[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6305316,"mediaKeyId","2448973-d2db575d4afd2f357f07298e4bfca43c","parentId",2448973,"title","Council reviews revised Median 3 plan for Avenue of Flags; directs flags behind plaza, approves bulb‑outs and pauses final building design","audioSeconds",5989,"startMs",5999000,"endMs",9434,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2448973-d2db575d4afd2f357f07298e4bfca43c&start=5999&end=9","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2448973-d2db575d4afd2f357f07298e4bfca43c/thumbnail_5999000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6305316/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-reviews-revised-Median-3-plan-for-Avenue-of-Flags-directs-flags-behind-plaza-approves-bulbouts-and-pauses-final-building-design","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305316-6fd6f003c53dc410b2472704bb327c13/orig.mp4?Expires=1775175696&Signature=QKNzFMWmgW5aUGJIOxcuU3mDRi3UdHdhzn9~LYmxKhqGu3JBATRZER6vONqaQdR8U0PNGpfSnEuKag9t7D9NcYSMyQXMYMEvIt3Pv8m5bh2Lt1Z9C85QMM6X9mGxyjPhRqsMmvlzdCYnqzLPWefT0a45t9NnL22ZOm~z1dQaq4FeWxGPcOYkJoWkDhffpDWTbEqdzI--hBf2hJEX7LCeGemOU1oyLb4muUihvxmUT6l6L1whRpv278t8yOzAn6D9aPr3g3arKMIXyoalR7ftovDtnp10u6DUC6ZC63BWjkaguidCQFqNBpQ9Eh~Ido0Lsyel2Ql9UXwWoNc4D8ym1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Buellton CA","date","2025-02-28T16:43:31Z","article","City planners and consultants presented an updated conceptual plan for Median 3 of the Avenue of Flags — the downtown median envisioned as a central public plaza — and the Buellton City Council provided direction on several items, including flag placement and traffic calming features.

Planning staff presenter Kara Morales and landscape designer Yolanda Bruno described the refined concept: an amphitheater facing south, an integrated town plaza with donor pavers and in‑ground plaza lighting, permeable art‑deco‑style pavers to match Median 2, a bioswale along the east side, vendor space for food trucks or popups, separated community and restroom buildings, and larger, mature trees and drought‑tolerant planting. The presentation showed three Art Deco‑derived architectural options for the buildings (Classic Moderne, Streamline/Art Moderne and a 1950s diner influence) and noted the Planning Commission's preference for flags positioned behind the plaza and for including bulb‑outs at crosswalks to calm traffic.

During discussion councilmembers and members of the public raised concerns about the scale and placement of buildings relative to nearby private development and urged caution so the plaza and structures will harmonize with adjacent projects. Public commenter Ed St. George asked council to consider a short pause on final building decisions until some neighboring developments advance, saying that would help ensure a coherent overall design. Several councilmembers expressed a desire for the street and plaza to be usable for events such as the city's winter vendor events and for the design to avoid creating visual obstacles at pedestrian crossings.

Council direction at the meeting: place the flag display behind the town plaza (as recommended by the Planning Commission), include bulb‑outs for pedestrian safety at crossings, and allow staff to proceed with construction drawings for landscape and pavement elements while deferring final architectural selections and building massing decisions (community building and restroom) until additional information from the adjacent development projects is available. The council also asked staff to return with more refined designs and cost estimates; no formal vote on the conceptual plan or on construction drawings occurred at the meeting.

Why it matters: Median 3 will be a key public space on Avenue of the Flags and will influence public use, pedestrian safety and the character of downtown development. Agreeing the plaza layout and the location of the flags allows work on grant applications and on public‑realm improvements to continue while preserving flexibility on building form.

