County seeking public input on evacuation planning

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara County is seeking public involvement in a survey to help enhance emergency response plans and preparedness in local areas. The purpose of the survey is to understand constraints and behavior during emergencies such as wildfires, floods, chemical spills and other emergency situations. The survey will take less than five minutes to complete, and public participation will greatly contribute to local emergency preparedness. An English and Spanish version of the survey can be found at https://sbcsurvey.kld. engineering.

The survey will directly inform the county’s Evacuation Modeling and Planning Project, which will assist the county in complying with new state laws requiring jurisdictions to map and evaluate evacuation routes and locations. The county is coordinating with the county fire department, county Office of Emergency Management, a consultant and numerous other agencies to develop an evacuation modeling and planning process.

The survey and project are a part of the updates to the county’s safety element, which contains policies to protect the community from natural hazards. It addresses geologic, seismic, fire and flood hazards. A copy of the safety element can be found at https://www. countyofsb.org/762/Safety- email: kzehnder@newspress. com

Element-Update.

The Final Evacuation Route Plan will be completed in 2024 and will include a map and tool for community members to learn more about evacuation issues where they live and work.

The safety element is also undergoing other updates related to its wildfire policies and climate adaptation planning.

To learn more about these other updates, go to https:// www.countyofsb.org/762/SafetyElement-Update. To receive information on upcoming activities and updates on the project, register for the P&D Safety Element Update mailing list at https://signup.e2ma.net/ signup/1883430/1753150/.

“Mr. Dolores’ case was continued to 5/23/23 for a preliminary hearing setting,” Deputy District Attorney Bryant Estep said. “He waived time through the month of June.”

Mr. Dolores-Morelos pleaded not guilty to the charges on April 5.

He was identified by Santa Maria Police Detective Cole Whitney as a suspect in the armed carjacking following his March 29 arrest by Santa Maria police in connection with the beating of two people and robbery of their personal property earlier that morning. A third person was robbed, too.

The complaint against the defendant alleges that he used a BB gun in the commission of the Jan. 30 carjacking “for the benefit of, or at the direction of, or in association with a criminal street gang, to witt: West Park, with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in criminal conduct by gang members.” He also is charged with evading an officer and willful disregard by operating a vehicle with the intent to evade, flee or otherwise elude a pursuing a police officer following the Jan. 30 carjacking.

Mr. Dolores-Morelos was named a suspect in the Jan. 30 carjacking

The future of vehicle charging stations on the Central Coast

SANTA BARBARA - The Central Coast Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy is hosting an online community forum, starting at 6:30 P.M. today. The forum will be focusing on new locations for vehicle charging stations as well as tackling challenges with zero emission infrastructure in six central coast counties between Ventura, Santa Cruz and San Benito.

during the investigation following the March 29 robbery.

At approximately 12:41 a.m. March 29, Santa Maria police patrol officers were dispatched to the 900 block of East Jones Street regarding a robbery that had just occurred. Officers responded and located three adult victims of robbery, Sgt. Daniel Rios said.

“Two victims reported being physically assaulted before personal property was forcibly taken from them by the suspects (small group of juveniles and/ or young adults),” Sgt. Rios said.

“During the commission of the crime, one of the suspects brandished a firearm.”

Regional transportation planning officials are creating a space for feedback on zero emission vehicle strategy through the Central Coast from April 13 to June 9. The forum will be presented in English with simultaneous English and Spanish interpretation. The public can join the public online zoom webinar at https://bit.ly/centralcoastzevs or visit www.centralcoastzevstrategy.com for more information.

The suspects left the area in a vehicle that collided with a parked vehicle while fleeing the scene, Sgt. Rios said.

Patrol officers’ investigation led to a suspect vehicle being identified. At approximately 1:14 a.m., officers located and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

Mr. Dolores-Morelos, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, was ultimately arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and robbery. Vehicle damage to the suspect vehicle was also tied to the parked vehicle that was hit while fleeing the scene. The complaint against him does not include any charges pertaining to the beating and robbery because that police investigation is ongoing. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Montecito Natural Foods has served community members for 60 years.