Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – One of the more complicated housing hearings in Santa Barbara history left all sides still willing to go forward as a way to convert a portion of the Paseo Nuevo Mall in downtown Santa Barbara.

The project has taken on several different looks in recent months with some fast moving changes in recent days. That upset several council members who were unclear of all the moving parts, paperwork, deals, one-on-one talks, closed-door meetings and ultimatum talk.

The plan presented Tuesday was for 203 market rate housing units, 24 low income units and a high end grocery story where the vacant Macy’s store sits on the corner of State St. and Ortega St. in downtown.

The previous plan for 80 affordable units nearby as part of this project is still unclear as a reality or possibility down the road.

The city and the financial company AB Commercial (AllianceBernstein) that is in the driver’s seat on the plan are trying to get to a “yes” vote as was mentioned many times during the meeting.

With the design reworked numerous times and what was thought to be a final take it or leave it offer, it had one Councilmember suspicious, based on changes in the last few weeks.

Meagan Harmon said, “so what assurances do I have that this is the last best and final if the deal has changed so significantly and I think that is pretty significant in the last couple of days to me, it is sort of putting the lie to this idea that every avenue for negotiations has been fully explored.”

Also, Councilmember (and Mayoral candidate) Kristen Snedden said in talks with the project proponents about affordable housing plans with the City Housing Authority, “Iasked the question, maybe three times you’re going to be building the building and handing the keys over to the Housing Authority and the answer was yes. What this agreement now says, we might just hand you a demolished lot which is a city asset  and we might in five years maybe build it or not”

They also want the Macy’s side of the project to also be discussed in a larger context with another player on the other end of the mall in the vacant Nordstrom building. Shopoff has a 112 housing project planned there.

It was referred to as a three-legged stool and all three pieces need to be included in the broad discussion. That’s where the progress for this partial mall renovation is going now.

Mayor Randy Rowse is urging action now with the plan part of a vital rescue of a sluggish downtown area. He said, “let’s get something done.  Downtown needs something to happen .  We have been fallow for  almost a decade in the mall  we have been fallow on state street itself.  We need to turn this around.”

There was even talk or looking into turning the whole land parcel back to the original owners, the Chumash Native Americans.

A local architect Brian Cearnel did a picture layover comparing this project to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the landmark was shrouded by the size, bulk and scale in a way no one had ever seen before. He said too much was stacked on the Ortega St. side and housing should be shared throughout the Paseo like a design you would see in Spain.

(More details, video and pictures will be added here later today.)

brian barnwell

planning commissioner

“in all my time i don’t remember a unanimous negative vote from the planning commission a that’s what we gave this.”

track one

.       the

.        but it’s

track two

.   the

kristen sneddon

santa barbara city council

i aske

.     

.      but n.

du

brian cearnel

 the cearnal collective

“here is our courthouse super imposed to scale over the building i think that says it all .”

“….this is simply too big…..by the way it is not 75 feet   it’s 88 feet”

track four

.     afte

randy rowse

santa barbara mayor

“…   let’s get something done.  downtown needs something to happen .  we have been fallow for  almost a decade in the mall  we have been fallow on state street… itself.  we need to turn this around.”

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Dave Alley

NIPOMO, Calif. (KEYT) – The Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) Board of Directors is set to vote one week from today on a proposal that would raise monthly water rates by a significant margin.

The 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.

In September, 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.

According to data provided by the NCSD, the average single-family residence is currently paying $142.96 per month.

If the new rate increases are approved, the same household would pay $212.45 per month, which over the course of a year, is $828 more over a 12-month period.

“I acknowledge that it is a very difficult thing that our, ratepayers have to bear,” said NCSD General Manager Ray Dienzo. “But it’ll maintain good service for them and maintain health and safety, and maintain water resiliency for years to come.”

Dienzo added the rate increases are needed due to three main drivers, operational sustainability, water resiliency and also financial responsibility.

