City reads edicts regarding organ donation, sexual assault awareness, Dark Sky, and Arbor Day
In a relatively light agenda for its Thursday, April 9, and with a minimum quorum of three, the Buellton City Council issued and read four proclamations covering a wide range of topics.
Mayor David Silva was absent for the meeting, leaving Vice Mayor Carla Mead to conduct the meeting. Councilmember Hudson Hornick was also absent.
The meeting began with a proclamation recognizing April as National Donate Life Month. Santa Barbara resident Scott Burns attended the meeting to tell the council of his own experience getting a kidney transplant.
“I was on a friend’s boat that was anchored and then the Harbor Patrol came up behind us and said ‘Mr. Burns, we have a kidney for you,” Burns said. “I found out it was a nurse at Cottage Hospital had died suddenly and her family agreed to donate her organs. I got a kidney because of that, so I’m always promoting organ donation.”
The actual proclamation pointed out that 103,000 people nationwide and 23,000 in California are on a transplant waiting list and, on average 17 people a day die while on those waiting lists. It also pointed out that one person’s donated organs can save the lives of up to eight people and donated tissue can save up to 75 lives.
After reading the proclamation, Mead remarked how good it was that “one person can save so many lives.”
The second proclamation recognized Sexual Assault & Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month. Ann McCarty, executive director of the North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center came up with Santa Barbara County DA John T. Savrnoch, and Victim Witness Advocate Supervisor Yleana Anda, whom she called her “partners” in fighting sexual assault and child abuse.
“The most meaningful to me is partnership — working together to stop this,” McCarty said. “We appreciate that Buellton recognizes our efforts. This can’t be done in isolation; collaboration is essential. I’m proud of the work that’s been done, but there’s much more ahead of us. Knowing Buellton supports us, gives us hope and strength.”
After the proclamation, Councilmember Elysia Lewis emphasized the importance of everyone to recognize and prevent these violations.
“As a parent, public school employee, and mandated reporter, I remind everyone that preventing this is a shared responsibility,” she said. “If you see something, say something.”
The next proclamation was for Recognizing International Dark Sky Week – April 13-20, 2026
The Dark Sky initiative promotes the prevention of light pollution, keeping off unneccesary light to allow better viewing of the natural night sky.
Susan Bott, president/treasurer of the WeWatch Save our Stars organization, lauded the City Council for its presentation.
“Thanks to advocacy of recognizing Dark Sky Week,” Bott said. “Your recent adoption of the outdoor lighting ordinance is proof of your recognition. Light pollution is different from other types of pollution: Once lights are off, pollution is gone. Once in a while, everyone should experience wonder of a starry night.”
After reading the proclamation, Mead said, “With the recent return of Artemis II, this couldn’t be a better time to bring this up. Looking up at the sky has always inspired me.”
Lewis remarked she was proud to be in a city “that wasn’t so rural, but where you could look up in the sky and see that stars clearly.”
The final proclamation recognized April 24 as National Arbor Day.
Buellton City Manager Scott Wolfe spoke on behalf of the proclamation, praising it because it promotes the city’s new tree-planting iniiative.
“We’ve had the 1,000 Trees initiative to encourage the planting of trees,” Wolfe said. “Last year’s proclamation for Arbor Day was the springboard to designation of Tree City U.S.A. I’m proud that we have it.”
As the actual proclamation, read by Mead, said, “trees are important, we couldn’t live without them: they clean the air and produce the oxygen we breathe. They provide habitat for wildlife and help to keep the climate in balance. They give us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products.”
In other business:
The council approved by a 3-0 vote the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Although submitted to the Mayor and City Council for consideration, the ACFR is also intended to provide relevant financial information to the residents of Buellton, taxpayers, creditors, investors and other interested parties.
Finance Director Shannel Zamora said during fiscal year 2024-25, the City of Buellton increased $2.8 million that years (A 5.1% increase) and bringing the city’s revenue up $57.9 million. The three councilmembers all thanked staff for their hard work.
In his City Manager’s Report, Wolfe announced that the City Council would not meet at its next regularly scheduled Thursday, April 23, because a majority of the councilmembers would be out of town. The City Council will meet next on Thursday, May 14.
