Santa Barbara Council votes to place charter amendment on June ballot to modernize contracts and leases rules

The Santa Barbara City Council unanimously voted to place a proposed charter amendment on the June 2, 2026 special municipal election ballot that would change how the city approves contracts and leases of city property.

Staff told the council the current charter requires any contract or lease longer than five years to be approved by ordinance, which typically means a roughly 40‑day process and exposes such approvals to referendum. The proposed amendment would allow the council to approve contracts and leases by ordinance or by resolution, and would eliminate the 50‑year lease cap in the charter while preserving limits imposed by federal or state law.

City staff recommended putting the measure on the June primary ballot to provide the city flexibility while negotiations for near‑term projects continue. "If we put the ballot or put the measure on the ballot in June, it would cost approximately $195,000. If we deferred the measure to the November 26 general election, it would cost approximately $65,000," staff said, adding that "we strongly recommend that the council move forward with that June election." (Staff member)

Staff also read proposed ballot question and charter text into the record and identified procedural deadlines for the June schedule: direct arguments due Feb. 26, rebuttal arguments due March 8 and the city attorney nalysis due March 9. The resolution on the council agenda included authority for the mayor to file an argument in favor of the measure and asked the county to consolidate the city election with the statewide primary.

Council members asked how the amendment would interact with limits on airport and waterfront property. The city attorney and staff explained that federal aviation rules limit many airport ground leases to 50 years and that the city lso faces a roughly 66‑year limit under its Tidelands trust obligations for certain waterfront parcels; the amendment would not override those external legal limits. "We are precluded, though, from two areas for sure: federal aviation laws... and due to our Tidelands trust with the state of California, our limitation is 66 years," the city attorney said. (City Attorney)

Council debate focused on the timing of the election and the language of the ballot question. Several members favored holding the June election despite the higher cost because placing the measure on a sooner ballot preserves negotiation flexibility for projects such as Paseo Nuevo and potential redevelopment of surface parking lots. Others urged simplifying the ballot text and careful public messaging so voters understand the measure oes not automatically change approvals for any specific project.

A motion to adopt the resolution calling the June 2, 2026 election and to place the revised charter language on the ballot passed on a unanimous roll call. The council directed staff to finalize the revised ballot question and the charter amendment text and to proceed with the deadlines required for the June election.

The council also noted the committee will return to the full council in March with additional information about potential ballot measures and related costs.

Next steps: staff will prepare the impartial analysis, finalize the ballot question and charter language, and meet the county filing deadlines for a June 2 election.