[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6544630,"mediaKeyId","3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6","parentId",3585637,"title","Dwight Murphy Field construction to start; parks director lists donors and summer events","audioSeconds",5387,"startMs",2309000,"endMs",7696000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6&start=2309&end=7696","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6/thumbnail_2309000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6544630/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Dwight-Murphy-Field-construction-to-start-parks-director-lists-donors-and-summer-events","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544630-6322a5d04d108ed73ef4c925471a67f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775110960&Signature=TBiJ2ZpRJUMImq5eoE4uupO6vcQPkHT6Kk4O3MkhQfXTrFBOzDaUjF4~PlZ5471Dsc4S5m8TrCOyvVYDmr-HOvgzTurRT6ltI7bFLTg63LrqOXsXrda9d1pnunFnpkuGx0kCUKnUy6gbaWND0y4reta-Rx54pkLKXsckBUfGp41U6x2O7PwqUswUtjCTtEDJytcGhV5ixcxL0CRcOmDzDY8yPrEZWTOA5NeSdwNdIuZNws906xz-B5OJJumpEPS5LC2IquqZ8TWPXTlCwQDQwk~Lip46z~CSKpyXlV6b1Ni3CbaYHhrb-q0CJbSZwI4-G~lJ9l7dXBxq5rFTQFlv1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-05-29T13:16:45Z","article","Parks and Recreation Director Miss DeBach told commissioners May 28 that construction of the Dwight Murphy Field project is scheduled to begin the coming Monday with construction fencing going up around the park.

She said the larger Dwight Murphy project will include a new lit artificial-turf multi-sport field, an expanded adult fitness area, an all‑abilities playground named Gwendolyn’s playground, and other park improvements. Funding assembled for the project includes more than $6 million raised by the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, roughly $19 million in city funds (as described by staff), $1.5 million in federal community-project funding secured by Congressman Salud Carbajal, and a $5 million pledge from donor Ty Warner. Staff said the Ty Warner pledge is to be deposited into a city-specified bank account within 20 days following final approval of the signed plan by the Architectural Board of Review (per the MOU language staff cited).

Director DeBach also noted that 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the city’s Arts & Crafts Show on Cabrillo Boulevard and that the Saturday–Sunday Mother's Day event earlier in May included a commemorative tote-bag giveaway. She announced the return of the Simona Nautica Summer Sports Festival in the waterfront area around July 4, and said event information and participation details are on the festival website.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about the timing and payment terms for donor pledges and about vendor attendance at the Mother's Day event; staff said the MOU specifies the timing for the Ty Warner gift and that they would follow up on vendor sales/attendance numbers before the end of the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission - May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks staff told the commission that construction fencing for the Dwight Murphy Field project will be installed Monday and summarized major funding sources, including a $5 million pledge from Ty Warner and $6 million raised by the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation.","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},6544635,"Commission appoints UCSB insect biologist to Integrated Pest Management committee",260,2016000,2276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6&start=2016&end=2276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6/thumbnail_2016000.jpg","/articles/6544635/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Commission-appoints-UCSB-insect-biologist-to-Integrated-Pest-Management-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544635-65fe794bcaab77861fdef63466b8ef7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775110961&Signature=LPkb1NyYuxAB3Zpcv13gvTD6ROMDLjYA-CwkfBcvM99oFdpxfDslrAInST4OAY8hSrsL18awd0ZP-Yl8FS~hWCNt~~YOH0j0Snk4BLmYdndP7trpsUzS2mwx2qRacwY0N2fl6n03zgsFU9aHciJ13dewAf8kv6BH3wcnXziYG65cvDJyckzlfx5DwILnM-ZvAxZAxoNmOvzTtEclRQwNK6ENtNP7Z3XYac7zCke~PgewPK0CqjvJERrYsgQWFjBvydagcuNsJyWTNJGJNUW6S7pTi9zxh-gDaLFiYn1U853eGml2rrgOQUYRnIX7dmB~vEnsg7~mOYPadt-oGDIM3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Recreation Commission on May 28 appointed Aninda Ganguly, an assistant project scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, to the commission-appointed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Committee.

