[{"_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":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6503756,"mediaKeyId","5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7","parentId",5460923,"title","Parks Department launches two-year master plan process; commission provides early feedback on outreach and priorities","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5302000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7&start=5302&end=5302","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7/thumbnail_5302000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6503756/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Parks-Department-launches-two-year-master-plan-process-commission-provides-early-feedback-on-outreach-and-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503756-4e27c411c39cee64041b32db26d86b5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203419&Signature=REOJGwppYjjrDm3wOfkKANp4VUgr5nRCf88AU1h5euAnlj4nqAVgoZiRwZz69WYOvrzqkb~-Wua7gfocxNLo~YPZaNRziSldKwTXS~7ke65IC8~tUsZPHCmRlzxisc9~u-Pg06Mh4QYoZub9qhn7y-i4irxd9xndKwoHTVQlguSt468FqYW4-9ZDOKElqqdBI7SaW5TYLn2U81nNMuKJuTXyRSmRO1QpNRPtPzUDnS~BIY9xpp4mio-yUnGzB5iy86bPYubnrXi3Ewv1MGmEWxcLW50Nb5603h-kJU-G-j-iVlsr43ho8g3~N33DOszmlxdWWs133QpZGfZbW-JIaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-07-24T01:58:22.81Z","article","Parks Department project manager Bronwyn Bradbury and staff presented the kickoff for a two-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan at the July 23 commission meeting, asking commissioners for early input on outreach goals, stakeholder groups and draft plan objectives.

Bradbury said the master plan will inventory the city’s parks, open space and recreation facilities; assess community needs; and prioritize future capital and program investments. She told the commission the city maintains 64 parks and open spaces and 18 community buildings that the plan will evaluate. The plan’s work plan includes: an inventory and condition assessment, a needs assessment and community engagement, funding and feasibility analysis, and a recommendations and implementation chapter. Bradbury said public engagement would begin in the summer following the initiation phase.

Commissioners emphasized several early priorities: Vice Chair Clark asked for measurable outreach metrics (for example, geographic and demographic targets) and a written public participation plan that staff would present to the commission; Commissioner Lesnar Buxton urged explicit outreach to people with disabilities and better bilingual outreach; Commissioner Ramsey asked that the needs assessment balance current gaps (for example, lack of certain facilities) with anticipated future demand driven by new housing and demographic change.

Director Zachary and Bradbury noted the plan’s purpose is to provide a systemwide road map for investments, support funding applications and align resources with community values. Bradbury also said staff is coordinating with the county’s open-space element update and that the city’s open-space update is a separate, state-mandated planning product on a shorter timeline.

Commissioners asked about update frequency; Bradbury and staff suggested the plan could inform a 10- to 20-year horizon with periodic check-ins and annual or periodic implementation reporting. Commissioners urged staff to ‘‘shovel-ready’’ high-priority projects to increase grant competitiveness and to design engagement materials that prompt long-term thinking rather than rear-view assessments.

Ending: Staff will draft a public participation plan and return to the commission before broad public outreach; the full master plan will proceed on the schedule presented and include additional commission check-ins.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission - July 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks staff introduced a two-year Parks and Recreation Master Plan project to inventory parks, assess needs and shape funding priorities; commissioners suggested measurable engagement goals, attention to accessibility and coordination with the county open-space update.","taxTitle","Santa Barbara City, Santa Barbara County, California","taxId",4209,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6503760,"Commission approves removal of mature Chinese elm at 623 West Unibro Street",120,4571000,4691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7&start=4571&end=4691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7/thumbnail_4571000.jpg","/articles/6503760/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Commission-approves-removal-of-mature-Chinese-elm-at-623-West-Unibro-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503760-661996765cb383e5ca68461ee0c988ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203419&Signature=MRr-tNtymBeZ5ujMKMOomAH2GQjBB5bE6y6lYdKQOwgswsPFI~F78JiysTMDjNs-vE56CfgqrsE-u4pSUl2W1GccwITf6YpqqN5aEnldWrE5rzAPeWss2XyXU9QVqxc4NITJzwjElxzeQXYKQ-zKSwNcvfqlSMIEQ8DW4lebyUQfRCLabI40h8Lj7k~5DNj1QClA2rvfBG~1hwmg003ceYznYWl1g4OV5JOlqbXYwWqUyVhuLAaYaUVut7qwWUm4Vmo0t6kLl8LIp0d7NH~kkEdpZ4NwvV6CmA9L1F40LKkHd~k-7~jcykFjbcy0B2Mip-4SgPGLk2wMQMD4yQGq2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved removal of a mature Chinese elm at 623 West Unibro Street at its July 23 meeting.

