[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6587272,"mediaKeyId","5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919","parentId",5663826,"title","Parks staff say festivals, parades saw accessibility fixes; committee seeks SOP for private events","audioSeconds",1066,"startMs",5898000,"endMs",6964000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919&start=5898&end=6964","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919/thumbnail_5898000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587272/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Parks-staff-say-festivals-parades-saw-accessibility-fixes-committee-seeks-SOP-for-private-events","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587272-c56aa30b3c62bb06d816a55db98dba85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175212&Signature=K4whHXBwGOmKxqQGJSpqdeKHrRaFQnaejoxLXjtehH5Ri0DR3K~yfj9-ht-zaD4FJDPWvCv-ZsHqnefooWdeBL8xpoiyXKyDTCf3nkhZR6-98d6fNRs2x25~a-xDjhXr9EOn1qBvYm8IFK~~DY~iVxYFvUnl~BP~enHSNjMF1VkTvatKO6NTOzdSZHo~3ssc2w9QcZxh9cxCfmgGHNqmFJkHZ4oqCDh-AE-KTlqSjhBuCXqj1DURtYLxqIILG40-jbn2~6sNntQX6fOPxyE~0wqtqQenuA~PP7M5AAIlKCwlY1bxrCN4~VJ8TZaIl54aAVXirGxLiiCbyB8oaEk7tw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Barbara, CA","date","2025-08-22T18:54:34.463Z","article","Parks and special‑events staff told the Santa Barbara Access Advisory Committee on Aug. 12 that they have implemented a series of accessibility measures for city‑sponsored events and are working with independent organizers to improve access at private festivals.

The parks presenter said the city added a link on the special‑events web page to the ADA National Network’s temporary‑events planning guide, designated on‑street parking adjacent to parks (when no lot exists), reserved cordoned seating areas for spectators with disabilities along parade routes, accessible portable toilets co‑located with designated seating, and shuttle drop‑off/pick‑up zones close to accessible paths of travel. Staff also said they provide QR codes and maps to event volunteers and traffic control staff so attendees can quickly find accessible viewing and parking.

Committee and community members recounted recent problems at privately run events. One commenter described attending the Greek festival where two large ADA‑compliant toilets were sited far from the main activity area across uneven terrain, making access difficult for people using wheelchairs or walkers; witnesses also said there was no raised viewing platform for seated spectators to see stage performances. Several committee members said those observations highlight the need for a clear city standard that event organizers must follow.

Parks staff said the city has required host organizations for city‑sponsored events (for example, Old Spanish Days and summer solstice) to post accessibility information on their event websites and to provide maps and timing for when reserved areas will be available. The presenter said staff will continue to refine placements for Solstice and the Milpas holiday parade and will run ad hoc meetings to agree on permanent viewing and shuttle locations.

The committee discussed using the small city trail and walkway line item (budgeted at $50,000) to fund accessibility fixes at Douglas Preserve, where wood‑chip paths and parking access make independent visits difficult for people using walkers or manual wheelchairs. Committee members asked staff to pursue a durable path and at‑least one accessible parking space near the first overlook.

Why it matters: festivals and parades are high‑attendance events where physical barriers and last‑minute site choices can exclude people with disabilities. Committee members said earlier coordination, a published SOP or checklist for independent organizers, and stronger oversight would reduce recurring problems and avoid last‑minute fixes.

Looking ahead: staff said they will continue ad hoc work on Solstice and Milpas parade placement, coordinate with event hosts to publish QR codes and maps before events, and will discuss potential use of trails/walkways funding to pilot improvements at Douglas Preserve.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Access Advisory Committee - August 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Parks and events staff told the Access Advisory Committee that recent city-sponsored parades and festivals now include reserved accessible seating, on‑street parking and accessible portable toilets, but committee members urged a formal standard and earlier coordination after reports that privately run events still place accessible facilities out of reach.","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},6587277,"ADA transition work advances while street-maintenance funding tightens",664,7043000,7707000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919&start=7043&end=7707","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919/thumbnail_7043000.jpg","/articles/6587277/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/ADA-transition-work-advances-while-street-maintenance-funding-tightens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587277-582718f745f0588e80114ad3f2e73f0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175212&Signature=oBbRsKIEMvvzKAtrU9meZ9mLCOSp4Y7NJ8Pzmeu0meVqwK-4fvFwY-o3I9q-O71zFyZNlNvd3oOJW5E8d6ZRAtzJxFHCZOA2HhZfywvH9IpYNkQmVEpv~GQ56s5xHIecmbrejqQbTG3M6fZYg3PhdgQMNrX6ziq~e7mabJWlLvIjT5iMDlAqVx-4CDXTm1RVglyhRKvx~Pp3kSy0OIEJI0nTveu5BPdYi6uHXjxOwgB8EuW~YKiiEf8FjOV57eQUTqS6Wz2vgGJ~eXuprHoTLfGIc9z6hPo-e719MivZ1fTwnWA9J3Rdga2jzZniXe7OYyel9ApF79VNLa9DokYu7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Santa Barbara City staff told the Access Advisory Committee on Aug. 12 that work to implement the city's ADA transition plan is proceeding, with new staff assigned and several projects either under construction or moving into procurement — but members were also warned that near-term sidewalk and ramp work will be constrained by budget reallocations to the city’s police station project.