“Financial responsibility has to do with maintaining reserves so that we whenever we fall into any kind of emergency, the district will be able to meet those emergencies with reserves,” said Dienzo. “As far as water resiliency, we need to have that imported water come in (from the Santa Maria tie-in). The import of the water is going to increase our budget by 30%, essentially about $2.7 million, so that’s an extra amount of money that we need to help pay for through water rates. For operational responsibility, we need to maintain the health and safety of our community and also efficient operations of all of our water systems.”

The NCSD board voted in late September to move forward with the increases and will next officially vote on the rate adjustments next Wednesday, Dec. 10.

While the NCSD has expressed the reasons why the increases are necessary, there are many in the community who are not in support.

“The recurring things that I heard when I spoke to people was, this is out of control and crazy,” said NCSD customer Criss Blake, who is against the proposed rate increases. “It’s just a huge burden for so many people. People are looking at the rising costs of everything. Every grocery that they buy, everything is incredibly high now and they’ve tightened their belt, but the timing of this, I find is just pretty bad.”

Many NCSD customers are especially worried about the potential financial burden the proposed rate increases would create for those in the senior community.

“This is outrageous,” said Ken Marshall, Nipomo resident who is against the rate hikes. “That’s three times higher than any COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) that seniors are getting right now. It’s about 2.8% for 2026, so there’s no way that people who are on fixed incomes are people who are not able to stretch their budget like that and be able to afford these outrageous increases.”

Diezno warns that should the rate increases not go through, it will put both the NCSD, as well as its customers, in financial danger.

“They are difficult, but they are responsible,” said Dienzo. “They are difficult, but necessary because it would put the district at risk. We have aging infrastructure that we need to have the funded replacement capital, that needs to be in place. For example, the water tanks that we need to to maintain and a new well that we need to refit. These are very important to maintain operational sustainability and operational efficiency. There is no good alternative plan to to not do those projects because it would put the district at risk.”

Diezno also added the proposed increases do have anything to do with the planned Dana Reserve project, the large-scale housing and commercial development that has been approved along Highway 101 and Willow Road.

“The water rates increase will not fund the Dana Reserve project,” said Dienzo. “The Dana Reserve has their own capital funds that’s going to fund the project separate from the water rates increase.”

With the final vote looming, NCSD customers do have the opportunity to stop the proposed rate increases themselves and essentially take the vote away from the board.

If 50% plus one of the total amount of NCSD customers object to the proposed rate adjustments, the increases would be stopped.

To officially object the proposed rate increases, customers must submit an official valid written protest that includes a statement against the increase, the name of the customer, address or parcel number, original signature and date when signed.

Protests must be received before the closure of next week’s NCSD public hearing.

“The protest vote is extremely important,” said Blake. “I’m hoping everyone will look into the resources that are out on social media. There’s information on the NCSC web page. There is some information that you can find. Everyone should do that, and also, attend the meeting and, and be seen and be heard by the district.”

To stop the rate increases through the protest process, the opposition will need 2,337 households to officially protest, and while it is a very high number to obtain, Blake is hopeful it can be achieved.

“I not going to lie, I am daunted,” said Blake. “I don’t have pie in the sky hopes, but I’m not going to stop until we’re there because I believe that it’s possible if we’re able to reach as many people, basically the majority of people who learn about it and, and know about it, do protest.

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

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Students are on a gingerbread manhunt in a magical Christmas tree forest at Kia of Santa Maria.

A school field trip took place at Altrusa’s annual holiday fundraiser at the dealership on south Bradley Rd.

It’s becoming a yearly tradition for families in the Santa Maria Valley, providing field trip exhibitions of community created Christmas trees.

“Last year we raised about $54,000 and all of that money went back into the community,” says Kellie Ouellette a Libbon Elementary School teacher. “We sponsored 40 or 45 teacher grants.”

Altrusa International Golden Valley sponsors this event, raising funds for education and literacy programs.

“I am a fifth grade teacher at Libbon Elementary School, but I am also the chair for Magical Christmas Trees for this event, and the club secretary at Altrusa Golden Valley, who are our sponsors,” says Ouellette. “I do it all!”

Local organizations or individuals sponsor and decorate these trees complete with gifts.

The raffle winner takes home their favorite tree and gifts.

