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City Council — August 4, 2026

City Council — August 4, 2026August 4, 2026

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BodyCity Council
MeetingRegular Meeting
Date📅 August 4, 2026

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Meeting Summary

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Present: 5-Friedman, 1-Santamaria, 3-Gutierrez, Rowse, Stanton, 6-Harmon, 2-Jordan

This summary was AI-generated to save you time. It may miss or misstate details, so verify against the official recording and the transcript.

At a glance

Old Spanish Days Week Proclamation

  • The Mayor proclaimed August 5–9, 2026, as Old Spanish Days Week to honor the 103rd annual celebration.
  • Current Fiesta leaders and the Los Niños de las Flores were recognized on the dais.
  • A signed 2026 commemorative poster was presented to the Mayor.

Employee Recognition Service Awards

  • Staff received awards for reaching 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 years of city service.
  • Christopher Short was honored in person for 25 years of service in Community Development.
  • Mr. Short's contributions to floodplain coordination and building safety were highlighted.

Santa Barbara-Toba Sister Cities Exchange

  • The organization presented exchange students from Toba, Japan, marking the program's 30th anniversary.
  • Students from both cities, along with chaperones and host families, introduced themselves.

Reciprocal Easement Agreement Amendment (16 and 20 West Canon Perdido Street)

  • Staff explained the amendment removes high-end retail restrictions to allow commercial, residential, and hotel uses.
  • The property owner proposes converting existing office space into an eight-suite hotel.
  • The amendment includes a formal dedication of a portion of the property as a fire lane.
  • The Council approved the motion to amend the agreement.

Fourth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement (Paseo Nuevo Evaluation)

  • Staff confirmed the $21,600 amendment is funded by Measure C for work already completed.
  • Council requested a single compiled document of the community benefit analysis for public access.
  • Staff agreed to post the compiled information on the Paseo Nuevo project page.
  • The Council unanimously approved the recommended action.

Full summary

Ceremonial Items

  • Old Spanish Days Week Proclamation: The Mayor proclaimed August 5 through 9, 2026, as Old Spanish Days Week, recognizing the 103rd annual celebration of Santa Barbara's historical origins and its cultural, economic, and community benefits. The proclamation honored the current El Presidente, Spirit of Fiesta, Junior Spirit of Fiesta, and the Los Niños de las Flores. A signed 2026 poster was presented to the Mayor, and the Los Niños de las Flores were invited to approach the dais for recognition.
  • Employee Recognition Service Award Pins: Staff recognized employees for various years of service. Awards were announced for employees celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 years of service. Christopher Short, Senior Plan Check Engineer in the Community Development Department, was recognized in person for 25 years of service. His career history, including his work as Floodplain Coordinator and contributions to building and safety procedures, was detailed. Mr. Short accepted the award and commented on his experience working with city departments.
  • Santa Barbara-Toba Sister Cities Student Exchange: The Santa Barbara-Toba Sister Cities Organization presented exchange students from Toba, Japan, marking the 30th year of the student exchange program. Students from both Toba and Santa Barbara introduced themselves, along with chaperones and host families.

Consent Calendar

  • Overview: The Clerk read items 4 through 10, covering airport lease agreements, a budget amendment for harbor patrol equipment, a grant agreement for flood mitigation, and a request regarding a community benefit improvement district.
  • Items Pulled for Discussion: Council Members Sneddon and Santamaria requested that Items 16 and 13 be pulled from the consent calendar for separate discussion and voting.
  • Motion on Remaining Items: A motion was made by Council Member Friedman and seconded by Council Member Harmon to approve the balance of the consent calendar, excluding Items 13 and 16. The motion passed.

Item 13: Reciprocal Easement Agreement Amendment (16 and 20 West Canon Perdido Street)

  • Discussion: Council Member Santamaria inquired about the impact of amending the reciprocal easement agreement (REA), which currently restricts the property to high-end retail. Staff explained that the amendment would subject the property to the city's current general plan and zoning, allowing for a broader range of uses including commercial, residential, and hotel uses, with the exception of manufacturing. Staff presented details regarding a specific proposal by the property owner to convert the existing office space into an eight-suite hotel, noting the project is currently in the plan review process. The presentation included site plans showing proposed access from a city-owned paseo and minor landscape changes. Staff noted that amending the REA would also formally dedicate a portion of the property as a fire lane, as requested by the Fire Marshal.
  • Public Comment: A speaker expressed support for the amendment to remove high-end retail restrictions but urged the Council to prioritize affordable housing over hotel development in the future, citing the city's housing shortage.
  • Council Comments: Council Member Santamaria stated support for the amendment to open the property to various uses, including housing, while noting the current proposal is for a hotel. She emphasized the importance of the fire lane designation.
  • Motion and Vote: A motion was made by Council Member Jordan and seconded by Council Member Harmon to approve the recommended action for Item 13. The motion passed.

Item 16: Fourth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement (Paseo Nuevo Evaluation)

  • Discussion: Council Member Sneddon asked about the funding source for the $21,600 amendment, confirming it was already budgeted under Measure C for the Paseo Nuevo redevelopment project. Staff confirmed the funds were for work already completed during briefings and council meetings. Council Member Sneddon requested that staff compile a single document containing the community benefit analysis for public access. Staff agreed to compile the information and post it on the Paseo Nuevo project page.
  • Motion and Vote: A motion was made by Council Member Harmon and seconded by Council Member Santamaria to approve the recommended action for Item 16. The motion passed unanimously.

General Public Comment

  • Mark Redman: Spoke regarding the upcoming Old Spanish Days parade, freedom of speech, and local drug overdose statistics, encouraging attendance at meetings and the parade.
  • Speaker on Anchorage: Discussed the historical significance of the Santa Barbara Harbor as a safe refuge, opposing the commercialization of the anchorage and citing concerns regarding environmental impact and the State Lands Commission's public trust doctrine.
  • Shelly Lennox: Proposed hosting temporary pickleball courts on State Street to attract families and increase foot traffic, suggesting specific locations and organizational methods.
  • Stacey Roberts: Raised concerns regarding delays in receiving public records related to the Paseo Nuevo deal and the Better Buildings Pilot Program, requesting timely access to documentation supporting staff claims and projections.
  • Speaker Supporting Roberts: Expressed disenchantment with the Paseo deal due to lack of public documentation and urged the Council to ensure decisions are made with full facts and public input.
  • Haris Ahmed: Proposed a proclamation recognizing September 16, 2026, as Mexican Independence Day, linking the date to an upcoming Carlos Santana performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl.
  • Fasia Dean: Discussed personal housing voucher issues and referenced biblical authority, stating an intention to speak on incentivizing businesses at a future meeting.
  • Aaron Ashland: Commented on the downtown economic forum, arguing that tax revenue levels should not be used to judge the success of the State Street promenade due to pre-existing retail changes. Connection issues interrupted the speaker.
  • Jacqueline Carlson: Spoke on behalf of community organizations supporting a proclamation or resolution to recognize Carlos Santana and Mexican Independence Day.

Committee Assignment Reports

  • Council Member Sneddon: Reported attending the Day Reporting Center graduation, the Fiesta kickoff, and the Los Niños de las Flores garden party.
  • Council Member Santamaria: Reported attending the Fiesta kickoff and the East Side Backpack Drive at Ortega Park.

Adjournment

  • The Mayor made a brief comment regarding the performance of the Fiesta Spirit and Junior Spirit. The meeting was adjourned.