Craig Schallenberger, who presented the update on the transition plan, said staff have added an engineering resource (Ashley Lopez) to the team and are preparing a sequence of bid packages. He said a small signage contract has already been issued at 630 Garden Street to establish procurement procedures and that larger path-of-travel items — curb ramps, handrails and restroom work — will follow.

Schallenberger said multiple city projects already underway overlap items in the transition plan, including the new police station, the Dwight Murphy Park renovation and Chase Palm Park work. He said those overlapping projects have obliged staff to use a combination of dedicated transition-plan bid packages and integration with larger capital projects.

At the same meeting, capital projects staff said the pavement-maintenance budget for fiscal year 2026 and the following years has been reduced to free up money for the police station. Committee members were told the city expects roughly $6 million this year for pavement maintenance, and higher police-station-related allocations this and next fiscal year (staff cited about $14 million in the current year and $13 million next year allocated to the police station); staff said the police-station contract itself is roughly $9.6 million and that other program costs bring the overall project higher.

Despite those cuts, staff said the ADA transition plan line items were not cut from the budget and that smaller, targeted initiatives are beginning. The meeting also included a listing of near-term pedestrian-access projects that remain funded: a previously awarded FY25C project covering about 60 curb ramps and sidewalk repairs (Upper East neighborhood, Anacapa and Laguna streets), an earlier FY23C contract that includes more than 100 ramps (Mesa, Westside and San Roque), and an upcoming De La Vina curb-extension project with new accessible pedestrian signals (APS).

Public-works and capital staff also said the city recently learned a Caltrans grant was successful: a traffic-signal safety upgrade that will add 19 APS devices and 28 pedestrian-access ramps at multiple signalized intersections; construction timing for that grant was estimated around 2027–2028.

Committee members asked when they would see contract awards and construction. Schallenberger said the spreadsheet tracking transition-plan items will be updated before the committee's November meeting and that staff expect to issue additional bid packages and begin spending on the prioritized items in the coming months. The capital projects representative said the budget added modest new line items for accessibility work — $50,000 for “trails and walkways” and $50,000 for on-street disabled parking spaces — and that staff plan to use that funding to pilot fully compliant on-street accessible spaces and to address small trail improvements such as at Douglas Preserve.

Why it matters: the transition plan sets a schedule for removing physical barriers on public property; budget changes that divert Measure C and pavement funding to major capital projects can slow pavement and ramp repairs unless staff find other funding sources or prioritize differently. Committee members stressed the need to move from design to construction to avoid unspent balances being reallocated in future budgets.

Looking ahead: staff said they will present an updated transition-plan progress spreadsheet at the next committee meeting in November and will bring specific bid packages and project schedules to the ad hoc committee for technical review.","Staff reported progress on the city's ADA transition plan — new staffing, small bid packages and several active accessibility projects — even as Measure C and pavement funds were reallocated to the new police station, reducing near-term sidewalk and ramp work.",{"_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},6587262,"Public commenters cite accessibility gaps at Greek festival; committee discusses Douglas Preserve access",801,1078000,1879000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919&start=1078&end=1879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919/thumbnail_1078000.jpg","/articles/6587262/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Public-commenters-cite-accessibility-gaps-at-Greek-festival-committee-discusses-Douglas-Preserve-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587262-6dd3d81d1b634fafad10c1bc17d79f7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175212&Signature=hDnkKLNlJ-sk5aM4oxeXd8kHtA5du46261zQ2nIoMnzQepsxQzKquTb4tZFaonw77Nwq0wkNmSu7bQRpMyJV4A4aNCSj62Cg0bW~HHysm9mSUZ144vSV1WuQw3f8NezrPhy3cQ3NnT~wERh1DI~wyuaUmtkorhP8QJBjH0QBYoFiWfSz~SUqILIZj~hJI6JkQ6vAalSeIX3fh0RQzMjs85AcPOW6PJNzNlZMGPcUHg87f0Wtrb8PaYiP5rogpGYIrvZnev6I~dY50MvBld0T2UETNrHbWzjvY6q3LfwYDTvJY1uq0GKTIO4aG0zZDQs2vyZrCCkA0TQBhMlfVonLmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During public comment at the Aug. 12 meeting of the Access Advisory Committee, residents raised accessibility problems at a privately organized Greek festival and discussed access barriers at Douglas Preserve.

