Santa Barbara, CA - Beginning in late July and continuing through August 2010, the City of Santa Barbara, Public Works Department, will begin construction to replace the street surface on Alameda Padre Serra (APS), from Sycamore Canyon Road west to Los Olivos Street, and on Mountain Drive from Los Olivos Street, east to Foothill Road (State Route 192).  Construction will also affect Garcia Road and East De La Guerra Street below APS.  The streets will receive a “cape seal” treatment; a three step process involving pavement preparation, chip seal, and slurry seal application to maintain and restore the street surface.

Construction will be conducted Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Full street closure and detours will be required during construction; however, emergency vehicle access will be maintained at all times.  Residents in the area may experience noise from grinders, truck back-up alarms, and other equipment noise associated with street construction. 

This maintenance project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help maintain the City’s transportation infrastructure.  When construction is complete, a smooth and safe driving surface for travel will be provided along the APS and Mountain Drive corridors. The Public Works Department appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation during the construction. 

SANTA BARBARA, CA – July 20. 2010 - The City of Santa Barbara’s Public Works Department has released the inaugural 2010 Public Works Department Annual Report.  The report highlights the Department’s organization and services, City infrastructure improvements completed in Fiscal Year 2010, day-to-day operations, and special programs and events accomplished by the dedicated staff over the past 12 month period.

The 2010 Public Works Department Annual Report is intended to give the public an overview of the work accomplished and successes achieved by the Department for the benefit of the community, similar to an annual report prepared for private business investors.  The Annual Report provides the reader with an overall picture of the Department; work accomplished for the year, and explains how the Department leverages each and every dollar to extend the City’s buying power.

“Through this Annual Report, we invite you to learn about our employees and the services they provide to the community, along with some of the innovative approaches to getting our work done.” said Christine Andersen, Public Works Director.

The Public Works Department is committed to maintaining our dedication to public service through the maintenance work and infrastructure projects that the Department carries out throughout the year.  The 2010 Public Works Department Annual Report is available on-line at: http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/Departments/PW/.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 7/16/2010 -This week, the Santa Barbara City Council met in closed session to consider a possible long-term lease with Target Corporation at a 15 acre property near the Santa Barbara Airport.  The City Council expressed appreciation for Target’s interest in developing a retail location in Santa Barbara but determined that the Airport site was not a suitable location for a Target store. 

The retail operation was not considered the best fit for the light industrial site due to traffic impacts on neighboring City of Goleta and other issues.  While the Airport site was ruled out, the Council indicated their interest in helping Target find a more appropriate location in Santa Barbara.  The Council sees Target as a quality retail operation that would benefit Santa Barbara.  

Since 2004, Target Corporation has searched for a South Coast site to develop a retail store and submitted several proposals to the City of Santa Barbara to lease the Airport site.  The 15 acre site is located at 6100 Hollister Avenue, bounded by Hollister Avenue, Frederick Lopez Road, Francis Botello Road, and David Love Place.  The City Council has considered Target proposals on three occasions since 2004 and each time found the site unsuitable for retail development. 

The City of Santa Barbara says it looks forward to working with Target to find an appropriate store location. 

Editors Note: the image above is a digital illustration. 

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 6/29/2010

After two months of deliberations, the Santa Barbara City Council unanimously adopted a budget for Fiscal Year 2011.  The budget includes a total operating budget of $246.9 million and a capital budget totaling $26.8 million.  The General Fund operating budget is $101.6 million, providing funding for police, fire, parks, recreation, library, community development, and administrative services.   

The City faced an estimated $8.9 million deficit in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, if no corrective actions were taken.  This represents approximately 9% of the General Fund operating budget.  The budget was balanced with a combination of the following strategies:

·         Department budget reductions and enhanced revenues

·         Structural budget changes

·         Reduced funding to community organizations

· &nbs p;       Reductions in employee salary and benefits

The final budget includes approximately $4 million in cost savings from secured and pending labor concessions.  To close the budget deficit, Managers, Supervisors, and General and Confidential Employees, committed to labor concessions equivalent to a 6% - 8.5% salary reduction.  These concessions include cost savings from an employee furlough or mandatory leave without pay.  As a result, administrative offices and non-emergency facilities will close to the public over the December holiday and three other dates throughout the year. 

 While labor agreements with the Police Officers Association and the Police Management Association expire this month, an agreement has not been reached for a salary and benefits package.  The City is also in discussions with the Fire Association on potential reductions in salary and benefit costs, including the cancellation of a planned 3% salary increase in July.  

 Contingent on achieving labor concessions with the remaining bargaining units, Council added $1.1 million back to the budget to provide funding for four police officer positions, one fire captain position, park restroom maintenance, library materials, Ortega Pool Recreation Summer Swim, Planning Commission stipends, Santa Barbara Channels, New Beginnings, and the City's reserves.  The implementation of these items will be delayed or cancelled if labor concessions are not fully realized. 

 The budget will eliminate 32 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, most of which are vacant positions that have not been filled due to a hiring freeze.  The staffing reduction could impact services available and projects underway in many departments.  Slower turnaround times are anticipated for building plan check services, zoning enforcement, street tree maintenance, and requests for stop signals, speed surveys, and other traffic issues.   Delays are also likely for planning and transportation projects related to ordinance revisions and other special projects.  Staff anticipates delays to the implementation of Plan Santa Barbara (General Plan Update) policies and programs.

