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Council approves consent calendar and renews shelter contract with PATH
Summary
The council approved the bulk consent calendar and separately renewed a contract to reserve beds at PATH's low-barrier interim housing site; the council approved multiple ordinances, budget adjustments and project appropriations bundled on the consent calendar.
The Santa Barbara City Council on Jan. 14 approved a package of routine items on the consent calendar and separately approved continuation of a contract with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) for operation of a low-barrier interim shelter.
What the consent calendar included: The consent calendar covered a range of administrative and capital items. Among them were easements authorizing Southern California Edison to install electric-vehicle charging infrastructure at the Eastside and depot library properties; introduction or adoption of ordinances related to water-metering requirements (Item 5 was later pulled for separate discussion); budget amendments and appropriations for sewer and golf-fund capital work; contract and procurement approvals for aircraft rescue decontamination and firefighting equipment; updates to state revolving fund loan reimbursement resolutions for the Cater Reservoir Resiliency and El Estero Water Resource Center projects; and a resolution initiating proceedings to consider disestablishment of two parking and business improvement areas with a public hearing set for Feb. 11, 2025.
Ballot of actions and votes: The council moved to approve the balance of the consent calendar (items 3, 4 and 6'15 excluding items 5 and 18). The motion, made by Mayor Pro Tem Eric Friedman and seconded by Councilmember Wendy Harmon, passed by unanimous vote of members present. Councilmember Sten was absent for the meeting.
PATH contract (Item 18): Council separately considered Item 18, a fiscal-year 2025 agreement with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) for operation of an interim shelter and related services. PATH representatives described the program as the city's only low-barrier interim housing site; PATH said the city's seven reserved beds were in continuous use and that the program connects shelter clients to wraparound services. PATH regional director Liz Adams said the contract "helps them find, move into, and retain permanent housing as well as heal along the way." Councilmember Friedman moved approval of Item 18; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Santa Maria and passed unanimously among members present.
Other items of note on the consent calendar: City staff recommended an ordinance to authorize public-utility easements to Southern California Edison for electric-vehicle charging stations at the Eastside and depot library properties; budget adjustments for the Santa Barbara Golf Club sewer work; appropriation for decontamination of firefighting vehicles; and updates to the schedule of service charges for sewer connections. The council also authorized staff to proceed with the Highway Safety Improvement Program cycle 10 Mission Street and State Street safety lighting project.
Public comment: Several residents used public comment to raise water-supply preparedness, neighborhood safety and other local concerns; the city manager noted the fire mutual-aid response to the Los Angeles-area conflagrations and said staff will continue community briefings on preparedness.
Administrative note: Items 5 (water metering) and 18 (PATH contract) were pulled from the blanket consent package for discussion. Item 5 was considered and voted on separately; Item 18 passed after testimony from PATH supporters and shelter beneficiaries.
