[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6533680,"mediaKeyId","3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8","parentId",3677910,"title","Votes at a glance: Santa Maria council actions on landscape assessments, design standards, fees and several routine items (June 3)","audioSeconds",731,"startMs",4110000,"endMs",4841000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8&start=4110&end=4841","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8/thumbnail_4110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6533680/Santa-Maria/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Votes-at-a-glance-Santa-Maria-council-actions-on-landscape-assessments-design-standards-fees-and-several-routine-items-June-3","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533680-c9c71278ecfb3e882a32490b72269a26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171104&Signature=X6Ci~2wzlhobtpDoNEyfDbADx4NSZ-2~4~~qbbp3O6x~E8zgokmzDG-tgUte9Ta7QP-lAE5MkQ8SXVzFBcNQ-kdVyZvU~sb1~wtNR8TF7AL4WiGhPcCO3-KQjtIrsOKCTzM8UAMCkqEowi-NSo2ImjTX84Ka2isYTq2PLa34PV8lYeZHLNb5RoS1Wzaqk0pJ7LKFJWSEMmsqJyBJR2Mk0jAzuKf9FrW7DgW3Qk2tOLdjmw069Z9oAyjMHMzzxY-eZ5P~2gOoRGvWJPgqbRmH0pDtTfcArLt4MezPMQgH9XAspBBZraB4zPOqXdFpSPPAnRobMX5hAsCX5tnhZT90PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-04T16:11:57Z","article","At the June 3 meeting the Santa Maria City Council took action on multiple agenda items that received public hearings or brief presentations. The following list summarizes each formal action and its outcome. For full context and staff reports, refer to the council packet.

- Landscape Districts (Declaration to levy and collect assessments for FY 2025–26): Council adopted the resolution setting the FY25–26 assessments, applying a 3.4% inflation adjustment for most districts and noting revenue projections of about $5.6 million. Outcome: approved by roll call.

- Objective Residential Design Standards: The council adopted objective residential design standards intended to allow the city to apply objective, streamlining standards to projects that qualify for state streamlining while preserving discretionary review for other projects. The standards cover site design, building orientation, parking location, exterior articulation, materials and colors; staff said the standards were developed with extensive community outreach and unanimous planning commission approval. Outcome: approved by roll call.

- Updated 2025 user fee schedule (public hearing): City staff recommended CPI adjustments to the municipal user fee schedule using consultant Revenue Cost Specialists (RCS) guidance (CPI 3.3%) and limited adjustments to copy fees and credit card processing fees; council held the public hearing and adopted the fee schedule updates. Outcome: approved by roll call.

- Cost of Service study & Recreation fee policy mechanics: Council approved framing the Recreation & Parks’ cost‑of‑service approach (fee recovery pyramid) for future fee decisions and directed staff to return with program‑level proposals and resident subsidy mechanisms. Outcome: approved (policy frame; specific fees to return for council approval).

- Third Quarter Financial Report (FY24–25): Council received and filed the Q3 financial report and approved technical budget amendments recommended by staff, including several enterprise fund appropriations and capital project adjustments presented by the Director of Finance. Outcome: received and filed; resolution adopted by roll call.

- Naming a City Park in honor of James Glines: The Parks Commission had recommended a naming option; at council several members and family representatives discussed preferred sites and potential naming conflicts with existing commemorative uses at Enos Ranch House and Rotary improvements. The council voted to defer the final naming decision to allow additional consultation with family, Rotary and staff. Outcome: deferred for later consideration.

- Consent calendar: Routine consent items were approved by roll call with no objections.

Votes and procedures: Most public‑hearing items were adopted by roll call vote following staff presentation and limited public comment. The mid‑cycle budget amendments were handled separately (see budget article). Several items will return to council with more detailed implementation proposals, including the recreation fee schedule and park‑naming options.