 The Central and Eastside Libraries will close on Mondays.  Repairs and improvements to many facilities, parks, and critical software systems will be deferred.  Several capital projects are included in the General Fund budget including Shoreline Park Safety Improvements, Mesa Lane Steps Renovation, Playground Re placements, and a Police Records Management System Upgrade.  The Fenton Davis Trust provided a generous donation of $250,000 for a renovation project in the Central Library. 

 Funding for several community organizations will be reduced, including funding for the Conference and Visitors Bureau, Summer Solstice, Visitors Information Center, 4th of July Symphony concert, and Santa Barbara Public Access Channel 17.  The budget eliminates full funding for the Fourth of July parade (Spirit of ’76) and Semana Nautica festival. 

 To generate additional revenue, planning fees and library meeting room rental fees will increase.  New beach and park concessions will be established at Chase Palm Park and East Beach and more revenue would be sought from community partners for their use of the City’s park and recreation facilities.

 Videos of Council budget discussions are available on the City’s website at:  www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov.  When completed, the budget document will be available to the public at the City’s website, the City Clerk’s Office at 735 Anacapa Street and the Public Library at 40 E. Anapamu Street.  

SANTA BARBARA, CA - Mayors across the country gathered in New Orleans to stand in solidarity with the Gulf community affected by the oil disaster.  Mayor Helene Schneider met with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other mayors of the impacted region to urge federal leaders and BP to accept recommendations from the United States Conference of Mayors for more coordination in disaster clean-up efforts. 

Mayors from across the nation were represented, including Long Beach, CA; Houston, TX; Philadelphia, PA; Everett, MA; Fort Myers, FL; Baton Rouge, LA; and other officials from the Gulf Coast states.  The mayors visited the Laffite, LA Emergency Operations Command Center, where they participated in a briefing by Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner, BP representatives and Coast Guard Incident Commander Captain Roger Laferriere, followed by a tour to view the damaged area by boat.  Mayors discussed federal Fair Share Legislation that would share funds from new oil and gas leases with the four Gulf energy-producing states for the purpose of coastal protection and restoration.

Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution on the oil disaster, requesting the Obama Administration to create a special task force of appropriate senior federal officials to direct the actions of all the federal agencies involved, provide timely and updated information to mayors and local officials on mitigation efforts, and ensure that lead federal agencies are working closely with cities and local governments.

Mayor Schneider said, “This is not only a Gulf crisis, it is an American disaster. As the mayor of a coastal community, especially with the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill still on the minds of our residents, I was saddened to see the damage the oil spill has created thus far. With the possibility of capping the oil well at least two months away, it is imperative that mayors across the country assist our colleagues in the Gulf Region in containing the spill, cleaning the coastline, protecting marine life, compensating the local businesses and fishery industry who have lost their livelihood, and then start the recovery efforts.”

SANTA BARBARA, CA – June 10, 2010 - On Monday, June 14, 2010, and continuing through July 2010, the City of Santa Barbara, Public Works Department, will replace the street surface on upper State Street and De la Vina Street.  Construction will affect most blocks on State Street from La Cumbre Road south to De la Vina Street and all blocks on De la Vina Street from State Street south to West Alamar Avenue.  The existing street will be ground down and replaced with an asphalt overlay to restore the street surface.

Construction will be conducted at night between the hours of 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM.  One lane of traffic will be provided in both directions at all times during construction; however, traffic speed may be reduced. Residents and businesses in the area may experience noise from jackhammers, grinders, truck back-up alarms and other equipment noise associated with street construction.

The new asphalt overlay is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will maintain the City’s transportation infrastructure.  When construction is complete, a smooth and safe driving surface for travel will be provided along the upper State Street and De La Vina Street corridors. The Public Works Department appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation during the construction. 

For the exact location of the project, please visit the Upcoming City Road Maintenance Work Info and Street Map at www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/Engineering.  If you have further questions, please contact Tim Gaasch, Supervising Engineer, at (805) 897-2502.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - City negotiators reached a tentative agreement today for labor concessions with City’s largest bargaining unit, represented SEIU Local 620.  The agreement, equivalent to a 6% salary reduction, will provide almost $2 million in labor cost savings in the coming fiscal year, almost $1 million of that in the General Fund, and will restore twenty-one jobs to the budget. 

Under the agreement, each General Bargaining Unit employee must take 116.5 hours of time off without pay (unpaid furlough) during the next fiscal year, and will again give up the vacation cash-out benefit provided under their labor contract. 

The agreement also restores positions for twenty-one General Bargaining Unit employees that would otherwise have faced layoff or displacement. 

The agreement comes as the Council prepares to adopt a budget for the new fiscal year that will address an $8.9 million budget gap.   The City has sought concessions from all of its employee groups to help address the problem.  Talks with the Police Officers Association, the Firefighters Association, and the Police Management Association are ongoing.

Unlike the Police Officers Association and the Police Management Association, whose labor agreements expire this month and who are required to be in active labor negotiations with the City, SEIU Local 620 had a valid bargaining agreement through September 2010. This is the second year in a row that SEIU came to the table voluntarily before the expiration of the labor agreement to offer concessions.  In fiscal year 2010, employees took 104 hours without pay and no vacation cash out. 

  “SEIU came to the table early in a problem-solving mode”, said Kristy Schmidt, the City’s Chief Negotiator.  “Our talks have been ongoing since January.  We appreciate the willingness they showed to understand the depth of the problem, and to be an active part of the solution.” 

