Santa Barbara Man on Coastal Panel

Gov. Pete Wilson appointed a Santa Barbara county supervisor to the California Coastal Commission on Friday, passing over Ventura Councilwoman Rosa Lee Measures.

Wilson appointed Tim Staffel, 38, as a regional representative on the commission, which is responsible for regulating development along the state’s 1,100-mile-long coastline.

“I’m honored and pleased that the governor had confidence in my abilities to take on this responsibility,” said Staffel, an attorney.

Some environmental advocates, however, criticized the governor’s selection of Staffel, who they said has been insensitive to environmental issues and coastal development as a county supervisor.

“We consider it a really unfortunate choice,” said Marc Chytilo, chief counsel with the nonprofit Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara. “I would characterize him as either oblivious, ignorant or malicious in his treatment of coastal resources.”

Staffel, who voted in favor of a beachside housing project in Goleta last year, said he believes that all development issues should be judged on an individual basis.

“I have a healthy respect for the Constitution of the United States and the California Constitution,” he said. “I believe property rights should be protected.”

Staffel will fill a vacancy left by former Port Hueneme Councilman Dorill Wright, a 16-year veteran of the commission. Wright left the panel in January when he retired from the City Council.

The regional representative serves a two-year term and represents the coastal counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Commissioners meet once a month and are paid $50 per day as well as expenses.

Measures said she was pleased to have been a finalist for the commission post and will now turn her attention to other matters, including a possible run for the Board of Supervisors next year.

“That’s a super commitment,” she said. “So I’ll need to evaluate that carefully before making that commitment.”