Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Paso Robles residents could see an increase in sewer rates due in part to the Templeton Community Services District no longer needing the city’s wastewater treatment services.
At the Feb. 2 Paso Robles City Council meeting, the council directed staff to bring back rate proposal options to the Feb. 16 meeting that could help close the sewer fund’s current deficit.
Paso provides wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal for nearly every home, business, and institution within city limits. According to a staff report, the wastewater system includes 126 miles of sewers, 14 sewage lift stations, and a treatment plant with a 4.9 million gallon-a-day capacity.
Sewer rates, which are the system’s main source of revenue, haven’t been adjusted since 2016, when the city paid for a comprehensive upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant. Updating the wastewater plant enabled the city to comply with stringent requirements for disposal to the Salinas River and prepared the city for future recycled water.
In 2019, the Templeton Community Services District completed its own sewer plant, discontinuing its need for Paso’s treatment and disposal services. As a result, Paso’s sewer fund revenue decreased by approximately $70,000 per year.
A recently completed study analyzing the condition of the city’s sewer fund found that the fund had been depleted due to Templeton no longer needing services and no rate increase for four years. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, total revenue was $9.8 million and expenses were $13.3 million, resulting in a $3.4 million loss.
The study concludes that in order to pay for the sewer fund’s existing debt obligations, adequately fund the repair and replacement, and replenish fund reserves, sewer revenues initially need to increase by 24 percent. Then in each of the following years, sewer rates would need to increase by 8 percent.
At the Feb. 2 meeting, Councilmember Maria Garcia said that a fixed rate increase would be more helpful for people in managing their budgets in the long-term. However, she added that she understands this is a difficult time to present residents with a potential increase. ∆
At the Feb. 2 Paso Robles City Council meeting, the council directed staff to bring back rate proposal options to the Feb. 16 meeting that could help close the sewer fund’s current deficit.
Paso provides wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal for nearly every home, business, and institution within city limits. According to a staff report, the wastewater system includes 126 miles of sewers, 14 sewage lift stations, and a treatment plant with a 4.9 million gallon-a-day capacity.
Sewer rates, which are the system’s main source of revenue, haven’t been adjusted since 2016, when the city paid for a comprehensive upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant. Updating the wastewater plant enabled the city to comply with stringent requirements for disposal to the Salinas River and prepared the city for future recycled water.
In 2019, the Templeton Community Services District completed its own sewer plant, discontinuing its need for Paso’s treatment and disposal services. As a result, Paso’s sewer fund revenue decreased by approximately $70,000 per year.
A recently completed study analyzing the condition of the city’s sewer fund found that the fund had been depleted due to Templeton no longer needing services and no rate increase for four years. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, total revenue was $9.8 million and expenses were $13.3 million, resulting in a $3.4 million loss.
The study concludes that in order to pay for the sewer fund’s existing debt obligations, adequately fund the repair and replacement, and replenish fund reserves, sewer revenues initially need to increase by 24 percent. Then in each of the following years, sewer rates would need to increase by 8 percent.
At the Feb. 2 meeting, Councilmember Maria Garcia said that a fixed rate increase would be more helpful for people in managing their budgets in the long-term. However, she added that she understands this is a difficult time to present residents with a potential increase. ∆
—Karen Garcia
Monday, February 8, 2021
Despite Santa Barbara County’s recent attempts to assuage Los Alamos residents’ concerns about a proposed parcel split on an empty lot on Main Street, many are still concerned about the potential for traffic congestion.
At a community Zoom meeting on Jan. 28, 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann and county staff addressed questions regarding an application for a tentative parcel map that would split a 1.53-acre lot at 774 Main St. in Los Alamos into four separate and smaller parcels. While no structural development is currently proposed for the project, Los Alamos community members worry the parcels will eventually be used for housing, and that proposed entrances and exits to those parcels could lead to future traffic congestion issues on Shaw Street.
“This small part of Los Alamos should be no more or less appreciated for what it is than any other,” Los Alamos resident Seth Steiner said at the meeting, “and if Shaw becomes the access road, it will be severely impacted and made less safe and enjoyable for all.”
