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ROADMAP TO RECOVERY: THE ROAD HOME
On March 7 the Chamber was proud to launch the Roadmap to Recovery: The Road Home. This document is phase three of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber's Roadmap to Recovery, which began during the pandemic and developed plans and action steps to help get businesses, large and small, reopened safely and focused on long-term recovery strategies. Now that the Chamber’s, and our community’s, collective focus has shifted to meaningful recovery, revitalization, and long-term job growth, the Chamber’s business recovery efforts have turned toward housing. The Road Home is a living document that discusses the current state of our region's housing crisis, and proposed solutions, from a local business community perspective. Click here to read more and to view the full Road Home document.
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SOLOMON HILLS PROJECT UPDATE
On March 8 the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted unanimously to support the initiation of the Chamber supported Solomon Hills project. Located just south of Orcutt, the proposed 4,000 residential unit project also includes commercial and open space zoning to meet the daily needs of the community and aims to act as a model of sustainable communities in Santa Barbara County. The Planning Commission’s decision to support initiation does not mean that the project is approved at this time. Rather, the applicant can now begin the process of studying the viability of the project as well as working with local communities in order to create a design for the project that best meets the needs of Santa Barbara County. Click here to read more.
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UPCOMING STATE STREET JOB FAIR
The next State Street Job Fair will take place on April 19, from 3 to 5 PM in downtown Santa Barbara. Over 100 registered employers from throughout Santa Barbara County will meet with potential job candidates in a relaxed setting in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Help us promote this regional community job fair to job seekers throughout Santa Barbara County by sharing the job seeker registration link.
Click here to read more.
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SOUTH COAST TECH ROUNDTABLE
Recently, the Chamber held a South Coast Tech Roundtable on Energy Reliability and Resiliency, featuring presentations from the Chamber on the promotion of local technology and manufacturing companies, Southern California Edison on energy reliability, and BEGA on battery/solar project best practices. Click here to read more.
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SANTA BARBARA COUNTY INDUSTRY SECTOR ROUNDTABLES
The Industry Sector Roundtables Project, a partnership between the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber and the County of Santa Barbara, held Round 3 of its meetings in early April. This was the last and most critical round of meetings before the in-person summit with County leadership being held on May 23. Each industry sector roundtable reviewed a draft of industry specific recommendations for the County and discussed final changes to be made before they are submitted.
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GOLETA 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
On March 20, the City of Goleta received a letter from the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which addresses the City’s most recently adopted revised 2023-31 Housing Element. In this new letter, HCD calls for additional revisions necessary to comply with State Housing Element Law. Click here to read more about the Chamber’s review of HCD’s comments. Click here for the most up-to-date news on Goleta’s Housing Element process.
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HERITAGE RIDGE
The Chamber supported the Heritage Ridge residential apartment project at its final hearing before Goleta City Council on March 7. The Chamber has been in support of this project dating back to the Goleta Chamber – for just over 8 years. The Council approved the project, and Heritage Ridge will soon provide 102 affordable rental units and 228 market-rate rental units to Goleta’s housing stock. Click here to read more.
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STATE STREET MASTER PLAN OUTREACH UPDATE
The Create State team, working on the State Street Master Plan, are offering a limited number of informational sessions to discuss the master plan process with a variety of community stakeholders in advance of the preliminary and preferred concepts to be prepared by Summer 2023.
The first two informational sessions with downtown businesses and local realtors were held on March 21 and 28. Coming up, the team will meet with performing & experimental arts groups on April 18, nonprofit organizations on April 25, and transportation-focused organizations on May 9. For more information click here.
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SANTA BARBARA HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
The City of Santa Barbara is continuing the process to revise its 2023-31 Housing Element, following comments in the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) November 16, 2022 response letter. The letter provides feedback and various recommendations for the element's improvement. This has led to the extensive and ongoing process on the City’s part to take these recommendations seriously and incorporate them into the draft element. Click here to read more.
Click here for the most up-to-date news on Santa Barbara’s Housing Element process.
