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Council talks crime, affordable housing
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Color me cute
By Cat Neushul
Crime remains low
At the July 28 Carpinteria City Council meeting, Lieutenant Brad McVay of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office presented on local law enforcement and crime data. He outlined the number of staff providing services and their duties and provided statistics on crime and prevention methods. McVay said that the number of violent crimes was very low in Carpinteria. In 2013, there were three rapes, four robberies and 14 aggravated assaults reported. However, there were 50 burglaries, 151 instances of larceny and 20 vehicle thefts. He added, “People ask me if Carpinteria is a safe city, and I say, ‘Yes,’ but there is still crime.” He said that Carpinteria benefits from its SBSO contract for law enforcement services. Instead of having to maintain specialty units, like a SWAT or search and rescue team, Carpinteria can share resources with other cities throughout the county.
housing update aligns city and state regs
Council members also heard an update on the local Housing Element, the plan that syncs city planning to state regulations requiring that dwellings are provided for low income households and other groups vulnerable to being priced out of homes. City planner Steve Goggia said that the state had approved the city’s Housing Element in 2011, which covers the 2009-2014 planning period. The element included several additions that required the modification of existing municipal code. The changes related to zoning code involving density bonuses, transitional and supportive housing, agricultural employee housing, single room occupancy housing, emergency shelters and housing for people with disabilities. In particular, Goggia emphasized the changes relating to density bonuses. Housing developers can take advantage of incentives and concessions offered through density bonuses by meeting certain criteria, such as offering 10 percent of their total housing units to lower income households or providing senior citizen housing. A density bonus allows developers to build more units or taller buildings or to have more floor space in exchange for offering affordable housing. Goggia said that the city had adopted a new means of calculating density bonuses and provided a chart outlining the bonuses associated with the addition of affordable units. Developers can also take advantage of other bonuses. A housing development that complies
COUNCIL continued on page 19
DAVID POWDrEll
art by the sea summer camp has concluded its four-week run, but not before budding artists refined their skills with outdoor painting sessions at the beach. On a recent excursion, students, from left, Clover Martinez, Camryn Bernstein, teo Chemla, lili Chemla, hayley Raunsback and Devyn Clayton put paint to paper while beholding an inspiring ocean view. Led by director Sara Munro, the Carpinteria Arts Center annual summer camp focuses on fine art techniques.
state mum on water district grant funding By LeA BOyD
Baffled is a good word to describe the Carpinteria Valley Water District Board of Director’s reaction to the news that partner agencies would enjoy state funding for a portion of their share of costs to install a $6 million pump in lake Cachuma while CVWD appears to be on its own to come up with its $605,000 obligation. California Department of Public Health has informed Montecito Water District, the City of Santa Barbara and Goleta Water District that funds would be allotted toward their share of the pump system that will be necessary by this fall to move water from the lake into the Tecelote Tunnel for transport to South Coast water agencies. Meanwhile, CVWD has not been notified one way or another. At the water board’s July 23 meeting, CVWD General Manager Charles Hamilton said he is making every effort to determine why Carpinteria seems to have been overlooked and how that can be remedied. State Senator Hannah Beth Jackson has jumped into the effort and is advocating on CVWD’s behalf.
Hamilton told board members, “Somehow there was a concern or a perception that CVWD’s financial situation doesn’t quality for funding like this. We have perhaps—and I’m not sure what they’re thinking in Sacramento about this—we have too much money in reserves.” Hamilton has amended the application for funds by elaborating on the district’s financial position. CVWD is burdened by substantial debt and is contractually bound to long-term payments into the State Water Project. “We’re really just not in a position to pull this money out of reserves,” he said. Board President Matt roberts added, “If financial need is the measure by which this money is awarded, that Montecito could out compete us, or Santa Barbara … I don’t understand.” If the district does not receive funding from the state, it will likely pursue a bank loan. Hamilton said, “To go
WATER DISTRICT continued on page 18
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