Statewide Traffic Safety and Signs, which has an office in Nipomo, was awarded a $23,890 contract to install LED flashing school crossing signs on Highway 246 at La Lata Drive and Sycamore Drive before Aug. 17 to stay ahead of the fall school semester, which begins Aug. 22.
The company was the lower of two bidders for the project. The project is funded by a $25,000 Measure A Safe Routes to School Program grant. The bid was around $1,100 lower than the engineer’s estimate of $25,000.
The signs will be solar-powered and push-button activated. The idea to install the signs was broached by Dave King about four years ago, councilman Ed Andrisek noted. “I’m really glad to see this,” Andrisek said. “We need to do something about traffic there and not just writing out tickets.”
Rockwood General Contractors of Arroyo Grande was the lowest of three bidders for another road maintenance project, which involves installing crack sealant and placing slurry seal on streets in the southwestern portion of the city, as well as the metal ridge right above River View Park, on Avenue of the Flags and Highway 246.
The $250,700 project is funded by Buellton’s general fund and Measure A dollars, and the bid was more than $1,000 over the engineer’s estimate of $249,637. Coordination has commenced between the city and the contractor, and they hope to start construction in early August and break ground in no more than 30 days, according to Rose Hell, public works director.
Also at the regular meeting, a proclamation was presented to Sheriff’s Lt. Brad McVay on behalf of Senior Deputy Kathi LeGault of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. It recognized her services as a community resource deputy, a position she held for three years. LeGault has been transferred to a new position at the Santa Maria jail and could not attend the meeting.
“We understand that it was an extremely difficult decision because of the budget,” Lt. McVay said, “and we thank you for your thoughtfulness by recognizing her work.” In her position, LeGault focused on crime-prevention programs, neighborhood watch and education for businesses, youth and parents, and worked with school districts to enforce the recently passed truancy program. The deputy also attended special events, including those put on by the Buellton Recreation Center. Her position was eliminated during the 2012-13 budget adoption, saving the city $68,000.
Earlier in the meeting, mayor pro tem Dave King asked city staff to agendize a plan to rename “mayor pro tem,” a title he said most people don’t understand, to vice mayor. “If you go to a lot of different cities, it’s vice mayor,” said King, who is up for re-election in November. “Everybody knows what a vice anything is.”
Mayor Holly Sierra also encouraged the council to form a committee informing residents of Measure D, which would increase the city’s transient occupancy tax (or “bed tax”) from 10 to 12%. In June, the majority of council members voted to support a resolution placing the ballot initiative before voters.
Council members agreed that if passed, the revenue generated by the increase should go toward tourism. The measure would need approval by a simple majority of Buellton voters. Buellton has not increased its bed tax in 15 years.
In 2011, the city’s TOT revenues were $1.2 million, representing a 2.5% increase from the prior year. An estimated $200,000 or so in additional revenue could be generated by the new tax, according to the staff report.
The unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County and the cities of Solvang, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta and Carpinteria all tax at 10%, while Guadalupe taxes at 6% and Santa Barbara at 12%. The Solvang City Council on June 11 voted 4-1 to back an initiative to increase its bed tax to 12%.