Board of Supervisors — 2026-05-05

Okay, good morning everybody. I will call to order the May 5th, 2026 regular meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, please call the roll this morning.

today. Okay, at this time please

join us in pledging allegiance to the flag. Okay, let's get rolling here and approve the minutes from our last meeting. Actually, there's quite a few meetings to approve, as many of you were here with us. We have to approve the minutes from the meeting of the April 13th, 15th, and 17th budget workshops, as well as the April 21st regular meeting, the April 21st special meeting, the April 23rd special meeting, and the April 27th special meeting. Lots of meetings. May I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Motion carries.

Okay, Madam CEO, please,

if you have a report. Good morning, Supervisors. A couple of announcements. One is a recognition of one of our departments, General Services. Facilities division has been recognized by the California Counties Facilities Service Association with an award of excellence in maintaining in facilities management in 2025. This is for demonstrating strong performance in customer communication, data-driven operations, and internal project execution. So congratulations to the facilities team for this recognition and their tireless efforts at maintaining our over 400 county facilities.

And next this morning, I'm pleased to share another video from the county's video series, Your County, Your Services. The videos air on Channel 20 throughout the week and are featured in our monthly county newsletter on CSB TV's YouTube page and across county's social media channels in both English and Spanish. This latest video focuses on how the County of Santa Barbara is advancing technology to better serve our community. So let's take a look.

Welcome to Santa Barbara County. Let's explore what the county does for you. Your county, your services. For this county services video, we are walking through advancements in county technology, highlighting three recent enhancements.

In July of 2023, the board approved Central IT becoming its own department. And so Information Technology Department, or ITD, is now our name. And one of the reasons why we created its own department is to really say to the rest of the county, technology is critically important. So we need to make sure that we are meeting the citizens where they expect us to, right? And so technology can help us do a better job of serving our community.

We picked three different areas that are pretty significant in terms of the effort we're putting in and the impact to our community. So the first is the modernizing the public safety radio network.

The public safety radio network is crucial to the County of Santa Barbara. It's what allows the dispatchers, both sheriff dispatch and fire dispatch, to communicate with the fire and sheriff deputies that are in the field. It allows them to relay crucial information they need before they arrive on scene and also provide crucial information for them while they're on scene.

It was time for the county to upgrade to modern technology. We're moving away from old telephone-based technology to IP Ethernet technology.

By putting up new towers, putting up new equipment, it's going to allow us to be able to respond quicker, to have a much more effective system, and so that will benefit the entire community.

Overall, it'll help save lives.

Acela is the software that we use that allows us to do permitting and planning in certain areas that we serve our constituents.

With Acela and the rollout of Citizens Access and our online portal to submit applications, now everything is digital from our application forms to plans, submittals, but also we have an online portal where applicants can create an account and upload all of their materials online. and go through a permit process completely digitally.

In the last couple years, we've gone from a 95 to 99 percent paper submittals now to online, almost 100 percent. So no more bringing in copies of plans, no more waiting in line, no more making appointments. So it's very convenient for both the applicant and for our staff. And we've saved over a thousand hours of staff time since then.

On-demand permits are great because it allows an applicant to submit an application through our system for simple, small projects where they can submit and they will get an automatically issued permit and you can get it right away.

GIS has become really prevalent in a lot of different areas. GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. Basically what it is, it's taking maps and digitizing maps.

GIS is essentially the science of where. It allows us to connect our data to a place and time and space and make better decisions for our constituents. GIS can be used to build maps, applications, and databases that allow us to see and analyze things like roads, parcels, zoning areas, hazards, utilities, wildfire risk, flood zones, and more.

Maps are so common in so many different departments now in regards to tracking data and being able to locate things. And so we've come a long way in terms of using that software to really create an overall and better solution when it comes to GIS and mapping and everything that goes with it.

