Central Coast roundup
By El Latino newsroom
[email protected]
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has approved the appointment of Jesús Armas as the incoming Community Services Department Director. Armas’ selection comes after an extensive nationwide search to find the ideal candidate to succeed George Chapjian who will retire from the position in January 2024. Armas will assume his new role on January 22, 2024.
Armas comes to the County with extensive leadership experience spanning a 30 year tenure in the public and private sectors.
“I am excited and honored to be joining Santa Barbara County. I am passionate about public service, having served in local government for over three decades. Building on this experience, I am eager to continue and enhance the work already underway in addressing such vital and pressing community issues as homelessness and affordable housing and environmental sustainability,” Armas said.
His 20 year service to two Bay Area cities as a City Manager was distinguished by strategic leadership, where he fostered a collaborative and mission-driven work environment overseeing a staff of 1,000 ensuring services were delivered efficiently and cost-effectively.
Armas served as the City Manager for the City of Hayward for 15 years making him the longest serving City Manager in Hayward’s history.
In this role, he developed and managed an operating budget totaling $181 million and was successful in developing and managing dozens of initiatives and projects.
Ranging from sustainability work in protecting the shoreline and open space; library and recreation services; and affordable housing and community development for lower and middle-income households.
While in the City of Hayward, he also spearheaded the development of downtown vacant properties into a vibrant, mixed-use, transit-oriented development with over 1,000 new residential units.
County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato, expressed her confidence in Armas, saying, “Jesús Armas’ extensive experience in both the public and private sector will bring invaluable leadership to our County. His deep and broad knowledge of all facets of local government and his skill at addressing complex and challenging community issues will be a huge asset for County government.”
«We are delighted to announce the appointment of Jesús Armas as our new Community Services Director. His proven track record, and commitment to community benefit, positions him well to build upon the outstanding legacy left by Director George Chapjian,” said Board Chair and First District Supervisor Das Williams.
UP TO $3,000 IN EV REBATES
Santa Barbara Clean Energy, the City’s program that supplies 100% carbon-free electricity to local homes and businesses, is announcing a cash rebate for City of Santa Barbara residents who purchase or lease a qualified electric vehicle (EV). This incentive is available now until the program funds are exhausted.
Santa Barbara Clean Energy (SBCE) is offering an EV rebate of $1,000 for all City residents who are enrolled as SBCE customers, and those who are currently enrolled in the CARE program or other income-qualified programs are eligible for a $2,000 rebate.
“This new incentive through Santa Barbara Clean Energy will help reduce the costs of purchasing or leasing electric vehicles and move towards the City’s goals of electrification and carbon neutrality. By coupling this incentive with the federal tax credit of up to $7,500, getting an EV has become a great deal,” said Alelia Parenteau, the City’s Sustainability & Resilience Director and the Director of SBCE.
This rebate only applies to electric vehicles with an MSRP less than $80,000.
Customers will receive their rebate within 45 days of submitting a completed application and proof of purchasing the vehicle.
The new EV rebate coincides with the City’s recent launch of on-demand permitting for EV chargers, meaning that residents can now get permits for an EV charger instantly through a simple, streamlined online process.
Those interested in the EV rebate program should confirm their eligibility on the SBCE’s website (SBCleanEnergy.com) or by calling at, 805.538.1810.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER RESIGNED
Santa Barbara Unified School District Board Trustee, Virginia Alvarez has resigned, effective Monday, November 27th, announced the School District this week.
“Ms. Alvarez has been a strong voice for our students and families and will be very much missed,” said Board President Wendy Sims-Moten.
Alvarez was elected in December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and served on the Board of Trustees for three years.
She was elected as an at-large representative prior to the District converting to Trustee Area elections in February 2022, and her seat will become Trustee Area 5, which is up for election in November 2024.
The Board of Trustees has 60 days to appoint a replacement to complete the rest of the term. As the seat is still at-large until the next election, a replacement would be allowed to reside from anywhere within the District’s boundaries (At-Large).
The replacement trustee shall serve only until the end of the term of the position which he/she was elected to fill.
If the Board decides not to appoint a replacement, then the seat will be vacant until the Board elections in November 2024, according to Education Codes 5091 and 5093.
The Board will discuss and decide on the next steps for filling the vacancy at the December 13th meeting.
PRT HUENEME GETS $2 MIL
Earlier this month, the Port of Hueneme was awarded a $2 million federal grant for planning activities related to a parking structure that will serve as the transfer point between ocean-going vessels and the rail or trucks being used to transport automobiles off port.
This Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant is only a portion of grant funding efforts from the Department of Transportation Maritime Administration to decarbonize, upgrade, and rehabilitate key ports along California’s coast.
“This PIDP grant is a great opportunity to invest in infrastructure at the Port. It’s an investment that will bolster the efficiency of our operations,” said Jess Herrera, President of the Oxnard Harbor District.
Meanwhile CEO & Port Director, Kristin Decas stated the funding will also provide them with additional tools and opportunities to further facilitate clean air efforts and support the local workforce through promoting job growth.
“As the nation’s sixth largest port specializing in the logistics of automobiles, this PIDP funding award to start the engineering plan to build a green parking structure on Port is a welcome start for us to maximize the use of critical space to better save the Port’s customers and US consumer demand. With 23 percent of our automotive throughput being electric vehicles, we are excited to build capacity to best serve the rapidly emerging zero emission vehicle market,” Decas said.
With a total of $74.5 million in grant funds available, California’s ports will have the opportunity to further fund and promote cleaner, energy efficient ports to stimulate a greener economy with less pollution, as well as bolster port infrastructure to support future offshore wind investments.
California port projects funded by the Department of Transportation grant opportunities include projects related to enhancing bridge rail capacity, improving roadways, upgrading port infrastructure, and acquiescing new equipment critical to port operations.
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver for Californians by funding key projects across the state to strengthen our ports,” said California Senator Alex Padilla.
“This funding will boost clean shipping efforts, rehabilitate degraded port infrastructure, and streamline daily operations up and down the California coast, making our ports more efficient for workers and safer for neighboring communities,” Senator Padilla said.
HOUSING DRAFT FOR SB ALMOST READY
The City of Santa Barbara’s Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element received a finding of “substantial compliance” with State Housing Element Law from the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on November 16, during the Planning Commission hearing on the project.
The Planning Commission voted 7/0 to recommend adoption of the 2023–2031 Housing Element with specific recommendations.
Staff worked closely with HCD’s Senior Program Manager Paul McDougall over the summer as reflected in the comment letter “HCD appreciates the hard work, collaboration and dedication the housing element team provided in the review and update of the housing element. HCD particularly applauds Rosie Dyste, Daniel Gullett, Jillian Ferguson and Adam Nares.”
HCD further encourages the City to continue to prioritize programs related to accommodating the regional housing need allocation (RHNA), addressing governmental constraints, assisting in the development and conservation of housing for lower-income and special needs households, and affirmatively furthering fair housing.
“I am extremely proud of our staff. Changes to the state’s process and requirements for this Housing Element Update cycle proved challenging to navigate at times. Our staff team did extensive public outreach, and worked with local housing experts and our counterparts at the state to ensure our proposed policies and programs can address the housing needs of our entire community,” said Community Development Director Elias Isaacson.
Next steps in the process include an adoption hearing at City Council on December 12 followed by submittal of the adopted 2023-2031 Housing Element to HCD for formal certification. The City looks forward to implementing the programs outlined in the Housing Element over the next eight years.