What's next: Staff will proceed with landscape and hardscape construction drawings consistent with council direction (flag placement behind the plaza and inclusion of bulb‑outs) and will return with architecture, detailed grading, utilities and cost estimates once adjacent private projects attain greater design maturity.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Buellton - City Council Meeting February 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff presented a revised conceptual plan for Median 3 of the Avenue of Flags. The council directed that the flag display be located behind the town plaza and that bulb‑outs be included at crossings, but deferred final architectural decisions on the community building and restroom until nearby private projects progress.","taxTitle","Buellton City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",72226,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6305321,"Council holds deep dive on sheriff contract; staff says county service remains more cost‑effective than local department",1839,3921000,5760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2448973-d2db575d4afd2f357f07298e4bfca43c&start=3921&end=5760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2448973-d2db575d4afd2f357f07298e4bfca43c/thumbnail_3921000.jpg","/articles/6305321/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Council-holds-deep-dive-on-sheriff-contract-staff-says-county-service-remains-more-costeffective-than-local-department","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305321-4accbc9971521226936aedf99fec0888/orig.mp4?Expires=1775175696&Signature=laJ8rD4LzSZJzJOTzu-MCPfhIG3iTaeN~YoTHCOsgp0cqFWzxowjwp5b4oAyIu3rvwXtEtQ7lqffdz~jsm-5HuYca9z5KFoTNqfn4gDuYIsDfuPhzatbGQna2VzX3mJB38r29KyWc-d5G0LIJUv-iQuJDR9u6jxfOZubv~uutDM6C9M3uiej1LDFffFY3FXbsMnintheP08GkUVzrR4r8IqB5qfJu-dzYCWRBr3PtevKoA-B5t3n5kAe46Nh3ZA6mdVYg9KatLr3v9TT1d~eO0849ANHqLUjuuUArT5wAf3vlQYJ4huA2scqsTV8z1C0Qwe1xk3GdWZrQQWaTKgFiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager Scott Wolf delivered a detailed briefing on the City of Buellton's law enforcement contract with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office during a months‑long \"deep dive\" presentation at the council meeting. Wolf described why Buellton uses a contract‑city model, summarized the contract's cost components and explained tradeoffs between contracting for services and operating a municipal police department.

Wolf told the council the current cost of the sheriff contract for the city (excluding a dedicated motor officer) is about $2.9 million for the fiscal year under discussion and staff anticipates the next fiscal year cost will be roughly $3.08 million (a projected ~5.3% increase). Wolf said the county contract eliminated the prior \"true up\" billing process and now uses a post‑based model tied to the deputy association memorandum of understanding and an annual escalator, which makes costs more predictable. \"Think of it as buying in bulk,\" Wolf said, explaining economies of scale the sheriff's department provides compared with a stand‑alone municipal department.

Wolf listed advantages of the county model — lower per‑unit costs, built‑in administrative, training and specialty resources (aviation, SWAT, bomb squad, search and rescue) — and noted the tradeoffs: the city gives up some direct control over enforcement priorities and the ability to unilaterally set compensation increases (those are negotiated at county/union level). He said the county can require proportionate payment for changes tied to the Deputy Sheriffs Association MOU and that the city would need 365 days' notice to withdraw from the contract if it chose to pursue its own department or an alternate contract.

On motorized traffic enforcement, Wolf said the contract does not currently include a dedicated motor officer because the county lacked staffing; Buellton has used motor‑qualified deputies on voluntary overtime and Wolf said the cost of a full‑time motor officer would be in the neighborhood of $280,000–$300,000 a year. Councilmembers pressed staff on longer‑term options including a joint valley police entity or contracting with another city (Lompoc was mentioned as a possibility) and asked about using automated license‑plate cameras; staff said the city has no contract with Flock and any camera program would likely be coordinated through the sheriff's office and would come back to council as a separate informational item.

Councilmembers asked staff to schedule a presentation on license‑plate/camera options and the sheriff's office technology offerings. No formal council action was taken; the meeting record shows questions for follow up and staff commitments to return with more information as requested.

Why it matters: Law enforcement is Buellton's largest single operating budget item. Changes to the contract, inclusion of additional services (for example, a dedicated motor officer) or a decision to pursue a municipal department would have major budgetary and operational implications.

