City Council — October 12, 2026

SBCAG 60th Anniversary Proclamation

• The Mayor presented a proclamation recognizing Solvang’s role in the 1966 founding of SBCAG.
• SBCAG representative Fred Luna accepted the recognition and highlighted ongoing regional projects.
• The proclamation was presented and accepted without a formal recorded vote.

Fire Department Quarterly Report

• Fire Chief Garrett Huff reported 187 incidents in Q3, including 96 medical calls and two fires.
• Staff discussed the lack of a city ordinance to enforce defensible space inspections within city limits.
• The Mayor noted that less than 1% of calls are for fires, suggesting the department’s name may not reflect its all-hazard role.

City Manager’s Report

• The City Manager reported that union negotiations have moved further from the City’s offers despite recent meetings.
• Upcoming community events, including a cleanup at HCA Park and hazardous waste collections, were announced.
• The City Manager expressed optimism for an agreement based on the closed session outcome.

AB 1234 and SB 1439 Report

• Council members provided brief reports on their attendance at EMAGSA and Utility Rate Review Committee meetings.
• Councilmember Infante raised concerns about the Alice Hall Glen development’s impact on property values.
• The need for improved street lighting at certain intersections was noted during the report.

PG&E Service Installation Contract

• Staff presented a bid for electrical conduit and transformer installation to support future EV charging.
• The selected bidder, Mainline Engineering Construction, was within the engineering estimate.
• The Council approved the construction contract at a cost not to exceed $217,000.

Video Surveillance Policy Review

• Council members raised concerns regarding AI-enabled features, public records requests, and data hosting.
• Staff clarified that Verkada hosts the data and the City owns it, while Lompoc Police discussed access protocols.
• The Council directed staff to revise the policy to address AI oversight, audit logs, and data retention.

El Nino Local Emergency Declaration

• Staff presented a resolution to ratify the declaration of a local emergency for the 2026-2027 storm season.
• The retroactive date of September 21 was explained as aligning with the Governor’s statewide declaration.
• The Council adopted Resolution 26-1336 to authorize emergency purchasing procedures.

Closed Session

• The Council conferred with labor negotiators regarding the ongoing strike with Teamsters Local 986.
• The City Attorney reported that the Council granted additional authority to the city negotiator.
• The city negotiator was directed to proceed with additional negotiations with the union.

Closed Session

• Labor Negotiations: The Council recessed to closed session to confer with labor negotiators regarding the ongoing strike with Teamsters Local 986. Upon returning, the City Attorney reported that the Council granted additional authority to the city negotiator and directed them to proceed with additional negotiations with the union.

Open Session

1. Proclamation: Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) 60th Anniversary

• Discussion: The Mayor presented a proclamation commemorating the 60th anniversary of SBCAG and recognizing Solvang’s participation in the regional partnership. Fred Luna of SBCAG accepted the recognition, noting that Solvang hosted the first organizational meeting of SBCAG in 1966. He highlighted ongoing regional projects, including the San Ynez Valley Trail and Measure A funding for local circulation improvements.
• Action: The proclamation was presented and accepted. No formal vote was recorded in the transcript for this item.

2. Presentation: Santa Barbara County Fire Department Quarterly Report

• Discussion: Fire Chief Garrett Huff presented the Q3 report for Station 30 in Solvang. Key points included:
• 187 total incidents in Q3, with 96 being medical calls.
• Two fires (one structure, one vehicle) and three rescues.
• Updates on fire investigations: The Buelton structure fire (Oct 2024) was determined accidental; the Sears Steakhouse fire (Dec 2024) was determined to be intentionally set by unidentified juveniles/young adults; the Water Wheel building fire remains under active investigation.
• Discussion on defensible space inspections: The Fire Department conducts inspections in state responsible areas outside city limits but cannot enforce within city limits without a specific city ordinance.
• Discussion on insurance costs: Chief Huff noted that staffing levels, equipment, and response times are factors considered by insurance companies.
• Discussion on branding: The Mayor noted that less than 1% of calls are for fires, suggesting the department’s name may not fully reflect its all-hazard role.
• Action: No motion or vote was taken.

3. Public Communications

• Discussion: Several members of the public addressed the Council:
• Jocelyn Hiddle: Reported that a potential buyer for her home in Alice Hall Glen withdrew due to concerns about a nearby development project affecting property values.
• Denise Ellamine: Urged residents to vote "No" on Measure D (Santa Ynez Valley High School bond), citing the City Council’s $500,000 pledge to the Aquatic Center and questioning the City Manager’s dual role on the Aquatics Foundation steering committee.
• Sue Turner-Cray: Urged residents to vote "No" on Measure D, citing lack of transparency in the school district’s budget, previous unfulfilled infrastructure promises, and the City’s funding for the Aquatic Center pool heating.