It's all information that impacts our constituents. in really significant ways, whether it's a life-saving scenario, things like wildfire risk, flood zones, and life or death situations. It's all really important and really vital.

We picked these three initiatives just because they have such a wide-ranging impact, but we probably have somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 to 60 initiatives that we're working on currently right now across all the departments, and so we're making significant progress. My vision within the next two to three years is to be really a leader when it comes to technology, how we're using it within the county environment.

So, a big thank you to our Chief Information Officer, Chris Sherguin, and his whole ITD staff for their continued work advancing technology. And, of course, thank you once again to Kelsey Batita for putting these excellent videos together. Thank you, Kelsey. And that concludes my report here.

I just want to add my thanks. These videos are so helpful to really explain what government's doing, and I just really appreciate the work, and I know that it takes staff time, but also I always learn from them, so thank you very much. Okay, Madam Clerk, are there any announcements or changes to our agenda today?

Chair Capps and members of the board, just one quick announcement this morning regarding public participation. 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 who wish to provide verbal public comment may do so via Zoom by registering in advance using the link provided on page 2. Please note that Zoom is available solely for the purpose of providing verbal public comment and is not intended for viewing the meeting. Alternative viewing options are listed on page 2 of the agenda. If you have any questions, please contact the Clerk of the Board's Office at area code 805-568-2240.

Again, that number is 805-568-2240. That concludes my announcements for today.

Oops, thank you. Next item in business is our administrative agenda. First to my fellow board members up here. Would any board members like to pull any items from the admin agenda?

A-12 for me.

Okay, A-12. I think that's it. And Madam Clerk, I see we have a couple from the public. Would you mind listing them?

Yes, Chair Capps and members of the board, we have requests to speak from the public on administrative item number 2 and 19, and I would also like to note administrative items number 17, 27, and 28 require four-fifths votes, so I will request those to be continued to the May 12th meeting.

Okay great, so now I will entertain a motion to approve the balance of the administrative agenda except for A2, A12, 17, A19, A27, and A28 for the reasons stated.

So moved. Second.

Okay. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Next up is our resolutions to be presented. So that would be resolution number one. Madam Clerk, please read it into the record.

Chair Capps and members of the board, administrative item number one is sponsored by Supervisor Capps. It is to adopt a resolution of accommodation honoring Sabina Baraja upon her retirement from the Clerk Recorder Assessor Department after over 11 years of faithful and distinguished service to the citizens of Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have Sabina Baraja and Michael Daly.

Whereas Sabina Baraha has served the County of Santa Barbara Clerk Recorder Assessor Department for over 11 years, retiring from the position of Senior Software Engineer. And whereas prior to joining the county, Sabina gained valuable experience working at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and throughout her career has maintained a strong passion for software development and problem solving. And whereas shortly after joining the county, Sabina was tasked with revamping the business property statement e-filing web application, taking responsibility for correcting problems, and thoroughly retesting the system to ensure its successful release in early 2016. And whereas Sabina was a key contributor to the development and continued advancement of the new assessor property system, which became her primary responsibility in one of the most significant and complex projects undertaken by the department's technology team.

And whereas the development and evolution of the new APS system proved to be one of the most challenging and rewarding projects of her career, requiring close collaboration with colleagues from diverse professional backgrounds, and the ability to navigate the complexities of secured property tax systems. And whereas through her dedication and collaborative spirit, Sabina helped develop tools that support staff in managing the highly complex processes associated with property assessment, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Assessor's Office. And whereas Sabina's commitment to excellence, problem-solving, and collaboration has left a meaningful impact on the department and the colleagues who had the privilege of working alongside her.

And now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby acknowledge Sabina Baraja for her years of dedicated service to the citizens of Santa Barbara County and congratulates her upon her retirement passed and adopted today.