“This is the gingerbread manhunt,” says Ouellette. “We had nine gingerbread men who have escaped from the baker, and they are hiding among the trees and the gifts. And so the kids are looking for the Gingerbread Man.”

Anyone can donate to enter the raffle. You have until December 13th and tickets are only $1 each. If you donate $5, you get a sixth raffle ticket for free.

“We take cash card, check Apple Pay,” says Ouellette.

The school field trips send each student home with a new book.

“We’ve been holding these Altrusa events for about three years now,” says Luke Rodges, finance manager for Kia Of Santa Maria. “It’s been really cool to get to have all these businesses that come in and contribute.”

The Magical Christmas Tree Forest is on display and open to the public at Kia of Santa Maria.

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Patricia Martellotti

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Ventura is hosting a Pierpont community town hall Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. to address concerns following a recent water safety alert.

City leaders, Ventura Water officials, and public safety representatives will explain what happened on November 25, when preliminary testing mistakenly detected gasoline in tap water, prompting a temporary “Do Not Use” advisory.

Follow-up tests confirmed the result was a false positive, and the notice was lifted the next day, with officials focusing the meeting on improving emergency alerts, transparency, and restoring public trust.

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Patricia Martellotti

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ventura police spent Wednesday morning building relationships with residents and local business owners during Cocoa with a Cop at Frontside Café.

The informal gathering offered the community a chance to speak directly with officers and Police Chief David Dickey outside of emergency situations.

Department leaders say face-to-face conversations like these help strengthen trust, encourage dialogue, and foster stronger connections in one of Ventura’s busiest neighborhoods.

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Michael Yu

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Goleta’s Cristino’s Bakery joined your morning news this December to share how they are celebrating this holiday season with Tamales.

Lorena Casas, the owner of Cristino’s Bakery, shared that it is currently a very busy time for the bakery. She also shared that the bakery makes tamales fresh every day, so that customers can enjoy fresh tamales every time.

The bakery offers Pork and Chicken tamales, as well as vegetarian options. A person can also order as any tamales as they need, as long as a heads up is given.

She added that making tamales is about making connections and memories, and that making tamales for customers helps her pass that along to customers.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

High School Boys Soccer:

Dos Pueblos 5, Carpinteria 0

Santa Maria 2, San Marcos 0

High School Boys Basketball:

San Marcos 73, Newbury Park 50

Oaks Christian 76, Santa Barbara 67

Santa Ynez 82, Cabrillo 64

Thousand Oaks 73, Milken 54

Channel Islands 66, Malibu 58

Oak Park 74, King Drew 40

High School Girls Basketball:

San Marcos 67, Cabrillo 23

Ventura 79, Orcutt Academy 42

Oxnard 48, Righetti 42

Laguna Blanca 47, Hillcrest Christian 10

Thousand Oaks 56, Camarillo 47

Oaks Christian 64, Trinity 35

Agoura 50, Moorpark 33

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John Palminteri

ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County plan to have a 72-hour ban on amplified music during Deltopia 2026 has been met with strong resistance by the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD.)

Community leaders have been urging alternatives and solutions rather than a tougher law on top of the existing noise rules.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Schmidt has been presenting the case for the changes for weeks, including at a town hall meeting that drew a full house in the Isla Vista Theatre.

Monday night the IVCSD had meeting to take a position in a letter to the County Board of Supervisors, prior to the January 13 agenda item.

Public comments were also taken. They included student residents, long term residents and families, and the County Sheriff’s Department.

The presentation included pictures of thousands of people cramming Del Playa Drive during the unpermitted event on the first weekend after Spring Break.

Over the past ten years there have been multiple issues including deaths, injuries, a balcony collapse and parking issues on and off the I.V. streets. There was also a high profile conflict or moving riot when law enforcement attempted to clear the streets at night with extra deputies, outside police and tear gas.

Costs to deal with Deltopia for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office exceeded $430,000 earlier this year.

There’s also regional costs to the UC Police, the City of Goleta, the City of Santa Barbara at the airport and area shopping malls where crowds have gathered.

