Month: September 2025

Dave Alley

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – Thousands of households in Nipomo are facing a significant increase to their water bill over the next few years.

Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD), which provides water and wastewater services to just under 14,000 people within the Nipomo area, is considering a series of water rate adjustments that would begin early next year.

On Wednesday, NSCD board members made a series of approvals, including voting for a 2025 Water Rate Study and rate adoption schedule, authorizing a notice for a rate hearing, scheduling a public hearing and deadline for submission of written objections to consider proposed water rates.

The Water Rate Study was conducted by the firm Tucker & Associates to help guide the district in their planning to increase revenue in order offset future costs.

Under the proposals, customers would see their monthly bill increase between 13.6% to 8.1% depending on usage.

For the average single-family household, the projected monthly increase is 9.3%

“It is a hard hit,” said NCSD General Manager Ray Dienzo. “I acknowledge that it’s a lot, but it is necessary for a healthy water system and to maintain a good operation and maintenance and to maintain our upgrades with our capital projects that will make sure that our water system continues to run well, and not only that, that the water supply that we’re paying for, the imported water that we’re paying for offers good water supply and security, moving forward.”

For the average single-family home, the rate study showed there will be a monthly increase of $13.35, which would compute to $160 higher yearly water bill in 2026.

For the year 2027, the yearly amount would be even higher and the would climb even higher in 2028.

“That has concerned a lot of us,” said McQuillen. “We are a lot of people here on fixed incomes, and hat includes myself, and to have another increase in a bill when I’m a low water user, I’m not happy.”

Dienzo indicated under current rates, there will be insufficient funding for a scheduled increase in water delivery from Santa Maria, as well as planned capital improvements.

He added the additional revenue is also necessary to help the district avoid depleting its reserve funds.

“It is important to have the reserves,” said Dienzo. “It’s important to maintain or capital improvement projects going. If this doesn’t go through, we would have to make significant cuts in our capital program, perhaps, which would be detrimental to the district because we definitely want good water supply for the future. If we didn’t have that, it would be very difficult.”

While the NCSD points out why the increases are necessary, many in the growing community aren’t thrilled about the prospect of having a higher water bill.

“We don’t like it, and neither do our neighbors,” said NCSD customer Lory Manosar. “Nobody likes it.”

Manosar was one of handful of people who spoke during public comment to let their feelings be known regarding a potential rate hike.

“Everything is going up,” said Manosar. “My husband and I are retired, so these rate increases are going to affect our pocketbook.”

Another NCSD customer Pat McQuillen also spoke during the meeting and expressed her frustration about the idea of paying more for water.

She said afterwards that while she doesn’t agree with the potential increases, Quillen pointed out just how important the resource is to everyone.

“Water is worth more than gold and is worth more than platinum,” said McQuillen. “It’s worth more. It’s life. It’s life sustaining, so to have clean and plentiful water is critical, and yes, we’re willing to pay for it.”

With the approvals, the NCSD will hold a public hearing on Dec. 10, 2025 to vote on the proposed rate adjustments.

NCSD customers currently pay the fourth highest water rates in the county, trailing only Avila Beach, Los Osos and San Luis Obispo, so the proposed increases would only add to what is already a sizable water bill when compared to other communities.

“The rates are going to be high compared to the other portions of the county,” said Dienzo. “But the good thing about it is that it’s the price to pay for a good water system operation and maintenance and capital program and also water supply security.”

Dienzo pointed out there will be an opportunity for NCSD customers to officially protest the proposed rate hikes.

“We send the the rate increase notices to all of the the customers in the, in the Nipomo Community Services District,” said Dienzo. “State law requires that it would be a 45 day notice, but in reality, our customers will have 60 days todo a protest if they wish to do so. There’s also an opportunity to write what’s called a written objection, which is, a new state law option that allows someone to challenge something legally if they find, something legally, lacking in the way the rate study was done, so that’s also available and that due date is December 1st to to send us a written objection which we can respond to in writing.”

