Santa Paula council to consider $2.35 million purchase of its leased water yard on South Palm Avenue

SANTA PAULA - The Santa Paula City Council will consider buying the South Palm Avenue property that houses the city's water operations yard for $2.35 million on Nov. 18, according to the meeting agenda.

The city now leases the site from Farmers Irrigation Company for $42,000 a year as the main storage, office and corporate yard for its Water Enterprise, with about 20% used for emergency supplies and other city and police storage, says a memo from Interim City Attorney Kellan Martz. The city offered $2.35 million Oct. 2, and the company's board unanimously accepted Oct. 20, the memo says.

Staff recommends paying $1.88 million from Water Enterprise Fund reserves and $470,000 from ARPA interest earnings that were not budgeted. The city would have 30 days for due diligence, with closing 15 days later.

The memo says the agreement is not final and a revised version may come before the meeting. Buying the land would not commit the city to any future use, it says.

The item, for parcel APN 105-0-080-175, is on the 6:30 p.m. regular agenda.

Source: Santa Paula City Council agenda, Nov. 18, 2026; agenda packet, item 10.C staff memo.