Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Meagan Harmon has been elected chair of the California Coastal Commission.
Harmon was appointed to the commission in 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“I am honored to be elected by my colleagues to chair the California Coastal Commission and gratified by their confidence in my ability to lead us forward,” Harmon told Noozhawk.
The 12-member board voted unanimously to appoint Harmon as chair Wednesday morning during their meeting in San Diego.
The Coastal Commission was approved by voters in 1972 and is charged with regulating development on California’s 1,100 miles of coastline.
The organization assumed a higher profile in 2024 after Elon Musk sued the agency for voting to limit the number of SpaceX launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
“As we all know, the Commission has faced significant challenges in recent months, but we remain committed to the mission of the Coastal Act as enshrined into law by the voters of the state of California,” Harmon said.
Harmon, a Lompoc native who is a real estate attorney in addition to councilwoman, said she looks forward to working closely with local governments during her time as chair.
“As a member of the Santa Barbara City Council, I know how daunting the Coastal Commission process can seem, especially with limited local government resources,” Harmon said. “I am committed to building partnerships across jurisdictions and demystifying the process to the benefit of our whole state.”
Harmon’s appointment comes after Robert Rivas, speaker of the Assembly, appointed Monterey County supervisor Chris Lopez to replace the seat held by former chair Justin Cummings in May.
Politico reported that the Commission has faced criticism for its role in handling coastal development permits in the effort to rebuild after the Malibu fires.
Commissioner Caryl Hart was appointed vice chair on Wednesday.
Harmon was first appointed to the Santa Barbara City Council in 2018 and has since been elected twice. Her term expires at the end of 2026.
On the City Council, Harmon has advocated for more affordable housing and served as the key leader in pulling reserve funds to help fund new development.
Recent Coastal Commission decisions on Santa Barbara County issues include approving a UC Santa Barbara housing project, issuing a $18-million fine against Sable Offshore Corp. for oil pipeline work, and supporting local hotel projects and hotel/retail projects in the coastal zone.