Santa Maria commission approves transit center mural; staff warns of budget shortfalls and vacancies

The Santa Maria Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously to award a contract to an artist for a large mural at the transit center and approved minutes from its previous meeting.

Dennis, the department staff member who presented the project, said the commission’s public art subcommittee and the transit manager narrowed about 15 submissions down to three finalists. "This is a very large mural that will be placed very prominently at the transit center," Dennis said, adding the wall is "about 55 feet long, 6 feet tall" and that the work will be produced as a digitally transferred file rather than painted directly on-site. He described the installation process as similar to applying industrial wallpaper and said the finish will include a UV-protective top coat and an anti-graffiti sacrificial coating so damaged panels can be replaced.

The motion to "move this forward and sign our contract with the artist" was made, seconded and passed on a roll-call vote: Chair Terry Carey – Yes; Commissioner Godinho – Yes; Commissioner Lopez – Yes; Commissioner Ramirez – Yes; Commissioner Zamora – Yes. Dennis told commissioners the project should wrap up this spring and that he would circulate the final image for their review.

In staff reports, Neville provided a midyear budget update, saying department expenditures were at roughly 41% through the fiscal midpoint and that the city is facing a broader budget crunch. "We are doing quite well at tightening our belts and trying to contribute to the reduction requests," Neville said, but he warned that vacancies — including some leadership roles — have created operational risk and that some positions could be eliminated after upcoming council deliberations. Neville said staff have relied on limited-service hires to fill gaps ("13 new hires in the last month, all limited service employees") and noted two recent separations.

Neville and other staff urged commissioners to attend a city council meeting where budget reductions will be discussed; staff indicated the council will review the matter on Jan. 20 and that final adopted numbers could change by the February commission meeting. Dennis also told the commission the fee ordinance language governing rentals at the new Japanese Community Center must be revised and cleared by the city attorney before public reservations can open; internal events and some department uses will proceed while the ordinance is updated.

Other updates included recreation programming and events: Rudy Gutierrez, serving as interim recreation services manager, described plans for a Pioneer Park concert series, reported the Grinchmas 5K drew about 416 participants and said the winter/spring 2026 recreation guide is scheduled to publish Jan. 23.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (previous meeting): motion passed by roll call; Chair Carey – Yes; Commissioner Godinho – Yes; Commissioner Lopez – Abstain; Commissioner Ramirez – Yes; Commissioner Zamora – Yes. - Transit center mural contract: motion passed unanimous by roll call; Chair Terry Carey – Yes; Commissioner Godinho – Yes; Commissioner Lopez – Yes; Commissioner Ramirez – Yes; Commissioner Zamora – Yes.

What’s next: Staff will circulate the selected mural’s final image to commissioners, continue ordinance revisions for the Japanese Community Center (for council review), and return with committee assignments and chair rotation at the February commission meeting. The commission adjourned at the conclusion of the meeting.