Board of Supervisors

Meeting Summary

Present: Lavagnino, Lee, Capps, Hartmann

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Staff will brief the Board on Phase 3 code updates and ministerial permits in the coming spring.
Amendments were adopted for zoning standards and accessory structures to address rural character concerns.
The staff recommendation was approved following modifications to design review processes.

First quarter tax receipts reached $1.7 million with all businesses maintaining current compliance.
Staff reported that 28 operators must implement odor abatement equipment by the March 2026 deadline.
The Board decided against immediately reopening applications for the Summerland area pending further outreach.

The five-year pilot program concluded with significant savings compared to previous general services costs.
Supervisors approved the extension of the Enterprise master lease agreement for a total of $6.9 million.
Staff will report on electric vehicle infrastructure and deployment progress within the next year.

The Board discussed three active litigation matters involving the County and Sheriff’s Office.
Authorization was granted to initiate legal proceedings in one of the pending cases.

Overview: The Board discussed Phase 3 of the permit streamlining effort, focusing on code updates, ministerial permits, and the Housing Element. Staff intends to brief the Board in Spring (March/April) and seek adoption by year-end.
Outreach: Staff confirmed no specific outreach was done to cities initially but agreed to contact planning directors from communities like Carpinteria following Supervisor Lee's request regarding ADU concerns in high fire danger zones.
Safety & Zoning: Supervisor Lee raised concerns regarding ADUs in high fire zones (Mission Canyon area) and preserving the unique character of rural communities like Montecito and Los Alamos. Staff clarified that fire safety reviews are part of the ADU process and that state law governs ADU permissions.
Public Comment: Mary Ellen Brooks (Citizens Planning Association) urged the Board to maintain public participation and transparency, warning against excessive streamlining that could limit community input.
Action: The Board approved the staff recommendation with specific amendments. Changes were made to zoning standards for C-1 and C-N zones. Specific modifications were adopted for Montecito regarding accessory structures and design review to address community character concerns.

Financials: First Quarter (FY 2025-26) tax receipts were $1.7 million, exceeding the previous year’s $1.3 million.
Operations: 47 cannabis businesses are currently operating. No delinquent payments were reported in Q1.
Regulations: Staff identified 28 operators impacted by new odor abatement requirements (MTCF equipment) with a deadline of March 18, 2026. Some operators have received extension requests.
Retail Locations: Two top-ranked applicants for the Toro Canyon-Summerland area withdrew. With three locations currently operating and two in process (Los Alamos and Eastern Goleta), the Board will not immediately reopen the application process for the Summerland area. Supervisor Lee requested time for community outreach before a decision is made.
Action: The Board received the update. Future quarterly reports may move to the administrative agenda unless major discussion items arise.

Results: The five-year pilot program with Enterprise Fleet Management concluded with an 8.24% lower cost per mile and an average savings of $7,265 per vehicle compared to General Services.
EV Transition: The Sheriff’s Office currently has one EV and identified 37 vehicles as potential candidates for electric conversion. Challenges include charging infrastructure, battery drain from law enforcement equipment (sirens/radios), and vehicle cycles.
Discussion: Supervisors expressed urgency regarding climate goals and EV adoption. The Fleet Manager committed to reporting progress on EV infrastructure and vehicle deployment within a year. The Board emphasized the need for competitive bidding processes (RFQ) for future contracts.
Action: The Board unanimously approved the extension of the Enterprise master lease agreement ($6.9 million total).

Litigation: The Board met in closed session regarding three existing litigation cases (Lazaro v. Santa Barbara County Sheriffs, Emerging Acquisitions LLC v. the County, and Whiting v. the County).
Action: Authorization was given to initiate litigation in one matter.
Voting: All motions for the public session passed unanimously or with near-unanimous support.