Board of Supervisors — 2026-01-13

Okay, good morning everybody. I will call to order the January 13th, 2026 meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

At this time, please join us in

pledging allegiance to the flag. Ready, begin.

Indivisible, with liberty and justice for

all. Okay, it's been my pleasure to call this meeting to order of the 2026 County Board of Supervisors. This marks the 176th convening of the Santa Barbara County's highest legislative body. And I will now accept nominations for the position of Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Supervisors for 2026, who also sit as Board of Directors of the Water Agency, the Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the Santa Barbara County Fire Protection District, the Laguna County Sanitation District, and other special districts as appropriate.

I will now entertain a motion. Is there a motion?

Chair Capps, I would like to make a motion to nominate Supervisor Bob Nelson as chair and Supervisor Joan Hartmann as vice chair.

Excellent.

I'll second that.

Okay, excellent. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. It's unanimous. Motion passes. Okay, now that that's settled, I have a few reflections as outgoing chair from 2025. It has been quite a year. And what an honor the past 12 months has been serving as chair of this incredible board at this incredible place of Santa Barbara County. To be entrusted in this role to help lead the decisions that all five of us make in this county to improve people's lives. Strengthen this wonderful community and build a better future for our children.

I want to begin with a few important thank yous. First, to my colleagues on this board, thank you for your partnership, for the diversity of perspectives, for your willingness to roll up your sleeves, I've seen it, for your readiness to make tough decisions. Even when we don't always see everything the same, we are bound together by a deep love for this county.

a shared responsibility for the people who call it home, and a respect for good governance on the local level. It is truly an honor, and actually a whole lot of fun, to serve alongside of you. And second, to our county staff, our County Executive Officer, Mona Miyasato, sets the tone, and our CEO's office meets the moment, your steady leadership and guidance, especially during moments of uncertainty, and we've had many.

To Jacquelyne Alexander and the Clerk of the Board's team, thank you for your precision, your upbeatness, your professionalism, and the countless efforts behind the scenes that ensure that our democracy functions for you, the people, meeting after meeting. And for our dedicated department heads, many of whom are here, and the people that work for you, all 4,700 of them, I think about every time when I meet with county staff or I see them out in the field, I think I try to remember to thank them because the fact that people serve and choose to work for the county is really a testament and a value statement of their values.

And third, most importantly, our county residents. Thank you for entrusting us with the responsibility to govern on your behalf. And especially those that come to our meetings. Your engagement, or write to us, or call us. Your engagement, your advocacy, your care for this place that we call home, your belief that government can and should be a force for good, continues to inspire me.

This past year has been marked by sweeping change, and at times, unsettling chaos at the national level. Many people are feeling anxious and uncertain and disconnected from the institutions that are meant to serve and protect them. In moments like these, local governments matter more than ever. I am proud that Santa Barbara County has been a steady presence amidst that turbulence.

The five of us serve one boss. That's you, the people of this county. We report to you. Whether or not you voted for us, voted at all, or not. While I take pride in what we've accomplished, our responsibility to always do better is what we push for. While the national headlines have been loud and unpredictable and distracting, our county has continued to deliver the essential services people depend on for their safety, their dignity, and their quality of life.

And while there's always more work to do and ways to do it better, We have shown again and again that government grounded in shared values and a commitment to excellence and public trust can still work. We have shown that no matter your background, your politics, how you identify, or the work you do, this board strives to lead based on values we share, inclusion, compassion, and opportunity for all.

That commitment feels especially important right now. Recent events in the country and here in our backyard, including severe federal cuts to safety net programs, immigrant enforcement actions have sown fear and instability. They're reminders that national decisions can have very real consequences here for families and communities. Again, in moments like this, local leadership matters.

Over the past year, when ICE has made communities less safe, this board has stood up for immigrant communities, affirming that Santa Barbara County is a place where families should feel valued and supported. We expanded mental health services for those impacted by family separation. We strengthened our legislative platform, and we demanded more transparency here and from the administration. We also strengthened public safety. Many of those folks dedicated to public safety are here. By strengthening and streamlining our 9-1-1 system, something I'm personally committed to, we've unlocked county-owned land for affordable housing, my number one goal, because for far too long, the government has literally been sitting on its own assets rather than leading by example.

And we know that the simple reality that people cannot afford to live where they work is the center of nearly every challenge we face as a community. We also took major steps towards a more resilient future, doubling solar capacity on county facilities, saving taxpayers $60 million. And making the historic decision to ban new onshore oil and gas development, expanding reliance on renewable energy.

