Meeting Summary
Present: Chavez, 5-Cornejo, 1-Ornelas, Crosswhite, Juarez
This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.
At a glance
Closed Session Report
- Three closed sessions were held regarding the City Manager's performance evaluation and other confidential matters.
- No action was taken on the City Manager's employment, leaving the current agreement to sunset on June 30, 2027.
- The session held on the evening of the meeting covered 14 topics with no reportable actions taken.
Ventura County Fair Poster Presentation
- Representatives presented the official 2026 fair poster, contest winners, and event details including the concert lineup.
- Council Member Cornejo noted a new security requirement mandating plastic bags for attendee items.
- The council accepted the poster for display without a formal motion or vote.
Parks and Recreation Month Proclamation
- The Mayor read a proclamation designating July as Parks and Recreation Month.
- The Parks and Recreation Commission Chair spoke in support of the proclamation and recognized department staff.
- The proclamation was adopted by the council.
Parks and Recreation Department Activity Report
- Director Barnes reported on program participation, facility improvements, and urban forestry projects from February through June.
- The Farm Workers Monument brick campaign has sold out introductory bricks, with current pricing set at $150.
- The new restroom at Teague Park is expected to be completed by late July or early August.
United Water Conservation District Presentation
- Staff presented a proposed $350 million bond measure for dam safety, diversion improvements, and water treatment projects.
- The bond requires a two-thirds vote and would cost the average homeowner approximately $121 annually in property taxes.
- The City Manager agreed to review any future resolution of support to ensure alignment with the city's strategic plan.
Update on City Grants
- The City Manager reported securing over $1 million in state funds and over $2 million in federal appropriations through internalized grant writing.
- Specific successes included funding for the Santa Paula Trail expansion, public safety equipment, and parks infrastructure.
- Pending federal requests for police dispatch and radio upgrades were also noted.
Council Reports
- Council Member Ornelas reported on a vehicle buyback program and equipment grants for local farms to reduce emissions.
- Council Member Cornell discussed a countywide task force for sidewalk vendor health permits and Property BID board updates.
- Vice Mayor Crosswhite provided updates on transportation relief, memorial project renderings, and street paving delays.
- The Mayor announced the dedication date for the "Flood Path" monument and welcomed a new police recruit.
City Manager's Report
- The pavement management program has commenced in The Hill and The Oaks neighborhoods with work scheduled to conclude by October.
- Concrete pouring for the bridge project is scheduled to begin, alongside updates on park and orchard preparation.
- Council members discussed the availability of a live map on the city website to track street repair timelines.
Mid-Cycle Budget Adjustment
- The Finance Director requested approval for a $416,000 increase in General Fund expenses, primarily for insurance costs.
- Additional requests included funding for City Manager recruitment, body-worn cameras, and tasers.
- The council approved the mid-cycle budget adjustment and related resolutions via a passed motion.
Upcoming Agenda Items and Departmental Updates
- Future meetings will include a study session on city growth and a workshop on the mobile home rent review ordinance.
- Anticipated items include a strategic plan update, police activity report, and a response to the county grand jury report.
- Preliminary discussions on water and sewer rates and a water division reorganization are expected in August or September.
Athens Rate Increase
- The Athens rate increase is scheduled for the first meeting in September to comply with Proposition 218 notice requirements.
- Notices regarding this increase are scheduled for distribution at the end of the current week.
Full summary
Meeting Call to Order and Administrative Matters
- The regular meeting of the Santa Paula City Council was called to order on July 15, 2026. An invocation was delivered, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call confirmed the presence of all council members.
Closed Session Report
- The City Attorney reported on three closed sessions. Two sessions held on June 23 and June 30, 2026, addressed the performance evaluation of the City Manager. No action was taken regarding the City Manager's employment; consequently, the City Manager's agreement is set to sunset on June 30, 2027. A third closed session held on the evening of the meeting covered 14 topics. No reportable actions were taken during this session.
Procedural Updates
- The Mayor and City Attorney discussed new state legislation (SB 707) effective July 1, requiring the city to provide remote public participation during council meetings if a connection interruption occurs. Under this rule, the council must recess for one hour to attempt to restore the connection before voting to proceed or adjourn. The City Clerk explained the implementation of remote public comment via webinar, noting the system would be tested during the meeting with speakers called in one by one for three-minute comments. Translation services would be available for remote speakers as needed.
Public Comment
- Three members of the public addressed the council regarding the decision not to extend the City Manager's contract. Speakers expressed support for the current City Manager, urged the council to extend the contract, argued that the successor council elected in November should make the final decision, and expressed disappointment regarding the lack of a clear decision on renewal.
Ventura County Fair Poster Presentation (Item 7A)
- Representatives from the Ventura County Junior Fair Board presented the official 2026 fair poster, announced the winners of the youth poster contest, and detailed the grandstand concert lineup, special admission days, and the Junior Livestock Auction. Council Member Cornejo noted a new security requirement for attendees to bring items in plastic bags. The presentation was received, and the poster was accepted for display. No motion or vote was taken.
Parks and Recreation Month Proclamation (Item 7B)
- The Mayor read a proclamation designating July as Parks and Recreation Month. Vanessa Olmos, Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, spoke in support of the proclamation and recognized department staff. The proclamation was adopted. No formal motion or vote was recorded in the transcript.
