Council welcomes new city staff, hears community updates and calls for mobile-home permitting changes

The City Council on Monday introduced several newly hired city employees and received updates on community programs and public comments on a range of local topics.

Introductions: Assistant City Manager Ryan Kintz and department directors introduced new hires including Megan Araghi (Management Assistant), Julissa Briones (Program Manager, General Government), Dorel Brown (Parks and Facilities Attendant), Mitch Perkins (Chief Building Inspector and Plans Examiner), and Tori Cutbirth (Program Manager, Parks and Recreation). Each new hire briefly addressed the council.

Community and city manager updates: City Manager Michael Ramirez and staff highlighted recent attendance at the League of California Cities conference and recruitment updates (finance manager application deadline closed; principal planner prescreening underway). Parks and Recreation Director Jeanette Gantt outlined upcoming community programs: an Age Well Tai Chi class starting March 10 and a free '50s sock hop on March 1 at Veterans Hall (RSVP requested). Library outreach to immigrant families and the city's volunteer appreciation events were also noted.

Public comments of note: - Michael Baker, CEO of United Boys & Girls Clubs, promoted a March 15 fundraising event (Best Bites Big Futures) and introduced Monique Fairgood, Santa Barbara County Youth of the Year, who described her experience in the club's youth programs. - Bob Franco, director of the Sandpiper Mobile Home Park Homeowners Association, urged the council to seek authority for cities to approve repairs and installations in mobile-home parks, citing long delays and permitting difficulties with the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Franco said he had discussed the issue with the city manager and State Senator Monique Limon's office and asked the city to consider pursuing legislation to allow municipalities to issue these kinds of permits. Mayor Alarcon asked staff to report back with additional information, and staff agreed to include the item in a future city manager's report.

Why it matters: New staff introductions signal capacity changes at City Hall; the public comments raised policy questions about local permitting authority for mobile-home park repairs, a concern the council asked staff to return with more information on.

Next steps: Staff agreed to provide additional information on mobile-home park permitting (potentially in the next city manager's report) and to continue recruitment and program rollout.