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BAILARD PROJECT UPDATE
On February 22, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission held a hearing regarding the Bailard Multi-Family Housing Project – a proposed 169-unit mixed income housing development located at 1101 & 1103 Bailard Avenue, Carpinteria. In 2022, the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee decided to support this project as a commonsense solution to our region’s workforce housing woes. The February 22 meeting was not for approval/denial of the project. The Planning Commission instead heard an update on the project. The Chamber encourages any local businesses concerned about housing, particularly in Carpinteria, to look into this project and consider supporting it at future meetings alongside the Chamber.
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CARPINTERIA HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
The City of Carpinteria received a response from California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) regarding the City’s 2023-31 Housing Element. After revising the draft Housing Element, City staff brought an update to the City of Carpinteria’s Planning Commission on March 20. The revised Housing Element is expected to be brought before the City Council in April. Click here to read more. Click here for the most up-to-date information on the City of Carpinteria’s 2023-31 Housing Element.
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COUNTY HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
On March 31, the County of Santa Barbara submitted a revised draft Housing Element to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). After a substantial public comment process the revised draft contains new programs and approximately 19 additional sites to be considered for rezones and/or future housing. Click here to read more. Click here for the most up-to-date information regarding the County of Santa Barbara’s 2023-31 Housing Element.
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COUNTY RELEASES DRAFT 2030 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The County of Santa Barbara has officially released the Draft 2030 Climate Action Plan (CAP), which includes programs and policies associated with the 6 focus areas of the CAP. The Chamber has reviewed the 71-page document to identify items of interest to the business community. Click here to read more.
Click here to view the Draft 2030 Climate Action Plan.
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UPDATED POINT IN TIME COUNT NUMBERS
Preliminary results of the 2023 Point in Time (PIT) Count of persons experiencing homelessness were released in March. Conducted on January 25, 2023, by the Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care (Continuum of Care), the Count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and serves as a snapshot of homelessness in the county on a single night. Countywide, 1,887 persons were counted representing a decrease of 3.7% in the number of persons experiencing homelessness. Click here for more information.
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FEBRUARY PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE UPDATE
GOLETA WATER DISTRICT
On February 23, the Chamber Public Policy Committee heard from guest speaker Tom Evans, Director with the Goleta Water District. Evans gave an update on the Goleta Water District and implications of the recent rain. Upon the retirement of its current general manager, the Water District will receive a new GM, Dave Matson. While it was too early to make a sure call, Evans predicted that the criteria of the SAFE Ordinance will now be met, and the district will be able to begin issuing new meters. The district continues to explore options for increasing local water resources and has a plan for an aggressive construction in the coming year.
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MARCH PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE UPDATE
REGIONAL BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION ORDINANCES
On March 29, the Public Policy Committee heard from guest speakers Garrett Wong with the County of Santa Barbara and Dana Murray with the City of Goleta. Wong and Murray updated the committee on the progress of the various jurisdictions (County of Santa Barbara, City of Goleta, and City of Carpinteria) building electrification ordinances being drafted as part of a regional reach code effort. These ordinances will, ahead of State requirements, require new buildings to be fully electric – essentially prohibiting natural gas infrastructure in new construction. For more information click here.
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CAL CHAMBER UPDATES
The Cal Chamber continues to watch legislation at the State level and facilitate state-wide Chamber coalitions to support and oppose bills that would positively and negatively impact businesses in California. The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce’s participation in recent coalitions is represented by letters of support listed in the Public Policy Newsletter’s sidebar.
Recent examples of legislation on the Cal Chamber’s watchlist are SB 616 – paid sick days: accrual and use, AB 1714 – expansion of PUC authority over broadband, Referendum Reform, SB 1439, AB 1001 – expansion of CEQA and limitation of local government discretion, AB 2026 – plastic packaging and carryout bags, and AB 2469 – statewide rental registry.
For a full list of Cal Chamber Bill Positions click here.
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U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UPDATES
Recently the US Chamber of Commerce provided updates on two sign-on letter requests: the Permitting Reform Coalition Letter to improve America's permitting processes and the Comment Letter Opposing the Proposed FTC Non-Competes Rule. The US Chamber also reminded communities to play an active role in the annual appropriations process and encourage their members of Congress to make Community Project Funding requests, reflected in the Chamber’s letters of support for multiple requests from local organizations. Click here to read more.
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CHAMBER PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE MEMBERS |
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