The City of Santa Barbara expanded its restorative policing program, budgeted $75,000 to hire a homeless prevention czar, kept the budget ax from falling on the Rental Housing Mediation Task Force, re-striped Cliff Drive to make it safer for pedestrians, finally adopted a new general plan, opened a new $60 million airline terminal, finished building a new bridge by Haley and De la Vina streets, opened the new Artisan Court affordable housing complex on Cota Street, and participated in a major count of the number of homeless people countywide. These were among the highlights mentioned by Mayor Helene Schneider in her end-of-the-year synopsis and email seasons greeting. Among the challenges confronting City Hall, Schneider mentioned a $3 million budget shortfall and heightened community concern about problems within the police department.