And yes, speaking of oil, even on the most controversial topics, with marathon meetings and record-breaking public comment, in fact, 168 people spoke at a seven-hour hearing, This board and this community remained respectful and showed that civic engagement is not only possible, it can be productive and powerful. That is something that in 2025, we should all be proud of for Santa Barbara County.

Through it all, Santa Barbara County has offered consistency in the midst of the chaos, a steady hand focused on practical solutions that make people's lives better. It's been an honor to serve as chair during this time in our history. I do believe that Santa Barbara County is writing a different history. I'm honored to continue to serve on behalf of the residents of the Second District and the entire county in the year ahead. And I'm really proud to pass the gavel to Supervisor Nelson, someone I enjoy working with immensely. I look forward to continue to find common ground with you and to learn from you, the strong preparation you bring to everything you do, and to work with all of you to continue to move Santa Barbara forward. Let's do this in 2026.

Thank you. Okay, I think now I just

stand up

and hand you the gavel. I give you a hug. It's on its way. The bat phone's en route.

I didn't have these glasses when I started this job. Well, thank you. Good morning, everybody. Before I say anything else, I want to start off by recognizing my mom. My mother was a career county employee and is a county retiree. For a time, she was a single mom raising two boys. She believed deeply in public service, not as a slogan, but as a responsibility.

She taught us that showing up matters, that works matters, and that if you're going to serve the public, you do it with humility and toughness. A heart for service and a willingness to work hard, harder than expected, can take you a long way in county government. Mom, thank you for that example. I also want to recognize my wife, Jamie. and my kids, Avery and Zeke, and my son, Andrew, who wasn't able to be here today.

Jamie, you are my partner in every sense of the word. You carry the unseen weight of this job, the long nights, the weekends, and the constant pull between public service and private life. And you do it with grace, wisdom, and strength. To my kids, you are my why. You are my motivation. You're the reason I care so deeply about affordability, opportunity, safety, and the kind of county you will grow up in and live in.

Everything I do here is about trying to make this place better for you and the next generation. I also want to thank my staff, Aaron, Lee, Liz, and Hunter, along with my Planning Commissioner, Roy Reed, and everyone who serves the 4th District on behalf of our office. You take the calls, you absorb the frustration, and you work every day to solve real problems for the real people, and I appreciate your dedication and service to the people of the 4th District and the entire county.

To my colleagues on this board, thank you for entrusting me once again with the role of chair. This board operates within a system that is increasingly rare. In a time of constant noise and polarization, we still manage to put aside partisanship and focus on the responsibilities of governing. It says something about this institution that you would elect to leadership someone who is more often than not the lone no vote on a number of issues.

I don't take that lightly. I take it as a sign of trust, trust and fairness, process, and the belief that the disagreement does not disqualify someone from leadership. I also want to take the time to recognize our outgoing chair, Laura Capps. Laura and I come from very different ends of the political spectrum. That's no secret. But despite that, we constantly found ways to listen to one another, to learn from one another, and to work together in good faith.

During her year as Chair, Laura advanced priorities on housing, homelessness, helped navigate the complex and ongoing challenges in Isla Vista, and led to meaningful reforms on cannabis, odor, and control, an issue that has real and everyday impact on our community. I appreciate her leadership and her willingness to engage across differences. One of the themes I want to talk about today is the county slogan, One County, One Future.

I spent a lot of time thinking about what that really means. I represent a district that often feels neglected by this county. Unheard, underrepresented, overtaxed, frustrated. If you put a county split ballot initiative on tomorrow, my district would probably vote for it two to one, easily. Our politics don't conform. Our industries are dirty. Investment has lagged. Our desire for economic success is often met with resistance rather than support.

And yet, when it matters most, this county comes together. When disaster strikes from wildfires to flooding in Montecito, Guadalupe, or Orchid, we answer the call. When we face serious challenges, jail capacity, medical care, homelessness, mental health beds, pension liabilities, or deferred maintenance, we step up together. In those moments, we truly are one county facing one future.

Is it perfect? No. Does it still have a long way to go in addressing generational, economic, and geographic inequalities? Absolutely. But that unity is real and it matters. I am concerned, however, that this unity will be tested in the year ahead. I often say we do our worst work when we focus on things that we have the least control over. And right now, many people feel like they have very little control of the world around them.

