Track Record
Four years on the Santa Barbara City Council. Here's what Jason actually did.
Jason Dominguez served on the Santa Barbara City Council representing District 1 from 2016 to 2019. During that time he participated in over 200 council meetings, co-authored key motions on housing, transportation, fiscal policy, public safety, and neighborhood quality of life.
200+
Council Meetings
4
Years Served
2016–2019
District 1, Santa Barbara
Key Accomplishments
A summary of the most significant contributions Jason made during his term — sourced directly from council minutes and public record.
Housing & Neighborhood Policy
- Co-authored motion directing staff to explore a temporary moratorium on Average Unit-Size Density (AUD) permits, protecting neighborhood character while a long-term fix was developed
- Co-led formation of the Housing Task Force to develop comprehensive citywide housing policy
- Directed staff to bring AUD removal from Mobilehome Parks to the Housing Task Force — protecting mobile home park residents
- Moved to update Mobile Home Park Conversion Regulations to strengthen tenant protections
- Motioned for stronger tenant noticing requirements: expanded public hearing notices to include tenants starting July 2017
Transportation & Bike Safety
- Co-authored motion approving the City Bicycle Master Plan, advancing protected bike infrastructure citywide
- Voted to advance the Milpas/Eastside Neighborhood Design Guidelines, supporting walkable, transit-friendly development in an underserved corridor
- Supported sustainable transportation agreements that kept federal and regional transit funding flowing to Santa Barbara
Fiscal Accountability
- Cast a notable dissenting vote on a $401.6M budget he described as "Band-Aids not cures" — one of the few council members willing to go on record against a budget that deferred structural fixes
- Co-authored motion directing the Finance Director to divest $250,000 from Goldman Sachs and $2M from Wells Fargo — part of a broader ethical investment policy overhaul
- Co-authored the updated City Investment Policy (Resolution No. 17-095) establishing stronger ethical standards for city finances
- Boycotted an untaped council retreat, insisting city business be conducted in public — a stand for government transparency
Public Safety & Community Health
- Directed staff to draft the citywide smoking ban in all public areas — protecting residents in parks, sidewalks, and commercial zones
- Supported $10,000 in General Fund contributions to the Coalition Against Gun Violence for the 2016 Santa Barbara Gun Buyback
- Co-authored motion to adopt a revised City Legislative Platform, adding language requiring background checks for domestic violence offenders — strengthening public safety protections
- Supported Direct Relief and Patagonia donation acceptance on behalf of the community following disaster events
Water & Environment
- Recommended that the Water Commission prepare a non-mandatory water conservation resolution — encouraging voluntary conservation without punitive measures post-drought
- Co-authored motion approving water policy updates while protecting residents from mandatory restrictions
- In 2017, when Trump ordered federal agencies to reopen the Pacific to new oil leasing for the first time in over 30 years, Jason wrote and the council passed a resolution making Santa Barbara the first city in California to fight back — banning new offshore drilling and fracking and calling for the creation of a framework for responsible renewable energy development. It wasn't just environmentalists behind it — more than 20 local businesses and the commercial fishing industry stood with us. And it worked: at least 65 cities and counties across California followed our lead, from LA and San Francisco to towns up and down the coast
- Supported Cabrillo Boulevard Safety Restriping — improving pedestrian and cyclist safety along the waterfront
Downtown & Economic Development
- Directed staff to remove illegal signage reserving public parking for private use — restoring public access to downtown parking
- Co-authored motion to extend nighttime parking hours, add employee parking permits, update zone-of-benefit calculations, add a downtown shuttle stop, and designate ride-share zones
- Voted to approve the 6100 Hollister Ave light industrial and commercial development — supporting jobs and economic activity
- Negotiated an exclusive negotiation agreement with an enterprise operator to protect city interests in a contested downtown asset
Notable Votes & Stands
Not every vote is a party-line vote. These are the moments Jason went on record — even when it wasn't easy.
Dissenting Vote on the $401.6M Budget
Jason was one of the only council members to vote against the city's operating budget, calling it "Band-Aids not cures." He refused to sign off on a spending plan that deferred structural fixes to the city's long-term fiscal health.
Ethical Divestment from Goldman Sachs & Wells Fargo
Co-authored the motion directing the Finance Director to divest $2.25M from major Wall Street banks as part of a new city investment policy that prioritized ethical and community-aligned financial practices.
Transparency: Boycotted Untaped Council Retreat
When fellow council members held a retreat without recording it, Jason refused to attend — insisting that city business belongs on the public record. A small act. A clear principle.
AUD Moratorium — Protecting Neighborhoods
Moved to explore a temporary pause on Average Unit-Size Density permits while the city developed a long-term fix — standing up for neighborhood character at a time when density was mistaken for affordability, and unfortunately, increasing working-class housing demand and rents.
Citywide Smoking Ban
Co-authored the motion to implement a citywide smoking ban in all public areas — protecting residents and visitors in parks, sidewalks, and commercial zones across Santa Barbara.
Ready to do it again — for District 4.
Jason has the experience, the record, and the independence to serve District 4 with the same commitment he brought to District 1. See where he stands on the issues facing our community today.