Tensions continue to flare in Santa Barbara’s budget deliberations, this time over Police Department positions.

The Santa Barbara City Council debated whether to freeze three currently vacant police officer positions, which would save the city $576,000.

The council ended up not freezing the positions as Councilwoman Wendy Santamaria was the only one pushing for the freeze.

“Our Police Department is doing a great job, so for us to say that not filling positions that have continuously been vacant is going to take away from the job that they’re doing is completely inaccurate,” she said.

Police Chief Kelly Gordon spoke at Tuesday’s meeting advocating for the positions, saying they were needed to reduce overtime costs and to keep the recruitment pipeline going.

“When those positions are frozen, we’re not able to recruit or hire for them,” Gordon said. “And by the time we can, then it takes us two years. So if we don’t continuously keep that pipeline going, all we do is fall further and further behind.”

Councilmen Eric Friedman and Mike Jordan made it clear that they didn’t support freezing the positions. Friedman even read a news release from last Friday about an arrest of an alleged stolen vehicle, attempted carjacking and residential burglary suspect. 

The incident ended without any injuries to the public, suspect or police officers. 

“That doesn’t just happen by accident. That happens by doing exactly what the chief is telling us to do,” Friedman said. “Yes, every dollar counts, and the public is counting on us to keep them safe.”

Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon initially supported the freeze, then took back her support after hearing from Gordon and her colleagues.

“I’m happy to have this filled,” Sneddon said. “Of course we need to be fully staffed.”

Santamaria made it clear that she had no problem being the only one pushing to freeze the positions.

She also claimed that the Milpas Street holiday parade is overpoliced and if the city worked with event organizers, they could reduce the demand on the department. 

“We’re talking about working within our means, except when it comes to the Police Department,” Santamaria said. “We’re talking about prioritizing community well-being at the expense of housing, so long as the Police Department gets the funding.”

She also expressed disappointment that the other members on the council weren’t willing to make the hard decisions, despite outcries about financial reserves — specifically taking aim at Mayor Randy Rowse, Jordan and Friedman.

“What a coincidence that my three male colleagues who won’t support rent stabilization, who won’t support money into the housing trust fund, who won’t support solving our housing crisis, are very happy to put additional funds into the police,” Santamaria said. “Is that because you think the solution to the housing crisis is just to sweep the homeless?”

Measure C Money for Housing Fund

Recent budget discussions have centered on money for the local housing trust fund, which contributes to affordable housing projects.

On Tuesday, the council voted 4-3 to take $1 million from the Measure C capital budget to go to the local housing trust fund. 

Measure C brings in tax revenue to go toward a variety of city services and projects, such as the new police station and pavement improvements. 

The city’s financial plan called for $2 million to go into the local housing trust fund next year, but because of depleting reserves, staff recommended paying only half of that.

Council members Sneddon, Oscar Gutierrez, Santamaria and Harmon supported using some Measure C money for the fund, while Rowse, Jordan and Friedman voted against it.

Friedman raised concerns about the added pressure to the Measure C budget. He has been routinely advocating to hold off on the $1 million allocation until the city Housing Authority has a project ready to receive the funds.

Santamaria argued that now is not the time to hold off on housing funds.

“In light of state and federal dollars dwindling, it is not the time for us locally to be retracting our commitments on this,” Santamaria said. “I would much, much rather provide that stability and security to our housing developers than to leave it up in the air to a commitment that isn’t really in writing.”

As the meeting hit 6½ hours long on Tuesday, City Administrator Kelly McAdoo recommended that the council continue the rest of the budget discussion to a special meeting at 10 a.m. next Tuesday.

The council still needs to discuss homeless services, holiday parades, downtown parking and other budget issues.