Positions on Issues
SB CAN monitors local governments, analyzes issues, and takes positions on issues that affect the quality of life in Santa Barbara County. Below you will find a list of positions that we have taken on pertinent issues that promote sustainable communities, especially in regard to our HOT issues (housing, open space, and transportation).
2010
June 1, Santa Maria Green Waste Program
Santa Maria City Council Hearing - Supported the implementation of a curbside green waste program within the city limits.
May 10, Rural Development in Santa Ynez Valley Santa
County Historic Landmark Committee Hearing – Sent letter of support for giving landmark status to Mattei’s Tavern, which will help restrict development in this rural area.
May 4- Botanic Garden Expansion
Board of Supervisors, sent a letter of support for limited expansion, expressing concerns about traffic in rural area.
April 20 - Tenants Rights
Board of Supervisors – Supported an amendment to Ordinance 4444 that will strengthen protections for renters.
April 13, Renewable Energy Program
Board of Supervisors Hearing – Supported the emPowerSBC Program (Elective Municipal Program to Optimize Water, Energy and Renewables), which is expected to create as many as 900 local jobs, representing 40% of those lost in construction trades during the recession. In addition, the program will induce $131 million in local investment and $346 in economic output over the next ten years. All eight cities in the county unanimously approved formal participation in the program. Eligible projects include basic energy and water efficiency retrofits, such as the installation of low-flow toilets and faucets or attic insulation, as well as more high-tech installations, such as solar photovoltaic panels, solar hot water systems, and smart irrigation systems.
April 6, Lompoc River Bed
Lompoc City Council - Spoke against permitting off road vehicle riding in the river bed because of sensitive environmental habitat.
January 21, Unmet Transit Needs
SBCAG North County Unmet Transit Needs Hearing - Spoke on the unmet transit needs, especially the need for more routes, longer hours and added stops.
January 19, Good Government
Lompoc City Council Retreat - Addressed the issue of everyone in the community having a voice at the council meetings.
2009
December 15, Santa Maria Redevelopment Fees
Santa Maria City Council - Opposed diversion of redevelopment fees to pay off loan for building mall parking instead of going into affordable housing, as required by law. This has been a long-standing practice approved by the state, which the City voted not to change.
December 1, Santa Maria Housing Element / Low Income Housing
Santa Maria City Council, Housing Element Hearing - Commented on the Housing Element and asked for serious discussion on the severe shortage of affordable housing in Santa Maria, including overcrowding and overpayment for housing, as cited in the 2000 census and 2006 Housing Element—only 24 units of affordable housing build since 2006.
November 4, Santa Maria Housing Element / Low Income Housing
Santa Maria Planning Commission, Housing Element Hearing - Supported the need for affordable housing. Two-thirds of Santa Maria’s jobs are in the three lowest-paid income sectors—agriculture, retail and service—with 55.54% of the population falling into the low and very low income level (30% of median income). Furthermore, 49% of existing housing in Santa Maria is overcrowded, and 35% of households pay more than they can afford. This clearly indicates that creating more affordable housing is a critical need for Santa Maria and should be a priority. Yet only 24 low-income unitshave been built in Santa Maria since the 2006 Housing Element, and approval for this project was split on a 2/3 vote by the City Council. In all, only 259 affordable units have been built in the previous decade. The 2009 Housing Element Update does nothing to correct this deficiency.
November 4, Santa Maria Bikeway Master Plan Update
Santa Maria Planning Commission – Supported the Bikeway Update, and recommended adding Class 2 bike lanes to Main and Broadway, and adding bike lockers and showers for commuters to the proposed plans for the new transit center.
California May 19, Special Election - State Propositions 1D & 1E
Opposed State Propositions 1D & 1E. These propositions would take away funding from critical programs that help the most needy and vulnerable among us—at-risk children and people with mental health problems. Proposition 1D would create a loss of $2.5 million per year in our County alone for programs that help young children, including preventing child abuse and providing healthcare. Proposition 1E would divert nearly a half billion dollars over the next two years from these vital mental health programs.