Ganguly told commissioners she has more than 15 years of experience studying insect biology, including work on fruit-fly and mosquito model systems, and said many principles from laboratory insect research are applicable to integrated pest management in the community. She said she previously attended committee meetings to observe and raised questions about safety and pesticide choices in a restaurant fumigation matter.

After Ganguly’s two-minute interview, a commissioner moved to appoint her to the committee and a second was recorded; the commission voted to confirm the appointment. Commissioners complimented Ganguly’s questions and recommended she is well suited to contribute technical expertise to committee deliberations.

","The commission voted to appoint Aninda Ganguly, a UCSB assistant project scientist with 15 years of insect biology experience, to the city’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Committee following a brief interview.",{"_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},6544640,"Staff outlines open space element update, seeks commission input on goals and priorities",950,5338000,6288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6&start=5338&end=6288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6/thumbnail_5338000.jpg","/articles/6544640/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Staff-outlines-open-space-element-update-seeks-commission-input-on-goals-and-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544640-1e61884ad05c2e21b961d0a4bff77173/orig.mp4?Expires=1775110961&Signature=bEnv0Rpc-cXRmAt2YCvAJt5z2GVPW3qouYnv4ziLrNoUvwTUBUJHrhuaVWLGLsLoHhs~ggDz7VgPGCeztnYaJFHtN64O5t72odyMDl6BqccTLo9yGEeJSHJWyEBf2OsatmNkqR4~KuAAsj7XxPYHxFJd8T8SOPJ5HiM-1GWszf7A0nv4absTLdI3Vccuid2aTCHg7IfjQL7AVzO2h4Z2sIwiuvm0XmEhXXXbjakB211YK1lVmnnANxTw0LOjXVg8z7nVit4yAPJREWYqAcURjUercql0AKZ0~9c6HPv7hmzKMIg0RA3H8SLTTjZ6utJYTGgRTnc6udXsgM8OQLdTUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff and the Parks and Recreation Department presented an update May 28 on the ongoing revision of Santa Barbara’s open space element, outlining draft goals, mapping work and a timetable for public review and adoption.

Staff said the update will include narrative context, an inventory and updated maps, and a goals‑policies‑implementation framework consistent with the general plan. Draft goals presented to the commission include: enhancing livability through a diverse open-space network; securing stable, adequate funding for maintenance and acquisition; improving regional connections to Los Padres National Forest and neighboring jurisdictions; protecting and restoring sensitive habitats and tribal cultural resources; ensuring equitable access to parks across neighborhoods; and managing open space for ecological resilience under a changing climate.

Staff reported outreach to residents (including Earth Day events), an interdepartmental working group with Parks, Airport and Sustainability staff, and collaboration with the Botanic Garden for species guidance. They proposed refining some older policies: converting some community-garden expectations on vacant land into lower-maintenance interim open-space uses; expanding voluntary collaboration with private landowners who hold ecologically valuable stands; and updating policy maps and priority-area lists.

Commissioner feedback: Commissioners suggested adding measurable performance indicators (for example, percent of residents within a 10-minute walk of a park), explicitly linking the open space element to wildfire/resilience planning, making community-garden language flexible for interim uses (pocket parks, pollinator plantings), and addressing accessibility and safe infrastructure access around open-space parcels. Staff said the parks and recreation master plan (scheduled for July) would contain more detailed implementation and prioritization work, and that the open space element should remain a broad, 20‑ to 30‑year policy framework.

Timeline and next steps: Staff said inventory and mapping work will continue through early summer 2025, drafting will proceed over summer 2025, public and decision-maker review will occur later in 2025, and the target is adoption hearings in winter 2025/2026. The commission asked staff to continue coordination with public works and transportation on access and safety around park parcels.

