City Council — September 21, 2026

Good evening everybody. Good evening, I'm going to call this meeting to order. Mr. City Attorney are there any reports from closed session?

Thank you Madam Mayor nothing reportable at a closed session tonight.

Thank you.

Yes Madam Mayor. There is a supplemental item for consent calendar item 10 the staff report appeared to cut off so there is additional information provided in that supplemental

Thank you.

I move that all resolutions and ordinances presented tonight be read in title only, and all further reading be waived. Second.

Call for the vote.

The motion passes unanimously

If any member of the City Council may have a conflict of interest or any reason why that member must abstain from consideration of any matter on this agenda, he or she should so declare at this time. Seeing none, Madam Clerk we can move forward.

Madam Mayor and members of the City Council, next on the agenda is item 1D3. Presentation of a proclamation declaring September 15 to October 15, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month and assistant to the city manager Angel Sierra is here to present this item and accepting the proclamation are Gina Trincali and Ana Rosa Estevez from Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation

Good evening Mayor Cavanaugh and members of the City Council. And thank you Gina Trincali and Ana Rosa Estevez for joining us today. Tonight we are pleased to present a proclamation recognizing September 15th through October 15, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month in the city of Simi Valley. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year to recognize the rich histories, cultures, traditions and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. What began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 was expanded in 1988 to a month-long celebration honoring the generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans whose achievements and contributions have helped shape our nation.

Here in Simi Valley, we are proud to recognize the contributions of our Hispanic and Latino residents, businesses, community leaders and families who enrich our community through their diverse cultures and traditions and contribute to the economic, civic and cultural vitality of our city. This year's theme, Unidos Somos Mas, together we are more celebrates the strength that comes from unity and reminds us that our community is stronger when we come together share our experiences and traditions and recognize the unique cultures and perspectives that enrich Simi Valley.

For this reason, the City Council of the City of Simi Valley proclaimed Proclaims September 15th through October 15, 2026 as Hispanic Heritage Month in recognition of the generations of Hispanic and Latino Americans who have enriched our community and encourages residents to celebrate their enduring contributions. And embrace the spirit of Unidos Somos Mas together we are more.

Thank you so much I'm so happy to be able to present this proclamation to you both. We have a wonderful Hispanic community here in town. And what is this, Saturday?

Well the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Foundation is hosting its third annual Hispanic Heritage Festival at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center so we invite all of you to come and it's free to the public. All the entertainment is free and It's gonna be a wonderful event and our chairperson, Anna Rosa is gonna share what's going on.

Well we want to invite everyone because we're going to have a fantastic, fantastic Hispanic Heritage Festival. We're going to have performers from Argentina, from Peru, from Mexico come and perform their art on the outside stage in the theater Which you know, you have to go to see this beautiful theater. Inside the theater we're going to have a film showcase featuring artists, filmmakers exploring Resilience, family, community, culture and identity. So we're going to have a film showcase during the festival. And finally one of the highlights that we have this year, we have a partnership with Ventura County Museum who is bringing an exhibit, a photography exhibit by Diego Huerta who photographed indigenous communities here in Ventura County.

So it is something to see and we were fortunate because the Ventura County Museum wanted to have a traveling exhibit, and they chose Simi Valley as the host. So you are all welcome to come. It's going to be a fantastic event. And that's everybody. Everybody will be there, so thank you.

It truly is a very wonderful event this will be my third year going and I have a grandson who loves all the pretty girls dancing. So it's just they're wonderful dancers and mariachi and just the actors and there's plenty of vendors and booths and food and again all the special film that's going to be inside our beautiful theater this year. So everyone please please come down it's a great event and thank you to the Cultural Arts Foundation for putting it on each year Thank you all.

Madam Mayor and members of City Council, next on the agenda is item 2. Public statements on appointments, special presentations and informational reports. If you are participating by phone and wish to provide public comment please raise your hand by pressing star 9. While waiting to be recognized please remain on the line and listen to the instructions. Speakers participating by phone will be recognized after all in-person speakers have been called.