City Arborist Mr. Slack presented the Street Tree Advisory Committee’s on-site evaluation that documented ‘‘multiple limb failures’’ and observed the species’ difficulty in canopy restoration once mature. Slack told the commission the committee ‘‘did an on-site inspection … the tree in its current shape was really not providing much value, subject to potential continued limb failure, and not really a good candidate for . . . canopy restoration.’’

Commissioner Ramsey moved to concur with the advisory committee’s recommendation and remove the tree ‘‘on the finding of good principles [of] forest management’’; Commissioner Nielsen seconded. With no public comment and no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

Slack noted a young coast live oak adjacent to the site that staff expects will provide future canopy coverage in the front yard; the committee therefore did not require replacement plantings for this specific case.

Ending: The commission authorized permit processing for removal on the recorded finding; staff will document removal and any mitigation or site restoration work in the permit file.","The commission unanimously approved removal of a mature Chinese elm at 623 West Unibro Street after the Street Tree Advisory Committee found extensive limb failures and recommended removal; staff noted a young coast live oak nearby that provides canopy replacement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6503763,"Commission approves West Side/Lower West safety project with 32 of 33 proposed tree removals; one large red gum retained for study",2582,1866000,4448000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7&start=1866&end=4448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7/thumbnail_1866000.jpg","/articles/6503763/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Commission-approves-West-SideLower-West-safety-project-with-32-of-33-proposed-tree-removals-one-large-red-gum-retained-for-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503763-6c986c40b27e7ac0cc11ec8e9a706e3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203419&Signature=AkeRW0KgP3x4--zbCzmr2NZQZeL15t21kJGmAASanttLD-u6GXygVGtuoki3f9sQE2lJ6hLQHF7VudVhxWwrjHDNFOGjgEDnUWWaeDfLA-pfZ-1ma4u2XJi4VOECkfDB1pvNyWMTK5v1A3rQNww5XwlNhP-eRxS4MTNoUbtz2MI7G8qeiWkm3PgeED6oRoAx-W-Bc7iG04P8tqPNCmAQbTaZVgDw78nGPgs3yOoje4wnASN6SgWyJSaP7lHoSlBTNWt472FYwN9HfCishclxu-uxBP8OgbsiwJhA2aXw-xgY-tY~sTZc-iNr7AiZwrTLbl9CMooZqfsHjm8mj~rI0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission on July 23 approved the removal of 32 street or setback trees associated with the West Side and Lower West Neighborhood Transportation Management Plan implementation, while holding one large tree for further study.

Public Works Supervising Transportation Planner Jessica Grant summarized the project as a multi-year effort to fill sidewalk and bike-lane gaps, improve crossings and add safer routes to schools. Grant said the project was adopted by City Council in 2020 and secured a state Active Transportation Program grant as the primary funding source.

The transportation plan requires right-of-way changes across several streets; the project team requested removal of 33 trees to accommodate protected bike lanes, widened sidewalks and safer crossings. Grant told the commission 30 of the 33 trees are in the city right of way and three are on private property, and the project team identified 40 planting locations and proposed a two-for-one replacement ratio (66 replacement trees) to mitigate canopy loss.

The Street Tree Advisory Committee inspected the sites and recommended approval of all 33 removals but asked Public Works to analyze whether the large river red gum on Modoc Road (tree number 1) could be retained. Public Works engineers said preserving that tree would require a curb jog that would cost two on-street parking spaces in a neighborhood where parking demand is high; retaining the tree could also be possible by shifting the sidewalk edge two feet from the tree base, but that was a preliminary estimate.

Commission discussion focused on balancing tree preservation, canopy replacement, pedestrian safety and neighborhood parking. Commissioner Sebastian Aldana moved to approve removal of 32 of the 33 trees and allow staff discretion to retain the Modoc Road river red gum if feasible; Commissioner Nielsen seconded. Vice Chair Clark recused from the vote. A roll-call voice vote recorded Chair McGill, Commissioner Aldana, Commissioner Lesnar Buxton, Commissioner Nielsen and Commissioner Ramsey voting in favor; Vice Chair Clark was recused. The commission requested staff make a documented effort to preserve the Modoc Road tree and to meet the project’s proposed replacement commitment.

