Meeting Summary
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At a glance
Administrative Agenda Corrections
- A correction was made to the San Ynez Airport Project recommendation to strike a specific CEQA reference.
- The Board accepted the amendment to the administrative agenda items.
Community Services: Shelter Grants and Federal Homeless Grant Subscriptions
- Supervisors discussed the need for stronger monitoring and oversight of funds provided to nonprofit organizations.
- The Board agreed to request a future D-agenda item detailing nonprofit responsibilities, board liability, and oversight rules.
- Future reports were requested to emphasize performance-based accountability, audits, and specific criteria for administrative costs.
County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor: Appointment of Special District Board Members
- The Chair raised concerns about special districts operating without a quorum due to vacancies.
- Staff explained that these districts are generally unable to conduct business without a quorum, creating a governance gap.
- Supervisors suggested forming a team to address potential crises and consider LAFCO reviews for consolidation.
Probation Department: Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant
- The Probation Department highlighted a $350,000 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Veterans Treatment Court.
- The grant was secured through a collaborative effort with Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services.
Resolution A-1: Hispanic Heritage Month
- The Board adopted a resolution proclaiming September 15 through October 15, 2012, as Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Luis Villegas of the Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce spoke on behalf of the community.
Resolution A-2: United Way of Santa Barbara County
- The Board honored United Way for its "Fun in the Sun" program, which received a national excellence award.
- Paul Didier, CEO of United Way, accepted the recognition for the program's collaborative partnership model.
Resolution A-3: Channel Islands YMCA
- The Board adopted a resolution honoring the Channel Islands YMCA for its 125th anniversary.
- YMCA leadership accepted the recognition on behalf of the organization.
Resolution A-4: Consul General of Mexico
- The Board honored Rogelio Flores Mejia for his service as Consul of Mexico for the region.
- Supervisor Carbajal presented a crystal county courthouse award to Consul Flores Mejia.
Resolution A-5: National Wellness Week
- The Board proclaimed September 17–23, 2012, as National Wellness Week.
- Speakers discussed the importance of holistic wellness and upcoming community health events.
Resolution: Central Coast Future Leaders
- The Board recognized the Central Coast Future Leaders program for its work with youth leadership and scholastic achievement.
- Program representatives described the focus on family involvement and support for Latino youth.
Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) Side Letter Agreement
- The Board approved a side letter agreement involving a pay cut for a physician at the Santa Maria Women’s Health Care Center.
- The agreement is intended to save the position and maintain clinic revenue, resulting in estimated annual savings of $90,000.
No decision 0–0
Emergency Management Progress Briefing and Governor’s Award
- The Office of Emergency Services presented a progress briefing and received a Governor’s Award for the County CERT Committee.
- OEM staff reported on public education initiatives, mutual aid coordination, and increased Homeland Security funding.
- The Board adopted a resolution honoring the CERT Committee and received the briefing.
Department of Social Services Request to Add 39 Positions
- The Department of Social Services requested 39 new positions to address caseload growth and new federal mandates.
- Staff noted that 98% of the cost for these positions will be covered by state and federal revenue.
- The Board approved the request to add the positions.
No decision 0–0
South Coast Gang Task Force Update and Youth Intervention Project Report
- The Task Force reported on CalGRIP initiatives, noting high graduation rates and reduced gang involvement among participants.
- UC Santa Barbara presented a project to create a centralized database to track youth across agencies for better service coordination.
- The Board received and filed the report after discussing data privacy and future funding strategies.
Contract Award to TriWest Group LLC
- The Board approved a contract award to TriWest Group LLC to review the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Department’s outpatient services.
- Staff clarified that the combined cost of the HMA and TriWest contracts exceeds the initial RFP budget by $10,000, which will be covered by the County Executive Office.
- The motion to approve the contract award components passed.
Full summary
Opening and Roll Call
- The Chair called the regular meeting of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to order on September 18, 2012. The roll was called, and all members were present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Administrative Agenda
- Approval of Minutes (September 11, 2012)
- Discussion: The Chair noted there were no changes to the minutes.
- Motion: Motion to approve the minutes was made by Supervisor Gray and seconded by Supervisor Wolf.
- Vote: Passed.