When the clerk recognizes you, you will be prompted to press star six To unmute your phone before addressing the City Council and we'll have up to three minutes to speak The mayor will notify you when you have 30 seconds remaining Madam Mayor. We do have one in-person speaker Janet. Do we have any online?

No, we do not have

no remote speakers. So we do have one in person James McGillis

Madam Mayor, members of the City Council and staff. I'm James McGillis, a resident of Simi Valley. Tonight you will appoint one city council member to the Ambassadors' Council for the study to optimize brackish groundwater desalting in the Upper Cayagas Creek Watershed. This watershed includes Simi Valley, Moorpark parts of Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and a little bit more. Waterworks No. 8 which serves most of Simi Valley imports 20 million gallons of potable water each day and discharges 10 million gallons on average back into the Arroyo Simi. Over the past three decades, the City Council has voted to fund only a rudimentary water recycling system serving the waste management landfill and a few other users. Our treated effluent flows downstream picking up mineral salts and agricultural runoff as it goes.

Near Somis there's a desalting facility serving treated water to nearby agricultural areas. From there, the remaining brackish water enters a pipeline with a terminus At Port Hueneme and going into the ocean. Rather than reclaiming and reusing the city's own precious water resources, Simi Valley continues to send its water downstream for others to use and for all of us to pay for. Have you driven recently on the 118 freeway? Subsidence in the eastern half of Simi Valley may be the result of extensive groundwater pumping by Golden State Water Company. Freeway overpasses from Erringer to Stern Street now float four to six inches above the remaining grade, creating sharp inclines and declines at each bridge. Even after extensive Caltrans renovation years ago, the problem is back worse than ever as a result of uncoordinated pumping by Golden State and profligate discharging at the sewage plant, the city falls deeper in the hole of water dependence.

Currently, the entire city is served by one pipeline which extends from Granada Hills to Simi Valley. Whoever you appoint to the Ambassador's Council should look far beyond the optimizing of brackish groundwater in an extended watershed. They should become the council's resident expert on Simi Valley groundwater resources involving the neighborhood councils in their findings and their work. Without adequate ground water, desalting effluent recycling and development of backup potable water sources this city and its residents are at risk. Under the current situation a single seismic event could render this city an unlivable disaster area because so many of you are up for reelection or planning to serve in a different capacity. This appointment should go forward after Thank you.

Madam Mayor and members of City Council, next on the agenda is item 3A1. Appointment of a city council member to the Ambassador's Council for the Study of Optimized Brackish Groundwater Desalting in the Upper Cayuga Watershed. And Interim Public Works Director Jay Spurgeon is presenting this item.

Thank you. As noted, our imported water agency, Kyegis, is conducting a study regarding brackish groundwater desalting and this will evaluate potential desalter concepts and locations including a project in Simi Valley here through a series of workshops where screening and analytical steps are being developed. There are nine study Partners, agencies in addition to Cayagas there are the cities of Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Cayagas. There is the Amargosa Water District, the county water works districts part of the Public Works Agency, Golden State Water California Water Service Company and the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency.

To support regional participation in the study, has established an ambassador's council to be composed of elected officials and executive leaders. Each study partner is being asked to appoint a representative to participate on the ambassador's council. This engagement will help ensure the city is well positioned to understand and respond to potential regional water supply solutions.

The ambassador's council will not determine The final location of a future desalting facility. But we'll provide a forum for area leaders to discuss local economic benefits, regional equity and the cost of alternative solutions. The first meeting of the council occurred this afternoon and Mayor Pro Tem Lister and myself attended that meeting. So with that Council or staff recommends that the council appoint a member to the Ambassador's Council for this study.

Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you. Council Member Litzer, excuse me Mayor Pro Tem Litzer

Thank you. I wanted to make it clear that my attendance was there not as the selected person, but simply because I am currently the board member for AWA, the Association of Water Agencies and in that role have been involved in some discussions about water last few years etc couple years anyway and so that is why I attended just not because it's been And I made it very clear at that meeting that this may be my one and only time in attendance, and that was why I was there. I would like to share with you some of my takeaways from that meeting, and then we can go forward during the discussion who should be in it.

