1 From: Dustin Hoiseth <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2023 6:02 PM
To: City Clerk Group
Subject: Fwd: 2/7/2023 Public Comment - Item B4 - Adjustments to Council Appointments Attachments: 2.7.2023.PublicComment_ItemB4_SBSCChamber.pdf Please see below.
I believe I accidentally sent this public comment to the incorrect City Staff member for distribution and public record.
DUSTIN HOISETH I Public Policy Manager
SANTA BARBARA SOUTH COAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(805) 967‐2500 | [email protected]
From: Dustin Hoiseth <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 6, 2023 3:00 PM
To: Paula Perotte <[email protected]>; Stuart Kasdin <[email protected]>; lreyes‐ [email protected] <lreyes‐[email protected]>; James Kyriaco <[email protected]>; Kyle Richards <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]> Cc: Kristen Miller <[email protected]>
Subject: 2/7/2023 Public Comment ‐ Item B4 ‐ Adjustments to Council Appointments Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers:
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce would like to express our concern regarding the return of Adjustments to Council Appointments to Committees, specifically the Economic Development and Revitalization Standing Committee appointments, to the Council Agenda.
The City and the Council’s process for committee appointments has always been a transparent and standard process, with all Councilmembers having the opportunity to submit which committees they are interested in serving on, followed by a public discussion to determine the best candidates for that year. On January 17 the Council had a thorough discussion of which candidates would be the best fit for the Economic Development and Revitalization Committee, and the Council ultimately approved the appointments. Bringing this back to the Council to consider changing the appointments, at the request of Mayor Perotte and Councilmember Kasdin, has created a lack of transparency in an otherwise smooth process.
The Chamber has actively followed and engaged with the work of the Economic Development and Revitalization Committee since its inception and have repeatedly asked for better decorum in the administration of this committee – putting meetings on a regular agenda with adequate notification to the public. We appreciate City staff’s recent efforts to do so, alongside the work being done on the Economic Development Strategic Plan. However, this revisiting of appointments is reminiscent of the lack of public communication we previously took issue with.
Any City’s conduit to the business community is its economic development committee. And as the City continues to the vital work on the Economic Development Strategic Planning Process, positive dialogue between the Economic Development Revitalization Committee and the business community is more critical than ever before. Early discussions and community feedback during this process has revealed a breakdown between the City, the Chamber, and the business community – which we are now working to address. 2 The appointments of Councilmember Kyriaco and Councilmember Reyes‐Martin on January 17 not only showed a commitment to fresh eyes on the Economic Development and Revitalization Committee, but a commitment to a better working relationship with the Chamber as well. Councilmember Kyriaco is highly qualified to participate in these discussions and has expressed previous interest in participating on the committee. He is already an active advocate for many of the key issues that appear in the work of the committee. However, he has already deferred to other councilmembers' interest in the committee once before. Councilmember Reyes‐Martin has a strong background in economic development gained through her various community facing roles. She also has strong connections with several community stakeholders, like our public schools, who will be better served by having her on the committee. Both Councilmembers are highly qualified candidates for this committee and deserve the opportunity to participate in the critical work being done on the Economic Development Strategic Plan. The entire Council will still be able to weigh in on the process when relevant agenda items are brought before the Council.
We ask that you reaffirm the previous City Council appointments to the Economic Development and Revitalization Standing Committee. Thank you for your commitment to transparency and a continued working relationship with the local business community.
Sincerely,
Kristen Miller
President & CEO
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ DUSTIN HOISETH | Public Policy Manager
SANTA BARBARA SOUTH COAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(805) 967-2500 | Dustin@SB SCChamber.com
805.967.2500 | www.SBSCChamber.com
Mailing Address: 5662 Calle Real #204, Goleta, CA
Visitor Center: 120 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA
2/6/2023
Mayor Perotte and Goleta City Council
City of Goleta
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA 93117
RE: Adjustments to Council Appointments
Dear Mayor Perotte and Councilmembers:
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce would like to express our concern regarding the return of Adjustments to Council Appointments to Committees, specifically the Economic Development and Revitalization Standing Committee appointments, to the Council Agenda.
The City and the Council’s process for committee appointments has always been a transparent and standard process, with all Councilmembers having the opportunity to submit which committees they are interested in serving on, followed by a public discussion to determine the best candidates for that year. On January 17 the Council had a thorough discussion of which candidates would be the best fit for the Economic Development and Revitalization Committee, and the Council ultimately approved the appointments. Bringing this back to the Council to consider changing the appointments, at the request of Mayor Perotte and Councilmember Kasdin, has created a lack of transparency in an otherwise smooth process.
The Chamber has actively followed and engaged with the work of the Economic Development and Revitalization Committee since its inception and have repeatedly asked for better decorum in the administration of this committee – putting meetings on a regular agenda with adequate notification to the public. We appreciate City staff’s recent efforts to do so, alongside the work being done on the Economic Development Strategic Plan. However, this revisiting of appointments is reminiscent of the lack of public communication we previously took issue with.
Any City’s conduit to the business community is its economic development committee. And as the City continues to the vital work on the Economic Development Strategic Planning Process, positive dialogue between the Economic Development Revitalization Committee and the business community is more critical than ever before. Early discussions and community feedback during this process has revealed a breakdown between the City, the Chamber, and the business community – which we are now working to address.
The appointments of Councilmember Kyriaco and Councilmember Reyes-Martin on January 17 not only showed a commitment to fresh eyes on the Economic Development and Revitalization Committee, but a commitment to a better working relationship with the Chamber as well. Councilmember Kyriaco is highly qualified to participate in these discussions and has expressed previous interest in participating on the committee. He is already an active advocate for many of the key issues that appear in the work of the committee. However, he has already deferred to other councilmembers interest in the committee once before. Councilmember Reyes-Martin has a strong background in economic development gained through her various community facing roles. She also has strong connections with several community stakeholders,
805.967.2500 | www.SBSCChamber.com
Mailing Address: 5662 Calle Real #204, Goleta, CA
Visitor Center: 120 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA
like our public schools, who will be better served by having her on the committee. Both Councilmembers are highly qualified candidates for this committee and deserve the opportunity to participate in the critical work being done on the Economic Development Strategic Plan. The entire Council will still be able to weigh in on the process when relevant agenda items are brought before the Council.
We ask that you reaffirm the previous City Council appointments to the Economic Development and Revitalization Standing Committee. Thank you for your commitment to transparency and a continued working relationship with the local business community.
Sincerely,
Kristen Miller
President & CEO
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce