SANTA BARBARA COUNCIL & ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS: MAY 15-19

By an edhat reader

Week of May 15, 2023: Council and 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 May. (NB: City Calendar is a guide and is not comprehensive.) City TV covers many of the public meetings and has reruns. However, it cannot presently be completely relied upon and if there is a particular city public agency of interest, it would be best to check that commission’s or council’s website. 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.

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 an overview of the city’s finances via the Finance Committee meeting at noon on Tuesday; at the same time, the Cruise Ship committee of the Harbor Commission will meet to discuss proposed “improvements” in the cruise ship program. There are the usuals SFDB, ABR, SHO, Water and Harbor Commissions, with full agendas, plus Creeks, and the Airport making appearances.

MONDAY, 5/15

Single Family Design Board, 11:00 A.M., DGR: Consent Agenda: Agenda:

A. 2808 Clinton Terrace, New Item Review after F. A.

B. 1840 Barker Pass Rd., Cont. Item, PDA.

C.  1262 Dover Ln., New Item, PDA & FA.

4. 939 Carrillo Rd, Cont. item, PDA & FA.

Architectural Drawings, link; also has Public Comment for last week’s meeting.

Architectural Board of Review, 1 P.M., DGR, Consent Calendar, in person: Agenda:

    2637 State Street, PDA & FA.

Architectural Board of Review, 3 P.M., DGR, regular meeting, hyflex; Agenda:

1. 604 E Ortega St, cont. item, In Progress Review; No appealable decision made at t this hearing.
2. 2940 de la Vina Street, Cont. item, PDA; “Proposal for improvements to existing site and single-story office building.
3. 19 N. Voluntario Street, New Item, PDA & FA, (Proposal to demolish the existing one car garage to construct a 1,492 square foot two-story residential dwelling unit with an attached 450 square foot two-car garage. Existing 1,192 square foot one-story residence to remain. Proposal also includes one covered carport for the main residence.) Project requires compliance with the Project Compatibility Guidelines.
4. 730 E. Cota Street, Cont. Item, Concept Review: (Proposal for two three-story apartment buildings, five units total, proposal includes five parking spaces. The project will demolish all existing structures. The project is designed to comply with the City’s Average Unit Size Density Incentive (AUD) Program (SBMC Chapter 30.150). The units range in size from 814 square feet to 973 square feet.

Architectural drawings and minutes: link.

TUESDAY, 5/16

Sign Committee: 9 A.M., regular meeting, DGR, in person: Agenda:

1. 113 HARBOR WAY #180 New Item: Concept Review & Final Approval; Owner: City of Santa Barbara, Applicant: Bryan Deminie Business: ANCHOR ROSE (Proposal for one new non-illuminated and three illuminated 15 square-foot wall signs. Total first floor frontage is 53 feet. Total upper story frontage is 106 feet. Total proposed signage is 60 square feet. The building is a potential candidate for National Historic Landmark designation and a City Historic Landmark with an existing Sign Program.) Project received comments from the Historic Landmarks Commission Subcommittee prior to Sign Committee review, noting that they are supportive of ‘Rooftop Dining’ removal if not trademarked to avoid cluttering, and require that the color of the signage match existing signage color to maintain consistency may it be off-black or dark bronze.

2. 1040 Coast Village Rd. New Item: Concept Review & Final Approval; Name: PAVILIONS (Proposal for one 74 square foot illuminated wall sign, and two 74 square foot illuminated hanging signs, with the internally illuminated 16.8 square foot Well Fargo sign to remain. Total frontage is 200 feet. Total proposed signage is 238.8 square feet. An exception is requested to exceed the maximum letter height, to exceed the maximum 90 square feet of signage allotted to the property, and to have exposed raceways behind channel-lit letters.)

Architectural drawings: link.

Harbor Commission, Cruise ship subcommittee, Agenda:  noon, at Marine Center Classroom, 125 Harbor Way, 2nd floor; in person or via web: how to remotely observe and/or speak live during the meeting: URL: Click here to register for Zoom Webinar • WEB: Go to Zoom.us/join, click “Join A Meeting,” and enter Webinar ID: 857 4604 1794.

New Business: 1. “The Cruise Ship Subcommittee Will: – Receive a presentation from Waterfront staff on proposed improvements to the cruise ship program. Discuss and report back to the full Harbor Commission as necessary.”

City Council, Finance Committee, noon: DLG, hyflex, web access listed on the agenda:

Agenda packet, 55 pg.

1. Subject: Fiscal Year 2023 Third-Quarter Review; A. Receive a report from staff on the status of revenues and expenditures in relation to budget for the nine months ended March 31, 2023; B. Accept the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Interim Financial Statements for the nine months ended March 31, 2023; and C. Recommend that Council approve proposed Third Quarter (Q3) adjustments to FY 2023 appropriations and estimated revenues as detailed in the attached schedule of Proposed Q3 adjustments.

Proverbial bottom Line. FY 2023 Projection: Surplus (Deficit) ($2,732,346). The attachment, page 5 onward, lists General Fund departments, revenues and expenditures. Pages 34 onward, lists Enterprise Funds, summaries of revenues and expenditures. Only Downtown Parking is in the red, noting the effects of the Promenade and with this observation, “Increased hourly parking fees coupled with minimal on-street enforcement may encourage street parking;…” (pg 10.)