Good morning, Chair and members of the Board, Michael Daly, Chief Deputy Assessor with the Assessor's Office, and on behalf of Joe Holland and our entire department, I just want to congratulate Sabina. Sabina was, I have to say, past tense now, was a huge asset to our department, instrumental in, as you heard in the commendation, the technological developments we've done over the last decade, and one other little I want to point out that I always remember election nights, Sabina was instrumental in doing the election reporting. So all the reports, the results that people rely upon at 802, a lot of that was Sabina's hard work. She made sure that that got through accurately. So she works well under pressure.

And we all have really fond memories of Sabina, and we're going to miss her. And congratulate her on this commendation and in her retirement. So I'll let Sabina take the floor.

All right. Thank you to everyone. Thanks to all the colleagues, all my former colleagues who showed up today. I really appreciate that. I was fortunate that, you know, as an introvert, I could just, you know, sit at my desk and, you know, program and not have to face the taxpayers that would come into the assessor's office. And so I would, I'd really like to, you know, commend them for being able to do that.

I had no idea how complicated property tax is until I started working in the assessor's office. It's really amazing that they can explain it in such a patient way because nobody really wants to hear why they have to pay more property tax. I'm really grateful to them for that, and to the programmers that I worked with on my team. When I announced that I was retiring, they all stepped up. For months, we were going over all my projects and tasks.

They were tireless, and so by the time I left, I felt like I had nothing left, you know? I'd explained everything that I could possibly explain. And yeah, I'm just really grateful. I learned a lot working for the county, and I appreciate that opportunity very much. Thank you very much.

Thank you, and I just wanted to... Sabina, I just wanted to add my thanks to you. It's just nice to be able to look somebody in the eyes like you who has such detail-oriented attributes to our county. So many people like you who have made sure that our taxes get assessed, but also the work that you did to make sure that elections after elections have gone well. We're going to be talking about that later today. Thank you for your diligence in making sure that things were done properly. It matters so much. Thank you.

Okay, Madam Clerk, administrative item number two.

Chair Capps and members of the board, administrative item number two is sponsored by Supervisor Capps and Supervisor Nelson. It is to adopt a resolution of accommodation honoring United Way of Santa Barbara County for administering the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. And joining us today from the United Way of Santa Barbara County is Steve Ortiz, Raquel Sanchez, and Rose Levy. And if you can please make your way to the podium.

Whereas the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, ERAP, was established by Congress in response to the unprecedented economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing critical financial assistance to help low-income families remain safely housed. And whereas stable housing is foundational to the health, safety, and well-being of families and was especially vital during the public health and economic crisis brought on by the pandemic. And whereas United Way of Santa Barbara County played an essential and trusted role in administering ERAP funds locally, ensuring that assistance was delivered efficiently and with compassion to those most in need. And whereas through this partnership, nearly 5,000 low-income households across Santa Barbara County received direct financial assistance with an average of 10,000 per household, helping residents remain housed and avoid displacement.

And whereas the success of the program reflects the power of strong community partnerships and the dedication of organizations like United Way to serving vulnerable populations with dignity and care. Now, therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby commend and thank United Way for its leadership and unwavering commitment to helping thousands of families remain safely housed and in strengthening the resilience of the Santa Barbara County community, passed and adopted today.

We just

offer public comment on that item. This is Carlos Jimenez and I'm with CSD. So the COVID-19 pandemic required entities of all levels of the public and private sectors to adapt to rapidly changing social and economic conditions. In this context, the U.S. Treasury established the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, otherwise known as ERAP. ERAP allocated funding to state and local governments for financial assistance to renters.

Partnerships between local government and networks of nonprofits were tasked with managing and administering and implementing effective programming and strategies to address this. United Way stepped up and agreed to take this on, doing so responsibly, thoughtfully, and with all due diligence. Its response to the pandemic under ERAP was commendable and especially appreciated in a time of great need.

And represented a shining example of how partnerships operate at their best in support of our communities. Thank you.

