[{"_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",6598406,"mediaKeyId","3040198-8bc710e31a70a9e1babb235b0d6cc8ad","parentId",3040198,"title","Water manager flags Gibraltar sediment risk, USBR staffing gaps and tentative operator agreement","audioSeconds",385,"startMs",2130775,"endMs",2516300,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040198-8bc710e31a70a9e1babb235b0d6cc8ad&start=2130&end=2516","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040198-8bc710e31a70a9e1babb235b0d6cc8ad/thumbnail_2130775.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6598406/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Water-manager-flags-Gibraltar-sediment-risk-USBR-staffing-gaps-and-tentative-operator-agreement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598406-deb578ca4bd0e4a84b0e7c5a3de19dce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149546&Signature=Eq7D-oEsRxsZHC-UYvP6zFEo~VkseTH2Ks1vaw7uBj38pbEyDuHmZsFxSemVh77L5a8ZJ9bHtwLRTsCXQPhbsZYUXHegKxHTP1YM5VGfsjEOGh0m9yj~rxZ~iAY5qLIS3zJLOu9UJy6a2qvQJb9mFGa1MXzmrOYbWKadG4Rz8nkV6IWiNAVpYNCkL4E3DkIhQrlfm6rXAmeBXOLxzer1uzQ0v3ShbeH8eAvZNv1uw0216otEqDRctOJBArF3tLNSjEEI7o5eb67Y3B6hjLa1jnM0GcONd0wK6oQAiyXhZfBNOx~5Qy6m8j4FO8kRpvp5U-Y7hBuKWg~YsHT1o5MKFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-04-17T16:42:18.73Z","article","In the Water Resources Manager's report on April 17, city staff highlighted several operational issues: Gibraltar Reservoir was reported to be close to spilling amid sediment concerns, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has experienced high staff turnover affecting local coordination on the Kachuma project, and a tentative agreement to improve operator compensation is headed to City Council on May 20.

Staff reported recent inspections at Gibraltar and noted significant sediment in the spillway; the reservoir was described as approximately 1.2 feet from spilling at one point and staff said the Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) may require projects to address sediment and spillway issues. Staff said no dedicated funding has been set aside and that future project costs will need to be determined.

On the Kachuma project and relations with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), staff said the bureau has lost a substantial share of upper management through early retirements and departures, leaving the city uncertain who its contact is. Staff reported an active valve leak at Bradbury Dam that prevents full closure and requires downstream releases; they said the Kachuma contract has expired and the city is operating on extensions while attempting to reestablish working relationships with the bureau.

Staff also summarized supply and allocation matters: they reported about 1,700 acre-feet in San Luis Reservoir (staff prefaced that figure as approximate) and said the city is expected to receive 40% of its state water allocation this season; staff said they are exploring options to bank or sell available state water but had no finalized plans to report.

On workforce issues, staff announced a tentative agreement from labor negotiations to raise operator compensation and bring some positions closer to market; that tentative agreement is scheduled to go to City Council for consideration on May 20. Staff said the agreement could affect roughly 60 of the department's 144 employees and that some operator positions were previously 20% or more below market.

Other items in the report included recent job-fair outreach at Santa Barbara City College and Ventura College, and two upcoming public engagement events for the Victrace Reservoir (May 1 in person and a virtual session on May 7). Staff said there were no public speakers on these items and closed the report.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Water Commission - April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported Gibraltar Reservoir close to spilling amid sediment concerns, federal Bureau of Reclamation staffing departures affecting Kachuma project contacts and a tentative agreement to raise operator pay heading to City Council on May 20; staff also discussed state water allocations and upcoming community events.","taxTitle","Santa Barbara City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",4209,"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},6598411,"Commission backs retroactive billing policy with three-year cap for unbilled utility service",360,1715400,2075599,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040198-8bc710e31a70a9e1babb235b0d6cc8ad&start=1715&end=2075","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040198-8bc710e31a70a9e1babb235b0d6cc8ad/thumbnail_1715400.jpg","/articles/6598411/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Commission-backs-retroactive-billing-policy-with-three-year-cap-for-unbilled-utility-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598411-6cf6987d98ede165f37697b95cb90b85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149546&Signature=H~5Wmm4jcEqKt0-arp1GEA-Gs68D6M9Zhqz1nzeZY4qd5ZVAK~galFftJrTah3AS9QcKMsDDbqfK59xIXmOXjru8DYZ0RZ0JdBYAVxYxsLVGzpUrCubJbk2WRa2BKBCLmwTouLaL6VE8f5dVth8JTcTTMU6lBELDySywuZstiBBogA6mxsEWqcCybwT-G1Uep-dwlTxaNudaAeBupNA6S--Q5zxQbqW8W5aOBfUspUTtuyNtHjqN3X4z4StRLgAkI2TX4xJrWp1~rz2kF41qFpGSTlg5mmMN5KhWfCnHZkbTX1I-f63BBifICAJOJjIuJGQM38irjkC90r4ptIQBmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara City Water Commission on April 17 recommended a proposed administrative policy that would allow the city to retroactively bill customers who have received water, wastewater or solid waste services without payment, with a maximum retroactive billing period capped at three years.

Staff described the policy as narrowly focused and not aimed at customers who have fallen behind on bills, but rather at cases where a customer never had an account opened yet still received city services. Water Resources staff said the most common example is when a property receives water service from a neighboring agency but discharges to the city sewer system without activating a city sewer account.

