Access Advisory Committee nominates local accessibility advocates; committee votes to forward nominations

During the meeting's final agenda item, committee members proposed nominations to recognize contributions that improve accessibility in Santa Barbara. Nominees included local organizations and individuals such as Nature Tracks (an off-road wheelchair platform nonprofit), Hillside (for a community disability independence festival), Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, D. Duncan (founder of New Beginnings Travel) and the Film Festival for accessibility efforts.

A motion was made to accept all nominations together and received a second. One committee member said they would abstain on one nomination; the group proceeded with a vote to forward the slate and staff said the nominations would be included in an upcoming City Council report and asked nominators to email a short justification for each nominee to staff.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally for each nominee in the transcript; staff indicated the nominations will be prepared for council inclusion and confirmed the next Access Advisory Committee meeting date window for further follow-up.