A very special opportunity unfolds this week!  The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will host a free evening with author and ocean environmental leader David Helvarg.  On WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010 from 7 to 9 PM, join a cadre of local environmental non-profits, including Channelkeeper, the Ty Warner Sea Center, Ocean Futures, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Ocean Conservancy, Save the Mermaids, The Origami Whales Project, and more for information about Santa Barbara ocean-related issues and a discussion about Mr. Helvarg’s new book, “Saved by the Sea, a Love Story with Fish”. Local marine biologist and naturalist Holly Lohuis of Ocean Futures will introduce Mr. Helvarg.   A book signing will follow the discussion.  Mr. Helvarg and Ms. Lohuis are both passionate about how the ocean has touched their lives, and how our care of the oceans affects each of us in Santa Barbara.  Space is limited at this event and will be on a first come, first served basis!  Doors open at 6:30 PM.

David Helvarg is the president of the Blue Frontier Campaign, whose mission is to promote unity, provide tools to and raise awareness of the solution-oriented marine conservation community. Mr. Helvarg is President of the Blue Frontier Campaign (www.bluefront.org) and the author of five books: Blue Frontier, The War Against the Greens, 50 Ways to Save the Ocean, Rescue Warriors and his latest, Saved by the Sea, a Love Story with Fish. He’s editor of the Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide, organizer of several ‘Blue Vision’ Summits for ocean activists, and winner of Coastal Living Magazine’s 2005 Leadership Award and the 2007 Herman Melville literary Award. Helvarg worked as a war correspondent in Northern Ireland and Central America, covering a range of issues from military science to the AIDS epidemic, and reported from every continent including Antarctica. An award-winning journalist, he produced more than 40 broadcast documentaries for PBS, The Discovery Channel, and others. His print work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, LA Times, Smithsonian, Popular Science, Sierra, and The Nation. He’s done radio work for Marketplace, AP radio, and Pacifica. He’s led workshops for journalists in Poland, Turkey, Tunisia, Slovakia and Washington DC. He is a licensed Private Investigator, body-surfer and scuba diver.
This event is coordinated by Channelkeeper, Choose to Reuse, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and the “Where’s Your Bag?” Campaign. 

SANTA BARBARA, CA  - At approximately 7:15pm the Santa Barbara City Fire Department responded to a report of smoke in an apartment on Oceano Ave.  The first engine on scene discovered a working fire in a second story unit.   Three engines, the truck company and a battalion chief responded and had the fire extinguished within 10 minutes of the first report.

After an investigation by the City Fire Investigator it was determined that the fire started in the kitchen area. The cause is classified as accidental but most likely the result of a malfunctioning refrigerator. 

There were no injuries as a result of the fire however an occupant was transported to the hospital with a complaint of chest pain after exiting the apartment.

The Santa Barbara City Fire Department would like to remind everyone that it is important to inspect all old appliances for signs of potential malfunction. 

On Monday May 3rd and Thursday May 6th and Friday May 7th, the Santa Barbara City Fire Department will be conducting wildland fire training.  In cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, City Firefighters will be training to re-supply and support helicopter operations during wildfire. During both the Tea and Jesusita Fires, helicopters were critical to fire control operation and saved countless homes. Santa Barbara is one of the few places in the country where firefighting helicopters operate at night.

This training will be conducted at Elings Park and water drops will be made in Hondo Canyon near Miramonte Drive. There is no live fire involved in the drills and helicopter activity in the area is for drill purposes only.

Test

Santa Barbara, CA- Forty years after organizing one of the first Earth Day celebrations in the nation at the corner of State and Anapamu, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) is preparing to host a historic Santa Barbara Earth Day 40 festival at Alameda Park – adding features to the annual gathering and expanding it over two days: Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18.

Santa Barbara Earth Day 40’s theme is “Bringing it Home,” underscoring the importance of bringing authentic sustainability into our own homes, as well as our larger home – our county, our bioregion, our state, our country, our planet. In line with the Community Environmental Council’s Fossil Free by ’33 campaign, “Bringing it Home” captures the power of daily choices and actions in making Santa Barbara one of the first fossil-free communities in the nation.

“The 40th anniversary is a reminder of our collective accomplishments and the local roots of what is now an international celebration,” said Sigrid Wright, Associate Director of CEC. “Earth Day brings us together to celebrate, recharge and prepare for one of the most important decades in history.”

Wright said that in the wake of the devastating 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara’s shores, a group of local concerned citizens began talking about a different way of looking at environmental systems. Over the next few years, around the country the environmental movement was born – including the Community Environmental Council, which was incorporated in the spring of 1970. During that time, Senator Gaylord Nelson visited Santa Barbara to view the damage from the oil spill. When he returned to Washington, D.C., he introduced a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth. In CEC’s first act as new non-profit, it hosted one of the first Earth Day celebrations in the country.

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Santa Barbara Earth Day 40 will profile more than 200 exhibitors, including cutting-edge companies in emerging green business sector and an array of regional and national environmental organizations. Other features will include a Green Home Pavilion, a Green Shorts Film Festival, a Green Car Show, and other art, educational and ecological presentations. Exhibitor registration will open Monday, February 1 at www.SBEarthDay.org. Keep current by following Santa Barbara Earth Day on Facebook & Twitter.

CEC is teaming up with LoaTree (LoaTree.com), an eco-lifestyle company, and New Noise Media Group (NewNoiseSB.com), an entertainment production company, to manage large components of the marketing, entertainment, and production of the festival.