The portion of Shaw Street most likely to be impacted by any development on 774 Main St. is privately owned and, thus, not maintained by the county. A group of homeowners living on Shaw Street, including Steiner, pay dues to help fund the preservation and maintenance of the road. Steiner said Shaw Street is a narrow road that roughly 18 homeowners use to access their homes. It’s quiet and doesn’t get much vehicle traffic, he said, making it popular among walkers, bikers, and other pedestrians.
But as outlined in the project application, three of the four proposed parcels would be accessed from Shaw Street via a 24-foot shared driveway. If homes are built on those parcels—Steiner said he’s heard that as many as 11 could be built in total—that could lead to as many as 20 to 30 new vehicles in the neighborhood. While the proposal includes plans to widen a portion of Shaw, that wouldn’t include the last 100 feet of the road before it intersects with Foxen Lane, where Shaw bottlenecks into a single lane.
Although Los Alamos residents are calling for a traffic study in the area, the county typically only conducts traffic studies if a proposed project is estimated to generate 50 new peak hour travel trips. This project does not meet that threshold, and staff said at the meeting that a traffic study is unlikely.
Steiner said county staff need to pay closer attention to what locals are saying about this project. Staff aren’t on the ground. They aren’t familiar with the area like Shaw Street residents are. And Steiner said it’s not too early in the project for Los Alamos residents to get involved, as some county staff have insinuated.
“Not at all,” Steiner said. “I think if we remain silent about this or if we accept the way things are moving we’ll have less and less opportunity to shape the outcome. That attitude again is not accepting what the town feels about this.”
But county staff said they’re doing all they can to find compromises. In an attempt to reduce impacts to Shaw, planner Erick Gomez said a portion of one proposed parcel will go toward widening part of the private road. Parcel No. 4 will be accessed strictly from Main Street, and while entry to the remaining three parcels will be via Shaw Street, they’ll have exits on both Shaw and Main. Previously, all access and exits to parcels No. 1, 2, and 3 used Shaw Street.
Caltrans, Gomez said, will not allow entry to the parcels via Main Street because of its proximity to Highway 135.
“We did receive some concerns regarding access from Shaw Street,” Gomez said, “and so this is a way to maybe meet us halfway while also respecting that Caltrans has certain standards that we also need to make sure that we're meeting.”
At the meeting, Supervisor Hartmann also noted that Santa Barbara County will be required by the state to facilitate the creation of almost 30,000 new units of housing in the next eight years.
“And we all know we need workforce housing, we need farmworker housing, we need housing for lower income families, we want housing so that our children can stay here, Hartmann said at the meeting. “So that's kind of the big picture that we're all thinking about.” ∆
At a community Zoom meeting on Jan. 28, 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann and county staff addressed questions regarding an application for a tentative parcel map that would split a 1.53-acre lot at 774 Main St. in Los Alamos into four separate and smaller parcels. While no structural development is currently proposed for the project, Los Alamos community members worry the parcels will eventually be used for housing, and that proposed entrances and exits to those parcels could lead to future traffic congestion issues on Shaw Street.
SCREENSHOT FROM GOOGLE MAPS
THE SITE Some Los Alamos community members are concerned that a proposed subdivision at 774 Main Street could lead to traffic issues on Shaw Street, a private and narrow road.
The portion of Shaw Street most likely to be impacted by any development on 774 Main St. is privately owned and, thus, not maintained by the county. A group of homeowners living on Shaw Street, including Steiner, pay dues to help fund the preservation and maintenance of the road. Steiner said Shaw Street is a narrow road that roughly 18 homeowners use to access their homes. It’s quiet and doesn’t get much vehicle traffic, he said, making it popular among walkers, bikers, and other pedestrians.
But as outlined in the project application, three of the four proposed parcels would be accessed from Shaw Street via a 24-foot shared driveway. If homes are built on those parcels—Steiner said he’s heard that as many as 11 could be built in total—that could lead to as many as 20 to 30 new vehicles in the neighborhood. While the proposal includes plans to widen a portion of Shaw, that wouldn’t include the last 100 feet of the road before it intersects with Foxen Lane, where Shaw bottlenecks into a single lane.
