ReStore closes in Goleta
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‘Strays’ is centerpiece of Book to Action program at Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley libraries - A3
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Local nail and hair salons start working outdoors
Restaurants support decision to close West Victoria Street By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
A customer receives nail service under the canopy of SB Nail Bar’s new outdoor setup. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that some personal care facilities can reopen and conduct service outside.
The Santa Barbara City Council decided to close West Victoria Street from State Street to Chapala Street to allow the Public Market and other restaurants on that block to expand their services outdoors. On Tuesday, restaurant owners praised that decision during the City Council meeting. The decision was made at the beginning of the week, and the city is hoping to have the street closed by the end of the week until the foreseeable future, according to city officials. This closure follows that of State Street’s notable closure at the end of May, which allowed for restaurants to move tables and chairs outdoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and allow for social distancing. Marge Cafarelli, the owner of the Public Market, said she wanted to extend a “heartfelt thank you” to the city administration for getting it closed. “I think it will be a win-win for all of the restaurants on West Victoria,” she said. “As you know, we’re in a very difficult time, and being able to add additional seating into the street will really be a lifeline.” The owner of Scarlett Begonia, Krista Fooks, also called in to voice her support of the street closure. “Closing the street and letting us safely expand without traffic would be instrumental for my business and everybody on my block,” she said. “We want to provide a place where people feel safe with their families.” Mitchell Sjerven, owner of another restaurant, Bouchon,
“I think it will be a win-win for all of the restaurants on West Victoria.” Marge Cafarelli, Public Market owner suggested the closure become permanent. “I think the vast majority of Santa Barbarans I’ve spoken with are very in favor of this,” he said. During Tuesday’s council meeting, the City Attorney’s office also gave a presentation on the civilian police review systems, where John Doimas, the assistant city attorney, outlined the background of these systems, their general functions, benefits and goals, existing practices and recommendations. He introduced four common oversight models of these review systems: investigation-focused, review-focused, auditor/monitorfocused and a hybrid model. The attorney’s office recommended to “direct the city attorney and other city staff designated by council to conduct informational public workshops in conjunction with representative community groups to gather community feedback on civilian police review needs and concerns; and provide direction for other future actions as council may deem appropriate.” The City Council hopes the review board will increase police accountability and transparency, build trust, eliminate bias, deter Please see council on A2
Goleta city council votes for continuance on general plan amendment for 625 Dara Road By JORGE MERCADO NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
“It’s not like before, but it’s better than nothing,” said Quan Nguyen of SB Nail Bar.
By JOSH GREGA NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Employees of SB Nail Bar were hard at work giving manicures and pedicures outside their location on Tuesday morning, having already responded to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that some personal care facilities can reopen. This came just on the heels of the governor’s announcement last week that indoor operations at restaurants, bars, barbershops, and nail salons had to cease amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. Under the new guidelines, facilities giving personal care services like haircuts, nail services, and massages can provide their services outside so long as they conform to local regulations and zoning rules. SB Nail Bar moved its care services outdoors under 10by-10 canopies last week when the governor gave his reclosing orders, according to manager
SB Nail Bar first opened for outdoor service last week when Gov. Gavin Newsom gave orders for personal care facilities to cease indoor operations, but the City of Santa Barbara told them to stop and that a Board of Cosmetology permit was required.
Quan Nguyen, but was informed by the city of Santa Barbara that performing outdoor care services required a permit from the State of California’s Board of Barbering & Cosmetology. On Monday, the city informed Mr. Nguyen that he could reopen the nail bar again for outdoor
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services so long as he followed the required guidelines. The manager remarked that although SB Nail Bar’s first attempt at moving its services outside was shut down, the business still “planned ahead” for moving outside again. Open well before other beauty service establishments on State
Street, SB Nail Bar has wasted no time in getting business back up and running. Mr. Nguyen said the governor’s new announcement made him and his employees feel “relieved.” “It’s not like before, but it’s better than nothing,” he said. Please see salons on A8
The Goleta City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday for a continuance on the agenda item regarding a consideration of initiation of a general plan amendment for 625 Dara Road in Goleta. On February 22 of this year, Hersel Mikaelian, the property owner/applicant, submitted a request for the initiation of a GPA. Mr. Mikaelian stated Tuesday that his goal would be to facilitate a senior care facility project with approximately 150-170 beds and associated amenities on the entire site. Currently, the property is divided into 13 parcels, which would be merged into one lot to then be used for the senior care facility project. The council was only voting to approve initiation requests to study a change to the land use designation, not to approve the building of a senior care facility. “I started this project four years ago. I was part of your council last November 5 and you mentioned that we need senior
care desperately and there was some talk about my property. … I followed direction and I have been working with your staff, and I’m only hoping that you see that I am not here for the project. I’m here for an investigation for all of us,” Mr. Mikaelian said. “That is his passion, he wants to build a senior care facility. He wants his property used for that purpose. Even if he doesn’t own it, he would be willing to commit to that, an enforceable deed restriction that the city could hold and hold the property to that limitation,” Mr. Mikaelian’s council added. Councilmember Stuart Kasdin was the original member who requested a continuance for a later date, saying there were still a lot of questions he had before he felt comfortable putting this to a vote. “This has been going since 1977. I’m 70 years old. I don’t know how long you want to think about this, but I may not be around. I appreciate what you’re trying to do. And if you need more time, I’m happy to give you more time,” Mr. Mikaelian said Please see GOLETA on A8
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