Our country feels deeply divided. That doesn't mean that global conflicts don't matter. It doesn't mean that you can't stop feeling strongly about national or international events or political leadership. What it does mean is that we have plenty of important work to do right here, and we do it best when we do it together. The last time I served as chair, I made homelessness a central focus.

We held our first special meeting on homelessness that led to the county's first encampment resolution policy, helped move forward projects like Hope Village, and supported efforts that led to the Santa Maria River bed cleanup. I'm proud of our most recent point in time count showing homelessness declining in the fourth district and across much of the Santa Maria Valley. And we just recently learned, as Supervisor Lavagnino's stand down, that we saw the lowest homeless veteran numbers in years.

That progress matters, and the work continues. This year, my primary focus will be affordability. I know that's turned into a buzzword lately, but affordability ultimately comes down to two things. People need to make more money, and things need to cost less. That means jobs, opportunity, and permitting a regulatory process that actually works. While we've made improvements, our system still is too slow, too complicated, and too expensive. It stifles innovation and discourages economic advancement.

We need quicker yeses and quicker nos, and we need both of those to cost less. We also need to address a basic inequality. The public sector often moves through the process with fewer permits, plan checks, or inspections, while the private sector bears the full burden. The process is good enough for us, it should be good enough for everyone. This year, I plan to bring forward an ordinance to address that imbalance, along with a series of streamlining reforms informed by the people who actually use the system, not those who just regulate it.

I also want to launch a pilot project in the 4th District focusing on affordable for-sale housing. The housing element process may increase supply and soften rents, but it risks creating a generation of permanent renters with no realistic path to homeownership or the American dream. Homes may need to be smaller, There may need to be fewer frills, and we may need to rethink outdated code provisions that make affordability impossible. I'm committed to solving that problem in my district, and I hope it can serve as a model for the rest of the county.

This year will be challenging, but it should also be energizing. I'm excited to formally announce today that we, alongside Supervisor Lee and his staff, we are launching Operation Gold Medal, an effort to plan for the impacts and opportunities associated with the 2028 LA Olympics. This is about economic opportunity, regional coordination, and ensuring Santa Barbara County is ready to benefit from a once-in-a-generation event.

Finally, last year we celebrated our county's 175th anniversary. In all that time, Santa Barbara County has never formally established a sister city or sister county relationship. That changes this year. Alongside with our CEO, we will work to establish our first sister community relationship with the Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan, a world-class wine-growing region that offers meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange and economic opportunities.

I am optimistic about the year ahead. We don't agree on everything we shouldn't, but if we stay focused on what we can control and if we can keep showing up for one another, I believe we can do meaningful work together. One county, one future. Thank you. Now let's get to work. The next item of business is the approval of the minutes from the December 16th, 2025 regular meeting. Can I get a motion?

I move approval.

Second. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion passes unanimously. Additionally, we need to make a motion for approval of the minutes from the January 5th special meeting, January 5th, 2026. Can I also get a motion for that?

So moved.

A second? I'll second that. All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Sorry,

I can't.

I'm confused. That's one moment. All right. Okay, so can I get a motion to approve the minutes of January 5th, 2026 meeting? Or sorry, January 5th, yes. So motion by Lavagnino and a second by Nelson. All those in favor by saying aye. Aye. Recusals? Abstain. Abstentions? Abstention by Hartmann. Next up is the CEO report.

Good morning Chair and Board Members. I just have two quick announcements this morning. One is just to announce that we received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for its 2526 recommended budget book, our recommended budget book. This is the highest recognition in governmental budgeting and reflects the county's commitment to transparency and Sound financial planning and clear communication. The county has earned this award for more than 20 consecutive years. And even though we've received it every year, it's a rigorous process every year. Our staff has also been part of the reviewing committee in the past. The recognition highlights the collaborative efforts of the departments, countywide, your board, as well, to produce a budget that serves as a clear policy, financial, and operational guide for the public and decision makers.

So congratulations to the budget staff again. The second item is that the community is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King with events coming up this weekend. So in Mid and South County, celebrations are taking place from Thursday through Monday, including a morning program on Monday at De La Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara. The County of Santa Barbara supported these events through a $55,000 racial equity grant to the Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, Santa Barbara, to help expand programming, support interns, and strengthen community engagement. In North County, the community is invited to a free MLK Day celebration this Sunday at Allan Hancock College. The event will feature a resource fair, cultural performances, flu vaccinations by our county health department, and keynote speaker, Reverend Dr.