The IVCSD wants to work on alternatives that include an on campus concert to draw the crowds off of Del Playa and calm the area down, and also other activities in the parks as they demonstrated earlier this year. It included music, free food and water, well ness areas and rest locations that were not near the crowds.

The county is facing the costs and unpredictable nature of Deltopia at a time when it is facing financial struggles, layoffs and hiring freezes due to funding shortfalls.

(More details, photos and video will be added later today.)

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Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Lompoc’s city council met tonight, just two weeks after councilman Steve Bridge was charged with multiple felonies.

“I will be appearing in court on December 4th, 2025, and entering a not guilty plea to all charges because I have not committed any crime,” says Bridge.

The councilman addressed the city at Tuesday’s council meeting, the first after he was charged with multiple felonies, including forgery, grand theft by embezzlement, and identity theft.

An alleged fraudulent use of a contractor’s license number is listed among the charges, as well.

“I’m kind of embarrassed to be from Lompoc right now,” said one local during public comment.

The criminal complaint alleges that Bridge stole roughly $10,000 from the city of Lompoc, and also sent fraudulent invoices to several businesses.

Three of the charges are dated prior to November 2024, when Bridge won the election to represent District 1 on the northern side of the city.

“We have an integrity problem,” said another local resident during public comment. “My first impression of council member Bridge at the beginning of the year was that something was off.”

Bridge’s fellow city councilman Jeremy Ball has already called for Bridge to step down in the face of these charges, and Tuesday night’s public comments largely agreed.

“Why should anyone trust someone who behaves like the laws only apply to anyone else?” asked another concerned resident.

With his arraignment on Thursday, Bridge is legally allowed to appear and serve as city council member.

“I believe in the American justice system and I’m confident that through the court process, I will be found not guilty,” said Bridge. “Therefore, I’ll continue to support to represent every member of the community and District one and will continue to ask the hard questions of the city.”

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Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation is currently in the early stages of updating its Master Plan for the first time in two decades and is seeking public input during the nearly one year-long process.

The county operates more than 30 individual facilities, including parks, open space, campgrounds, golf courses, plus community and regional parks.

“The parks are very important,” said Emily Moody, a mother of our who lives in Nipomo. “It’s a good getaway from when you’re stuck in the house with kids, you can bring them here and let them run around burn off energy.” 

Starting this week, the Parks and Recreation Department has began a public outreach effort to encourage park users to provide comments, suggestions, concerns and other ideas on what they would like to see in the future.

“Right now, the process for the Master Plan update is collecting information, looking at all of our existing facilities, looking at our existing documents, any past needs assessment or strategic plans gathering public information through community surveys or having focus groups to look at different aspects of parks and recreation in this county and gather community input from special interest groups and organizations and non-profits,” said Shaun Cooper, San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation Assistant Director.

A mailed survey was recently delivered to 5,000 households randomly selected throughout the county.

On Monday, an online survey opened up through the Parks and Recreation Department website that allows anyone in the county to answer questions.

“We are looking for information from the public on the types of recreation facilities they like, the types of facilities that they use, the types of facilities that they like to see what’s lacking,” said Cooper. “What are the activities they’re interested in? How often they use our park facilities? We are looking at all aspects of parks and recreation in the county and what types of programs or activities they like to do.” 

The online survey will remain active and open to the public through Dec. 15.

“The public input will help guide our plan for the future, which will help us make decisions, prioritize projects, prioritize funding for projects, and help us guide, a sustainable system into the future for parks and recreation in the county,” said Cooper. “Anybody is welcome to get online and take the survey. Share the link with your friends. We want as many people as possible to complete the survey online. It’ll be considered along with the statistically valid survey for the community input.”

The county pointed out the survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and is available in both English and Spanish.

“I think it’s important to know what the town wants or the things that draw them in,” said Moody. “I think it’s important for (the county) to be involved with the people. I think it’s important to listen to the people of the county to see where funding should go.”

For anyone who would like more information about the County of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Master Plan, or to provide online input, visit www.slocountyparksplan.com.

The Parks and Recreation Department expects the Master Plan to be updated and completed by fall 2026.

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