Three members of the public used the session’s public‑comment period to press the council for faster action on rent stabilization and tenant protections.

Carrie Weber said she was speaking as a worker who relies on two jobs to stay in Santa Barbara and urged the council to schedule important public meetings outside normal business hours so working people can participate. “It’s like a 5 alarm fire. We cannot wait,” Weber said, arguing that delays would cause displacement and noting she had heard landlords signal they would evict tenants if protections passed.

Anna Arcey, a policy advocate, urged the council to avoid delay and said community members are already sacrificing work time to participate in the planning process. Arcey said tenants fear “bad‑faith evictions” and recommended the council strengthen services for youth and explore partnerships such as AmeriCorps to stretch resources.

Scott Forman, reading prepared remarks, urged “urgent action on rent stabilization,” saying a proposed ordinance was submitted to the city last Tuesday and calling attention to what he described as sharp rent increases over recent years. Forman told the council he was hopeful about staff and council work but worried tenants could not absorb another combined increase of 5% plus CPI.

Council members and staff did not vote on an ordinance today. Staff said the work plan includes research and a city‑driven draft ordinance process in year 1 with implementation in a later year; separate city work on short‑term rental rules is also listed in the year‑1 work plan. Speakers requested the council take steps to shore up eviction protections (including a review of how state law such as the Ellis Act could affect local protections) and to plan outreach and services that would reduce displacement if evictions increase.