March 24, UCSB Long Range Development Plan
Spoke at two hearings (Board of Metropolitan Transportation District (MTD) &
Board of Supervisors Meeting), supporting sustainable development, While we support the positive presence of the University as an important part of our community, we believe that UCSB needs to demonstrate leadership in sustainability— not just within its borders but also as a steward for the surrounding community. We believe:
· The LRDP's plan to add 5,000 students plus faculty, staff, and families would have a serious impact on our area's traffic, water, air, housing, infrastructure and public safety. By using up future water supplies and road capacity, it will prevent other projects important to the surrounding community from being developed.
· UCSB needs to invest in a better transportation model with increased emphasis on pedestrians, bikes and mass transit. The LRDP depends overwhelmingly on cars as its mode of transportation. ..
· The mitigations identified in the EIR are insufficient to address the acknowledged environmental impacts.
· UCSB should adopt an alternative of adding only 3,000 students, while constructing all of the housing it had originally planned and all the mitigations, thus helping to improve or at least maintain our area’s current jobs/housing balance.
March 24, 2009 - Hunter/La Purisima Resort General Plan Amendment Request
March 3, 2009 - Amendment to the CEO Ordinance, Board of Supervisors
Supported the ammendment to the ordinance to limit CEO power and to restore more oversight and accountability to the Board on major decisions. Amendment passed 3/2.
March 3, 2009 - Amendment to MOU regarding Naples Project on Gaviota Coast
Opposed revising the original MOU and thereby keeping the inland and coastal projects linked, as they should be for coordinated planning, and to protect the environment. The 2008 approval was deeply flawed and against the public interest.
February 8, 2009 - Haskells Landing, Goleta Planning Commission
Opossed housing project that provided little or no public benefit and posed environmental concerns. Passed 2-2 vote.
February 4, 2009 - Affordable Senior Housing, Santa Maria Planning Commission
Supported the project for much needed affordable senior housing on Stowell Road in Santa Maria near services and public transportation. The commission approved the project. Spoke again at the March 4 City Council Meeting. The Council also approved the project.
January 27, 2009 - Focused Rezones for the 2003-2008 Housing Element, Board of Supervisors
Urged the Board to rezone KS 16 over 30 for the affordable housing needed to meet the State mandate.
January 13, 2009 On-shore oil regulations, Board of Supervisors
Urged the Supervisors to revoke permits for Greka because of continued oil spills and non-compliance.
2008
December 9, 2008 - Focused Rezones for the 2003-2008 Housing Element.
Testified at meeting, urging Supervisor to rezone Keysite16 in Orcutt, over KS 30, as more appropriate for affordable housing (located in urban area near services).
December 10, 2008 - Hunter/La Purisima Project, County Planning Commission
SB CAN opposed the initiation of a General Plan Amendment which would include a change in land use designation from Agriculture to Resort/Visitor Serving Commercial on 306 acres 3 miles east of Lompoc; and the proposed development of an 80 room hotel/resort with an approximately 4,400 square foot restaurant and a 3,240 square foot spa facility, and 85 clustered casitas (fractional or wholly owned residential units) that would be detached from the main resort. This proposed general plan amendment would set a precedent for opening up agricultural land, including the Gaviota Coast, to new development. The commission denied the Amendment.
November 12, 2008 - Housing Element Rezones for 2003-08, County Planning Commission
Recommended the rezoning of Key Site (in old town Orcutt near services and transportation) for affordable housing, rather than keysite 30 (zoned for open space in a single-unit residential neighborhood under a no-build airport flight path). The Commissioners agreed, recommending Key Sites 3 and 16 for rezones, and excluding KS 30.
October 28, 2008 - Stoker Rezone, Board of Supervisors
SB CAN raised concerns about rezoning open space/recreational land to residential. Unfortunately the board unanimously agreed to support the project with modifications.
