Safe Routes to School Update

In an update to a story we brought you last week (MJ # 25/37), over 200 members of the Westmont student body participated in a Safe Routes to School Project for Cold Spring School, with support from the Bucket Brigade, Cold Spring Landscape, Cold Spring School parents and staff, Montecito Trails Foundation, and material donations from Santa Barbara Stone.

“The project was inspired by Westmont Athletic Director Dave Odell and Bucket Brigade Abe Powell; a project that brought the Westmont athletes into the community to make the walking paths around Cold Spring School safer for the kids and community members that use them,” said MTF President Ashlee Mayfield, who helped to organize the event. 

“The day was the beginning of a much larger vision to improve pedestrian safety in Montecito.”

Montecito Water Receives Transparency Certificate

The Montecito Water District received the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence from the Special District Leadership Foundation (SDLF) in recognition of its outstanding efforts to promote transparency and good governance. 

“This award is a testament to Montecito Water District’s commitment to open government,” said Nick Turner, General Manager, in a statement. “The entire district staff is to be commended for their contributions that empower the public with information and facilitate engagement and oversight.” 

To receive the award, a special district must demonstrate the completion of essential governance transparency requirements, including conducting ethics training for all board members, properly conducting open and public meetings, and filing financial transactions and compensation reports to the State Controller in a timely manner. 

SDLF is an independent, non-profit organization formed to promote good governance and best practices among California’s special districts through certification, accreditation, and other recognition programs. Special districts are independent public agencies that deliver core local services to communities, such as water, wastewater treatment, fire protection, parks and recreation, healthcare, sanitation, mosquito abatement, ports, libraries, public cemeteries and more. Districts are established by voters and their funding is approved by voters to meet specific needs through focused service. They can be specially molded to serve large regions or small neighborhoods depending on the need.

For additional information visit www.montecitowater.com.