SANTA BARBARA COUNCIL & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS: MAR 20-25

By an edhat reader

Week of March 20-24, 2023: Council and advisory committee 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 March. (NB: City Calendar is a guide to many public meetings.) City TV covers many of the meetings and has reruns. However, Consent Calendar meetings are not televised. Our new city website design is a mixed blessing, prettier-looking but with some information harder to find if it exists at all.

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. Meeting locations: City Council chambers upstairs at City Hall, 735 Anacapa Street; David Gebhard Room (DGR), 630 Garden Street; 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.

MONDAY, 3/20

Single Family Design Board, 11:00 A.M., DGR, in person: Consent Agenda: Cancelled. The SFDB is down to 3 members; there’s a special recruitment notice here. Applications here, deadline: April 3. Past agendas, architectural drawings and public comments from prior meetings, link.

Architectural Board of Review, 1 P.M., DGR, in person, Consent Calendar agenda: Cont. Item: 100 ADAMS Rd, PDA & FA: Owner: City of Santa Barbara Applicant: Goleta West Sanitation Proposal for a new administration building for the Goleta West Sanitary District. … Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Guidelines. Project was last reviewed on September 11, 2017.

Architectural Board of Review, regular meeting, 3 P.M., DGR, hyflex, see the Agenda for times of items:

1. Cont. Item, 604 E ORTEGA St., Owner/Applicant City of SB, PDA., “Proposal for renovations to Ortega Park. The project consists of the Ortega Park Master Plan, including a new swimming pool, wading pool with splash pad amenities, water slide, skate park, sports courts, shade sails, sports field with synthetic turf, and buildings for restrooms and maintenance. Site improvements such as fencing, parking, landscaping, dumpsters and related enclosures, and walkways are also proposed. The park is considered a Community Park (except the ballfields and related facilities), a Sports Facility (for the ballfields and related facilities only), and a Community Building (the Welcome House) per City Council Resolution 17-074.)” Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Analysis and the following guidelines: Urban Design Guidelines, Outdoor Lighting Design Guidelines. Project was last reviewed on May 4, 2020.
2. Cont. Item, 425 SANTA BARBARA St., PDA, Owner/applicant: Edward St. George/Jarrett Gorin. “The project consists of constructing a four-story 19-unit residential apartment building, comprised of one (1) two-bedroom unit, eight (8) one-bedroom units and ten (10) studio units, on a vacant lot within the Priority Housing Overlay area of the City.” City’s Average Unit Size Density Incentive (AUD) Program (SBMC Chapter 30.150) and California State Density Bonus Program (CA Gov. Code §65915-65918). See the listing for unit sizes and the concessions because of the State’s Density Bonus program, including in the outdoor yards and no on-site vehicle parking. …Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Analysis and the following guidelines: Urban Design Guidelines, Outdoor Lighting Design Guidelines. Project was last reviewed February 21, 2023.
3. New Item: 35 ANACAPA St., Concept Review; the project consists of a new three-story development on a 0.5-acre vacant lot located at the southwest corner of Anacapa Street and E. Mason Street. “The proposal includes an airspace condominium map for development of one building consisting of two small, six-room hotels, corner market/bodega, a restaurant/bar, two tasting rooms, and 15 parking spaces. The project would require a Coastal Development Permit (SBMC §28.44.060); Development Plan (SBMC Chapter 28.85); two Conditional Use Permits (SBMC Chapter 28.94 and 28.71.030); and a Vesting Tentative Map (SBMC Chapter 27.20).) No appealable decision will be made at this hearing. Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Analysis and the following guidelines: Urban Design Guidelines, Outdoor Lighting Design Guidelines. Project last reviewed on November 15, 2021” – a Pre-Application Review, agenda description and architectural drawings: link; minutes of the 11/15/21 meeting.
4. New Item: 2940 DE LA VINA St., PDA; “Proposal for improvements to existing site and single-story office building. Proposal includes demolition of existing canopy roof and columns and demolition of storage buildings. Proposal for a building addition, new patio, new fence and gate, parking spaces, and landscaping.” Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Findings and Urban Design Guidelines.
Architectural drawings, including photos of the 35 Anacapa St. area, and Public Comment (1, as of 3/19): link.

TUESDAY, 3/21

Sign Committee, 9 A.M., in person, no City TV, no Zoom; DGR, Agenda:

1. New Item, 3775 MODOC Rd., Vista Del Monte, Concept Review; …”Proposal for two new illuminated 12.7 square foot monument signs, one new non-illuminated 10 square foot wall sign, and one new non-illuminated 10.67 square foot kiosk sign. Total proposed signage is 46.07 square feet. The parcel has no applicable total frontage, with a maximum sign allowance of 25 square feet. The applicant is requesting an exception to exceed the maximum sign allowance.”
2. New Item: 3780 STATE St., Concept Review … Total proposed signage is 39.5 square feet. Total building frontage is 60 feet.)
3. Cont. Item: 401 W CARRILLO St., Concept Review; Jiffy Lube, Proposal for total proposed signage is 37.9 square feet. Total building frontage is 58 feet. Project located in the EPV Landmark District (EPV). Second review. Project was last reviewed on February 7, 2023.

City Council Special Meeting, 10:30 a.m., Council Chamber, although this is a closed session there may be public comment before the meeting on topics of the two ‘sessions’ of the meeting: 1: Existing litigation, described as, “The pending litigation is Committee for Social Justice, et al. v. COSB, et al. SBSC Case No. 20CV02821.” with a 30-minute time. 2. Conference with real property negotiators re: de la Vina bridge replacement.

