Montecito Association Board March Meeting

The Montecito Association held its monthly Board meeting March 12th in person at the Montecito Library and via zoom. 

Community Reports began with Police Chief Lt. Ugo Peter “Butch” Arnoldi on the resolution of investigations and reported crime in the area.

Montecito Fire Chief David Neels reported on the last storm, stating the area did well and the debris basin at Cold Spring – which was at 50% – was cleared. His department arranged for 14,000 sandbags to date. Montecito Fire Protection District hired four firefighters to start March 16, and will establish a joint academy with the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Departments. 

Montecito Sanitation District General Manager John Weigold reported recent storm damage in the form of sewage seepage into a resident’s bathtub. Investigation found the cause to be a manhole overflow from the storm. Video check of the sewer pipe was done. It will be replaced with a larger pipe. The sanitation district is conducting a six-month study regarding a possible sewage connection with Summerland. The Montecito Sanitation District Board policy is that nothing can be built or disrupt the easements. Despite the policy, Montecito residents have built driveways, stone walls, etc., which will be addressed.

Montecito Water District’s Nick Turner reported there were no damages from the recent storm. Projects slated to start in April include replacing hydrants along Coast Village Road, working on the underpass area near Fernald Point Lane, and replacing the water main at Bella Vista. The Water District is doing a rate study regarding significant increases since 2020. Following a consultant’s report and recommendations, Board meetings are slated for March 25 and April 11, a public hearing in June about the rates, and the new rates themselves going into effect in July.

Superintendent of the Montecito Union School District Anthony Ranii reported their building projects are on time, within budget, and upholding student safety. Future projects will renovate the library and innovation lab. Bids are being accepted. They are establishing a $3 million roofing plan for the next five years and will repair a walkway this summer. Tax dollars are paying for the renovations and repairs. Spring saw the annual parent-teacher conferences, as well as a safety check performed by law enforcement. Following a walk-through of the entire school area, recommendations were made to increase the safety of the school, and teachers were asked to learn new focus areas. MUS will continue as environmental stewards and plant 60 trees this summer.

First SB County District Supervisor Das Williams’ administrator Darcel Elliott reported they received storm reports from Montecito residents regarding slope failures. She asked all who had storm issues to report them on the county website so the county can go to the Federal government for aid, which may provide funding for residents. Chris Sneddon of Montecito has been appointed Public Works Director. 

MA President Doug Black thanked Houghton Hyatt for the new technology to conduct the MA meetings simultaneously in person and via Zoom, along with speech-to-text. The MA board retreat worked on how they can do better for the community.

Presenting the Montecito Fire Protection District Fuel Reduction Programs were Maeve Juarez and Nic Elmquist, both Wildland Specialists. Detailed was the history of fire in the area from 1960 through present, and how they prioritize fire mitigation procedures such as vegetation and chaparral cutbacks. On their website people can put in their address to find out the dates for the chipping program and other efforts. There is a tag and trim program, a fuel treatment network, and a grazing program that makes use of sheep and goats. Their territory for fire control start along the Carpinteria-Summerland border through Montecito to the Santa Barbara border. These services cost $455K in 2023 of which $120K was paid by the California Climate Grant. The Fire Safe Council Grant will pay for the next two years of chipping and grazing. Their 2023 stats showed 50 days of chipping, 136 tons of vegetation removed, 10 miles of roads trimmed,18 tons of vegetation removed from evac routes, 28 dead trees removed, 45 days of bovine grazing, 30 acres treated, and 23 miles of road and trailheads weed whipped. 

Hands Across Montecito collaboration with CityNet.org. had presentations by Al Ortiz in person and Brad Fieldhouse via Zoom. They outlined what CityNet does as a full-service agency, their partnership with the Montecito Association, and funding. The statistics for homeless people in Montecito are six to 10 homeless people found in six encampments and three vehicles. The goal is to use outreach and interim housing measures to achieve zero homeless people on the street. Ortiz invited the community to go on walks with him through the area. Proposed funding for the next six months is $170K for shelter/motel use and $38,400 for outreach/case
management.

Committee reports were brief. Noted was Events Chair for the July 4^th celebration Mindy Denson’s open meeting invitation slated for April 3 at 4 pm outside Pierre Lafond. Chair of History Trish Davis acknowledged the women of Montecito for Women’s History Month, naming Pearl Chase, Anna Barnes Bliss for Casa Dorinda, Ganna Walska for Lotusland, Emmeline Doulton who created the Miramar, early architects the Moody sisters – Brenda, Wilma, Harriet and Mildred – Lutah Maria Riggs, Claire Gottsdanker who wrote the Community Plan for Montecito, Mauve Lawrence of Montecito Fire, and architect Julia Morgan.  

411: www.montecitoassociation.org