2023-24 Goals and Objectives
- Continue the multi-year process of a comprehensive update to the City’s General Plan, with completion of the Alternatives phase, and City Council adoption of a Preferred Alternative for target year 2045. Begin to prepare the draft environmental impact report, and General Plan goals, objectives, and policies. Aim for final adoption of the General Plan update in FY 2024-25. Begin gathering information and analysis for future Sphere of Influence expansion and Annexation submittal to the Local Agency Formation Commission.
2. Achieve State certification of the City’s General Plan Housing Element by California State Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Housing Element will include a plan for meeting the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), and goals and policies addressing housing issues and concerns in Santa Maria. Aim for final adoption by the City Council of the General Plan Housing Element in FY 2023-24.
3. Continue implementing the Downtown Specific Plan, by working with property owners and developers to encourage construction of new housing, retail and employment uses, as well as amenities that create gathering spaces and a vibrant downtown environment. Achieve planning approval for the Alvin Newton building on the southeast corner of Main and Broadway and for the Cook Street Apartments on the northeast corner of Cook and McClelland.
4. Utilize both public and private investments to stimulate development in Downtown, including City-owned parcels within Downtown, and in compliance with the State’s Surplus Lands Act. Complete the development agreement between the City and its selected development partner, Vernon Group, on the surplus parcels, including affordability covenants on a percentage of the residential housing units, and agreements to provide community amenities in Downtown, such as commercial and entertainment uses, open spaces and plazas.
5. Coordinate with downtown property owners, including Santa Maria Town Center, on property improvement efforts. To supplement existing City services, begin the multi-year process of creating a Downtown Business Improvement District, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, to identify its geographic scope and establish a funding mechanism for downtown enhancements including, but not limited to, landscaping, lighting, signage, parking and security.
6. Revise the development agreement among the City and Windset Farms to implement the planning and development goals of Area 9. Facilitate the continued planning and development of the Area 9 Specific Plan and work with property owners and developers to provide infrastructure, supporting future uses that would result in new employment opportunities.
7. Bring to the Planning Commission and the City Council to adoption, Objective Design Standards for residential development, to establish defined architectural and site standards, in an effort to maintain high-quality design and construction, and to streamline project review.
8. Continue coordination with Santa Barbara County Animal Services to ensure responsive customer service, quality animal care, and meaningful community engagement. Meet quarterly with the Animal Services director to discuss performance measures and ongoing improvement efforts.
9. Fully implement the update to the City’s permitting software, Trak-It, to the upgraded Community Development software, to improve efficiency in planning entitlement review, permit processing, construction plan routing, review, inspections, and Code Enforcement division tracking and reporting. Digitize all other processes as feasible, including the transition from paper plan review and storage to digital plan review and storage.
10. Develop standard operating procedures for essential Code Enforcement officer responsibilities and duties. Draft program and position manuals to promote training and development.