Nelson B. Rivers III. The county supported this event also with the racial equity grant to the Santa Maria Lompoc NAACP, helping fund the MLK celebration and other racial equity programs serving North County. So we invite all community members to attend those events. And that concludes my report.

Thank you. Madam Clerk, are there any announcements or changes to today's agenda?

Chair Nelson and members of the board, I do have a few announcements this morning. We received a request from the department to withdraw administrative item number 16 from today's agenda. Administrative item number 16 is from the County Health Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding second site solutions, beacon rebate, model platform, and beacon maximum fair price, MFP, platform privacy policy terms.

Additionally, an addendum was posted on Friday, January 9th, 2026 amending administrative item number 25 and adding administrative item number 33 to today's agenda. Administrative item number 25 is amended to reflect the item is sponsored by the Public Works Department as well as the Board of Directors Flood Control and Water Conservation District and includes additional recommended actions A through D under the Board of Directors Flood Control and Water Conservation District.

It is to consider recommendations regarding the Public Works Director's Report on Emergency Response Actions from Impacts on Flooding and Storms and Continuation of Emergency Actions, and there is a forfeits vote required on this item. Additionally, Administrative Item Number 33 is being added to today's agenda and is sponsored by the Fire Department. It is to consider recommendations regarding a proclamation of local emergency caused by the 2025 through 2026 holiday storms, and there is a forfeits vote required on this item.

The amendment and addition included in the addendum have been posted and made available online to both the board and the public. Lastly, for information on the Board of Supervisors methods of public participation and instructions on how to provide public comment on items listed on today's agenda or during general public comment, please refer to page 2 of the agenda.

Individuals that would like to provide verbal public comment may do so via Zoom by registering in advance via the link available on page 2. If you have any questions, please contact the Clerk of the Board's Office at 805-568-2240. Again, that's 805-568-2240. 568-2240 and that concludes my announcements for today.

Right. Right, next item of business is the administrative agenda. Would any board members like to pull items on the administrative agenda? I see that A19 is being pulled by Supervisor Capps. Are there any other items? And by Supervisor Hartmann. Madam Clerk, are there any items being pulled by the public?

Chair Nelson and members of the board, I have quite a few items pulled from the public. I have A2. 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 21, 26, and 33. And for those members of the public who have pulled multiple items, which we do have one, you'll be getting five minutes to speak on all items.

All right, can I get a motion to approve the balance of the agenda With the exception of the items that were mentioned by the clerk of the board and would also include the addition of the two addendums. Can I get that motion?

Motion to approve.

Motion for Lavagnino.

Second.

Second from Capps. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion passes. All right, we're going to go ahead and roll into the resolutions here. Madam Clerk, would you please read Administrative Item Number 1 into the record?

Chair Nelson and members of the board, Administrative Item Number 1 is sponsored by Supervisor Lee. It is to adopt a resolution honoring cycling without age for exceptional public service in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have John Segal Batner. And anyone else you'd like to join with you? Whereas Cycling Without Age Santa Barbara provides incomparable vitality, joy, and connection for older adults through the magic of bicycle rides, free rides that foster belonging and kindness between community members old and young, regardless of ability to pedal themselves. And whereas Cycling Without Age Santa Barbara relies on an inspiring network of over 60 volunteer pilots who ferry happy passengers in their people-powered trishaws, often providing these pilots with purpose and a true sense of citizenship.

And whereas Cycling Without Age Santa Barbara fosters connection and gathers unique and otherwise silent stories, unlocked by the wind and the wheels. And whereas Cycling Without Age Santa Barbara gets older, adult and differently abled Santa Barbarans out in the neighborhoods again, reminding folks to look up from their phones, roll down their windows, step onto their porches and sidewalks again to say hello. And whereas through simple bike rides, Cycling Without Age Santa Barbara has become a lasting symbol of what a wonderful neighborhood Santa Barbara can be when we ride slowly, lift up our hands, and wave. Now therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby acknowledge Cycling Without Age Santa Barbara for its exceptional service to Santa Barbara County, its profound impact on older adults, and the joy it spreads to riders, volunteers, and the broader community, past and adopted today.

So should I speak into this right here, Roy? Yes. You might want to raise that paddle up a little bit. There's a little button on your right. A little button on my right. Yep. Oh, it goes up. Yeah.

We paid extra for that.

