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Council approves committee and commission appointments and a PG&E easement resolution; consent calendar adopted
Summary
The council confirmed multiple committee and commission appointments, adopted a resolution approving a grant/easement to Pacific Gas & Electric for a Rule 20A undergrounding project, approved the consent calendar and selected a mayor pro tem.
At its Jan. 21 meeting the Santa Maria City Council ratified appointments to multiple city committees and commissions, adopted a resolution approving a proposed grant and easement to Pacific Gas & Electric for a Rule 20A undergrounding project, approved the consent calendar (with one item pulled for discussion), and appointed Council Member Escobedo as mayor pro tem for calendar year 2025.
Appointments confirmed by roll call (all votes recorded as unanimous 5–0):
- Measure U Citizens Oversight Committee: Trent Benedetti (incumbent), Jennifer Camacho (new application received after the filing deadline), and Jack Owen Jr. — each to four-year terms ending January 2029. - Planning Commission: Robert Dickerson, Tom Lopez, and Tim Seifert (incumbent) — three vacancies filled. - Recreation and Parks Commission: Rebecca Carey, Jose Ramirez, and Cynthia (name recorded in minutes as Cynthia Uvino/Godinho) — terms to January 2029. (Transcript shows both "Cynthia Godinho" and "Cynthia Uvino" in the record; the council confirmed the nomination by roll call.) - Santa Barbara County Library Committee: Suzanne Hajnick (nominated and confirmed to an unexpired term ending July 2025). - Outside boards and commissions: the council also made its annual selections for outside agencies (Air Pollution Control District, LAFCO, CCWA, airport board, etc.) as recorded by staff; roll call approval was unanimous.
Consent calendar: The council approved the consent calendar, with item 13F3 pulled for public discussion and then adopted after discussion.
Resolution approving an easement/grant to Pacific Gas & Electric (Item 13F3): After a brief discussion about project area selection and program history, the council moved and seconded a resolution approving a proposed grant and easement to Pacific Gas & Electric for the Rule 20A undergrounding program; the measure passed by roll call vote, 5–0. Council members noted the project stems from a city council resolution adopted in 2014 and that the state Rule 20 program has limited funds and deadlines.
Mayor Pro Tem appointment: The council nominated and confirmed Council Member Escobedo as mayor pro tem for 2025 by roll call vote, 5–0.
Ending: All listed motions passed by unanimous roll call votes. The council’s approval advances the PG&E undergrounding project and fills multiple committee and commission vacancies; staff will proceed with administrative steps tied to each appointment and the PG&E easement.