SANTA BARBARA, CA –  4/15/2010 – At 5:17pm the Santa Barbara City Fire Department responded 4 engines, 1 truck and a Battalion Chief to a structure fire reported at 316 N. Milpas St.  The involved business, The Lunch Box catering company, was unoccupied at the time of the fire. First arriving fire crews used a rotor power saw to force open the door to the business and quickly extinguished the fire. Once the fire was completely extinguished, firefighters began checking for fire extension into the attic and adjacent businesses.  Immediate notification to 911 and a quick knockdown of the fire allowed both Milpas Liquor and the House of Laundry to avoid damage.  A fire investigator was called to the scene with fire crews remaining on scene to assist with salvage and overhaul of the fire area. The cause of this fire is currently under investigation.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – Former City Administrator Richard D. Thomas (age 79) passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 7, 2010 in Billings, Montana.  Thomas served as City Administrator for the City of Santa Barbara from 1977 to 1993.

Under his leadership, the City of Santa Barbara initiated many Redevelopment Agency projects that would revitalize the downtown area.  Key among those projects was the Paseo Nuevo shopping area and related downtown parking lots that took nearly ten years to plan and construct.  In the waterfront, he oversaw the restoration of Stearns Wharf and the City’s acquisition of the Naval Reserve Center that would later open to the public as the Maritime Museum. 

Thomas was a strong financial manager, bringing an emphasis of fiscal responsibility to all City operations.  He established a solid base of reserves to ensure the City’s fiscal health in future years.  During his tenure, he oversaw many capital improvements, including upgrades to water and wastewater facilities.  He also recognized the City’s vulnerability to disasters and worked closely with departments to develop emergency response plans. 

City officials were saddened by the passing of the former administrator.  He was known by many colleagues for his professionalism, integrity, and commitment to succession planning.   

One of his greatest passions was mentoring young leaders in the organization.  With the support of Thomas, many went on to become city department heads and city managers, including former City Administrator Sandra Tripp-Jones, former Salinas City Manager David Mora, Waterfront Director John Bridley, Airport Director Karen Ramsdell, former Library Director Carol Keator, and former Community Development Director Dave Davis. 

According to Sandra Tripp-Jones, “he instilled a high level of ethics and integrity into the culture of the organization.  I am a better person for having had him as a boss, mentor, and friend.”  

“Dick became the role model for city administrators throughout California.  He possessed a rare quality of conservative management mixed with a liberal love for his employees.  I will miss him very much,” said former Mayor Hal Conklin.

Former Mayor Sheila Lodge reflected that, “he was an excellent city administrator and a thoroughly decent man who was devoted to his family and his community.  The City of Santa Barbara was fortunate to have him.  He was steady, strong and effective in carrying out Council policies.”

Thomas brought many years of executive experience to the City of Santa Barbara after serving as city manager in the City of Great Falls, Montana; City of Arvada, Colorado; City of El Dorado, Kansas; and the City of Slater, Missouri.  Upon retirement from the City of Santa Barbara, he served as the Interim City Manager for the City of San Buenaventura in 1994.

Thomas received a Bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University and a Master’s degree from the University of Kansas, a leading program in public administration.  He was actively involved in the International City Managers Association (ICMA) and received the ICMA Management Innovation Award in 1972.   

He is survived by his wife Lois (Billings, MT), daughter Keely Thayer and son-in-law Ralph Thayer (Spokane, WA), daughter Tenley McCarley and son-in-law Gerald McCarley (Fort Worth, TX), grand-daughters Ashley Martin and Amy Thayer (Spokane, WA), and sisters Pat Brown (Abilene, KS) and Becky Eikleberry (Hutchinson, KS).    

A memorial service will be held at the Lillis Chapel on the campus of St. John's Lutheran Ministries in Billings, Montana on Thursday, March 11th at 11:00 a.m.  Flowers and cards may be sent to the Smith Funeral Home at 925 South 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101.  In honor of Mr. Thomas, the family has requested that donations be made to the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation at 400 Mercer St., #401, Seattle, WA 98109 or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008.    

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 2/9/2010 – Santa Barbara City Fire department responds to a chimney fire at 12:56pm on 2/9/10 

The Santa Barbara City Fire Department responded to a report of a chimney fire at 1060 Tremonto Road this afternoon. The City Fire Department responded with three engines, a ladder truck, and a battalion chief. An abnormal amount of smoke was seen coming from the chimney upon firefighter arrival. Firefighters extinguished the fire and contained any damage to the inside of the chimney. There was no interior damage to the house and there were no reported injuries. 

The City of Santa Barbara Fire Department would like to remind everyone to have their chimneys properly serviced annually. Over time products of combustion can build up inside the chimney that could eventually lead to a chimney fire.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 1/21/2010 –At approximately 11:55 am Santa Barbara City Fire crews responded to a report of wires downs on the 200 block of West Haley Street. Engine 1 arrived on scene to find multiple power poles and multiple trees on the ground. One female driver was inside a vehicle when power lines fell on her vehicle. Edison was immediately dispatched and arrived on scene within 5 minutes. She remained inside the vehicle until power had been shut off by Edison crews before she safely exited. Multiple vehicles parked along Haley Street sustained major damage due to the fallen tress and power poles. There were no reports of any injuries. Severe weather along with over saturated soil is most likely the cause for the incident. West Haley will be closed between Bath and De La Vina Street until further notice. Many Edison customers in the immediate area will be without power for an extended amount of time. 

The Santa Barbara City Fire Department wants to remind everyone of the severity when dealing with power lines. Treat all downed power lines as if they are “live” until told otherwise by Edison or Fire Department crews. 