What's next: Staff will provide follow‑up information on camera programs and will continue to include law enforcement costs in the budget process; any change in service model (municipal department or alternate contractor) would require detailed feasibility analysis and notice to the county.","City Manager Scott Wolf briefed the Buellton City Council on the city's law enforcement contract with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, outlining costs, benefits and tradeoffs and answering council questions about motor officers, alternative contracting options and camera programs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6305323,"Buellton council adopts Measure A five‑year program, approves routine consent items",584,1866000,2450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2448973-d2db575d4afd2f357f07298e4bfca43c&start=1866&end=2450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2448973-d2db575d4afd2f357f07298e4bfca43c/thumbnail_1866000.jpg","/articles/6305323/Buellton-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Buellton-council-adopts-Measure-A-fiveyear-program-approves-routine-consent-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6305323-ac862f31a4c463fe5b39bdd59671618e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775175696&Signature=F0quHa3~EmvRN5QGrPB5VhsfkN2vJ~rD~iLLHQftt16F1Y525lQFH1O4NiKqs2NYBy9m-4obNgy1gmR0kA~DXsZS9gM6uJkmpzVX5F1uh2pNazUod6JSdOZvVpf2qcx11AJCTnlmyqU3eIPe1k30Ky4qg65DiZ9n2vMeMhyZW5wHPbFqjRJkLBcz4B2c54lkrFFdrNtmhU-bCLuvnnWBEVigrDT~0KV-pf0dO4rp8khDCOCqchXgbVBQE~unMZ4mXXNoXtrrL3zXVzdBMipP65XL9T-eJvj5isRKb9C7dRWAk6~~8eNo6AuoF1PbXPGZ8mFgC3Bc4qrrp4Y9liQ-CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Buellton City Council on a unanimous vote adopted Resolution No. 25‑06, approving the city's Measure A five‑year local program of projects for fiscal years 2025‑26 through 2029‑30 and also approved the consent calendar, which included the minutes of the Feb. 13, 2025 regular meeting and a list of claims to be ratified for the 2024‑25 fiscal year.

Public Works Director Rose Hess told the council the Measure A program lists road maintenance and alternative‑transportation projects and that the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments' estimate for Buellton's share for the coming fiscal year is about $442,156. Hess said the program is a rolling five‑year list and that Measure A funds are intended to supplement — not supplant — the city's general fund road maintenance spending. She also noted a Measure A maintenance‑of‑effort requirement that the city allocate at least 5% of its Measure A share to alternative transportation; Buellton's current plan dedicates about 14% to such uses, she said.

Council members asked whether the council could reallocate funds within the Measure A breakdown — including whether the multipurpose trail reserve (currently budgeted at roughly $10,000 per year) could receive more — and about the process for requesting expedited state maintenance work on Highway 246 (Caltrans handles that corridor). Hess replied reallocations could be made by council action and said Caltrans has a multi‑year schedule; she encouraged residents to submit service requests to Caltrans to help prioritize repairs.

On the consent calendar, the council approved the listed minutes and payments by voice vote. The council's recorded roll call on the Measure A resolution followed a motion to adopt and a second; Vice Mayor Hudson Lewis, Councilmember Alicia Hornick, Councilmember Casimir Sanchez and Mayor Michael Silva voted \"Aye.\" The council did not modify the staff recommendation at the meeting.

Why it matters: Measure A is the county transportation sales tax program that directs local shares to cities for road, bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects; adopting a local program is a prerequisite for applying the city's allocation to specific projects and for seeking some grant and implementation funds.

What's next: Staff will file the adopted program with SBCAG and proceed with the listed projects and grant pursuits; council may revisit allocations in the annual budget process if it wishes to increase funding for trails or other priorities.

","The City Council of Buellton unanimously approved a five‑year Measure A local program of projects allocating the city's share of county transportation sales tax revenue and approved the consent calendar including minutes and claims.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reviews revised Median 3 plan for Avenue of Flags; directs flags behind plaza, approves bulb‑outs and pauses final building design

Council holds deep dive on sheriff contract; staff says county service remains more cost‑effective than local department

Buellton council adopts Measure A five‑year program, approves routine consent items