The Buellton City Council convened on May 22, 2025, to address several key agenda items, with a significant focus on traffic and circulation policies as part of the ongoing comprehensive general plan update.

The meeting began with a detailed presentation by Planning Director Andrea Kiefer regarding the approval of a scope of work with ATE, the city's on-call traffic engineers. The council discussed the necessity of updating the interim traffic impact analysis (TIA) guidelines, which were initially approved in 2021. Kiefer emphasized that these updates are crucial for aligning with the goals of the comprehensive general plan and for addressing the anticipated traffic impacts from several significant development projects in the pipeline.

Kiefer outlined several reasons for the update, including the need to reflect changes in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes, incorporate Caltrans criteria, and ensure that the guidelines are tailored to Buellton's unique small-town character. The goal is to create a more user-friendly tool for traffic evaluations that addresses current mobility concerns.

The proposed budget for this work is $16,000, which was not included in the current fiscal budget, necessitating a budget adjustment for the fiscal year 2024-2025. The council unanimously approved the motion to authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement with ATE for the proposed work.

Following this discussion, the council moved on to the next agenda item, indicating a smooth progression through the meeting's agenda. The overall tone of the meeting was collaborative, with no public comments or additional discussions raised by council members regarding the traffic guidelines update. The council's swift approval reflects a commitment to enhancing Buellton's traffic management and planning processes as the city continues to grow.