The Santa Barbara City Council just can’t agree on the future of State Street.
Council members collided once again Tuesday as part of their monthly conversation about how the eight blocks closed to vehicles are functioning.
“I would really like to have one block, and let’s just really, really go for it,” Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon said. “If you need us to sign up to volunteer and tell people to get off their bikes — they can flip us off every time, that’s fine; I’ll sign up — but I think we really owe it to ourselves to give it a try.”
The city closed the street to vehicles after the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in May 2020. Four years later, the eight blocks remain closed to vehicles, but bicycles, timed with the proliferation of e-bikes, have taken over the street, discouraging pedestrians and limiting the promenade feel.
Sneddon said she wants at least one block to be for pedestrians only, even if it is just a temporary test project.
“We have lost a lot of the promenade feel,” she said.
Acting City Administrator Sarah Knecht, not the City Council, has the power to make changes to the street. The council gave scattered feedback to her on Tuesday. Much of the discussion centered on what to do with the 1,300 block of State Street, which allows vehicles, parking, bikes, pedestrians and outdoor dining parklets.
Some members of the council want the street returned back to pre-pandemic condition, with parallel street parking, but also outdoor dining. Others want to keep the parklets, surrounded by concrete K-rail for safety, create a bike lane, and return to parallel parking. Currently, drivers pull into horizontal parking spaces.
Councilman Eric Friedman said he wants the 1300 block returned to pre-pandemic conditions, but without outdoor dining facilities.
“I just can’t support having K-rail in front of the Arlington,” Friedman said. “I just think it is detrimental to the historic character of the Arlington.”
Council Approves Farmers Market Relocation
The Santa Barbara City Council voted 5-2 to approve the relocation of the Santa Barbara Farmers Market from the Cota Commuter Lot to the 900 to 1000 blocks of State Street and 00 blocks of Carrillo Street.
“This is truly a great location,” Councilwoman Meagan Harmon said. “It solves so many problems for the market. It solves some issues for the city. I just think it has the potential to be a hub for our community for the next 40-plus years.”
Mayor Randy Rowse and Councilwoman Alejandra Gutierrez opposed the relocation, citing safety concerns.
Fire Marshal Ryan DiGiulio said he is not in favor of the Farmers Market at the new location. He said the nearby Fire Station 1 fields about 10 calls a day.
“This layout severely impedes our eastbound capabilities,” DiGiulio said.
He said the queuing and backup of cars that normally happen on Carrillo Street is going to increase with a Farmers Market in that location.
“I don’t feel comfortable making the decision after hearing what public safety had to say,” Gutierrez said, “especially since Carrillo is one of our main streets.
“The Farmers Market is a big draw, so that will draw a lot of people. I anticipate there will be a lot of vehicles. Carrillo Street is the main thoroughfare when they come off the freeway. They usually come through downtown Santa Barbara through that way.”
DiGiulio said the Farmers Market location is going to impact the Fire Department’s ability to respond quickly.
The city’s transportation planners are considering a detour for the fire department, closing one lane of nearby Figueroa Street to the public and allowing only a lane for fire crews during the Saturday Farmers Market hours.
The plan now is for the Farmers Market to move on Sept. 7.
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