","Planning staff presented draft goals and an updated process for Santa Barbara’s open space element, including equity, habitat protection, regional connections and implementation actions; commissioners offered feedback on metrics, accessibility, and collaboration with other departments.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6544644,"Fire marshal outlines community wildfire protection plan, highlights collaboration with parks on vegetation management",1052,2863000,3915000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6&start=2863&end=3915","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6/thumbnail_2863000.jpg","/articles/6544644/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Fire-marshal-outlines-community-wildfire-protection-plan-highlights-collaboration-with-parks-on-vegetation-management","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544644-7ba2cd254099216b554b06bbc1c25263/orig.mp4?Expires=1775110961&Signature=cL8c2XjmfynjwdquqBXKwrc5QE9OTOqJGed7wHKE6eFAQeqBsNQiWVuhaFFZuma8RUBF9ivw2nJcQd0~nGqJfiAa~0tsi8rWs6IJt~9YZLrchyO~XAchRCq8ayRHwXUkuhRNwbmWgX6Jeu7Z6PEi~nVxETRgdORcU1YB4zX4~dSxxOJxQJpLeiBZRtkDD-UipCnxFD0CvFac1hO4RCCPa45VShyFuTvWEMwgQJtpZcO7U1BLzZNZ5v6e-t-gsS8YXCHjQPFyeqvRLmi9VP70Dcmwe3nOWnr8atnIqFonT9rxdOypFGt~TeuRxiJ-0WLtX6OxXwLzRTz-0odYeBvomw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Barbara Fire Marshal Ryan DeJulio told the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 28 that the city’s updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) — revised in 2021 and available on the fire department’s website — is the operating guide for vegetation management, defensible-space requirements and community preparedness in high fire hazard areas.

DeJulio described the CWPP as a cross-departmental playbook that outlines defensible-space distances, homeowner outreach (including free defensible-space evaluations), evacuation planning and vegetation management units on city-owned open spaces. He emphasized that much of the city’s highest-hazard acreage is in city-owned open space and that any large-scale vegetation treatment must balance wildfire risk reduction with habitat protection and community values.

A major result of the CWPP update is expanded collaboration between Fire and Parks and Recreation: the city has secured grant funding from Cal Fire and the Coastal Conservancy to support treatment in priority vegetation-management units and has built an interdepartmental crew model. DeJulio said the fire department has hired a vegetation-management crew to do mechanical treatments and that Monique O’Connor (Open Space Planner) and parks staff are guiding crews on habitat-sensitive methods (for example, avoiding nesting birds, retaining logs for trail features, and creating mosaic patterns rather than wholesale clearing).

DeJulio and staff noted specific outreach and program elements: an online GIS layer lets residents check whether a given address lies in a designated high fire hazard area; the city offers bilingual defensible-space evaluations; county Fire Safe Council partnerships can help neighborhoods form Firewise communities that sometimes persuade insurers to reconsider nonrenewals; and some neighborhoods with a local wildfire suppression assessment district receive collection and chipping services.

Why it matters: Santa Barbara’s topography and coastal/foothill microclimates create varied wildfire risks. The CWPP and the Parks–Fire collaboration will affect how the city treats vegetation in open space, the appearance and use of some preserves, and how residents in high-hazard zones are advised and served.

Commissioner questions and staff responses: Commissioners pressed for options to help homeowners who lose insurance and were told a Firewise designation or neighborhood mitigation can help; staff acknowledged private insurers use proprietary risk models that do not necessarily match the city’s hazard mapping. Commissioners also asked about coordination with Elings Park, vehicle access (fire apparatus types), and how fuel-treatment work is staged to avoid unnecessary removal of habitat; DeJulio and parks staff said the city advises and consults with private owners like Elings but cannot compel them to follow city practices.

Next steps: Staff said grant-funded work is ongoing in Douglas Family Preserve and Parma Park; the newly formed vegetation management crew will continue to implement mosaic treatments, and parks and fire will keep coordinating work plans and public outreach.