Madam Chair and members of the board, just a quick thank you for the partnership. It's kind of incredible. It's been six years ago that we first launched this program that helped so many people around Santa Barbara County. More than 4,000, 5,000 households received support, but more than 7,000 applied for support. So it was really a big undertaking by many in our community and our partners, including the Family Service Agency who partnered with us.

But more than 12,000 in total in those households received support through the COVID-19 response effort. So thank you for the partnership. Thank you for the trust. We don't look forward to doing this again, but we're ready here to support again in time of need. So thank you for your partnership.

And Chair Capps and members of the board, if we can please get a motion to adopt A2 for today.

Absolutely. Let's get a motion.

I'll make a motion to approve A2. I'll second.

Okay, all those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Motion carries. And thank you. We'll move on to

administrative item number three. Chair Capps and members of the board, administrative item number three is sponsored by Supervisor Capps. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming May 9th, 2026 as Stronger Starts Day of Action for Children in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have Michelle Robertson, Deputy Director of First 5 of Santa Barbara County.

Whereas the early years from prenatal through age 5 are critical to a child's healthy development, with approximately 90% of brain development occurring during this period and forming the foundation of lifelong health, learning, and success. And whereas adverse childhood experiences, ACEs, and toxic stress response can negatively impact a child's physical and mental health, development, and long-term well-being, Contributing to increased risks of chronic disease, developmental delays, and behavioral challenges.

And whereas nearly 2 million children in California have experienced ACEs, underscoring the importance of building upon family strengths and expanding access to early supports that promote resilience, health, and well-being. And whereas safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments are proven to prevent and mitigate the effects of ACEs and toxic stress, strengthening family resilience, and promoting positive outcomes for children and communities.

And whereas First 5 Santa Barbara County, in partnership with First 5 California, works to advance initiatives such as Stronger Starts to raise awareness of ACEs and toxic stress, equip parents and caregivers with tools and resources, and support systems of care that promote the healthy development and well-being of young children and families across Santa Barbara County. Now, therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of Santa Barbara County does declare May 9, 2026 is Stronger Starts Day of Action for Children and encourages residents and organizations and community partners to support efforts that promote early childhood development, strengthen families, and advance the health and well-being of young children throughout the county.

Passed and adopted today. Thank you.

Good morning. I am Assistant Director Michelle Robertson with First 5 Children and Families Commission, and today I have with me Brianna Dunn, who is our Communication and Policy Manager, and Lexi Brenner, who is our Community Engagement Specialist, both of which, their behind-the-scenes work often goes unnoticed except for all the great things like this that we do in the community.

So I'd like to thank Supervisor Capps for sponsoring this resolution as we launch locally for the first time, the Stronger Starts Day of Action, which recognizes and calls attention to the effects of adverse childhood experiences on brain development, school success, and health outcomes, which all support a child's ability to thrive and succeed. I also want to recognize and thank our two community partners who will be promoting our messaging, Children's Resource and Referral Discovery Museum in North County and the Moxie Museum in South County.

On Saturday, May 9th, both organizations will be hosting events for children at their respective locations, educating families on the Stronger Starts initiative. Research around the long-term effects of ACEs has been public for a while. However, the list of adversities young children and their caregivers experience continues to grow. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we concentrate on the current and future conditions of young children.

Recent statistics were just released that the federal investments in babies, has seen a dramatic decrease, and as of today, only 1.6% of the 2025 federal budget supports our children age birth to three. This is down roughly 20% from the 2021 investments, which was still remarkably low, even though children ages 0 to 3 make up about 3.26% of the U.S. population. To put a number on that, for every $100 the federal government spent, only $1.60 was We went to supporting babies at the very moment in life when investments matter the most.

Yet we spend more than 25% of government spending on incarceration, which the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports an average of $31,286 per inmate per year. Because our circle of influence is most powerful locally, Today, I challenge the County of Santa Barbara to lead the way on flipping that narrative. Let's invest early so as not to need remediation later.

