City Council

City Manager Review: SW Council Agenda Item No.: 1 CITY OF BUELLTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Special Meeting of Saturday, May 15, 2021 – 9:00 a.m. 202 Dairyland Road (Willemsen Barn) Buellton, California CALL TO ORDER Mayor Sierra called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Council Members Ed Andrisek (Arrived 9:12 a.m.), Dave King, Elysia Lewis, Vice Mayor John Sanchez, and Mayor Holly Sierra Staff: City Manager Scott Wolfe and City Clerk Linda Reid PUBLIC COMMENTS Letters were received and made part of the record from Theresa Reilly, Rich Nagler, Ann Morales, and Patricia Roether supporting relocation of the Buellton Library to the Willemsen house and expansion of the Buellton Senior Center into the current Library location. Steve Benson, Buellton, spoke about the potential impacts to residents surrounding the Willemsen property. Mimi O’Connor, Buellton, requested the Council consider the property being used as an event center for the community and the lower 20 acres be used for horse stables. Janice Gardner, Buellton, discussed the potential impacts to residents surrounding the Willemsen property and asked that the property be used for pickle ball courts. Jennifer Haney, Buellton, discussed potential uses for the property, including moving the Library to the property, and maintaining the historical past of the property. Rick Bernhardt, Buellton, spoke in favor of pickle ball courts being added to the property. Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 May 15, 2021 Kerry Moriarty, Buellton, spoke about developing the upper portion of the property with residential units and using the revenue to develop the Avenue of Flags. Judith Dale, Buellton, spoke in support of moving the Library to the property and allowing the Buellton Senior Center to move into the current Library location. Finn Runge, Buellton, spoke in support of having the property used for community events. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Presentations of Proposed Uses of Willemsen Property; Discussion of Options and Direction to Staff to Bring the Matter back for Further Discussion at a Future Council Meeting SPEAKERS/DISCUSSION: City Manager Wolfe described various proposed uses for the property. Leanna Watson, Buellton, spoke about using the Willemsen property for Zaca Center Preschool. David Gay, Solvang, spoke about adding pickleball courts on the lower portion of the property. Pam Gnekow, Executive Director of the Buellton Senior Center, spoke in support of moving the Buellton Library to the property and allowing the Senior Center to expand into the current Library location. Council Member Lewis left the meeting at 10:28 a.m. Karen Newsom, discussed support for the Buellton Senior Center and the vital role it plays for residents in Buellton. Francisca Escobar, Buellton, spoke in support of leaving the property as a single family residence. Judith Dale, Buellton, spoke about combining the Zaca Center Preschool with the current elementary school and supported moving the Library to the property and using the current Library location for the Buellton Senior Center. Kerry Moriarty, Buellton, spoke about selling the upper portion of the property for residential units and using the revenue to build a civic center on the Avenue of Flags. Ashley Jenkins, Buellton, spoke about using a small portion of the Willemsen property for the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum and provided a handout for the record. Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 May 15, 2021 Denicia Gills, spoke in support of the Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum and how it would serve the community in a beneficial way. Kristin Merz, Buellton, provided written comments concerning using the Willemsen property as a multi-use arts and cultural center. Chris Chirgwin, Buellton, provided written comments/drawings suggesting the lower property be used for sports fields. The City Council discussed how best to use the Willemsen property to serve the public. DIRECTION: The City Council agreed by consensus to bring this item back for discussion and direction on how to use the upper portion of the property at a regular City Council meeting in June. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Sierra adjourned the special meeting at 12:07 p.m. The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. ________________________________ Holly Sierra Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Linda Reid City Clerk