Anonymous
By an edhat reader
Week of April 17, 2023: Council and Adv. Commission meetings of Santa Barbara City
A long-time Edhat subscriber, hoping for more public participation in our local government, thought it would be helpful and interesting for the community to have a weekly listing of selected meetings, those of city-wide interest. We agreed. Please tell us what you think. There have been requests for coverage of other jurisdictions; volunteers to do that, please contact info@edhat.com. If we’ve mis-posted an address or there’s a meeting that we failed to list, please note the correction in the Comments section below. Thanks!
Santa Barbara has a City Calendar of meetings; for April. (NB: City Calendar is a guide, not comprehensive.) City TV covers all of the televised meetings and has reruns. However, Consent Calendar meetings are not televised; nor are those in City Council Room 15; nor are others, such as the library board meeting at the Faulkner Gallery, and some harbor commission committee meetings.
Common acronyms, abbreviations: hybrid or Hyflex, meeting access is both in person and via Zoom or other webinar; PDA, Project Design Approval; FA, Final Approval; CAR, Council Agenda Report. Agenda item descriptions are generally direct quotes from the agendas. Meeting locations: City Council chambers upstairs at City Hall, 735 Anacapa Street; David Gebhard Room (DGR), 630 Garden Street; Parks Office, 402 E. Ortega St.; or where noted. Noted also for some Council and Advisory Committee meetings are non-public addresses; these are addresses for those public servants who choose to attend the meetings at home or elsewhere.
Ahead is a full week of meetings, with a regular Council meeting, and the annual meeting of the Council’s Legislative Commission, not available to the public via City TV or Zoom, unfortunately. There are the usuals SFDB, ABR, SHO, Water and Harbor Commissions, with full agendas, plus Creeks, Planning, and the Airport making appearances. Only the Sign Committee cancels.
MONDAY, 4/17
Single Family Design Board, 11:00 A.M., DGR: Consent Agenda: Agenda: 55 Chase Drive, new swimming pool plus landscaping.
Past SFDB agendas, architectural drawings and minutes from prior meetings, link.
Architectural Board of Review, 1 P.M., DGR, Consent Calendar Agenda:
- 801 SHORELINE DR, PDA & FA requested, City of Santa Barbara, Waterfront Department Applicant: Proposal to renovate the 756 square foot Leadbetter Restroom. …Project was last reviewed November 7, 2022.
- 318 S VOLUNTARIO ST, PD & FA requested: Proposal for a new detached 785 square foot Accessory Dwelling Unit. The proposal includes five covered parking spaces.) Project Design and Final Approval is requested. Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Analysis. Project was last reviewed July 25, 2022
City Council, Site Visit: 101 Santa Cruz Boulevard, in anticipation of the Appeal to be heard the next day, Item # 20.
Architectural Board of Review, 3 P.M., regular meeting, hyflex, DGR; Agenda:
- Cont. item: In-Progress review: 501 NINOS DR , Parks & Rec., The Dwight Murphy Field Renovation Project consists of the renovation of an existing 8.3-acre City Park and includes the conversion of the existing grassed soccer field to a multi-sport synthetic turf field; …The project includes the demolition of the existing restroom, playground, ball field, and fitness area, along with other amenities…. A total of 37 trees would be removed and 125 new trees would be planted. A portion of Sycamore Creek would be restored. The project includes improvements to vehicular circulation by preventing traffic from entering Park Road from Calle Puerto Vallarta. The project received Planning Commission approval on August 19, 2021. This is an In-Progress Review … No appealable decision will be made at this hearing. Project last heard on August 22, 2022. Architectural Board of Review Agenda April 17, 2023.
- New Item, Concept Review: 22 W MISSION ST …Proposal to permit various as-built alterations to an existing non-residential site, including a change of use to mixed use with two residential units occupying the second floor. Project also consists… see agenda. … A parking Modification and open yard Modification to be reviewed by the Staff Hearing Officer are required, and a Waiver to allow reduced landscaping requirements in the parking lot and waste receptacle screening.) No final appealable decision will be made at this hearing. Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Findings and the Urban Design Guidelines. (
- New Item, PDA requested: 917 E YANONALI ST … RRM Design Group (Proposal for two apartments over a four-space carport, … Proposal includes converting the existing two-bedroom single family residence to a three bedroom residence. Proposal also includes to abate violations Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Analysis Guidelines.
