Public Service
City of Santa Barbara
The City recruits for advisory groups in the spring and fall and accepts applications year-round for future consideration
Public Leadership
Serve on a Board or Commission
Local boards and commissions shape public services, housing, transportation, the environment, arts, health and equity throughout Santa Barbara County
Where You Can Serve
Start with the jurisdiction that fits you
Open a local government pathway to review example boards and commissions, then confirm current vacancies and eligibility on the official site
Public Service
Santa Barbara County
The County maintains a broad directory of boards, commissions and committees with official appointment information
Public Service
City of Carpinteria
Carpinteria accepts applications throughout the year and lists current advisory-group vacancies through the City Clerk
Find Your Area
Choose the public issues that match your experience
Each gateway opens a short list of boards and commissions connected to that area without turning the page into a search dashboard
Parks & Recreation
Parks & Recreation
Open space, trails, youth programs and public recreation
Housing
Housing
Affordability, land use, housing stability and neighborhood development
Education & Youth
Education & Youth
Libraries, children, families, schools and youth services
Transportation
Transportation
Walking, biking, transit, streets and mobility
Environment
Environment
Climate, water, air quality, coastlines and natural resources
Public Safety & Health
Public Safety & Health
Behavioral health, emergency care and community safety
Women & Equity
Women & Equity
Gender equity, human services, access and representation
Planning & Design
Planning & Design
Architecture, zoning, historic resources and community form
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Public art, cultural programs and community identity
Prepare to Serve
Three things to do before you apply
Eligibility
Confirm Eligibility
Review residency, district, professional and other seat-specific requirements on the official government page
The Role
Understand the Role
Read recent agendas, meeting schedules and the board or commission’s formal responsibilities before applying
Your Contribution
Explain Your Contribution
Connect your experience, community knowledge and perspective to the public purpose of the body you want to serve
Public Leadership Path
Keep building leadership experience
SBWPC Leadership
Public service can be one step in a larger leadership path
Explore candidate preparation, join an SBWPC committee or contact SBWPC when you want help identifying a next step
Serve · Lead · Represent
Bring your experience into public decision-making
Public Leadership
12 starting opportunities
These examples preserve the opportunity set from the existing SBWPC page and connect directly to official government information
City of Santa Barbara
Parks & Recreation Commission
Advises City Council on parks, recreation, beaches, creeks, plazas, parkways and street trees
City of Santa Barbara
Community Development & Human Services Committee
Reviews community-development and human-services needs and funding priorities
City of Santa Barbara
Transportation & Circulation Committee
Provides community input on streets, walking, biking, transit and transportation planning
City of Santa Barbara
Arts Advisory Committee
Supports public arts goals, programs, cultural access and the placement of public art
Santa Barbara County
Commission for Women
Focuses on the status, needs and concerns of women and girls throughout Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County
Behavioral Wellness Commission
Provides public input and oversight related to behavioral-health programs and services
Santa Barbara County
County Riding & Hiking Trails Advisory Committee
Advises on public trails, recreation, access and trail planning
Santa Barbara County
County Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, housing and planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, zoning and coastal-planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Architectural Review Board
Reviews the design and architectural character of proposed projects
City of Carpinteria
Tree Advisory Board
Advises on street trees, tree policy, maintenance and removal requests
City of Carpinteria
Library Advisory Commission
Supports library services, community access and public programming
Official Application Portals
Check current openings and requirements
Vacancies, deadlines, residency rules and appointment procedures can change, so the official jurisdiction page should always be the final source
Official Government Source
City of Santa Barbara
The City recruits for advisory groups in the spring and fall and accepts applications year-round for future consideration
Official Government Source
Santa Barbara County
The County maintains a broad directory of boards, commissions and committees with official appointment information
Official Government Source
City of Carpinteria
Carpinteria accepts applications throughout the year and lists current advisory-group vacancies through the City Clerk
Find Your Area
Parks & Recreation
Open space, trails, youth programs and public recreation
City of Santa Barbara
Parks & Recreation Commission
Advises City Council on parks, recreation, beaches, creeks, plazas, parkways and street trees
Santa Barbara County
County Riding & Hiking Trails Advisory Committee
Advises on public trails, recreation, access and trail planning
City of Carpinteria
Tree Advisory Board
Advises on street trees, tree policy, maintenance and removal requests
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Housing
Affordability, land use, housing stability and neighborhood development
City of Santa Barbara
Community Development & Human Services Committee
Reviews community-development and human-services needs and funding priorities
Santa Barbara County
Commission for Women
Focuses on the status, needs and concerns of women and girls throughout Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County
County Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, housing and planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, zoning and coastal-planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Architectural Review Board
Reviews the design and architectural character of proposed projects
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Education & Youth