So on May 9th, the official day of action, let's actively commit to identifying how we can reduce the number of adverse childhood experiences that children in this community accumulate, and at the very least, support those positive childhood experiences that are proven to offset the negative toxic stress responses that lead to a continuous cycle of barriers and challenges later on.

I ask everyone listening to me today to advocate for our youngest children so that they have the best possible start in life. Thank you again for all you do for Santa Barbara County and those of us that live here. We really appreciate you stepping up. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Well now we'll move on to item A4. I see the Sheriff has joined us for an important resolution. Madam Clerk.

Chair Capps and members of the Board, Administrative Item number four is sponsored by Supervisor Capps. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the week of May 3rd, 2026 through May 9th, 2026 as National Correctional Officers Week in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have Sheriff Brown, Chief Custody Deputy Sullivan under Sheriff Brad Welch, Commander Marking, Commander Calmetta, and Commander Callahan. And I'll go ahead and read the resolution.

Whereas the week of May 3rd, 2026 through May 9th, 2026 represents a period where correctional officers across the United States are recognized for their dedication and heroism to their local communities. And whereas the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Custody Branch, consisting of the South County Main Jail Operations, Northern Branch Jail Operations, Resources Bureau, Health Services Bureau, Transportation Bureau, Inmate Programs, Classification Unit, and the Special Operations Response Team, SORT, are highly regarded professionals working in conjunction with other local criminal justice and public safety entities.

And whereas 53 years ago, the Sheriff's Office and this Board identified the need to establish a rank structure for Sheriff's correction officers who later become custody deputies. The structure aims to effectively support the responsibilities of custody deputies who are specifically trained to address the unique needs of detention facilities. These facilities are tasked with the housing, security, and transportation of all inmates incarcerated in Santa Barbara County.

And whereas custody staff serving in a 24-7 facility encounter the challenges posed by a complex jail system, coupled with the heightened demands resulting from medical and mental health concerns. They work tirelessly to uphold order, deliver essential resources and education, and ensure security while safeguarding the care, custody, and dignity of the individuals entrusted to their supervision.

And whereas the citizens of Santa Barbara County can be confident that these men and women are committed to their service, they perform their duties with professionalism and ethics, demonstrating integrity, courage, and fairness. This dedication ensures the safety of the community, their fellow officers, and incarcerated individuals. Now, therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby acknowledge the week of May 3rd, 2026 through May 9th, 2026 As National Correctional Officers Week, we take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the men and women of Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office who have chosen a career in corrections and dedicated their service to our community, passed and adopted today.

Well, thank you, Chair Capps and members of the board. It is a pleasure to be with you this day as we honor National Correctional Officers Week, that time of year that we thank all of our hardworking custody deputies and the support staff that guide them and help them as they do their dangerous and incredibly important work. They walk the toughest beat in the county, and the men and women who support them are Always there for them as well.

Corrections is a difficult profession. Our custody staff deal with some rough customers who at times can be dishonest, defiant, disrespectful, and on some occasions even physically aggressive. I am proud to say that this behavior is consistently met. with self-discipline, compassion, patience, understanding, and courage on the part of our custody staff. They continue to give those who are incarcerated the opportunity to change their lives for the better, and many of them do.

During their incarceration, inmates will spend more time with custody staff than they spend with their friends, educators, counselors, therapists, lawyers, even their families. The professional demeanor and the behavior that our custody staff members consistently model to inmates often has a profoundly positive and even inspirational impact on them. Our county and our society are better off as a result of this remarkable care and service.

In addition to our custody staff, let's not forget about the correctional counselors, the sheriff's service technicians, the records and administrative staff, the cooks, The utility workers and our well-path contracted medical and mental health care providers. All of them deserve to be recognized and thanked for the important work that they do in our jails and this is the week that we do that.