First of all, I'd like to introduce you to some of the pilots, the people that pedal the tri-shaws. And if Bob got to mention his mom, I got to mention my dad. Below us used to be a place called Brooms Cafe before this building was even imagined. And a man named Chick with gray hair would stand behind the counter and there was pictures of Eddie Matthews and Clarence Schulte and some famous Santa Barbara athletes on the wall.

They made the best chili burger with cheese there. And as I walked in the building today, I couldn't help but remember that. When we ride with older people in Carpinteria, in Goleta, in Santa Barbara, we get to hear those stories, those giant shoulders that we stand upon. And I think we need to do that more. I mean, there's some old people in this room, but there's not enough old people in this room. Because we're the biggest population and all of us are getting older.

So I hope that Signing Without Age is a message to all of us. How do we get our old people back in our daily lives? Not off in some neighborhood center or residential community, but on the sidewalks. Because they know how to wave. They remember when we used to wave at each other. And we don't do that anymore. Who waved to anybody today? Anybody in the room? Okay, so let's wave to each other today.

Okay. And as we leave, the best form of gratitude to us is if you know someone, an older person, who could get outside today, do that. If they'd like to go for a ride, we'll give them a ride in Santa Maria, in Carpinteria, in Goleta, east side, west side. That's what we love to do because we get to hear those stories. And hopefully the people who are in charge If you could ride with us once a month for an hour with an older person from your neighborhood to inform the decisions going forward that we have to make so that we're not just building a Santa Barbara for the ones to come, but hopefully we're still going to be around and we're getting older every day. So thank you very much, everybody.

Thank you, John. Supervisor Hartmann.

Supervisor Lee, Supervisor Capps and I had a chance in the Goleta Christmas Parade to wave and to ride in a rickshaw and it was it was really a lot of fun and I think we'd all take you up on the opportunity to ride once a month and get out of the building so thank you.

Supervisor Lee.

John, before you guys leave, I just want you to count me in. I'll be there once a month at least. And thank you for enriching the lives of our seniors. Taking them out, see the coastline, see their pre-filled communities, it means a lot to them. And so, thank you.

All right.

All right, next item of business is A2. Madam Clerk, will you please read that into the record?

Chair Nelson and members of the board, administrative item number two is sponsored by Supervisor Lee. It is to adopt a resolution honoring the 80th anniversary of Lewis Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara County and joining us in person today we have Julia Sims-Taylor. And I will go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas founded on December 3, 1945, Lewis Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church began when a small group of Christians, many having relocated from East Texas, gathered at the home of King David and Beatrice Sims to organize a new church community grounded in faith, service, and love. And whereas under the leadership of Reverend N.C. Hatchaway, the congregation launched a building program in 1955, completing the church at 202 East Gutierrez Street in 1957 through the faithful perseverance, generosity, and labor of its members and the wider Santa Barbara community.

And when construction funds were exhausted, the general contractors of the City of Santa Barbara moved by the members' faith and determination, stepped forward to complete the church in July 1957. A testament to the unity and goodwill that has long defined the Santa Barbara spirit. And whereas Lewis Chapel has served as a cornerstone of faith and fellowship in Santa Barbara, offering baptisms, weddings, funerals, and other services to all, regardless of race, religion, or background, holding its long-standing open-door policy and reputation as a true community church.

And whereas throughout its 80 years, the congregation has demonstrated a deep and continuing commitment to service by supporting local organizations and initiatives past and present, including the Santa Barbara Community Academy, the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, Casa Esperanza, the Family Service Agency, the Santa Barbara Food Bank, the NAACP, the Endowment for Youth, the George Washington Carver Scholarship Foundation, Sunday to Sunday Fellowship, and the Methodist Worship Service Exchange, among many others that have strengthened unity and social well-being.

And whereas under the leadership of its current pastor, Reverend Malcolm Patton, Jr., Lewis Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church celebrates 80 years of faithful fellowship and community service, continuing to be a light of the corner of Gutierrez and Santa Barbara streets. Now, therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby congratulate Lewis Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on its 80th anniversary and commends its members for eight decades of spiritual leadership and dedicated service to the residents of Santa Barbara County, passed and adopted today.

Good morning, everyone. And I'm a proud person to be able to represent Lewis Chapel CME Church. The church has been there for 80 years, and I'm the last person living when this church started out. I am it. I'm not a speaker, so my remarks will be real short. I want to thank all of you for allowing me to be here today. Thank you.

