost going up workman's comp cost going up And then some is loss of revenue with the loss of per capita costs from the county as well as we saw a loss of donation revenue that came in. So collectively, that is the entire $25,765.
So Aaron's fiscal compensation is $6,595 total. That's what moves Aaron from a supervising library technician to a librarian too. Any
other questions? Any public comment? Anybody on Zoom that wishes to make a comment. Olivia, you're here twice. You're in person and once online. Okay we'll bring it back to the dais for action or other questions that might have. What's the pleasure?
I'll move that we approve amendment number one to the library management services agreement.
It's been properly moved and seconded to approve the amendment for item 8D as in Delta. Roll call, please.
Roll-call vote Passed 4–0 moved and seconded to approve the amendment for item 8D as in Delta. Roll call,
Show transcript
Motion passes 5-0
And thank you Joanne
Thank you
Okay, we'll move on to item 8E as an echo. This was... Okay.
Approve resolution number 26-1333 accepting the Alamo Pentado Road Rehabilitation Project as complete and authorizing the city manager to execute the notice of completion foreseeing.
Thank you. Staff report please.
Good evening, council. The City of Solvang advertised the Alamo-Pentado Road Rehabilitation Project early this year in January. In addition to the base bid which was the rehabilitation of Alamo-Pentado Road we had four alternatives in various locations throughout the city, Alicelle Road, Alicelle Glen, the neighborhood near Solvange School And in last fall, we had bid the project. And at that time when we were preparing to award it, we asked the city council to approve a total project budget of $3.687 million which covered all construction, construction engineering, surveying inspections And a 10% construction contingency.
And we didn't end up moving forward with the project at that time and rebid it this spring. And because of that, in March, the City Council awarded the construction of the same project to Cal Portland for $2.912 million and that in conjunction with a 10% contingency allowed us to move forward with the project without any sort of budget adjustment, and we did move forward with the project, As smoothly as a construction project can go, I do realize that it was an inconvenience for residents.
The hospital which was one of the primary businesses impacted by the road, the Alamo-Pentado Road improvements as well as LSL Glenn but overall with the contractor that we had as well as PEI who did Construction engineering for us as well as the inspections on the project. We were able to keep things in line, we did have change orders but as we got closer to the end and we had an opportunity to actually add more areas into the project since we already had the budget approved We went ahead and did more rehab on roads like Oak Street, Fredensburg Canyon and the skin patch along Chalk Hill which Dennis had mentioned.
And with those we were able to do structural repairs on Fredensburg Canyon and on Oak Street and then Chalk Hill is more of a temporary fix until we can get to it. It's scheduled in our payment management plan to start the process in 2029, 30 fiscal year. When we were doing the project I did have comments from residents in the Alice L. Glenn neighborhood. They were confused that a portion of Fjord Drive received a three-quarter inch leveling course and then other areas just received digout repairs.
I added in the staff report to kind of clarify that for residents, that any time we did a digout repair which is basically taking the full pavement section out of the road and replacing it, that was due to structural damage of the pavement section itself. Overlay leveling course on Fjord Drive is more to just kind of clean it up and smooth it out in preparation for next year's slurry seal project. So all the roads that we repaired this year, with the exception of the additional change order items, Chalk Hill, Oak Street, Freidensburg Canyon will be doing the slurry seal on next year.
So yeah, the project went great. And I'm grateful for the great staff that we had, internal staff as well as all the consultants and the contractors that we had. We were able to bring the project in from our $140,000 under our original budget for the project and get a few extra streets in there. Tonight we're just asking that the City Council move to approve, adopt the resolution and allow the notice of completion to be filed with the city clerk. Once that notice of completion is filed there is a 30-day period where any release of retention is held to make sure that the sub consultants or anybody that is part of this team has been paid in full So once we do the notice of completion, we'll start that time ticking on the retention as well as warranties for the construction.
Thank you. Any questions? I just want to say thank you. I think it was a remarkable job. I said it earlier today but you're below budget and on time so very good. Pat yourself on the back and we'll do the same.
Mr. Murphy?
