[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6226690,"mediaKeyId","3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e","parentId",3503988,"title","Council receives report on staffing vacancies and recruitment under Government Code 3502.3","audioSeconds",338,"startMs",133000,"endMs",471000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e&start=133&end=471","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e/thumbnail_133000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6226690/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-receives-report-on-staffing-vacancies-and-recruitment-under-Government-Code-35023","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226690-c6dff05da4c1920b6294c2a43456b663/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448583&Signature=Wte8Ym3ONvl4a~jJhXqQp0WohIm3DxurmBkwV0qzbVEV0jZq~rMe9Lji0Pp8fuP57Dl9Ra1RmBhsbkKQEGtcHohak4GfQh0YCoiiCINCOZTQaf-q14rFY~HgD-eRu9xG3ijShYZUCnzn0zjUqhuc514j90jPY2MsGUX1RRB49jaA5qhYSI-3D74x98i142LY1IGB5G2t4l-U-0ioQEMoWzepwVhCAiHbz~nk0mu4Qe4VaBzua4U~mU2JAhjKHWZ9o0JBmzwZQtyY9SEVmZ5PJVpmp4iDKqHRGfLy7XRdYeTfexUgYEpAxuV497hwSVKUpZV2Gj9SLR~anb~Tgg~l7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Buellton CA","date","2025-05-25T08:55:53.233Z","article","The council held a required public hearing on May 22 to present its staffing status and recruitment and retention efforts under Government Code section 3502.3.

The assistant city attorney opened the item by explaining the hearing is required under recent state law tied to budget adoption, describing it as a “receive and file” opportunity for staff, unions and the public to provide information before adoption of the budget. Finance Director Chanel Zamora presented the staff report, saying the city has 20 authorized full‑time positions and one vacancy — the associate planner position — for an overall vacancy rate of about 5 percent.

Zamora outlined recruitment and retention actions the city currently uses, such as advertising on social and city platforms, offering remote work flexibility where appropriate, providing incentive pay for certifications, bilingual pay, and continuing education. She also listed factors the city sees as barriers to recruitment: compensation that is below market median for key classifications, the city’s small geographic location and limited candidate pool, and high local housing costs that make recruiting from outside the area difficult.

Zamora noted the city has no recognized employee organization to present under the statute. The public hearing record was opened and no members of the public or employees spoke on the item. The council took no further action and staff recorded that the report was received and filed in compliance with Government Code section 3502.3.

The report and discussion were informational; any changes to compensation or staffing levels would require separate council action in subsequent agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Buellton - City Council Meeting of May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","In a public hearing required by Government Code section 3502.3, the City of Buellton reported staffing status — 20 authorized full‑time positions with one vacancy — and described recruitment efforts and barriers including below‑market pay, location and housing costs; the council received and filed the report.","taxTitle","Buellton City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",72226,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6226695,"Council funds Santa Ynez Valley Wind Ensemble; Buellton Fall Festival decision delayed after recusal",404,1546000,1950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e&start=1546&end=1950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e/thumbnail_1546000.jpg","/articles/6226695/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-funds-Santa-Ynez-Valley-Wind-Ensemble-Buellton-Fall-Festival-decision-delayed-after-recusal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226695-fb4f6734a7dc9690ef6d6e991f0d344e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448583&Signature=MJrTps5Pzc1CckbmBYOSChwKlasHe7Hye0Q0hmUTF-44r8oHfZQ2OFP4~XFOaN62jPUJ8TuJ4~5Kbdg8tmVu800sE5667DbSc1gCwTqgB9ujYbi7zY5nKpbXXOj5j2at3K-T3M9ep0qdqTJKiXdQ8n-6V8jIzlRf15X-9FSs~oKrP~juCb08xMW89PpFpS3R9CGMrSrb4FeTCgfAZE6NrD9zFKbaGcX63hhNMXPguDH6y8mTzsux0rL7SVn0UjgzDK552NDXwbDEjxZBwSdkUZ-XBVDv5fh5dzk2y7Ayu4s9hL2DgSTKnGSS0QP9rvwxBhanhrgaCRzoBD9fCCBRmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Recreation Coordinator Allison Fiery told the council on May 22 that the Arts and Culture Committee reviewed two grant applications: a request of $20,000–$25,000 from the Buellton Fall Festival to help pay for headlining bands, and a $750 request from the Santa Ynez Valley Wind Ensemble to bring a formal concert to Buellton.

