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Gabriela Ornelas

Councilmember, District 12024-12-11 – 2028-12-01 (sworn in as newly elected Councilmember at the December 11, 2024 meeting per Vida Newspaper report of that meeting; month-level end: December 2028 per city Gabby Ornelas page 'Council Term Expires: December, 2028')

No biography on file yet.

At a glance

News mentions
0

Term ending Dec 1, 2028.

Voice

Meetings spoken in
5
Total speaking time
1:13
Avg per meeting
0:15
Segments
21

Want every word Ornelas has said?

The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Ornelas said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.

Top issues during term (20)

critical→Feb 2026[39]

Mobile home park rent control and overcharges

Residents warn hundreds of mobile homeowners could face thousands of dollars in increased space rents if changes are delayed.

high→Mar 2026[25]

Pavement management and bridge construction progress

About $4 million all-in including contingency — roughly double the city's best previous paving year.

high↓Jun 2026[24]

RV Parking Enforcement Pause

Potential fines for RV owners if enforcement resumes before the ordinance is updated.

critical↓Feb 2026[23]

Ventura County hospital crisis and proposed Santa Clara Valley coalition

Unknown; potential loss of local healthcare access and emergency response capacity.

high↑Oct 2026[20]

Car wash approvals and economic development vision

No direct figure, but the site could generate sales tax revenue and jobs versus a low-employment car wash.

medium↑Aug 2026[19]

Animal Services Program Study

Affordable sheltering and adoption options are scarce; volunteers may be needed to fill gaps.

high→Jul 2026[18]

City Manager Dan Singer's contract will not be extended

An executive search could cost taxpayer dollars and introduce transition inefficiencies, speakers warned.

high↑Feb 2026[16]

Managing citywide growth and infrastructure

About $1.8 million total, funded through water and sewer enterprise funds — not Measure R.

medium↑Aug 2026[15]

Adaptive reuse of vacant Rite Aid building

Filling industrial space would add jobs and diversify the city's revenue base.

high↑Oct 2026[15]

Affordable Housing at Alma Santa Paula (Missing Middle)

A one-time $53,000 city loan/grant ($1,000 per unit), repaid through the project's tax structure.

medium↑Mar 2026[15]

FY 2026/27 mid-cycle budget and rising insurance costs

Net positive $58,289 to the general fund; sales tax running slightly under projection.

high↑Apr 2026[13]

Traffic and queuing at the Harvard/Palm intersection

Roughly 30 new local jobs plus a new sales-tax-producing business in the city's largest shopping center.

high↓Apr 2026[11]

November 3, 2026 municipal election called

The city spent an estimated $8,000–$10,000 in staff time getting here; the ballot path would have cost $25,000–$90,000 in exchange for a projected $300,000–$600,000 a year in cannabis tax revenue.

high↑Mar 2026[11]

Downtown PBID Renewal and Expansion

$12,500 from expiring federal ARPA funds.

high↑Oct 2026[10]

SR-150 Rehabilitation Delays and Road Safety

The city is contributing extra improvements like curb ramps and flashing beacons within its own right of way.

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

P.Z. v. City of Santa Paula litigation

Potential legal costs or settlement amounts weren't disclosed.

medium↑Oct 2026[10]

New Fire Station Nearing Opening

low↑Nov 2026[10]

Parks and Recreation operations report

No new spending; volunteers contributed about $10,290 worth of time during the period.

medium↑Nov 2026[10]

Police station remodel Phase II

$1.64 million from the adopted Capital Improvement Program.

high↓Apr 2026[10]

Hillside home at 286 View Drive

Construction on the lot likely won't start until mid-2027 after plan check, so neighbors have time to prepare.