Thank you. Supervisor Lee.

I just want to say I was honored to attend this service, and I just want to let you know that you have a voice of an angel. The way you sang really touched my heart, so thank you. Thank you for doing that.

Thank you.

All right, we'll go to administrative item number three at this point. Madam Clerk, can you please read that into the record?

Chair Nelson and members of the board, administrative item number three is sponsored by Supervisor Capps. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have Jeff Schaefer. And if Jeff... And anyone else you'd like to join with you at the podium? And I'll go ahead and read the resolution.

Whereas human trafficking is a form of modern slavery that occurs in every state, including California, wherein victims are forced to work in various forms of labor exploitation, including but not limited to commercial sex acts and other services that are induced through force, fraud, or coercion. And whereas it is estimated that more than 28 million people around the world are victims of human trafficking. And whereas increased education about how to identify human trafficking along with increased knowledge of in-state resources and services for those affected by criminal exploitation can help decrease the number of future victims. And whereas the Santa Barbara County Human Trafficking Task Force has worked diligently to bring awareness to the fact that human trafficking occurs closer to home than one might think, that California ranks number one in the country for reported human trafficking cases, and that Santa Barbara County is home to hundreds of survivors of trafficking and exploitation.

And whereas Human Trafficking Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize the critical role all Santa Barbara County residents play in preventing, reporting, and adjudicating these heinous crimes. Now, therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby proclaim January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Santa Barbara County passed and adopted today.

Chair Nelson, members of the County Board of Supervisors, members of the public, thank you so much for recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month. And I want to give special appreciation to Megan Reinschild, victim witness, DA's office, John Savarnak, and the people behind me for all the work that they have done to address human trafficking in all its forms.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, members of the public. So, we are working diligently in every one of your districts in some one way or another, whether it be education, school education, whether it be addressing the risk of homelessness connected to women being trafficked in Lompoc, to specifically now in Santa Barbara City, where we're launching a three-year action plan to address CSECI, or Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth. to get on the front end to prevent and intervene earlier before young people and our kids, our youth, need the services of being after they've been exploited.

So I want to thank you for your efforts. I also want to let you know Whether you like it or not, you're gonna get an email once a month from some of our students with an update on our work because what we're trying to do is garner the entire county to support the efforts of the task force and to support all the other work that we're doing as well. So really appreciate you and I appreciate you addressing this issue together. Thank you.

Good morning, Chair Nelson, Supervisor Capps. Thank you for your support and to the entire Board of Supervisors. I have the honor of serving as the Victim Witness Program Director and the Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, and my name is Megan Rheinschild. I think as you can see with those behind us, it really does take a village. And I so appreciate Jeff Schaefer and his efforts to put this item on the agenda and speak to the public about the issue in front of us. So I just would like to make a few comments about what we're doing as a task force.

The Santa Barbara County Human Trafficking Task Force was established in 2013. We're a multidisciplinary coalition of law enforcement agencies, community service providers, community advocates, and our own District Attorney's Victim Witness Assistance Program, many of whom are here today, and I so appreciate their work in the trenches with individuals who have faced victimization.

I also just want to give a shout out to the shirts of the cycling group to believe in the good in the world because I believe that our Victim Witness Program advocates and staff and team represent the good in our world and I appreciate them endlessly. I appreciate also the Board of Supervisors' support, the Sheriff's Department and their partnership, and we could not do this without working alongside one another, both in terms of law enforcement, but the social service providers, faith community that walk alongside us and are so passionate about this.

I just want to say that people often think of human trafficking as something that happens out there or over there or in another country. It's happening in our own community, and the truth is that it's our neighbors, it's our friends, students, at-risk youth in our own backyards that are frequently at risk for exploitation and trafficking. The risk factors have grown exponentially. I think as our world and communities become more unstable in terms of economic equities, poverty, addictions, substance abuse, so too do our youth and the population in terms of seeking love, acceptance, belonging.

Also, the increased online exposure to predatory behaviors, cybercrime tactics, and the lack of social supports contributes. The task force and its collaboration with law enforcement, and specifically the Sheriff's Department engagement, has been operational since 2013. And from 2017 to 24, 283 human trafficking investigations were conducted, which might surprise many people within our county.

90% of those involve sex trafficking and of those 283 investigations, 94 human traffickers were identified and we were able to arrest, law enforcement was able to arrest 59 of those individuals. Of these cases, 53 were able to be criminally charged and 37 have pled guilty. Many of these cases are still going through the criminal justice system. We're always just looking for the why in this work, and much of that is trying to meet people where they are and present an off-ramp of services and support.

