The Buellton City Council took several formal votes at its meeting on Oct. 25, 2025. This at-a-glance summary lists each recorded action, the motion outcome and key details.

Consent calendar — approved (5-0)
- Items: Minutes (Sept. 25 regular meeting), lists of claims for payment for FY25-26 to date, monthly treasurer’s report (09/30/2025), authorization for $1,000 Thousand Trees Initiative at Oak Valley Elementary, approval of amended contract with Solid Waste Solutions Inc. for solid waste compliance, acceptance and filing of the Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) annual report FY24-25, and Resolution No. 25-28 regarding parking restrictions at the PGE service station driveway at 554 (consent item list as read into the record). Motion carried unanimously.

Public hearing (item 8) on ordinance 25-O-6 (hotel registration & short-term rental use) — continued to Nov. 13 (5-0)
- Reason: State Department of Housing and Community Development requested and has not yet provided review of submitted documents; city attorney recused to avoid appearance of bias.

Arts & Culture grants — approved
- Built-in Strings (Santa Barbara Strings) — approved $20,000 (motion passed 5-0). Committee had recommended $15,000; council funded the full request and asked the applicant to adopt a participation pledge to ensure commitment.
- Beullton Mosaic Project (Community Clay Works) — approved $30,940 (motion passed 5-0). Council also directed staff to work with the applicants to reconcile final costs and to return with a business item if supplemental funding is needed; a private donor pledged $3,000 contingent on approval.

Aquatics Complex pledge (item 10) — approved (4-0, 1 recusal)
- Action: Council pledged $450,000 toward the Buellton Valley Aquatics Complex, to be released only after agreed fundraising milestones are met; pledge mirrors conditions earlier adopted by the City of Solvang. The council also authorized a $50,000 increase contingent on Solvang agreeing to match Buellton’s increase.
- Vote: Mayor Silva — aye; Councilmember Hornick — aye; Councilmember Mead — aye; Councilmember Sanchez — aye; Vice Mayor Lewis — recused.

City Manager employment agreement (item 11) — approved (5-0)
- Action: Adopted Resolution No. 25-29 approving the fifth amendment to the city manager employment agreement, including a 5% cost-of-living adjustment, a 3% merit increase, and modest increases to medical and automobile allowances; clause added to allow automatic CPI-based adjustments when council approves matching COLA for staff.
- Vote: unanimous.

For each of the actions above, staff will follow up with the required administrative steps (contract processing, grant administration, and coordination with partner agencies) and return to council as directed in the staff reports.