Yanez said department workers have been working on facility needs, and “Our staff members are excited to be a part of the process…the foremen were the panel that interviewed the architectural firms and the company they selected was Leach Mounce Architects.
Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi said that once a plan and facility is finalized the city could look into grants to help offset costs.
In another matter the council approved a recommendation by the Traffic Safety Committee to provide parking signs in front of the historic Depot — which holds Chamber of Commerce offices as well as the Santa Paula Society of the Arts gift shop and gallery — to limit parking to two hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Yanez said the Depot — located at the corner of 10th and Santa Barbara streets — is in the General Business District where such signage is common. He also noted there is a free public parking lot off Railroad Avenue just north of the Depot.
With council approval, “We’ll install signs probably on existing poles,” on the north side of Santa Barbara Street and make sure they match the signage in the historic Downtown.
The cost for four such signs — which will be displayed from 10th to Mill streets — is $250.
“The signs had been requested by the chamber and the art association,” said Gherardi. “They’ve been having a problem with people parking there all day…it’s well needed and should not be a problem.”
