The way forward for State Road can be determined out within the open, because the Santa Barbara Metropolis Council determined Tuesday to conduct hearings concerning the promenade every month throughout common council conferences. The choice was surprising however unanimous, and it appeared that the council had lastly discovered a snug path down what Mayor Randy Rowse known as “a protracted and contentious street.”
The concept heading into Tuesday’s assembly was to create a extra clear committee in an try and get the ball rolling on reshaping State Road. Technically, the present “State Road Interim Operations Advert Hoc Council Committee” with simply three councilmembers would get replaced by the extra formal “State Road Pilot Applications Committee.”
However a number of councilmembers argued the purpose of holding extra clear conferences to permit for public enter might — and may — be achieved rather more merely, by simply removing the subcommittee concept altogether and bringing the enterprise in entrance of the total council throughout its common conferences.
Councilmember Meagan Harmon identified that the one promoting factors of the subcommittee could be that it was theoretically quicker and extra financially environment friendly to have particular points determined by a small group than introduced again to the council for approval. To develop the committee and provides it the total Brown Act remedy would defeat the aim, making it extra pricey, when it might simply be achieved on council time.
It was unplanned, however nearly in unison all six councilmembers and Mayor Rowse agreed that the identical course of may very well be taken to full council, in what was a uncommon second of council settlement throughout the usually contentious discussions relating to the State Road promenade.
Rowse stated he was “happy with the pliability” that the council confirmed, and that the town might “transfer ahead and have these discussions as a physique out within the open.”
The council voted unanimously to agendize an merchandise every month to permit the council to debate and take motion on the interim plans for the State Road promenade, and to formally disband the State Road Interim Operations Advert Hoc Council Committee.
The identical day, the three members of the subcommittee — Kristen Sneddon, Mike Jordan, and Oscar Gutierrez — filed a memo requesting that the town council additionally agendize an merchandise relating to a number of suggestions primarily based on the work of the committee up till now. The memo contains particular actions that may very well be taken within the meantime with Metropolis Council approval.
These suggestions embody: a deep cleansing of the State Road Grasp Plan Challenge Space; at the very least two blocks designated as pedestrian-only; lowering the pace restrict within the State Road space to 15mph; permitting the Historic Landmarks Committee to offer enter on design for the interim; and permitting one-way drop offs in entrance of The Granada Theatre on days with exhibits.
These actions are all in council jurisdiction and may very well be achieved “now to make sure the protection, aesthetics, and accessibility of the State Road Grasp Plan Challenge Space for all neighborhood members,” the memo learn.