- Cont. Item, 1411 SAN PASCUAL St., PDA requested, Proposal for a two-story building with a four-car garage on the first floor and a two-bedroom Accessory Dwelling Unit on the second floor. Existing duplex will remain. Proposal includes a replacement of a rear retaining wall. Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Analysis and the guidelines: Urban Design Guidelines. Project was last reviewed on November 28, 2022.
Architectural drawings and minutes: link.
TUESDAY, 4/18
Sign Committee: 9 A.M., regular meeting, DGR, in person: Cancelled.
Past meeting architectural drawings: link.
City Council: Regular meeting, 2:00 p.m., Council Chambers, Hyflex, 2 P.M. Council Packet, no council minutes but does include some important items, including, inter alia, the MOU with the City and the Police Management Association.
- Items 4-17, Consent Calendar, usually a pro forma proceeding, subject to the whim or will of councilmembers, as last week’s pull and rescheduling of an already decided item. Consent is followed by public comment, “report from the ordinance committee” but which is not listed as meeting as of Sunday afternoon on the agenda, councilmember committee assignment, councilmember administrative and attorney reports.
- Item 18: Subject: City Administrator’s Recommended Two-Year Financial Plan for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 and Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (230.05)
- This will also set the schedule for the annual Council Budget Review Meetings and the (very important) Public Hearings related to the Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2024, starting Wednesday, May 3, 8:30 A.M. Be there and be square.
- Item 19: Airport Master Plan Update, CAR.
- Item 20: Appeal of SBDB project design approval for 101 Santa Cruz Boulevard.
WEDNESDAY, 4/19
Staff Hearing Officer, 9 A.M. DGR, in person, but it is listed on City TV; Agenda:
- 259 SANTA CATALINA; zoning, one family residence/coastal overlay; the 5,512-square-foot site is developed with an 805-square-foot single-unit residence and an attached 278-square-foot single-car garage. The proposed project involves a 378-square-foot addition to the rear (project south), and a new entry landing and front-gabled entry roof to the façade … The discretionary applications under the jurisdiction of the Staff Hearing Officer required for this project are: A. A Setback Modification to allow the proposed entry roof to encroach into the front setback (SBMC §28.15.060 and SBMC §28.92.110).
- B. 3508 MADRONA DR, zoning, RS residential-single unit; the 9,100-square-foot property is developed with a 1,002-square-foot, one-story, single-family residence, a 120-square-foot shed and a 357-square-foot attached garage. The proposed project consists of a 798-square-foot addition and a 900-square-foot second-story Accessory Dwelling Unit with a new 438-square-foot garage. … The discretionary applications under the jurisdiction of the Staff Hearing Officer required for this project are: A. Floor Area Modification is required to allow the new Accessory Dwelling Unit to exceed 50% of the floor area of the existing residence. (Santa Barbara Municipal Code (SBMC) 30.185.040.K.1 and 30.250.020.F).
Architectural drawings, staff reports, minutes: link.
Council Committee on Legislation aka Legislative Committee, special meeting: Room 15, City Hall, 3-4:30 P.M., No TV, probably there’ll be no publicly-available recording; and there are no staff reports of the legislation to be discussed available, as of Sunday evening.
Agenda: Items 1: Roll call; 2: Public comment; Item 3: Discussion of (unspecified) Priority Legislative Bills, “Recommendation: That the Council Committee on Legislation: 1) Receive a presentation from staff on priority legislative bills, and, 2) Direct Staff to prepare advocacy letters or communications that are consistent with the City’s Legislative Platform.”
City of Santa Barbara’s Legislative Platform, 40 pages of items that we, as a city, support or oppose. Committee link, last met on 5/24/2022, with minute Minutes, available by searching “All Documents” at the Minutes link.
Creeks Advisory Committee, 5:30 P.M., DGR, regular meeting of what is now known as Creeks Restoration and Water Quality Improvement Citizens Advisory Committee (from CAC to CRAWQICAC, and from the aegis of Parks & Rec to the Sustainability and Resilience Department. Hyflex, with the Zoom address available pg. 2 of the Agenda: a) water quality Code Enforcement Program update and b) Recommended Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 Budget. Staff reports.
Airport Commission, regular meeting, 6 P.M., Airport Administration Conference Room 601 Firestone Road, SB; Agenda: following reports, the liaisons’s, the Airport Director’s, the commission will receive a status update on the Master Plan Update at the SB Aiport. (There will be a Master Plan Update Open House on Thursday at 4 P.M., Airport Administration, Conference Room; 601 Firestone Road, SB.)