Although Jay certainly has mentioned a lot of things I was going to share, that there are nine partners in that agency What was interesting of course is just to give context, previous in the past have been simply an agency that basically takes the water from for the California Water Project and then delivers it. It was in 2022 when there was the drought and many of us were involved with how difficult that was for our residents that in August of 2023, Cayagas decided that they would change and came together as a board need to take more proactive role, which included future and resilience in ways in which to make sure that there was multiple ways in which we could be water resilient. So anyway.

From that, they've been a variety of different projects but this water resource implementation strategy was founded by them and as discussed, this is to look at the northern reach of Cayagas watershed. What we should be doing it? We are, as was mentioned by Mr. McAuliffe's, we are 100% dependent upon the California State Water as far as our number eight, our specific water agency here.

for the city. And it is one tunnel and one big earthquake could certainly cause a damage and a real problem for us as Simi Valley to be so dependent, and so that is part of the impetus for this discussion. Now my takeaway is that right now well they mentioned they have 174 different subconcepts of how this could be done. They've now taken it down to 12 concepts that are on the table Looking at three different locations, it could be Simi Valley. It could be Moorpark. It could be Santa Rosa Valley. Could be not at all but that is what they're looking at and trying to determine. And ultimately the discussion with all the partners is to determine what kind of a regional benefit is desired and how big that region is and what does that look like?

And so questions from everything from improved regional water supply reliability How to reduce the dependence, how to enhance our regional resilience, to provide additional resources during disruption. Greater flexibility in moving water where it is needed. What are the regional economic benefits? And then point out regional benefit doesn't necessarily mean same benefit for everyone and this is again the discussions that will take place A project could provide a very substantial regional benefit while providing different or greater benefits to the community where it's located, for instance. And all of that of course will determine things like Costs who pays what portion there's a much to be discussed. So it was it was just a conversation to get things started And so that's why we need to have someone with the seat at the table for this important discussion and as I pointed out To them our city did their own study in 2018, I believe since then we had that drought I think things people come to appreciate there's really a need for some independent water resilience and I know it is one of our Goals that was established by this council when we met so I just wanted to share that report and lead the discussion who should be that person

Thank You councilmember judge

Thank you, madam. I was just going to nominate mayor pro tem Lister to the position if she's willing to take it

I love water issues. I'm happy to take it, but

I don't want to authorize the mayor to appoint a city council member. So is that your OK? Do I have a second?

Second.

I appoint Mayor Pro Tem Elaine Lister to the Water Board. Thank you. I will see what I can get done. Thank you everybody on that one. Call for the vote. No, it says I appoint It didn't say for a vote so I was confused on that Would you like us to have a vote anyway? Well, let's just vote to appoint Elaine across the board that'll work easiest thank you call for the vote

The motion passes unanimously.

Thank you. Say one more thing to Mr. Miguel who desired to be put off, I will say that there is going to be a couple more meetings already happening before the election occurs so just for point of clarification.

And Mayor Pro Tem Lister is not up for election so it works out well.

Madam Mayor and members of the City Council, next on the agenda is item 3B1. Informational presentation by Youth Council member Elizabeth Rakowski.

Good evening Mayor Cavanaugh and members of the City Council. Thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is Elizabeth Rakowski, and I'm a senior at Royal High School. I am truly honored to serve my second and sadly final year on the Youth Council this evening. I would like to share a brief update on how the 2026-2027 Youth Council term has begun. We held our first meeting of this term on August 8th, 2026, and we immediately sprung into action planning and preparing for upcoming events and campaigns and discussing our goals for the year.

We first started working on our suicide prevention campaign, and as a part of it held our annual rock painting night on September 11th in partnership with the Simi Valley Public Library. At this event almost 200 people were able to paint positive and encouraging messages on rocks as a youth council plans to place the rocks all around Lemon Park. We hope that anybody who finds a rock will have a better day because of it.

In addition to Rock Painting Night, we partnered with Rutland to raise over $400 for the Ventura County Chapter of the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide. A local non-profit supporting suicide prevention and overall mental health awareness. We are also proud to be receiving a suicide prevention proclamation from the City Council tonight. Thank you all for your continued support in all our events and endeavors!