Parks and Recreation Department Activity Report (Item 7C)
- Director Greg Barnes presented a report covering activities from February through June 2026. Highlights included participation numbers for youth sports and adult recreation programs, facility improvements at various city locations, urban forestry projects, and downtown beautification efforts. Director Barnes discussed the Farm Workers Monument brick campaign, noting that introductory $100 bricks were sold out and current bricks are priced at $150. Council Member Cornejo inquired about the timeline for the new restroom at Teague Park; Director Barnes stated the restroom is expected by the end of July or early August. The report was received for the file. No motion or vote was taken.
United Water Conservation District Presentation (Item 7D)
- Tara Mullally of the United Water Conservation District presented an informational overview of a proposed bond measure to be placed on the November ballot. The measure seeks $350 million to fund three mandated projects: the Santa Felicia Dam Safety Improvement Project, the Freeman Diversion Improvement Project, and an Extraction Barrier and Brackish Water Treatment Project. The bond would be repaid over 30 years via property tax, estimated at approximately $121 per year for the average home, and requires a two-thirds vote to pass. Staff explained that if the bond fails, the district faces difficult decisions, including significantly increasing water rates or reducing operations, which could lead to draining the lake or decommissioning the dam. Council members inquired about the percentage of water allocated to agriculture versus cities; staff committed to providing the data later. The City Manager agreed to review any future request for a resolution of support to determine if it aligns with the city's strategic plan. No formal motion or vote was taken.
Update on City Grants (Item 7E)
- The City Manager presented a report on the city's grant writing and lobbying efforts, noting a shift to successful internalized grant writing beginning in 2022. The report highlighted the securing of over $1 million in state funds and over $2 million in federal appropriations. Specific successes included a CMAQ grant for the Santa Paula Trail expansion, funding for public safety equipment, Prop 68 funds for parks, and infrastructure grants for various projects. Pending federal requests for police dispatch and radio upgrades were also noted. No formal motion or vote was taken.
Council Reports (Item 8)
- Council Member Ornelas: Reported on the approval of a vehicle buyback program for vehicles model year 2003 or older, offering $2,000 incentives. Also noted the approval of equipment grants for local farms to reduce emissions and discussed the potential to establish a clean air zone at the community center.
- Council Member Cornell: Reported on a Ventura Council of Governments initiative to form a countywide task force for enforcing health permits for sidewalk vendors. Additionally, discussed meetings with the Property Business Improvement District regarding their new board's efforts to operate more independently and review bylaws.
- Vice Mayor Crosswhite: Provided updates on fare box recovery relief for the Ventura County Transportation Commission, renderings for the St. Francis Dam Disaster Memorial Project, delays in the 10th Street/150 segment paving due to re-engineering for ADA compliance, a Clean Power Alliance pilot program for modified electric vehicle charging rates, and the selection of two city fellows for the Future Leaders Academy.
- Mayor: Reported on attending a closed session, welcoming a new police recruit, and announcing upcoming cruise nights. Also noted the dedication date for the "Flood Path" monument is set for March 12, 2028.
City Manager's Report
- The City Manager announced the commencement of the pavement management program, starting in The Hill and moving to The Oaks, with work scheduled to conclude by October. Updates were provided on park and orchard prep work and the bridge project, with concrete pouring scheduled to begin Friday. The report included recognition of staff efforts during the July 4th celebration. Council members discussed the availability of a live map on the city website to track street repair timelines. The Chief of Police was commended for apprehending an arsonist following the July 4th fireworks.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent calendar. Prior to the vote, a question was raised regarding a discrepancy in the job description for a police position. The Police Chief clarified that the intent was to allow two years of experience with another agency to substitute for the third year of the three-year requirement. The motion to approve the consent calendar was put to a vote and passed.
Mid-Cycle Budget Adjustment (Item 11A)
- The Finance Director presented a mid-cycle budget adjustment report for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The report requested approval of a resolution to amend the budget and adopt the city's GAN limit. Proposed adjustments included a $416,000 increase in General Fund expenses, 84% of which was attributed to liability and workers' compensation insurance increases. Other requests included $30,000 for City Manager recruitment services, $18,000 for body-worn cameras and tasers, and personnel reclassifications. The report also included non-General Fund requests for stormwater catch basin excluders and continued funding for a parking abatement specialist. Council members discussed the two-year budget structure, reserve fund balances, and the allocation of property tax revenues. A motion was made and seconded to approve the mid-cycle budget adjustment and related resolutions. The motion was put to a vote and passed.
Items for Future Agenda (Item 12)
- The City Manager noted upcoming agenda items, including a study session on city growth planned for August 19th and a special public workshop on the mobile home rent review ordinance scheduled for August 25th. No formal motion or vote was taken.
Upcoming Agenda Items and Departmental Updates
- Anticipated items for future meetings include celebrations regarding Food Share and the girls' softball championship, a one-year update on the strategic plan, the police department's activity report, and a response to a recent countywide grand jury report concerning fireworks. Additionally, a proposal from Red Tail Housing to convert market-rate units into affordable units is expected. Preliminary discussions regarding water and sewer rates, along with a reorganization proposal for the water division, are anticipated for the August or September meetings.
Athens Rate Increase
- It was noted that the Athens rate increase has been scheduled for the first meeting in September to comply with the 45-day notice requirement under Proposition 218. Notices regarding this increase are scheduled to be distributed at the end of the current week.
Adjournment
- With no further business presented, the council meeting was adjourned at 8:39.