Ending: Council directed staff to return with requested follow‑up materials (leisure needs assessment results, more detailed capital project lists, demographic breakdowns for recreation users, and continued financial analysis) before advancing substantive policy or fee changes to final adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Santa Maria City Council - June 3, 2025 Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council approved several consent and public‑hearing matters on June 3, 2025 — including the 2025–26 landscape district assessments, objective residential design standards, an updated user fee schedule and other routine items — and deferred a park‑naming decision to allow further consultation with stakeholders.","taxTitle","Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",3656,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6533685,"City outlines Measure U youth spending, leisure needs and a fee‑recovery framework for recreation programs",5084,852000,5936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8&start=852&end=5936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8/thumbnail_852000.jpg","/articles/6533685/Santa-Maria/Santa-Barbara-County/California/City-outlines-Measure-U-youth-spending-leisure-needs-and-a-feerecovery-framework-for-recreation-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533685-2c97579ff54b0f12cd2f195556f80636/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171104&Signature=Sp-1vGAWQpKsRFffLK4Qicry0yqk-fctuBVMp9HHk2XjnXfj-YxuMlw7lvVdJqjdLQakqnHusTsQwZ4XYOmL586LoGT6pBJtvCxQiC9DFXgUp3Iok2LwCnoE1tTCdmtQrsB7-6Rfx7xwU-0yqmZO8v5ao2BQbNmxCO8L9FKxr3snwemGc0yIa0uJ6FyUoiK13xTe~C4GnmogiSpVfQKYW89ua~KfPaa~Ej-RJbmXwmOofEzsdEAPBtlMc2tzZdc-J0DnVvT-8KeDO2tD9gU9DyZHXAoLCfuZNCkwuie0oPrQq7MmuVmXXu5Ij-9dVHi6jIiCAhbz4Lsd-Zv-gB0kyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the June 3 council meeting, assistant city manager Wu and Recreation and Parks staff presented how Measure U revenues are allocated to youth services and summarized a new Recreation & Parks cost‑of‑service study that proposes a five‑tier fee‑recovery framework for program and facility fees.

Measure U youth spending: Assistant City Manager Wu told the council Measure U channels 90% of its funds to public safety, 5% to youth and 5% to quality of life. For fiscal year 2023–24, staff estimated Measure U youth spending at roughly $1.7 million (about 5.6% of Measure U receipts), split primarily between Recreation & Parks and the library. Recreation staff described services at the April Maldonado Community Youth Center — including a multimedia lab, job‑training market and leadership programs such as Key Club and the mayor’s youth task force — and the library noted baby and bilingual story times, homework help through sixth grade, anime and teen clubs and heavy bookmobile outreach.

Leisure needs assessment and youth engagement: Recreation staff said a five‑year leisure needs assessment is underway, with more than 1,000 respondents and targeted outreach to teens; results will be presented to council in July with demographic breakdowns. Dennis Smitherman, recreation division manager, reported the youth center recorded 2,900 visits (duplicated) and 1,185 unique users in 2024 and emphasized staffing and mentorship as key elements of youth programming.

Cost‑of‑service study and fee‑recovery pyramid: Staff (RCS consultants and Recreation & Parks) presented a cost‑of‑service approach that groups programs into five levels — from “exclusive individual benefit” (recommended 75–100% cost recovery) down to “community‑wide benefit” (largely subsidized or free). The pyramid is intended to align pricing with the public vs. private benefit of programs: higher cost‑recovery targets for private or exclusive facility rentals and lower recovery (or free access) for broad public events and some youth services.

Council comment and equity concerns: Council members generally supported the concept but asked for clarity on placement of specific programs (for example, lap swim and youth sports) and urged protections for youth and senior access. Council member So to emphasized collecting participant demographics and ZIP‑code data from registrations to assess accessibility and inform fee decisions. Recreation commissioners present supported higher recovery for facility rentals and recommended further public analysis before finalizing program‑by‑program pricing.

Implementation steps: Council approved a policy framing (not specific fee increases) that lets staff and the Parks Commission use the pyramid to set fees and return with detailed proposals. Staff will bring the leisure needs assessment next month and then follow with fee recommendations tied to the pyramid and with proposed resident discounts and scholarship options to protect access.

Ending: Staff said the fee framework is intended to provide a predictable pricing policy while preserving subsidized access for programs that provide broad community benefits. The council asked staff to present demographic usage data and to consider transit/transportation barriers in program access.

