State of the City 2025: Lompoc sees gains in safety, student success, healthcare access | Government and Politics

City Manager Dean Albro opened the event by highlighting recent city successes including the city-wide cape seal road rehabilitation program, renewable energy investments, and maintaining a balanced city budget for the fourth consecutive year.

Albro explained that despite national economic uncertainty, Lompoc is positioned to “run a status quo budget” for the 2025-27 cycle and is expected to maintain service levels without reductions.

Reflecting on broader national and state trends, Albro noted that while unemployment remains low and GDP growth strong, rising housing prices, fewer births, and changing consumer patterns are creating downward pressure on local sales tax revenues. He also pointed to a growing shift toward electric vehicles, warning that declining gas tax revenues could impact future road funding.

Despite these challenges, Albro expressed cautious optimism, saying revenue from tourism and hotel taxes remains strong for Lompoc thanks in part to an uptick in rocket launches at nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base.

“Overall we’re going to see a status quo budget,” he said. “It’s a good thing.”

Police Chief Kevin Martin provided a detailed report on Lompoc’s public safety achievements, including a 1% decrease in serious crimes against persons and a 21% drop in serious property crimes compared to the previous year.

Martin attributed the gains largely to stronger staffing, noting that the police department has only two vacant officer positions.

His update included the hiring of a city funded full-time homeless outreach officer, paired with a marijuana compliance officer, who work together in the field. The homeless officer focuses on outreach and offering services to unhoused individuals, and the marijuana compliance officer addresses legal compliance related to cannabis businesses.

According to Martin, the police made over 623 contacts with individuals experiencing homelessness — offering services and assistance at every interaction. Martin stressed that these were not 623 unique individuals, but rather repeat contacts focused on building trust and offering help over time.

Lompoc also is keeping officers safer.

Martin said that investments in new body-worn cameras, a $4.3 million public safety radio system upgrade, and the installation of 58 Flock license plate reader cameras throughout the city have helped modernize the department’s operations.

Lompoc is already seeing the benefits of these technologies, especially in recovering stolen vehicles, he said.

As for cameras, progress is underway.

“We did deploy the new portables so the officers have that technology on their uniforms now,” Martin said, noting that the previous portables had been purchased in 1993, relegating the radio shop to seek outdated replacement parts from Ebay. “So it was time,” he said.

The focus now is on installing new radios in vehicles and adding updated infrastructure — towers required to operate the new frequencies.

“We’re hoping by the end of the year this project will be completed and we’ll be operating on the new radio system,” he said.

Martin urged the community to rethink outdated perceptions of Lompoc’s safety.

Based on FBI data, he argued that Lompoc is among the safest communities in Santa Barbara County, stating, “People’s perception of our community is so wrong. I would argue we’re the safest place in the county to raise a family, to run a business, and to live your life.”

Martin also highlighted a focus on community engagement, with officers participating in 29 public events in 2024 and revitalizing the department’s cadet program to build a pipeline of future officers.

“Like the Chief [indicated], it takes a village, it takes a team, and I’m a proud partner of the Lompoc Unified School District team,” said Paul Boomersbach, district assistant superintendent human resources, before offering a look into the city’s educational landscape.

Focusing on the district’s evolving mission: “building trusting relationships, setting high expectations, and ensuring every student succeeds,” Boomersbach explained that the new motto has been embraced by new hires, reflecting the district’s commitment to culture and achievement.

Boomersbach relayed a statement from Superintendent Dr. Clara Finneran, assuring that student success and financial stability remain the district’s top priority, regardless of outside financial challenges that might lie ahead.

Funding breakdowns were shared (though not in detailed numbers), emphasizing that LUSD is watching state and federal developments closely while continuing internal fiscal responsibility.

Boomersbach reported tangible progress: seven LUSD schools posted gains in English Language Arts proficiency, several exceeding the state average, and chronic absenteeism fell by 10%. He praised both students and staff for their efforts to “build the rapport first,” emphasizing that relationships are key to academic success.

He also spotlighted major accolades: Crestview Elementary earned the Purple Star Award for supporting military families; Maple High School was named a Model Continuation High School; and Lompoc High School joined the National Education Equity Lab, allowing students to earn college credits in partnership with prestigious universities like Princeton.

Boomersbach took a moment to celebrate the successful passage of Measure M, a major facilities bond measure that will fund essential school improvements. With the first $30 million in bonds already sold, critical projects like roof repairs, new windows, and intercom system upgrades are slated to begin this summer.

Looking ahead, Boomersbach shared the district’s ambitious plans for workforce housing to support recruitment and retention of teachers and staff — a vital step given the local housing shortage.

“Our employees are our greatest asset,” he said, adding that the project aims to create more than 100 new housing units over the next few years.

Healthcare leaders from Lompoc Valley Medical Center provided an update on the state of medical services in the community.

CFO Dustin Cheney and Senior Director of Operations Lindsay Arevalos Velasco highlighted the hospital district’s continued efforts to expand access to care while maintaining financial stability.

Despite a tight financial environment, with just a 1% profit margin reported for the last fiscal year, LVMC remains focused on serving Lompoc residents locally. Cheney said that being an independent district hospital gives LVMC access to unique public funding sources, helping sustain operations and community services.

“We are proud to be an independent hospital district focused on providing high-quality, affordable local healthcare,” he said.

Velasco outlined several major expansion efforts, including the planned opening of the Vandenberg Village Clinic in 2026, which will broaden primary and specialty care services. She reported that LVMC has also enhanced its oncology offerings, now handling over 7,000 cancer care visits per year, and expanded dialysis services for inpatients, reducing the need for transfers to out-of-town facilities.

Investment in digital health technology was another major focus, with LVMC overhauling its enterprise health records and billing systems to improve efficiency and care coordination.

Looking ahead, LVMC’s strategic goals include growing acute and post-acute services, expanding outpatient care, modernizing facilities, and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

Velasco stressed that the overarching mission remains unchanged: to provide “independent, high-quality, affordable local healthcare” for the Lompoc community.

“We are investing in Lompoc because we believe in Lompoc,” she said.