West Beach pedestrian project moves forward

ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Sidewalk and landscaping improvements between Stearns Wharf and the Harbor inched forward as Santa Barbara city leaders approved a $310,380 contract for design services after reviewing a conceptual rendering of the project.
Enhanced pedestrian crossings and viewing plazas along Cabrillo Boulevard, as well as new lighting, landscaping and signage, all got the nod from stakeholders and members of the public at numerous meetings starting in July 2006, staff said.

“This idea of connecting the Harbor and Stearns Wharf is something I’ve been talking about for many years,” Councilmember Iya Falcone said. “…I’m just tickled pink about going forward with this.”
Originally slated as a two-phase proposal, city staff decided to integrate the changes to cut down on construction time and increase efficiency. Realignment of the bicycle path and changes to the waterfront parking lot configuration got the boot, along with a proposed strip of turf along the sidewalk, over maintenance and sustainability concerns.
Conceptual designs also showed the viewing plazas pulled back into the existing sidewalk instead of protruding into the beach. Redevelopment Supervisor Brian Bosse also noted that changes to the art element originally planned for the center of each plaza will likely occur.
“I hope we do have something that is an art piece in each of these,” Councilmember Grant House said, sentiments echoed by Councilmember Helene Schneider, who said an art element would add color and draw people into the area.
As the Council discussed the sidewalk changes, many of the members faced what Councilmember Roger Horton termed the “elephant in the living room:” the Los Banos pool.
“The minute you start dolling this stuff up here, you start running into the clunky stuff from the old days,” Councilmember Brian Barnwell said, citing the pool in particular.
“I want to wade into that, pun intended,” he said. “That is heavily used by the community.”
Describing the aquatic facility as leaky and aging, the Council directed staff to return with preliminary ideas to renovate the pool or build a new facility. Councilmember Das Williams offered a tempered view of moving forward with an aquatics project, citing sustainability concerns and suggesting that city staff come closer to finishing current projects before diving into new ones.
Although city leaders seemed generally on board with looking at improving the Los Banos pool, they said it should not hold up the current pedestrian improvement plan.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” Barnwell said. “We’ve been working on this a lot and it’s finally coming to fruition.”
The design plans will be completed and extensively reviewed in spring 2008, with construction expected to start later that year and wrap up in winter 2009.