A committee member said the festival provided two large ADA‑compliant portable toilets but located them far from the main activity across uneven terrain with long grass, making it difficult for people using wheelchairs, walkers or manual propulsion to reach them. The commenter also said there was no raised viewing platform near the stage; seated spectators in wheelchairs could not see performances because standing crowds blocked sightlines.

Committee members who had attended the festival agreed and said the issue of restroom placements and viewing platforms will likely be discussed during a scheduled special‑events debrief later in the meeting. Several members urged a standard operating procedure for event accessibility and recommended the city require organizers — even independent ones — to follow a checklist of site planning steps to ensure accessible circulation and restroom access.

Separately, committee members raised concerns about Douglas Preserve, noting the entrance path is surfaced with wood chips that are difficult for walker users and are effectively impassable for many manual wheelchairs. Members discussed adding a handicap parking space at the preserve entrance near the cliffs and creating a short maintained path to the first overlook area; staff said there is a small “trails and walkways” budget line (about $50,000 annually) that could support small‑scale improvements.

Why it matters: public commenters and committee members said last‑mile placements and terrain choices can make technically ADA‑compliant fixtures unusable in practice and that planning needs to consider surface and sightline issues, not just the presence of a facility.

Next steps: committee members asked staff to flag the Greek festival concerns in the special‑events ad hoc, to pursue an SOP or checklist for event organizers, and to follow up with Parks about potential Douglas Preserve improvements.","A committee member described difficulty reaching ADA toilets and viewing stages at a local Greek festival and urged stronger event standards. Separately, committee members raised Douglas Preserve trail access and requested staff follow-up on adding accessible parking and a maintained path.",{"_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},6587267,"Access advisory committee names three award recipients, votes unanimously",2005,2003000,4008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919&start=2003&end=4008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5663826-051e3bfbebadbb5cc0a75574662ee919/thumbnail_2003000.jpg","/articles/6587267/Santa-Barbara-City/Santa-Barbara-County/California/Access-advisory-committee-names-three-award-recipients-votes-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587267-1871c9b53bbe50ec5dcff1d2dee029b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175212&Signature=fdIME7UxJ3~3PkhkDfkMIz7F5RZVCelG7Us8FCWyBQNBzEjuG-72YCQBcv9GsbfwZgtf8sX5J~BgS7KCUeZ55nN80JH7I~jLbk5xqCeuLCA6K3jTp7w5VKGg48KPzMQqI~AQu-0T0HOuJbSjSx~BToG5RtmuYxR24IvXlJl7voR7~6Uij0zaKI356l1xwv4iLztt9qSczanJVDU6CFYm~hoHtpVSNvWtCeLtflvOYxj1yAKjQytk7zq5RCffcRbURwSTxm~DxobxjA71~ES3h1GCIQHXhsk95Hdu5rgu~igmHbBOuPkYMgib-qC4NEErMA2D7uFMwBEsk4MKk9Z-Nw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Barbara Access Advisory Committee confirmed three recipients for its annual recognition program during the Aug. 12 meeting: local DJ and disability advocate Chris Benedict (nominated as “DJ of Ability”), longtime advocate Bob Burnham and the Santa Barbara Bowl for accessibility work.

Brian (staff) read nominations gathered earlier in the year; committee members discussed whether to cap the number of annual recognitions and whether to use categories (organization vs. individual). After a round of discussion and a straw poll, Committee member Nick made a motion to recognize Chris Benedict, Bob Burnham and the Santa Barbara Bowl. A second was called and the committee approved the slate by voice vote. The motion passed unanimously.

Committee members emphasized that the recognition program is a pilot and asked staff to continue evaluating whether the number of honorees should be limited in future years to preserve the award’s prestige. Several members said they value recognizing organizations because awards support organizational fundraising and outreach; others favored recognizing individuals who have made sustained personal contributions.

Why it matters: the recognition program highlights local accessibility work, gives recipients publicity that can support funding and partnerships, and raises the committee’s visibility in the community.

What the committee decided: the three recipients for this year are Chris Benedict (individual), Bob Burnham (individual) and the Santa Barbara Bowl (organization). Staff will prepare presentation details for the committee’s annual report in October and determine how the awards will be presented to recipients.","The committee confirmed three nominations for its annual recognition program: DJ Chris Benedict, longtime accessibility advocate Bob Burnham and the Santa Barbara Bowl. The committee voted on a three‑recipient slate by voice vote and approved it unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks staff say festivals, parades saw accessibility fixes; committee seeks SOP for private events

ADA transition work advances while street-maintenance funding tightens

Public commenters cite accessibility gaps at Greek festival; committee discusses Douglas Preserve access

Access advisory committee names three award recipients, votes unanimously