Quarterly Public Policy Update

Second Quarter Issue 2024

ADVOCATE

CONNECT

NEWS

CHAMBER SUPPORTED

HOUSING SITES REZONED BY

COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

On May 3, the County Board of Supervisors voted to rezone 16 of 18 proposed sites for housing on the South Coast. During the meeting, the Chamber had taken a pro-housing stance, specifically advocating for the rezone of five sites the Chamber had identified with project proposals that would offer a mix of appropriate housing types, as well as affordability levels, to support the workforce needs. Four of the five Chamber-supported sites were included in the 16 sites. The Chamber continued these advocacy efforts, as well as its work on the Employer Sponsored Housing Consortium program because member businesses consistently told them that workforce challenges, recruitment, and retention, as a direct result of the lack of housing supply in the region, were among their top concerns. The rezoning of these sites is a significant accomplishment in our region's continued efforts to house the local workforce, as they will lead to a substantial number of new housing units. Many of the rezoned sites were included in the Chamber's Road Home pledge for 10,000 units in 10 years.

While this milestone marked the end of the County’s Housing Element Update process, it was only the beginning of the Chamber’s continued efforts on the Employer Sponsored Housing Consortium to work with employers to secure housing for the local workforce.

Click here for more information on the Housing Element Process.

View the Noozhawk article.

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE - GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MEETING

The Chamber's Public Policy Committee, made up of business representatives across the South Coast met in May for their quarterly government affairs meeting. The committee was joined by elected officials and staff from several jurisdictions. Guests included County Supervisor Das Williams, Carpinteria City Councilmember Monica Solorzano, Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco, Santa Barabra City Councilmember Oscar Guttierez, Benjamin Peterson with Senator Monique Limon's Office, and Ethan Bertrand with Assemblymember Hart's Office. The group discussed several topics from each of the cities, up to the State level. This meeting, which allows members of the business community to have casual discussions with decision makers continues to be an important part of the Chamber's efforts to bridge the gap between business and government.

CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER

TOURS THE SOUTH COAST

Commissioner Darcie Houck with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) made a recent regional visit to the South Coast, to better understand the electricity needs of local businesses. The Chamber and members of the Electricity Working Group; Transphorm, BEGA North America, and Agilent Technologies; were thrilled to host Commissioner Houck for tours of their facilities. While each of the three companies are in the technology & manufacturing industry, they produce widely different products causing their facilities to be unique from another – as are their electricity needs. The visit from Commissioner Houck, and consequent follow-up, will help to inform the CPUC in future decisions and is an important part of the Chamber's Electricity Working Group advocacy efforts regarding the local electrical grid. The Electricity Working Group was formed to address the electricity concerns of several local companies on the South Coast, whose efforts reaching out to other companies have revealed further concern. This visit from the Commissioner highlights that the South Coast is receiving the recognition and support needed to address these concerns.

CHAMBER ADVOCACY AROUND OLD TOWN RESTRIPING PAYS OFF

The Chamber celebrates the next step in the initiation of the Old Town Hollister Restriping Project, which will take that stretch of Hollister from four lanes to two. The Chamber has been a long-time advocate for the restriping project after working to reach consensus with the business community on this issue. Slowing down traffic in the area is an important part of making Old Town feel more like a community downtown and less like a thoroughfare. For the Chamber, this issue has always been about placemaking and business vitality.

March 18 marked the kickoff of Project Connect, the umbrella project which the Restriping Project falls under and the largest capital improvement project in the history of the City of Goleta. Chamber President & CEO, Kristen Miller was thrilled to support the project alongside South Coast elected officials at its groundbreaking ceremony this Monday. The project aims to enhance pedestrian access and safety, improve road conditions, and build critical bike path linkage throughout Goleta.

Read the press release here.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WORKING SESSION IGNITES COLLABORATION

The Chamber convened representatives from both the business and education sectors for a Workforce Development Working Session. This session marked a crucial stride forward in our continuous efforts to foster collaboration between education partners and Technology and Manufacturing employers. Our aim is to create more opportunities for the local workforce and offer valuable insights into job openings within the industry. At the meeting the Chamber was joined by 12 education partners and 20 employers in the technology and manufacturing industry. The working session was a great opportunity for the employers to learn about the various resources available to them to offer a streamlined internship, externship, or apprenticeship program.

Since, the Chamber also hosted a Workforce Development Internship Matchmaking Dinner, at which students from local high schools, Santa Barbara City College, and UC Santa Barbara met with representatives from local employers offering internship positions in the Technology and Manufacturing Industry. The dinner was an opportunity for students to connect with company representatives, build relationships, increase their chances of landing an internship, and learn how they can stand apart from other applicants.

CHAMBER ADVOCATES FOR CRUISE SHIPS AND BUSINESS IMPACTS

The Santa Barbara City Council recently voted 6-1 (Mayor Rowse opposed) to implement a cap of 20 cruise ships per year in Santa Barbara, as well requiring that cruise ships visiting Santa Barbara meet a variety of environmental criteria regarding best practices and technologies. The decision on a cap was not aligned with the Chamber's position, which argued that an arbitrary cap created uncertainty for the many businesses that have come to rely on cruise ship business during the off-season. This decision was the result of a 24-month process involving the Waterfront staff, the Harbor Commission, and the Cruise Ship Workgroup to evaluate the benefits and impacts of the Cruise Ship Program and propose changes. Over the past 2-years the Chamber continued to advocate on behalf of the economic and business benefits of the program, which injects up to $5 million into our local economy each year.

MEET THE ELECTEDS SOUTH COAST BUSINESS ACTION FUND SPRING MIXER

Last month the Business Action Fund (BAF) hosted a Meet the Electeds spring mixer. The event spotlighted Santa Barbara County District 3 Supervisor Joan Hartmann and District 1 Supervisor Elect Roy Lee, both victors of the March primary election. Among the attendees were City of Goleta Councilmember James Kyriaco, Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, Santa Barbara City Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez, Santa Barbara Mayor Pro Tempore Mike Jordan, and Carpinteria Councilmember Monica Solorzano, along with city staff and BAF committee members. Guests enjoyed casual networking and stimulating conversation. Learn more about BAF here and how your business can get involved in helping to elect business-friendly candidates. Check out the event gallery.

PUBLIC POLICY WATCHLIST

Oppose Proposed Transient Occupancy Tax Increase

Goleta Housing Element Update

Santa Barbara Housing Element Update

Carpinteria Housing Element Update

County Housing Element Update

Stay tuned for the next edition of The Road Home coming out in June.

CHAMBER INTRODUCES TECH CHAMPION, WORKFORCE HOUSING CHAMPION AND HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MEMBERSHIP PACKAGE

Earlier this year, the Chamber unveiled customized membership packages, such as the Tech Champion Membership for tech and manufacturing businesses, the Workforce Housing Champion, and the Hospitality & Tourism Champion package. Read more about membership here.