Katie Munster and Mr. Hagmark explained that staff have no statutory retroactive-billing policy today and that the proposed document (drafted with the city attorney's office) would provide guidelines for consistent recovery of charges across water, wastewater and solid waste. The proposal permits retroactive billing from the start of service but limits the retroactive period to three years because of the statute of limitations. The draft also allows customers to appeal charges to the finance director.

Staff noted they are developing procedures to reduce occurrences (for example by coordinating with neighboring agencies) and that the draft policy will be routed to the city administrator for approval after internal review. The Water Commission moved to recommend the proposed policy; the motion was seconded and passed with recorded yes votes from Commissioner Cooney, Vice Chair Keller and Chair Snyder. There were no public speakers on the item.","The Water Commission recommended an administrative policy permitting the city to retroactively bill customers for unbilled water, wastewater or solid waste service for up to three years, with an appeal process to the finance director.",{"_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},6598416,"Water Commission recommends private submetering for eligible adaptive reuse projects",928,504085,1432955,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040198-8bc710e31a70a9e1babb235b0d6cc8ad&start=504&end=1432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040198-8bc710e31a70a9e1babb235b0d6cc8ad/thumbnail_504085.jpg","/articles/6598416/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Water-Commission-recommends-private-submetering-for-eligible-adaptive-reuse-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598416-2f5d659a7aab3625a18da5c2a8c7339d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149546&Signature=mFojNh9BveJcV3qBofG5iTYJxaktIRfbxtc2oVWs3QMyQf-FdAb-eAU~RlJQPej~hYgAZVh-S3j2rYGvbcx6LozjJYr-Pyh4nz8U04K9jNBzHNsMA9~aDFmd3CgB9qv-BdHfe1P5bl4vatwZiXLscLOL5eaLiTYcTQ-caEZYfXnNrnGr1q-T2DL6ueTxNzMoOXtNiEio0zNfV3gW9vxvpalxsUBZCa0MbOLRfhlAD~ic4w~NoPx5j67CTy7s0GwdwINLugyNvzWQ5HP1eatc8OOflWfsvFQUSVr4KehQdjorx9Y6gPMZ~j~88ChPePu54P52uhxu3JI2Z0C~F0zIHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara City Water Commission on April 17 voted to recommend allowing private submetering for eligible adaptive reuse projects as proposed in Community Development's draft adaptive reuse ordinance.

City staff presented three options for metering adaptive reuse projects and recommended aligning water policy with Community Development's eligibility criteria. Staff described adaptive reuse as retrofitting and repurposing an existing building to create new residential units where commercial use changes to residential within the existing building shell. The draft ordinance's incentives apply when a project meets one of four criteria: converting a hotel, converting a historic resource, creating at least 50% affordable units, or locating within the priority housing overlay.

Katie Munster, a water resources specialist, told the commission staff had researched other jurisdictions and reached out to developers, property managers and tenants. She said the City of Los Angeles and the City of San Luis Obispo allow private submetering for certain multifamily or adaptive reuse conversions, and that state law governs installation, maintenance, reading and billing of submeters.

Munster summarized outreach findings: property managers reported generally positive experiences with different submeter vendors but noted operational issues (for example, dead batteries and slow vendor responses). Tenants said bills were deliverable via paper or online portals; one tenant reported an initial confusion when a bill arrived from a third-party vendor. Staff noted the County of Santa Barbara Weights and Measures Division inspects submeters when installed, every 10 years, and when there are complaints.

Staff presented three options: (1) allow private submetering for adaptive reuse projects that meet Community Development's four eligibility criteria (aligns with Planning Commission's draft); (2) allow private submetering for the three conversion-based criteria but limit geography to the Central Business District rather than the broader priority housing overlay; or (3) make no change and continue to authorize private submetering only where right-of-way constraints make city meters infeasible. Staff emphasized other water-efficiency requirements would remain in place regardless of the option chosen.

Commission discussion focused on the trade-offs between developer certainty and ensuring long-term tenant protections and information flow. Munster said the chief cost savings for developers often comes from plumbing complexity rather than the meter hardware itself: submetering can allow use of existing internal plumbing rather than running individual service lines from the curb. Commissioners asked about customer notification and whether property owners would be required to pass utility program or rebate information to tenants; staff said that remains under discussion.

Commissioner Cooney moved and a colleague seconded a motion recommending Option 1'the option that aligns with Community Development's eligibility requirements. The motion passed with recorded \"yes\" votes from Commissioner Cooney, Vice Chair Keller and Chair Snyder; no recorded nays or abstentions were entered on the record. The commission asked staff to forward the commission's feedback to Planning Commission, where Community Development plans to discuss the adaptive reuse ordinance on May 8, with City Council expected to consider the ordinance later in 2025.

There was no public comment on the item.","The Santa Barbara City Water Commission voted to recommend allowing private submetering for eligible adaptive reuse projects aligned with Community Development's draft ordinance, citing developer certainty and tenant/vendor experience while noting state rules and inspection roles.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Water manager flags Gibraltar sediment risk, USBR staffing gaps and tentative operator agreement

Commission backs retroactive billing policy with three-year cap for unbilled utility service

Water Commission recommends private submetering for eligible adaptive reuse projects