Questions and comments have come up about just whom the Santa Maria City Council serves! Please read this entire commentary and I’ll try to explain the council’s duties and responsibilities to meet the needs of the entire community.
First, I’ve lived in Santa Maria for more than 40 years and had the honor to serve on the City Council for more 30 years, so I feel I have a lot of experience in writing this! I think I can speak for all or most of the past and current City Council members.
I’ve served with an array of very diverse individuals: men, women, Hispanics, Italians, Polish, Japanese, African-American, English, Portuguese, but only one Croatian—myself. Each councilmember, no matter what area of town they reside in, strives to make Santa Maria a great place to work, live, and raise a family! To a person including myself, they represent and serve every square inch of Santa Maria, which is currently approximately 14 square miles and every single person living within the city limits!
The City Council sets city policies and directs staff from the city manager down to the approximately 550 hardworking employees to provide the multitude of city services in the most efficient and effective manner to every single member of the community!
Here is an overview of what the city provides every single person, family, household, neighborhood, block, and square mile within city limits and in many cases beyond.
When you call for help, a policeman will come, or a fireman in a fire truck will arrive to assist. Code Enforcement officers help keep neighborhoods safe and clean to protect property values and insure family safety. City rangers protect both city-owned property and assist police officers when they need support.
When you turn on the faucet, clean water comes out. When you flush the toilet, your waste disappears. When you put out your garbage, recycled items, or green waste receptacles, a city truck comes and hauls it away. Oh, you can also drop off your household hazardous and e-waste at the city landfill.
If you need to go to work, the hospital, shops, church, school, restaurant, city library, Allan Hancock College, youth or senior center, barber shop, etc., you can drive, take a city bus, even bicycle on any of the city’s well-maintained/swept streets. There are directional signs, signals, and lights to help make your travels safe. Oh, and there is free parking in most locations and special needs busing.
To help you and your family enjoy a healthy lifestyle, the city provides a fantastic array of recreation and park facilities to enjoy. Swim, play soccer, baseball, basketball, run, dance, swing, climb, exercise, barbecue, and a multitude of programs keep you and your family enjoying life to the fullest. All this is provided to give young and old alike an outlet for good, wholesome activities in a clean and safe environment.
The city attorney’s office helps with all the city’s legal matters, such as lawsuits and protecting everyone’s basic civil rights.
The city provides significant financial aid to many nonprofit organizations for their capital improvements as well and their continuing programs that help with a multitude of social issues that individuals and families may face.
Federal, state, and Santa Barbara County offices are located within the city of Santa Maria, providing the ability to receive help for any health, social, or welfare issues that require assistance.
I’m extremely disappointed and concerned when I hear anyone comment that any councilmember does not represent any person or faction of the community.
Please show the City Council or me just what and where this is taking place. Every council member will attempt to rectify any shortcomings in city services the community may require. Just call the city manager’s office and report your concern, and they can direct the appropriate department to follow up!
Bob Orach served on the Santa Maria City Council between 1987 and 2017. Send your thoughts to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 8-15, 2017.