October 13, 2008 - Santa Barbara Ranch Project, Board of Supervisors
Opposed the approval of building a 72 mansion project on the Gaviota Coast.
September 30, 2008 - Lompoc Wind Energy Farm, County Planning Commission
Supported the development of a "wind farm" near Lompoc that could power up to 50,000 homes. Advised additional monitoring of impacts on bird and bat migrations and the creation of a conservation easement. The commission approved the project with additional monitoring of impacts on bird and bat populations.
September 16, 2008 - Mahoney Ranch South, Santa Maria City Council
Opposed the development of 1,430 residential units, for potentially 5,000 people, in a rural, isolated area on prime agricultural land at the furthermost boundary of the city of Santa Maria, miles away from the nearest public services and facilities. This plan is a prime example of leapfrog development and urban sprawl and is inconsistent with several of the city's General Plan Goals. The city council approved the project with a 5/0 vote.
September 8, 2008 - Fair Fares for Santa Barbara MTD Bus Riders
Testified at the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transportation District hearing for ensuring that needed increases in fares to cover increased fuel costs did not put undue hardships on the transit dependent, including low-income families, students, and seniors. SB CAN was part of a larger coalition of organizations inlcuding PUEBLO and COAST concerned about proposed rate hikes that had been meeting with MTD staff on this issue. At the September 8 hearing, the MTD Board reached a compromise with the coalition on proposed increases that all agreed was fair.
August 26, 2008 - BOS Hearing on the Energy Crisis and off-shore oil drilling
SB CAN urged the County Board of Supervisors to continue its long-time support for the ban on new off-shore oil drilling. Supervisors Firestone and Centeno had drafted a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger asking him to lift the ban, citing misleading information on about how new oil drilling could help reduce fuel prices and natural oil seeps. The Board voted 3/2 to send the letter. Soon after, SB CAN joined 50 other national, international, and local environmental organizations in sending a letter the Governor commending his continued support for the moratorium on new off-shore oil drilling.
July 8 - Support for Agricultural Workers Van Pool Propram
SB CAN asked the Board of Supervisors to continue its support for the program that provides safe, affordable transportation to agricultural workers in northern Santa Barbara County.
July 3 - Oppose formation of the Santa Rita Hills Service District
Testified at LAFCO hearing opposing the formation of a service district that would encourage increased development of agricultural land. The Santa Rita Hills is home to some of the most valuable vineyards in the county. The Board voted to for the formation of the SD.
June 17, 2008 - Santa Barbara City Height Limit Initiative
SB CAN met with representatives from both sides of the issue to discuss the initiative's impacts on the community. After much discussion, SB CAN resolved to oppose the Initiative should it come to ballot, but to support efforts that would formulate compromise or alternative measures that would provide for height limitations but with exceptions for projects of public benefit, including the provision of affordable housing.
March 20, 2008 - Regional Housing Assessment Needs (RHNA)
Testified at the Santa Barbara County Associated Governments (SBCAG) Board meeting on the importance of distributing the RHNA numbers in a way that would balance jobs and housing across the county, making sure that affordable and workforce housing are located near jobs and transportation centers. SBCAG Board voted 10/3 to approve a plan that will distribute RHNA numbers in a way that will improve the housing/job ratio.
March 18, 2008 - Eastern Goleta Community Plan
Testified at the Board of Supervisors meeting on the need to allow projects that benefit the public to go through the planning process while the community is updating its community plan. Supervisors voted 4/1 in favor of the public benefit exemption.
March 4, 2008 - Campaign Finance Limiations
Testified at the Santa Maria City Council meeting, advocating that the City adopt an ordinance similar to San Luis Obispo's, limiting the amount of dollars that can be contributed by individuals or organizations to a candidate running for city council or mayor. Council voted 5/0 to oppose limiting campaign contributions.