Santa Barbara outlines citywide sustainability programs — water conservation, wildfire resilience, EV charging, libraries and more

City sustainability and resilience staff presented a broad overview of existing and planned programs intended to increase community participation in climate and sustainability goals, emphasizing that many efforts in the Climate Action Plan rely on resident engagement and voluntary measures.

Why it matters: The programs support the city’s Climate Action Plan goals and aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase drought and wildfire resilience, expand sustainable transportation options and promote reuse and waste reduction. Many of the initiatives are grant funded or include stacking incentives with other programs.

Sustainability and resilience director A’Lelia Parenteau told the council the presentation ‘‘shows that sustainability is in the city's DNA,’’ and that the item responds to requests from the Sustainability Committee to provide a full accounting of programs that facilitate community action.

Major program highlights presented to council:

- Library programs: Paige Sundstrom described library‑hosted sustainability offerings funded by the Sustainable California Libraries grant, including monthly sewing and mending classes, plant‑based cooking series, a community garden plot at Yananali Alley, a forthcoming fix‑it fair (May 17, 1–4 p.m.) and a developing ‘‘library of things’’ tool collection for community loan.

- Parks & Recreation and wildfire resilience: Monique O’Connor summarized Arbor Week plantings and a wildfire resiliency project in partnership with the Fire Department. She said combined state grants (State Coastal Conservancy and CalFire) total about $4,500,000 to support vegetation management, habitat restoration and community outreach through spring 2029.

- Water conservation: Dakota Corey and Water Conservation Analyst Madeline Wood reported implementation of advanced metering (AMI) and the WaterSmart portal (launched March 2024) with 51% registration; automated leak alerts; a suite of rebates (lawn replacement, weather‑smart irrigation, washing machine rebates, mulch delivery) and 1,300 landscape rebates issued in the last decade. Wood said the city also partners countywide on outreach and school programs that have reached more than 23,000 students.

- Clean Community and waste diversion: Hillary Allen reviewed textile recycling partnerships, monthly neighborhood cleanups (about 300 bags of trash annually for the program), a community yard‑sale pilot to promote reuse, and a pilot reusable cup program with a local coffee vendor launching in June.

- Creeks and stormwater: Creeks Division Manager Erin Markey described a new sustainable stormwater rebate program for disconnected downspouts, rain barrels, rain gardens and pavement removal that launched in early 2025; the program had received 25 applications and two completed projects in its first months. Markey also highlighted the urban creek trail program and Creek Week outreach.

- Mobility, bike share and EV charging: Mobility staff reported that the bike share program has delivered more than 2,000,000 miles ridden since its 2021 launch and that new grant funding (Clean Mobility Options vouchers) will provide about $1.5 million to expand hard infrastructure and low‑income access. Transportation and climate staff said the city has secured roughly $3 million in EV‑related grants with $4.8 million pending; planned installs include 18 fast chargers at the Harbor, Eastside Library and Amtrak later this year and a $1.2 million grant (in collaboration with UCSB) to install chargers at affordable housing and school district sites.

- Santa Barbara Clean Energy and home electrification: SBCE staff described a home electrification accelerator (rebates for heat‑pump water heaters and related electrical work, advising service) and a community tree giveaway pilot for customers. SBCE also expanded EV purchase and charger rebates and raised income‑qualified rebate levels.

- Waterfront and harbor programs: The Waterfront Department highlighted the Clean Marina program, volunteer seafloor cleanups (recent event removed about one ton of debris from a marina area) and vessel surrender incentives that offer $500 to owners who voluntarily turn in derelict boats.

Council discussion and next steps: Council members praised the breadth of programs and the staff coordination across departments. Several members emphasized outreach to renters and multifamily residents — especially for EV charging access — and asked staff to continue developing multifamily and tenant‑accessible incentives. Staff said many programs are funded with a mix of grants, enterprise funds and, in some areas, general‑fund support for staffing and outreach. Several presenters noted that specific program pages and rebate forms are available on city websites and that staff will return with implementation details as projects advance.

Ending: Council received the overview; no policy votes were required. Staff will continue to implement grant‑funded projects, expand outreach and vet multifamily charging and other tenant‑accessible options.