Libraries, children, families, schools and youth services
City of Santa Barbara
Parks & Recreation Commission
Advises City Council on parks, recreation, beaches, creeks, plazas, parkways and street trees
City of Santa Barbara
Arts Advisory Committee
Supports public arts goals, programs, cultural access and the placement of public art
Santa Barbara County
Commission for Women
Focuses on the status, needs and concerns of women and girls throughout Santa Barbara County
City of Carpinteria
Library Advisory Commission
Supports library services, community access and public programming
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Transportation
Walking, biking, transit, streets and mobility
City of Santa Barbara
Transportation & Circulation Committee
Provides community input on streets, walking, biking, transit and transportation planning
Santa Barbara County
County Riding & Hiking Trails Advisory Committee
Advises on public trails, recreation, access and trail planning
Santa Barbara County
County Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, housing and planning matters
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Environment
Climate, water, air quality, coastlines and natural resources
City of Santa Barbara
Parks & Recreation Commission
Advises City Council on parks, recreation, beaches, creeks, plazas, parkways and street trees
City of Santa Barbara
Transportation & Circulation Committee
Provides community input on streets, walking, biking, transit and transportation planning
Santa Barbara County
County Riding & Hiking Trails Advisory Committee
Advises on public trails, recreation, access and trail planning
Santa Barbara County
County Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, housing and planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, zoning and coastal-planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Tree Advisory Board
Advises on street trees, tree policy, maintenance and removal requests
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Public Safety & Health
Behavioral health, emergency care and community safety
City of Santa Barbara
Community Development & Human Services Committee
Reviews community-development and human-services needs and funding priorities
Santa Barbara County
Commission for Women
Focuses on the status, needs and concerns of women and girls throughout Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County
Behavioral Wellness Commission
Provides public input and oversight related to behavioral-health programs and services
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Women & Equity
Gender equity, human services, access and representation
City of Santa Barbara
Community Development & Human Services Committee
Reviews community-development and human-services needs and funding priorities
Santa Barbara County
Commission for Women
Focuses on the status, needs and concerns of women and girls throughout Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County
Behavioral Wellness Commission
Provides public input and oversight related to behavioral-health programs and services
City of Carpinteria
Library Advisory Commission
Supports library services, community access and public programming
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Planning & Design
Architecture, zoning, historic resources and community form
City of Santa Barbara
Transportation & Circulation Committee
Provides community input on streets, walking, biking, transit and transportation planning
Santa Barbara County
County Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, housing and planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, zoning and coastal-planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Architectural Review Board
Reviews the design and architectural character of proposed projects
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Find Your Area
Arts & Culture
Public art, cultural programs and community identity
City of Santa Barbara
Arts Advisory Committee
Supports public arts goals, programs, cultural access and the placement of public art
City of Carpinteria
Architectural Review Board
Reviews the design and architectural character of proposed projects
City of Carpinteria
Library Advisory Commission
Supports library services, community access and public programming
Always confirm current vacancies, eligibility, appointment rules and deadlines on the official jurisdiction page
Where You Can Serve
City of Santa Barbara
The City recruits for advisory groups in the spring and fall and accepts applications year-round for future consideration
City of Santa Barbara
Parks & Recreation Commission
Advises City Council on parks, recreation, beaches, creeks, plazas, parkways and street trees
City of Santa Barbara
Community Development & Human Services Committee
Reviews community-development and human-services needs and funding priorities
City of Santa Barbara
Transportation & Circulation Committee
Provides community input on streets, walking, biking, transit and transportation planning
City of Santa Barbara
Arts Advisory Committee
Supports public arts goals, programs, cultural access and the placement of public art
Where You Can Serve
Santa Barbara County
The County maintains a broad directory of boards, commissions and committees with official appointment information
Santa Barbara County
Commission for Women
Focuses on the status, needs and concerns of women and girls throughout Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County
Behavioral Wellness Commission
Provides public input and oversight related to behavioral-health programs and services
Santa Barbara County
County Riding & Hiking Trails Advisory Committee
Advises on public trails, recreation, access and trail planning
Santa Barbara County
County Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, housing and planning matters
Where You Can Serve
City of Carpinteria
Carpinteria accepts applications throughout the year and lists current advisory-group vacancies through the City Clerk
City of Carpinteria
Planning Commission
Reviews land-use, development, zoning and coastal-planning matters
City of Carpinteria
Architectural Review Board
Reviews the design and architectural character of proposed projects
City of Carpinteria
Tree Advisory Board
Advises on street trees, tree policy, maintenance and removal requests
City of Carpinteria
Library Advisory Commission
Supports library services, community access and public programming