State employee claims parks officials threatened new fines if they lose lawsuit

Ronnie Glick, a senior environmental scientist with California State Parks, testified that the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) threatened to impose new fines on State Parks if Friends of Oceano Dunes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving off-highway vehicle recreation, wins a lawsuit against APCD. 

The lawsuit alleges that APCD spent money earmarked for off-highway vehicle recreation. Glick testified that APCD’s executive director, Gary Willey, said he would use the APCD’s “enforcement authority under Rule 1001 to assess fines” against State Parks. 

Newsom seeks to change in enviromental law used by wealthy to block development

Governor Gavin Newsom has pledged to reform California's landmark environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which he believes has been used by wealthy homeowners to block housing development for students at the University of California, Berkeley. 

The announcement comes in response to a state appeals court ruling that found the university had not assessed potential noise impacts from loud student parties in nearby residential neighbourhoods as required by CEQA. The ruling could delay the building of a complex at Berkeley's People's Park for years or even decades. 

Guest Commentary: In Santa Barbara homeless and vagrants are not the same

In an article for the Montecito Journal, Lang Martinez, who has experienced homelessness as a former addict, argues that chronic vagrancy and homelessness are two different sets of problems and should be treated as such. 

He claims that the government's Housing First Model and programs like Project Room Key have had a less than desirable outcome for sustaining an individual in long-term permanent housing solutions. Millions of dollars are being spent on these programs, but the funds lack public scrutiny and transparency, and outcomes are not measured effectively. 

Santa Barbara residents spend majority of income on housing

Residents in Santa Barbara, California are struggling to afford housing due to the high cost of living in the city. 

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, people spending 50% or more of their income on rent are experiencing severe cost burdens, and in Santa Barbara, residents are spending up to 70% of their income on rent. The city missed California's deadline to provide a draft for enough affordable housing to account for the amount of low-income people residing in the city. 

Newspaper: Sexual harassment allegations unanswered from Moorpark College

Moorpark College and the Ventura County Community College District have been criticized for their lack of transparency in handling sexual harassment allegations on campus. 

After the [Camarillo] Acorn reached out to the college and district, both referred the paper to other representatives who provided stock responses and refused to answer policy-related questions. Public records requests also went unanswered, and officials declined to speak with reporters. 

The district has since hired an outside company to address student concerns, but the lack of transparency has raised concerns about accountability and public relations. Source: Camarillo Acorn

Camarillo bridge gets $4 million funding from feds

The city of Camarillo has received $4 million in federal funding for an $18 million bridge improvement project at Las Posas Road and Ventura Boulevard. 

The 465-foot bridge needs replacement as it deteriorates from about 32,000 vehicles passing over it daily. The federal funding will be added to the $12 million of city funds already allocated to the project. The new reinforced concrete bridge will bring the infrastructure up to current standards for pedestrian and bicycle use and prevent weight limitations and road closures. 

The city plans to begin construction in the summer of 2025, pending additional state and federal grants. Source: Camarillo Acorn

SB County releases draft Climate Action Plan

Santa Barbara County has released a draft of its 2030 Climate Action Plan (CAP) with the goal of reducing carbon emissions in the community by 50% by 2030. 

The plan includes improving air quality, providing safer opportunities for bikers and walkers, enhancing energy resilience, preserving open spaces, and making buildings more efficient. The county will be hosting three public workshops to engage with the community and develop key strategies and actions for the CAP. 

Sustainability Division Chief Ashley Watkins emphasized the importance of community participation in achieving the ambitious goals set by the plan. The CAP draft and information about the workshops can be found at countyofsb.org/oneclimate. Source: Santa Barbara News-Press

Hippach takes the bench as first black judge in Santa Barbara County

Denise Hippach, the first black individual to be appointed as a judge in Santa Barbara County, has spoken about the significance of her appointment in a recent interview with the Santa Barbara News-Press. 

Hippach discussed her long journey to becoming a judge, including her difficulties with affording college, and her determination to pave the way for other young women of color. She explained the importance of her appointment, as it shows the strides being made to make the bench more reflective of the community it serves. 

Oxnard finances get top marks

The Finance & Governance Committee in Oxnard received its 2021-2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which was delivered by external financial auditors, Eadie & Payne. 

