Measure C News ArchiveYour Local Sales Tax at Work

Over the past three months, Public Works’ Streets crews have completed road repairs in crucial areas around the City. This includes a full-width repaving of streets next to the Santa Barbara Airport property at Moffett Place, Fowler Road, and Fairview Avenue. Crews also repaired and repaved the bike path around the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge. Extensive sidewalk repair was completed on Chapala Street and upper State Street, and crews responded to 81 requests from residents for pothole repair.

The highlight of this summer’s work is a comprehensive road repair project on Mission Street between the U.S. 101 and State Street, and Los Olivos Street in front of the Old Mission and across the Mission Canyon Bridge to the City limits. Dubbed the City’s “Mission Street: Possible,” the project began in early July and will last through September. Subscribe on the project webpage to receive emailed updates.

Great progress continues toward completion of a major renovation of the historic Cabrillo Pavilion at East Beach. Structural and seismic upgrades are complete. Exterior site improvements including walkways, access ramps, and stairs are well underway, along with interior renovations on the lower level including new restrooms and showers, a multi-purpose room and training room, as well as the new restaurant space. Framing, plaster, and new windows, paint, and tile are nearing completion on the upper level.

With the renovation slated to be complete in the late fall, the community can look forward to enjoying a fully accessible, modern community recreation and event space, with improved beach access and a full-service restaurant. Find out more about this project under Projects in Progress.

In June 2018, the City Council appointed the seven-member Citizens’ Oversight Committee. The Committee includes members from the business and hospitality communities, and its purpose is to ensure that Measure C revenues are spent in a manner consistent with the resolution adopted by City Council.

Construction of the Mission Street Pavement Maintenance Project between the US 101 and State Street began on Monday, July 8 and will last through late September. The project includes Los Olivos Street in front of the Mission, from Laguna Street to Mission Canyon Road. Visit the project webpage at SantaBarbaraCA.gov/MissionStreetPaving to check out the latest news and subscribe to receive project updates straight to your inbox.

Mission Street between Highway 101 and State Street, and Los Olivos in front of the Mission, are busy corridors that are in need of significant pavement and concrete work. It’s our “Mission: Possible” to create a smoother, safer experience for drivers and pedestrians in these corridors through a comprehensive road project this summer. Watch the video to find out more, and stay tuned for a construction schedule.

The second phase of a major pavement maintenance project will take place this May and June. This phase provides crack sealing and slurry sealing of the pavement, which helps preserve and protect the underlying pavement structure and provide a new driving surface.

The Central Library Plaza Renovation Project will renovate the Library Plaza to provide more usable space for public events, improve plaza and library accessibility, reduce maintenance costs, and reduce water use. Arcadia Studios has been contracted by the City to provide construction drawings, and the design is nearly complete. Construction drawings are based on design layouts previously reviewed by the Historic Landmarks Commission and will include updates to drought-tolerant landscaping and storm water management. The design team has been meeting with City staff, the Library Board, and the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation throughout the design process. Upcoming milestones will include presenting drawings to the Parks and Recreation Commission and again to the Historic Landmarks Commission. The construction drawings, which are funded by Measure C, are expected to be complete in summer 2019. The Library Foundation will be fundraising for the construction costs.

This winter, City Streets crews completed crucial street repair work around the City, and a major pavement maintenance project completed its first phase.

Increases in both City population and staffing have made a new police station a necessity. The new facility will bring all divisions into one building, creating a more efficient and cohesive police force that will be relevant for at least the next 50 years. Modernizing operations within the building, and creating a welcoming and community-centric facility, will create a safe and effective Police Station.

East Anapamu Street between Garden and Milpas streets is tentatively scheduled for concrete sidewalk and ramp construction on March 25-29 during the Santa Barbara High spring break. This work is funded by Measure C and is part of a larger City pavement maintenance project.

The City is hosting a community workshop to gather input about revitalizing De La Guerra Plaza at 2:00–3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at Casa De La Guerra, 15 E. De La Guerra Street, facing the Plaza. The workshop will take place under tents, rain or shine, where guests will learn of the Plaza’s rich past and have the opportunity to discuss and offer input to architects and City planners on proposed uses, potential improvements, and other ideas for the Plaza. Find out more and subscribe to updates at www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/DLGPlaza.

Site selection for the new Police Station involved providing updates to City boards and commissions, a series of public outreach meetings, and conversations with the community throughout fall 2018. This thorough process illustrated the complexity of finding a suitable site in the Downtown corridor and explained the criteria considered for each potential site. Two locations emerged from this effort.

