Santa Barbara · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Barbara public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Labor negotiations with city employee unions
The city is negotiating union contracts covering both supervisory and hourly city employees. The outcomes affect pay, benefits, and working conditions for city staff — and, ultimately, the city's budget.
SEIU Local 620 supervisory unit labor negotiations
The council gave direction to its negotiators ahead of talks with the city employees' union covering both supervisory and hourly units. The contracts that result will shape employee pay and benefits — and the city budget.
Scroggin v. City of Santa Barbara litigation
The city is defending against a lawsuit filed by Stephen Cordero in Santa Barbara Superior Court. The council met privately with its attorneys to get briefed and decide how to proceed. Details are confidential because it's pending litigation.
Marcon Engineering litigation claim
The city also met privately about a claim filed by Marcon Engineering in December 2025. Details of the potential dispute haven't been made public.
IDE Americas litigation claim
The city is privately assessing its exposure to a potential lawsuit tied to a claim filed by IDE Americas, Inc. in September 2021. If the case moves forward or settles, it could cost the city money.
Vacancy tax study
A 5-2 majority wants staff to analyze taxing empty homes and storefronts to push owners to rent or use them — residential and commercial both. Earliest ballot: November 2028.
Special events cost recovery and Fiesta funding
Council voted unanimously to help revive the downtown holiday parade, boost Milpas parade support, explore Solstice on State Street, and review Fiesta funding next year.
Real property transfer tax measure dropped
The City won't ask voters this November to raise the transfer tax on $3M+ property sales. Weak polling, a statewide legal challenge, and no campaign champion killed it — meaning the City still lacks a dedicated way to rebuild reserves.
Charter amendment to remove 50-year lease cap
The city charter limits leases of city-owned property to 50 years, which staff say blocks viable long-term ground leases for housing on city parking lots and sites like the former police building. A ballot measure could fix it — June costs about $195,000, November about $50,000. Council will decide next week.
Council procedures, two-person memos, and handbook updates
The council debated streamlining the clunky two-person memo process, adding staff-impact feedback, clarifying council office budgets, event sponsorships, and ceremonial recognitions. Consensus emerged on making site visits optional and exploring a formal 'study session' meeting type.
Advisory board and commission guidelines — term limits, remote participation, consolidation
Councilmembers debated term limits for boards and commissions (mixed feelings — institutional knowledge vs. fresh faces), whether to allow remote participation (leaning yes with guardrails), and possibly consolidating the city's 70-plus boards to save staff time.