Council Meeting Key Item Recap - September 1, 2026
The City Council advanced two major actions on Tuesday, September 1, related to homelessness services and the future of State Street.
The Homeless Service Agreements for the Casa Cacique Shelter and the Fostering Access, Resilience, and Opportunity (FARO) Center (Item 8) address the need for immediate crisis response and long-term system strengthening. Council voted to authorize the Deputy City Administrator to execute multiple contracts, a service agreement, and a facility lease with Mercy House for Casa Cacique in the amount of $2,675,991, as well as an agreement in the amount of $494,000 with Santa Barbara Alliance for Community Transformation (SB ACT) for FARO Center operations.
In connection with these actions, Council adopted a budget amendment resolution, increasing appropriations across several funds to ensure full financing of the shelter and navigation services. These agreements take effect immediately, ensuring continuity for programs serving individuals experiencing homelessness.
Council also voted to introduce the ordinance adopting the State Street Master Plan (Item 9), a comprehensive roadmap for transportation, public space, and economic revitalization along the city’s central corridor. The ordinance also amends Title 31 of the Municipal Code to incorporate the plan. Next steps authorized by council include pursuing grant funding from state and federal programs, completing the General Plan Circulation Element amendment in early 2027, and initiating pre-construction and engineering work for the State Street area.
Council additionally directed staff to establish a multiyear capital investment strategy for consideration in the Fiscal Year 2028 budget and to begin issuing annual State Street monitoring reports starting in Spring 2027.
The State Street Paseo will transform the downtown corridor through changes to transportation, public space, and economic revitalization. The implementation timeline is six years, with construction beginning within 18 months of adoption.
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