    2. Subject: Finance Committee Review of the Fiscal Year 2024 Recommended Budget – page 46 (of 55) lists the “Proposed Fee Changes”, ie. The Fee Increases;

A. Hear a report from staff on General Fund non-departmental revenues, including growth assumptions, in connection with the Committee’s review of the Fiscal Year 2024 Recommended Budget;

B. Hear a report from staff, in connection with the Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2024, on staff recommended Adjustments;

C. Recommend the City Council approve the Cost Recovery and Revenue Policy; and

D. Develop final recommendations to Council based on the Committee’s review of the recommended budget and proposed fee changes.

City Council: Regular meeting, 2:00 p.m., Council Chambers, Hyflex, 2 P.M., meeting cancelled.

WEDNESDAY, 5/17

Staff Hearing Officer, 9 A.M. DGR, in person, but it is listed on City TV; Agenda:

• …

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: Item 7, business items:

• Southern Coastal Santa Barbara Creeks Bioassessment Program and 2022 Report … For Discussion ;
• 2022 Creek Inventory and Assessment Study, the Committee to receive a presentation about the 2022 Creek Inventory and Assessment Study.

Airport Commission, regular meeting, 6 P.M., Airport Administration Conference Room 601 Firestone Road, SB; Agenda: various reports and Minutes and ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT 7. Subject: Terminal Improvement Project Preferred Concept Review Recommendation: That the Airport Commission receive a staff presentation regarding the preferred conceptual plans for the Terminal Improvement Project.

Next Regular Airport Commission meeting is June 21 at 6 P.M.

THURSDAY, 5/18

Staff Hearing Officer, 9 A.M., DGR, hyflex; Agenda: A. 1244 Shoreline Drive, The project consists of two-story additions totaling 730 square feet. The second story is proposed as a 320-square foot Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). The project also includes expanding the existing garage by 143 square feet to provide a two-car garage. A modification is required to allow the new garage to encroach 5 ‘-7″ into the front setback.

B B. 467 & 471 W. MOUNTAIN DR, lot line adjustment, lot area modification, street frontage modification, a determine that the project is categorically exempt frm further environmental review pursuant to CEQA.

Water Commission, regular meeting at 9 A.M., DGR, Agenda: Consent items followed by

Item 6. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:

a. Environmental Consulting Services for the Vic Trace Reservoir Replacement Project [Agreement] – 15 minutes Ashleigh Shue, Principal Engineer & Kelly Bourque, Senior Project Engineer Action: Recommendation Click here for Staff Report

b. Water Supply Update and Repeal of Stage Two Water Shortage Alert [Resolution]– 30 minutes Dakota Corey, Water Supply and Services Manager Action: Recommendation Click here for Staff Report

c. Water Agencies (CCWA/COMB/CCRB) Update – 30 minutes Dakota Corey, Water Supply and Services Manager Action: Presentation Click here for Staff Report

Item 7. WATER RESOURCES MANAGER’S REPORT – (10 minutes)

Unusual (and welcome!) is that for all the Water Commission items, the staff reports are linked, item by item, see the Agenda for clickable items.

Next Regular Water Commission meeting on July 20; the June 15 meeting is cancelled.

Planning Commission, 1 P.M., City Council Chambers, hyflex, Agenda: meeting cancelled.

May 11 Architectural drawings, Staff reports, Public comment, link.

Harbor Commission, 6:30 P.M., Council Chambers, hyflex, Agenda:

New Business Items and Department updates:    

     2. Proposed Lease Agreement with the Chamber of Commerce of the SB Region;

1. Commercial Fishing Workgroup Update: That Harbor Commission receive an update from the Commercial Fishing Workgroup discussing the need for additional commercial fishing and aquaculture slips and a review of the current visiting commercial fishing vessel slip policy. Discuss and take action as necessary.
2. Commission workgroup and subcommittee assignments;
3. Discussion: That Harbor Commission discuss ways to stay informed about Citywide issues that may impact the Waterfront. Discuss and take action as necessary.
4. Director’s Report: City Council Budget Presentation Update; Waterfront staff update.

      7. Business Services Report: Moby Dick Restaurant Project

       8. Harbor Operations Report: Harbor Patrol Vessel replacement; Harbor blotter.

Staff reports, link.

FRIDAY, 4/21

Access Advisory Committee, 9:30, DGR, in person: Agenda: 7. AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS 9. PROPOSED CHANGES TO PARKING RATES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABLITIES IN DOWNTOWN PARKING LOTS –Recommendation: That the Access Advisory Committee receive a presentation from Sarah Clark, Acting Downtown Team Manager, on proposed changes to parking rates for persons with disabilities in downtown parking lots. 10. PROPOSED FY24 CAPITAL PROGRAM BUDGET (11:15 a.m.) Recommendation: That the Access Advisory Committee receive a presentation from Brian D’Amour on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Program Budget.

Staff Reports: link.

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. As of the beginning of 2023, 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.”