","Staff summarized Measure U allocations to youth services and library programs and presented a Recreation & Parks cost‑of‑service study proposing a five‑tier fee‑recovery pyramid to guide future program and facility pricing.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6533690,"Santa Maria Police Department highlights ALPR success, mental‑health response in 2024 annual report",807,2122000,2929000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8&start=2122&end=2929","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8/thumbnail_2122000.jpg","/articles/6533690/Santa-Maria/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Santa-Maria-Police-Department-highlights-ALPR-success-mentalhealth-response-in-2024-annual-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533690-c81c57c8b8cf0535d84084b398d44461/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171104&Signature=mVVMf1T~C1eI7rPqBA3ppkRrKbEog5-5l6JICKtmLaREBs1JTzV5Fp0ER0ryAqYNT~j204CGD6QAwyiylWW0cy1tF6HhSjRT29P6kid8Qlj-xn-H9EPJsN6XNk5RK6FTGshV9CHCJLs7RFJCqjAGUGDa5oI9mol9kpLcF2ZnEVPDnTn7KTu3WLC0uHyIlOHLcf-1RN24-z9Wf6QB3smWklDCE0OkDsyeA2LXsJ~52qFULr~6lYaVwjREmA9RfIPpFbXlEbqeFoQ4hsRgOIuoVYpp51GfY1iePONfV2hpLYbl4tweR-NH7z7jsFhgqdb~1q9y7JW-0P5gaDr0Yhehig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commander Dan Cohen presented the Santa Maria Police Department’s 2024 annual report to the City Council on June 3, 2025, citing declines in auto thefts and expanded crisis‑response programs while outlining training, technology and staffing figures.

Cohen opened with the department’s mission and staffing: “The Santa Maria Police Department serves a growing city of over a 10,000 residents across 23 and a half square miles,” he said, and said 2024 operations were supported by approximately 40 sworn officers and 60 professional staff on an annual budget the department described as “approximately $55,000,000.” The report described dispatch handling, patrol responses, detective work and specialized units.

Automated license plate readers and crime trends: Cohen credited the ALPR program with helping investigate more than 1,300 cases and produce 474 arrests and 418 recovered vehicles since the program launched, noting a sharp drop in vehicle thefts: “Santa Maria once averaged over 1,000 stolen vehicles annually, peaking at 1,152 in 2022... in 2024 that number has dropped to 474, a 59% decrease.” The department said the program included city‑funded cameras and cameras deployed with federal grant money and private partners.

Mental‑health response and community policing: Cohen described an officer‑plus‑clinician mental‑health team that responds together to repeated contacts and crisis calls. “We can’t simply arrest our way out of the problem,” he said, describing the program as a means to connect individuals to services and reduce repeat calls for service. He said the clinician is from the county behavioral‑wellness program and the team wears non‑traditional attire to reduce escalation. Council member So to asked about expansion; Cohen said additional staffing and funding would be required and that the department would evaluate whether adding personnel would warrant a measurable return.

Training and technology: The department logged 9,165 training hours in 2024, increased web‑based training, and completed a first full year of body‑worn cameras. Cohen reported expansion of drone (UAS) operators, deployment of TASER 10 devices, a smart‑TV command station for detectives and a new online reporting tool intended to let residents file select reports and free patrol resources for higher‑priority calls.

Community programs and metrics: Cohen noted community outreach including National Night Out, youth academies, School Resource Officers and a crisis intervention team pairing officers with clinicians. He said Explorer volunteers contributed over 600 hours and cited the department’s canine, SWAT, crisis negotiation and mounted‑unit activities. In public comment, Laurie Tamura, president of the Santa Maria Police Council, described the volunteer council’s financial contributions over 17 years and promoted a June 20 fundraising event that is sold out.

Council questions: Council members asked for data on youth‑on‑youth violence and for metrics that extend beyond presence of School Resource Officers (SROs) — e.g., mentorship outcomes, calls for service changes, and campus safety statistics. Cohen said a crime analyst could pull demographic breakdowns and that SRO success can be measured in response time, calls avoided for patrol officers, school support and complaint levels. He agreed staff would provide additional data on youth violence if available.

Ending: The council thanked the department for the report and for ALPR results and community programs while requesting follow‑up on youth violence analytics and a continued update on the mental‑health response program and victim/witness support connections.