In addition, we recently held our officer elections and I'm proud to let you all know who is on this year's board. Our chair is Sadie Rowe. Our vice-chair is Ethan Bott. Our surgeon at arms is Nishtha Kubsad. Our treasurer is Serena Kangura and our secretary is Gia Bott. My fellow youth council members and I have full faith in this board and that they will make this term just as great as the last.

Congratulations to all our new officers and thank you to everybody who ran for a position. The Youth Council also attended Constitution Day at the Ronald Reagan Library on September 19th. Members Sadie Rowe, Rylin Downey, Sanvi Daga and Dia Bantu participated in a student civic engagement panel and represented us proudly. On September 30th we are helping to host a student-led candidate forum in conjunction with the County Office of Education.

This event is at the Museum of Ventura County and I'm aware that Mayor Cavanaugh and Councilmember Judge have already committed to participating, so we hope to see you and many more there. Looking forward our Youth Summit will be held on October 16th at the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District Activity Center. This year's theme is Expanding Your Horizons We are expecting up to 100 participants at the event, which will feature a keynote speaker along with breakout sessions on a variety of important topics like climate change, loneliness, cancel culture and AI in education.

We will continue to hold a service project at the event as we have done in previous years and plan to donate any proceeds to a local nonprofit. In October, we also hold our anti-bullying campaign where we partner with all the high school and middle schools to wear orange. This action helps show everyone's support against bullying. As a part of the campaign, we also have a booth at the upcoming street fair where attendees can sign our anti-bullying pledge which will be displayed right here at City Hall.

Lastly, the Youth Council is running a workshop including a presentation and engaging activities on the topic of driving under the influence at the Friday Night Live conference in Anaheim on October 10th and 11. The start of this term has been both exciting and a little scary but in the best possible way. Everyone on Youth Council has so many unique ideas because we have all experienced different things. I am looking forward to seeing what we can all accomplish together.

This year we are aiming to make an even bigger, positive and long-lasting impact on our youth. With the passion and dedication I have seen from this group, I know that we will. To stay connected and learn more about upcoming events please follow us at Simi Valley Youth Council on Instagram Facebook and YouTube as well as SVYC 2929 on TikTok. Everyone is invited to join us at our next meeting which is on Tuesday October 6th at 5 p.m. in the community room at Cindy Hall Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to present tonight. Now I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have, thank you.

Thank you so much Elizabeth are there any questions? Council Member Rhodes.

Thank You Madam Mayor. I wanted to say fantastic presentation thank you very much for coming in. How long have you had this team assembled this year?

We started our term in August of the 8th of August so it's only been a month and a half

or a little

short.

If if the rest of the year goes with the intensity that you created in the first I think that's more than Councils gotten done So thank you for all your efforts, and you make Simi Valley a great place.

Thank you

Any other comments no? Thank you once again Elizabeth we really appreciate your presentation. Thank you good best wishes to you

Madam Mayor and members of the City Council, next on the agenda is item 3b2. Informational presentation regarding the state of the city by City Manager Samantha Argebreit.

Good evening mayor and members of the City Council. Last Wednesday Mayor Cavanagh presented the 2026 State of the City at Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center Highlighting the work underway across the city throughout the council's six pillars of excellence. This year also marked the first time that we live streamed the event, giving more community members an opportunity to join us and see the presentation.

Tonight I want to share a few highlights with our broader community on where the city is today and where we are investing and what is ahead. The framework for the State of the City was the City Council's six pillars of excellence, public safety, fiscal stability, economic vitality, thriving community, reliable infrastructure and excellent city government. These pillars connect the council's priorities to the investments we make and the services and results residents experience across the community.

We hear from residents in many different ways at council meetings through community conversations, surveys, neighborhood meetings and online. Earlier this year, True North Research conducted two independent statistically valid surveys. The results were very consistent. In the first survey 77% of respondents rated Simi Valley's overall quality of life as good or excellent. In the second it was 78%. These are strong results and our entire community can be proud of them.

