Central coast roundup
Por El Latino Newsroom
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The City of Santa Barbara announced this week the start of the Vision Zero State Street Undercrossing Project that will be a major facelift to the State Street undercrossing of Highway 101.
The project will also incorporate many safety upgrades in keeping with the City’s commitment to the Vision Zero strategy.
The undercrossing serves as the City’s Downtown gateway from the Waterfront.
Through a collaborative effort, spanning many years, an aesthetically pleasing design was developed, which is reflective of the Santa Barbara community, that will include improved lighting.
The project will begin in early October and will be completed in 2025.
The Project connects the City’s two most active transportation-oriented neighborhoods: Downtown and the Waterfront.
“The Project improves safety and appropriately rebalances space for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists through the undercrossing between Yanonali and Gutierrez Streets,” said the City in a press release.
The authorities also stated that sidewalks will also be widened on each side of the street from eight feet to 15 feet.
“On-street bike lanes will be increased from five to seven feet in width and will have a two- to three-foot protected buffer,” the City officials said.
The new roadway configuration includes one vehicle lane in each direction, a painted median for emergency access, and reconfigured turn lanes at both Yanonali and Gutierrez Streets.
Additional enhancements include new pedestrian safety lighting and protective railings, reconstructed bridge columns to improve safety and aesthetics, new plantings in the upper planters, irrigation repairs, street tree removal and replacement, and modifications to the intersections at State and Gutierrez Streets and State and Yanonali Streets to reduce crossing distances for pedestrians.
According to the City, construction will begin on the east side of the undercrossing starting from the middle of the undercrossing working towards the Yanonali and Gutierrez intersections.
“Construction will occur between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.”
Access for vehicles and cyclists will be maintained in both directions during construction and the sidewalk on the west side of the undercrossing will remain open for pedestrian access.
ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY CELEBRATING 100th ANNIVERSARY
Roosevelt Elementary School will be having its Centennial Anniversary Celebration, commemorating 100 years of educational excellence.
According to Roosevelt’s Principal, Valerie Galindo, centennial celebrations will span the entire school year, with monthly assemblies devoted to a different decade from the 1920s to the 1990s.
«We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible milestone in Roosevelt Elementary’s history,» said Principal Galindo.
Students, teachers, and parent volunteers from the Roosevelt Elementary Education Foundation (REEF) PTO will collaborate on activities that capture the spirit of each decade and Roosevelt’s history.
«The centennial anniversary is not only a time for us to reflect on our past achievements but also to set our sights on the bright future that lies ahead. Our students and staff are committed to carrying forward the legacy of academic excellence and community engagement that has been our hallmark for the last century,» said Galindo.
Community members, including past alumni and staff, are invited to share stories, memories, and photos from their time at the school and in the area.
“The school would appreciate any help with archival documents, specifically from the 1940s to 1960s”, said the Principal.
The culmination of the festivities will be the grand Centennial Celebration, scheduled for the end of the school year.
Roosevelt Elementary, in partnership with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, will also unveil a permanent art installation on its campus dedicated to its Centennial Celebration.
Nestled in the heart of the Upper East neighborhood, Roosevelt Elementary is situated near the historic site of the Santa Barbara Mission.
The area was previously a village of the Chumash people, the traditional caretakers of the school’s land.
For more information about the Roosevelt Elementary Centennial anniversary celebrations, please visit the REEF website Centennial page or contact [email protected].
NEW AG COMMISIONER
Last week the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, through unanimous vote, appointed Korinne Bell to the position of Agricultural Commissioner following the retirement of the previous Agricultural Commissioner, Ed Williams, in August.
Bell has served 17 years in the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, the last 7 of which she has served as the Chief Deputy Agricultural Commissioner.
“Korinne was born and raised in the community, and she’s developed relationships and partnerships across so many areas. We have all the confidence in the world that she is going to move this department forward and expand its already great reputation,” said Matt LaVere, Chair of the Board of Supervisors.
During Bell’s nearly two decades with the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, she’s climbed the ranks from Agricultural Inspector Biologist to Chief Deputy Agricultural Commissioner.
During her tenure, she has worked in and overseen programs that include Pesticide Use Enforcement, Pest Exclusion, Certified Farmers’ Markets, Organics, Standardization, the Pierce’s Disease Control Program, Agricultural Disaster Assessment, and the publication of the annual Ventura County Crop & Livestock Report.