So I want to thank you for all of your support and your efforts. And I want to thank the Sheriff's Department. They also, you know, just in this last, in 2025, in addition to the stats I just mentioned, there were 13 proactive investigations that were conducted and 12 potential victims identified. In closing, I'd like to quote Pauline Kesser, when you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless, but when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better. Thank you.

Yes, two things. First of all, I'm really grateful for the work you're doing in Lompoc and working with Brian Halterman and now one day a week at the Hub will be specifically to serve women and I think that's going to make a huge difference. I think last time, last year you presented and I asked that this come back to the board as a D item so that we could learn more about the nonprofits, the research, This issue is much subtler and much more devious than I understood. And I think it would be worth not just celebrating the tremendous and difficult work that you're doing, but to elucidate this problem more for our community. So I put the plea again, I'd like you to come back for a D item and really give us a little more depth So that we have a general understanding of what you're dealing with every day.

Thank you. Thank you. We'd be happy to do that.

Thank you Supervisor Hartmann. Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, Madam Clerk, the next item up is item number four. Madam Clerk, will you please read item number four into the record.

Chair Nelson and members of the board, administrative item number four is sponsored by Supervisor Hartmann. It is to adopt a resolution of accommodation honoring Dr. Mary Ann Evans for her vital mental health support to children, youth, adults, and families, while also training and mentoring emerging clinicians. And joining us in person today, we have Dr. Mary Ann Evans. And if you can please make your way to the podium.

And anyone else you would like to join with you, please make your way as well. Whereas Dr. Mary Ann Evans has worked for over 35 years as a clinical psychologist with an expertise in neuropsychology to assess a variety of brain conditions offering the unique modality of equine-assisted psychotherapy. And whereas Dr. Evans co-founded Hart's Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Santa Barbara in 1985, Seeing the wonderful benefits of equine therapy to individuals with physical and mental challenges. Upon moving to the San Ynez Valley in 1990, she then founded the SYV Therapeutic Writing Program at her ranch, where she offered her services at no cost for 10 years. And whereas the Therapeutic Writing Program expanded and relocated to the San Ynez Valley Equestrian Center in 2000, where it has provided equine-assisted activities and transformed the lives of special needs children and adults.

including veterans with physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and other life challenges. Regardless of their ability to pay, and Dr. Evans has remained an active board member emeritus, and whereas Dr. Evans is also a founding member of Santa Ana's Valley People Helping People, PHP, and has remained an active board member and volunteer since its founding in 1992, Continuing through her vision and leadership to help PHP grow from a grassroots safety net organization into an integrated and comprehensive model of care that addresses emergency needs, supports families, improves health outcomes, and breaks cycles of poverty through dignity and empowerment. And whereas as the architect of PHP's Focused on increasing access to and navigating of health care, she recognized early that health and social well-being are deeply interconnected, and she founded PHP's Mental Health and Wellness Program, where she has provided vital mental health support to children, youth, adults, and families, while also training and mentoring emerging clinicians.

Now, therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby honor Dr. Mary Ann Evans, past and adopted, today.

I've been looking forward to this day for a long time because Marianne is really an unsung hero of the Santa Ynez Valley and really the larger county. I'm a horse person and very interested in In the relationship between humans and horses, this is something that's gotten a lot of attention recently, but Mary Ann was somebody who understood this, one of the early people to see this.

It really came home to me. We have a family friend with a severely disabled little girl, And the therapeutic riding got her on a horse. It was the first time she ever smiled, and it was the front page of the paper. I mean, it was just extraordinary. We have other friends who had a child with autism and brought them over to ride on our horse. And eventually the caseworker came to our house to see because it just transformed this child.

It made a leap. So now equine therapy is used with veterans, it's used with a whole range of mental illnesses, and it really does have an impact. But Marianne brought that to the Santa Ynez Valley. As if that weren't enough, and Hart's as well, so all the Santa Barbara, but then she got involved and helped to found People Helping People. That is the organization at the heart of delivering services and connecting people to county and other services that are available. And we simply This is something that I didn't realize as a supervisor until I was in this job for a while. But the county really relies on nonprofit organizations to reach out to people and do a lot of the work. And we oversee and channel some money, but we couldn't do this without a network of nonprofits and people helping people is at the center of that.