SANTA BARBARA, CA – 1/15/2010 - Get Your Sandbags Ready. The National Weather Service is predicting strong winds and possible rainfall amounts over 20 inches next week in the Santa Barbara area.  Due to recent fires that burned in the areas above the Santa Barbara South Coast Area, heavy rains may result in flooding or mudslides.  The public is advised to take steps to reduce risks associated with flooding, mudslides, or isolation.

The City of Santa Barbara will open its sandbag station at the Annex Yard at 401 E. Yanonali Street on Saturday, January 16th from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  After this time, the City's sandbag station will open to the public if a Flash Flood Warning is issued by the National Weather Service. 

Sandbag stations are open for local area residents to protect their property.  There is no limit on the number of sandbags area residents may take.  Residents must fill sandbags themselves and bring their own gloves.  Contractors will not be allowed to take sandbags.

Santa Barbara residents can determine if their property is located in a high flood risk area or learn how to protect their property by visiting: www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/OES/.

A Homeowners Guide for Flood Prevention and Response is available on the County Flood Control District web site at:  www.countyofsb.org/pwd/water.

SANTA BARBARA - Former Mayor Harriet Miller (age 90) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.  Miller served as Mayor of the City of Santa Barbara from 1995 to 2001.

City officials were saddened by the passing of the former mayor.  According to Mayor Marty Blum, “Harriet cared a great deal about her City and the people trusted her leadership.  She loved the City of Santa Barbara.  As Mayor, she set a high standard of integrity and commitment to public service.”  Friends and colleagues remarked about her tenacity, wit, and perseverance through challenging times.

During her tenure as Mayor, Miller chaired numerous organizations, including the Santa Barbara Association of Governments, the Air Pollution Control District, and various League of California Cities committees.  She was appointed to the City Council in 1987 where she served as a Councilmember until her appointment as Mayor in 1995.  She served on the Housing Authority from 1982 to 1987. 

In addition to numerous local awards, Miller received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the League of California Cities in 2008 for her tireless commitment to community service.  She was a former member of the League of California Cities board of directors and served on the boards of the National League of Cities and Institute for Local Government. 

Miller was actively involved in community organizations and served on the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Center for Performing Arts, Santa Barbara Symphony, Family Services Agency, Community Action Commission, Fighting Back Task Force, Anti-Defamation League, Heath House, the Westside Neighborhood Medical Clinic, Shelter Services for Women, and the Affordable Housing Association for Santa Barbara. She was also member of the Unitarian Society. 

One of her greatest passions was helping local youth, bringing leadership to such projects as the Skateboard Park, the 1235 Teen Center, and the City’s Youth Council.  The Downtown Organization honors an outstanding student each year with an award in her honor, the “Harriet Miller Youth Leadership Award.” 

Prior to her work in Santa Barbara, she served as the superintendent of public instruction for the State of Montana and as the director of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in Washington, D.C.  President Carter appointed her to serve on the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHA) and other federal commissions.  She received a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Whitman College, a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania, and an Honorary Doctorate from Whitman College. 

The flag in De la Guerra Plaza will fly at half-staff in her honor.  Details on a memorial service will be issued at a later date. 

-Nina Johnson

Santa Barbara City Fire crews responded to a reported structure fire at the Marborg Recycling facility on North Quarantina Street shortly before 9pm Wednesday night. Upon arrival it was determined that the fire was seated in a large rubbish pile in the interior of the facility. Marborg employees operating heavy equipment aided 3 Engines, 1 Truck Company and a Battalion Chief. Smoke was visible throughout the lower Eastside. Firefighters using hose streams augmented by foam, applied water to the fire as the rubbish pile was pulled apart. 

The Recycling facility is sprinklered and the system was activated and flowing when fire units arrived. The fire was extinguished within 45 minutes and investigators remained on scene to determine the cause.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - The Santa Barbara City Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire in the 100 block of Harbor Way at 5:02am this morning. Harbor Patrol units were first on scene and reported a vehicle fully involved with fire.  Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and due to exposures to nearby buildings requested a structure fire response. Firefighters extinguished the fire and kept exposure damage to a minimum. The vehicle is owned by the City Of Santa Barbara and is a complete loss. Another City vehicle also sustained minor damage from heat due to its proximity. The vehicles were parked approximately 5 feet from the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. The Museum sustained minor exterior heat damage as well. There was no interior damage to the Museum. There were no reported injuries.

Fire investigators believe the incident to be suspicious in nature and are continuing to investigate.

- Ryan DiGuilio, SBFD

SANTA BARBARA, CA – City Administrator Jim Armstrong is reorganizing the City Administrator’s Office effective January 1, 2010, following the departure of Assistant City Administrator Joan Kent.  An annual cost savings of $200,000 will be achieved with current department heads assuming additional responsibilities. 

 Administrative Services Director Marcelo A. López will be appointed as the new Assistant City Administrator – Administration.  Mr. López will provide oversight for the Library and Finance Departments, and the Administrative Services Department.  He will also coordinate the City’s involvement in the South Coast Youth Gang Task Force.  He has worked for the City of Santa Barbara for 13 years.  Prior work included serving as the Executive Director of the Employment and Economic Development Department in San Joaquin County and Deputy Director of the Employment and Training Department for the City of Stockton.  Mr. López received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Licenciado degree in Latin American Studies from the University of the Pacific. 

 Community Development Director Paul Casey will be appointed as the new Assistant City Administrator – Community Development.  Mr. Casey will oversee the Airport and Parks and Recreation Departments, and the Community Development Department.  He will continue to direct Plan Santa Barbara, the City’s multi-year effort to update its General Plan.   He has worked for the City of Santa Barbara for 12 years.  He previously served the City of Santa Monica as the Assistant to the Director of Planning and Community Development, Senior Planner and Transportation Planner.  Mr. Casey received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California at Irvine and Master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. 

