Montecito Association Meets

Also at the Montecito Association Board meeting, Montecito Union School superintendent Dr. Anthony Ranii announced that he is recommending to the MUS Board of Trustees that necessary facilities improvem vhu7yents needed on campus be done with in-house funds instead of a tax bond, with November marking four years since the failure of Measure Q, the $27,150,000 school bond measure to make capital improvements. “We’ve been busy finding the ‘needs’ instead of the ‘wants,’” Dr. Ranii said, adding that he’d keep the MA in the loop with future plans. 

Montecito Sanitary District general manager Diane Gabriel announced that the District has received $900K from FEMA in reimbursement toward the $1.6M spent on infrastructure repairs following the January 9 debris flow. 

The board took a vote concerning the potential banning of gas-powered leaf blowers, but the vote failed because several board members said they would like to have more information before supporting the concept. Montecito residents Lesley Weinstock and Nicole Daniel have formed a group of residents who wish to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, and plan to meet with County leaders to discuss the idea. With more than 100 signatures on a petition, the group was asking the Montecito Association to endorse the idea, which is already in effect in the City of Santa Barbara. Weinstock said that gas leaf blowers cause fumes, chemicals, dust, respiratory issues, and damaging noise. 

Several board members are terming out at the end of the year, and the MA is looking for people to serve on the board. If interested, call (805) 969-2026.