City Council

Finance Committee: 12:30 p.m., hyflex, DGR, Agenda: Subject: Short-Term Rental Enforcement Pilot Program: Recommendation: That the Finance Committee consider and recommend that City Council adopt a Resolution to Appropriate Funds for the Development of a Short-Term Rental Enforcement Pilot Program Directed by the City Attorney’s Office and the Finance Department. “The investigation of unlawful STRs in Santa Barbara will have one primary goal: achieving permanent compliance with the Zoning Ordinance in the inland areas of Santa Barbara and compliance in the Coastal Zone in adherence to the parameters put in place by the Finance Committee Agenda Report Short-Term Rental Enforcement Pilot Program March 21, 2023 Page 3 court in the Kracke vs City of Santa Barbara decision.” See the 7-page Agenda Report for details including estimated costs.

City Council

Regular meeting, 2:00 p.m., Council Chambers, Hyflex, 2 P.M., 347-pg council Agenda Packet (does not contain Minutes or written public comment, although the Agenda states: “Public comments may also be submitted via email to Clerk@SantaBarbaraCA.gov prior to the beginning of the Council Meeting. All public comments submitted via email will be provided to City Council and will become part of the public record.”)

Zoom/Web access info is available in the Agenda; highlights:
Consent Calendar: in addition to various contracts: Item 4, Airport, authorization of sea-level rise Adaptation Plan Phase A Funding; this is part of several major sea-level rise planning efforts; 7. Interim financial reports for the 7 months ending 1/31/23; 9. setting a date of June 6 for an appeal of a decision of the SFDB re a property at 3208 Laurel Canyon Road. (Public Comment follows the Consent Calendar, along with various reports.)
Item 10: Community Development and Human Services Committee Funding Recommendations;
Item 11, City Attorney: Clarifying amendments for the Municipal Code Chapter 26.50 that is a tenant protection law re the definition of the No-Fault Just Cause for residential evictions; it’s an emergency measure re the definition of the No-Fault Just Cause for residential evictions.
Item 13, Community Development: 2022 General Plan Annual Progress Report.

WEDNESDAY, 3/22

Staff Hearing Officer, 9 A.M. DGR, in person; Agenda:

A. 311 W. MONTECITO St. Applicant: Lonnie Roy, ON Design Architects Owner: Edward St. George The project consists of a new two-story, three-room hotel on a 5,671 square foot lot. … The hotel would be an annex to the approved 32-room primary hotel location to be constructed across the street at 302 and 308 W. Montecito Street (PLN2016-00426). …The Japanese maple tree located in the front yard would be removed and the existing Jacaranda street tree would remain. The project includes demolition of all existing onsite improvements (e.g., onestory building, shed, fence). The discretionary applications under the jurisdiction of the Staff Hearing Officer required for this project are: 3-fold, see the listing.
B. 328 W. FIGUEROA STREET ….” The project involves conversion of the existing garage to an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) and a 122-square-foot addition to that structure. …The discretionary application under the jurisdiction of the Staff Hearing Officer required for this project is an Interior Setback Modification to allow the ADU to have a reduced setback of 2 feet, 6 inches rather than the required 4-foot setback along the interior (rear) lot line adjoining the alley .’

Staff reports: link.

Parks and Recreation Commission, 4 p.m., regular meeting, hyflex, City Council Chamber,

Agenda:

3.. Street Tree Advisory Committee recommendations:… may be appealed to the City Council within ten days,. … (see agenda for details).

A. Conditionally approve the following street tree removal request: 1. 225 and 233 S. Milpas Street – (4) Afrocarpus gracilior, Fern Pine, (5) Washingtonia robusta, Mexican Fan Palm, and (1) Erythrina coralloides, Naked Coral Tree – Alexis Flores

B. Conditionally approve the following setback tree removal request: 1. 810 E. Carrillo Street – Fraxinus uhdei, Evergreen Ash – Mark Philibosian

C. Deny the following setback tree removal request: 1. 234 Uhlan Court – Cedrus deodara, Deodar Cedar – Julius Peterkin Jr.

D. Approve the following changes to the Street Tree Master Plan:

1. All of Deerpath Road – designation change to Quercus agrifolia, Coast Live Oak (instead of New Zealand Christmas Tree)
2. 2000-2500 blocks of State Street Median, referring to City Council meeting of 2/28/23, – designation creation. Details: no trees listed, so, following recommendations, the Committee unanimously recommended Butio capitata (Pindo palms) be planted in pairs of two per landscape median, 2000-2500 State Street.

4. Director’s Report.

5. Proposed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Golf Fund Capital Improvement Program.

THURSDAY, 3/23

Fire and Police Commission, 4. p.m., hyflex, City Council Chamber, Agenda items:

6. Presentation on California Senate Bill 2 peace officers: certification: civil rights (2021 – 2022) Police Chief Kelly Gordon will present highlights of Senate Bill No. 2, signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 30, 2021. This legislation increases accountability for misconduct by peace officers by making significant changes to the reporting, investigation, and de-certification processes.
7. Overview of the Santa Barbara Police Department’s use of force policy and investigation process Commander Kasi Corbett of the Santa Barbara Police Department will provide an overview of the Department’s Use of Force policies and the investigative process for incidents involving the Use of Force.
8. Introduction to Santa Barbara Fire Department incidents and data/metrics: Fire Chief Chris Mailes will provide an overview of the Department’s response to incidents as well as the Department’s use of data/metrics.

FRIDAY, 3/24

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.

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.”