Decisions during term (114)

Recorded while Ornelas was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.

approvedNov 4, 2026

Consent Calendar, including Police Station Remodel Phase II bid advertising

approvedNov 4, 2026

CONSENT CALENDAR

approvedNov 4, 2026

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

approved4-0Oct 27, 2026

Adopt Resolution No. 3888 approving Project 2026-CDP-01 (car wash CUP and Design Review)

approved5-0Oct 21, 2026

Consent Calendar Items 10.A, 10.B, 10.C, 10.D, 10.H, 10.I

approvedVoted yes4-0-1Oct 21, 2026

Union Oil Building HVAC Replacement Contract with F.M. Pearce Co. Inc.

approvedVoted yes4-0-1Oct 21, 2026

Union Oil Building Waterproofing Contract with Ardalan Construction Company Inc.

approvedVoted yes4-0-1Oct 21, 2026

Storm Drain Replacement (Pleasant to Santa Paula Street) Contract Change Order

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 21, 2026

Arrive/Alma Santa Paula — Conversion of 53 Units to Affordable Housing

approvedVoted yes4-0-1Oct 21, 2026

Financial Assistance for Downtown PBID Renewal Consulting

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 7, 2026

RV Ordinance Enforcement Moratorium

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 7, 2026

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Loans — Gateway Grove and Topa Vista Villas

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 7, 2026

TDA Funds Resolution No. 7632 — Street Repair Funding Fix

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 7, 2026

Sidewalk Master Plan Contract

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 7, 2026

Police Vehicle Lease and Replacement Program

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 7, 2026

Harvard Shelter Funding and Operating Agreement Extensions

approvedVoted yes5-0Oct 7, 2026

Resolution Opposing Proposition 43

approved5-0Oct 7, 2026

Commission and Committee Appointments

approved5-0Oct 7, 2026

Remaining Consent Calendar (9.A, 9.B, 9.D, 9.E, 9.H)

approved4-0Sep 22, 2026

Approval of March 24, 2026 Planning Commission meeting minutes

Voting record (104)

102 yes2 no

Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with F.M. Pearce Co. Inc. for the Union Oil Building HVAC Replacement, in the amount of $161,425.50.

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Ardalan Construction Company Inc. for the Union Oil Building Waterproofing Project, in the amount of $112,295.20.

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Authorize a Section 41.10 Waiver, and approve a Contract Change Order for J&H Engineering, Inc. for $231,521.00, with an allowance for 15% contingency for a total of $266,249.00.

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Adjourn 10) CONSENT CALENDAR

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Approve project-level entitlements enabling the conversion of 53 units (40%) of the 132-unit market-rate component of the Arrive Santa Paula Project, to deed-restricted affordable units at or below 80

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Consider the downtown Santa Paula Property and Business Improvement District's (PBID) request for financial assistance with consulting services associated with a potential district renewal and expansi

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Union Oil Building HVAC Replacement Contract with F.M. Pearce Co. Inc.

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Union Oil Building Waterproofing Contract with Ardalan Construction Company Inc.

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Storm Drain Replacement (Pleasant to Santa Paula Street) Contract Change Order

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Arrive/Alma Santa Paula — Conversion of 53 Units to Affordable Housing

Voted yesOct 21, 2026

Financial Assistance for Downtown PBID Renewal Consulting

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Design Assistance/Historic Preservation Committee appointments Tessa Lenz, Marilyn Appleby, and Karen Harrison, terms October 7, 2026 through October 7, 2030.

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Measure T Oversite Committee appointment Vanessa Olmos, October 7, 2026 through October 7, 2030.

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Mobile Home Rent Review Commission appointment Karen Harrison, term October 7, 2026 through October 7, 2028.

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Santa Paula Housing Authority appointments Francisco Estrada and Joseph Cervantez, term October 7, 2026 through October 7, 2030.

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Resolution No. 7633 authorizing a $600,000 City Affordable Housing Trust Fund loan to Homes & Hope, Many Mansions, and the Santa Paula Housing Authority for the Gateway Grove project at 1445 E

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

RV Ordinance Enforcement Moratorium

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Resolution No. 7632 authorizing the submittal of claims for allocation of FY 26/27 Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds.