Although Los Alamos residents are calling for a traffic study in the area, the county typically only conducts traffic studies if a proposed project is estimated to generate 50 new peak hour travel trips. This project does not meet that threshold, and staff said at the meeting that a traffic study is unlikely.
Steiner said county staff need to pay closer attention to what locals are saying about this project. Staff aren’t on the ground. They aren’t familiar with the area like Shaw Street residents are. And Steiner said it’s not too early in the project for Los Alamos residents to get involved, as some county staff have insinuated.
“Not at all,” Steiner said. “I think if we remain silent about this or if we accept the way things are moving we’ll have less and less opportunity to shape the outcome. That attitude again is not accepting what the town feels about this.”
But county staff said they’re doing all they can to find compromises. In an attempt to reduce impacts to Shaw, planner Erick Gomez said a portion of one proposed parcel will go toward widening part of the private road. Parcel No. 4 will be accessed strictly from Main Street, and while entry to the remaining three parcels will be via Shaw Street, they’ll have exits on both Shaw and Main. Previously, all access and exits to parcels No. 1, 2, and 3 used Shaw Street.
Caltrans, Gomez said, will not allow entry to the parcels via Main Street because of its proximity to Highway 135.
“We did receive some concerns regarding access from Shaw Street,” Gomez said, “and so this is a way to maybe meet us halfway while also respecting that Caltrans has certain standards that we also need to make sure that we're meeting.”
At the meeting, Supervisor Hartmann also noted that Santa Barbara County will be required by the state to facilitate the creation of almost 30,000 new units of housing in the next eight years.
“And we all know we need workforce housing, we need farmworker housing, we need housing for lower income families, we want housing so that our children can stay here, Hartmann said at the meeting. “So that's kind of the big picture that we're all thinking about.” ∆
—Kasey Bubnash
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Following a week of increased violence in Lompoc, a group of gang intervention and prevention stakeholders came together for a virtual crime forum on Feb. 1 to answer questions from the community and give updates on their work.
“This is an opportunity for our police chief and some of our community members to communicate what’s going on with relation to gang violence and activities for our youth and prevention,” Mayor Jenelle Osborne said at the forum. “While we have various issues going on surrounding crime in our community, it’s a really big subject, so we thought it best to focus on portions of violent crime in our community and have meaningful discussions around individual issues.”
The idea is to hold additional panel discussions down the road to address other aspects of crime in Lompoc, Osborne said.
Lompoc Police Chief Joseph Mariani said the police department is dealing with the challenges that come with limited resources.
“It’s common knowledge that we’re understaffed,” Mariani said. “I had some very difficult decisions to make. … We had to shut down our gang unit, our narcotics unit, because we had to take those personnel and put them in patrol.”
Mariani said the city saw “a horrendous week last week” in crime.
“We had four shootings in less than 48 hours,” he said. “We need to do better for our youth, and parents should be able to send their kid to the store to get food and not have the fear that in doing so they’re going to be attacked, assaulted, or shot.”
Also among the panelists was Chuck Madson, the co-founder of Future, a community organization with a mission to empower young people and a vision for a youth center—a goal that was nearly to fruition when the pandemic hit.
“What we saw was youth that were struggling connecting to options in our community, so our goal was to provide a location for youth, no matter what part of town you’re in, and have a one-stop resource for all those wonderful organizations in town that can provide support to our youth,” Madson said.
While COVID-19 brings certain barriers to in-person engagement, Madson continues to push the conversation around gang violence to one of prevention, rather than waiting for crimes to happen before taking action.
“What I encourage is our community to come together, even when unfortunate circumstances like this aren’t happening, and support all the amazing organizations here in town,” he said.
Devika Stalling, director of the Boys and Girls Club of Lompoc and vice president of Future, spoke about the community walks she used to organize prior to COVID-19.
