Planning for Our Future

By Marty Blum

Maintaining our quality of life in Santa Barbara requires careful planning.

In my first years on Council, we pulled together over a hundred citizens who met regularly to find a vision for the waterfront. I fought to ensure that we would implement the vision of the citizens. We are now working to keep the ambiance in the area east of State Street near Cabrillo Boulevard by rezoning. I will fight to make sure the citizens of Santa Barbara can enjoy the waterfront as well as the tourists.

The single greatest indicator of a quality city is the excellence of its parks department. Ours has received awards for its numerous innovative ideas. From youth programs to adult classes to seniors, our parks and recreation departments serve city residents as well as non-residents. I have been liaison to the Parks Commission, and in the last couple years, we have finished Chase Palm Park on Cabrillo Boulevard which every citizen of Santa Barbara can enjoy. We have also acquired the Douglas Family Preserve on the mesa, thanks to thousands of citizens. The management plan for that beautiful piece of property will be done in December 1999. We are working on fundraising for a skateboard park which has been designed for the waterfront area. Accessibility of all citizens of Santa Barbara to our parks is important.