- Administrative Agenda Corrections
- Discussion: Mr. Allen presented a correction to Item A-15 (San Ynez Airport Project). The first sentence of Recommendation D, referencing CEQA section 15162, was to be stricken, leaving the recommendation to find that no substantial changes are proposed.
- Decision: The correction was accepted.
- Items A-10 and A-11 (Community Services: Shelter Grants and Federal Homeless Grant Subscriptions)
- Discussion: Supervisors Wolf, Lavagnino, Gray, and Carbajal discussed the monitoring and oversight of funds provided to nonprofit organizations. Supervisor Wolf asked about the department’s system for monitoring contract compliance and fiscal accountability. Staff confirmed that quarterly reports are requested and reviewed, and information can be requested at any time. Supervisor Lavagnino requested a future D-agenda item detailing nonprofit responsibilities, board liability, and oversight rules. Supervisor Gray requested that future reports emphasize performance-based accountability and audits to track where funds are allocated, specifically regarding administrative salaries. Supervisor Carbajal suggested establishing specific criteria for administrative cost percentages and ensuring nonprofits have stable bylaws and systems before entering into funding relationships.
- Decision: The Board agreed to request a future D-agenda item addressing these oversight and policy issues.
- Item A-12 (County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor: Appointment of Special District Board Members)
- Discussion: The Chair raised concerns regarding special districts operating without a quorum due to vacancies, specifically noting the Community Services District and Valley Recreation District. Staff explained that without a quorum, these districts are generally unable to conduct business or make decisions, creating a governance gap. Supervisor Carbajal suggested forming a team to address potential crises and consider LAFCO reviews for consolidation. Supervisor Gray noted past instances where the County assisted districts in emergencies, such as the Cazimelia Community Services District.
- Decision: No separate motion was taken on this specific item; it was part of the broader administrative agenda approval.
- Item A-17 (Probation Department: Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant)
- Discussion: Supervisor Wolf highlighted the Probation Department’s success in securing a $350,000 three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Veterans Treatment Court in Santa Maria. Deputy Chief Probation Officer Tonya Heitman explained that the grant funds the Veterans Treatment Court and was secured through a collaborative effort with Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services.
- Decision: No separate motion was taken; the item was included in the general approval of the administrative agenda.
- Approval of Administrative Agenda
- Motion: Motion to approve the administrative agenda as amended was made by Supervisor Wolf and seconded by Supervisor Lavagnino.
- Vote: Passed.
Resolutions
- Resolution A-1: Hispanic Heritage Month
- Discussion: Supervisor Carbajal sponsored a resolution proclaiming September 15 through October 15, 2012, as Hispanic Heritage Month in Santa Barbara County. Luis Villegas, President of the Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, spoke on behalf of the Hispanic community.
- Decision: Passed and adopted.
- Resolution A-2: United Way of Santa Barbara County
- Discussion: Supervisor Carbajal sponsored a resolution honoring the United Way of Santa Barbara County for its "Fun in the Sun" program, which received the National Summer Learning Association’s 2012 National Excellence in Summer Learning Award. Paul Didier, CEO of United Way, accepted the recognition, noting the program’s 16th year and its collaborative partnership model.
- Decision: Passed and adopted.
- Resolution A-3: Channel Islands YMCA
- Discussion: Supervisor Carbajal sponsored a resolution honoring the Channel Islands YMCA for its 125th anniversary. George Lace, Board Chair of the YMCA, and Tim Hardy, Executive Vice President, accepted the recognition.
- Decision: Passed and adopted.
- Resolution A-4: Consul General of Mexico
- Discussion: Supervisor Carbajal sponsored a resolution honoring Rogelio Flores Mejia for his service as Consul of Mexico for the region. Supervisor Gray and the Chair added remarks regarding his community involvement. Consul Flores Mejia thanked the Board and noted his upcoming departure to Puebla, Mexico. Supervisor Carbajal presented a crystal county courthouse award to Consul Flores Mejia.
- Decision: Passed and adopted.
- Resolution A-5: National Wellness Week
- Discussion: Supervisor Carbajal sponsored a resolution proclaiming September 17–23, 2012, as National Wellness Week. Dr. Wada and Dr. Dietrich spoke about the importance of holistic wellness and the upcoming Family Fun Day and Health Fair on September 22. Supervisor Carbajal recognized Lisa Valencia for coordinating the event.