For the city, insights like these also help us understand community values, concerns and where residents want to see continued progress. Public safety remains a top priority and we continue to see positive results. For the third year in a row reported offenses declined overall down 6.4% in 2025 including a 13.7% decrease in property crime. That work also extends to our young people For more than 30 years, the City Police Department and Simi Valley Unified School District have partnered on school resource officers with two dedicated officers serving our schools today.

We're also working with the school district in Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District on e-bike safety through education outreach enforcement and updated local regulations Turning to fiscal stability, the City's adopted budget for FY 26-27 totals approximately $283.9 million dollars. Within that, the General Fund is approximately $100.5 million and supports many of the services residents most closely associate with city government.

The balance includes utilities and other funds with specific purposes and restrictions. Another way to put the general fund in perspective is at the resident level. It represents approximately $812 per resident each year, or about $2.03 per resident per day. That investment supports services such as policing, street maintenance, planning and development, public safety, community programs, emergency preparedness, and the employees and systems that keep all of those things running.

Economic vitality was another major focus of the State of the City. One of the year's biggest economic stories is PennyMAC, which is relocating operations to the former Bank of America building on American Street, bringing approximately 1,000 jobs to Simi Valley with the capacity for up to 1,400. Hanover Company also broke ground on an approximately 200,000 square foot industrial project on Camisa Drive, its first industrial development in Southern California.

The project will create new space for a variety of employers and uses. And successes like these don't happen overnight. City staff works behind the scenes alongside property owners, businesses, brokers and many community partners to attract investment and help businesses choose Simi Valley. We also highlighted a new opportunity for sports and entertainment. Simi Valley was selected as one of six West Coast markets for expansion of the United States Hockey League, the country's premier junior hockey league. Hockey in Simi Valley has been talked about for years This year, that conversation took a significant step forward.

Through the work of city staff and new partnerships, a viable opportunity emerged that could bring a new sports and entertainment destination to Simi Valley. There's still work ahead but this is the kind of momentum we intend to keep building. Film also remains an important part of Simi Valley's identity and economy. Through September 15th, the City recorded at least 482 film production days in 2026.

That's approximately 63% more than all of 2025. These productions represent an estimated $8.6 million in local economic impact, supporting businesses, restaurants, hotels, vendors and workers throughout the community. To build on that momentum, the City is establishing a dedicated Simi Valley Film Office The goal is to take a more focused approach to attracting productions, supporting the industry, streamlining the film permit process and promoting Simi Valley as a filming destination.

This is one way we are expanding our economic development and tourism efforts which the City Council identified as one of their priority focus areas. Our city services reach residents across every generation and at every stage of life. Through youth services, we connect with nearly 3,000 young people each year supported by partnerships with more than 150 local businesses and organizations.

At the Simi Valley Public Library, we welcomed more than 182,000 visits last year with nearly 380,000 items borrowed and 600 programs offered to the community. The Senior Center recorded more than 165,000 participant check-ins and provided more than 55,000 meals to older adults. And at the Cultural Arts Center, more than 35,000 patrons came through the doors for performances, programs, and community events.

Reliable infrastructure remains a major investment priority. The fiscal year 26-27 capital improvement program includes $27.8 million in new investment, including $11.2 million in waterworks, $10.2 million in sanitation and $6.1 million in streets and roads. In fiscal year 26-27, the city is investing approximately $6.1 million in streets and roads as I mentioned including resurfacing nearly 11 miles of Simi Valley streets. We're also modernizing our 121 traffic signals connecting them through Fiber City so they can be remotely monitored and better managed.

We know our roads and traffic signals directly affect residents every day and we will continue investing and improving our transportation network. And of course delivering all these projects, programs and services takes a strong city workforce. The City has more than 540 authorized positions and nearly one-third of our employees have been with Simi Valley for more than 10 years bringing valuable experience in continuity.

At the same time we're building our future generation of employees. Last year we initiated 55 recruitments received more than 1,900 applications and welcomed 41 new employees and promoted 26 from within. We've continued to invest in training, leadership development and opportunities for employees to grow their careers here in Simi Valley. There's a lot on the horizon including continued work at the Simi Valley Town Center, new housing and economic development, streets and infrastructure, long-term water reliability, a future regional transit center, the arts and culture master plan and continued growth in film and tourism. We're also working with the County of Ventura on the transition of the Simi Valley Library property to city ownership.

