Creeks Advisory Committee - August 19, 2026

The City of Santa Barbara's Creeks Advisory Committee met on August 19, 2026, to discuss several key environmental and infrastructure projects related to creek restoration and flood resilience. The committee received a detailed update on the Sanroi Creek Restoration Project, including the awarding of a contract to Arcadia Studio for site planning and irrigation design, with plans to solicit competitive bids for construction in September and complete installation by the end of the year. Additionally, the Laguna Flood Resilience Study was presented, highlighting a $1.1 million consultant contract funded partly by a Coastal Conservancy grant and city funds, with a request for the Creeks Division to contribute approximately 25% from Measure B reserve funds. The committee moved to approve an allocation of $292,796 from Measure B reserves for this study, with an emphasis on reframing the study goals to highlight environmental sensitivity and stewardship of the Laguna estuary and creek. The meeting also covered the proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY28, which includes multiple restoration and stormwater projects such as the Hill Park Habitat Restoration, Lower Sycamore Creek, and the City Hall Stormwater Demonstration Garden. The CIP was approved by the committee and will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration. No new property acquisition lines were added to the CIP due to lack of targeted projects, though ongoing discussions about conservation easements were noted. Overall, the meeting focused on advancing creek restoration, flood resilience planning, and capital projects aligned with water quality and habitat restoration goals, with several motions passed related to funding allocations and program priorities.