The City of Buellton City Council on Oct. 25 continued a public hearing on an ordinance (25-O-6) that would amend transient occupancy tax registration and add a code section addressing hotel operation for short-term rental use.

Before staff presented the item, City Attorney Greg Murphy recused himself from the matter after disclosing an unrelated email exchange that had prompted concerns about perceived bias. ‘‘To keep things clean and avoid the appearance of tainting the process, I’m going to recuse myself from this matter,’’ Murphy said on the record.

Murphy and City Manager Scott Wolf explained the reason for the continuance: attorneys for a motel owner had contacted the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), prompting HCD to request documentation and to provide input on the draft ordinance. City staff had met with HCD representatives and supplied additional documents, but HCD had not provided a response in time for the scheduled hearing. Because HCD’s input could affect the legal and regulatory framing of the ordinance, staff recommended continuing the item to the council’s Nov. 13 meeting so HCD’s comments can be considered before public comment and the council deliberates.

Councilmember Mead moved and the council voted unanimously to continue the item to the Nov. 13 meeting; the motion passed without public testimony on the ordinance that evening.

Votes: motion to continue until Nov. 13 — approved unanimously. Vice Mayor Lewis, Councilmembers Mead, Hornick, Sanchez and Mayor Silva all voted aye.

Staff said the continuance is procedural and intended to ensure the council can consider HCD’s guidance and avoid potential state-level conflicts in a housing-related matter. The item will be renoticed and taken up at the Nov. 13 meeting when, staff said, HCD feedback will be available and the council can proceed with a full staff report and public hearing.