Santa Barbara Council appoints mayor pro tem, committee chairs and liaison slate in unanimous votes

The Santa Barbara City Council approved a set of organizational motions on Jan. 7 to establish the council’s leadership and liaisons for the coming term.

Council moved to nominate Eric Freedman (the transcript includes inconsistent spellings "Freedman" and "Freeman") as Mayor Pro Tem; the motion passed unanimously with the members present and Kristen Snedden absent. The council then appointed the finance committee chair (motion made by Council Member Harmon, seconded by Council Member Oscar Gutierrez) and the chair of the Ordinance Committee; those motions also passed unanimously with the same attendance.

Later in the meeting the council reviewed a slate of liaison and advisory assignments across standing committees and external boards — including airport, harbor, planning, parks, housing authority and various local nonprofit and regional bodies — and approved that slate by a single motion. The clerk recorded the slate approval as passing unanimously with members present and Kristen Snedden absent.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Nominate Eric Freedman as Mayor Pro Tem. Mover: (motion introduced by council). Second: Harmon. Outcome: approved (unanimous among present members). Vote tally: yes 6; no 0; absent 1 (Kristen Snedden). - Motion: Appoint Eric Freedman as chair of the Finance Committee. Mover: Council Member Harmon. Second: Oscar Gutierrez. Outcome: approved (unanimous among present members). Vote tally: yes 6; no 0; absent 1 (Kristen Snedden). - Motion: Appoint Council Member Kristen Snedden as chair of the Ordinance Committee (nominee absent). Mover: Oscar Gutierrez. Second: Mike Jordan. Outcome: approved (unanimous among present members). Vote tally: yes 6; no 0; absent 1 (Kristen Snedden). - Motion: Approve slate of liaison and advisory assignments (single motion for the full slate). Mover: Council Member Harmon. Second: Eric Freedman. Outcome: approved (unanimous among present members). Vote tally: yes 6; no 0; absent 1 (Kristen Snedden).

Each motion was procedural in nature and carried by unanimous vote of members present. Council did not debate or amend substantive ordinances or budgets as part of these motions during the Jan. 7 meeting.

Why it matters: Committee chairs and liaison assignments determine which council members lead review of budgets, ordinances, planning and cross-jurisdiction initiatives. The appointments set the procedural path for the council’s priorities and oversight in 2025.