If enough NCSD customers object to the proposed rate adjustments, the increases could stopped.

“If 50% plus one of the customer base protests the increased rates,” said Dienzo. “It won’t be approved.” 

Should the rate increases earn approval, it would go into effect on Feb. 1, 2026 and increase each year on same date in 2027 and 2028.

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Jarrod Zinn

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – Residents of an Orcutt neighborhood that was heavily damaged during the winter storms of 2023, finally have a court date set for their lawsuit against Santa Barbara County.

It’s been a long road of recovery for these residents.

A torrent of water and mud from a large sinkhole and debris flow damaged several homes in the park place neighborhood.

The residents’ lawsuit against the county has a trial setting conference in February, more than 3 years after the devastating storm.

Residents of Park Place in Orcutt are seeking relief through a lawsuit against Santa Barbara county for significant property damages to the homes in their Orcutt Cul de sac from the sinkhole and debris flow during the January 2023 storm.

“I had to continue making my mortgage payment,” says Park Place resident Nancy Garcia. “In order to make my home habitable again, I had to take out a second mortgage. So I’m paying on that as well.”

Additionally, they experienced trauma during the flooding itself, as well as subsequent stress from paying for repairs themselves.

They also say they have to spend money to seek compensation from the county, having to hire geotechnical and hydrology engineering experts to contest the county denial of liability.

“We’re going to have a stigma attached to our property, you know, probably forever because, you know, just all of the damage that was done and we’re still we still haven’t done, you know, the back wall,” says Park Place neighbor April Hugh.

County representatives have placed their own cross complaint against the agricultural firm West Bay Company LLC, claiming West Bay’s hoop houses were the most direct causal link for the water basins to have filled.

“The county inspectors did say that the county flood control is responsible for what happened,” says Hugh. “And I just really would like them to own up to their liability on this and not blame someone else.”

West Bay Company is one of the multi-generational Miller family’s investment entities.

Neighbors we spoke to believe the county is at fault, and that’s why they’re suing.

“It’s very frustrating because we feel the county cannot own up to the damage that was caused by them,” says Garcia.

The Park Place neighbors are holding firm in their lawsuit against Santa Barbara county for loss of use and property value, repair offsetting, legal expenses, plus interest.

A county spokesperson says the county doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

Meanwhile, congressman Salud Carbajal announced that federal funding has been approved to reimburse Santa Barbara, Ventura and SLO counties for repairs made as a result of the January ’23 storms.

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Patricia Martellotti

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Carpinteria’s Island Brewing Company is facing a lawsuit after neighbors claimed their live music nights are too loud.

The live music that’s drawn crowds to Island Brewing for years is now at the center of a legal battle.

“I’ve been coming here for years. It’s part of why I love Carpinteria—taking that away would be awful,” said customer Larry Nimmer of Island Brewing.

“We tried to talk many times with them even asked what we can do to help the situation,” said co-owner Cheryl Wright of Island Brewing.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Stephen and Mary Eileen Marcussen, who live on the 4,000 block of Third Street.

The lawsuit says the music has disrupted sleeping, working from home, and entertaining guests.

Stephen Marcussen told Your News Channel via text message that he’s tried for years to resolve the dispute, but this is where they are quote “reluctantly” now.

The City says it has reviewed the lawsuit and will defend against allegations that the brewery’s live entertainment violates noise limits and constitutes a public nuisance.

Whether this dispute will quiet the music—or the crowds—remains to be seen as the legal fight continues.

“What’s really the issue is that two people can hire an out of town law firm to strong arm the city and Island Brewing into a settlement that’s going to cost the rights and the city money just to satisfy the needs of two people,” said customer John Everett of Island Brewing.

For now, Island Brewing remains open, music playing, as the courts decide what comes next.

Some Carpinteria residents are supporting Island Brewing through a Go Fund Me to help with legal expenses.