This fall and winter, City Streets crews completed crucial street repair work at various locations in the City. Five blocks of Quarantina Street, between Cacique and Montecito Streets, experience heavy truck traffic and had large sections of failing asphalt. Crews ground the old asphalt down and repaved the street. The 600 block of West De La Guerra Street received repairs to sidewalks, curbs, and pavement that were uplifted by tree roots. After City water main replacement in the Baldwin Road/Romaine Drive area in November, crews completed a full street repaving. Most recently, in January, crews made repairs at Primavera Drive, Via Diego, and Invierno Drive, including a bump near the bridge, repair of an old sewer line trench, and sections of failing asphalt.

In response to requests at recent public meetings, the City has released a detailed selection process for the new police station. The article describes the process, including selection criteria and the sites that were considered for viability.

The next significant pavement maintenance project to use Measure C revenues will begin construction this winter on high-priority locations throughout the City. The project also includes slurry sealing of some parking lots, and new asphalt at the Garden Street parking lot.

Measure C-funded repairs to the brick sidewalk on both sides of the 00 block of East Carrillo Street between State and Anacapa were completed ahead of schedule, in time for the start of the busy holiday shopping season.

The City has concluded 3 community meetings regarding site selection for the new Police Station. Thank you to all the attendees and for the feedback shared! To keep up to date on the project and explore project resources, including future meeting schedule, public comments, and site analysis materials, visit www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/SBPDStation.

Your Measure C dollars are at work on Carrillo Street this week. The City's contractor will make repairs to the brick sidewalks on both sides of the 00 block of East Carrillo between State Street and Anacapa Street beginning on October 31, ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.

The City is hosting informational meetings regarding the site selection process for the new City Police Station. There are several opportunities for the community to learn more about the site selection process. Please see the meeting schedule here. To stay up-to-date, visit the City’s dedicated project webpage for the Police Station Project here.

The existing Station, located at 215 East Figueroa Street, was constructed in 1959. Since that time, increases in City population and Police staff, along with advances in technology, have created the need for a new facility that is accessible and modern. The goal for the new site will be to bring all operations and divisions into one building for more efficient public service and a welcoming, community-centric facility.

Measure C dollars were hard at work this summer. City Streets crews made critical pavement repairs on East Anapamu Street, starting from Milpas Street near the high school and extending to Garden Street. In October, Streets crews will begin work on Quarantina Street between Quinientos and Montecito Streets. This area experiences heavy truck traffic, and the deteriorating pavement is in need of repair.

A major grind and overlay pavement project is also underway and will continue through fall. For this project, contractors grind off deteriorated asphalt and overlay with new asphalt. Concrete construction is also involved, including curb ramps and replacement of damaged curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Click the "In Progress" button to learn more about current pavement work.

On September 26, the newly created Citizens’ Oversight Committee met to review the Accountability Report for the first fiscal year of Measure C funding. The report outlines the status of Measure C revenues received and details of projects funded from the past fiscal year, and looks ahead to the next fiscal year.

On August 14, the City Council approved the next phase of the new Police Station project. Phase 2 – Site Selection will entail considering all City-owned properties as potential candidates to accommodate a new Police Station and parking structure based on the site criteria generated from Phase 1. These sites ideally will be located in the Downtown area and not in the flood zone. Concurrent with analyzing City-owned properties, staff is also pursuing other properties that may provide a more ideal site.

Phase 2 will last approximately four months and will also include updating several boards and commissions, holding public workshops to solicit feedback and keep the public informed of the project’s progress, and undergoing environmental review.

On June 26, the City Council appointed the seven-member Citizens’ Oversight Committee. The Committee includes members from the business and hospitality communities. The purpose of the Committee is to review status reports regarding Measure C revenues received and projects funded, as well as the Annual Accountability Report at the end of each fiscal year. The Committee will report its findings to City Council and the community.

Measure C funds are contributing to a significant City pavement maintenance project beginning in July. The Fiscal Year 2018 Pavement Grind and Overlay Project consists primarily of grinding off deteriorated asphalt pavement and overlaying with new asphalt on several high-priority streets throughout the City.

When Measure C funding became available on April 1, 2018, the City immediately began critical street and road repairs. In April, City Streets crews repaved Gibraltar Road north of El Cielito Road and replaced old storm drain culverts, with all work completed in time for the Amgen Tour of California. City Streets crews also made much-needed repairs on Anacapa Street between Anapamu and Carrillo Streets to address areas of failing pavement. The repairs have provided a smoother ride for both vehicles and bicyclists on one of the City’s most heavily traveled downtown streets. In June, City Streets crews also began work on Anapamu Street near Santa Barbara High School, working closely with the City Arborist to make road repairs while preserving the historic Italian Stone Pine trees in the area.