Fiery said the committee recommended funding the Wind Ensemble request in full and recommended $8,000 toward the festival — an amount intended to cover two headliners — but added the committee was divided on funding the larger Fall Festival request.

During the council discussion one council member indicated they would need to recuse themselves from any vote on the Fall Festival because a family member works for one of the event’s vendors; with that recusal the council lacked the three voting members required for that matter, and the council agreed to table the Fall Festival request and bring it back when a quorum of eligible members could consider it.

On the Wind Ensemble request the council entertained and approved a motion to fund the committee’s recommendation of $750; the motion carried on aye votes by the members present.

Fiery told the council that the Fall Festival organizer indicated the event would proceed with or without city funding, and the Arts and Culture Committee had requested the festival include the committee logo in advertising if it received city funds. The council directed staff to return the festival request for consideration at a future meeting when all eligible councilors could vote.","The City Council approved $750 for the Santa Ynez Valley Wind Ensemble and tabled a larger funding request for the Buellton Fall Festival after a council member recused themself, leaving fewer than three members available to consider the festival request.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6226700,"Council approves $16,000 contract with ATE to update traffic‑impact guidelines for general plan update",332,1972000,2304000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e&start=1972&end=2304","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e/thumbnail_1972000.jpg","/articles/6226700/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-approves-16000-contract-with-ATE-to-update-trafficimpact-guidelines-for-general-plan-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226700-41948d7cf91c5d72f3207c3e628aee1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448583&Signature=RD1G6PouA6XFgcM3qI70UmtC51s4uZgMhgMIUTRNv4lii~xa6sdFAIMqMo1WBJEzgw4QZ-AStzkTy1POfSxMZRFhdTgww8mjj16K3TipuU9b5eauEgSuBM8IAzayhJmAXNxh1OWPhPWfTxWXSBzNxpp-Qaie5NFG7yU3~AGRxCYcbAmkjrhPVS4t8Ri9PUDII4w6x2v39ezivhnmwla9j4sQz8AVoCbg4A7UbZfuqo2hRUZ8zHe4Kl4AmzAjmg-prcHhXV1ETY6TL0zdBcMMJ3pMDYfLnnUfKTNFa0Fmyse8JMt8UGGGgZvc~DtUewN~-FgRe3O8zrpmhC3rac61cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning Director Andrea Kiefer told the council on May 22 that the planning department seeks to update the city’s interim Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) guidelines and asked the council to authorize a $16,000 agreement with ATE, the city’s on‑call traffic engineering firm.

“ATE is the city’s on‑call traffic engineer. They’ve been providing traffic analysis services regarding development projects and related transportation policy guidance to the city for well over 20 years,” Kiefer said, describing the firm’s institutional knowledge and the timely need to align the TIA guidelines with the draft land‑use and circulation goals in the comprehensive general plan update and with recent CEQA and Caltrans guidance.

Kiefer told the council the work would update interim TIA thresholds and criteria used in environmental review and would provide a user‑friendly guidance document for development reviews during the general plan transition. The proposal would also reflect recent changes in how traffic impacts are measured under CEQA and include coordination with Caltrans where projects affect state roadways.

Council voted to authorize the city manager to execute the agreement with ATE for $16,000 and directed staff to adjust the current budget to cover the amount. The motion passed with roll‑call aye votes from Council Member Barnett, Council Member Sanchez and Mayor Silva.