Public commenters raised site-specific concerns. Daniel Fox, speaking about the Euclid Avenue corner at West Sola, asked whether new sidewalks would include landscaping and warned a planned sidewalk would cross a newly built ADU driveway.

Grant and staff said replacement plantings would be pursued primarily within the project footprint and nearby vacancies in the city tree inventory; they also committed to working with the Parks Department arborist to identify the remaining replacement locations.

Ending: The commission’s decision clears the way for Public Works to proceed with the transportation improvements while preserving one high-value tree for additional study; staff will finalize planting locations, pursue the two-for-one replacement target and document any administrative decisions about the Modoc Road tree in project records.","The commission voted to permit most tree removals requested for the West Side and Lower West neighborhood transportation project, approving 32 of 33 trees with a two-for-one replacement commitment and specifically excluding a large river red gum on Modoc Road from immediate removal so staff can attempt retention without losing parking supply.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6503770,"Parks commission approves removal of coast live oak near 767–773 Palermo Drive",1160,704000,1864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7&start=704&end=1864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5460923-10534654a06b9ac0be2b2e0d41d926d7/thumbnail_704000.jpg","/articles/6503770/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Parks-commission-approves-removal-of-coast-live-oak-near-767773-Palermo-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503770-aa0230ad89c15c3ad1b9a0d2df37bb1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203419&Signature=ga43vXgxE~cjsA3xkyz0Y0~vDCG9sIae0R3ASihUSlJEkJeI-R2SWQnKYSeXsDIpS8BdQTGiWkuLt~cIQZWy6PoKNWbkZpPf8Oygcoept4q3mAm305wiFwt~fdWYEdwM5lodGXY~JX4Us5NUd00QNVya~hdExFJGH9J7KzxpM-z637yaOBcmiqLtXI3fWMhfrvE5gJg3l32T~WIc7zzXypYu9-tbhJO7f4EvqUnCmWgAmDfYIPGuKbZc0m4ZMP5RvhaWzQZMd6rXYHxi-vL-hDqAD0lPhbPX6yyfJfXbdtDLjvq~2trmKSzFMvlyxopVba2DUnS7tTgVDM8GcfPOCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara City Parks and Recreation Commission voted July 23 to approve removal of a coast live oak that straddles the property line near 767 and 773 Palermo Drive.

Commissioners acted after a staff presentation and public comment from property owners. The Street Tree Advisory Committee had inspected the tree and recommended denying removal, finding the tree healthy and stable. City Arborist (Mr.) Slack told the commission the committee ‘‘concluded that the tree’s stable and has shown . . . phototrophic response . . . which indicates that the root system’s pretty stable,’’ and that committee members did not raise immediate safety concerns.

But property owners and commissioners said canopy proximity to structures, recurring leaf litter and long-term insurance and maintenance pressures supported removal. Lori Rafferty, who identified herself as owner of 767 Palermo and representative of the adjacent owner, told the commission two property owners were ‘‘working together to solve a problem with defensible space’’ and described repeated clogging of gutters and a ‘‘liability for two property owners.’’

Commissioner Sebastian Aldana moved to disagree with the Street Tree Advisory Committee and approve removal on grounds of forest-management and health-and-safety findings; Commissioner Ramsey seconded. After discussion about pruning options and the tree’s effect on a neighboring street tree, the motion passed.

The commission’s action directs staff to permit the removal under the finding cited by commissioners; the record shows the Street Tree Advisory Committee’s recommendation and the owners’ written materials were considered prior to the vote. The commission did not state a replacement requirement for this specific removal in the public discussion.

The tree removal will proceed under the city’s street-tree review process; staff said any necessary permits and conditions will be recorded and enforced.

The commission moved on to other agenda items after the vote.

Ending: The commission’s decision formalizes the owner request for removal despite the advisory committee’s contrary recommendation; any replacement planting, permit conditions or appeal rights will be managed through regular Parks Department procedures and are not detailed in the meeting record.","The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Commission voted to overturn the Street Tree Advisory Committee and approve removal of a coast live oak growing on the property line between 767 and 773 Palermo Drive, citing forest-management and safety concerns after testimony from property owners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks Department launches two-year master plan process; commission provides early feedback on outreach and priorities

Commission approves removal of mature Chinese elm at 623 West Unibro Street

Commission approves West Side/Lower West safety project with 32 of 33 proposed tree removals; one large red gum retained for study

Parks commission approves removal of coast live oak near 767–773 Palermo Drive