On behalf of all of the Sheriff's Office, I want to thank you for this distinct honor and for recognizing our custody staff members for their consistent professionalism and dedication to duty. Thank you for showing them that you appreciate all that they do to help make Santa Barbara County a safer and a better place. Thank you.

Thank you, Sheriff. And I just wanted to say thanks. I do enjoy this honor every year to especially when you all can join us or some of you can. And as the sheriff said, it is the toughest beat. And I know how much this board acknowledges that and the hard work that goes into keeping our whole community safe. So thank you for being here and thank you for choosing this tough job that you do every day. Thank you.

Okay, we will move on to the next administrative item. Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Chair Capps and members of the board, administrative item number five is sponsored by Supervisor Lavagnino. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the week of May 3rd, 2026 through May 9th, 2026 as Compost Awareness Week in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have Bob Engel. And as he's making his way to the podium, I'll go ahead and read the resolution. Whereas compost improves soil structure, reduces runoff, and enables amended soils to use less water, and whereas using sustainable soil enriching compost helps prevent erosion of topsoil without depleting valuable wildlife habitats, and whereas Excuse me. And whereas returning composted organic resources to the soil is a method of decreasing dependence on chemical fertilizers and non-point pollution.

And whereas community sustainability is enhanced by composting green waste, biosolids, and other organic materials. And whereas organic materials suitable for composting represents up to 70% of materials that could be landfilled each year. And whereas the County of Santa Barbara has initiated green waste collection programs with their franchise haulers to aid in the efforts of environmental sustainability. And whereas Angle and Gray's Regional Composting Facility in Santa Maria has been successfully composting organic material for sustainable agricultural practices since 1993.

Now therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors proclaims the week of May 3rd through May 9th, 2026 as Compost Awareness Week in Santa Barbara County, passed and adopted today.

Supervisors and public, very much thank you for recognizing International Compost Awareness Week. This year we have a lot of different milestones. We've been composting England Graze Regional Composting Facility for 33 years in North County. We've been getting, recognizing International Compost Awareness Week since 20, so for the last 26 years. Since the year 2000, I should say, not 20, the year 2000. And Engel and Gray ourselves are celebrating our 80th year in business this year. And so I gave you our Harvest Plain compost hats with the patch on the back that recognizes our 80th year in business.

We have such a strong history in the Santa Maria Valley. Steve's dad used to come over to watch the World Series because we were the only place in town that had the games on in the 1950s. I wasn't even born yet. I'm so young. But International Compost Awareness Week is recognized all over the world and it's Trying to give the benefits of what compost brings with erosion control, better retention of water in the soils, making soils healthy for plants to grow. Caltrans is one of our biggest customers because they realize that by improving their roadsides with compost, they can get plants to grow, they control water pollution, and everything thrives in it. We are also on Saturday, this Saturday we're having an event at our yard on Better Avia Road in Santa Maria where we will have a garden and compost fair.

We give out complimentary compost to anybody that comes. You can get up to a yard of free compost. We're going to give out transplants. Excuse me. We're going to give out transplants that kids can put in a potting soil. We teach kids how to make a potting soil by utilizing different scoops of compost, soil, and sand. And it's just a real fun time. So anybody, 10 o'clock to 1 o'clock on Saturday, if you're out and about in Santa Maria, come on by and bring the whole family because it's a real good time. Anyway, thank you very much for recognizing the benefits of compost and thank you.

Excellent. Thank you. Thanks for the plants. Okay.

Administrative item number six. Chair Capps and members of the board, administrative item number six is sponsored by Supervisor Capps and Supervisor Nelson. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of May 2026 as Mental Health Month in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have Suzanne Grimacy and Maria Valencia. And anyone else you'd like to join with you?