- Decision: Passed and adopted.
- Resolution: Central Coast Future Leaders
- Discussion: Supervisor Gray sponsored a resolution recognizing the Central Coast Future Leaders (CCFL) program for its work with youth. Hilda Zacharias and Patricia Solorio accepted the recognition, describing the program’s focus on leadership, scholastic achievement, and family involvement, particularly for Latino youth. Supervisor Lavagnino and the Chair added remarks supporting the organization.
- Decision: Passed and adopted.
Departmental Agenda
- Item 1: Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) Side Letter Agreement
- Discussion: The County Executive Office presented a tentative side letter agreement with the UAPD. The agreement involved a pay cut for a physician at the Santa Maria Women’s Health Care Center to save the position and maintain clinic revenue, resulting in estimated annual savings of $90,000.
- Motion: Motion to approve the agreement was made by Supervisor Wolf and seconded by Supervisor Lavagnino.
- Vote: Passed.
- Item 2: Emergency Management Progress Briefing and Governor’s Award
- Discussion: The Office of Emergency Services presented a progress briefing on emergency management activities and a Governor’s Award for the County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Committee. Jim Caesar, Chair of the CERT Committee, was present to receive the award. Supervisors Carbajal and Wolf commended the CERT program, the fire department, and the collaboration with UCSB and other partners. Supervisor Wolf specifically acknowledged the LISOS (Spanish-language CERT) program and the EPIC group.
- Briefing Details: The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provided an update on current focus areas, including public education, preparedness, and emergency public information. Key points included the development of bilingual public education materials, plans to create a central website (awareandprepared.com), coordination with neighboring counties and state/federal agencies regarding mutual aid agreements, and expansion of communication capabilities including video conferencing and radio station partnerships. OEM staff reported that Homeland Security funding has increased from approximately $90,000 to $214,000 annually.
- Board Questions: Board members inquired about the timeline for distributing new regional risk maps, the status of radio station Memorandums of Understanding, and the need for a comprehensive overview document of OEM’s operations. OEM staff confirmed that a workshop on emergency public information is scheduled for October 16.
- Motion: A motion was made to adopt the resolution honoring the CERT Committee and receive the briefing. The motion was seconded.
- Vote: Passed.
- Item 3: Department of Social Services Request to Add 39 Positions
- Discussion: The Department of Social Services (DSS) presented a request to add 39 positions. The presentation outlined the department's role in administering mandated federal and state programs, noting that caseloads have grown significantly since 2007, with safety net programs serving over 95,000 individuals. DSS stated that no new positions have been added in over six years, despite caseload increases.
- Operational Details: The presentation detailed the complex eligibility verification process, including the use of systems such as CalWIN, MEDS, IEVS, and SAVE. DSS reported a fraud rate of less than 1% across all benefit programs.
- Funding and Mandates: The requested positions are driven by new mandates, specifically the elimination of the Healthy Families Program and the requirement to enroll approximately 11,000 children in Medi-Cal. DSS stated that 98% of the cost for these positions will be covered by state and federal revenue, with only 2% coming from local funds.
- Board Questions: Board members asked about the inclusion of retirement costs in the funding, the methodology for determining the fraud rate, the accuracy of the SAVE system for citizenship verification, and the legal consequences of declining the funding. It was clarified that the funding opportunity is tied to specific new mandates and available state/federal revenue.
- Motion: A motion was made to approve the request to add 39 positions. The motion was seconded.
- Vote: Passed.
- Item 4: South Coast Gang Task Force Update and Youth Intervention Project Report
- Discussion: Sol Serrano, Task Force Coordinator, provided an update on the South Coast Task Force on Youth Gangs, established in 2007. The task force aims to decrease youth involvement in gangs, increase school attendance, and improve community safety. Key metrics presented included a target population of 150 youth with gang terms and conditions, which has decreased to 128, and an estimated 750 youth at risk of gang involvement.
- CalGRIP Initiatives: A representative from the South Coast Task Force presented a report on CalGRIP (California Gang Intervention Program) initiatives. The presentation detailed the evolution of a 2008 volunteer pilot program into funded CalGRIP 1 and CalGRIP 2 programs, which have secured $750,000 in state funding over five years. These funds support case management, mentoring, and evidence-based curriculum for approximately 150 youth.
