Consejo de la Ciudad en Español 15 de septiembre de 2026

The City Council meeting of Santa Barbara on September 15, 2026, included several procurement and policy discussions. Key procurement-related items included the approval of a contract for phase 5 of environmental substance research at the Santa Barbara airport with GSI Environmental Inc., and budget adjustments for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The council also adopted ordinances related to municipal code amendments on industrial waste disposal and the State Street Master Plan, including affordable housing provisions secured by long-term deed restrictions. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the proposed implementation of an automated license plate reader (ALPR) system for the police department. After extensive public comment expressing privacy and civil liberty concerns, the council voted 6-2 to postpone any ALPR system implementation until a comprehensive policy review is completed. Additionally, the council discussed and took positions on several state ballot initiatives related to housing finance, taxation, and voting regulations, with a general consensus to support measures addressing affordable housing and voter identification while opposing others. The meeting also included various community updates and public safety discussions, but no new contract awards beyond those mentioned were reported.