“My sole purpose was to go into these gang-riddled neighborhoods where there was high gang activity and high drug activity and get those kids out of that environment,” Stalling said. “It worked. It also gave our police department and other people an opportunity to create a relationship where it wasn’t always on the bad end of things, but getting to know people.”
Madson said that gang violence in Lompoc is “just a symptom of a community struggling.”
“We have to come together as a community, all of us, and empower those organizations that are providing services to our kids and our youth,” Madson said. “But if you’re sitting there and you want to know what to do, or how you can help, please reach out. Shoot me an email and I’ll hook you up with somebody in town that could really use your support.” Δ
SCREENSHOT FROM CITY OF LOMPOC’S YOUTUBE PAGE
COMING TOGETHER Stakeholders in Lompoc gang prevention held a virtual forum on Feb. 1 to give updates on their work in the community.
The idea is to hold additional panel discussions down the road to address other aspects of crime in Lompoc, Osborne said.
Lompoc Police Chief Joseph Mariani said the police department is dealing with the challenges that come with limited resources.
“It’s common knowledge that we’re understaffed,” Mariani said. “I had some very difficult decisions to make. … We had to shut down our gang unit, our narcotics unit, because we had to take those personnel and put them in patrol.”
Mariani said the city saw “a horrendous week last week” in crime.
“We had four shootings in less than 48 hours,” he said. “We need to do better for our youth, and parents should be able to send their kid to the store to get food and not have the fear that in doing so they’re going to be attacked, assaulted, or shot.”
Also among the panelists was Chuck Madson, the co-founder of Future, a community organization with a mission to empower young people and a vision for a youth center—a goal that was nearly to fruition when the pandemic hit.
“What we saw was youth that were struggling connecting to options in our community, so our goal was to provide a location for youth, no matter what part of town you’re in, and have a one-stop resource for all those wonderful organizations in town that can provide support to our youth,” Madson said.
While COVID-19 brings certain barriers to in-person engagement, Madson continues to push the conversation around gang violence to one of prevention, rather than waiting for crimes to happen before taking action.
“What I encourage is our community to come together, even when unfortunate circumstances like this aren’t happening, and support all the amazing organizations here in town,” he said.
Devika Stalling, director of the Boys and Girls Club of Lompoc and vice president of Future, spoke about the community walks she used to organize prior to COVID-19.
“My sole purpose was to go into these gang-riddled neighborhoods where there was high gang activity and high drug activity and get those kids out of that environment,” Stalling said. “It worked. It also gave our police department and other people an opportunity to create a relationship where it wasn’t always on the bad end of things, but getting to know people.”
Madson said that gang violence in Lompoc is “just a symptom of a community struggling.”
“We have to come together as a community, all of us, and empower those organizations that are providing services to our kids and our youth,” Madson said. “But if you’re sitting there and you want to know what to do, or how you can help, please reach out. Shoot me an email and I’ll hook you up with somebody in town that could really use your support.” Δ
—Malea Martin
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Santa Maria officials say the city’s topography makes it ripe for flooding under the right conditions and is encouraging residents to be ready for such a scenario in advance.
FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE
FLAT LANDSCAPE Santa Maria officials say the city’s flat topography makes it susceptible to flooding, especially under the heavy rain conditions the region is currently experiencing.
As of Jan. 27, the National Weather Service was predicting heavy rains in Santa Maria through Thursday and issued a wind advisory in Santa Barbara County until Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. It predicted winds as strong as 30 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 45 miles per hour.
“Once the rain starts, residents should consider staying home when possible,” a city statement said.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company Marketing and Communications Representative Mark Mesesan said there was “significant outage activity” across PG&E’s statewide service area as of Jan. 27, though only five customers in Santa Maria were experiencing outages at the time. Most of the activity was in North SLO County, he said, in Paso, Templeton, Atascadero, Margarita, and SLO city.
“We’re prepared for what we’re seeing, which is a major storm with gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall, and so we expect the Central Coast to continue to be in the bullseye of the storm for the next two or three days,” Mesesan said. “We’ll be working around the clock to respond to outages that occur, and any other issues with potential damage to equipment.”