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve to enter into a Master Equity Lease Agreement, an Agreement to Sell Customer Vehicles, and Auction Consignment Agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management, Inc. offered through the Sourcewell c

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve authorizing the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with General Technologies and Solutions, Inc. (GTS) in the amount not to exceed $138,080 to prepare the Citywide Sidew

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve the Second and Third Amendments to the Agreement to Provide Financial Support for the Operation of a Permanent, Year-Round Shelter Serving Homeless Individuals in Santa Clara Valley Communitie

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve resolution opposing Proposition 43, limits Voters’ Ability to Raise Revenues for Local Government Services, a legislative constitutional amendment appearing on the November 3, 2026, statewide

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve CONSENT CALENDAR 9A, 9B, 9D, 9E, & 9H

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Senior Advisory Committee appointments Amalia Ochoa, Thomas Ellis, and Pam Marshall, terms October 7, 2026 through October 7, 2028.

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Approve Temporary Moratorium on Enforcement of RV Policy Ordinance on Policy Choices-Land Use/Neighborhood Character, to provide more time to review current regulations, enforcement practices, communi

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Loans — Gateway Grove and Topa Vista Villas

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

TDA Funds Resolution No. 7632 — Street Repair Funding Fix

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Sidewalk Master Plan Contract

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Police Vehicle Lease and Replacement Program

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Harvard Shelter Funding and Operating Agreement Extensions

Voted yesOct 7, 2026

Resolution Opposing Proposition 43

Voted yesSep 16, 2026

Approve Consent Calendar items 9.A through 9.E.

Voted yesSep 16, 2026

Approve as amended Adopting Resolution No. 7630 authorizing acceptance of Tract 6001 public sewer improvements, with adding the clarification to the Resolution of acceptance that the bond amount is th

Voted yesSep 16, 2026

Approve Consent Calendar items 9.A through 9.E.

Voted yesSep 16, 2026

Approve as amended Adopting Resolution No. 7630 authorizing acceptance of Tract 6001 public sewer improvements, with adding the clarification to the Resolution of acceptance that the bond amount is th

Voted yesSep 2, 2026

Approve 10) CONSENT CALENDAR

Voted yesSep 2, 2026

Approve 1. Conduct a public hearing to accept written protests and verbal comments regarding the proposed increase in solid waste fees, track the number of valid written protests and, if the number of

Voted yesSep 2, 2026

Approve and authorize Clean Power Alliance (CPA) to submit, on behalf of the City of Santa Paula, a project developing and implementing a solar panel and battery energy storage system at the City Hall

Voted yesAug 19, 2026

Approve 13) CONSENT CALENDAR

Voted yesAug 19, 2026

Consent Calendar items 13.A-13.K

Voted yesJul 15, 2026

Approve CONSENT CALENDAR

Voted yesJul 15, 2026

Approve Resolution 7626 Amending the FY 2026/27 Budget and Adopting the FY 2026/27 GANN Limit. Adopt the Amended Position Control List as proposed.

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve a loan agreement with the Responsible Energy Council (REC) to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with REC for the content management and care of the City's holdings of oil artifac

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve Resolution No. 7620 to approve the amended Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use & Governance Policy for the City of Santa Paula.

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve Consent Calendar Items 10.A, 10.B, 10.C, 10.E, 10.G, 10.H, 10.I

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve Resolution 7617 approved the fiscal year 2026/2027 budget and extending a $1,292.00 assessment levy per residential parcel onto the fiscal year 2025/2026 tax roll for the Santa Paula Geologic

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve 1) Adopt a first amendment to the Agreement to Provide Financial Support for the Operations of a Permanent, Year -round Shelter Serving Homeless Individuals; and 2) Adopt a first amendment to

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve Suggested Actions in the city presentation as follows: 1. Approve Athens Services’s request for an additional three (3) consecutive one-percent (1%), permanent annual rate increases to the max

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve Resolution No. 7621 adopting the proposed Meeting Disruption Policy in accordance with new State law.

Voted yesJun 17, 2026

Approve Resolution No. 7618 placing a $150 per parcel special assessment onto the December 2026 tax roll for the Hillsborough Open Space Maintenance District.