The contract is intended to ensure that traffic assessments for projects currently in the pipeline use updated thresholds and that the city has tailored, implementable traffic assessment tools while the comprehensive general plan update is completed.","The City of Buellton authorized a $16,000 agreement with the city's on‑call traffic engineer to revise traffic impact analysis guidelines to align with the ongoing comprehensive general plan update and recent CEQA and Caltrans changes.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6226704,"Buellton council reviews biennial budget; staff seeks separate votes on medical, housing and pay items",3077,2321000,5398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e&start=2321&end=5398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3503988-8c450272d8970c1a764b68298f3b851e/thumbnail_2321000.jpg","/articles/6226704/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Buellton-council-reviews-biennial-budget-staff-seeks-separate-votes-on-medical-housing-and-pay-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6226704-5f4b80aeb94589e882dee1bc617636b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448583&Signature=ZDT7GwhZwfi5ojqsVlAO3NYYkkkf41TYJeIz-ZmCEMhDdUXPnAyZIy77hEk3go8ClvS~H-~THCV~EbiC~SZzeQieGB8maHfEEevFOz9a4q6jTnsyxfNZTdSerrs~rrinFjX7MkKOsxQJWvdLtHA472284Z3Ff~r9E~HsELPyykkvNBgbj9-GRhVLALCjgjMdIC4dOMdc3jzDVPI6gkcF95g9CCtJA5vZvI28DSj5nmKntuL7TEmVYFMUHtuAUrugaqwhXkZoZrFT9mkWcBr6m1H5ONEGF6yqSCGkhB3ll2DMiF9krbd18WYq8r7JmW1VRTqmA9nELce9WM6jlbiW9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance Director Chanel Zamora presented the City of Buellton’s proposed biennial budget for fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27 at the City Council meeting on May 22, asking council for direction on several employee benefit and compensation proposals and on how to handle items before final adoption.

Zamora said the draft budget shows a modest operating surplus for 2025–26 and reserves above the city’s 35 percent target, but she warned the numbers are preliminary. “Tonight’s budget is not set in stone,” Zamora told the council, and staff asked councilors whether to include several personnel cost assumptions in the adopted budget or to return them as separate business items for formal action.

The proposals that staff asked council to consider include raising the city’s monthly medical contribution for full‑time employees from $1,200 to $1,800 (proposed effective Jan. 1, 2026), a monthly housing allowance of $750 for full‑time employees, targeted market adjustments for hard‑to‑fill operations positions, a 10 percent market adjustment for department heads, and creating a new administrative analyst position. Staff estimated the housing allowance and medical changes would have noticeable but manageable budget impacts and said the administrative analyst position would cost roughly $135,000 annually including salary and benefits if approved.

Zamora also reviewed nonpersonnel highlights: the proposed budget carries several large capital projects forward from prior years, shows capital expenditures of roughly $11.48 million in 2025–26 (largely carryovers), and assumes no change to water and wastewater rates for the draft presented tonight. She noted revenue projections rely on consultant estimates for sales and property tax and that the transient occupancy tax increase that took effect Feb. 1, 2025, was included in revenue projections.

Council discussion focused on process and next steps rather than immediate votes. Council members agreed which items had general consent to be returned on the consent calendar and which needed fuller discussion as business items. By the end of the meeting staff said it would bring the proposed items back at the June meetings as follows: targeted pay adjustments for the wastewater chief plant operator and lead maintenance/utility field worker and the new administrative analyst position would be placed on the consent calendar; the medical benefit increase, the $750 housing allowance, and the proposed 10 percent department‑head market adjustment would be scheduled as separate business items for fuller council consideration.

No final appropriation motions were taken tonight; council provided direction about what should be included in the next draft and which items the council wanted as standalone actions prior to budget adoption.

The council asked staff to return with the underlying class and compensation study, detailed cost estimates, and the formal resolutions necessary to implement any benefit or salary changes before the budget is adopted.","City finance staff presented a proposed two-year budget that projects modest surpluses while asking council to decide separately on proposed employee benefits and pay adjustments including a medical benefit increase, a $750 monthly housing allowance and department-head raises.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council receives report on staffing vacancies and recruitment under Government Code 3502.3

Council funds Santa Ynez Valley Wind Ensemble; Buellton Fall Festival decision delayed after recusal

Council approves $16,000 contract with ATE to update traffic‑impact guidelines for general plan update

Buellton council reviews biennial budget; staff seeks separate votes on medical, housing and pay items