Government in Action

Dec. 4-10

By staff writers SALLY CAPPON, LESLIE DINABERG, DAVID DOWNS and NATHAN WELTON

Santa Barbara City Council

Peaceful ambassador While much of the city will be relaxing with family over the holidays, in one of his final projects as a City Councilman, Babatunde Folayemi is traveling to Israel on Monday to help broker peace talks in the Middle East. Folayemi said he would be part of an interfaith initiative meeting with mothers of Israelis and Palestinians, as well as worldwide members of the faith community. — L.D.

Chapala Street design enhancements The Santa Barbara City Council reviewed design guidelines for the lower part of Chapala Street and on Tuesday voted to move forward with the project with specifics to be decided in January.  

As presented by David Van Hoy of the Conceptual Motion Company, the streetscape design guidelines would enhance the pedestrian experience by widening sidewalks and making other street modifications such as curb extensions for some of the intersections and bus shelters as well as the creation of a public art wall and seating area at the terminus of Chapala Street and Highway 101.

Funding for the project has yet to be determined. The council discussed having new developments pay for the street improvements as well as the possibility of creating an assessment district. — L.D.

Traffic management plan The City Council unanimously approved a neighborhood traffic management plan for the former St. Francis Medical Center area this week. Utilizing funds from Measure D, which are reserved for street repair and maintenance, various traffic measures and devices will be tested in the neighborhood with the approximate boundaries of Mission, Garden and Anapamu streets and Alameda Padre Serra.

Several hundred residents participated in the initial study and design charrette. “Community involvement is what we always call for, so when we get it I think we should respect it,” said Councilman Babatunde Folayemi in supporting the program.

Dru van Hengel, mobility coordinator, said the next step would be to form a neighborhood team to work through design strategies with city staff. — L.D.