Harbor Commission OKs one-year Echo Wireless renewal, hears Coastal Act briefing and extends strategic-planning work group

The Harbor Commission on an April 2025 evening recommended a one-year renewal of a license with Echo Wireless to keep public Wi‑Fi in place at Santa Barbara Harbor while waterfront staff and the city IT department study whether the city should operate its own network.

The commission also received an in-depth presentation on the California Coastal Act and the City of Santa Barbara Local Coastal Program and voted to continue the strategic-planning work group for six months to concentrate on citywide leasing guidelines tied to waterfront priorities.

Cesar Barrios, waterfront business manager, told commissioners Echo Wireless USA Inc. ("Echo") has provided subscription wireless internet service in the harbor since February 2011 and that the Waterfront Department has historically treated the service as an amenity rather than a major revenue source. "The department collects a nominal monthly fee from Echo as the purpose of the WiFi service is to provide an amenity to harbor users rather than being a revenue source for the department," Barrios said.

Barrios recommended a one-year license term "while the Waterfront Department considers options for the city to establish its own WiFi network for harbor users." He said the shorter term would preserve continuity of service and give staff time to work with the city's IT department on a technical and financial evaluation. He added that the department has not yet negotiated price for the proposed one-year term and that the cost to roll out a city-run network is still undetermined.

Commission discussion centered on service quality, cost and scope. Commissioner Cohen cautioned that running a municipal Wi‑Fi network is "a highly technical undertaking" and asked whether staff felt prepared to support it. Barrios said the city would work with IT and that a municipal approach could offer a basic free tier plus optional paid higher-bandwidth tiers, similar to captive portals used in airports and hotels.

Commissioner Nelson asked who sets the current consumer fee. Barrios replied that the existing five-year lease negotiated in 2020 established the per-day rate now shown in staff materials and that the city could seek to change fee structure during negotiations. Barrios noted many harbor residents use Cox Communications through physical cable to boats and that Echo's service is primarily used by visiting boaters and transient users.

The commission unanimously approved a motion by Vice Chair Ford, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, that "Harbor Commission recommends staff negotiate a new license agreement with Echo Wireless for one year while the Waterfront Department considers options for the city to establish its own WiFi network for harbor users." The motion passed with Commissioner McCray absent.

Presentation on Coastal Act and Local Coastal Program

Waterfront Director Mike Wilshire and Melissa Hetrick, Energy and Climate Program Manager in the Sustainability and Resiliency Department, gave a detailed review of the California Coastal Act and the City of Santa Barbara's Local Coastal Program (LCP), including how the LCP guides harbor planning and permits.

Hetrick summarized the Coastal Act's origins and purpose, noting Proposition 20 (1972) and the act's 1976 codification. She said the Coastal Act prioritizes public access and coastal-dependent uses and requires permits for development in the coastal zone. She described elements of the city's LCP certified in earlier decades and comprehensively updated in 2019, including the land use plan and implementing ordinances (the zoning code and Title 22). Hetrick identified sections of the LCP that most directly affect the waterfront: coastal-dependent uses, public access (including key public-access parking areas), visitor-serving and recreation policies, and coastal-hazard guidance such as dredging and sand management.

Wilshire emphasized that the LCP and municipal codes (he referenced code sections used in the presentation, including Title 17, Title 22 and code section 28.70 as cited in staff materials) serve as the standard of review for coastal development permits and land-use decisions on the waterfront. He noted policies requiring the Harbor Commission to review the mix of harbor uses every five years and explained the LCP’s preference that Stearns Wharf remain primarily open space and visitor-serving in character. Hetrick and Wilshire said sea-level-rise and the city’s 30-year waterfront adaptation planning process will need to be woven into future decisions and pointed to ongoing collaboration among Waterfront, Sustainability and Parks and Recreation staff.

Public commenters tied to the coastal discussion included Live Washburn of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, who asked whether Wi‑Fi coverage would extend to Stearns Wharf to support real-time oceanographic data and emergency uses; Barrios said the proposed municipal mesh would likely originate at the harbor and that extending reliable signal to the wharf may require additional equipment and coordination with Wharf merchants. Jeff Burkus, a longtime community member, urged care in preserving the harbor’s balance between working uses and public interface, saying a move to make the harbor "more like a port" could harm that balance.

Strategic planning, leasing guidelines and work group

The commission discussed the waterfront strategic-planning work group's year-long effort and a draft "waterfront policy data dashboard" developed by the work group and staff as a quick reference to LCP and other governing policies. Director Wilshire described parallel citywide strategic-planning activity and an 18‑month, grant‑funded 30‑year waterfront adaptation planning effort; he and staff urged coordination so the waterfront’s work aligns with citywide priorities and the adaptation plan.

After discussion, Vice Chair Ford moved — and Commissioner Cohen seconded — a motion to continue the strategic-planning work group for six months to work closely with waterfront staff on next steps related to citywide leasing guidelines and the citywide strategic-planning process. Director Wilshire indicated that timeline and focus addressed staff needs; the commission approved the motion unanimously with Commissioner McCray absent.

The commission and staff framed the leasing-guidelines work as a practical first step for strategic planning: staff said the city does not have a standardized leasing policy applying across departments, and drafting consistent guidelines would clarify when to use RFPs, define "tenant in good standing" standards, and set a transparent process for lease renewals and vacancies. Commissioners emphasized the goal of involving tenants, stakeholders and the public and said the leasing-guidelines work should inform future lease renewals and the broader strategic plan.

Votes at a glance

- Item 1 (Consent): Approval of minutes from 03/20/2025. Motion by Vice Chair Ford; seconded by Commissioner Stedman. Passed unanimously (Commissioners Anderson and McCray absent at the time of that vote as recorded in minutes).

- Item 2 (New business): Recommendation that staff negotiate a new one‑year license agreement with Echo Wireless while the Waterfront Department evaluates a city-run Wi‑Fi network. Motion by Vice Chair Ford; seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Passed unanimously with Commissioner McCray absent.

- Item 4 (Strategic planning): Continue the strategic-planning work group for six months to work on citywide leasing guidelines and coordinate with the citywide strategic-planning process. Motion by Vice Chair Ford; seconded by Commissioner Cohen. Passed unanimously with Commissioner McCray absent.

What this means next

Staff said negotiations with Echo will begin within the conventional 90‑day pre-renewal window and that the Waterfront Department will continue technical and cost feasibility work with the city's IT team. Staff also plans a focused effort on a citywide leasing policy with cross-department participation and public outreach during the six-month work-group extension. The LCP briefing and the 30‑year adaptation plan remain key constraints and references for both leasing policy and any infrastructure changes.

Sources: Meeting presentation and statements from Waterfront Business Manager Cesar Barrios; Waterfront Director Mike Wilshire; Melissa Hetrick, Energy and Climate Program Manager; public comments recorded during the Harbor Commission April 2025 regular meeting.