","Santa Barbara Fire Marshal Ryan DeJulio presented the updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and described how fire department crews and park staff are coordinating fuel-reduction work in city open spaces to reduce wildfire risk while protecting habitat.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6544649,"Parks commission approves two street-tree removals, updates several street-tree designations",488,1254000,1742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6&start=1254&end=1742","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3585637-ffec5f827973e5ca7af8ac16b91d8bf6/thumbnail_1254000.jpg","/articles/6544649/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Parks-commission-approves-two-street-tree-removals-updates-several-street-tree-designations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544649-bb694d28fdf811614044f398061b71f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775110961&Signature=CjYp4axMzEXoIWfn97DNhW-56UcuuLCsL0bUu63nGFPSkZa6U735B2fBFL-eST3ndwTPf~avKb7dnsGF8g~En54cT3IiN6O5RL99y8kVtFringHLbNz5P3uAXOrI-PaYT3my0ZFKvMN88XXnGHgFAuZfW7BLgvhpRzZFGIvMVjPij7f6bAyJ648W9dN2OPG6FDC3VFcdlvMVhdukF0Fqa3NXsV8TgLx9KOjyD7-ZzOolOzHotheCmEUqSQ2fasLLhDHfxKzm2qYYeKeQ-LXH4KIgdUqkuOpC6YyWu9ggRnw3VdtjNsbLCfob9ZLanN0Aa3twaB3rsyaKoM5JGA-x9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara City Parks and Recreation Commission voted May 28 to approve the removal of two trees in public parkways and to adopt changes to the street-tree master plan for several blocks, actions commissioners said are intended to balance property improvements, public safety and urban forest health.

The commission approved a street-tree removal at 2310 Chapala Street for an American sweet gum after staff and the Street Tree Advisory Committee concluded the tree conflicted with proposed property improvements. The applicant’s landscape plan calls for three replacement trees—two on the Pueblo side of the parcel and one on the Chapala side—and the commission’s approval was conditional on those three trees being planted.

The commission also approved removal of an African fern pine in the front setback at 15 Broadmoor Plaza, accepting the advisory committee’s finding that the tree’s location and damage to hardscape made replacement practical. The commission conditioned approval on planting a replacement tree capable of reaching 25 feet at maturity.

Separately, commissioners approved recommendations from the Street Tree Advisory Committee to change street-tree designations on narrow parkways more suited to drought- and salt-tolerant species. The commission approved changing the Del Oro Avenue designation to the New Zealand Christmas tree (a commonly used coastal species) and a tougher “U-pine” palette for diversity; and approved a designation change for Los (as named in staff materials) Avenue to African sumac and “Rovolphia” as the committee recommended.

Why it matters: Santa Barbara’s street-tree policies determine what species are planted in narrow coastal parkways and how property development, sidewalk and curb repairs, and tree health are balanced. Commissioners and staff emphasized mitigation—replacement trees or a specified mature height—rather than automatic removal when a conflict arises.

What staff and applicants said: City arborist Nathan Slack presented the committee findings and site observations for each case, noting the Chapala tree was \"in fine shape\" but conflicted with a relocated driveway and associated improvements and that the applicant’s landscape plan provided mitigation. The applicant’s agent, Heidi Jones, told the commission she was available for questions and that the project team, including landscape architect Laura Brady, supported the mitigation plan.

Votes and motions: For the Chapala Street item, Commissioner Price moved to find the removal warranted as a reasonable, practical development of the property; Commissioner Ramsey seconded and the motion passed on a roll call vote. For the Broadmoor Plaza removal, the commission voted to approve the setback-tree removal conditionally, with the replacement requirement and a finding tied to \"principles of good forest management.\" The two street-tree designation changes were both approved by motion and passed.

What this does not change: The commission and staff noted that the city’s street-tree ordinance and the rules governing street trees differ from other removal findings; for street trees the ordinance does not require the same formal written findings used for private-property trees, but staff said they use consistent language to explain rationale. Staff also flagged that species names and availability can change over time and that some of the rarer recommended species are not widely available in the nursery trade.

Next steps: Staff will record the conditional approvals and monitor the plantings required under the permit conditions; commission discussion signaled close coordination between the Street Tree Advisory Committee and city arboriculture staff for follow-through.

","The Santa Barbara City Parks and Recreation Commission on May 28 granted conditional approval to remove two street-setback trees and approved several street-tree master plan designation changes, with replacements or mitigation required in each case.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dwight Murphy Field construction to start; parks director lists donors and summer events

Commission appoints UCSB insect biologist to Integrated Pest Management committee

Staff outlines open space element update, seeks commission input on goals and priorities

Fire marshal outlines community wildfire protection plan, highlights collaboration with parks on vegetation management

Parks commission approves two street-tree removals, updates several street-tree designations