","Commander Dan Cohen told the council the department saw a steep drop in auto thefts after deploying automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and described expanded mental‑health response teams and new technologies; councilmembers asked for data on youth violence and program metrics.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6533695,"Santa Maria council adopts mid‑cycle budget changes, directs staff to pursue longer‑term rebalancing",8153,3074000,11227000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8&start=3074&end=11227","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3677910-bfcba5cd40a0b0d2880246331ffadef8/thumbnail_3074000.jpg","/articles/6533695/Santa-Maria/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Santa-Maria-council-adopts-midcycle-budget-changes-directs-staff-to-pursue-longerterm-rebalancing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533695-3ca470fbce6160963db4425097a9e47a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171104&Signature=CTh-ZOALUvbqXQOj4~ML~riBSdRprUXqMys2wRAFwsK1SE-ZoO4gkXGuOktChQS0ag3FuCGnLWlSNw8DjfUWHG5LEGxo0xfcpIKKqbKsEDqr4GkjEvwmMC4P~lZt4XrOGRsFhKn9-QBVaC84Z8kMxSXrIjnUUantupKZ4gZIrbDG~ZOO4G49GoIPy4ay7ynuAuQ8cHcR0Qs2GkVDMdJDVYZ7Q7pERhGE1RmXhr-cIGXwZCI9-vSNmNeCiRZEAaxZpLU00lWIHqR8d~C0wiIUxHd0WHuDADjbyzF3fCPnd7hXtXLLhXl4RYcyR9rByvwMV1DJC3nawLUE7d~EGA-vdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Maria City Council on June 3 approved mid‑cycle amendments to the city’s 2025–26 budget and directed staff to build a short‑ and long‑term plan to close a roughly $25.1 million gap between forecasted revenues and expenditures.

Council action and staff direction followed a detailed presentation from Rebecca Campbell, the city’s director of finance, who laid out revised year‑end estimates and a set of supplemental budget requests. Campbell said revenues were “pretty flat” and that general fund spending and Measure U expenditures together would exceed revenues for the coming year, requiring use of reserves and other one‑time funds to balance the books.

Campbell told the council the city would draw down reserves including the Local Economic Augmentation Fund (LEAF) and a planned pension payment to cover the shortfall while staff prepares a rebalancing plan. “We are energized and ready to embark on a rebalancing initiative,” she said, outlining steps that will include revisiting year‑end estimates, evaluating long‑term vacancy savings, reviewing capital projects and revenue opportunities, and forming a council ad‑hoc committee to work with staff this summer.

Why it matters: The city faces a structural gap driven by rising costs — notably salaries and benefits, insurance and workers’ compensation — while revenue growth has slowed. Council members pressed for transparency, urgency and community engagement as staff develops options that could include program reductions, service changes, or revenue actions.

What the council approved: The resolution the council adopted (motion and roll call) authorized the mid‑cycle amendments described by staff and delegated implementation authority to the city manager. The package includes: 1) funding technical adjustments for capital and enterprise projects, 2) limited supplemental operating requests (for example, maintenance for a fingerprint machine and utility cost increases supporting public safety services), and 3) filling a previously authorized utilities customer‑service position. The package also reflects staff’s plan to use $22.7 million in LEAF reserves and other one‑time funds to balance next year while the rebalancing process proceeds.

Council discussion: Several council members expressed concern and urged a faster, more transparent process. Council member So to asked for clearer data on CalPERS and liability cost drivers; Council member Flores emphasized protecting youth and senior services while exploring fee or program changes; Mayor Pro Tem Escobedo and others urged decisive action. Rebecca Campbell and City Manager (unnamed in the meeting record) said staff will return in the fall with proposed actions after the ad‑hoc committee and departmental reviews.

Next steps: Staff will (a) recheck year‑end estimates and vacancy savings, (b) re‑evaluate capital and equipment projects for timing, (c) investigate revenue generation opportunities, and (d) convene an ad‑hoc council–staff committee this summer to develop specific reductions and revenue options for the council to consider in the fall.

Quotes: “We want to work with all city departments, the city manager, everybody in this room. We want to work together and with your council, to do that,” Campbell told the council. City Manager (title used in meeting) said staff will return with a “brand new budget” and a game plan over the next three months.

Ending: The council adopted the mid‑cycle amendments and asked staff to accelerate the rebalancing work. Council members repeatedly urged staff to include clear metrics and community engagement in the next phase so any future reductions or fee changes are understandable to residents.

","The Santa Maria City Council approved mid‑cycle amendments to the 2025–26 city budget on June 3, 2025, authorizing use of one‑time reserves and directing staff to produce a detailed multi‑month rebalancing plan and an ad hoc council working group to address a projected structural shortfall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Santa Maria council actions on landscape assessments, design standards, fees and several routine items (June 3)

City outlines Measure U youth spending, leisure needs and a fee‑recovery framework for recreation programs

Santa Maria Police Department highlights ALPR success, mental‑health response in 2024 annual report

Santa Maria council adopts mid‑cycle budget changes, directs staff to pursue longer‑term rebalancing