Bell said is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community and county as the next Agricultural Commissioner.
“I am wholeheartedly committed to the department’s mission to protect and promote agriculture and equity in the marketplace. I also do not take lightly the responsibility of this office and its role for ensuring the welfare of the public, our agricultural industry, and the environment. I am dedicated to continuing to positively shape the future of agriculture in Ventura County,” Bell said.
The new Commissioner currently manages a portfolio of 30 diverse programs and leads a team of over 70 dedicated employees.
Her responsibilities encompass personnel management, management of compliance with safety protocols as the agency’s safety officer, as well as serving as public information officer for the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.
Additionally, Bell continues to oversee environmental analysis for land use projects involving agriculture and her related role as staff for the Ventura County Agricultural Advisory Committee.
She played a key role in the merger of the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office with the Ventura County Weights & Measures Division in 2022.
Ventura County is one of the world’s most productive farmlands.
Agriculture is the most prolific industry in Ventura County representing over $1.2 billion in annual agricultural sales, also creates thousand of jobs, over 20 thousand crops, shipping and other related industries.
Bell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a Master of Education degree from Azusa Pacific University.
The Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office works to protect and promote agriculture and consumers in the region.
By working together with all Ventura County stakeholders, the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office builds the necessary structures for long term success for the agriculture industry.
Throughout California, there are 55 Agricultural Commissioners in 58 counties. They are part of a network of regulatory agencies in charge of enforcing regulations for the agriculture industry, collecting fees for providing services to the industry and public, and are funded by federal, state and county governments. Locally, the County Board of Supervisors appoints the commissioner to a four-year term.
DRUGS
On September 14, the Oxnard Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), Violent Crimes Unit (VCU), and the Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) conducted directed enforcement into suspected narcotic tracking occurring within the city of Oxnard.
The directed enforcement resulted in the arrest of Brandon Flores, a 41 year-old Ventura resident. When contacted by officers with the SEU, Flores was in possession of a half-pound of suspected methamphetamine and over an ounce of suspected fentanyl both packaged for sales.
Flores has numerous felony conviction for narcotic sales. Flores was booked at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office – Pretrial Detention Facility for narcotic related charges.
The amount of suspected fentanyl seized from Flores allows for the consumption of over 600 doses.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, “Fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine, and 50 times more potent than heroin as a painkiller.”
The Oxnard Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit, Violent Crimes Unit, and the Special Enforcement Unit are comprised of officers and detectives who have been federally deputized as Task Force Officer(s) by the Federal of Bureau of Investigation. These Task Force Officer(s) are assigned to the Ventura County Criminal Investigation Division and are in charge with the duties of investigating violations of the drug and criminal laws of the United States of America.
The Oxnard Police Department is committed to reducing drug overdoses in the city of Oxnard. Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on “Report Suspicious Activity.”
VENTURA
Beginning this week, a cornerstone of Ventura’s forward-looking water investment portfolio, the VenturaWaterPure Program, takes an important step toward enhancing the City’s water supply resilience. This landmark project marks the City’s effort to secure its water future, positioning Ventura at the forefront of sustainable water management in the region.
The ocean outfall project will be used to dispose of concentrate generated by the future Advanced Water Purification Facility, which is projected to provide up to 20% of the City’s water supply when fully operational.
«In December 2011, the Ventura City Council voted on a settlement agreement with Heal the Bay and the Wishtoyo Foundation/Ventura Coastkeeper to preserve the Santa Clara River’s natural habitat,” shared Mayor Joe Schroeder. “The consent decree also requires a beneficial reuse of the water to align with the City’s long-term sustainability goals and commitment to responsible water management.”
Ventura Water General Manager Gina Dorrington highlighted the project’s substantial support from federal agencies, securing a $173 million loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and an additional $18 million in grant funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “The project’s success is further underlined by unanimous approval from the California Coastal Commission, and the acquisition of all necessary permits showcases the City’s dedication to environmental responsibility and adherence to regulations,” she stated.
A thorough evaluation of potential sites was examined for the construction of the ocean outfall. Marina Park was identified as the optimal location and received a thorough Environmental Impact Report analysis. In addition, extensive community feedback directed additional mitigation measures consistent with construction activities for noise, dust, and vibration impacts. A dedicated construction management team is spearheading all mitigation efforts, and community members can leave a message at any time at 805-500-8103 for additional concerns, questions, or feedback.