 With existing staff assuming more responsibilities, the reorganization will eliminate one senior executive position and generate a savings of over $200,000 annually. 

 “I appreciate the willingness of our department heads and staff to take on additional roles and assignments to make our organization more efficient,” said Jim Armstrong. 

What initially got our attention was what sounded like a bomb exploding. From a block or so away, we  could see a plume of white and black smoke, rising up over the rooftops. When we wandered out onto the street we could see firefighters doing battle with said cloud of smoke (pictured above with considerably less smoke). Waking closer, we watched with the neighbors as a well-dressed young bald guy (presumably he was bald before the flames) walked towards the firefighters with his keys in hand (so they could unlock the back hatch) of what we could finally see was a late 90's Jeep Cherokee.

After a few more minutes of billowing smoke, tire explosions, and a cute female firefighter confidently shooting the thing with a big water hose, the fire was out. I spoke briefly with the driver of the car (the bald guy) and he said that it had been a family ranch car for years, and was threatening to die for quite some time. "I only had time to grab a few things and jump out because the fire started right underneath me". Though he was cheerful and happy to be safe, his hands were shaking a little.. "I didn't expect it to go out like this". 

Citizen commentators note: I will continue to do my best not make a pun using the name of the nearby corner store, 'La Bamba'.

as you can see, there's not much Jeep left.

One sexual assault survivor wanted her advocate to sing with her as she went through her rape exam, a way of coping with the horrors of what she was currently experiencing.   One of several ways the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center helps the community from education, prevention, crisis intervention, and counseling.

As the recession deepens, some Santa Barbarans are cutting down on attending charity events.  An affair, such as the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center's Chocolate and Wine event on Saturday, may be a way Santa Barbarans can give and get their just desserts.

Samplings of various premium wines and chocolates along with entertainment and auctions will be the highlights of the evening, but the reasons for the evening will be behind the scenes. 

Sexual assault support is essential in times of high unemployment and a floundering economy, sometimes even more so. 

"We bring a sense of hope and empowerment to a sexual assault survivor at a time when every aspect of their life is in a state of chaos," Elsa Granados, Executive Director, said.  "We hold their hands through the legal and medical aspects of the process.  We are often the first place a sexual assault survivor calls even before the police."

The Chocolate and Wine Event helps give short term counseling to immediate sexual assault survivors as well as long term counseling to those who even 10 years from an assault are dealing with the aftermath.      

Silence is a barrier to healing.  You can break the silence and contribute to the healing by attending the Chocolate and Wine Event on Saturday, November 7^th, at the Island View Nursery at 3376 Foothill Road in Carpinteria (next to the Polo Fields).  The VIP event starts an hour early at 6pm, tickets are $100. Advanced tickets are $65, $75 at the door and the event goes from 7pm-10pm.   

SANTA BARBARA, CA –  10/29/2009 – California Highway Patrol officers in the area of Cabrillo Blvd. discovered an early morning fire near the base of Stearns Wharf. Assistance was requested from Santa Barbara City Fire and Harbor Patrol before CHP officers using portable extinguishers were able to control two small fires near the ticket kiosk.  The initial report from CHP was at 0300 hrs. with Harbor Patrol and SB City Engine #1 responding to the wharf. 

Fire crews were in the process of investigating the initial fires when smoke was observed coming from an area adjacent to the Harbor Restaurant and further east, near the wharf maintenance shed. At this time, a file response was requested to respond to the wharf which included Engines 2, 3, and 6, Truck 1, a Battalion Chief and a second harbor patrol boat.  

Responding fire crews quickly contained the fires near both the restaurant and the shed, limiting further damage.  A complete inspection of the wharf was conducted by harbor patrol, fire crews and City P.D. This inspection revealed multiple fires in various locations throughout the wharf deck area, which were quickly controlled by on scene crews.  At this time there appears to be no structural damage to the wharf itself.  

Due to the suspicious nature of these fires, a joint investigation is being conducted by City Fire Prevention Bureau, City Police Department and Harbor Patrol. 

The wharf and Harbor Restaurant are currently open for business although Edison crews will be on scene working to repair equipment adjacent to one of the fire areas.  A resulting power outage will affect some businesses until work is completed. 

Stearns Wharf has been the scene of several historic blazes. The original Harbor Restaurant burned in 1973 and the Sea Center was the scene of a major fire in 1986. Most recently a catastrophic fire in 1998 resulted in the loss of several businesses, most notably Moby Dick Restaurant. 

SANTA BARBARA - The City of Santa Barbara, in cooperation with the County of Santa Barbara, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the American Red Cross, invite you to attend an informational meeting regarding the upcoming winter rainy season and associated flooding potential in the aftermath of the Tea and Jesusita Fires. Due to the watershed damage in the foothills above the City, flooding will likely occur this winter in various areas within the City.  City and County agencies have been planning for anticipated rains and flooding since mid-July.  

The public can choose to attend a meeting from the following dates and locations over the next four months.  Meetings will start at 6:00 PM. 

Wednesday, September 23rd, Santa Barbara County School Auditorium, 4100 Cathedral Oaks Road;

Thursday, October 15th, Rockwood Woman’s Club, 670 Mission Canyon Road;

Wednesday, October 28th, American Red Cross, 2707 State Street;

Thursday, November 12th, Franklin Neighborhood Center, 1136 East Montecito St.;

Thursday, November 19th, Franklin Neighborhood Center, 1136 East Montecito St.;

(Spanish translation will be available at this meeting)

Thursday, December 10th, Downtown Library Faulkner Gallery, 40 East Anapamu St.