Whereas May 2026 is recognized as Mental Health Month in Santa Barbara County and across the nation, enhancing public awareness and working to dispel the stigma surrounding mental health. And whereas the 2026 Mental Health Month theme, More Good Days Together, reflects our mission to support people in having more good days by meeting them where they are, honoring that good is defined by individual experiences and goals, and affirming that while paths differ, everyone deserves more good days together. And whereas having more good days isn't a solo mission, checking in with others and offering support helps lighten the load. We're not meant to do this alone. And whereas when communities prioritize mental health, we expand access to care, strengthen connection, and make more good days possible for everyone.

And whereas mental health is personal, what works for one person may not work for another, but everyone deserves the support they need to have more good days. Now, therefore, be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby acknowledge May as Mental Health Month, passed and adopted today.

Chair Capps, members of the Board, thank you so much for recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. We have come an extremely long way in combating mental health stigma or stigma surrounding mental health, but we still have a long ways to go. We all have an important role in making this happen through conversations, through raising awareness, through providing and paying attention to others who might need it, even if it's just a moment's time or waiting in a grocery store line.

Together, we can raise awareness and help to connect people to the right resources at the right time and create more good days together. A good example of this was on May 1st when we launched this month and we had our ribbon-cutting of our new Behavioral Wellness Child and Family Service Center on Haley Street and huge thanks to Supervisors Lee and Capps for making that a really important and a really special day for everyone.

Lastly, one of our big campaigns for May is Mental Health Month is our Light Up Green campaign. There are 200 buildings throughout the nation that are lighting up green, and 150 of those buildings, actually way more than that, but registered, are here in Santa Barbara County. So really encourage you and everyone here to get out in the evening time when they're illuminated green and see those buildings. We also are seeing them by day all over the place in banks and businesses as recent as this morning.

Got an update from Hollister, Hollister Store is what it's called on State Street, all wearing their green ribbons. We all have a lot of things to do in our days. We get to spend those extra moments to create more good days together. So thank you so much and I will turn it over to Maria.

Good morning. Good morning, honorable supervisors. My name is Maria Valencia. I'm chair of the Behavioral Wellness Commission. I'm honored to be here to recognize the 2026 Mental Health Month and the theme, More Good Days Together. But we really should strive to increase our awareness and advocacy on mental health every day. The Behavioral Wellness Commission helps turn the idea that we all have a role into action. It brings together communities, workplaces, and organizations to make sure people can get the support they need.

By improving access to care and creating supportive environments, the Commission helps more people have more good days. The goal of More Good Days Together is what this work is all about. When the Commission supports collaboration and invests in mental health services, it helps build a system where people feel supported in their everyday lives, not just during a crisis.

This makes well-being more possible for everyone. Having more good days isn't a solo mission. Communities thrive when they prioritize mental health. When we take action together, such as the Behavioral Wellness Commission, we can expand access to the care, community, and connection that make more good days possible for everyone in our community. Prioritizing mental health encourages talking about mental health, which reduces stigma and allows more to get the help they need.

The role of the Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Commission advises the Board of Supervisors and the Department of Behavioral Wellness on matters related to mental health and substance use treatment services. In part, we review behavioral health policies, programs, and outcomes by conducting annual site reviews at county mental health care programs to learn about what is being done countywide and looking at how mental health and substance use services are provided at a continuum of care perspective. We invite community partners and stakeholders to conduct presentations and we hold monthly meetings where there is opportunity for public input.

To encourage connection and trusting environments and have more good days for people, we support transparency and accountability in behavioral wellness systems that seeks to be fair and equitable. Thank you for this opportunity to shine a light on such an important topic.

Thank you for being here and again it was an incredible groundbreaking or ribbon-cutting I should say and just such a good family center right in the heart of everything on Haley Street so that we can bring services to where people are already at. That's the whole goal. So thank you so much. Okay, Madam Clerk, we'll move on to the next resolution.

Chair Capps and members of the board, administrative item number seven is sponsored by Supervisor Hartmann and will be presented today by Chair Capps. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of May, 2026 as National Stroke Awareness Month in Santa Barbara County. And joining us in person today, we have Katie Gort, Vice President and Director of Nursing from Santa Ana's Valley Cottage Hospital. If you can please make your way to the podium, I'll go ahead and read the resolution.