4:58 – 5:0420 turns
I want to point out that normally this project closeout notice of completion would have gone on consent, and I wanted the opportunity to brag. This was an excellent project. Bridget did a great job. The whole team did an excellent job. We got a lot of pictures. what happens when we work cooperatively. And so it's an opportunity to brag, we get a lot of complaints and other comments from the community and press and other people that take shots at us because We're not doing the right thing, or we maybe make a mistake and this is a chance to brag. And we don't get to do that often enough. So I appreciate the Council's indulgence in its respect.
Thank you. I'll add one more thing to that. I live about two blocks from that intersection where you're going over to the hospital, Byborg and Alamo-Pentado, and there were times when it was So I have to compliment them, which means a compliment to you for having taken care of them. Thank you.
And the cement curbs and all that good stuff is all well done. For
sake of time, is there
any public
comment
on this? I don't see any, so I will close public comment and come back to the dais. Did you have something you wanted to add?
But I just also wanted to say, I think given the feedback that the council's received, I think a priority for the community is definitely improving of the road infrastructure. I think that's very clear from this project. People are very much in support of it. It's one of the largest projects we've done. I'm hoping to continue to do these projects on an annual basis to continue to have At least maintain the existing CPI that we have for the city.
Okay, let's take action on this. I'm going to move that City Council adopt resolution 26-1333 to accept the Alamope and Toto Road Rehabilitation Project as complete and authorize a city manager to execute the notice of completion and direct the city clerk to record the notice of completion with the Santa Barbara County Clerk's recorder
I will second.
Thank you, it's been moved and seconded to approve item 8 ECHO. Roll call please.
Roll-call vote Passed 4–0 moved and seconded to approve item 8 ECHO. Roll call
Show transcript
Motion passes
5-0. Thank You Bridget
well done
Okay, we're moving on to item 8. F has been deleted from our... F and 8 have been deleted earlier tonight so there'll be no action or discussion on that. Item 8G is engulf. Consider... go ahead and read that into the record
8H as in
hotel.
Introduce for first reading ordinance number 26-0396 adding section 9 to chapter 3 street and sidewalk obstruction of title 8 public ways and property of the Solvang municipal code to regulate busking.
Staff
report please. Thank you Mr. Mayor, members of the council I'll make this short and sweet currently the city has some street and sidewalk obstruction regulations and there was a perceived need to deal with busking which is public performance in shorthand fashion but involves playing of music juggling mimes and so on those are First Amendment activities and not having regulations to deal with I'm It establishes reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on where these activities can take place. You can't do it within 10 feet of bus stops, on street corners and marked crosswalks, business entrances in outdoor dining areas, within 50 feet of other people that are engaging in a similar activity and within 50 feet of permitted special events.
08.
5:04 – 5:0917 turns
Thank you. I had one question, if an establishment or merchant were to hire a musician or an a cappella trio for their property is that still busking?
No this is limited to the public areas of the city. The property over which the city has control
Okay, so it would have to be off the sidewalk. They could do it but they'd have to be either indoors or on a patio of their lease?
What is says the public areas that are regulated are sidewalks, streets, roads, parks, parkways, paseos, walkways and any other publicly accessible areas or public property within the city.
So that even includes the Pagoda, the thing in the Central Park. Occasionally we see people up there and
yeah the gazebo
but also include driveways or anything else that's on the street. Okay thank you Is there any other questions before I ask for public comment? Is there any public comment available? I don't see anybody in the room here that wants to reply. How about in Zoom? Very well, I'll close it to public comment and come back to the dais. Mr. Murphy do you have a comment?
Bring it back for action or other feedback.
I'll move to introduce the first reading of that ordinance 260396 adding section 9 to chapter 3 street and sidewalk obstruction of title 8 to regulate busking.
I will second.
It's been moved and seconded to approve for first reading, introduce first reading item 8H as in hotel. Roll call please?
Roll-call vote Passed 4–0 moved and seconded to approve for first reading, introduce first reading item 8H as in hotel. Roll call
Show transcript
Motion passes 5-0
Thank you and bringing up the rear here is item 8 I as in India
Introduce for first reading ordinance 26-0397 regulating use of potable water for irrigation of nonfunctional turf.