Agenda items include:

NOAA –Weather Forecast

City / County OES – Planning Efforts

Flood Control – Watershed Status

City Creeks – Creeks Status

Reverse 911 / Evacuations

American Red Cross – Shelters

Please join local agency representatives to learn about the City and County planning efforts and how you and your family can be prepared for flood emergencies.  For additional information visit the Office of Emergency Services web site at http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Resident/OES/.

 *** UPDATE***  The Indy just posted a piece about this, and another similar death by train just a day later. CLICK HERE FOR STORY

Here's is a list of more past headlines from City2 relating to the search terms 'train': LINK

Here is an Article from NoozHawk: LINK

-----------------------------

4:51pm SANTA BARBARA - A Santa Barbara jury has convicted Jesse James Hollywood of murder & kidnapping of 15 year old Nicholas Markowitz here in the Santa Barbara mountains nine years ago.  

Hollywood, a 29-year-old orchestrated the kidnapping and murder of Markowitz over a drug debt owed by Markowitz's brother. He had been on the run for several years before he was apprehended in Brazil.

He may face the Death Penalty.  

UPDATE: Hollywood Convicted of 1st Degree Murder

UPDATE: Jesse James Hollywood Sentenced to Life without Possibility of Parole

We will update this post as we receive more information about his sentence. That part of the trial should begin during the week of 0713/09.

For more background on Hollywood, try here and here.

United Blood Services has a bus and booth set up in front of the SB County Administration building today on the corner of Anacapa & Anapamu. Bertha (the lovely lady manning the booth pictured above) says they will be taking blood donations until 3pm.

We were headed out the door to take a walk with my mother on Shoreline, when we found our street had been totally shut down due to (what my neighbor said) was a brief car chase. The suspect was allegedly driving drunk and was being tailed by a sober motorcyclist who called 911. A more 'official' cop chase ensued as the driver looped around the same blog two or three times before being stopped by multiple squad cars. We don't know if having this many police cars on the scene is typical, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a few extras due to the fire.

SANTA BARBARA, CA - May 9th - 1pm  After a cool foggy night, and an onshore breeze pushing the flames further away from Santa Barbara, authorities have been announcing a staged re-entry plan to get some residents back in their homes.

Click here to see an updated map(s) of the areas (mostly south of the 192) where the evacuation orders have been (or are soon-to-be) lifted.

The Independent & Noozhawk both have great updates too.  For the latest news, see our Headlines Page.

Due to the 'fickle nature' of the wind and weather conditions, officials are also advising people to remain alert and cautious until the fire is contained.

From Goleta.

My friend Robert just called to tell me that there is a new fire up near Camino Cieloa about 20 minutes ago (about 1:20pm). Not that far from Painted Cave.  Not entirely ready to say whether this is on East or West Camino Cielo..either way, it's close to the 154 and is right at the top of the mountain. Either way, another fire is the last thing we need.  

If those winds turn towards SB again we might be in trouble.

From Goleta.

From Goleta.

From Goleta.

From Goleta.

looks much worse this moring very smokey. Alot of work for firefighters between now and as early as three o'clock when th enext round of winds are expected to blow through

circa 9pm, from Goleta.

8:45 pm from Goleta

hosting evacs

4:45 smoke laying down ...not good stuctures starting to burn

this really just exploded spotting rapidy on all sides

this really just exploded spotting rapidy on all sides

I'm taking this from Olive Mill Road exit on the 101 Northbound.  The wind clearly changed and is now blowing ash over Santa Barbara.  

We will have more information soon.

*** Our local photostream on City2 is getting a lot of images:  Try HERE for more citizen coverage.

*** Try the City2 headlines page for 3rd party headlines from local bloggers, newspapers, and TV Stations.

Will update soon.

9:30pm Tuesday May 5th

Thank you to Ian Lessing for the photo, taken from the eighth floor of the Davidson Library at UCSB.

Marandah and Logan were back at the Bacara, bright and early Friday morning, to visit with Jeffrey Ball, Environmental Editor of the Wall Street Journal. With all the talk of national independence, Marandah asks Jeffrey about global interdependence. In Part 2, Logan visits with Jeffrey about where the materials for our petroleum-free technologies will come from, and finishes up by asking who Coach Ball would choose as his Eco:nomics Dream Team in (perhaps) a final series against the Global Crises Bad Boys.

View both interviews at: SBMS Teen Press @ ECO:nomics

Those gathered at the ECO-nomics conference at the Bacara Thursday morning ranked Education number two in what needed the most investment and attention in these times of Economic and Environmental Crisis. Speaking out for that most precious resource as the voice of the next generation, were Logan, Marandah, and Mary of the Santa Barbara Middle School Teen Press. Mary asked a question of CEO of the year and Anne Mulcalhy, CEO of Xerox, You can read about that on Mary's Blog. Logan spoke with T. Boone Pickens, CEO of BP Capital. Logan and so impressed the Wall Street Journal's video heads that he is featured on this morning's online Wall Street Journal. You can also read Logan's take on his day yesterday, including his handshake with Al Gore on Logan's Blog. Friday, Logan and Marandah will be interviewing Jeffrey Ball, Environmental News Editor for the Wall Street Journal. Stay tuned for more stories from the Teen Press at ECO-nomics.