Whereas the month of May is recognized nationally as Stroke Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing public understanding of stroke prevention, recognition, and treatment. And whereas stroke is a time-sensitive medical emergency in which rapid identification diagnosis And treatment by qualified healthcare professionals can significantly improve survival and reduce long-term disability. And organized systems of care help ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time and at the right facility. And whereas every 40 seconds someone in the United States experiences a stroke, and stroke remains a leading cause of serious long-term disability and the fifth leading cause of death in the nation. Resulting in more than 160,000 deaths each year, while nearly one-half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, one of the most significant and controllable risk factors for stroke.

And whereas public awareness of the BEFAST warning signs of stroke Balance, loss, eyesight changes, face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call 911 can help save lives by encouraging immediate emergency response. And whereas the San Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation Board raised private funds to provide San Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital with a modern CT scanner and rapid AI perfusion technology, enhancing the hospital's ability to quickly diagnose stroke and transient ischemic attacks and improving emergency care for residents of Santa Ana's Valley. Now therefore be it hereby ordered and resolved that this Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara does hereby proclaim the month of May as Stroke Awareness Month in Santa Barbara County, encourages all residents to learn the warning signs of stroke and take preventative measures to reduce risk, recognizes the importance of coordinated systems of care and in approving outcomes and expresses its appreciation to the San Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation Board for its leadership and generosity in strengthening emergency stroke care in San Ynez Valley community.

Passed and adopted today.

Good morning, Chair and Supervisors. On behalf of Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, I want to sincerely thank you for this resolution and for your recognition of the work our foundation and hospital teams have done to strengthen stroke care in our community. Stroke is one of those conditions where minutes truly matter. The difference between recovery and lifelong disability can come down to how quickly a patient receives the right care. For a rural community like ours, that reality carries even more weight. Access, readiness, and coordination are not luxuries, they are necessities. This recognition reflects a collective effort. Our foundation's commitment has allowed us to invest in the tools, training, and technology required to build and sustain a strong, stroke-ready program.

But just as important, it represents the dedication of our physicians, nurses, our EMS partners, and staff who show up every day prepared to act with urgency and precision when it matters most. We are proud of the progress we've made, but we also know this work is ongoing. Maintaining a high-quality stroke program requires continuous education, collaboration, and investment.

Your support and acknowledgement today reinforce that this effort matters. Not just to our hospital, but to the entire community we serve. On a personal note, as a nurse and as a leader, I've seen firsthand how impactful it is when a community comes together around patient care. This resolution is more than recognition. It's a shared commitment to ensuring that when someone in the San Yanez Valley experiences a stroke, they receive timely High-quality care close to home. So thank you again for your partnership, your support, and your belief in the importance of accessible, life-saving care in our region.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay, I think we're at the end of these resolutions. Oh yeah, I know, but A8, the final one. Madam Clerk.

Chair Capps and members of the Board, Administrative Item Number 8 is sponsored by Supervisor Hartmann and will be presented by Chair Capps today. It is to adopt a resolution proclaiming the month of May 2026 as Wildfire Community Preparedness Month in Santa Barbara County and joining us in person today we have Fred Tan, Division Chief and our Fire Marshal. Go ahead and read the resolution.

Whereas May has been declared Wildfire Community Preparedness Month in Santa Barbara County and whereas Santa Barbara County has a well-documented history of wildfire I'm here to report that California's wildfire risk and the threat of wildfire continues to grow increasingly prevalent and dangerous and currently poses a year-round risk to both people and property locally and statewide. And whereas in 2025, including the Gifford Fire in northern Santa Barbara County and the Madre Fire in our neighboring San Luis Obispo County, California experienced 8,036 fires, Thank you all for joining us today.