Santa Maria’s “flat landscape and limited areas for water to flow away” makes it more susceptible to flooding, according to Santa Maria officials. The city’s statement said trained staff would be actively clearing debris from storm drains and are “ready to respond to downed trees.”
Both Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County are providing residents with sandbag materials at various locations to protect against flooding. The city has sand set aside at Suey Crossing, the 2000 block of Western, the Public Works Yard at 830 West Cypress (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), on West Carmen Lane (west of Depot Street), and on San Ysidro Street (west of Miller Street), according to the city’s statement. The county is offering both sand and bags at 912 West Foster Road with a 25 bag per person limit. Residents can head to the city’s website for an informational video on how to fill sandbags.
Santa Maria additionally recommended that residents have extra supplies of food, water, and medicine on hand, as well as an emergency kit with working flashlights and first aid. The county recommended that households prepare or update their emergency plans.
“Keep in mind any additional needs of individuals in your family with access and functional needs and other disabilities,” Office of Emergency Management Director Kelly Hubbard said in a county statement. “Plan ahead for pets and livestock. And consider any COVID-19 related updates to your emergency kit, such as face coverings and hand sanitizer.”
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown added that people should follow their gut instincts when deciding to relocate to a safer area.
“Do not wait for an alert or public safety personnel to tell you to leave,” he said.
Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig encouraged residents to keep a close eye on the latest weather forecasts.
“When ordered to go, leave immediately,” he said. Δ
“Once the rain starts, residents should consider staying home when possible,” a city statement said.
Pacific Gas & Electric Company Marketing and Communications Representative Mark Mesesan said there was “significant outage activity” across PG&E’s statewide service area as of Jan. 27, though only five customers in Santa Maria were experiencing outages at the time. Most of the activity was in North SLO County, he said, in Paso, Templeton, Atascadero, Margarita, and SLO city.
“We’re prepared for what we’re seeing, which is a major storm with gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall, and so we expect the Central Coast to continue to be in the bullseye of the storm for the next two or three days,” Mesesan said. “We’ll be working around the clock to respond to outages that occur, and any other issues with potential damage to equipment.”
Santa Maria’s “flat landscape and limited areas for water to flow away” makes it more susceptible to flooding, according to Santa Maria officials. The city’s statement said trained staff would be actively clearing debris from storm drains and are “ready to respond to downed trees.”
Both Santa Maria and Santa Barbara County are providing residents with sandbag materials at various locations to protect against flooding. The city has sand set aside at Suey Crossing, the 2000 block of Western, the Public Works Yard at 830 West Cypress (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), on West Carmen Lane (west of Depot Street), and on San Ysidro Street (west of Miller Street), according to the city’s statement. The county is offering both sand and bags at 912 West Foster Road with a 25 bag per person limit. Residents can head to the city’s website for an informational video on how to fill sandbags.
Santa Maria additionally recommended that residents have extra supplies of food, water, and medicine on hand, as well as an emergency kit with working flashlights and first aid. The county recommended that households prepare or update their emergency plans.
“Keep in mind any additional needs of individuals in your family with access and functional needs and other disabilities,” Office of Emergency Management Director Kelly Hubbard said in a county statement. “Plan ahead for pets and livestock. And consider any COVID-19 related updates to your emergency kit, such as face coverings and hand sanitizer.”
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown added that people should follow their gut instincts when deciding to relocate to a safer area.
“Do not wait for an alert or public safety personnel to tell you to leave,” he said.
Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig encouraged residents to keep a close eye on the latest weather forecasts.
“When ordered to go, leave immediately,” he said. Δ
—Malea Martin
Monday, January 25, 2021
The Port San Luis Harbor District is the latest jurisdiction in San Luis Obispo County to face the threat of litigation over its at-large election system.
On Dec. 17, 2020, the district received a letter from Santa Barbara-based attorney Robert Goodman—sent on behalf of Harbor District voter Jenna Garcia—noting the district’s violation of the California Voting Rights Act, a state law that prohibits at-large election systems that make it difficult for underserved demographics to elect candidates of their choice. While the California Voting Rights Act is intended to increase representation of minority groups among local governments, some say the law goes too far and makes it nearly impossible for cities to fight incoming lawsuits.