Eden Casareno from the auditing company said that Oxnard has received a clean opinion, which is the highest level of praise that can be given. A clean opinion means that the financial statements presented in the report are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. 

One of the significant audit matters discussed was accounting estimates, which are made by management about financial statement items such as receivables or payables and capital assets. Source: TriCounty Sentry

Council committee to speed up Point Hueneme city manager search

The process to select a new City Manager for PH continues with a proposal to form a subcommittee panel consisting of two City Council members to assist in identifying the candidates that would move forward in the recruitment process. 

The panel will work closely with Human Resources/Risk Manager Nick Jones to finalize some of the decisions required for the process. The ideal candidate would have strong communication and budgeting skills, be adaptable and innovative, and possess a finance background to help increase revenue streams to achieve PH's goals. 

The shortlist meeting to identify potential candidates will take place on March 30, followed by a second in-person interview and a meet and greet with department heads scheduled for April 24. Source: TriCounty Sentry

Lawsuit puts Oxnard initiatives in question

The City of Oxnard's $30 million construction bond and $9 million Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) transition funding are at risk due to a lawsuit filed by Aaron Starr, according to City Manager Alex Nguyen. 

He also said that the City's future major capital and construction projects would be affected as well. The lawsuit has delayed the process, and it will take several months to resolve at the trial level, with an additional two years if there is an appeal. 

Council members expressed concern that the litigation would prevent the City from reaching its goals, especially regarding six existing parks projects, an aquatic center, and a sports park. 

Santa Barbara supes consider housing lease for homeless in Santa Maria | Santa Barbara County

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will consider a lease to create temporary interim housing for homeless residents in Santa Maria. 

The proposed location is a vacant county-owned land in Santa Maria, and the project involves the construction of 94 cabins to house individuals or couples until they can move into permanent housing. The cabins will be divided into three categories: 54 for chronically homeless individuals and couples, 10 for transitional age youth, and 30 for recuperative/respite care. 

The project is a public-private collaboration involving Good Samaritan Shelters, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, Dignity Health’s Marian Regional Medical Center, DignityMoves, community philanthropy, and the county. The estimated cost to create Hope Village is $5 million, and it will be operated annually at $1.5 million, with funding available for three years. 

The meeting to discuss the item will take place in Santa Barbara, and testimony can be made in person or remotely. Source: Noozhawk

Goleta council demands affluent communities help housing crisis | Santa Barbara County

The Goleta City Council has voted unanimously to send a letter to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors demanding more affluent areas like Montecito and Hope Ranch step up to help solve the housing crisis. 

The letter criticizes the county for proposing to rezone land only where property owners agreed to build housing, which councilman James Kyriaco called an exclusionary housing policy that benefits wealthier areas. 

The council argues that the county should instead consider larger-lot or underutilized sites in affluent areas to expand housing equity opportunities and protect disadvantaged communities in Old Town. 

Fish protection waived temporarily to let water flow | State headlines

California's State Water Resources Control Board has temporarily waived fish protection rules to allow for more storage in Central Valley reservoirs. 

The waiver means that more water can be distributed to cities and growers through the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. However, environmentalists are concerned that the move will jeopardize chinook salmon and other native fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that are already struggling to survive. 

Is public transit facing 'fiscal cliff'? | State headlines

California’s major public transit agencies are facing numerous issues such as decreased ridership, proposed state funding cuts, and a looming “fiscal cliff”. 

The state’s transit systems are vital for low-income individuals, increasing housing density and achieving the state’s goal of significantly reducing carbon emissions. Transit systems are asking California lawmakers to invest in public transportation and allocate new funds to maintain service levels. COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant decrease in public transit ridership, impacting fare box revenue, and most agencies have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

Supreme Court showdown for Biden's student debt relief plan | National headlines

The US Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on President Biden's student debt relief plan, which could forgive or reduce the loans of millions of borrowers. 

The plan, which was announced in August, would cancel up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for those making less than $125,000 or households with less than $250,000 in income per year. The court is hearing two challenges to the plan, one involving six Republican-led states that sued, and the other involving a lawsuit filed by two students.