Council returns to action with swearing-in ceremony

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

With patriotic bunting lining the dais, the Santa Barbara City Council welcomed a new face to their ranks while sending off a familiar one with heartfelt thanks.
Dale Francisco took his seat on the Council for the first time during today's largely ceremonial meeting, while both Helene Schneider and Das Williams settled into their usual positions, ready for another four-year term.
Before swearing-in festivities got underway, however, each member of the Council expressed their gratitude to Brian Barnwell, who stepped down from his seat today after delivering parting remarks.

“I’m going to miss it,” Barnwell said, “but the weight of this office has been lifted from my shoulders and my doctor said my blood pressure has already gone down.”
Describing his time on the Council as a lifelong honor, Barnwell thanked the public, city staff and his colleagues on the dais, as well as his wife and family. He also congratulated Francisco and offered him a few words of warning.
“It’s a tough job and you get shot at all the time,” Barnwell said.
He also took the opportunity to highlight a few problems he sees facing the community of Santa Barbara. In addition to dealing with a slowing economy and financial troubles, he said the Council has to find out a way to inform the public about the good deeds they accomplish.
“I’m troubled by the coverage that we get in the [Santa Barbara] News-Press,” he said. “I don’t think it reports what we do. I would like to suggest we create some formalized way we can respond so we don’t just take it on the chops when we do all the excellent work and we don’t get recognition.”
Even as he leaves his seat on the Council, Barnwell plans to stick around the local political scene — he is already involved in an initiative proposing new building height limits in Santa Barbara.
“I’m not dead and I’m still going to be around,” he said.
Before Barnwell left his seat, each of his fellow Councilmembers rained down compliments and affectionate comments.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you, Brian,” Mayor Marty Blum said. “Your passion and intelligence just come through.”
Schneider said although his votes occasionally made her jaw drop, he is going to leave behind an illustrious legacy of spearheading the city’s sustainability program.
“I know that’s where all your decisions come from, your passion and love for this town,” Schneider said.
After lauding Barnwell for his insights into land-use issues and keen understanding of the future impact of his decisions, Councilmember Iya Falcone thanked him for his service on the Planning Commission and the Council.
“You have been serving this community in so many ways,” she said. “I don’t expect you to stop.”
Then, Francisco, Schneider and Williams, with celebratory roses pinned to their lapels, stepped forward and raised their right hand to take the affirmation of allegiance. Each received a certificate of election and congratulations from dozens of people that packed the Council Chambers to witness the ceremony.
“I’m very proud of what this council has done as a group,” Schneider said, telling the audience she looks forward to working with both Williams and Francisco, as well as the four other members. “…It’s obvious there’s much more work to do, I look forward to those challenges, and I hope we make the residents proud.”
Williams, delivering his remarks after Schneider, thanked the public for their support despite his young and eccentric nature, and urged them to continue to be involved in local issues.
“To meet the challenges in the years ahead, and there are some big ones … will take the participation of the whole community and will take sacrifice and hard work,” Williams said.
After congratulating Barnwell on his years of service and thanking those who helped with his campaign, Francisco said Santa Barbara is blessed with an active and informed citizenry, one whose predilections he hopes to follow more than his own.
“I’m very grateful to the people of Santa Barbara who voted for me,” he said. “I hope over the next four years to repay your trust. To those who didn’t vote for me, I hope to gain your confidence over time.”
As the festivities drew to a close, Mayor Blum also expressed the Council’s thanks to dozens of people who served on city advisory groups that also left their position today.
Later in the meeting, the Councilmembers also hashed out various positions and liaisons each will take during the next four years. Councilmember Grant House will serve as mayor pro tempore, the only member other than Francisco who hasn’t held the position.
The Council’s Ordinance Committee will consist of Francisco, House and Williams, while Councilmembers Roger Horton, Falcone and Schneider will serve on the Finance Committee.