“District elections are sweeping California,” Goodman wrote in his letter to the Harbor District. “As far as this office is aware, no government agency in California has successfully defended a complaint alleging violation of the California Voting Rights Act. For this reason, we recommend a collaborative settlement which would cap costs to the Port San Luis Harbor District and enable more participation by the board of commissioners in the transition to district elections that would be the case through a court action.”
In the letter, Goodman wrote that if the commission adopts a resolution outlining its intent to transition from at-large to district elections, it could defer that transition to the election of November 2022 and delay hearings to draw district lines. Redistricting reimbursement costs to the district would also be capped at $30,000.
“District elections elsewhere have been tied not just to greater representativeness on but to more candidates seeking election to boards and councils,” Goodman wrote, “and to greater participation and interest by the community in local government agencies and elections.”
The commission will discuss a proposed resolution declaring its intent to develop a district-based election system at a meeting on Jan. 26. ∆
FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF PORT SAN LUIS HARBOR DISTRICT
DRAWING DISTRICTS The Port San Luis Harbor Commission will discuss a proposed resolution declaring its intent to develop a district-based election system at a meeting on Jan. 26.
On Dec. 17, 2020, the district received a letter from Santa Barbara-based attorney Robert Goodman—sent on behalf of Harbor District voter Jenna Garcia—noting the district’s violation of the California Voting Rights Act, a state law that prohibits at-large election systems that make it difficult for underserved demographics to elect candidates of their choice. While the California Voting Rights Act is intended to increase representation of minority groups among local governments, some say the law goes too far and makes it nearly impossible for cities to fight incoming lawsuits.
“District elections are sweeping California,” Goodman wrote in his letter to the Harbor District. “As far as this office is aware, no government agency in California has successfully defended a complaint alleging violation of the California Voting Rights Act. For this reason, we recommend a collaborative settlement which would cap costs to the Port San Luis Harbor District and enable more participation by the board of commissioners in the transition to district elections that would be the case through a court action.”
In the letter, Goodman wrote that if the commission adopts a resolution outlining its intent to transition from at-large to district elections, it could defer that transition to the election of November 2022 and delay hearings to draw district lines. Redistricting reimbursement costs to the district would also be capped at $30,000.
“District elections elsewhere have been tied not just to greater representativeness on but to more candidates seeking election to boards and councils,” Goodman wrote, “and to greater participation and interest by the community in local government agencies and elections.”
The commission will discuss a proposed resolution declaring its intent to develop a district-based election system at a meeting on Jan. 26. ∆
—Kasey Bubnash
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Gusty winds and dry conditions caused PG&E to preemptively cut power to hundreds of households in rural southern San Luis Obispo County and Santa Maria on Jan. 19—part of the utility’s first wave of Public Safety Power Shutoffs in 2021.
The shutoff, which spans seven Central California counties, is impacting 462 customers around Huasna, Suey, Twitchell Reservoir, and Tepusquet—sparsely populated areas east of Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, and Santa Maria.
Of those without electricity, 91 are in SLO County and 371 are in Santa Barbara County. About a dozen residents who depend on power for medical devices are affected. Another 66 customers across both counties have also lost power due to unplanned outages.
PG&E announced the potential for a shutoff on Jan. 17 as it monitored a “powerful, offshore weather event” two days after SLO County broke a winter temperature record. About 5,200 customers are affected statewide.
“We will not begin restoration efforts until the extreme conditions have subsided and we’ve been given the all-clear by the PG&E Emergency Operations Center,” PG&E spokesperson Mark Mesesan told New Times via email. “Then, we will use ground crews, helicopters, and other resources to inspect our equipment and safely expedite any necessary repairs before we begin to re-energize customers.”
Those customers impacted by the shutoff can visit community resources centers at the Grover Beach Community Center and the First Christian Church in Santa Maria to access portable charging devices, Wi-Fi, blankets, and food.