Next Special Airport Commission meeting is April 26 at 6 P.M.
THURSDAY, 4/20
Water Commission, “Special Meeting” at the usual meeting time and place, 9 A.M., DGR, Agenda: Consent items followed by Administrative reports, leading off with 30 minutes dedicated to “Advisory Group Civility Training by Sarah Gorman and Graciela Reynoso;
b. Sewer Lateral Inspection Program Updates;
c. Authorization to Establish a Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program;
d. Wastewater and Water Systems Climate Adaptation Project Update by Melissa Hetrick, Resilience Program Supervisor, Sustainability & Resilience Department Action Report.
e. Authorize Execution of a Sole Source Agreement with Alliance for Water Efficiency for a Water Affordability and Conservation Assessment;
Concluding with item 7. The water resources manager’s , Joshua Haggmark’s action report.
Staff reports, link.
Unusual (and welcome!) is that for all the Water Commission items, the staff reports are linked in the Agenda, item by item.
Planning Commission, 1 P.M., City Council Chambers, hyflex, Agenda: One new items:
Airport Master Plan Update. This informational item is the beginning of the public outreach on the process and an invitation to participate in the future of the SBA and possible new projects. The draft plan will be presented/decided upon in the fall by the Airport Commission and the City Council.
Concluding the meeting is the Administrative Agenda, “2023 planning commissioners academy debriefing.”
Architectural drawings, Staff reports, Public comment, link.
Harbor Commission, 6:30 P.M., Council Chambers, hyflex, Agenda: Preliminary items, roll call, “Workgroup Reports”, (“workgroup” is the new name for the former Subcommittees; agreed to by the Harbor Commission at the February meeting; they’re ad hoc committees, for specified matters, of limited time, and, being “ad hoc”, not under the Brown Act.) Consent Calendar – Minutes, followed by New Business items:
2. Advisory group public service & decorum training, presented by the Mayor, City Clerk Services Manager, and the Human Resources Manager re “Commission conduct, decorum and purview”;
3. Fiscal year 2024 and 2025, Waterfront Department’s budget recommendation, excluding Slip Transfer Fees; discuss and forward to City Council for approval and incorporation into the City budget process;
4. Fiscal Year 2025 and 2025, Waterfront Budget Recommendation for Slip Transfer fees, for the harbor commission to review the slip transfer fee changes “per the direction of the Slip Assignment Policy Subcommittee” to be forwarded to the Council and incorporation into the City budget process.
5. Presentation and progress report at the recommendation of the commercial fishing workgroup from Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara re the partnership with the City of Santa Barbara and SBCC to create a Maritime Collective. “Discuss and take action as necessary.”
6. Discussion about other City boards and Commissions and how them may impact the Harbor Commission – a brief presentation, for the commission “to receive information and discuss.”
7. Department Update: Harbor Operations Report: Wet Wednesday, Operation Clean Sweep, Harbor Watch Meeting, Harbor Nautical Swap Meet, National Safe Boating week beginning 5/20.
FRIDAY, 4/21
No meetings listed.
Of general interest:
City Advisory Commissions are listed with their duties and powers described in the Charter of the City of Santa Barbara, See: Article Vlll, Appointive Boards and Commissions, pg; 25 et seg. Other commissions may be formed by the City Council for certain issues of public concern. Santa Barbara Municipal Code. The City Council meets at 2 p.m., Tuesdays, except for these holidays: January 3, January 17, February 21, March 28, April 4, May 30, June 20, July 4, July 11, August 8, August 15, September 5, November 14, November 21, November 28, December 19, and December 26, 2023. The regular Council meetings are sometimes preceded by their Finance and Ordinance committees whose agendas are part of the regular council meeting agenda; the Council also has a Legislative Committee and a Sustainability Committee, each of which meets irregularly.
AIA-Santa Barbara, August 2020, State Street Promenade and housing community survey results, more than 4,800 responses, linked here. Civic groups concerned about city government: Allied Neighborhoods Association, Citizens Planning Association, League of Women Voters -Santa Barbara, and various hyperlocal neighborhood associations.
The City of Santa Barbara says it emphasizes transparency: https://santabarbaraca.gov/government-transparency. Listed under city transparency is a link to the Ralph M. Brown Act (“Brown Act“), “In enacting this chapter, the Legislature finds and declares that the public commissions, boards and councils and the other public agencies in this State exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business. It is the intent of the law that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly.”
