Santa Maria stands at a pivotal point as it prepares to accommodate expected growth, but residents must decide on the quality of life they want amid serious financial issues, city leaders said Tuesday afternoon.

About 150 people attended this year’s State of the City event at Allan Hancock College’s Boyd Concert Hall. 

The presentation organized by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce focused on the theme “From Vision to Action,” highlighting the progress, partnerships and projects shaping Santa Maria’s future. 

City Manager David Rowlands noted the huge financial challenges facing Santa Maria, like many government agencies, leading to reduced library hours, eliminated full-time positions and other cost-saving measures to trim what once was a $25 million gap. 

“Moving from vision to action means that we do not wait for perfect conditions,” Rowlands said. “It means acknowledge the challenges, identify realistic solutions and begin the work. 

“Measure C is a quality of life issue.”

If approved, the city’s Measure C on the Nov. 3 ballot would boost the sales tax rate for purchases in Santa Maria from 8.75% to 9.25%, generating $13 million a year that would be controlled locally.

“It does not mean giving the city a blank check,” Rowlands said, adding that it would not replace careful budgeting, accountability or long-term planning, with the spending having transparency and oversight.

Leaders of some other city departments, including public works, community development, utilities, fire and police, also provided updates about lower crime rates, long-awaited Highway 101 interchange projects and new firefighting tools.

Community Development Director Chenin Dow said Santa Maria stands at “a crucial point in our history.”

“We are an absolute economic engine of the Central Coast. We represent 25% of the population, and we have substantial opportunities ahead of us to continue to grow in the right direction,” Dow said. 

Santa Maria has nearly 5,500 housing units in various states of development, Dow said.

“These are not just plans; these are turning into action,” Dow said.

Projects underway include a senior development for those age 55 or older with homeownership, Blosser Ranch with 1,500 assorted units on land that had grown strawberries and a 49-unit single-family housing project at the site for the former drive-in theater property on Santa Maria Way. The People’s Self-Help Housing workforce housing project will create ownership opportunities.

Another 340 market-rate apartments recently were completed just north of Betteravia Road, and the same developer intends to build townhomes in the area. 

Additionally, construction for the former Mervyns building at the Santa Maria Town Center West is expected to wrap up by 2027, giving the city 100 new loft apartments.

Construction of a multi-story building known as the Perlman Apartments with 150 affordable units on the northeast corner of Broadway and Main Street could break ground within the next 60 days, Dow said.

While Santa Maria has steady housing growth, including multifamily units, the city consistently sees more accessory dwelling units and minimal growth for single-family homes.

Dow ticked off a number of businesses that recently opened and noted a number of others coming soon, including Men’s Wearhouse at 570 E. Betteravia Road and Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers on West Betteravia Road.

In another adaptive reuse for a former department store, the former Sears site at the north end of the Santa Maria Town Center mall will become home to an El Super market, opening in the coming months. 

One big business also will get a Santa Maria facility as Dow confirmed an online retailer’s pending arrival — not a big surprise after environmental documents referred to the huge warehouse as Amazon and featured Amazon blue in the designs submitted to the city. 

“This is the first time I can say publicly that it is an Amazon facility,” Dow said. “This is a last-mile facility that will be built out on Stowell, and it represents 800 jobs for residents of our community. That will be a huge impact for our community.”

While speakers talked about ongoing and near-term projects, they also have an eye on the future, thanks to the recently updated Santa Maria General Plan, a blueprint to guide growth through 2045.

“This charts a roadmap for the growth that we will see over the next 20 years,” Dow said, adding that the documents call for 16,000 more housing units, 58,000 more residents and 24,000 jobs.

To accommodate the growth, the city will seek to annex 985 acres of land, located east of  Highway 101, into Santa Maria.

“Santa Maria has a plan. We have challenges, we have opportunities. Most importantly, we have a community capable of meeting the moment,” Mayor Alice Patino said.

The success of the city is measured not by growth, but how people experience the community they call home, she said.

“The Santa Maria we want in 2045 will not be created in 2045. It’s being built today by all of you,” Patino added.