Council to consider amended EA1 setbacks, SPPD body cameras, cars
September 18, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Amended setbacks and landscape guidelines for East Area 1 residential development, a policy for police body cameras and the purchase of three Tahoe SUVs for SPPD are on the agenda for the City Council Monday meeting.
The September 21 meeting will start with a closed session at 6 p.m. in the Administration Conference Room to address existing litigation.
At 6:30 p.m. the meeting will be continued in City Hall Council Chambers and broadcast live by Time Warner Cable Channel 10 with reruns according to schedule. The session will also be live-streamed on the city website and archived for viewing on demand.
There is one presentation by Al Guilin and Audrey Vincent on Project Hope.
The abbreviated agenda has only three items listed for discussion: an amendment to the Limoneira East Area 1 Specific Plan to amend the setbacks for residential property and emphasis drought tolerant landscaping, a policy for police body cameras — the equipment was purchased by the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation — and the purchase of three SUVs for the SPPD.
The Planning Commission approved the setback reduction but with the caveat that language in the Specific Plan amendment be changed so that setbacks can only be reduced on a third of the residential properties.
Without the setback reduction a Limoneira representative told the Planning Commission, the project might not “pencil out…”
The SPPD has had the body cameras since February 2015 and the council will consider a policy for camera use and storage.
The council will also consider purchasing three Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs for the SPPD to replace existing vehicles with high mileage and mechanical problems used by K9 Officers and the Watch Commander.
Funds for the purchase — $107,000 but equipping the vehicles will bring the total cost to $165,000 — are split between the SPPD budget and the Limoneira grant.
City Hall is located at 970 E. Ventura St
