Leadbetter Voices Now: Beach photo Sun Feb 11; City Council Feb 13 & Harbor Commission Feb 15

Leadbetter Beach Friends ~

With quick research, we are discovering that there are numerous & significant issues with this project's lack of transparency, true/false communications, and "ADA renovation" accessibility. Plans are approved and City now moving fast despite community/ ADA questions and concerns. We are more than *bathroom users!

We need your voice to City Council and Harbor Commission to slooooow down this project for proper process and ADA! 

Wall-to-Wall Photo = Sun Feb 11 @ 12 noon - Join us for a community photo to share with media of our support for preserving the Leadbetter walls and showers

City Council = Tues Feb 13 @ 2 PM - Public Comment @ start of meeting  - We'll have talking points for you! Councilmembers are unaware of the Leadbetter project - time to ensure they know what's up and why we care 

• City Hall, 735 Anacapa
• Via Zoom: https://santabarbaraca-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JJS2kazqRyu2i83tshCkPw
• Phone: 1-669-900-6833, Enter Webinar ID: 894 2384 2846
  (press *9 to raise/lower hand; press *6 to mute/unmute)

Harbor Commission = Thurs Feb 15 @ 6:30 PM - Public Comment at start of meeting - We'll have talking points for you! Leadbetter project is buried in capital improvement projects update. Also, Cruise Ship Program recommendations are on agenda. A great night to rally for both our ocean and Leadbetter beach! 

• City Hall, 735 Anacapa
• Via Zoom:  Click here to register in advance for zoom - or -
• Web: Go to Zoom.us, click “Join A Meeting”, and enter Webinar ID: 847 5554 8204 on Thursday
• Phone: 1-669-900-6833 and enter Webinar ID: 847 5554 8204 (Press *9 to raise/lower hand; press *6 to mute/unmute)

Please comment to this post with any questions. Join us!

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(From Mike Wiltshire, Waterfront Director 2/8/24)

Hello Leadbetter Beach Bathroom Users,

Thank you for taking the time to meet to discuss your concerns with the proposed Leadbetter Restroom ADA Renovation Project. After the 2/7/2024 meeting I took time to meet with project staff and discuss options going forward. Your comments and input were heard and will be utilized in a solution.

We will plan to leave the change room walls in place for the time being. This will maintain the functionality of the change rooms as-is. Although, we will proceed with the bathroom interior ADA upgrades, remove the existing shower walls, and install new shower towers per the existing plans.

We will continue to monitor activity within the change room areas over the coming months to get a better handle on how those spaces are being used. This is a compromise. We still have legitimate concerns about misuse in the change room areas. Proper use often deters misuse, so the hope is that those areas are actively used by swimmers, kiters, surfers, beachgoers, and visitors going forward.

I appreciate your input and involvement in the process.

Respectfully,  Mike Wiltshire
Waterfront Director, CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, Waterfront
(805) 897-1969 | mwiltshire@santabarbaraca.gov