We've worked closely with Supervisor Garvin to move this opportunity forward, and the transition could open the door for future investment in the library and its continued evolution as an important community resource. These are just a few highlights from this year's State of the City. Special thank you to Mayor Cavanaugh and the entire City Council for your leadership, for setting priorities that guide this work and for your continued investment in our community.

Thank you to city staff and the community partners who help bring these priorities to life every day. If you missed the event and were unable to attend please scan the QR code on the screen there which will take you to the full presentation on the City's YouTube channel.

Thank you very much City Manager Argybright. We appreciate everything the staff did. It was a pleasure to give the State of the City, it was so well done all I had to do is stand there and read. You guys made me look good, you made the entire city council look good. So thank you all for that

Madam Mayor and members of City Council, next on the agenda is item 3C1. Presentation by Monica White, President and CEO of FoodShare of Ventura County

Hi, thank you very much. My name is Monica White. I'm the president and CEO of FoodShare Ventura County also known as the head food lady. I am so happy to be here we have taken the initiative this year to be able to go on a roadshow and we're going to all city councils to be able to present on the state of hunger in Ventura County, but then also giving you a glimpse into the stats of your local community as well. And then as a special bonus we're going to give you a little insight into what the vision of the future of FoodShare looks like as well.

Thank you. Just a little bit of how FoodShare actually works, so we are the food bank for Ventura County. People always ask me Monica what's the difference between a food bank and a food pantry? As the food bank for the county we are serving 200 non-profit partners who some of those are food pantries and we get our food from a variety of sources last year we distributed 23 million pounds of food We got that from government contract. We get the USDA commodities that come through the farm bill, we have food drives where people leave food at their mailbox or the can tree drive or the big yellow barrels that are in your dentist office or at your bank. We also pick up food every single day from all of our retail stores because there's food that they no longer can sell, but it's still good.

And so we rescue all of that. We glean in people's backyards. We go to people's orchards. We get food from there. And then we also purchase food. Anything that we can't get from all of those sources, we are purchasing by the truckload. All of that food comes into the Food Bank and then goes out through those pantry partners 200 nonprofits, it could be an after school program. It could be like a rescue mission, a women's shelter. We have a weekly drive through distribution at College Park in Oxnard that we had started during COVID and we are still doing. And then there's some congregate meal sites also known as soup kitchens that are being able to provide hot meals to people in need. And then we also have another government program called Senior Kits where we're able to give a big box of food to 3,500 of our seniors throughout the county.

And so now, a little bit about the state of hunger. You can keep going. So last year we served 254,000 individuals. That is an unduplicated number and yes that equals one in four people in Ventura County needed food assistance. There is some good news behind that big huge number that 75% of those people who came to get food assistance only needed to come four times or less in a year. That means they were reaching a point where they said, I need help. Whether that's a divorce, whether that's going to school, whether it's a car accident, whether that's a medical bill. We are there no matter what as we like to say that there's 250,000 different reasons of what leads somebody to a food line. But anybody who comes is treated with dignity and respect and we are not the food police.

We do not ask why? The fact that you're willing to wait in line is enough proof for us. So here's some big numbers to be able to talk about all of Ventura County, so we talked about the 21 million pounds of food If we were to, the one I like on this. If we were to go to Vons and say we need to buy all of this food to be able to feed our neighbors for the entire year and they loaded up our truck, the cost would be $67 million. So we're very fortunate that so much of the food that we do distribute is donated.

Our actual annual operating budget of cash is only $10 million a year So the value of all of that food that we have to distribute is amazing. We also have over 4,000, 4,300 volunteers who help us. We have a staff of 41 so you can imagine those 4,300 volunteers with 47,000 hours of service is actually what makes the magic happen of being able to pack food boxes be able to distribute food and just help us to be able to get that food out Keep going. So let's talk a little bit about Simi Valley. So these are out of that 23 million pounds of food or 21 as it showed on here, 1.8 million pounds of that food was distributed right here in your city. We put at one point two pounds equals one meal so you can see that's about 1.5 million meals were distributed.