According to the National Weather Service, hazardous wind gusts are forecasted to continue through the evening of Jan. 19. PG&E has not provided an expected date and time for ending the shutoff, other than giving a date range of Jan. 18 through 20.
“Winds will continue to howl all up and down the Bay Area/Central Coast before gradually leveling off this evening,” a Jan. 19 tweet from the National Weather Service’s San Francisco Bay Area account read. “For now, be sure to report any downed power lines to local authorities.” ∆
The shutoff, which spans seven Central California counties, is impacting 462 customers around Huasna, Suey, Twitchell Reservoir, and Tepusquet—sparsely populated areas east of Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, and Santa Maria.
MAP COURTESY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
SHUTOFFS More than 450 customers in SLO and northern Santa Barbara counties are without power due to a PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff on Jan. 19.
Of those without electricity, 91 are in SLO County and 371 are in Santa Barbara County. About a dozen residents who depend on power for medical devices are affected. Another 66 customers across both counties have also lost power due to unplanned outages.
PG&E announced the potential for a shutoff on Jan. 17 as it monitored a “powerful, offshore weather event” two days after SLO County broke a winter temperature record. About 5,200 customers are affected statewide.
“We will not begin restoration efforts until the extreme conditions have subsided and we’ve been given the all-clear by the PG&E Emergency Operations Center,” PG&E spokesperson Mark Mesesan told New Times via email. “Then, we will use ground crews, helicopters, and other resources to inspect our equipment and safely expedite any necessary repairs before we begin to re-energize customers.”
Those customers impacted by the shutoff can visit community resources centers at the Grover Beach Community Center and the First Christian Church in Santa Maria to access portable charging devices, Wi-Fi, blankets, and food.
According to the National Weather Service, hazardous wind gusts are forecasted to continue through the evening of Jan. 19. PG&E has not provided an expected date and time for ending the shutoff, other than giving a date range of Jan. 18 through 20.
“Winds will continue to howl all up and down the Bay Area/Central Coast before gradually leveling off this evening,” a Jan. 19 tweet from the National Weather Service’s San Francisco Bay Area account read. “For now, be sure to report any downed power lines to local authorities.” ∆
—Peter Johnson
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating a man who it believes is a possible witness in the unsolved murder of Oceano resident Larry Bross.
Investigators are searching for “a male subject who was observed visiting Bross” two days before the 90-year-old’s body was found in his Oceano home on the 1400 block of Strand Way on Jan. 24, 2019.
“It is believed this person may be a friend or acquaintance of Bross,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Jan. 12 press release, put out nearly two years after his death.
A local activist and retired teacher, Bross died after being beaten and stabbed to death with a sharp object, according to authorities. A neighbor concerned about his whereabouts found him deceased in his home. After two years, no arrests have been made in the case.
According to our previous reporting, Bross was a vocal and longtime proponent of limiting recreational vehicle activity at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, which butted up against the backyard of his home.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla said in an email that the department is not releasing additional information about the case at this time “so as to not jeopardize the investigation.”
Anyone with knowledge of the person of interest can contact the Sheriff’s Detective Division at (805) 781-4500.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. ∆
FILE PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM
ACTIVE INVESTIGATION The SLO County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man who it says visited Oceano resident Larry Bross (pictured) two days before he was killed in 2019.
Investigators are searching for “a male subject who was observed visiting Bross” two days before the 90-year-old’s body was found in his Oceano home on the 1400 block of Strand Way on Jan. 24, 2019.
“It is believed this person may be a friend or acquaintance of Bross,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Jan. 12 press release, put out nearly two years after his death.
A local activist and retired teacher, Bross died after being beaten and stabbed to death with a sharp object, according to authorities. A neighbor concerned about his whereabouts found him deceased in his home. After two years, no arrests have been made in the case.
According to our previous reporting, Bross was a vocal and longtime proponent of limiting recreational vehicle activity at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, which butted up against the backyard of his home.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla said in an email that the department is not releasing additional information about the case at this time “so as to not jeopardize the investigation.”
Anyone with knowledge of the person of interest can contact the Sheriff’s Detective Division at (805) 781-4500.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. ∆
—Peter Johnson
