Santa Maria · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Santa Maria public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
County Legislative Platform Public Input
Santa Barbara County is taking public comments on its 2027 Legislative Platform—the list of state policies it’ll lobby Sacramento for. If you care about what county leaders push for at the state level, this is your chance to weigh in.
Downtown multimodal improvements
Caltrans is studying protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and traffic calming on the state highways through downtown. A survey is open through April; construction could start around 2032 if funding comes through.
Unpermitted Construction
St. Joseph High School built a new softball field without getting the proper permits, and now neighbors are complaining about baseballs landing in their yards. The county is investigating, but residents feel ignored.