Off-leash dog park, commission appointment on docket

 

The Buellton City Council will be considering a number of subjects at their June 26 meeting; among them re-advertising for a planning commissioner, a request for financial assistance from the Housing Authority and an off-leash dog park.

The council will also vote on the adoption of the 2008-2009 Buellton budget.

Taking up the business of appointing a new planning commissioner was carried over from two weeks ago when the council could not make a decision on appointing Buellton resident Art Mercado, the only citizen to apply for the position.

 

Mercado is related to city councilman Dale Molesworth, who recused himself from the appointment process to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

The remaining four members of the council split their vote two-two with Ed Andrisek and Russ Hicks voting to appoint Mercado and Vicoria Pointer and Diane Whitehair voting against the appointment.

The tie vote did not gain Mercado the appointment and the council announced that the subject would be back on the agenda at the June 26 meeting.

Buellton citizens over the age of 18 are eligible for the open position and may pick up applications at the city offices on Highway 246 or at the planning annex next door.

In other business, the council will consider the request by the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara to purchase seven very low income affordable housing units from JM Development at the Valley Station mixed use development. JM Development is asking for $650,000 for the seven units.

 

The Housing Authority has $550,000 in funding commitments.

The authority is seeking $100,000 from the city in order to complete the purchase.

Another item on the council’s agenda is a proposal to establish an off-leash dog park at the northeast corner of La Pita Place and Dawn Drive and is commonly known as Sharon Place Park.

The city staff has a proposal from a private group, PAWS Parks of Santa Ynez Valley, which was created to assist the city with an off-leash park, to establish such a park with an initial grant of $60,900. The agreement states that the city will provide the grant funds along with construction plans and specifications and PAWS will develop, operate, and maintain the park. The council meets June 26 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers behind the Post Office on Highway 246 in Buellton.