The Wall Street Journal hosts its annual conference on "Developing Environmental Capital" at Santa Barbara's Bacara Resort. Global leaders in industry, environment and politics will be spending three days questioning how to move forward in the face of the present storm of economic and environmental crises. Mary and Marandah report on Wednesday night's speakers, Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Company and Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google. They also interview the Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal and Editor-In-Chief of Dow Jones, Robert Thomson. See their story at http://sbmsteenpress.org/5-ECO-00.html.

A quick photo from the Nick Cavelier fundraiser at Ruby's on Thursday night. There was a very healthy community turnout for great music, a raffle, and free food. There will no doubt be more work to do, but word has it that Nicks family made great progress in their quest to raise funds for Nick's rehabilitation, with the generous help of local folks who came out to support. For more about Nick Cavelier, check out this article by 'Man About Santa Barbara.

100% of all Tea Fire contributions going directly to residents

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Direct Relief International has approved cash grants totaling $12,000 to residents affected by the devastating November 2008 Tea Fire, which destroyed 210 homes in the foothills of Santa Barbara and Montecito. The grants are being paid with designated contributions Direct Relief received to support Tea Fire victims.

Aid recipients were identified through the Tea Fire Long Term Recovery Committee, an interagency working group coordinating assistance among local nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross and the United Way. A caseworker hired by the committee has assisted the residents with their aid requests and confirmed the extent of their loss.

Among the grant recipients are Lance and Carla Hoffman. The couple escaped through the flames but suffered serious burn injuries that have required specialized care in Orange County since the fire. The cash grant will help them cover medical expenses, which surpass $95,000. Other grants have been approved for uninsured residents identified as being in extreme financial hardship directly caused by losses in the fire.

These cash grants were made possible by generous donors who contributed to Direct Relief’s response and recovery efforts, including the leading software company QAD, based in Santa Barbara.

During the incident, Direct Relief tapped internal funds from its general emergency account to purchase and distribute thousands of protective N95 particulate masks to residents and emergency personnel. Tea Fire contributions were not used for those expenses or internal personnel costs related to the response because the organization determined the actions were the type of activities for which it raises general funds.

As a result, Direct Relief is using 100% of all contributions specifically designated for the Tea Fire for direct financial assistance to fire victims. “In all emergencies that generate restricted contributions, we believe it important to articulate very clearly how such contributions are used, including explaining our internal accounting practices,” said President and CEO Thomas Tighe. “We are very fortunate to have supporters who understand that emergencies are difficult to predict and allow us the discretion to use funds as needed.

“Because of that general support to Direct Relief," he continued, "we were able to respond fast and, in this case, use every designated dollar we received to support local residents only and precisely for that purpose.”

Remaining Tea Fire funds will be allocated to affected residents identified and approved through the interagency process. People affected by the Tea Fire may contact Pamela Voge, Long Term Recovery Coordinator, at the Santa Barbara Chapter of the American Red Cross to apply for assistance: (805) 687-1331 ext. 107.

About Direct Relief International

Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International is a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life by bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. Direct Relief works in 59 countries and has delivered more than $1 billion in privately funded humanitarian medical aid to health professionals serving impoverished communities since 2000. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for seven consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California’s largest international nonprofit organization based on private support. For more information, please visit www.DirectRelief.org.

Direct Relief International's Brett Williams explains how the organization is supplying Santa Barbara residents with N-95 grade ventilator masks to prevent public health issues due to smoke caused by the Tea Fire. All drug stores in the area are reportedly out of these masks, making Direct Relief one of the sole sources in the fire area.

More information about Direct Relief's Tea Fire Efforts: here

MANDATORY EVACUATION INFORMATION

The southern border of the mandatory evacuation is Route 192 (East Valley Rd/Sycamore Cyn Rd./Stanwood Dr.) btwn Hot Springs Rd and Mission Canyon Rd.

A mandatory evacuation has been issued for all residents above Alameda Padre Serra (APS) between Sycamore Canyon and Mission Canyon Rd.

An Evacuation warning has been issued for residents below Hwy 192 (East Valley Rd/Sycamore Cyn Rd./Stanwood) between Hot Springs Road and Sycamore Canyon Rd.

Evacuation Center is located at San Marcos High School – 4750 Hollister Ave., Goleta

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS:
Above Hwy 192 (East Valley Rd/Sycamore Cyn Rd.) between Cold Springs Rd and Hot Springs Rd.
Evacuation Center will be located at San Marcus High School
Tune to AM1680 and your local cable news for more information


WESTMONT COLLEGE
STUDENTS BEING EVACUATED INTO THE GYM THEY ARE SHELTERING IN PLACE.
THERE ARE REPORTS OF SPOT FIRES ON CAMPUS, STUDENTS ARE NOT THREATENED

Taken from our roof a few moments ago.. The flames are clearly visible from West of State Street.

 UPDATE:  this post was originally titled ' Huge Fire on Riviera'.. Apparently, the fire is BEHIND the Riviera in Montecito near Coyote and Sycamore Canyon Road.  The flames were so big (not really visible in the photos due to the timed exposures) that they dwarfed the Eucalyptus trees in the foreground.

Photo:warren schultheis

My girlfriend and I just felt a real decent eathquake in our downtown apartment. It lasted for roughly 60 seconds, and was definitely noticabe. This picture is of the belts on our closet door rocking. Not the most exciting earthquake shot but hey..it was the best I could do given the short notice.

UPDATE:

Apparently the shaker was centered in Chino Hills/Long Beach with a magnitude 5.8..  Hopefully no one hurt down there.

Here's a link to the USGS site: 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsus/Quakes/ci14383980.php

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