As of today, it’s raised more t$7,000.

The City of Carpinteria confirmed it has also been named in the lawsuit. According to the City’s official statement, the suit alleges that Island Brewing’s outdoor live entertainment is not permitted under its Conditional Use Permit, violates municipal noise standards, and constitutes both a public and private nuisance. The City Council has authorized legal defense against the claims.

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John Palminteri

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – There aren’t many places where having an authorized registration for your bike is mandatory, but that’s the rule at UC Santa Barbara if you want to protect your bike. With school starting this week, the rush is on to get those registrations done.

Data shows an estimated 14,000 people commute to UCSB daily on a bicycle. There are seven miles of bike path routes on the campus.

Associated Student Bike Shop Director Adam Jahnke said, “there’s a lot of people on the bike paths on campus. I mean thousands of people,  they materialized over night seemingly in Isla Vista.”

The use of a bike works well at UCSB.  It is a mainly flat campus and there has been a bike culture for years ,with many students arriving without a car.

To register a bike at UCSB, there is an online process and a $10 fee. It’s good for four years.

The school says operating a bicycle on the UCSB campus requires registration by California law.

This will aid the students and the law enforcement in case a bike has been stolen.

The University Police say bicycles which present hazards to pedestrians, other bicyclists, or vehicles will be impounded.

Bike riders are advised to not park against trees, ramps, walls, on lawns, in planters, or building entrances. Any bicycle parked in a spot other than a bicycle rack is considered parked illegally and may be impounded.

The most common infractions that SSPs provide verbal warnings for are:

Riding on the sidewalk
This is especially dangerous during daylight hours when students are traveling between classes.

Riding double
Hazards of blind spots and poor braking response due to the extra weight and lack of balance, make this a dangerous way to ride.

Riding with no hands
This is a notoriously dangerous way to ride, especially with excessive speed.

Skateboarding, rollerblading or walking on the bike path
Due to the swift nature of UCSB’s bike paths, this hazard puts a large number of people at risk of serious injury.

The impound release fee is $24.00 dollars. Impounded bicycles must be registered prior to release. The registration is good for four years.

Lukas Gucci is a UCSB student who is on two wheels instead of a car.  “I had to relearn biking completely,” he said.  Security is also a main issue and learning how to lock up your bike appropriately.   “I see many students just locking their front wheel then someone will take the frame without it. They  take the entire bike,  the front wheel is cheap anyway right?”

Many bikes are used or were a  low cost purchased.

Danica Zamora is a UCSB student who wasn’t going to over spend on her bike.  “I just got it off facebook marketplace because I didn’t want to buy a new bike because i knew it would get stolen.”   She is trying to keep that from being a reality and has a very strong U-lock bicycle lock.

UCSB Police are urging bike owners to get their bike registered and have a number engraved by campus police. Jahnke said, “if your bike is ever stolen and you need to get it back and the UC police recovers it, the registration sticker is the only proof of evidence of ownership that will allow you to get your back.”

Going through a nearby bike rack we found nearly all the bikes with sturdy locks.  There was, however, an older bike without any lock and something a thief might go after.     

 Instagram messages from the school  help students understand the safe way to get around what can be a complicated maze of campus routes.

Cristina Perez is a student who says, “getting around I am finding my ways but now I need to find a bike rack (that’s nearby.)”

Gucci says on the bike path, “the right lane is forward and the left lane is going  opposite direction  then  you just realize you can get the hang of it pretty quickly.”

At the bike shop you can fix your bike your self with student assistants as part of a “do it yourself” process or they can do the repairs.

Having a safe bike is vital on and off campus with all the vehicles in motion sometimes in a rush hour style crush.

Jahnke said, “when we are looking at their bikes the basics like air,  the brakes are working good and they can shift appropriately but mainly they can stop and they can roll”

When it comes to real dangers, Perez said, “you can actually get really hurt, it’s essentially the same thing as a car crash.”

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