- Data Points:
- CalGRIP 1 (2009–2011): 76% of enrolled seniors graduated high school; 70% of graduates enrolled in Santa Barbara City College; 66 students became credit-compliant and satisfied probation terms without re-offending.
- CalGRIP 2 (Active until Dec 31, 2012): 77% of enrolled seniors graduated high school; 63% of youth are on track for credit recovery by December 2012; 62% demonstrated increased attendance.
- Current Enrollment: 115 youth (60 males, 55 females) are currently receiving services.
- Additional Initiatives: The report covered the "Bridges to Recovery" program, which assists 70 youth exiting Los Prietos Boys Camp. It also discussed Santa Barbara Unified School District efforts, including an outreach specialist working with 150 youth, a "Core Program" at Santa Barbara Junior High, and a Restorative Justice Pilot Program. Approximately 30 parents attend monthly support meetings.
- Data Integration Project: Dr. Jill Sharkey from UC Santa Barbara presented the South Coast Youth Intervention Project, an initiative to create a centralized database to track youth across agencies to improve service coordination and evaluate outcomes. The project involves Memorandums of Understanding with various agencies and is being developed with a nonprofit organization to ensure data security.
- Board Questions:
- The Chair inquired about coordination between the truancy program, school resource officers, and the task force. The presenter clarified that information sharing occurs through the South Coast Task Force.
- Supervisor Carbajal raised concerns regarding legal liability and privacy risks associated with the new database, emphasizing the need for robust legal protections. Dr. Sharkey responded that the database provider uses secure servers and legal counsel is involved.
- Supervisor Wolf asked about the strategy for funding after CalGRIP 2 ends in December 2012. The presenter stated that a new CalGRIP grant application is being drafted for 2013–2014.
- Mr. DeLera provided a correction to the gender breakdown of the 128 youth on probation with gang terms and conditions: 24 females and 104 males.
- Motion: To receive and file the report.
- Moved by: Supervisor Carbajal.
- Seconded by: Supervisor Wolf.
- Vote: Passed.
- Item 5: Contract Award to TriWest Group LLC
- Discussion: The County Executive Office requested approval for a contract award to TriWest Group LLC for a review of the Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADMH) Department’s outpatient services and business practices. This follows a previous award to Health Management Associates (HMA) for a review of inpatient services.
- Background and Scope: In April, the CEO’s office received proposals from eight firms. HMA and TriWest were selected. TriWest will review the ADMH outpatient system, service delivery, clinic operations, and contract processes (Project 2), as well as all business practices including compliance (Project 3). Both firms are working concurrently, with HMA’s draft report due at the end of October. A 17-member County Executive Office Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health was formed to provide insight and review consultant findings.
- TriWest Presentation: The team aims to build public confidence in the behavioral health system by identifying gaps in clinical, compliance, and fiscal processes. They will provide a range of options for policy decisions. TriWest has worked with 14 California counties.
- Board Questions:
- Supervisor Carbajal asked how the work plans of HMA and TriWest will be integrated and whether the analysis accounts for upcoming changes in the Health Care Reform Act. Staff confirmed that the two teams are coordinating and that health care reform implications are being considered.
- Supervisor Lavagnino expressed support for the measure, noting the need for fresh perspectives.
- Supervisor Wolf noted that the HMA contract was reduced from $115,000 to $90,000 due to travel cost adjustments. She questioned the definition of "reserve fund" in the TriWest contract and why the travel cost cap was not explicitly listed. She also asked if the Board is legally bound to the $250,000 RFP amount, given that the combined not-to-exceed amounts for HMA ($90,000) and TriWest ($170,000) total $260,000. Staff clarified that the $10,000 excess over the $250,000 budget allocation would be covered by the County Executive Office’s 7700 account.
- Motion: Supervisor Carbajal moved to approve items A through D (referring to the contract award components).
- Second: Supervisor Lavagnino seconded the motion.
- Vote: The motion was put to a voice vote.
- Outcome: The motion passed.
Adjournment and Next Meeting
- Discussion: The Chair noted the completion of the departmental agenda. No members requested to close in memory of the day.
- Decision: The board announced that no meeting would be held on September 25. The next meeting is scheduled for October 2 in Santa Barbara.
- Outcome: The meeting was adjourned.