4. City Manager’s Report

• Discussion: City Manager Randy Murphy provided updates on:
• Community Cleanup: Next event scheduled for November 14 at HCA Park.
• Waste Management: Upcoming dates for e-waste and household hazardous waste collections.
• Labor Situation: Reported two meetings with the union since the last Council meeting. The City proposed solutions moving closer to prior offers, while the union moved further away. Murphy stated the City’s offers are among the most generous in the region and expressed optimism for an agreement based on the closed session outcome.
• Other Activities: Attendance at EMAGSA meetings, Utility Rate Review Committee kickoff, Senior Center fundraiser, and "Champions of the Valley" event.
• Action: No motion or vote was taken.

5. AB 1234 and SB 1439 Report

• Discussion: Council members provided brief reports on their attendance at various meetings, including EMAGSA, the Utility Rate Review Committee, and community events. Councilmember Infante raised concerns about the Alice Hall Glen development project’s impact on property values and noted the need for improved street lighting at certain intersections.
• Action: No motion or vote was taken.

6. Consent Items (6A, 6B, 6C)

• Discussion: Routine administrative matters.
• Motion: Councilmember Infante moved to approve the consent agenda items.
• Second: Councilmember Arona seconded the motion.
• Vote: The motion passed.

7. Item 8A: Award of Construction Contract for PG&E Service Installation (Parking Lot 5)

• Discussion: Staff presented a bid for the installation of electrical conduit and a transformer for Parking Lot 5 to support future EV charging for San Ynez Valley Transit. The selected bidder, Mainline Engineering Construction, was within the engineering estimate.
• Questions: Councilmember Infante questioned the timeline for EV adoption, noting the City currently has no electric vehicles and holds a waiver for gas vehicle purchases until the end of the year. Staff explained that the infrastructure is a prerequisite for future compliance with state mandates for zero-emission transit vehicles.
• Motion: The Mayor moved to approve the construction contract with Mainline Engineering Construction at a cost not to exceed $217,000 (including a 10% contingency) and authorize necessary budget adjustments.
• Second: The City Manager seconded the motion.
• Vote: The motion passed.

8. Item 8B: Review of Adopted Video Surveillance Policy

• Discussion: Staff presented the City’s video camera surveillance policy for review, as required by the policy’s annual review clause.
• Key Issues Raised:
• AI Features: Councilmember Infante raised concerns about the lack of clear policy regarding AI-enabled features (facial recognition, license plate readers), noting these were not explicitly addressed in the original policy adoption.
• Public Records Requests (PRA): Concerns were raised about the volume of potential PRA requests for video footage and the need for clear legal exemptions.
• Oversight and Access: Questions were raised about who has access to enable/disable AI features, how to verify these settings, and the need for audit logs to be reported to the Council quarterly.
• Data Hosting: Clarification was provided that data is hosted by Verkada (the software provider), not the installer (XIT), and the City owns the data.
• Law Enforcement Access: Lompoc Police Chief Kevin Martin discussed the balance between public safety and law enforcement access, noting that in Lompoc, the police department manages the system. Solvang staff clarified their intent is for public safety (e.g., vandalism, lost property) rather than policing, and they would respond to law enforcement requests.
• Action: The Council directed staff to revise the policy to address:
• 1. Clear definitions of enabled/disabled AI technologies. 2. Procedures for oversight and verification of AI feature settings. 3. Quarterly reporting of audit logs to the Council. 4. Clarification of data hosting and retention responsibilities (Verkada vs. XIT). 5. Notification procedures for data breaches or administrative access changes. 6. Establishment of a hierarchy of personnel with access to the system.
• Vote: No formal vote was taken; the item was referred back to staff for policy revisions.

9. Item 8C: Resolution Ratifying Declaration of Local Emergency (El Nino)

• Discussion: Staff presented a resolution to ratify the City Manager’s declaration of a local emergency in anticipation of the 2026-2027 El Nino winter storm season. The declaration allows for emergency purchasing procedures to bypass normal competitive bidding for supplies and services needed to protect life and property.
• Questions: A member of the public asked why the declaration was retroactive to September 21. Staff explained this aligned with the Governor’s statewide emergency declaration date.
• Motion: The Mayor moved to adopt Resolution 26-1336, ratifying the declaration and authorizing staff to correct clerical date errors.
• Second: Councilmember Arona seconded the motion.
• Vote: The motion passed.

10. Closing Comments

• Discussion:
• Councilmember Infante raised a concern about the Design Review Committee’s inability to hold a meeting due to lack of quorum, suggesting a procedure be developed to allow other Council members to fill in if necessary. Staff agreed to look into potential solutions.
• Councilmember Arona clarified the record regarding the Aquatic Center funding, stating the City’s expenditure was for construction of a new pool, not for heating water or operations.
• The Mayor closed the meeting with a tribute to the late Carol Anders, a former Mayor and Councilmember.
• Action: The meeting was adjourned.