Staff report please.
Thank you Mr. Mayor, members of the council I'll do a little bit deeper dive on this particular ordinance because it is mandated by recent amendments to state law in October of 2023 the governor signed AB 1572 and it's a water saving measure that will prohibit the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf in specific commercial institutional municipal and multifamily residential properties so The difference between non-functional and functional turf, if you think about functional turf it's something that is actually being used for recreational purposes. It could be a soccer field, it could be something in a park where kids are playing but non-functional turf might be the area between the street and the sidewalk that is not actually being used for any recreational purposes so those are the kind of dividing lines that you would be looking at.
The proposed ordinance would add a new section to Chapter 3 of Title IX of the Municipal Code prohibiting the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf on certain properties, with some limited exceptions. This prohibition would take place effective January 1st, 2027 based on property types and it would phase in over subsequent years depending on those types of property. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
26.0397 Section 93B-11 Chapter 3 Title IX Solvang Municipal Code
This is mandated by the state.
5:09 – 5:1529 turns
That's essentially the case, yes. Because the state can mandate that we require this but the state is not going to be coming and doing the enforcement so the enforcement is going to be done at a local level it will be done under our municipal code. So if for example we see an institutional entity that is continuing to use potable water to irrigate non-functional turf it becomes a municipal violation rather than a violation of state law and we would enforce locally
Could you give me an example of that?
The one that comes to mind typically is if you had a private HOA, for example. And they had the parking strips or the landscaping strips between the sidewalk and the street and they've got grass on that. That's not functional turf. That's ornamental turf. That something that's not being used for active recreational use. So if they're watering that with potable water as opposed to recycled water, that would be prohibited in this type of situation. Same thing if you had an industrial park. And I'm using examples that are not necessarily in Solvang but give you an idea.
This doesn't apply to residential
Unless it's an HOA or like a...
If it's city owned, that would be covered because that's municipal. There are some homeowners association that would phase in at a later date but the intention is to reduce the amount of potable water being used to irrigate non-functional turf in most situations
Okay, but I'm just it doesn't look like it affects people's front yard or backyard.
Yeah where I see the biggest concern that that's obvious to me is that green belt along Fjord Drive. But that's
functional. I think that because they have benches and
It is.
It sounds like a recreational use area. And the ordinance talks about recreational use areas including pet exercise areas and recreation can be formal or informal so if it's being used actively for some type of recreation that's not going to be covered.
They hold sales and things down there, it's totally being...it's being used for recreation
Yeah, there's several places where I think it's going to come.
But that would be the real question not whether we need to do this is what's the operational impact and where do we see how big an impact do we anticipate?
I think at some point when the City makes a determination that there is an area of non-functional turf, one of two things is going to happen. That non-functional turf will be removed and substituted with some type of other landscaping or the property owner that's responsible for it will find some way to make it recreational in nature so they may maintain it and continue use
You can't just say don't walk here. I
think that's the practical result of it.
Yeah because they can't, how would they water otherwise?
Well they can use recycled water.
Okay but they'd have to
truck
it in is that what they would do?
the meeting.
I'm going to open it up for public comment if any. I don't see any changes, if there's anybody on zoom want to raise their hand maybe our technician has a question okay I think I'll close it then for public comment and bring it back to the dais for action or other questions
Well this is just the first reading, right? It is. So it's going to come back to us again. Well probably by consent though. Yeah well then I'll make move to introduce the first reading of ordinance 260397 adding section 93B11 to chapter 3 of title 9 of the Solvang Municipal Code.
I'll second.
It's been moved and seconded to approve for first reading item 8I as in India. Roll call please.
Thank you everyone for
your
indulgence this evening. For Marathon, Mr. Murphy had a closing comment?
5:15 – 5:162 turns
I just had a closing comment. It was asked earlier about our occupancy related to the TOT, and Wendy in her miraculous ability to get answers quickly said 78.66 occupancy in June for the entire fiscal year 25-26 July to June was 69.52 so just under 70% occupancy for the entire year.
We are adjourned at 1010.